2m activity contest results

The results have just been published for the 2m UKAC contest. These results are for December and the overall scores for the year. Despite just one QSO in December, I managed to end up in 67th place in the low power section (I run 10W to my big-wheel omni antenna) out of 175 stations.  As my voice is poor these days, I find SSB contests hard work, so I usually stop on for 30-60 minutes only.

SDR has arrived

It is unlikely to be tested for several days, but my SDR has arrived. It is meant to cover from 100kHz to 1.75GHz.

Looking for software recommendations to use with it please? 

See https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01HA642SW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

Amaryllis at last - NOT amateur radio

We love watching these amazing plants grow in pots during the winter. A bulb grows into an enormous plant with huge flowers. We thought this one was a dud that was never going to grow. In the last few days it has started. Usually they take about 4-7 weeks to fully mature. Each morning they seem to have grown!

See https://www.amaryllis.com/pages/amaryllis-planting-and-care

Intermittent 10m antenna

This morning, I was planning to go on 10m QRP FT8, but something is still intermittent so I have a high SWR. I suspect the coax plug. At some point, I shall have to remake the joint. These days, this is less easy as my fine motor skills are poor.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 At the moment (1106z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W and low wire dipole. No spots on RX or TX.

UPDATE 1545z:   No spots.

Oscar 100 activity (or rather lack of)

Every few weeks I take peek at activity on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. My latest peak was at 1045z on Christmas Eve. This is European Saturday morning in a holiday, so I would have expected activity to be as good as at any time. What did I find? Very quiet (see screenshot).

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Sunspots - Saturday December 24th 2022

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 100.  A=24 and K=4.

4m in the Caribbean

PJ4MM has also got a permit to TX on 4m. When the Es season comes, this will be an interesting path from Europe.   

As far as I know, this is the first amateur in the northern hemsiphere in Region 2 to get a transmitting permit. 

I think VP8 in the southern hemisphere has 4m, so this could be an interesting TEP path.

Panto - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week we went to a local panto. It was very good. We have not been able to go for a few years because of Covid. This was like old times.

8m WSPR RX (Friday)

Martin G8JNJ is doing some 8m WSPR tests, so I am looking for his signal. The path loss between us means this very unlikely.

I have also heard today that a station in Bonaire now has an 8m licence - PJ4MM.  Bonaire is in the Caribbean. Not sure what this licence covers i.e. it is  limited experimental licence or a full amateur licence.