25 Aug 2015
10m Es
There was Es on 10m WSPR this afternoon (Italy and Hungary), but no Es seen here on 6m WSPR all day. We are definitely at the back end of the Es season.
472kHz preamp
As mentioned some days ago, I received a 472kHz preamp from a very kind, anonymous, person recently. In the next few days I need to check FT817 sensitivity with and without the preamp. Assuming it makes a very useful difference, I'll try 472kHz WSPR receive to see what I can copy using the earth-electrode antenna at this time of year when the LF and MF bands are still quite noisy.
UK FTSE 100 share index - NOT amateur radio
It is too early in the day to be sure, but at the moment the UK's FTSE 100 index is well up on the dramatic falls seen yesterday.
China is still spooking the stock markets around the world. Investors are worried by the slower growth in China and are wondering if its engine is losing steam and the impact this will have on the world. Lots of us are dependent on China as big pension funds may have invested heavily in China.
At one time we were all worried by Japan. Then the Japanese ran out of steam and everyone saw China as the new engine of growth (and low costs) in the Far East.
For too long we have lived off low cost imports from China. Perhaps that era is drawing to a close? Not quite yet, but at least the prospect is now real. Maybe we'll see European manufacturing again in ascendance? The sooner we all live within our means the better. The last few years were a blip.
UPDATE 1712z: In the end the FTSE 100 index ended up over 3% higher. This crisis is far from over. The Chinese government has reduced interest rates. This will encourage companies and individuals to become even more indebted. When the crash finally comes, and it will, these investors will lose big time. This will make the Wall Street Crash of 1929 look tame. No, we should be seriously concerned by developments in China. We in the west will be affected.
China is still spooking the stock markets around the world. Investors are worried by the slower growth in China and are wondering if its engine is losing steam and the impact this will have on the world. Lots of us are dependent on China as big pension funds may have invested heavily in China.
At one time we were all worried by Japan. Then the Japanese ran out of steam and everyone saw China as the new engine of growth (and low costs) in the Far East.
For too long we have lived off low cost imports from China. Perhaps that era is drawing to a close? Not quite yet, but at least the prospect is now real. Maybe we'll see European manufacturing again in ascendance? The sooner we all live within our means the better. The last few years were a blip.
UPDATE 1712z: In the end the FTSE 100 index ended up over 3% higher. This crisis is far from over. The Chinese government has reduced interest rates. This will encourage companies and individuals to become even more indebted. When the crash finally comes, and it will, these investors will lose big time. This will make the Wall Street Crash of 1929 look tame. No, we should be seriously concerned by developments in China. We in the west will be affected.
IC7300, FT991 or wait for the FT817 replacement?
At the moment I am looking for a new rig, but I am prepared to wait some time. I have never been keen on running high power and 5-10W would serve me well. I like that the new IC7300 is SDR based, but I like that the FT991 includes 2m and 70cm.
At the moment I think I'll just wait for the FT817 replacement. I hope this includes 4m, but it sounds like it uses the same IF as the FT991, so I guess 4m is unlikely. Ideally I think the IC7300s (10W version) would be a good bet, especially if this comes out with 4m too.
I dislike fans, so I assume the IC7300S and FT817 replacement will not have these? Lets hope ICOM market the IC7300S as a QRP radio in Europe. 10W pep is a decent power. Certainly enough power for most occasions.
UPDATE 0934z: It would not surprise me if the FT817 replacement stayed at 5W but they also had a companion booster amplifier, maybe 20-50W. As we will be on the way down in the solar cycle next year (2016) this may be a reasonable compromise. What would they do about the auto ATU? I guess any bolt-on amp would have to have its own. I still think Yaesu seriously misjudged the market for this rig and the timing. There are so many FT817s out there and people have been gagging for a replacement/enhanced version for years. Now Yaesu is playing catch-up rather than leading. As I said yesterday, this new radio will need some seriously good features if it is to sell as well as the FT817 has done. Oh, expect some very good deals on the FT817ND early next year. The dealers will want to clear shelves in readiness of the new one.
At the moment I think I'll just wait for the FT817 replacement. I hope this includes 4m, but it sounds like it uses the same IF as the FT991, so I guess 4m is unlikely. Ideally I think the IC7300s (10W version) would be a good bet, especially if this comes out with 4m too.
I dislike fans, so I assume the IC7300S and FT817 replacement will not have these? Lets hope ICOM market the IC7300S as a QRP radio in Europe. 10W pep is a decent power. Certainly enough power for most occasions.
