17 Jan 2026

Shetland Islands

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Shetland Is..  

It is generally, bleak, treeless and windy. 

In the last few weeks they have had snowstorms. 

Being that far north, days are short in winter.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My beacon was turned on at 1038z.

UPDATE 1044z:  So far, spotted by EA8BFK (2880km).


UPDATE 1500z
: Spotted by 16 stations with the best V51RS (8481km). Amazing what 200mW WSPR to an indifferent, low, 10m antenna can do!  See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.

Sunspots - Saturday January 17th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 144.  A=26 and K=4.

16 Jan 2026

Hmmm....

Allegedly, the winner of the Nobel Peace prize has given the medal to President Trump.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2w94wp4p1o .

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

In a few moments I will turn on my 5W 6m FT8 gear. It is now 1027z.

UPDATE 1046z: So far 5 English stations have spotted me.


UPDATE 1707z: 
 15 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sold state battery hype?

 At the moment there is a lot of doubt about the claims of a small company revealing a solid state battery at CES that could revolutionise transport.  

This one of many videos that expresses doubts. I guess we will have to wait and see. 

It is true that companies have invested billions and are amazed if a small company really has "cracked it". Time will tell if this really is a breakthrough or just hype.

This was obviously created with the help of AI.

Ukraine's future?

 This was Times Radio's view expressed by Bill Browder.


10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)

My beacon has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE  1056z: Spotted by 3 stations with the best EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1644z:  Spotted by 30 stations. See map from WSPR Rocks by Phil VK7JJ.

Burwell windmill

We are lucky to live right next door to Burwell windmill. It is fully restored. Here it is in full sail with the sails turning. The fantail ensures the main sails point into the wind.



137kHz beacon

Many years ago I did some experiments on the 2200m band. 

This was my prototype beacon that sent CW and QRSS3.