40m FT8 RX

Just for a change, I went on 40m FT8 RX using my 8m dipole which of course is very non-resonant. 

After 50 minutes, 104 stations spotted (see map).

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight is the 70cm leg of the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. It starts at 2000z.  I usually go on SSB for about 45 minutes with 10W to the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. As it sounds rough outside, I expect conditions to be flat. 

UPDATE 2038z:  Just one station worked! It is my view that there are now fewer stations on SSB. After about 15 minutes I gave up as there were so few stations active. Maybe tomorrow in the FT8 UKAC there will be more.

70cm FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 70cm FT8 RX.  Tomorrow is the 70cm activity contest, so tonight I expect to copy none, or at best, very few stations.

UPDATE 1941z:   No spots.

Shetland winter - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted recently on 365project. It shows the Shetland Is (Scotland) in winter. This far north, days are very short.

Because of the wind, there are very few trees.

Practical Wireless article

In the February 2023 issue of Practical Wireless is my article about 8m. Practical Wireless now incorporates Radio User.  

The latter used to be a magazine mainly for SWLs. I hope the ending of Radio User is not the start of many magazine closures.

Wall map - NOT amateur radio

This wall map is in our small bedroom where our grandsons sleep. Occasionally it falls down and is a right pain to put back. It fell off a few days ago and was put back yesterday.

8m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

For several hours, I have been on 8m QRP FT8. At 1335z, no spots today. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

Yet again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. Already 4 unique stations spotting me at 1030z after a very short time. No surprises.

Stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR at 1030z today

UPDATE 1310z:  No further stations, but more spots.

Stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR to 1505z

UPDATE 1505z:   11 unique stations have so far spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR (see table).

UPDATE 1615z:  14 unique stations have spotted me.

Oscar 100 activity - terrible!

Every few weeks I give an update on activity levels on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. It is very low! 

The only activity seems to be from Germany and these are just "59" exchanges. As far as I can tell, this is a total failure. The satellite works well, but people do not like talking through this "repeater in the sky".

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 10th 2023

Solar flux is 191 and the SSN 142.  A=5 and K=1.