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13 Oct 2023
War crimes - NOT amateur radio
The recent barbaric attacks by Hamas in southern Israel were terrible and I can understand the anger.
However, taking revenge on the (largely) totally innocent men, women and children of Gaza is surely not the right course of action.
By attacking Gaza they may weaken Hamas, but innocent people will be harmed. Israel will be guilty of war crimes itself!
The only solution, in the end, is peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of differences. People the world over are different, and rarely, if ever, do wars really solve issues. All they do is create yet more hatred and bitterness, as well as many innocents killed or maimed. All it does is increase the coffers of arms manufacturers the world over, when this wasted money could be far better spent solving the existential threats that call into question of the very survival of the whole human race.
In my view the UK should keep out and the USA should put pressure on all sides to negotiate a fair and just peace that respects everyone.
We live in dangerous times.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since breakfast. So far, just spots from local G4WSZ (12km). I am hopeful of some F2 spots later.
UPDATE 1355z: ZR1ADI (9777km) has been a good signal. Nothing spotted "across the pond" and no reports by F2 of my QRP 8m FT8 today.
UPDATE 1435z: GM0SXQ/8 (576km) is a new one for me. As far as I know, I have not copied this station before on 8m FT8.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon was turned on at breakfast time. Lots of Europeans have spotted me.
UPDATE 1404z: 35 spots of me today. See table.
12 Oct 2023
10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)
My QRP 10m WSPR TX beacon has been on most of the day. So far, 43 spots of me.
8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
Although I have been on most of the day, no spots on TX or RX. There are quite a few monitors. I expect they are expecting F2 propagation.
UPDATE 1325z: It helps if you connect an actual antenna and not a dummy load! Until a few minutes ago, my 8m antenna was not connected and I was wondering why the match was very good, but I was getting no spots. Once the 8m antenna was connected, local G4WSZ (12km) immediately spotted me!
UPDATE 1530z: ZR1ADI (9777km) in Western Cape, South Africa copied well on 8m FT8.
Sunspots - Thursday October 12th 2023
Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 149. A=4 ad K=1
11 Oct 2023
Israel and Hamas - NOT amateur radio
There is little doubt that recent incursions of Israel by Hamas caused widespread outrage. However, for more than my lifetime, the people of Gaza have been treated as prisoners by the Israelis. Cutting off all supplies to Gaza is in danger of backfiring on Israel. I understand their view of Hamas, but does making innocent women and children suffer advance peace? I think not.
I do not have the answers.
630m QRP WSPR
At 1740z, my QRP 630m WSPR was turned on. 2 G stations have spotted me so far this evening.
UPDATE 1941z: 5 stations have spotted me so far this evening (4 Gs and 1 GM). Wet outside. 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. See http://wspr.aprsinfo.com/.