Sunspots - Monday January 8th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 171.  A=2 and K=0.

January walk - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon, we went for a walk around the village.

There are signs of better weather ahead with snowdrops snd hellebores out. 

At the moment it feels very "January" i.e. dull, cold and dreary!

630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was turned on about an hour ago. So far, 11 stations have spotted me this evening.

8m - should I apply for a new TX permit from April?

To continue my 8m TX permit, I have (stupidly in my view) to pay OFCOM £50 a year!!  As I have worked just about all the stations on 8m TX currently, I am having second thoughts. Views?

Personally, I think OFCOM (plus the RSGB) and the FCC have totally stupid and blinkered views about genuine experimentation at 8m. Talk about dinosours .....

Instead, I may TX WSPR in the 8m ISM band at 10mW ERP using the call 8M3ISM during the Es season. With this ERP in the UK it is my view anyone may legally beacon in the 8m ISM band without a licence as long as they meet the interface requirements.

UK Post Office Scandal - NOT amateur radio

 Yesterday, I mentioned this unbelievable scandal. 

Please may I urge all UK blog readers to write to their MPs so they are in no doubt that the general public want this resolved quickly and we are not at all impressed by the inactions so far.

Weekend treat - NOT amateur radio

 

At the weekend and Wednesdays, I treat myself to a cooked breakfast. Other times I have cereals.

6m FT8 (Sunday)

As activity levels on 8m are very low at the moment, I am on 6m FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni antenna. So far, 7 stations have spotted me with the furthermost IW9FRA (1847km) . See the map.  It would appear there is some winter Es about.

10m 500uW WSPR TX (Sunday)

 My QRPP 10m WSPR beacon is again on and, yet again, I have been spotted in the Canary Islands by EA8BFK (2880km).

Sunspots - Sunday January 7th

 Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 149. A=3 and K=0.

Rick Andersen KE3IJ

In case you missed it, it appears that Rick is SK. The good news is that much of his work is archived on the Wayback Machine. His memory lives on.

See https://web.archive.org/20210430124905/http://www.ke3ij.com/radios.htm