Somme 1916 - NOT amateur radio

It is 100 years ago today that the Battle of the Somme started with a huge loss of life. The whole of WW1 was a slaughter of innocents. It should never have happened.

If we learn anything, it is that wars like this one are futile and it is usually the innocents that are killed or injured. We should do all in our power to ensure such futility never occurs again.

I am not a Quaker but I have great sympathy with their policy on non-violence.

More UK Rallies

Sunday 3 JULY : 20th RED ROSE QRP FESTIVAL
New Venue The Rose Centre (Lowton Civic Hall), Hesketh Meadow Lane, Lowton, Warrington WA3 2AH The venue has easy access from all directions; M6, M61, M60, A580. There is free car parking and the spacious halls are at ground level with disabled facilities. Doors are open from 11am to 3pm and admission is £2 with under 14s free. There will be trade stands, clubs stands and special interest groups as well as an RSGB bookstall. There will be a Bring & Buy. A licensed bar and refreshments are available on site.
Contact Les Jackson, G4HZJ, on 01942 870 634 or by email to g4hzj@ntlworld.com

Sunday 3 JULY : BARFORD NORFOLK RADIO RALLY
Barford Village Hall & Green, Barford, Norwich, NR9 4AB Opens 0900 (traders from 0800) with Talk in on S22 and featuring trade stands, car boot sales, bring and buy, raffle, repeater groups, catering and free car parking. Entry £2.00 per person / under 16's free. Pitches £8, indoor tables £10 Contact radio@dcpmicro.com : www.norfolkamateurradio.org

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Weather in the UK - NOT amateur radio

We are now in July and certainly here in East Anglia we have had one of the worst summers I can remember so far.  We have had just a few continuous days of sun. Most of the time it has been a mixture of rain, cloud and some sun. In the west of the UK it has been better, but we have had a real absence of high pressure over us with long settled, warm, sunny, weather.

10m and 6m

Yet again, both bands have Es propagation to liven things up. I continue to WSPR on 10m (500mW 100% TX) and JT65 on 6m (1W ERP). Since moving to JT65 on 6m, I have been amazed by the number of reports.

Sunspots and 10m - Fri July 1st 2015

Solar flux is 73 today. Sunspot number is zero again (K=3). Yet again the 10m F2 propagation forecast is "poor".

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

It is now a week since the UK voted to leave the EU. Although the pound has fallen the stock markets seem to have taken things OK. The UK seems to be on a self destruct route at the moment with the Labour party in civil war and the Conservatives thrown into confusion by Boris not standing for PM. It will be some time before the fog clears and we chart a new path.

Better and better on 6m

It just gets better and better on 6m JT65. Already today on 6m I have had more spots than yesterday by Es and tropo despite my low ERP and omni antenna (1W ERP). Spots are coming in thick and fast from all over Europe. Maybe next year I should replace my lossy RG58 coax with low loss coax?

Rally (N.Ireland)

Saturday 2 JULY : BANGOR & DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY RALLY
Donaghadee Community Centre, Manor Street, Donaghadee, Co. Down BT21 0HB.

The venue is just 100 metres from the harbour with car parking available. Doors open at 11.30am and admission is £3. There is a talk by Ian White, GM3SEK on Practical Outdoor Weatherproofing as well as trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. Special interest groups will be in attendance. A raffle will be held on the day. Details from Harry on 0289 142 2762 or by email to norman.newell@yahoo.com.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

OFCOM

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/mobile-data-strategy/update-strategy-mobile-spectrum/.  OFCOM has published a paper on its mobile data strategy.

VLF SAQ 17.2kHz CW - a reminder

A reminder that SAQ will broadcast on July 3rd 2016.

See http://alexander.n.se/the-radio-station-saq-grimeton/saq-transmissions/?lang=en .