Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 31st 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number is just 12 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" again. I am not yet on 10m WSPR, but will be shortly.

QSYed to 630m WSPR

A few minutes ago I went QRT on 10m and am now active again (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX) on 630m (472kHz) for the evening and overnight.

472kHz WSPR this evening to 2030z

UPDATE 1840z:  Just the single spot on 10m WSPR all day.  Already spots given and received on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2135z:  LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted 7 times so far this evening at up to -22dB S/N. If he is spotting others then there is an outside chance he might copy me at some point during the night.

IC7300 price

Still I reckon that the UK price of the ICOM IC7300 is too high.

With a simple SDR architecture I believe the price should be some way below £1000, but the dealers will keep prices high if buyers are prepared to buy at the high price. What I am saying is the price is what it is because some in our community want this rig and are prepared to pay. I like the IC7300 at a fair price.

Dealers are not greedy, just following the rules of the marketing jungle.  It is only because some are prepared to buy at a high price that the dealers charge this price. All dealers will plead poverty and say their hands are tied by the Dollar prices and exchange rates.

Charge a fair price (dealers make a fair and reasonable profit) and the IC7300 will continue to sell well.  At some point this year there will be an ICOM-Yaesu price war between the IC7300 and the FT991 . ICOM is better placed to win. In the meantime, I shall wait and I hope others will do too.

See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-pc-302.php.

As I have said many times, the IC7300 is a nice radio at the right price.

The reviews of the IC7300 should make interesting reading.
See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12742 .

EU referendum in June - NOT amateur radio

My intention was to vote to remain IN, although I am less sure than I was. At the moment I really have no idea which way I shall vote. Any result would not surprise me. The IN campaign has been very negative so far. They need to be sending a more positive message or people will vote OUT. There are lots of messages about the risks of leaving and very few about the positives of staying IN.

OFCOM Plan

Well this is reassuring. OFCOM has a plan of work.

Someone said I should go easy on OFCOM as there are administrations that are worse in Europe. Well, let us hope they have improved since I dealt directly with them a few years ago. At that time they were totally useless. I can only judge by what I see and experience. If I am wrong then so be it. I certainly hope they have improved.

See http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/annual-reports-and-plans/annual-plans/annual-plan-201617/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Ofcom-confirms-its-work-plan-for-2016-17&utm_term=annual%20plan%2C%20ofcom%2C%20strategy%2C%20communications

Cambridge, UK, Concert - NOT amateur radio

My XYL's concert is in Cambridge this Saturday evening. It should be good. Tickets will be available on the door. For the first time they are using the new concert hall at the Leys School, Trumpington Rd..

Clicking on the poster will bring up a larger image.

See www.cambschoral.org.uk .

Gone home - NOT amateur radio

Our "Kent" grandchildren and their mum and dad returned to their home near
Canterbury today after a few days with us. We have our next guest staying tomorrow for the weekend. Busy!

The first photo shows me with the "Kent" grandchildren outside the windmill next to our home.

The other photo  shows him with the "London" grandchildren who came for the day on Monday. 

Sunspots and 10m - Wed March 30th 2016

Solar flux 87 today but the sunspot number is only 13 (K=2). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" today. I have returned to 10m WSPR for the day. With such a low sunspot number (but relatively undisturbed conditions) it will be interesting to see what 10m brings, if anything, today.

UPDATE 1010z:   I see that HA9AL (1455km) was spotted at 0930z so there is some short-skip on 10m.

UPDATE 1358z:  No further 10m WSPR spots given or received all day since HA9AL earlier today. At the moment 10m seems dire, but I shall stick with the band until this evening, ever hopeful.

UPDATE 1612z:  Still no further 10m WSPR spots.

Going QRT on all bands shortly

As we have guests, I shall probably go QRT on all bands for the night. I shall be back on 10m WSPR tomorrow morning. Although I am still active on 10m WSPR at the moment, there is now little chance of any DX as it is getting late. There is a chance I may copy some Gs but little else on 10m WSPR this evening.

I shall be on 10m WSPR from mid-morning tomorrow and probably get back on 472kHz (630m) WSPR tomorrow when it gets dark. 

UPDATE 1835z:  Now QRT on all bands. No spots here on 10m all day - a real disappointment.

10m WSPR - still quiet

It is nearly the end of the afternoon and there have been no 10m WSPR spots here all day. We are now seeing the effects of falling solar activity. The band does open from time to time, but it is much harder on 10m than a few years ago. Roll on the Es season!