Early voice recordings - NOT amateur radio

It is often thought that the earliest voice recording was by Thomas Edison, but there is evidence that the earliest recording was in fact made in France in 1860. You can hear this at http://graphics8.nytimes.com/audiosrc/arts/1860v2.mp3

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/voice

Sunspots - Tuesday April 14th 2020

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0.  A=5 and K=3.

Oil producers agree 10% cut in output? - NOT amateur radio

Although I have yet to see this confirmed, it looks like the biggest oil exporters including Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed a 10% cut in oil output in the light of a heavy fall in demand.

I think this should help to stem the heavy falls in recent weeks. Whether or not oil prices recover remains to be seen.

See https://www.ft.com/content/5ad12d12-d662-4e5b-88c8-6836dd1fb29a

Codar AT5 transmitter

Way back in the late 1960s, I had a G8 call and used to operate the station of the late G4PJ under supervision. 

Bill had a Codar AT5 160/80m AM/CW 12W TX which put out a good signal. I recall very well working a station about 70 miles away on 80m AM one afternoon.

Although I owned the companion RX (the T28) , I never owned an AT5. I wanted one! The photo shows the AT5 transmitter. We have come a long way since those days.

Still no swallows here - NOT amateur radio

Although there may be the odd swallow (summer migrant bird) here, I certainly have not seen any yet. The very earliest I have seen them up here in East Anglia is April 7th, but the more usual date is mid-April.

They have been seen in Devon now for several weeks. Once they arrive, I usually see several in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I shall keep looking.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/

10m FT8

Yesterday was, I think, the first Es opening I had experienced on 10m this year.  Es can occur at any time of the year, but it is much more common in spring and early summer.

Since about 1040z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop antenna. Almost immediately I was spotted by G4ERO (13km) shortly followed by G4KPX (14km). At least I am getting out! There are obviously people looking.

UPDATE 1230z: A couple of central Europeans have been spotted, but nothing yet beyond locals spotting me.

UPDATE 1320z: SP2WKB (1178km) has spotted my QRP 10m FT8. I get the feeling Es is really starting. Plenty of southern Europeans spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1435z: Definitely Es! So far today, 12 stations have spotted my 10m FT8 QRP to the tiny indoor loop.

UPDATE 1838z: 16 stations have spotted me today so far. The map shows the stations spotting me today. As I have to go QRT soon, I doubt I shall get many more 10m FT8 TX spots.  This is the best day yet this year on 10m especially considering the tiny indoor loop and 2.5W.

Amazing transatlantic DX on 432MHz

Southgate News relays news of some amazing DX on 70cm across the Atlantic by terrestrial means. I think this was first reported on EI7GL's blog.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/april/432-mhz-trans-atlantic-record-extended-to-almost-4370-kms.htm#.XpQ6zxnYq00

ICOM IC-705 transceiver

Many were hoping this would be on sale in the USA at the Dayton Hamvention. Most of us have been thinking about other things and Dayton may very well be cancelled this year like many amateur events. It is meant to happen not too many weeks away.

Personally, I think the IC-705 will be released in the USA and Europe much later, possibly Christmas 2020 or even in 2021. It would not surprise me to see prices rise too.

Fitzball - NOT amateur radio

Our village has been the home of a few famous people over the years. At one time the UK Foreign Secretary (Francis Pym) lived in the village.

The photo shows where one Victorian dramatist lived early in the 1800s.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Fitzball

Zoom - NOT amateur radio

A few weeks ago I had not even heard of Zoom. Now, I have been to 2 online meetings of the Cambridge club (CDARC) and Zoom video has allowed our family to get together virtually at Easter. Certainly many of us have enjoyed the benefits of video conferencing.  Like never before, online video is important.