Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 154. A=6 and K=2.
14 Apr 2023
13 Apr 2023
Why I don't like lightning - NOT amateur radio
It can do serious damage!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .
Not on 8m currently
Until the Es season, I have decided to give 8m a miss.
With higher ERPs I know some remarkable DX becomes possible, but up to now my experiment has been to find out what would be possible with very low ERP. It would appear that with QRP FT8, some remarkable distances are possible in the right conditions. As the sunspot number climbs still further, we could see some remarkable reports next autumn on 8m.
Already the beacon ZS6WAB on 40.675 MHz has been copied in Western Australia.
Acceptance? - NOT amateur radio
Although in many ways I still feel like a teenager inside, I know I am an old man sadly. Some things that would have been easy 50 years ago are now very hard or impossible. Perhaps we all have to accept the person we are now and learn to accept that some things are now not possible - harder said than done!
10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
See https://qrp-labs.com/qdx.html .
UPDATE 0830z: 95 stations have been spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 20 stations.
UPDATE 1737z: So far today, 107 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today (see map).
UPDATE 1747z: QRT.
Repeater closing
This morning I heard that the GB3YT ATV repeater is to permanently close this summer as the owners are getting older and can't climb ladders. How many will follow? I can imagine quite a few repeaters going with a combination of high site costs, old age and low usage. Many repeaters are totally quiet for hours on end.
12 Apr 2023
70cm FT8 activity contest
This contest starts at 1900z tonight. I usually go on with my 2.5W to my 2m big-wheel omni antenna for about 30 minutes. I may well stay on RX until much later in the evening to see which stations come through.
UPDATE 2115z: After 2.25 hours, 24 stations spotted (see map). What a difference from the UKAC last night! It would seem many now prefer FT8 to SSB.
Threatening sky - NOT amateur radio
We have seen the extremes in our weather today. We have had rain, strong winds, sunshine, but no snow!
UPDATE 1747z: Bright sunshine now!
Our changing hobby
In some way or other, I have been involved in amateur radio since 1961. Many changes have occurred since then.
When I started, the only real way to talk across the world was if you were a radio amateur. This was the case until the internet came along and anybody could talk across the world with video for free. Since then, amateur radio has evolved. Yes, some still come on the air just to chat, but this number is getting smaller each year as those that remember amateur radio long ago, get older and frailer. Instead, many come on to work new DX, often with modes like FT8. Others come on to experiment or try new things like satellites, ATV or moonbounce.
In my (heretical) view this is how the future looks. It may very well be wrong!
- In 20 years, the Amateur Radio Service will cease.
- Amateur radio will merge with licence free services like CB and ISM.
- Callsigns will be optional and handled by national radio societies for those that want them.
- The Chinese will dominate amateur radio manufacture.
- Everyone will be able to operate licence free as long as interference is not caused and they operate in bands allocated only.
- There will be far fewer magazines.
- There will be far fewer dedicated amateur transceivers.
One thing is certain: most of this will be when I am pushing up daisies!
I would like to hear your views.
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