Bargains from China?

Banggood is selling some very low cost transceivers and receivers. These are far below the prices we are used to. In many cases, these are with free shipping from China. In some cases I am unsure if there is VAT and duty to pay. I am also concerned about quality control.

In the end, Chinese products really will be competitive against the Japanese. They are not there yet, quite. I give it 5 years, possibly less.

Sunspots - Thursday January 4th

 Solar flux is 140 and the SSN 63. A=11 and K=0.

Revising - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days, our younger grandson has been staying with us. Here he is revising for his GCSEs. I am asking him science questions and my wife is doing Shakespeare.

I seem to recall doing the same about 30 years ago with our sons!

Amateur radio: the great leveller

One of the aspects of our hobby I really like is that it is not political in the least. What binds us is a common interest in radio. Politically, we may be poles apart, but it matters not. None of us is perfect. As individuals, we are all equal.

Whether you live in deepest Africa, China, Australia, Russia, the USA or elsewhere does not matter at all. Back in the days of the USSR, it was common to hear chats between people in the USA and the USSR.  Today, I exchanged Happy New Year's emails with a station in Moscow. Tomorrow it will probably be someone in the USA!!

WSJT-X 2.7.0 - rc3

Those interested in digital modes may be pleased to hear that the latest release candidate of WSJT-X is available. I have no idea when this will be formally released.

See https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html .

In praise of progress - NOT amateur radio

Looking at the state of the world, it is easy to be pessimistic on many fronts. There are wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere and we seem to be making no real progress on climate change. 

However, there are very many fronts where progress really is being made. As mentioned earlier in the week, we can expect a big breakthrough in batteries and electric cars. Many of the world's killer diseases are being eradicated and there are far few children dying than was the case even just a few years ago.

Overall, each and every one of us has to make the world better. If we each make small steps then change for the better does occur.

QDX digital QRP transceiver

This is a tiny 5W digital transceiver from QRP Labs. It is available in 2 versions covering the HF bands. I have had the 20-10m version for several months now, but used it little recently as 5W seems like high power! It really is small. It is about the size of a fist mic only.

If digital modes are your "thing" then this low cost transceiver is probably all you need. It is available as a kit or ready built.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

10m QRPP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

My 500uW (0.5mW) beacon is running and already 2 spots from EA8BFK (2880km). At these powers, my mind is "blown away".  This is just amazing.  With WSPR, it would seem the impossible becomes possible.

UPDATE 1530z:  EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me 5 times today. Even though the beacon is pre-programmed to report the power as 0.5W, it is actually 30dB lower at 0.5mW.

Our grandson - NOT amateur radio

They grow up all too fast. This was our older grandson yesterday.  It seems just a few minutes ago he was a baby! Now he is taller than I am.  

Sadly, he has no interest in radio.  Our other grandson is fascinated. He is amazed by my QSL cards and blog numbers. At some future point I could see him getting a licence.

The moral is to enjoy them at every age.

20m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

For a change, I am trying the coax to my 2m big-wheel omni matched by my Z-match ATU at 2.5W on 20m FT8. 96 stations have already spotted me. I have only been on for about 10 minutes! This is too easy!!

UPDATE 1737z:   Spotted by 425 stations. There is no challenge in this.