Rallies

Rallies this weekend:

1 OCTOBER 2017 : HACK GREEN HANGAR SALE
Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8AL Doors open 10am. Sale of amateur gear, electronic equipment, comps, military radio sets and vehicle spares. Refreshments are available on site. More details from Lucy Siebert on 01270 623 353 or by email to lucy@hackgreen.co.uk

1 OCTOBER 2017 : YEOVIL ARC 71 ANNIVERSARY
Sparkford Village Hall, Sparkford, Nr Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7ED Free admission and light refreshments. Displays, computer controlled radio, SDR, Morse, Spy sets. Ex Members welcome. Bob on 01963 440 167 A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

630m WSPR RX

We returned home from 2 nights away at a university reunion in Liverpool earlier. Some I'd not seen since 1970!

For the last hour or so I have been on 630m WSPR RX, but no spots yet.

UPDATE 2053z: Mind you, it helps if you connect the antenna! Doh! Guess who forgot? As of now, the rig has an antenna, so I might now get some spots.

Sputnik Days

News from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik  Days 2017 will be soon (October 4 to 17). See details on the
Club 72 page, please. The categories:
- Sputnik's (valves)
- Vanguard's (transistors)
- Beacons
- SWLs
As  no  reason to have special e-mail reflector for Sputnik Days, I'm
strongly  recommend  to  subscribe  to  new  "72"  mail  group on the
groups.io
You can do it on the Club 72 start page (fill the form) or by the link
- https://groups.io/g/72 or ask me to add your e-mail in the list.
This "sputnik" reflector will be closed soon.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

Sunspots - Friday September 29th 2017

Solar flux is 90 today and the sunspot number 40. A=55 and K=2.

Sunspots - Thursday September 28th 2017

Solar flux is 89 today and the sunspot number 35. A=37 and K=6.

National Hamfest reminder

29-30 SEPTEMBER 2017 : NATIONAL HAMFEST
Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2NY. Brought to you by the RSGB in association with the Lincoln Short Wave Club. The venue has free car parking and has disabled facilities. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy, car boot area, flea market, special interest groups and RSGB bookstall. There will also be representatives from the RSGB Services and committees. Morse proficiency test will be available. The venue has catering outlets and a seating area. www.nationalhamfest.org.uk.

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

Second largest diamond sold - NOT amateur radio

One of the biggest diamonds in the world has been sold privately. I would not want to be person who shapes this. Just imagine slipping!  To think, someone has this sort of money.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-41398871 .

ICOM RX IC-R8600

One of the things drawn to my attention by the return of Southgate News are YouTube videos of the new ICOM receiver, the IC-R8600.

At a sensible price, this might have been on my wish list. Early indications are that this will be very expensive, so I am unlikely to fork out.

This is a pity, but yet again prices are set at what people are prepared to pay. Inside, I expect the cost of the bits is much lower, just like the IC7300.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 27th 2017

Solar flux is 90 today and sunspot number 40.  A=4 and K=3.

Women drivers in Saudi - NOT amateur radio

At last Saudi women will be allowed driving licences.

This is a nation we trade with. One could be forgiven for believing this is a backward, primitive nation. At last a step towards the 21st century. Saudi Arabia is, allegedly, the only place on the planet where women are not allowed to drive.

How can the UK see the Saudi nation as a beacon in the Middle East? Some of their laws and customs are barbaric. OK, we should not judge other nations when we are far from perfect ourselves, but surely we expect certain minimum standards. All that matters, it seems, is money. Sad.

I have my worries about places like China, where there is a suspicion of very low wages and poor working conditions for some. Some prices for amateur radio gear from China beggar belief.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-41408195 .