Sunspots - Saturday February 3rd

 Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 131. A =3 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Friday)

My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was turned on about 1950z. All the usual suspects have spotted me.

UPDATE 2138z: 2 spots already from Norway.

Evening light - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, the days have extended by almost an hour in the evenings since the shortest day. Even in the mornings things are getting better. 

It will be a few months before spring really comes, but the light has changed for the better. We may yet have snow and ice, but it is as if a corner has been turned. 

The end?

For several years now, I have been predicting the decline of our hobby. In this case I hope I am very wrong! An undeniable fact is that ours is (mostly) a hobby that interests older males. In itself, this is no bad thing: people retire, want new interests and tend to have more disposable income as children leave home and education.

What bothers me is we are all getting older. As we age fewer rigs will get bought, there will be little (or no) profit in our market. Dealers will disappear, magazines will shrink or stop.

Already our hobby is less about self-training and research and more about appliances and who has the deepest pockets.

What do I think will happen?

• Fewer new rigs
• Fewer and smaller magazines
• CB and amateur radio will merge (possibly ISM too).
• Amateur radio (as we knew it) will go.
• Callsigns (for those that want these) will be issued by national societies.
• Organisations like OFCOM and the FCC will wash their hands.
• A free for all will follow.

Am I worried?  No. 

Personally, I have always preferred research.  Those that want to do this will still carry on in a deregulated world. In some ways it could be better.

Views?

630m QRP WSPR overnight

My 10mW ERP 630m from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was on again last night. In all, 14 stations spotted me with the furthermost DL4RAJ (990km).

10mW 10m WSPR (Friday)

This morning I am continuing my 10mW WSPR TX on 10m. Already I am being spotted well by 2 stations, I confidently expect to be spotted in the USA for a 4th day in a row. 

UPDATE 1427z:   6 stations have spotted my 10mW 10m WSPR today. It seems stations in the USA copy my 10mW 10m WSPR every day.

UPDATE 1935z: 7 stations spotted my 10mW 10m WSPR today, including 3 in the USA.

Yesterday’s walk - NOT amateur radio

 

We saw this on our walk yesterday.

Sunspots - Friday February 2nd

 Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 113. A=5 and K=0.

630m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

 My 10mW ERP was turned on at 2050z.

UPDATE 2133z:   6 spots of me tonight. Furthermost is GM3YXM (425km).

Pauline's Swamp - NOT amateur radio

Today, on a cold bright morning, we walked through the village to a nature reserve known as Pauline's  Swamp.  

It was created several years ago in memory of someone's wife. What a way to remember them!