Plans for Sunday

 Probably the same as yesterday with QRP WSPR on 10m and 6m QRP FT8 

SAQ VLF

As is often the case, the historic alternator TX in Grimeton, Sweden on 17.2kHz is sending a CW test message at 0800z on Christmas Eve. It is often used by people to test their VLF receiver systems. Sometimes they issue a QSL card. The power is 200kW.

See https://alexander.n.se/en/ .

Sunspots- Sunday December 22nd

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN 152. A=16 and K=2.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at the narrowband activity on Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. My own view is activity is pathetically low. As I have said many times I think the main issue is the lack of a volume market in the USA and Japan as these are outside the footprint of the satellite. This means no interest by the big manufacturers.

My last peek was lunchtime in Europe on Saturday.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Christmas cheer? - NOT amateur radio

How to be cheered up for Christmas (NOT). Saw this on The Knowledge earlier:

"Scientists who are trying to create microbes that present an “unprecedented risk” to life on Earth. That’s according to an international group of Nobel laureates and other experts, says The New York Times, who warn that so-called “mirror bacteria” – synthetic organisms made from mirror images of natural molecules – could evade the immune defences of natural organisms, causing an “unstoppable pandemic, devastating crop losses or the collapse of entire ecosystems”. "

As my father-in-law once said, "I'm glad I am on the way out". 

Dusk on Shetland - NOT amateur radio

My friend Richard Lewis posts some amazing shots on 365project. 

The days are short and the wind can really blow, but he comes up with shots like this!

Finding that lost Malaysian Plane - NOT amateur radio

The search for the Malaysian plane MH370 that was lost in the Indian Ocean 10 years ago is to be resumed.

Apparently analysing WSPR reports allows the path of the plane to be tracked. I hope they are successful as this must be a nightmare for relatives of those on board. They want answers.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 Just after breakfast, my 500mW beacon was turned on. No spots of me at 0850z.

UPDATE 1005z: Spotted by 4 stations so far.

UPDATE 1500z: 26 stations have spotted me so far. 

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My IC-705 QRP FT8 was turned on just after breakfast. So far, just English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1013z:  Spotted by 22 stations.

UPDATE 1500z: 34 stations have spotted me. Am I seeing F2 backscatter or winter Es?

VHF NFD - early 1970s I think

This was posted recently. It reminds me of doing VHF NFD with G3PYE/P on the Quantocks in the early 1970s . I think we came second? 

In those days it was in early September as I recall. Happy days when we were all quite young!! I have no idea who the people in the photo are. It’s not our group. 

As I remember we left a Kingshill PSU behind up there. If it is still there it is covered in rust and ferns 😉😉. 

Those were the days!