Sunspots - Wednesday March 7th 2018

Solar flux is 68 today and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=0.

President Trump and trade wars - NOT amateur radio

Whilst I understand President Trump's wish to have the USA not disadvantaged by trading nations, he has gone about things in a very odd way that almost invites others to retaliate. In an interconnected world such barriers to trade are very unlikely to work.

One thinks of King Canute.

472kHz WSPR RX

After a break of a few days, I am monitoring 472kHz WSPR RX. If things go to previous form I'll spot most stations in the next few hours and they'll all be EU stations I've spotted before!

UPDATE 1952z: 3 uniques in the first few minutes. Sadly all stations spotted before! Best DX  is F1AFJ (607km).

UPDATE 2129z: 9 uniques so far in 6 countries with best DX 9A3KB (1290km). Just G3KEV also spotted on FT8 earlier in QSO with a German.

UPDATE 2317z: Now 16 uniques. Soon be time to go QRT.

UPDATE 2350z:  Now QRT.

Yaesu FT818

Since I last wrote, I have heard little new about the FT818. What I have read does not impress me. If you have any more details please let me know so I can share it on the blog.

Spies - NOT amateur radio

In the last day it looks like an ex-spy was poisoned in Salisbury, UK. Russia is suspected, but this is not proven.

What is certain is that Russia, the UK and the USA will all have "dirty tricks" departments, but we only hear about Russia. The spying business is definitely there, although governments would prefer us not to know.

We are fed a diet of filtered news: we hear what they want us to hear. I well remember Vietnam when the Vietcong was considered evil. With the perspective of history we know the USA and the government in the south were far from perfect. Political bias has always been there since the dawn of humanity.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43303651 .

Not quite - NOT amateur radio

After, what for us, has seemed a long cold winter with snow last week, we are now in spring according to the Met Office. Our daffodils are still not quite out. Perhaps next week?  Usually the heads drop just before they flower.

The photo shows the daffodils in our back garden. Snowdrops have been good.

Trevor Baylis (clockwork radio) dies

At the age of 80 Southgate News reports that the inventor of the wind-up radio has died. His name was made famous by his invention. His wind-up radio ideas have application in QRP radios.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/march/trevor-baylis-wind-up-radio-inventor-dies-aged-80.htm#.Wp5iE0x2vIU

See also http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43290756 .

Sunspots - Tuesday March 6th 2018

Where does the time go? It seems only yesterday that it was Christmas. I'm sure our perception of time changes as we get older.

Solar flux is 67 and the sunspot number zero still. A=5 and K=1.

2m UKAC activity contest

Starting at 2000z tonight is the March leg of the RSGB's activity contest on 2m. The contest runs for 2.5 hours. I usually manage 30-60 minutes as my voice is poor and work 5-10 stations.

See http://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac for the rules.

An average contest, but again I was defeated by my poor voice. Six contacts in 34 minutes as shown on the map. 5W and a big-wheel omni antenna.

"So" - NOT amateur radio

Some call me a grumpy old man, but have you noticed how many young people start their sentences with "So"? This really annoys me. I heard this twice on BBC Radio 4 just before lunch, like, you know.