Artificial Intelligence (AI) - NOT amateur radio

Until this year, most had not heard of AI. Now it is widespread.  

There is no doubt that with big computers that learn we can all benefit from the huge processing power. What a human brain can do in days could be done by an AI computer in seconds. This could really help in such things as fast cancer diagnosis.

At the same time it could be a great cause of harm in the wrong hands. 

Some time ago, I did an experiment with AI. I put my name and callsign in and within seconds it produced line after line about me, most which was accurate. I then put my son's name in (he is an internationally famous jazz musician) and it came back with rubbish. The danger is that people may accept what AI tells them as absolute truth. Imagine a hostile power using AI. We can be sure the military services both east and west are "on the case".

I can see both good and bad. We have interacted with AI for years e.g. with chat bots and phone chats that, for example, ask you to "press 2 if you need to discuss future cruises".  In the future they will be far better.

At the moment, I am reserving judgement.

Crabapple jelly (continued) - NOT amateur radio

A few days ago I mentioned that I had made some crabapple jelly from the crabapples on our one tree. Despite a good crop, the amount of jelly produced was very small.

Yesterday I tried some and it was very good. It is just a pity there is so little!

European Es

The main Es season is now over, but Es is still with us. I find this site extremely useful to get a snapshot of conditions. It looks like there is a good opening in Eastern Europe this afternoon.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Ickworth (National Trust) - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we visited this vast estate near Bury-St-Edmunds. It must have cost an enormous amount to own and run it centuries ago. 

I have no idea where this wealth came from, but I hope not slavery. These days it can be enjoyed by everyone.

In praise of Chromebooks - NOT amateur radio

For almost 3 years now I have mostly used a Chromebook. It has been truly excellent and does almost everything I can ever want and is blisteringly fast. 

Mine is an Asus and came with a 3yr "at home" warranty. It is an 11.6 inch model with rubber bumpers. The Chrome updates and virus protection are valid until next year, when I shall probably get the latest version. 

It was about a third the price of the nearest Windows machine. The battery still lasts for hours. It really is very good and I have not once regretted buying it.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Sunday)

Although my QRP beacon has been on since breakfast, no spots yet.  It is now 0942z.

UPDATE 1005z:  Doh!! It helps if you turn the PA on too! Without this, I was probably running a just few microwatts. PA now turned on and resynced time.

UPDATE 1047z:   The map shows the stations that have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon in the last few weeks.

UPDATE 1328z: 23 spots of my 500mW WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1937z:  26 spots when I went QRT.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 2.5W to the dipole has been on since 0700z. No spots. 

UPDATE 0848z: Already spotted by WESSEXSDR (266km) and SR4BBX (1217km).

UPDATE 1312z: Spotted by 3 stations so far. 2 are in the EU.

UPDATE 1831z: 4 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 TX. 

UPDATE 1941z:  QRT.

Sunspots - Sunday August 29th 2023

Solar flux is 139 and the SSN 75. A=7 and K=3. Have we passed the peak already? 

WISPY RX

One of my Facebook memories today was this photo of my WISPY 10m WSPR RX. I think this was first created in 2011.  Later it formed the basis of a really simple 10m FT8 receiver.

Rant time

Today must be a bad day. 

In an earlier post I moan about the future of our hobby. Before my stroke in 2013, I had the honour of giving talks at radio clubs throughout East Anglia. Sadly, I can no longer do this as my voice is poor.

One of the things I noticed time and time again was that old men outnumbered young people overwhelmingly. As for females, maybe one or two. By far the most interested were old men. Some had been in the hobby for years, whereas some had recently become interested with family cares and work behind them.

Thinking to the future, the writing is on the wall. In 20 years' time most radio amateurs will be dead or past caring. A few might be in care homes. Amateur radio will be a distant memory, assuming we can remember at all!

Time and again I hear calls to really understand young people of today. If we really understand younger people we have chance to attract them and keep them in the hobby.  Sadly, most old men are not trying, so the downward spiral has started.

Rant over!