My shack PC is playing up again.
When I try to enter my PIN, it thinks I am offline. Apparently this is a common issue with Windows. Last time it just fixed itself, so I shall try again later with fingers crossed.
My intention was to try 500mW FT8 today on 6m.
In the Northern Hemisphere, after the summer solstice, evenings start to get darker earlier. At first, this is slow, but by September it becomes obvious. This year, rather than long for the return of brighter evenings, I intend to just accept them and enjoy them.
Every season has something good.
At present we have summer to be enjoyed.
My beacon was turned on at about 0730z.
UPDATE 0906z: 6 stations have spotted me.
Kierkegaard was a famous Danish philosopher. One of his famous sayings (been on before) was:
Despite England being out of the FIFA World Cup final they were clearly hoping plenty would turn out for the third place match which they won 6:4.
I hope that Spain win in the final and President Trump says nothing.
The trouble with YouTube these days is that it is very hard to tell what is real and what is just AI clickbait. I am still on Windows 10! This appeared yesterday.
This is a philosophical question.
We experience time as flowing from the past into the future obeying the laws of thermodynamics that things get more disordered following entropy.
All this could be an illusion in our finite brains.
At the quantum level current theories show some things independent of time and that time does not just flow forward.
I think we just have to admit we do not know.
In my view, President Trump has made matters in the Middle East and the world far worse.
With Israel, he started a war. I assume President Trump was expecting a more pro-Western government to emerge? This has not happened. Iran has emerged stronger.
Iran has long been known as having a nasty government, but the USA is, sadly, seen by many in the world as a bully. This is so sad as when I have been involved with people in the USA they have, without fail, been warm, kind and generous.
The world has been cushioned by the release of strategic reserves, but these cannot go on for ever.
The world is in great danger of a financial shock as a result of the war against Iran, that badly misfired.
My gear was turned on at about 0620z.
UPDATE 1924z: Spotted by 241 stations today. Tomorrow I shall probably try 500mW FT8. QRT soon.
My beacon was turned on at 0620z.
UPDATE 1923z: 49 stations have spotted my little beacon. QRT soon.
You can tell we’re in the Es season as I was widely spotted across Europe on 6m FT8 yesterday.
In all, 237 stations spotted me.
Outside the Es season mostly it’s white noise.
Especially when the weather is good (as in most of the UK recently), many enjoy portable operations with SOTA and POTA becoming popular.
It is not uncommon to leave something at home, especially if lots are being packed.
MLS has produced a video recommending some of the products they sell.
For a change, I am on 2m FT8 with 5W to the big-wheel omni antenna.
UPDATE 1537z: So far, spotted by 10 English stations. Furthest is G7RAU (460km) in Cornwall.
In his time Sir Clive Sinclair was a real innovator.
In my early days at work, I was once asked for my advice from Sir Clive about antennas for his pocket TV. I think there was a possibility of my company developing ICs jointly with Sinclair.
Wisely, I think he chose a different antenna, but it was a highlight of my early years!
For those unfamiliar with these license free mesh systems, the jury is out.
It reminds me a bit like VHS v Betamax. It also reminds me of the early days of the internet, when things were far from mature. It would not surprise me if things quickly mature and one system soon dominates.
In cities where the coverage is good, these systems. that do not depend on the internet, probably work quite well. In rural areas or where coverage is poor, it is probably of limited use at the moment.
I have never used either ...... yet. At the moment I am waiting! I hope it's better than pocket calculators where I waited and waited.😊
We always have some with breakfast and my wife makes a lovely blackberry and apple crumble which is great with ice-cream.
Every Thursday there is an hour long edition of the Trump Report with Professor Scott Lucas.
They were still around in the skies overhead when we had coffee outside just now.
I am pleasantly surprised by the numbers holding up. Numbers have fallen in the last 30 years and they are on the RSPB's red list of endangered species.
