Sunspots - Friday August 3rd 2018

Solar flux is 69 today and the sunspot number still 11. A=6 and K=1.

Icom IC7300

This is a fine HF/6m/4m transceiver which I am tempted to buy, but still feel it is over priced. In all the time it has sold, the price has hardly changed. Some are offering free covers or reduced priced PSUs. What I want is just the radio, but for less money!

The trouble is people are prepared to buy at the current price and, like the FT817 from Yaesu, it has no real competition. It is almost as if the dealers have been "got at" to hold the current price.

One thing is certain: if I buy at the current price they will all offer it for far less within 6 weeks!

10m WSPR TX (500mW)

Although not on very long, I have already been spotted by IZ3LCH (1149km). I assume this is Es.

UPDATE 2105z: Lots of spots from OZ9QV (864km) this evening.

Excellent Moonraker service

Well, I succumbed and decided to buy an Inrico T320 network radio from Moonraker. The first unit had faulty software loaded. Without quibble, Moonraker despatched a replacement unit and collected the first unit. I cannot fault their customer care and I am very inclined to use them again. Well done!

Some are very sniffy about network radios saying this is not real amateur radio.  They use the internet (via wifi, 3G or 4G to connect with Echolink or similar services). Basically they are Android phones with a PTT in the style of a 2m or 70cm handheld. The beauty is they have full Android functionality as well (like BBC News, GPS, camera and email). This is not the same as traditional amateur radio, but I have already had great fun with mine. My first QSO was via GB3SD near Weymouth, Dorset.

I still prefer "traditional" amateur radio, but these have a definite place. One thing is very apparent: repeaters the world over have fewer stations using them. I am still exploring.

Late on 6m

It is now mid-afternoon and I have only now turned the gear on. As well as EU Es there is WP4G (6803km) in Puerto Rico calling CQ on 6m FT8.

HAARP WSPR tests

Last night, I decided not to bother with looking for WI2XFX in Alaska on 80m WSPR. They got no spots at all on 80m. They got 330 North American spots on 40m. I don't think they were spotted elsewhere.

My overall impression was they were HAARP experts but very amateur amateurs. I may be very wrong of course and if I am please accept my apologies. With 1GW ERP I would have expected global spots by the thousand, even on 80m.

UK Licences

Southgate News has a piece about the number of UK licencees based on numbers held by OFCOM. I am not sure how this compares with earlier years, but I would expect numbers to fall in the years ahead.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/ofcom-release-uk-ham-radio-callsign-figures.htm#.W2LhK_ZFzIV

OFCOM Communications Market Report

This is an annual publication. It shows spending has slightly fallen.

From their news release:

• Ofcom study shows how a decade of technological revolution has transformed our behaviour
• One in five people spend more than 40 hours a week online
• Brits now need constant connection to internet, and are checking their smartphone every 12 minutes.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/CED64A205777B6672540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Sunspots - Thursday August 2nd 2018

Sunspots!

Solar flux is 71 today and the sunspot number a massive 11. Yes, NOT zero!!! A=6 and K=3

Es going "off the boil"?

Today, there seems to be less Es on 10m and 6m.

Es can occur at any time, although May, June and July are the peak months in the northern hemisphere. I suspect with greater use of FT8, we'll find openings that in the past would have been missed.

I have certainly had QRP 6m SSB QSOs way into September by Es. Things are far from over. My recommendation is stick with 6m FT8 and be prepared to be surprised.