We have now had snow on the ground for several days, which is unusual. After overnight rain it's mostly gone.
7 Jan 2026
Snowy garden
We have now had snow on the ground for several days, which is unusual. After overnight rain it's mostly gone.
2m operation
Last evening was the activity contest on 2m. Having worked a couple of stations I stopped because of my poor voice and low ERP (10W pep to the big-wheel omni).
For a very short time I decided to switch to FT8. With just a few TX bursts I was copied internationally. See map.
I think ERP helps on 2m SSB.
6 Jan 2026
SOTA/POTA endfed tuner kit
It's no good - I know you've been here!
This bird was hunting for some food.
I doubt it had ever seen snow before.
These days it is unusual to get snow on the ground. In fact it is about 7 years since we had snow like this. Many winters pass without much snow at all.
10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1005z.
UPDATE 1220z: 6 stations have spotted me. See map from WSPRRocks by Phil VK7JJ.
6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)
My gear was turned on at about 1005z.
UPDATE 1012z: So far, 4 English spots of me.
Snowy close
This was the view from our lounge window.
5 Jan 2026
The world of the bullies
It is clear now that the rules of international law have been replaced by the world of power and dominance.
It is basically the rules of the jungle as those with power fight over resources. This is a major shift in the way the world operates.
If you are a minnow be prepared to be bullied by those with might. Sad.
Getting lighter
Both in the mornings and evenings it’s getting slightly lighter. In the evening it is already 16 minutes lighter.
10m 100mW WSPR (Monday)
My gear is on 10m 100mW WSPR this morning.
4 Jan 2026
10m 100mW FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at about 1030z.
UPDATE 2030z: Spotted by 76 stations. See map. Not bad for 100mW FT8. QRT soon
Cold village
So far this winter we have avoided the snow but it has been very cold and sunny as the photo shows.
The world in 2026
There is little doubt that we are now moving to "spheres of influence" with the world divided up.
The most probable divisions are the USA, China and Russia. Already President Trump is seeing the western world as his "sphere of influence" (e.g. Venezuela, Panama and Greenland). This is imperialism in the 21st century.
I think President Trump wants Ukraine to just "go away" and he sees Gaza as a necessary evil preferring it to somehow be at peace with Israel. He hopes (I think) for regime change in Iran. Hamas is seen as an impediment to peace in the Middle East.
The move to get the world's dependence on Taiwanese semiconductors to stop would lead to the USA somehow "disconnecting" from the Far East. This suggests if China wanted a new relationship (or even an invasion) with Taiwan, Trump would not get involved as long as world economics was not affected.
Let's hope that these new empires live in peaceful coexistence.
New moon
It makes my attempts look pathetic!
Web SDRs
One useful resource these days are online web SDRs allowing you to "get a feel" of what it is like to listen in other parts of the world.
One example is http://vhfsdr.gb0snb.com:8074/#freq=50153148,mod=usb,sql=-150
3 Jan 2026
15m 100mW WSPR (Saturday)
For a change I am on 15m 100mW WSPR. Lots of spots.
UPDATE 2030z: 19 stations have spotted me. See table. The impression I have is that results with 100mW WSPR are broadly similar to 5W FT8.
6m 2W WSPR (Saturday)
At about 1442 I QSYed to 6m QRP WSPR.
UPDATE 1447z: Spotted by 2 English stations.
Amateur TV live streams
10m 100mW WSPR (Saturday)
My gear was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1308z: 17 stations have spotted me. See table.
UPDATE 1432z: 29 stations have spotted my 100mW 10m WSPR.
Pathetic attempt
In real life the moon looked huge whereas in the photo it looked like a tiny dot!
2 Jan 2026
6m 2W WSPR (Friday)
WSPR is not a mode I widely use on 6m, so I thought I would try it. My gear was turned on at about 1445z.
UPDATE 1456z: Spotted by 2 stations so far, both English.
6m 5W FT8 (Friday)
At about 1422z I QSYed to 6m FT8.
UPDATE 1430z: Spotted by 2 English stations so far.
Regime change?
If I have understood correctly, the USA president no longer wants the USA to be the world's policeman and is going for a more isolationist position. He is also looking for a "safer" world with fewer conflicts.
We can all agree on the latter, but I suspect most would seek a world based on freedom and justice for all humankind. It would appear we are moving more towards a world of empires run by powerful rich billionaires.
President Trump's recent statements on Iran seem contradictory. There is little doubt he sees Iran as a threat to world order and stability, but I get the feeling he is really hoping there will be regime change in Iran.
10m 100mW WSPR (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 1145z.
UPDATE 1205z: Already spotted by 3 stations.
UPDATE 1354z: 20 spots of my 100mW 10m WSPR. See table, and map from WSPR Rocks.
