Since I went on my blog early this morning, the number of readers has remained very low and unchanged. It looks like there is an error or the blog is suddenly very unpopular!
UPDATE 2155z: Definitely wrong. Numbers have hardly changed all day.
31 Aug 2022
Where did summer go? - NOT amateur radio
It seems hard to believe, but today is the last day in August. According to the UK Met Office (weather) autumn starts tomorrow! We have had a dry, hot summer. When the autumn chills come, they will be a shock.
10m WSPR QRP TX
As it is my intention to concentrate on 4m FT8 RX later, I intend to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. This does not need the PC.
As long as the 10m antenna is available, I can use this beacon, leaving the PC free.
UPDATE 1012z: Although my beacon has been on for almost 2 hours, no spots.
UPDATE 1401z: Just a single spot by OE3XOE (1233km) all day.
4m FT8 and activity
Andrew G6ALB is remaking his 4m personal beacon at the weekend so that I can retest the RX in my transverter. The transverter has not been used for years.
I was hoping for suggestions about where to put my RX for the best chances on FT8 RX. Some say 70.100 whereas others suggest 70.154 MHz USB dial. At the moment I have no 4m antenna so cannot TX.
As the chances of Es are much diminished I guess most propagation will be inter-G. I have no idea what activity levels on 4m are like. If like other VHF bands, I guess my best chance will be the next UKAC activity session in 3 weeks' time.
So, where is the best place to watch for 4m FT8 activity in the UK please?
UPDATE 1018z: I have divided my time between the 2 frequencies I know about, but nothing yet spotted on 4m FT8 RX. I am still waiting for FT8 frequency information. Help!!
UPDATE 1107z: I have been told most 4m FT8 in the whole of Europe including the UK is on 70.154 MHz USB dial, so that is where I shall monitor. Still no spots.
Latania (?) - NOT amateur radio
When it comes to plants I am definitely not an expert! We saw this on our walk a few days ago in somebody's garden. Not sure if it is a palm or fern. It is quite big.
Has the decline already started?
Some time ago, I expressed my concerns about the future of our hobby as the average age of radio amateurs increased.
My concern was that as we age, it is likely that fewer new radios will be bought. In 20 years' time several of us will be in care homes! If we still have amateur radio access, it will probably be with internet radios.
Already, I think one European amateur radio dealer has gone. My prediction is others will follow across the planet.
The danger is magazines will see less advertising revenue, so some will shrink or go out of business.
Some manufacturers will view our hobby as a "lost cause" and may decide to leave the market. There will be a scramble to cut costs. I really cannot see all our traditional Japanese manufacturers continuing in our market without radical changes to their business models. Those that will still be around are those that see the future and adapt accordingly.
Now, some places are bucking the trend and the number of new radio amateurs is increasing. In my view, this is the exception. What we have to recognise is that what attracted us is very unlikely to attract many newcomers today.
Be in little doubt, our hobby is about to encounter very hard times in my view.
30 Aug 2022
2m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
Almost immediately this resulted in a QSO with G3TKF (221km) as well as 9 spots of me including one by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall (see map).
3 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this morning.
UPDATE 1133z: 7 stations spotted on RX and 11 stations have spotted me on 2m QRP FT8.
UPDATE 1332z: 9 stations have been spotted on RX here today with the furthermost DO7JVK (419km) in Germany. On QRP TX, I have been spotted by 13 unique stations today. Imagine if I had a beam!
Humming bird hawk moth - NOT amateur radio
See https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/humming-bird-hawk-moth .
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