QSL Card bug?

In the last few months I have received several QSL cards by email which were useless as the QSO was dated 0000-00-00!

Caveat emptor!!

Back home

After our brief trip to Amsterdam by Eurostar (through train from London), we are now back home, so the usual things have to be done like unpacking, washing etc 😢. 

We love Amsterdam and have been there many times. 

Even though there are cobbles and trams and lots of bikes 🚲 as well as driving on the wrong side of the road (!!) I actually found it easier than the last time.

Sunspots - Saturday September 6th

 Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 128.  A=8 and K=3.

Saturday plans

 Now we are back home I plan to go on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR tomorrow. 

Amsterdam Centraal Station

We came home by Eurostar today. 

In continental Europe they can have “double decker” trains as they do not have the height limits we have in the UK.

Begijnhof, Amsterdam

This is a quiet oasis of calm and tranquility in the heart of a busy city. We have been here often.

Sunspots - Friday September 5th

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 150. A=10 and K =1

Amsterdam flower market

 

They certainly like their bulbs in Amsterdam! This was the flower market earlier this afternoon.

Swimming in the Singel Canal, Amsterdam

 Imagine my surprise when I saw these people swimming past my hotel window this morning.  The Amsterdam canals must be pretty clean.  I guess they come early to avoid the boats.

Best value transceivers?

 Like most things, in the end it comes down to personal choice and budget. 

If you are after a 100W rig the Yaesu FT710 is hard to beat and includes an automatic ATU and 4m in Europe. It can also be widebanded with just button presses with no uncasing or hardware mods.

At the new lower price the ICOM IC-705 is hard to beat as a 10W radio. There are lower cost products from India and China 🇨🇳.