Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

11 Dec 2022

Bouvet DXpedition 2023

It is a very long time since DXCC was chased. 10m DXCC was managed with QRP SSB back in the 1980s. Ever since it has not appealed to me.

Next January (January 2023), there is supposed to be a DXpedition to Bouvet. This is in the South Atlantic Ocean and is the most remote uninhabited island in the world. It is owned by Norway. The callsign is meant to be 3Y0J (I think). DXCC chasers will be going mad to work this station. No doubt I shall stand back and leave them to shout! Can you imagine the pile ups?!! Somehow I can imagine those with big beams and big linears will be shouting very loudly! Let's hope the operators like wind, penguins and seals.

The photo attribution is the International Space Station crew, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvet_Island.

Sunspots - Sunday December 11th 2022

Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 111. A=8 and K=2.

10 Dec 2022

Bah humbug - NOT amateur radio

This was the Grand Arcade in Cambridge a few days ago gearing up for Christmas.

At least, the lights cheer us all up at a dark time of the year. They say Christmas was originally a Pagan festival.

Frosty morning - NOT amateur radio

When I first came to Cambridge in the early 1970s, it was cold and frosty in the winter. Snow, when it occurred, usually lasted for several days. These days, snow is rare and frosts are infrequent. The climate is milder.

These last few days it has been exceptionally cold. The photo was taken a few days ago outside our bungalow. It is extremely cold (for us) at the moment, although we have escaped most of the snow.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Despite being on QRP FT8 most of the day, no spots.

Someone else to do 8m ISM tests locally

Another local ham is to do tests on the 8m ISM bands.

Once the weather gets better, he is doing some 10mW ERP tests (using his signal generator) to me across the fens. Hopefully I can receive him. He usually very strong on 2m FM with 25W. I think he erecting an 8m dipole for these tests. Antenna work needs better weather!