Sunspots - Saturday August 31st

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 143. A=23 and K=4.

Italy legally on 8m

It has come to my attention that Italian amateurs (for a limited time) have amateur access to 40.66-40.70MHz. 

This will be interesting when F2 propagation really kicks in. They are far enough south to catch some TEP and I expect they will have QSOs with the Caribbean.

What I do not know is do other administrations allow similar access? 

As I keep saying, just 5kHz, a low ERP, no SSB, narrow digital modes only, limited time, strictly no interference, by NoV or equivalent, would allow widespread free propagation research. Personally I cannot see the issue when 40.66-40.70 MHz is already allocated to ISM, licence free gadgets. 

Is the problem that people in many PTTs are ignorant and stupid? Or is it just the military trying to keep the spectrum as clear as they can "just in case". Also most PTTs see only hassle and no money.

Now and the coming months are the best times for 8m propagation research.

Ely Cathedral - NOT amateur radio

 

This is probably our favourite cathedral known as the “ship of the fens”. It can be seen from miles away standing proudly on a hill . As locals we get free entry.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_Cathedral .

Windmill next door - NOT amateur radio

This has been on many times! It is another view of the windmill right next door. We can see it from the kitchen and lounge.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 Already 2 stations in central Europe have spotted my QRP beacon, even though it has only been on about 30 minutes.

UPDATE 1526z: Spotted by 6 stations including W4CLQ (5204km). Good to see a spot from the USA.

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.

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?