30 Aug 2024

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W system has been on since about 0800z. So far, just English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1044z:  16 stations have spotted my QRP. 

UPDATE 1635z:  20 stations have spotted me. See map.

Rally this Sunday

 This has been notifed to me. Usual caveats about travelling a long way apply.

Sunday September 1st - Telford Hamfest and GQRP Club Convention, Telford, TF10 8NB. Contact hamfest@tdars.org.uk .

Russian Ruble exchange rate - NOT amateur radio


Yesterday I watched a YouTube video about the Russian Ruble.  

It explained that inflation in Russia was high and going higher and that the value of the Russian Ruble was declining against other currencies. The Russian central bank had been trying to buy Rubles to keep the exchange rate up, but was failing.

I do hope a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine may be found.

Sunspots - Friday August 30th

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 124. A=5 and K=1.

29 Aug 2024

UK taxes - NOT amateur radio

No matter how you voted in the UK, the present government has some big issues in the short-term. Basically it needs more tax to cover the things it wants to support and to pay debt interest. 

More people are moving away from fossil fuelled vehicles. Electric cars are still very much in the minority, but I still see 5 times more than just a few years ago. In the end, most will move away from fossil fuels, but this will generate less tax income. One suggestion was a charge per mile driven instead.

There is a lot of controversy over the winter fuel allowance. At the moment we all get it whether very poor or very rich, but current plans are to stop this totally unless you get pension credit payment. Why not increase the tax free allowance so those in the greatest need pay less tax? They could keep the tax boundaries so those on higher income pay more?

Surely a very high tax on big land owners is sensible? They can easily afford to pay.

Also, a very small tax on all share trades would be unlikely to impact the poorest, but would hardly affect the richest?

Amazon algorithms - NOT amateur radio

It is interesting (and annoying!) that when you have recently bought something you are bombarded by emails recommending you will buy the very same items, or very similar, again! 

Surely they can adjust their algorithms to not bombard you with the same thing for several months? I am sure even I could do this!

Some time ago we bought our grandson some books to help with GCSE revision. He took his exams months ago, yet I still get told about the same, or very similar, items!

Not Amazon, I ran a group on miracle whip antennas some years ago. Some people got the completely wrong idea!!  😁

Yaesu FTX-1F price


Yaesu and the dealers have a difficult job with price. 

They want to compete with the ICOM IC-705, have it as an FT817/818 replacement, but also compete with the Chinese. In my view, they have to capture the mass market or Yaesu could quit the amateur radio market. 

In my view it has to be less than £1k.



6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on at about 0800z.

Stations spotting my
6m QRP FT8  today

UPDATE 0828z: 
 Just 7 English stations have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 1120z: 15 stations have spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 today. 

UPDATE 1435z:  47 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2019z:   73 stations have spotted me. QRT shortly. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

Furthermost (probably F2) was YO2MAX (1802km) who spotted me very early.


UPDATE 2017z: 
Spotted by 15 stations across Europe. See table. Now QRT.

Plans for Thursday

Although conditions could be disturbed again my plan is to try QRP 6m FT8 and 10m WSPR.