Oscar 100 (lack of activity)

Every few weeks I try to give an update on activity levels on Oscar 100 using the on-line SDR at Goonhilly Down. Pathetic!! My last peek was at breakfast time in Europe on a weekday. It was unbelievably quiet. If you were about to spend money getting a system for Oscar 100 going, my advice is buy something else instead! 

Black cartoon - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I was sent this by Steve G1KQH. It's a reminder that we had nothing when we entered this world and leave with nothing. Things that seem important to us now probably are not. 

Sunspots - Wednesday July 26th 2023

Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 137. A=11 and K=3.

Peter Pan statue - NOT amateur radio

This statue of Peter Pan is near the Palm House in Sefton Park in Liverpool. 

European Es promising?

 Es in Europe looks promising with decent openings in northern Europe. 

Experimenting

Ideally, you can build something, but experimentation does not have to mean building. As I have found out (the hard way!) there is still lots we can do in our great amateur radio hobby just by observing. 

Propagation is a great way to observe, whether it is on any band. Another is to try a new mode, maybe ATV or FT8. Perhaps try QRP or satellites.

What is so great about our hobby is that it can be enjoyed in so many ways. Some enjoy chasing DX whereas others just enjoy a good ragchew. I can only speak for myself by saying that my greatest fun was when I found out something new and challenging.

One thing I have learnt time and time again is there are no experts! Those who claim to be experts are often proved wrong, peddling myths they heard 40 years ago. Observe!!  Over the years I have found out several things myself. One of the joys is finding out yourself and not accepting conventional wisdom.

Two things stand out for me. One is I am convinced there is some sort of chordal hop E layer propagation. I have not (yet) seen this accepted. The other is how effective earth-electrode "antennas" in the ground can be. Over the last few years, these are being increasingly used by amateurs at MF, LF, VLF and ULF.

What myth are you going to disprove?

The future of amateur radio

This is a subject we have touched on many times. 

However, an increasing proportion of people in our hobby (the vast majority?) are getting very old and frail. Most are old men. We seem to have become (in the main) appliance operators where the main challenge seems to be the knobs on the latest and greatest product from Japan. Real researchers seem to be very much in the minority.

It is my firm view that national authorities will increasingly see the Amateur Radio Service as an unwanted burden. I can see the day coming when the Amateur Radio Service ceases. One possibility is that all non-licenced services are combined in some administrations. I cannot see the Amateur Radio Service existing beyond 2040. 

Already in the UK 3 dealers seem to have merged. The writing is on the wall....

Personally, I am not bothered as long as we have free access to interesting spectrum for research.

Magnet fishing - NOT amateur radio

 

Last week, our younger grandson went fishing with a magnet. Among the finds was a very old key. Just imagine the story it could tell. Was it just lost? Did someone throw it i? We shall never know.

Sunspots - Tuesday July 25th 2023

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 141. A=7 and K=1. 

Near Hathersage, Derbyshire - NOT amateur radio

This was the view out of the train window earlier.