Sunspots - Thursday January 21st 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 25. A=6 and K=0. 

Treewashing - NOT amateur radio

At nearby Anglesey Abbey, some of the silver birch trees have their bark washed so they look at their best. See the photo.

See https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill

UK prices for the IC-705

It seems odd to me that the XBS Telecom price (Europe) with included 3 year warranty and VAT is a fair bit lower than the price from any UK dealer. As an example, a 5 year warranty is extra from MLS.  By the way, MLS say that all their IC-705 transceivers come from ICOM UK.

Like the IC-7300 I am convinced the IC-705 is being market priced (if the punters will pay, then do not drop the price). Most are working on the assumption that if the radio is wanted enough, then we will pay. It seems if you want an IC-705 from a UK dealer, you have to accept the market price.

I am all for fair prices as I want dealers to still be there, but I do not like to be exploited. 

Any views?

2m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

It is now 0955z. For about 30 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.  Already 8 spots of my QRP with the furthermost EI2FG (565km). I am amazed that my tiny signal gets this far every single day on 2m.

UPDATE 1342z:   12 spots of my QRP signal so far today on 2m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1615z:  15 stations have spotted me on TX and I have spotted 12 stations on RX. The furthermost on RX is DL6YBF (410km).

Stations that have
spotted me today
on 2m FT8 QRP

UPDATE 1802z:  18 stations have spotted me today on QRP 2m FT8 TX. 17 stations spotted here on RX. 

UPDATE 2208z:   25 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX. 17 stations in 6 countries have spotted me on 2m  FT8 TX. QRT shortly.

Sunspots - Wednesday January 20th 2021

 Solar flux is 78 and the SSN 14.  A=6 and K=2.

2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

At about 2020z, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni. So far, I have been spotted by 4 stations on TX with the furthermost G7RAU (461km). On 2m FT8 RX just 1 station spot ted so far this evening.

UPDATE 2101z: already my QRP has been spotted by EI2FG (565km) as well as 6 others. On 2m FT8 RX I have spotted 4 stations with DL6YBF (410km) the furthermost.

UPDATE 2305z: QRT. 

New digital mode coming?

Southgate News reports that a new digital mode may be coming later this year called Q65 as part of WSJT-X suite.  I have just downloaded the latest release candidate for WSJT-X (2.3.0-rc3), but I have not checked if it is there. 

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Q65_Quick_Start.pdf

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/january/new-digital-protocol-q65.htm#.YAbrz_GTLrc

Lunch out - NOT amateur radio

Two years ago we went to the old wool town (village?) of Lavenham. We ate out at a small cafe. Do you remember those days when we could travel?? 😊  The photo shows our lunch.

Funny how a trip to the local bakers is now exciting! I expect when this pandemic is largely over we will value the small things denied us all.

USA future - NOT amateur radio

Tomorrow the new USA president is sworn in. I hope that President Trump is magnanimous and his followers respect democracy.

Me in 1959 - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories today was this photo of me taken at a junior school sports day in 1959, when I still had hair! I am on the left. Some changes since!