Sunspots - Monday December 26th

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 113. A=11and K=2.

10m 1W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear has been was turned on around breakfast time.

UPDATE 0939z:  Spotted by 53 stations. 

UPDATE 1840z:  Spotted by 295 stations. See map.

Sunspots - Thursday December 25th

 Solar flux is 134 ans the SSN 103. A=21 and K=3.

Ukraine - is President Trump getting bored?

 Most days I watch Times Radio on YouTube. I get the distinct impression the USA's President Trump is getting bored with Ukraine and is more concerned about deals to make himself even richer than finding a just peace. If true, I find this very sad.

There seems to be a new world order emerging, run by billionaires at a time when we really need leaders who have the interests of the common man/woman at heart.

Last post?

On the way to the Co-op food shop in the village, I spotted this postman. 

I asked his permission to take this photo. 

Very festive!

Grimeton historic VLF CW transmission

Earlier this morning the historic alternator TX SAQ was sending a Christmas message on 17.2kHz CW. Years ago I got a QSL card from them. It is still on my shack wall. It is a good test of your VLF RX system. I did not listen.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 My stand-alone beacon was turned on at 1022z:

UPDATE 1231z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1938z:  It helps if you switch the mains plug on!  Once this was done loads of spots including several in the USA.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on at 1022z.

UPDATE 1231z:  So far, 6 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1935z:  7 English stations spotted. QRT since  late afternoon.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 24th

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 106. A=21 and K=3.

Cave radio book

 

There is no way I would be climbing through narrow, dark, wet tunnels deep underground, but I have always been fascinated by underground communications at VLF and LF. 

As radio waves get attenuated as they travel through water and rock and this attenuation is reduced as the frequency is lowered, cavers tend to use interesting techniques to communicate (and survey) with cavers.

A very interesting book by Mike Bedford G4AEE goes through all the techniques used by cavers. 

Even for somebody like me who (would be too scared!) it make good Christmas reading. The book "Cave Radio" is available from the RSGB bookshop.