Amazon - NOT amateur radio

Amazon, the online delivery service, is like a UK wheat spread in that some hate it and some love it. Over the years we must have ordered hundreds of items. Only once has a delivery ever gone wrong, and that was just to an address a few doors away.

I recall my wife trying to buy some very ordinary nail scissors from our local chemist. She was told they had none and would be getting none in. She went on Amazon and got them delivered next day to the door at a lower price.

Yes, shopping patterns are changing, with many people preferring the convenience of home delivery.  Many retailers will close or adapt.

Today I wanted some wood filler, forgetting I had given my last to our son. I went on Amazon and two tubes will be delivered to my door tomorrow for less cost than 1 tube at our local DIY store. Delivery is free.

10m 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR

 Yet again, my 500uW 10m WSPR is turned on.

UPDATE 2020z: No spots all day today.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Stations spotting my
2.5W 6m FT8 today

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is on and, so far, 18 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1103z:  30 spots of me today, mostly Es.

UPDATE 2000z:   52 spots of me today.

European Es (Thursday)

 At the moment the Es does not look to great, yet my QRP 6m FT8 has been spotted by 17 stations already!

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

Ship Queen Anne leaving Liverpool - NOT amateur radio

This was the new cruise ship 🛳️ Queen Anne leaving Liverpool on Monday after being named earlier in the day.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

 

5 stations spotted my 10mW ERP on 630m WSPR overnight. No great DX, although it is June.

Sunspots - Thursday June 6th

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN is 193. A=7 and K=1.

630m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

 My 10mW ERP 630m WSPR is on and will remain on overnight. At 2145z 2 stations have spotted me.

UK General Election, July 4th - NOT amateur radio

Last night was the first TV debate between the leaders of the 2 main political parties.   If you can imagine what 2 cats fighting over a dead bird is like, that was it. Sad, pathetic.

All parties make promises in the run-up to a General Election. Come the election all these will be forgotten, or there will not enough money. What is certain is that whichever party governs, tough times are ahead. Either taxes have to rise, or public services will be cut, or both. Saying either of these things is a vote loser.

Come the General Election I shall be tactically voting for the least worst party. My heart says Green,but I know they have no chance in our constituency. 

My prediction?  Labour will be the governing party, but the majority will be smaller than expected. The minor parties may well hold the balance of power. I also expect closer ties with Europe since BREXIT has turned (as some expected) into a dreadful mistake. I am sure some expected a UK like the 1950s forgetting just how inter connected the world now is.

Liverpool reunion - NOT amateur radio

As many know, I was in Liverpool for a reunion of old university friends. 

The photo shows me after my train arrived. 

I was taking a photo of my train.