Sunspots - Thursday February 22nd 2018

Solar flux is 67 (very low) and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=2.

144MHz FT8 RX

Someone suggested I try this, so I have! Impressive. 3 countries spotted in first few minutes. 144.174MHz seems to be the place to set your USB dial. The GW spotted did not get uploaded to PSK Reporter Maps. All I have is a big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1821z: Currently 8 unique stations in 4 countries on 2m FT8 so far.  My thanks to Mike G8ALS for suggesting I try 2m FT8. Best DX is G4ALY (376km).

UPDATE 1907z: Now 9 uniques in 5 countries with best DX DF1JC (486km).

UPDATE 2224z: Now 22 unique stations in 6 countries spotted on 2m FT8 with best DX DJ6AG (689km) in central Germany. Quite amazing.

More "Grumpy Old Man" - NOT amateur radio

Today, I continued my very unscientific survey of mobile device usage by young people in Cambridge. I did 2 very unscientific surveys about 90 minutes apart counting the usage of mobile devices by unattached young people in Cambridge.

All users, I guess, are under 30 years of age. Firstly, by a considerable number, young users outnumber older users and young, single women outnumber men. In the first survey I counted 13 female users and 11 male. In the second survey I counted 9 female users and 4 male. My conclusion is still that mobile devices are used more by young women (leave me alone) than men, although the ratios are much lower than I'd previously seen. I would guess that mobile devices were used by less than 20% of young people. Although "face to face" talking is down, perhaps I should be charitable as at least some of these people were texting their friends, like.

Now for a moan: seen in the T.K.Maxx window "Always up to 60% less". What the heck does that mean? Nothing! It could mean a 1% reduction compared with the most expensive shop in 2000 or 60% reductions on John Lewis prices today. Basically it is marketing drivel and meaningless.

Moaning over.

Overnight on 630m WSPR RX

Last night I was on 630m WSPR RX. In all, 14 unique stations spotted, all European. Not brilliant.

6m MSK144 RX

Since before breakfast, I have been on 6m MSK144 RX on 50.280MHz. As yet, no spots.

10m WSPR TX

All day, I am on 10m WSPR TX (500mW). If I get any reports I will be pleasantly surprised. I am only on 10m as the antenna is free.

UPDATE 1412z: No spots so far. I rechecked the PC clock is sync'd to internet time.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 21st 2018

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number zero. A=5 and K=0.

472kHz WSPR RX

This evening I am back on 472kHz WSPR RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far 10 unique spots with best DX EA5DOM (1525km).

UPDATE 2252z: Shack PC battery now charged, so PC on battery power for the night. 6 stations spotted at 2248z and 10 uniques in the last 8 minutes!

Never give up! - NOT amateur radio

This amaryllis was given up as past it. After glorious flowers last winter it was consigned to the garden.

Then there was a hint of growth, so it was re-potted and brought inside the house. Every week it gets fed and watered. It is thriving now and there is even a bud. Another 2 weeks and it could, barring disasters, be in flower.

FT818 (the real one)

Some weeks ago we heard that the FT817 was to be replaced by the FT818 and that the new model had been tested by the FCC in the USA. Since then, I have heard nothing. I was hoping for some leaks about what it will be, but nothing so far. From the FCC report it looked nothing special, although I hope I am wrong.

As I have said many times, this product should have been brought to the market years ago on the way up to the last sunspot maximum. In my view not launching it then was a marketing disaster.  If I was a Yaesu director heads would have rolled. Is their marketing department filled with kids or others who really don't know the market? No, this was total incompetence of the highest order. And that is said as a loyal Yaesu purchaser since the 1970s. I have owned the FT7, FT77, FT747 and many other Yeasu products over the years.

A lot hangs on the success of this.  They now face serious competition from SDR products, plus they will have a harder job selling it on the way to the quietest solar conditions for years. It will have to have some truly knock-out features. If I was ICOM I think seriously about launching the QRP version of the IC7300 outside of Japan. This could make a serious dent in the market of the FT818. It could even kill Yaesu for good.

Would I buy one? If you'd asked me in 2012 the answer would probably have been "yes". In 2019? Probably not, unless it really is a killer product. I suspect a lot of people are of the same mind.

I fear for the future of Yaesu. For years it was a leader, whereas now it just follows. It almost seems they have lost their way.  So, Yaesu may well be struggling. I cannot see the FT818 as the ubiquitous piece of kit the FT817 was, and still is.  If I am wrong, so be it. For the sake of Yaesu I hope I am very wrong.

If you know any more details about the real FT818, please let me know.