The dealer shootout

Hopefully I will be very wrong, but I predict that at least one amateur radio dealer will be gone by the end of next year. 

There could be more than one. Over time magazines will see revenue dip, which in turn could lead to smaller editions or even some magazines closing. 

In my view, some dealers will survive, but others may not. Hard times are ahead.

As I said before, I hope I will be very wrong, but the signs are not good. I wrote to one dealer almost a week ago and I did not have the courtesy of a reply. They certainly won't be getting any business from me. Will they be one of the first to go? I shall not name and shame them.

It is not just dealers. Some manufacturers are also considering whether amateur radio offers them profits in the future. Some may decide it is better to get out soon. 

Sunspots - Friday August 26th 2022

Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 94.  A=5 and K=1.

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!!