Sunspots - Saturday February 12th 2022

Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 86.  A=20 and K=3. 

OFCOM weekly publications update

If you look on the OFCOM website, it has updated the list of available publications.

It would be nice if OFCOM gave me an update on my 8m NoV, submitted October 2021 and which I have chased for an update several times in the last month. I was hoping to start the experiment in about 2 weeks time!! Needless to say, nothing heard, despite promises of an update.

Hello - is there anybody there at OFCOM?

160m FT8 RX

I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX with the 10m antenna and have been on for about 90 minutes.  So far, 186 stations spotted.

King's Lynn - NOT amateur radio

This is a strange town with some fine old buildings.  We visited there yesterday.

These days, it is a very working class town. 

In years gone by it was a very important trading port quite close to the North Sea.

10m FT8 RX

It is now 0935z and I have been on 10m FT8 RX for about 35 minutes. So far, 20 stations spotted. This looks north south with several stations in Europe and Africa spotted.

UPDATE 1700z:  342 stations spotted on RX.  See map.

UPDATE 2140z:  Now QRT. 360 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today

4m - 11 years ago!!

This QRP 4m transverter appeared as a Facebook memory today. It was designed and made in 2011. It is hard to think it was that long ago.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

Sunspots - Friday February 11th 2022

Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 78. A=21 and K=3.

Day off amateur radio

As we were out for much of the day, I have not been on the air today on any band. This must be the first time in several months. I shall probably be on 10m WSPR or FT8 tomorrow.

70cm FT8 activity contest yesterday

Stations spotted on 70cm RX
yesterday with the 2m omni!

FT8 activity on 70cm has really increased especially in activity contests. Although I spent most of the time yesterday on RX, I had a couple of QSOs and was spotted as far away as The Netherlands despite using just 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna for 2m!! 

Stations spotting my 2.5W 70cm TX
FT8 to the 2m omni antenna

The ship of the fens - NOT amateur radio

Like Chartres Cathedral in France, Ely Cathedral can be seen from miles away like a boat on the horizon. It is a magnificent building.