Sunspots - Friday December 10th 2021

 Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 0 again. A=3 and K=1.

160m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Since teatime I have been on 160m FT8 RX with the active Wellgood loop on the shack window. So far (at 1939z) 86 stations spotted with the furthermost RN7T (3082km). 

Desk Calendar - NOT amateur radio

This is for my room. The cover is of the windpump at nearby Wicken Fen. 

UK Christmas Parties? - NOT amateur radio

With the new Omicron Covid-19 variant it would appear that this is more transmissible than earlier variants, but indications (early) are that it is less severe. For most people it presents a bit like a cold, not needing hospital treatment.

With luck, this will soon become the dominant variant and herd immunity will result in the virus subsiding. There is a risk still that hospitals could be overwhelmed, so the UK government has taken measures to slow the growth.  It seems inevitable that this variant will soon be the dominant one.

Recently rumours have emerged about parties at the UK Prime Minister's premises in Downing Street last Christmas. These have always been denied, but they are being investigated.

What seems to be true is that the UK people largely follow the Covid rules despite the government rather than because of them.

Government credibility would be higher if they always led by example.

Clearly any gathering carries the risk of spreading the virus.

One of the best rigs ever?

Some years ago, I sold my IC-703 to a local friend. He used it mainly on 20m. Looking back, it was one of the best radios I have ever owned. It covered 160m to 6m with 10W,  auto ATU, speech processing and DSP. 

I managed to blow my PAs which were easily fixed. Otherwise it was faultless. These are hard to find these days, but for a multi-band, multi-mode QRP radio it is hard to beat.

These days it is replaced by the IC-705. This covers more bands and has a few extras, but does not have an auto-ATU.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-703 .

10m FT8 (Thursday)

After a brief TX period (2 mins?) around 0900z, I am on 10m FT8 RX only. At 0922z no spots given or received. 

UPDATE 1130z:  Just 6 spots on 10m FT8 RX so far. Most of these look like tropo or aircraft reflection with no signs here of F2 or Es.  Furthermost is DO8WA (499km), Sometimes in December and January there is a small mid-winter Es peak. Don't ask me why as I do not know!

160m FT8 RX overnight

317 stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX with the indoor Wellgood loop. Furthermost was UA9MA (4598km) in Omsk. No USA stations last night.

Will it catch on?

This was a Facebook memory from last December. 

Sunspots - Thursday December 9th 2021

 Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 0. A=5 and K=1. 

160m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

 A few moments ago I QSYed to 160m FT8 RX. So far, 48 stations spotted with the indoor Wellgood active antenna.