Operating away from home

Many people need to operate away from home using compromise antennas. Handheld VHF and UHF transceivers often use a compromise antenna and lose many dBs. One possibility is this antenna that behaves like a 2m or 70cm dipole. It could be used in hotel rooms on 2m or 70cm FM with a handheld. It is likely to be somewhat better than the antenna on the transceiver.

See https://vu3dxr.in/hotel-antenna-for-2-meter-and-70-centimeter-amateur-bands/

I am sure if you are an experimenter you could make a fold-up version with old co-ax. 

Sunspots - Sunday January 18th

 Solar flux is 159 and the SSN 124. A=27 and K=3. 

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on about 5 minutes ago.

UPDATE 1509z:  So far, spotted by just 5 English stations.  Best DX is 171km away. This could be aircraft reflection , scatter, or normal flat-band tropo. Of course for a two-way QSO the path has to be open for long enough for the basics to be exchanged i.e. several minutes.

Ukraine

I watch quite a few videos about the Ukraine and Russia. Most say that inside Russia things are getting very hard, and now even harder with falling oil prices. 

It would appear (outwardly at least) that Putin wants a new Russian Empire. He sees the destruction of Ukraine as a separate nation as something worth fighting for.  The fall of Russia internally seems to be very slow in happening.

If the USA is pulled out of supporting Ukraine, I think the wrong message will be sent to the world that bullying succeeds.

70cm activity contest

Once a month I go on the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. 

Because of my poor voice I usually stay on for only the first 30 minutes.

I only use 10W pep and a 144MHz big-wheel omni. Despite these limitations I still manage to work over 100km away most times. No doubt the antenna at the other end helps!

UK "feel good" factor

It is usual to say the UK is "going to the dogs" and getting worse, but a recent article on the BBC sheds a different view. Whilst many older people have decreased confidence, confidence is increasing in younger people.

As the year progresses, inflation and interest rates are likely to fall.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c150leql9pgo .

Shetland Islands

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Shetland Is..  

It is generally, bleak, treeless and windy. 

In the last few weeks they have had snowstorms. 

Being that far north, days are short in winter.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My beacon was turned on at 1038z.

UPDATE 1044z:  So far, spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1500z: Spotted by 16 stations with the best V51RS (8481km). Amazing what 200mW WSPR to an indifferent, low, 10m antenna can do!  See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.

Sunspots - Saturday January 17th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 144.  A=26 and K=4.

Hmmm....

Allegedly, the winner of the Nobel Peace prize has given the medal to President Trump.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2w94wp4p1o .