Interesting space photo - NOT amateur radio

This photo appeared on “The Knowledge “ earlier although I think it was on Flickr before. It shows sunrise from the ISS.

MLS announce new portable

MLS has announced a new ICOM hand portable to coincide with ICOM's 60th anniversary. 

£619.99 for a hand portable? Hmm.  A lot more than I would pay, although I expect some will pay up for a fairly unique transceiver. Look for the ID-52 anniversary edition. 

See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/id-52-plus .

Favourable exchange rates

 I notice that the pound is very strong against the Japanese Yen. It has also got a lot better against the US Dollar.

On the face of this we should expect useful reductions in the price of Japanese gear. Alternatively, dealers can make a greater profit.

Wild flowers - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a recent photo from my son of wild flowers.

We had a patch of wild flowers just outside the windmill next door, but it is not so good this year.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Today at 0751z 68 stations have already spotted me with the furthermost V51MA (8460km). 

UPDATE 1052z:   115 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 this morning. These include Africa, North and South America and Europe. Interestingly, no spots in Asia.

UPDATE 1335z:  186 spots of my QRP 10m FT8  in the last day. See map.

Sunspots - Friday July 12th

 Solar flux is 205 and the SSN 188. A=6 and K=2.

Upcoming Rallies

 The following have been notified to me. Always check with organisers if travelling far.  All are on Sunday July 14th.

• Cambridge Repeater Group Rally (postponed). Foxton CB22 6EN. Contact rally2024@cambridgerepeater.net .
• Lincoln Short Wave Club  Summer Rally, Market Rasen,LN8 3HT . Contact m5zzz@outlook.com .
• McMichael Radio and Electronics Rally and Car Boot Sale 2024, Reading, RG4 6ST. Contact rally@radarc.org .

Blackberries - NOT amateur radio

In the lane next to our house there is a blackberry bush laden with blackberries. In a few weeks they will be great. 

There are already some ripe (see photo).

Swallows (barn swallows) - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago, these birds that migrate here in the spring and summer from southern Africa were common. It was not unusual to see a few on the telegraph wires. Although they are still seen, they seem to be far more  localised. We still have plenty of swifts locally despite many nest sites going and I have seen house and sand martins.

I guess the time will come when some decide to over-winter. I think some have tried in the past but succumbed to the lack of insects. As winters get shorter and milder with climate change, I can see some patterns changing.

Electric cars - NOT amateur radio

Let me say from the outset that I do NOT have an electric car.  

In my view, we are not yet at the tipping point when the price drops considerably, the range is considerably improved, there are plentiful charging points and the batteries do not need expensive materials to be mined. Give it just a few years and petrol and diesel vehicles will look as out of date as CRTs and film cameras.

Having said that, it is noticeable how much more common electric cars have become. Just a few years ago on a trip to Cambridge I might have seen 2. Now to see 8 is quite common. This is probably due to several factors. The energy crisis has caused people to question fossil fuelled vehicles, especially if you can charge at home overnight on a good tariff. Secondly, more recent cars are more likely to include electric cars. My estimate is the ratio of fossil fueled to electric cars is about 100:1.

My next car may well be electric as long as we move away from lithium, the range improves considerably and the price comes well down. For now I shall carry on with my recent diesel car.

By the way, I am fully in favour of a new road tax in which the further you travel, the more you pay. This would seem a fair way of taxing everyone and encourage the use of public transport. Maybe fossil fuels should be discouraged by taxing them more heavily and subsidising electric vehicles?