Sunspots- Sunday December 8th

 Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 91. A=6 and K=1.

Winter projects

Here in the UK it is now very dark in the mornings and it gets very dark early in the evenings too. We are drawing the curtains at about 4pm whereas it seemed like 5 minutes since we were doing it at 10pm!

With the onset of winter, many people turn to winter amateur radio projects. These days, my fine motor skills are poor, but in the past "rolling something of my own" has given me immense pleasure. 

I cannot describe the thrill of working somebody thousands of miles away on something you have designed and built yourself.  

However small, I can recommend building something. Maybe start with a kit?

Naughty but nice - NOT amateur radio

 This was the advert for breakfast at a local pub. Very nice 😊.

Tangerine Dreams - NOT amateur radio

Despite being re-potted and staked our very tall amaryliss decided to fall over again in the night, so we put it in the sink of the utility room weighed down with.......tangerines! 

Since this it has not (yet) fallen over.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

 My beacon has been on since breakfast. At 0943z, 6 stations have spotted my 500mW.

UPDATE 1325z:  21 stations have spotted me so far.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at breakfast time. So far, 15 stations spotted today at 0928z. See map.

UPDATE 1322z:  40 stations have spotted me today.

Sunspots - Saturday December 7th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 103.  A=5 and K=1.

Christmas spirit - NOT amateur radio

This was the entrance to our local museum last weekend. They had a very happy "Father Christmas" day that was very successful. 

All the kids (and adults!) had a really good time.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My QRP FT8  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since just before breakfast. 22 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 1538z:  Now spotted by 42 stations with the furthermost DU6/PE1NSQ (11141km).  On 6m FT8 RX an XV8 was spotted working a Swedish station. See map with bars for stations that spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.  See table for the stations received here today on 6m FT8.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 My beacon has been on since just before breakfast. 2 stations have spotted me so far

UPDATE 1552z:  Spotted by 31 stations. I think this is via F2 propagation. See table.