Love lies bleeding - NOT amateur radio

This is an odd name for a garden flower. Some time ago, my wife was given some small plants by a friend. She had no idea how they would turn out. Now they are mature she knows why they have this odd name! 

Creosoting the garden bench - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know it is no longer creosote (I used to love the smell) as it is banned, I think. This week, a son and granddaughter sanded and re-coated the garden seat as it was covered in bird droppings. 

It has since been moved so should be better in future.

Yaesu FTDX-10

At the moment MLS is offering some good deals on this with a £100 gift voucher to use on future purchases. This offer runs until Monday. The gift voucher can be used at any time. Yaesu also has a £85 cash back offer. 

The rig has received rave reviews, but does not have 2m or 70cm, but does have 4m and an auto ATU. Although seriously tempted, at the moment I am inclined against it. My fear (hopefully unfounded) is that Yaesu is leaving the market. To me, the MLS move is to retain custom.

In these hard times, all dealers will struggle. Amateur radio usually depends on disposable income. There is less.

Rallies

The following rallies should be on over this weekend. In some countries in the UK, Monday is a public holiday. As always, check with organisers before going any distance.

Sunday August 28th Milton Keynes ARC rally. Contact rally@mkars.org.uk.

Sunday  August 28th Torbay Annual Communications Fair. Contact rally@tars.org.uk.

Monday August 29th HARS Annual Rally (Huntingdon).  Contact events@hunts-hams.co.uk .

10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)

As the storm risk seems to have passed, I am again on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. At 0956z, no spots of me.

UPDATE 1115z: No spots. Even with fewer stations now using WSPR (compared with FT8), I would have expected some spots by now. This suggests the main Es season is now over. Es will still occur, but far less often.

UPDATE 1500z:  Quite a few spots today from HB9TMC (905km). It looks like this was an Es opening, but in a very narrow area.

8m experiment (Thursday)

The 8m QRP FT8 TX was turned on on 40.680 MHz USB dial at 0938z. No spots yet. at 0950z.

UPDATE 1102z:  EI9KP (649km) has again spotted me on 8m FT8 .

No operation until at least the afternoon

As we have thunderstorms at the moment and these could last until well after lunch, everything will remain disconnected until all risks have gone. So, no operation until later. 

UPDATE 0945z:   Although it is still raining here (good), the thunder and lightning seem to have passed. If the lightning map confirms this, I may go on later this morning. It appears to confirm the storms have gone.

Serious rain at last - NOT amateur radio

In this part of the UK we have had almost no rain since March. Today we have rain, thunder and lightning.  Let's hope the grass turns green!! 

Sunspots - Thursday August 25th 2022

Solar flux is 108 and the SSN 46. A=3 and K=1.

ICOM announces SHF transceiver at Tokyo Hamfest

This is the IC-905. I am extremely sceptical.  I cannot see them selling that many or making a profit. Maybe it is a lost leader, really they are aiming to make a profit on something similar in the commercial market. 

It seems unlikely to be available much before late 2023 and at what price? The price has to be very keen or they risk a total flop.

If I was ICOM, I really would not bother. Mind you, I am not ICOM!

Nice concept, but in this tough world will it make them any money?