8m experiment (Wednesday)

Yesterday was my best day yet on 8m QRP FT8 TX with 9 stations spotting me and 2 in Slovenia exchanging reports. I cannot say QSO because of OFCOM!!!!! All of these were via Es . Personally I think the OFCOM and RSGB position is totally, utterly, stupid. 

Later I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again although some thunder may cause some interruptions. 

UPDATE 2145z: Spotted by 3 stations today on 8m FT8 QRP TX. 

Sunspots - Wednesday June 8th 2022

Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 23.  A=8 and K=1.

More Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

As the weather was glorious this morning, we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Tuesday)

Today, has been my best day on 10m WSPR TX for very many years. There is a lot of Es about and my 500mW from the W5OLF beacon has been spotted by 45 unique stations.

8m experiment (Tuesday)

My QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 was turned on at 1116z.

UPDATE 1527z:  Spotted by 7 stations today so far on 8m FT8 TX.  My best day yet.

Anglesey Abbey earlier - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier. The weather was good. 

The future

Yesterday, I expressed my views on Yaesu. I may be very wrong, and hope I am. 

However, these are the inevitable facts that we have to face:

1. Many radio amateurs are retired.
2. Within 20 years many will have died or be in care homes.
3. The pool of amateurs able to buy new commercial radios will probably diminish considerably.
4. Many of the big Japanese amateur radio manufacturers will no longer be interested in amateur radio.
5. Low cost manufacturers will dominate.
6. Many amateur radio dealers will leave the market or go bust.
7. There will be fewer dealer adverts.
8. Some amateur radio magazines will go and those that remain will struggle.

In my view, I think we are in for hard times ahead in our hobby. We have to attract and keep younger people or we risk the hobby just dying out.

My view is the real future is in self training and research. Radio amateurs can do research for nothing. By self training we grow future radio engineers who are hard to find.

The future is in our hands.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 7th 2022

Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 45.  A=10 and K=2.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

As the 10m antenna is again free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. It is now  0933z and I have been on for about 30 minutes. So far, just spots of me by OE3XOE (1233km).

8m experiment (Monday)

As we are going out later, my QRP TX operations today may be limited. The last 2 days there has been lots of Es around and I have been spotted by 6 unique stations on 8m QRP FT8.  Just spotted by EA3ERE (1133km) in Spain and HC02 (1808km) SWL in Portugal so far.