Yaesu prices

Steve G1KQH informs me that some Yaesu prices are increasing.

Winter sun - NOT amateur radio

As we often do and as the sun was shining, we went for a walk at Anglesey Abbey.

As the photo shows, a lovely winter day. Cold and a bit windy, but great.

More IC-705 pictures

A few pictures I had not seen before are on this blog. This link is already on my IC-705 page.

See https://qrpblog.com/2019/08/icom-ic-705-hf-vhf-uhf-portable-transceiver-announced/

IARU Newsletter

Southgate News has a piece on the IARU newsletter with the outcomes from WRC-19 in Egypt as it effects amateur radio.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2019/december/iaru-r1-vhf-uhf-microwave-newsletter.htm#.XfS9aeiTLnE

Old friends - NOT amateur radio

We have old friends who moved from our village to the Cotswolds about 10 years ago.

They go home today and left us a lovely set of plants that they potted.

As old friends, we just pick up as if they had never left.

2m FT8 Saturday

Being a weekend, there may be a little more activity today than in the week when many are working.  As of 1010z 8 stations in 3 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX with best DX IK2OLD (976km) near Milan. Again using the big-wheel omni.

UPDATE 1233z:  So far today 13 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2 FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1819z: Now 59 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX today.

Sunspots - Saturday December 14th 2019

Solar flux is 69 (i.e. less than 70) and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=0.

Wallet - NOT amateur radio

It's funny what we have in our wallets The photo shows what was in my wallet this morning. All the usual stuff is there including a couple of credit cards.

2m FT8

At the moment I am still on 2m FT8, mainly RX. So far today, 3 stations spotted with best DX on 2m FT8 RX with the big-wheel antenna DJ9IE (515km).

UPDATE 1100z: A recent 2.5W FT8 CQ was copied by 1 G only. On RX 6 stations in 3 countries spotted so far.

UPDATE 2115z: Now 31 stations in 7 countries spotted today on 2m FT8 RX.

UK General Election - NOT amateur radio

So the Conservative party has decisively won the UK General Election. I cannot deny they won a big majority although I feel this is as much about stopping the paralysis over BREXIT as anything else. I now expect the leader of the opposition to leave soon. His left wing policies were not liked.