"Thank you for taking time to write to us regarding the 4mtr band on the new IC-705 as well as your comments on previous Icom models.
We apologise for the news released recently regarding the band not being included in our new radio. As passionate Radio Hams and keen users of the band, we share your disappointment.
We are passing all messages back to the sales, production and design teams at our HQ in Japan
We remain at your service and any news regarding this subject or other information will be transmitted via our web and social media channels
Kind Regards
ICOM UK LIMITED.
HAM RADIO DEPT."
2 Jun 2020
ICOM response on lack of 4m on IC-705
I wrote to ICOM UK about 4m not being included and asked if it would be in a letter firmware update. I got a reply that looks like it was generated by a computer. BTW, I did not ask about previous models!
Sunspots - Tuesday June 2nd 2020
Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 11. A =6 and K=2. Clearly sunspots are back and the active side of the sun is coming in to view.
1 Jun 2020
Solar data page updated
My favourite page for solar data has been updated and this now includes the data for May as well as the latest thoughts on the date of solar minimum which is showing December 2019 as a possible date.
It still shows a pickup in sunspots this year. Hope this is correct!
See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png
See also https://www.solen.info/solar/
It still shows a pickup in sunspots this year. Hope this is correct!
See https://www.solen.info/solar/images/cycles23_24.png
See also https://www.solen.info/solar/
Online jazz gig - NOT amateur radio
My son is a professional jazz pianist. He has been on the BBC and other radio stations and usually plays at the very best jazz venues in London and around the country. He has had gigs abroad several times. He is very good.
As these venues are closed, he gets no income. Instead he is trying to sell tickets for an online gig this Wednesday. Even if you cannot listen, please consider buying a ticket.
To buy tickets go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/307363236932197
To see the gig go to:
See https://www.tickettailor.com/
As these venues are closed, he gets no income. Instead he is trying to sell tickets for an online gig this Wednesday. Even if you cannot listen, please consider buying a ticket.
To buy tickets go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/307363236932197
To see the gig go to:
See https://www.tickettailor.com/
10m WSPR TX (500mW to the indoor loop)
An encouraging start today. After just a few minutes, 7 unique stations spotting me with most Europeans via Es.
UPDATE 1213z: So far today 15 unique stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1627z: 39 10m WSPR spots of me today.
UPDATE 1213z: So far today 15 unique stations have spotted me.
6m FT8
Although I have still to get to the bottom of my internet time sync issue I think I have reset the PC clock and synchronised it to internet time resyncing every 500 seconds. It looks like it is better at first, then off later. If anyone has my timing now (i.e. early Monday - it is now 0754z) I'd be grateful.
So far, 96 stations have spotted me. There is plenty of Es from Europe and some in Western Europe are working Japan again. So far, nothing from Japan or the Far East here on 6m FT8 RX or TX.
UPDATE 1800z: So far today 1081 stations have spotted me. This includes 1 station in mainland USA. Not bad for 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.
So far, 96 stations have spotted me. There is plenty of Es from Europe and some in Western Europe are working Japan again. So far, nothing from Japan or the Far East here on 6m FT8 RX or TX.
UPDATE 1800z: So far today 1081 stations have spotted me. This includes 1 station in mainland USA. Not bad for 10W and the V2000 vertical omni.
SOTA spots
Some people choose their amateur radio the hard way. Some like to combine hiking to high spots to do "activations". These activations are part of summits on the air (SOTA). I believe there are awards for summits worked.
If this is your "thing" you may like https://www.on6zq.be/p/swf/index.html#/spotfilter which shows activations. At least you can work these stations from the warm and dry!
If this is your "thing" you may like https://www.on6zq.be/p/swf/index.html#/spotfilter which shows activations. At least you can work these stations from the warm and dry!
DX is relative
As an old timer of advancing years now, some may well disagree with my "grumpy old man" statements. Tough, I shall say it anyway!
Today, I want to say that DX is relative. Some must run the full legal power (or more), have a big tower and a big beam and rotator to work that last DXCC entity that half the world is shouting at. He or she probably thinks little of spending many thousands on the "hobby". To me, this is plain ego stroking.
For me, DX is what comes my way. Usually I run QRP and with this I obtained DXCC mostly on 10m SSB long ago. If I get QSOs with distant stations, fine. To me, working these stations means as much (or more) than those who choose to spend big on the "hobby".
I often tell newcomers that you can have much fun spending very little as the "grown-ups" who want to splash the cash. Rigs like the uBITX can be quite inexpensive, but are capable of working the world with modest, low, wire antennas. Of course, if you build your own rigs you can get on the air for even less. One USA company is selling very low cost DSB FT8 transceiver kits that cost less than a single meal out (remember those?).
See https://qrpguys.com/
Today, I want to say that DX is relative. Some must run the full legal power (or more), have a big tower and a big beam and rotator to work that last DXCC entity that half the world is shouting at. He or she probably thinks little of spending many thousands on the "hobby". To me, this is plain ego stroking.
For me, DX is what comes my way. Usually I run QRP and with this I obtained DXCC mostly on 10m SSB long ago. If I get QSOs with distant stations, fine. To me, working these stations means as much (or more) than those who choose to spend big on the "hobby".
I often tell newcomers that you can have much fun spending very little as the "grown-ups" who want to splash the cash. Rigs like the uBITX can be quite inexpensive, but are capable of working the world with modest, low, wire antennas. Of course, if you build your own rigs you can get on the air for even less. One USA company is selling very low cost DSB FT8 transceiver kits that cost less than a single meal out (remember those?).
See https://qrpguys.com/
CQ-Serenade
Apparently you can listen to Southgate News on CQ-Serenade on the radio. Frequencies and times are shown on the Southgate News pages. What I did not know was that a record was made between 1965 and 1970 called CQ-Serenade. I had never heard it before. You can hear it at: https://www.on6zq.be/w/index.php/Audio/CqSerenadeEn
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