UPDATE 0934z: It would not surprise me if the FT817 replacement stayed at 5W but they also had a companion booster amplifier, maybe 20-50W. As we will be on the way down in the solar cycle next year (2016) this may be a reasonable compromise. What would they do about the auto ATU? I guess any bolt-on amp would have to have its own. I still think Yaesu seriously misjudged the market for this rig and the timing. There are so many FT817s out there and people have been gagging for a replacement/enhanced version for years. Now Yaesu is playing catch-up rather than leading. As I said yesterday, this new radio will need some seriously good features if it is to sell as well as the FT817 has done. Oh, expect some very good deals on the FT817ND early next year. The dealers will want to clear shelves in readiness of the new one.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues Aug 25th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped a little to 71 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to remain "fair". Certainly here, there was no sign, on 10m WSPR, of any F2 propagation. Es seems to have died down on 6m WSPR although there is still Es on 10m WSPR. I am still awaiting some nice F2 openings on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 0906z: No Es today on either 10m or 6m WSPR so far this morning.
UPDATE 1216z: Still no Es seen here on either 10m or 6m WSPR today.
UPDATE 0906z: No Es today on either 10m or 6m WSPR so far this morning.
UPDATE 1216z: Still no Es seen here on either 10m or 6m WSPR today.
24 Aug 2015
East Anglian Churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio
Last week we called at delightful Aylsham in north Norfolk on our way to
Blickling (National Trust). We visited the church there and I have updated our East
Anglian Churches blog.
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/
More on the IC7300 and the FT817 replacement
See http://yo9irf.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/icom-reveals-first-sdr-ic-7300.html .
YO9IRF has been collecting data on the ICOM IC7300. Although no 2m or 70cm it looks like the first true SDR radio from the big players in Japan.
He also tells me the Yaesu personnel dropped a hint that the long awaited FT817 replacement would be launched at Dayton next year. Personally, I think Yaesu badly misjudged the market and should have launched this when the peak of cycle 24 was still building. They are 3-4 years too late! What a sales opportunity wasted. Now, with waning solar activity that could last for 30-40 years, who will buy it? They had a ready market for half a million units worldwide. It had better have some really strong features if it is to sell in 2016 onwards.
YO9IRF has been collecting data on the ICOM IC7300. Although no 2m or 70cm it looks like the first true SDR radio from the big players in Japan.
He also tells me the Yaesu personnel dropped a hint that the long awaited FT817 replacement would be launched at Dayton next year. Personally, I think Yaesu badly misjudged the market and should have launched this when the peak of cycle 24 was still building. They are 3-4 years too late! What a sales opportunity wasted. Now, with waning solar activity that could last for 30-40 years, who will buy it? They had a ready market for half a million units worldwide. It had better have some really strong features if it is to sell in 2016 onwards.
Stroke "truth drug" - NOT amateur radio
Another after-effect of my stroke seems to be a degree of lack of inhibition. Sometimes this is seen as being tactless, but maybe I see things "as they are" more clearly now and am prepared to express this? There is no doubt this gets me in to trouble at times. In many social situations it is better to say nothing than the wrong thing.
BTW, I am on no medication for my stroke, just statins which I have taken for years which keeps my cholesterol in good limits with no side effects.
BTW, I am on no medication for my stroke, just statins which I have taken for years which keeps my cholesterol in good limits with no side effects.
Sunspots and 10m - looking better - Mon Aug 24th 2015
Sunspot number is 93 today (K=2) and for the first time in weeks 10m propagation is "fair" rather than "poor". Are things looking up?
UPDATE 0852z: On 10m WSPR just spots by M0MVB (30km) and no 10m Es yet.
UPDATE 0900z: Just the usual spots by G0OQK (98km) on 6m WSPR and no 6m Es yet. On both 6m and 10m WSPR I am seeing no sign yet of any F2 propagation on WSPR, but of course activity is way down on last year. 10m and 6m are just to hard work for many. There are currently about 1/3rd of stations active on 10m and 6m compared with last year.
UPDATE 0852z: On 10m WSPR just spots by M0MVB (30km) and no 10m Es yet.
UPDATE 0900z: Just the usual spots by G0OQK (98km) on 6m WSPR and no 6m Es yet. On both 6m and 10m WSPR I am seeing no sign yet of any F2 propagation on WSPR, but of course activity is way down on last year. 10m and 6m are just to hard work for many. There are currently about 1/3rd of stations active on 10m and 6m compared with last year.
23 Aug 2015
Met Office and the BBC - NOT amateur radio
Next year, the BBC will no longer use the Met Office for its weather
forecasts. I have no idea who they will use instead. I very much doubt
the forecasts will be any better, but at least they will be able to buy
better seaweed, HI.
For a long time I have been critical of our weather forecasts. Yes, I know UK weather is complicated but as a minimum they should give a level of confidence in any forecast. Sometimes they are useless with even the forecast for a few hours hence being wrong. Often it is as good to look out the window.
For a long time I have been critical of our weather forecasts. Yes, I know UK weather is complicated but as a minimum they should give a level of confidence in any forecast. Sometimes they are useless with even the forecast for a few hours hence being wrong. Often it is as good to look out the window.
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