70cm activity contest - December

Last night, I went on the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. As usual, I ran 10W pep and my 2m big-wheel omni antenna. A couple of contacts were had in the short time I was on.

It is my view that SSB activity in this contest is declining.  I usually work a few stations but there seemed fewer people on.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My 2.5W FT8 gear was turned on just before 1000z.  No spots.

500uW 10m QRPP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My ultra QRP 10m WSPR experiment continues with my 10m WSPR TX beacon on with the PA turned off. So far today, no spots. 

I think conditions have to be very good for this to work. It is an experiment worth repeating in the next Es season.

Saving lives - NOT amateur radio

 "save one life, save the world"

This old Jewish saying resonates in recent world events. 

All life is precious, whether Jew, Arab, Ukrainian, Russian or whatever.

630m WSPR overnight

 

9 stations spotted my QRP 630m WSPR overnight.

Winter gloom

This is perhaps the gloomiest time in the UK. Days are short, nights are long, trees are bare and everywhere is miserable. At least after Christmas evenings start to get lighter and bulbs start to appear like snowdrops and daffodils. After about January 6th mornings start to get lighter too. By the end of January there is a clear difference.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 13th 2023

 Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 120. A=10 and K=1.

500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR TX

My 10m QRPP WSPR experiment continues.

UPDATE 1542z:  No spots today.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 1040z. So far,  no spots.

UPDATE 1540z:  No spots today.

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have known these friends since the mid-1970s. They moved away from the village some years ago, but had returned to see old friends and hand out Christmas cards. They came for a meal last night.