Sydney-Sussex College - NOT amateur radio

Although I have said this before, it is worth saying again. Living just outside Cambridge we get rather blasé about some of the sights in the city. One, small, example is Sydney-Sussex College which I pass twice a week. Every college is a delight.

Portable power

Southgate News has details of OH8STN's QRO power pack for portable use.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/march/diy-qro-lifepo4-power.htm#.WpkfKkx2vIU

FT818 disappointment

It is hard to express my extreme disappointment with the FT818. Auto ATU? No. Speech processor? No. Lithium Ion batteries? No. And on and on. This is a development done on the cheap by a company that looks to be in trouble.

Recommendation? Do not waste your money, unless (like the FT991A) they have second thoughts and produce a 21st century transceiver we deserve.

Yaesu - what the heck were you thinking? This is crap.

Sunspots - Friday March 2nd 2018

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number 11. A=6 and K=2.

2m FT8 RX - Friday

In just the last hour alone 5 unique stations in 3 countries with best DX F6EAS (387km) in Normandy.

UPDATE 0953z:  In the last 2 hours, 9 uniques in 4 countries.

UPDATE 1055z: 19 uniques in 5 countries on 2m FT8 in the last half day.

UPDATE 1143z: Now 24 uniques in 6 countries!

UPDATE 1552z: 34 uniques in 7 countries now.

UPDATE 1727z: 39 uniques in 7 countries.

2m FT8 RX

About 10 minutes ago I moved to 2m FT8 RX. It seems quite busy.

UPDATE 1540z: Best DX on RX is DF8JO (535km). In just 20 minutes I have spotted 11 unique stations in 3 countries!

UPDATE 1810z: 20 uniques now in 4 countries.  Amazing with an omni antenna.

UPDATE 2030z:  Now 26 uniques in 4 countries.

Rally

As the weather is not good I urge you to contact the organisers of each rally before travelling. Some could well get cancelled if the weather is bad.

3 MARCH 2018 : LAGAN VALLEY ARS RALLY

Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, Hillsborough BT266AR. Doors open from 11am to 3pm, with admittance £3. Everyone will be most welcome to attend. Lots of radio equipment new and second hand plus raffle. Tea, coffees, sandwiches available. There will be a Bring & Buy, RSGB Book Stall and Special Interest Groups. Andrew Mulholland, MI0BPB, 07802 824 615, andrew@mi0bpb.plus.com.

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

Yaesu FT818

Sorry, but I have no further news of this transceiver. All I can say, again, is that the very future of Yaesu rides on this, in my view.

If it turns out to be just a minor upgrade to the FT817 then I expect Yaesu to be dead in the amateur market within 5 years. This has to be something exciting. From the early press releases, this does not look anything special. As a loyal Yaesu fan for almost 40 years I desperately hope I am wrong.

Only the FT817ND (not the FT818) is mentioned on the Yaesu, Japan website.

See http://www.yaesu.com/jp/en/products/pdf/Amateur2011_EN_1104.pdf

M0PNN has provided a link - thank you - https://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=102&encProdID=36B7B98621AF7554C9A03C8B190C5079&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

From what this says, I reckon Yaesu is doomed if this is the best they can do. I for one will not be buying one! What a pathetic offering. Back to the drawing board, or is it the Japanese equivalent of administration in 2019?

Overnight on 630m WSPR

Overnight was disappointing on MF. In all, 15 unique stations spotted, so no more than I received last evening. Again, all were EU with none from the USA.

I may try a different band tonight for a change.

Sunspots - Thursday March 1st 2018

Although we are at the start of meteorological spring, it still feels very much like winter with snow and bitterly cold winds.

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number 11. A=6 and K=1.