For the last 3 years, I have measured the amount of rain daily. This has been the driest of the three years. For the last few years we have had about 760mm of rain. This year we are on target for about 650mm.
2 Dec 2025
1 Dec 2025
10m 2W FT8 (Monday)
My gear was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 0904z: 53 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1926z: 488 stations have spotted me today. Even with 2W 10m FT8, spots from across the planet. See map.
Advent service
Yesterday we went to a sung Advent service in the next village.
Solar Activity
Near the start of the month my favourite site for solar data is updated. I have not checked yet but this is usually done early in the month. It is worth taking a peek so we can see how the cycle is progressing.
We are on the down-slope, but conditions on the higher HF bands are likely to remain good for a few years.
It is my view that with modes like FT8 we will find 10m open more than we thought.
UK weather
Simple VHF receiver by Charles Kitchen
This is a circuit for a VHF receiver that can be adjusted to decode SSB, CW and NBFM in addition to AM.
See https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9712039.pdf .
Keeping an eye on CB
Although the CB bands are just below the 10m amateur band it is often busy on CB when 10m seems dead. This suggests it is a lack of activity rather than poor conditions. Hopefully FT8 will help to show us 10m is still good on some paths.
In the meantime, it may be worth keeping an eye on the CB bands.




