MLS trade-in

As many know, I am a dedicated QRPer. Apart from the price, the ICOM IC-705 as a 5/10W radio appeals. It supports GPS, D-star and WiFi. It can be used for FT8 which is one of my main modes since my voice deteriorated after my stroke.  Results today on 2m FT8 with an omni antenna and 1W confirm that QRP is usually fine.

I asked MLS (a major UK dealer from whom I bought the FT991A a little over a year ago) if they were interested in a trade-in for the IC-705. They have offered me a good trade-in price ,which I am considering. In these difficult times it pays to think which dealers will survive and which may not. 

New replacement for WSPR coming?

Joe Taylor has released a release candidate for WSJT-X that has new modes to replace WSPR. One is a QSO mode and one a beaconing mode. I am not sure when these will be formally released.

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx.html for more details. My thanks to Bob G3WKW who alerted me.

2m FT8

For a change I am on 2m FT8 with 1W from the FT817 to the big-wheel omni antenna. At the moment after about 15 minutes (it is now 1047z) 5 stations have spotted me with the best G4MSA (222km) and on 2m FT8 RX the best DX spotted is DO1KRT (522km). 5 stations in 3 countries spotted so far.

UPDATE 1122z:  Now best DX with 1W TX is GW8ASD (242km). See photo.

UPDATE 1636z:  31 stations in 5 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 12 stations in 2 countries have spotted me so far today on 2m FT8 TX (1W).

OFCOM plans

 OFCOM  has updated its plan of work. See its website for details. I bet you can't wait.

Pye days - NOT amateur radio

In 2008 I retired after about 40 years in the Philips empire. When I started it was still Pye Telecom. The photo shows some of our products. I worked on the design of several. 

Old graffiti - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we were in Norwich Cathedral. On the walls of this fine Norman cathedral is some graffiti that is very very old as the photo shows. 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 29th 2020

Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=33 and K=3. Wednesday could see G2 solar storms.

Thurlestone Devon - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows one of the beaches at Thurlestone, Devon. This  is where my ancestors lived at least 500 years ago. In the distance is an iron age hill fort at Bolt Tail. It is entirely possible that one of my ancestors manned this thousands of years ago. Quite humbling. It is still very beautiful.

Valve QRP

Some years ago a friend of mine, Andrew G6ALB, built a QRP TX with Russian miniature valves as shown in the photo. The first CQ call resulted in a Stateside QSO. from memory the power was less than 1W.

Sunspots - Monday September 28th 2020

 Solar flux is 74 and the SSN 0. A=24 and K=5.