Summer 2018, I bought a network radio, mainly to use with Echolink. These radios look like 2m handhelds, but are actually Android phones. I realise that mine has hardly been used for months. I find Echolink QSOs unsatisfying. I prefer the struggle with "real" radio!
Buying one, especially at sunspot minimum, I was expecting to feel differently.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/network
20 Sept 2019
Is Trump stupid? - NOT amateur radio
OK, I have to admit I am not a great fan of President Trump and admit that others clearly hold different views.
His stance on world affairs seems naïve. He stands alone on climate change, in the face of mounting evidence he is wrong, even close to home. His position on Iran seems more aimed at American rednecks than world peace. His dealings with China are very questionable. Canute?
Allegedly, he does not agree with California's efforts to reduce pollution, although the legal battles could well continue way after the next USA presidential elections.
On the world stage he is viewed as a joke, although I acknowledge his policies may find favour at home in the USA. Caveat emptor. He may be fine on "The Apprentice", but is he a true statesman?
See https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-19/hiltzik-trump-california-waiver
His stance on world affairs seems naïve. He stands alone on climate change, in the face of mounting evidence he is wrong, even close to home. His position on Iran seems more aimed at American rednecks than world peace. His dealings with China are very questionable. Canute?
Allegedly, he does not agree with California's efforts to reduce pollution, although the legal battles could well continue way after the next USA presidential elections.
On the world stage he is viewed as a joke, although I acknowledge his policies may find favour at home in the USA. Caveat emptor. He may be fine on "The Apprentice", but is he a true statesman?
See https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-19/hiltzik-trump-california-waiver
Sunspots - Friday September 20th 2019
Solar flux is 67 today and the sunspot number still zero. A=8 and K=1.
Times they are a changing on 6m FT8
Since about 15 minutes ago, I have been on 6m FT8. Initially I called CQ, but got no reports at all - ziltch. Not even a G spot. What this tells me is there are far fewer stations monitoring than a few months back in the Es season. I'll stick with it, but I am less hopeful of spotting much or being spotted with my 10W CQ calls.
UPDATE 0944z: 3 spots so far on 6m FT8 RX with best DX IS0AWZ (1598km) on Sardinia.
UPDATE 1012z: A10W 6m FT8 CQ was spotted by G0SYP (222km). This was 2 hours ago, so must have been my earlier CQ.
UPDATE 1145z: Well, there is still life in 6m FT8! At the moment 16 stations in 5 countries spotted including some that must be Es. Best DX spotted, so far, is CT1EUB (1814km) in southern Portugal. My own 10W 6m FT8 CQ was not spotted by anyone.
UPDATE 1600z: Although I have been monitoring 6m FT8 most of the day, no more Es seen here since lunch. At the moment 21 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being IH9YMC (1943km).
UPDATE 1918z: In the end, 26 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today as the map shows. There is still some Es, but it is harder to find than a few months ago. It is worth using FT8 and putting out the occasional CQ call.
UPDATE 2049z: Just now I put out a 6m 10W FT8 CQ. I was not expecting anyone to spot me really. Then G3XGS (63km) spotted me.
UPDATE 0944z: 3 spots so far on 6m FT8 RX with best DX IS0AWZ (1598km) on Sardinia.
UPDATE 1012z: A10W 6m FT8 CQ was spotted by G0SYP (222km). This was 2 hours ago, so must have been my earlier CQ.
UPDATE 1145z: Well, there is still life in 6m FT8! At the moment 16 stations in 5 countries spotted including some that must be Es. Best DX spotted, so far, is CT1EUB (1814km) in southern Portugal. My own 10W 6m FT8 CQ was not spotted by anyone.
UPDATE 1600z: Although I have been monitoring 6m FT8 most of the day, no more Es seen here since lunch. At the moment 21 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the best DX being IH9YMC (1943km).
UPDATE 2049z: Just now I put out a 6m 10W FT8 CQ. I was not expecting anyone to spot me really. Then G3XGS (63km) spotted me.
19 Sept 2019
Sunday Rally
The following takes place this Sunday:
Sunday 22 SEPTEMBER : WESTON-SUPER-MARE RADIO RALLY
The Campus Highlands Lane Weston super Mare BS24 7DX (Jct 21 M5). Doors open 10am to 3pm. Entry is £3. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy stall. Excellent catering and a large car park. Enquiries to Dave Dyer by email to G4CXQ@btinternet.com or on 07871 034206.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
Sunday 22 SEPTEMBER : WESTON-SUPER-MARE RADIO RALLY
The Campus Highlands Lane Weston super Mare BS24 7DX (Jct 21 M5). Doors open 10am to 3pm. Entry is £3. There will be trade stands and a Bring & Buy stall. Excellent catering and a large car park. Enquiries to Dave Dyer by email to G4CXQ@btinternet.com or on 07871 034206.
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rall
2m FT8 RX
As of 1930z 74 stations in 10 countries had been spotted today. This seems usual on 2m FT8 RX.
Brother's visit - NOT amateur radio
Old car - NOT amateur radio
The joys of 2m FT8
There can be little doubt that FT8 has transformed amateur radio.
Some would say this has led to a further decline in the use of CW and SSB. FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode, but it does work with weak signals and is great for short DX QSOs even with very modest stations. It also only occupies 50Hz of spectrum. All activity on any band is within a few kilohertz and there are plenty of people monitoring. I watch PSKreporter maps to see where I am being spotted. Every day I get a pleasant surprise!
In my own case on 2m, every day I get spotted by stations at double (or more) of the range I can work on SSB. Some reports are at ranges I could never even dream about.
Also, these days my voice is poor, so FT8 well suits my operating. I regret the decline in casual chats, but monitoring the FT8 watering holes on any band certainly improves the chances of being copied. Personally I like FT8.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8
Some would say this has led to a further decline in the use of CW and SSB. FT8 is definitely not a chatting mode, but it does work with weak signals and is great for short DX QSOs even with very modest stations. It also only occupies 50Hz of spectrum. All activity on any band is within a few kilohertz and there are plenty of people monitoring. I watch PSKreporter maps to see where I am being spotted. Every day I get a pleasant surprise!
In my own case on 2m, every day I get spotted by stations at double (or more) of the range I can work on SSB. Some reports are at ranges I could never even dream about.
Also, these days my voice is poor, so FT8 well suits my operating. I regret the decline in casual chats, but monitoring the FT8 watering holes on any band certainly improves the chances of being copied. Personally I like FT8.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/2m-ft8
The UK pound against the euro
When I looked last night, the UK pound had suddenly appreciated further against the euro. At one point it was worth little more than 1.07 euros, whereas now (last night) it was over 1.13. Before the BREXIT referendum, it was far higher. Does this suggest a big rebound if we (finally) agree a deal?
With all the uncertainty over BREXIT some were expecting it to fall close to parity. I am puzzled.
With all the uncertainty over BREXIT some were expecting it to fall close to parity. I am puzzled.
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