Not sure if this is all part of President Trump getting tough on China, but Southgate News reports that the FCC in the USA is getting tougher on cheap Chinese transceivers entering the USA. I also heard this from Steve G1KQH.
At this stage I am not sure what effect this will have on rigs like the uBITX, Baofengs, Pixies and the like.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/fcc-enforcement-advisory-on-two-way-vhf-uhf-radios.htm#.W6tCqfZFzIU
26 Sept 2018
10m FT8
For a change, I decided to try 10m FT8.
Earlier I called CQ, but got no spots. So far today after a couple of hours no spots at all on RX or TX. Dire.
UPDATE 0910z: No spots still.
Earlier I called CQ, but got no spots. So far today after a couple of hours no spots at all on RX or TX. Dire.
UPDATE 0910z: No spots still.
Sunspots - Wednesday September 26tht 2018
Solar flux is 68 today and the SSN still zero. A=11 and K=1
25 Sept 2018
472kHz WSPR
At 1950z I went QRT on 2m and 10m and switched to 630m (472kHz) WSPR. As previously, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground with 10mW ERP.
On RX first spot was F6GEX (590km) in IN97 square. I'll probably stay on overnight.
On RX first spot was F6GEX (590km) in IN97 square. I'll probably stay on overnight.
Swedish changes to amateur licences
According to Southgate News some new regulations come into force for amateurs in Sweden on November 1st. Apparently the free licence will drop the maximum power from 1000W to 200W, although higher power permits are possible, presumably for money!
As a confirmed QRPer who sees 200W as an awful lot of power, this seems fine to me. If you cannot work the world with 200W you should give up amateur radio and play golf or go fishing instead.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/swedish-amateur-radio-regulation-changes.htm#.W6pMUPZFzIU
As a confirmed QRPer who sees 200W as an awful lot of power, this seems fine to me. If you cannot work the world with 200W you should give up amateur radio and play golf or go fishing instead.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/september/swedish-amateur-radio-regulation-changes.htm#.W6pMUPZFzIU
Beluga whale in River Thames - NOT amateur radio
 |
| Photo by Greg Hume from Wikipedia |
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-45642590 .
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beluga_whale .
The photo is from Wikipedia and is by Greg Hume.
10m WSPR TX (500mW)
Everything needed is here. No PC needed and it is about the size of a pack of cards yet has been spotted in every continent including Australasia and Antarctica on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1458z: Still no 10m WSPR spots today.
UPDATE 1938z: No spots all day!
How do they do it?
The price? £1.10 total including airmail delivery!! This price is unbelievable and they make a profit!
UPDATE 1326z: I have tried these on a couple of tablets and they work well. I have yet to try these with my Inrico network radio. This has a small touch screen, so they should prove very useful.
Solar Cycle 25
Let me start by saying I have not seen any very recent predictions.
The last I saw suggested the next minimum would be next year (2019) and cycle 25 would be similar to cycle 24. If you are aware of later, credible forecasts, please let us know.
Predicting how the sun will behave in the future is getting better, but the truth is no-one really knows. At best, these are educated guesses. For example, see the link below, which is full of journalistic hyperbolae and even managed to mix up the minimum between the last 2 cycles! Written by a student?
See https://www.universetoday.com/139833/are-we-witnessing-the-start-of-solar-cycle-25/
The last I saw suggested the next minimum would be next year (2019) and cycle 25 would be similar to cycle 24. If you are aware of later, credible forecasts, please let us know.
Predicting how the sun will behave in the future is getting better, but the truth is no-one really knows. At best, these are educated guesses. For example, see the link below, which is full of journalistic hyperbolae and even managed to mix up the minimum between the last 2 cycles! Written by a student?
See https://www.universetoday.com/139833/are-we-witnessing-the-start-of-solar-cycle-25/
UK Pound versus Euro - NOT amateur radio
We live in uncertain times in the UK. I guess the markets are waiting to see how BREXIT pans out.
If we end with a reasonable "divorce" I guess the UK Pound could appreciate in value. If we leave on bad terms, the Pound could fall.
At the moment the EU and UK are both playing hard, although expect last minute bargaining: it is in nobody's interest to part badly.
If only the EU had detected the signs that little UK is full up and did not want freedom of movement I expect we would still be in the club.
If we end with a reasonable "divorce" I guess the UK Pound could appreciate in value. If we leave on bad terms, the Pound could fall.
At the moment the EU and UK are both playing hard, although expect last minute bargaining: it is in nobody's interest to part badly.
If only the EU had detected the signs that little UK is full up and did not want freedom of movement I expect we would still be in the club.
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