10m 1W FT8 (Friday)
My IC-705 was turned on before breakfast.
UPDATE 1120z: 143 stations have spotted me with the most distant RA5CW (4778km).
Interconnected world
It concerns me just how interconnected much of our life now is and how all this could collapse like a pack of cards.
Much electricity in the UK is produced from gas. Without gas, less heating , less electricity. Less electricity less travel as fewer traffic lights. Less electricity less delivery, less food. Less pumping affecting water and sewage.
I am not a fan of isolationism but if the intention is to reduce this interdependency I have some sympathy.
One way of reducing this interdependency is large trading blocks such as the EU, China, Russia and the USA. Basically trading within the blocks adds a degree of security.
Outside large trading blocks we become very vulnerable.
1 Jan 2026
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 1054z: 7 stations have spotted me including one OH.
UPDATE 2142: QRT soon. Lots of Europeans (63) have copied me today. See map.
10m 500mW WSPR ( Thursday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1000z.
UPDATE 1018z: Spotted by nobody yet.
UPDATE 2138z: 20 stations have spotted me. See map from WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ. QRT soon.
Space travel
Just now I watched a video on YouTube about space travel.
It made the point that distances are huge and even if we reach speeds approaching that of light, it would take so long that a human space traveller, even with time dilation for the traveller, would arrive back on Earth millions of years in the future.
Even unmanned probes do not solve this problem. Inter-stellar travel really poses all sorts of problems. Essentially any such space travellers have a one way ticket.
Sunspots - Thursday January 1st
Happy New Year everyone. May the year bring you and those you love health and happiness.
Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 127. A=7 and K=3.
31 Dec 2025
Thoughts on 8m
In the last few years I have (not now) had an 8m TX permit in the UK.
I ran 2.5W to a low dipole using my FT817ND modified by the dealer MLS. Most DX paths were worked on FT8 like South Africa, USA, Canada and the Caribbean.
Both OFCOM and the dealer were helpful, although I am sorry to say I did NOT find the RSGB supportive or helpful in the least. To be honest the RSGB appeared dead set against me and even a temporary NoV. Instead I had to pay £50 to do propagation research when many other CEPT nations gave either temporary or permanent access to the band.
In the RSGB's defence, they are often dependent on volunteers and saw defending 6m as a higher priority.
In my view, the most important propagation research was around sunspot maximum. We are now on the downward slope. Yes, there may well be more very long paths opening especially N-S and there will be other modes such as Es and MS.
What of the future? I cling to the (weak) hope that the RSGB will change to a more supportive role and encourage OFCOM to join other enlightened CEPT nations that have allowed radio amateurs access to the band. Unless we gain free access to the band I am unlikely to apply for a TX permit.
6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)
My gear was turned on after breakfast.
UPDATE 1524z: 16 stations have spotted me in 4 countries with the furthest SM5EPO (1344km). See map.
UPDATE 2120z: 28 stations spotted me today. See map. Now QRT.
10m 500mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My stand-alone W5OLF (SK) beacon was turned on after breakfast, It must now be over 10 years old.
UPDATE 2215z: 21 stations spotting me. Map courtesy of WSPRrocks by Phil VK7JJ.
Amaryllis
It usually takes about 6 weeks to grow from just the bulb to mature flowers.
We often have them out around now and I have a new one to plant that should mature around mid February.
30 Dec 2025
10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1500z.
UPDATE 1526z: So far, spotted by just one station in the USA.
6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)
At about 1455z, I QSYed to 6m 5W FT8.
UPDATE 1521z: Spotted by 5 English stations.
10m 1W FT8 (Tuesday)
As mentioned earlier, I decided to go on 10m 1W FT8.
UPDATE 1435z: 1l0 stations have spotted me. See map.
DXpedition
These days I don’t chase DX but you may be interested in the DXpedition to an island in the Caribbean quite close to Puerto Rico. I had to check where this was as I had no idea!!
Too interconnected?
In these days we live in a very interconnected way and we take this for granted.
Electricity in the UK (and many places) comes from gas a great deal still. Most of the UK's food is imported. Most goods are bought with cards. Fuel is imported. Most of out manufactured goods come from abroad. The internet works because it is vastly connected. Most of us depend on our smart phones.
Just imagine if we had a sudden shock and had to live without some (or all) of these. Would society be able to cope?
Tuesday plans
Probably more 10m 500mW WSPR and 6m 5W FT8, but I may decide differently! In the end I went on 10m FT8 with 1W!!
Fog of war
Always in times of war opposing sides slag the other side off.
It is hard to see through this “fog” and get at the truth.
The measure of a good politician is to be able to see through this and steer the right course.
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