New ICOM mobile transceiver?

Hamvention is now only a few weeks away. It is often the place where new rigs are announced. ICOM has announced a new concept model called the X-026 which may be an HF/VHF/UHF mobile transceiver although details are sketchy. Often these annoucements pre-date release by some time.

 

10m 3W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on mid-morning.

UPDATE 1451z:  23 stations have spotted me with the best UA9MA (4600km).  44 stations have been spotted here. Currently RX only.

Four Quartets - T.S.Eliot

A friend of mine bought me this in 1968. I have never forgotten this and I still have it and treasure it. One of the recurring themes is time. This is an extract.

"Through the unknown, remembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning;

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple-tree

Not known, because not looked for

But heard, half-heard, in the stillness

Between two waves of the sea.

Quick now, here, now, always—

A condition of complete simplicity

(Costing not less than everything)

And all shall be well and

All manner of thing shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one."

See http://www.davidgorman.com/4quartets/ 

Sunspots- Saturday April 25th

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 123 . A=9 and K=1.

Does President Trump have an off-ramp?

 

Certainly it is not clear to me who has won in Iran. President Trump claims victory. So does Iran.

10m 3W FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 0755z. 

UPDATE  1355z:   90 stations spotted here. 8 stations have spotted me. See map of stations spotting me.

Antony Gormley statue

Earlier this week we were in Winchester. 

In the bowels of the cathedral in the crypt, where it often floods, is a statue by Antony Gormley.

When I was there, there was some water, enough to see reflections. Sometimes the water is far higher.

QRP rig

Dave Ingram K4TWJ was a master in the QRP world. Sadly he is a SK.

Sunspots - Friday April 24th

 Solar flux is 128 and the SSN 71. A=7 and K=2.

The Trump Report

 One of the affects of the Iran war is higher fuel costs across the world with the price of oil shooting up. This also adversely impacts consumers in the USA and helps Putin fight his war in Ukraine.

Winchester Cathedral

We have just got back from a few days in Winchester. It is a delightful place with beautiful buildings and a wonderful cathedral. 

At one time it was the capital of England.

10m 3W FT8 (Thursday)

 Since returning from a few days in Winchester, I turned on my 10m FT8 gear.

UPDATE 1935z:   Spotted by 6 stations all in the UK. Now QRT.

Sunspots - Thursday April 23rd

 Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 78. A=5 and K=2.

Winchester, UK

 A few days earlier in Winchester. It is a really nice small place .

Lyrids meteor shower

 This meteor shower peaks tonight. Hopefully there will be some VHF propagation by MS saw a result.

Sunspots - Wednesday April 22nd

 Solar  flux is 112 and the SSN 68. A=19 and K=1.

zBitx - v2

 Steve G1KQH has told me about a new version of the zBitx.

See https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/zbitx-v2/

Sunspots - Tuesday April 21st

 Solar  flux is 105 and the SSN 44. A=24 and K=4.

Copper beech tree

 

This fine tree is in Soham which is about 8km by road. I walk past it most weeks.

Big VHF/UHF signal

When I first came to Cambridge in the early 1970s G8BBB (later G4BEL) was a massive signal from about 10km away. 

He had an excellent takeoff to the south and was very well known. He was the first station I ever copied on 23cm using my tiny indoor 4el yagi smaller than my hand!!

We miss you Roger.