Sunspots - Friday December 6th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 101. A=5 and K=2.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

As usual, I went on for a very short while with my 10W and omni antenna. I do not stop long because of my poor voice. The map shows the stations contacted.

Rallies this Sunday

 The following have been notified to me. Always check before going far.

• British Vintage Wirelesss Society (BVWS)  Swapmeet and auction. Royal Wootton Bassett. BVWS members only.
• Mid-Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics Fair 2024, Winkleigh, EX19 8HZ. Contact wrg2024@hotmail.com .

France - NOT amateur radio

France has just lost its Prime Minister in a vote of confidence. It has a huge public debt. 

Time and again the French government has given in to large demands. In the end, the country cannot afford these so there will be cuts, which will be deeply unpopular. 

Usually when this happens people move to the extreme right or extreme left. I think France, and possibly the whole of Europe, is at dangerous cross-roads.

Wild Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This photo by friend Richard Lewis was posted on 365project. 

It captures the strong winds they often get up there.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand alone QRP W5OLF WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0915z. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 2232z:  38 spots of me today. QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0915z. So far,  6 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1330z:  30 stations have spotted me and 23 stations spotted here. Nothing "across the pond" on 6m FT8 today.

10m AM QRP transceiver

Before my 2013 stroke I intended to design and build a very simple 10m AM transceiver for nattering across town when 10m is not open for DX such as around sunspot minimum or at night. 

I wanted it to be on a simple PCB and easily built , for example as a club project. In my mind I had a box a bit like a very small Heathkit Benton Harbour Lunchbox. 

With this RX it would not be suitable for DX working as it will not receive SSB. The RX is very sensitive though. 

As it stands it wants taking further with a loudspeaker amplifier and perhaps a small linear. I was hoping someone would take this on and finish the project.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-am-tenbox .

Sunspots - Thursday December 5th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=2.

Oops - NOT amateur radio

 

Our amaryllis toppled over as it was too tall! 

I am sure my wife will be able to rescue it and add a stake.

UPDATE 1545z:  All fine again. Rescued!