Sunspots - Friday December 6th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 101. A=5 and K=2.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

As usual, I went on for a very short while with my 10W and omni antenna. I do not stop long because of my poor voice. The map shows the stations contacted.

Rallies this Sunday

 The following have been notified to me. Always check before going far.

• British Vintage Wirelesss Society (BVWS)  Swapmeet and auction. Royal Wootton Bassett. BVWS members only.
• Mid-Devon Amateur Radio and Electronics Fair 2024, Winkleigh, EX19 8HZ. Contact wrg2024@hotmail.com .

France - NOT amateur radio

France has just lost its Prime Minister in a vote of confidence. It has a huge public debt. 

Time and again the French government has given in to large demands. In the end, the country cannot afford these so there will be cuts, which will be deeply unpopular. 

Usually when this happens people move to the extreme right or extreme left. I think France, and possibly the whole of Europe, is at dangerous cross-roads.

Wild Shetland - NOT amateur radio

This photo by friend Richard Lewis was posted on 365project. 

It captures the strong winds they often get up there.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand alone QRP W5OLF WSPR TX beacon has been on since about 0915z. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 2232z:  38 spots of me today. QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0915z. So far,  6 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1330z:  30 stations have spotted me and 23 stations spotted here. Nothing "across the pond" on 6m FT8 today.

10m AM QRP transceiver

Before my 2013 stroke I intended to design and build a very simple 10m AM transceiver for nattering across town when 10m is not open for DX such as around sunspot minimum or at night. 

I wanted it to be on a simple PCB and easily built , for example as a club project. In my mind I had a box a bit like a very small Heathkit Benton Harbour Lunchbox. 

With this RX it would not be suitable for DX working as it will not receive SSB. The RX is very sensitive though. 

As it stands it wants taking further with a loudspeaker amplifier and perhaps a small linear. I was hoping someone would take this on and finish the project.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-am-tenbox .

Sunspots - Thursday December 5th

 Solar flux is 175 and the SSN 105. A=6 and K=2.

Oops - NOT amateur radio

 

Our amaryllis toppled over as it was too tall! 

I am sure my wife will be able to rescue it and add a stake.

UPDATE 1545z:  All fine again. Rescued!

10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)

My QRP beacon was turned on just before breakfast. So far, just spots by EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is..

UPDATE 1335z:  22 stations have spotted me with the furthermost F61695 (9729km)  in the Indian Ocean.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My gear was turned on just before breakfast. So far, I have been spotted by 21 stations.

UPDATE 1330z:  56 stations have spotted me, all in Europe.

UPDATE 1516z: K1TOL has been spotted on 6m FT8 RX although I know Lofty has a big station with huge antennas on 6m. I recall working him on 6m QRP CW many years ago. I think this was Es.

Foula, Shetland- NOT amateur radio

 Foula is a very isolated inhabited island in the Shetland Islands. It has no ferry or air links. The community is very cut off.

2m activity contest UKAC

 Every month I take part in the 2m activity contest with my 10W and big-wheel omni antenna. Because of my poor voice I rarely stop on very long, but I enjoy the SSB activity. Last evening I worked just 4 stations, but one was in Wales.

Full flower - NOT amateur radio

One of our 4 amaryllis plants is now fully in flower. Another week and it will look past its best. 

Hopefully one of the others will soon be as glorious.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 4th

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 126. A=12 and K=1..

More Christmas cheer - NOT amateur radio

This was in a Cambridge department store earlier. 

Now it is December, I am happy. Earlier, I am not!

Orchids

The photo shows our orchids. The tiny black dot was our last remaining wild  blackberry that I was hoping would ripen on the windowsill. Alas!!

Singing reindeer - NOT amateur radio

The kids love this!  

The Grand Arcade in Cambridge is gearing up for the Christmas season. As we grow older, we become cynical, but to young ones it is magic. 

Whatever your religious views this is a time for love, peace and joy. 

I still do not understand why there is so much hate and greed in the world. We never seem to learn from history. Why can't we live at peace and just accept that we are all different and have basic human rights?

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about  0720z. 

UPDATE 1900z: 57 stations have spotted me. The furthermost is F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean. QRT soon.