10m FT8 RX (Saturday)

My gear has been on for about about an hour. 155 stations spotted so far with the furthermost VK4CAG (16445km).

UPDATE 1052z:  197 stations spotted today.

UPDATE 2137z:  QRT. In all, 339 stations spotted today.

Help please

Some months ago I changed my main G3XBM website to New Google Sites, but I cannot see how to insert a box with html code. This is probably easy but I can't see how to do it. If you know, please tell me! 

My idea is to add live amateur radio news. 

I can probably do it by embedding a page, but some browsers do not like embedding.

Sunspots - Saturday October 30th 2021

 Solar flux is 108 and the SSN 82.  A=3 and K=2.

University of the 3rd age (Cambridge) - NOT amateur radio

Friday is the day I go into Cambridge for my U3AC lecture. I go every Friday. Sadly, today there were rain showers, that I managed to dodge.

The photo shows Cambridge in autumn. 

10m FT8 RX (Friday)

 My gear was turned on about 0830z. So far, 7 stations already spotted with the furthermost R7IW (3463km)

UPDATE 2020z: Now QRT.  In all, 124 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today.

Reminder: CQWW SSB contest this weekend

All weekend is the CQWW SSB contest. Activity is usually very high. I have never submitted a log, but enjoy going on for a while to work a few new countries and states. Because of my voice, I shall be unable to be on for long.

See www.cqww.com

40m QRP by DL1DN

 Jay W5OLF kindly sent me the link to this video for a QRP transceiver based on my rig linked yesterday. 

TEP opening from South Africa to Europe on 8m

Several stations in southern Europe have reported copying the South African 8m beacon recently.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2021/10/tep-opening-on-40-mhz-between-south.

Sunspots - Friday October 29th 2021

 Solar flux is 112 and the SSN 96.  A=3 and K=1.

The future of the hobby

It is hard to generalise, but amateur radio is changing. Years ago, to talk to people around the world meant an expensive phone call or getting an amateur licence and building your own gear. Today, many of us just buy a main transceiver and few build their own gear. We are (nearly) all guilty. I know I am. 

What happens in 20 years' time? Many of us will be old and frail and few of us will be interested in shiny new transceivers. Quite a few manufacturers will decide there is little profit in amateur radio and leave the market. Dealers will go out of business. There will be fewer adverts in magazines. Some magazines will close. The hobby will die.

I really hope I am wrong. It is up to us all to forget what brought us into the hobby, as the magic of radio will no longer be the magnet it once was. Today, talking across the planet is free and easy via the internet by video. We need to understand what "turns young people on" technologically and move with the times.

Grey haired old men waxing lyrical about the past is not the future.

No, I am concerned. Your views?