Broadband - NOT amateur radio

73.72Mbps download speed tested over wifi by Ookla on the cheapest Virgin Media package. Can't complain.

10m WSPR - just a local so far

G4KPX (14km) is the only station to spot me so far on 10m WSPR. This is disappointing as I was expecting more by now. I shall be on 10m WSPR until dark and hope to spot, and be spotted, by more stations including some DX.

UPDATE 1306z:  Still just the single local spot on 10m WSPR today.

ON4KST chat for skeds

Quite a few people us this to arrange skeds on VHF, UHF and microwaves. It is also used for some LF/MF skeds too. There are different forums for different bands.

See http://www.on4kst.com/chat/start.php .

Sunspots and 10m - Sat April 16th 2016

Solar flux is a respectable 113 today and the sunspot number higher at 69 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" but I think today will be a good 10m WSPR day.

UPDATE 0924z:  No 10m WSPR spots yet, although it is very early.

RSGB videos

The RSGB has produced some very good videos designed to introduce the hobby to those "outside" it or to explain its vast possibilities to those already in the hobby.

For example, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH9OtgAcV6g.

Well done!

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

It is now 10 weeks until people in the UK hold a referendum to decide whether or not to stay in the EU. At the moment I am voting "IN" but I have been appalled by the campaigns so far. What comes across are fear and uncertainty. No-one seems to have anything positive to say! I hope this changes.

FTSE 100 - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the UK share index, the FTSE 100, is down about 0.48% today, no doubt spooked by Chinese growth slowing. The world economy is not that healthy and we could well be heading for another downturn. If the end result is a fairer world this would not be a bad thing.

Rallies in years to come?

The high streets are changing. Have you noticed that there are far more coffee shops and charity shops and far fewer bookshops? This is because of us.

I wonder what radio rallies will look like in the future. Rallies are not my scene really, but I have been to a few over the years. There seem to be fewer trade stalls nowadays and more stalls that are not amateur radio related. As the average age of radio amateurs increases, fewer people will attend and some will stop. The GQRP rally at Rishworth ends this year, no doubt because of the average age of attendees. No, radio rallies will soon be a thing of the past if we are not careful.

My concerns about radio mags and adverts have been shared before, but our hobby is likely to be very different and soon. What can be expected are fewer magazines, fewer adverts, fewer products as the market shrinks.  Our hobby has a problem on many fronts due to an ageing population. We ignore this at our peril.

Back on 10m WSPR ...and some DX

FR1GZ (9724km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR and I have been spotted in Italy. Italian stations are also being spotted here.  My return to 10m WSPR is proving worthwhile.

UPDATE 1345z: CX2ABP (11127km) in Uruguay has been spotted several times on 10m WSPR this afternoon.

UPDATE 1915z:  In all CX2ABP was copied 4 times up to 1808z. What is interesting is the large drift (Doppler?) on the signal. The most probable explanation is that the layers near the equator were moving (spread F?), hence the Doppler.

UPDATE 1920z: I have decided to go QRT on all bands to minimise the storm risk.

Sunspots and 10m. Friday April 15th 2016

Solar flux is 112 today and the sunspot number 46 (K=1). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".  Despite the forecast, I have "good vibes" about 10m WSPR today.