Sunspots - Saturday December 7th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 103.  A=5 and K=1.

Christmas spirit - NOT amateur radio

This was the entrance to our local museum last weekend. They had a very happy "Father Christmas" day that was very successful. 

All the kids (and adults!) had a really good time.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My QRP FT8  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since just before breakfast. 22 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 1538z:  Now spotted by 42 stations with the furthermost DU6/PE1NSQ (11141km).  On 6m FT8 RX an XV8 was spotted working a Swedish station. See map with bars for stations that spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.  See table for the stations received here today on 6m FT8.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 My beacon has been on since just before breakfast. 2 stations have spotted me so far

UPDATE 1552z:  Spotted by 31 stations. I think this is via F2 propagation. See table.

King's College Chapel - NOT amateur radio

The Christmas service of nine lessons and carols from here is watched around the world by about 370 million people.  Some people queue all night for tickets.

It was quiet yesterday.

Friday plans

Later this morning I hope to go on 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8.

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.

6m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0720z. So far 10 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 0946z:  27 stations have spotted me with the furthermost UN3G (5538km) in Kazakhstan.

UPDATE 1431z:  69 spots of me today on 6m QRP FT8 including VO1SIX (3933km). See map with bars.

UPDATE 1453z:   64 stations spotted here today on 6m FT8. See map with dots.

UPDATE 1901z:   78 stations have spotted me. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 3rd

 Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 111. A=6 and K=3.

Christmas in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Now it is December, I have no worries about Christmas decorations or Christmas promotions. 

The photo shows the Grand Arcade in Cambridge. 

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon has been on since about 0915z.  4 stations spotting me at 0935z.

UPDATE 1945z:  44 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 6m FT8 has been on since about 0915z. 21 spots of me at 0932z.

UPDATE 1945z:  59 stations have spotted me with the furthermost VK6ZLX (13742km). Now QRT.

Father Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday the local museum and windmill held a Father Christmas Day with Father Christmas in the windmill. The little ones loved it and, despite the drizzle, it was a real success and a very happy day.

Sunspots - Monday December 2nd

Solar  flux is 186 and the SSN 83. A=7 and K=2.

Tempus fugit - NOT amateur radio

At the start of each month there is just one photo of mine for the month on 365project.org . After, what seems, a blink the month is full.  Tempus fugit. 

Solar cycle peak

People often want to know when this occurs. My best place for solar data is the Solan website, but you may have your own. 

It often varies depending on the period averaged, but my site thinks it was October 2024. Conditions remain good for some years yet.

6m FT8 QRP with the IC-705 (Sunday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0925z. So far, spotted by 10 stations with the furthermost F1PBZ (696km).

UPDATE 2006z:  QRT. 62 stations have spotted me.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

 This morning, I turned on my beacon at about 0925z.  Before you ask, yes I did turn on the PSU as well this time!  

UPDATE  2009z: Spotted by 50 stations. 

Amaryliss - NOT amateur radio

 

We enjoy growing these house plants from bulbs at this time of year. 

We try to stagger them so they flower at different times. 

The first (shown in the photo) is now in flower and looks great.

Japanese Sixbox

Some years ago, I was asked if a Japanese magazine could use my Sixbox in an article. I said "yes" although I have no idea what it says!

Sunspots - Sunday December 1st

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 103. A=11 and K=1.