Sunspots - Sunday December 31st 2017

Solar flux is 70 and the sunspot number zero. A=3 and K=0.

Painting by our 8 year old grandson - NOT amateur radio

When I was sent this picture drawn by our 8 year old grandson I was very impressed. Even for a boy twice his age it would be good. A year ago he did a picture of the Santa Maria ship in great detail. In my view he is a natural artist with real talent. Note that the perspective is good and the shading.

Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Our younger granddaughter enjoying unwrapping Christmas presents earlier in the week. They went home today. Our house is now quiet!

630m WSPR

As of a few moments ago I QSYed to 630m WSPR. I noticed several more European spots on 10m FT8 RX that did not upload to the internet. Usually it takes a little while for the 630m transverter crystal to settle, so early spots will show some drift.

The initial spots of me show this early drift. After about 15 minutes drift is usually zero.

The Peter Marks Blog

I read on Peter's blog that the Chinese version of the mcHF-QRP ships with FreeDV included. As far as I know this is a first. It is a pity they did not come to an agreement with the designer first. It looks a decent product at a decent price, but.....

See http://blog.marxy.org/2017/04/first-transceiver-with-built-in-freedv.html?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter


UPDATE 1637z: I see this was on Peter's blog in April 2017. Ah well, they say things mature with age!

10m FT8 RX

Last night I remained on 10m FT8 RX. I am still on that band/mode this morning. A few spots this morning so far with best DX is DC4CP (436km) in or near Aachen.

Sunspots - Saturday December 30th 2017

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=1.

Alibris: yet another "sale" - NOT amateur radio

Alibris, the book seller on line, is having yet another "sale". Hardly a week passes without one. Anyone who buys from them outside a "sale" must be stupid. As a marketing technique they need to see a psychiatrist as few now believe their "sales".

High Power Wireless Power Transmission

According to Southgate News the IARU is taking seriously the threat of RF pollution from this source.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/iaru-addresses-new-radio-spectrum-pollution-threat.htm#.WkZwNUx2vIU

Bringing back Martian samples to Earth - NOT amateur radio

Apparently there is a race on between the USA and China to bring back Martian soil samples to Earth.

See http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a14506608/united-states-china-racing-first-sample-from-mars/