John Lewis - NOT amateur radio

John Lewis is one of the most respected store chains in the UK. 

Recently, they announced they would be "retiring" (don't you love that?) their long held policy of never knowingly undersold. This basically meant if you could buy it cheaper elsewhere, they would match the price. With the internet, this policy is far more difficult now.

Whilst I understand this, it is yet another example of things getting worse rather than better. In my view John Lewis, like many high street shops, is struggling. I hope they survive.

40m FT8 in the last day

 

578 stations spotted in the last day on 40m FT8 RX as the map shows using the untuned 10m antenna.

UPDATE 1407z:  1005 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX in the last day. 

Sunspots - Sunday February 27th 2022

 Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 22. K=2 and A=2.

40m FT8 RX (Saturday)

At about 1900z I QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the 10m endfed antenna untuned. So far (at 1957z) 221 stations spotted. At the moment 40m seems to be the best all round band day and night. I shall probably leave it on overnight.

UPDATE 2020z:  264 stations spotted.

8m permit coming

Yesterday I had an email from OFCOM saying they have approved my application for an 8m permit. They forgot to tell me what the permit will say! Assuming it is what I asked for, I shall be invoiced and will start transmitting before the Es season starts.

It seems this OFCOM department is more efficient than the last. It has taken a few weeks whereas the last department took almost 5 months to tell me to get a different licence!

Bug hotel - NOT amateur radio

 

This "bug hotel"  is at Pauline's Swamp in our village.

10m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At the moment I am on 10m FT8 QRP with 2.5W. After a brief period on TX (2 G spots). I am RX only with 4 spots so far, all European. I have also spotted an FR4 earlier, but for some reason this did not appear on PSKreporter. Both G stations were not local. So, this was either normal tropo or aircraft I suspect. In the past, I have copied G stations from across the country on normal propagation on SSB.  FT8 is likely to be far more effective.

UPDATE 0916z: Now one station in South Africa also spotted - ZS6KED (8874km).

UPDATE 1026z:  Now 25 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1415z:   56 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1642z: 122 stations spotted. I have seen better days.

UPDATE 1845z: 168 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2025z:  QRT.

40m FT8 RX in the last day

1289 stations spotted in the last day on 40m FT8 RX. 

New world order? - NOT amateur radio

With the recent invasion of  Ukraine by Russia, it suddenly feels that the world order is changing. 

Now, I know that there are always 2 sides to any stories in the propaganda circulated in the run-up to wars and we in the west are not prefect. 

However, I am concerned that many in Russia and Ukraine would much prefer not to have wars,  destruction and loss of lives. This is especially true when many have relatives in the other country. Why can't peace prevail?

I also worry about Belarus. If its leader decides to try to attack any of the Baltic states that are NATO members, then by the articles of the treaty, all NATO members are being attacked.

What about China and Taiwan?

No, the balance of power is changing and it will impact the lives of our children and grandchildren.

All I ask is that we all try to live at peace with our neighbours.

Interesting that there we're several people on 40m FT8 sending "CQ STOPTHE WAR" and "CQ ST0PPUTIN". 

Let history judge. 

Knobs and bezels

One of the things you can do if you (for now) lose your job is grow your own business, which is what Toni is doing. There are some very nice bezels and knobs.

See https://www.whizz3dparts.co.uk/ .