Winter solstice

Today is the shortest day .  

Even though the mornings get a bit darker later for a few weeks, the evenings are already starting to get darker slightly later. By the end of January it is really noticeable. 

It’s odd how we adapt, but I do prefer nights getting darker later.

Sunspots - Sunday December 21st

 Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 74. A=6 and K=2.

PSKreporter NOT the RBN!

In the latest SPRAT (205) Chris Page (page 38) reported my QRPP FT8 experiments as using the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) whereas for FT8 I use PSKreporter.  

For FT8 this is ideal.

First daffodils

 This morning on our walk at Anglesey Abbey we saw our first daffodils and snowdrops this winter. Positive signs.

Anglesey Abbey this morning

 

This is about 4 miles from us in the car.

10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1140z.

UPDATE 1440z:  So far, spotted by 101 stations.  See map.

UPDATE 1757z:    243 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1900z:  QRT.

137kHz E-Field probe

At 137kHz I have only dabbled, but I was surprised and delighted at the performance of this little EFP RX antenna. It was mag-mounted on the car yet copied my low uW ERP beacon on the far side of Cambridge at 24km. At this point I stopped!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .

All quiet

 

In the summer this beach in S.Devon is busy whereas at this time of year it’s quiet. 

We can trace our family history continuously continuously back to the mid 1500s in these parts .

Sunspots - Saturday December 20th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 33. A=6 and K=0.

VLF upconverter

There is a VLF upconverter on the DXexplorer website. On Christmas Eve there is a special transmission from the historic alternator 17.2kHz  CW transmitter SAQ in Sweden.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexanderson_alternator .

See also https://alexander.n.se/en/

Please note, this converter is fine for a peek "down there", but amateur signals usually are weak and need very high stability, very accurate frequencies and very narrow bandwidths. Details of my own VLF experiments are on my main website.