Dad's seat - NOT amateur radio

One of my FaceBook memories for today was from 10 years ago with me on one of the seats in Devon in 2012. It was erected in memory of my dad who died in 1987. After he retired, he ran a job creation team for the National Trust.  The odd thing is if he walked in the door now, it would seem natural!

6m FT8 QRP (Wednesday)

 At just before 0900z I decided to go on 6m FT8. With my 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni I was called by G3XDV (45km).  A nice surprise QSO resulted. In all, 4 Gs spotted my QRP CQ.

At the moment, I am RX only.

UPDATE 1026z:  6 Gs spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1716z:  20 stations in 5 countries spotted today. 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 23rd 2022

 Solar flux is 106 and the SSN 81.  A=8 and K=2.

Mousa sunrise - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on 365project a few weeks ago. It shows the sunrise over Mousa in the Shetland Is.

8m QSO between Croatia and South Africa

The EI7GL blog has details of a first 8m QSO between Croatia and South Africa.

See https://ei7gl.blogspot.com .

Geeks - NOT amateur radio

It is good we are all different. 

My thing is radio, but the man in the photo obviously likes model railways. 

This was at the "Burwell at Large" exhibition earlier in the week, where local societies put on stalls.

6m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

For a change, I am on 6m FT8 QRP. I turned things on (2.5W to the vertical omni V2000) just before 0900z. 2 Gs spotted me on TX, but nothing yet on RX. At the moment, I am RX only.

UPDATE 1025z:   10 G stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1120z:    16 stations spotted (mostly Gs) with the furthermost SM5EPO (1344km).

UPDATE 1317z:    23 stations spotted, all G apart from 2 in continental Europe.

UPDATE 1350z:    Still 23 stations spotted on RX. A brief TX period just now at 2.5W was spotted by G0OPQ (50km), but no QSOs. RX only again now.

UPDATE 2108z:   29 stations spotted today on 6m FT8 RX (see logbook). QRT soon.

UPDATE 2137z:   One late QSO with G3YDY (98km). Now QRT.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 22nd 2022

Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 30. A=4 and K=3. 

Sad news

There is a report on Southgate News that Giles Read, who was the technical editor of RadCom, has died suddenly of cancer.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/march/giles-read-g1mfg-sk.htm#.YjjIRorP3rc .

Two Beofengs for £22.99

Although I have not looked around, I see you can buy 2 Beofeng 5W UHF hand portables on eBay for £22.99.  On the way somebody makes a profit. I know quality control is a bit hit and miss but these prices are stupid.  They come with batteries, chargers, carrying straps and belt clips. How do they do it and make profits?