Sunspots - Saturday October 12th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 130. A=116 and K=2.

Each to their own

In amateur radio different people enjoy the hobby in different ways. It is a good thing we are all different! 

In my case, I enjoy getting the most from the least. Others chase DX and are happy to spend lots to get the very best gear. Others like amateur television. And so on...

I am still puzzled why MLS is advertising a microphone for almost £600. For a darn microphone!! Some people must have money to burn.

G3XBM videos

A reminder that many of my projects  are shown on my video channel on YouTube. 

I hope these can help you.  For example, this video is on the DX Explorer website. I always say use my designs as starting points for your own ideas. It is pretty certain most, if not all, of my designs may be improved.

Israel - NOT amateur radio

Some of my best friends are Jewish, but I am at a loss to understand what is currently happening. 

I understand that a certain state and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Huthies want to see the state of Israel wiped off the face of the earth. I also understand that Israel feels "on top" with their recent pager and walkie-talkie attacks.

What I fail to understand are these:

• Why are journalists not allowed into Gaza? 
• Why has Gaza got to be flattened?
• Why are so many women and children killed or maimed?
• Why are UN peace-keepers fired at?
• Why are innocent West Bank Palestinians being killed?
• Why drag innocents in Lebanon into the killing?
• Do the suffering of those Israeli hostages mean nothing?

One would have thought after the horrors of WW2 that Israel would not want to cause suffering to anyone, even their sworn enemies. It would appear that Israel wants a war. The oft use phrase is these terrorists use innocent civilians as human shields.

In the end, the only long-term solution is a just peace for everyone. Israel has to be recognised, but so has Palestine.

At the moment, Israel is in danger of appearing arrogant and turning away good friends. If they attack Iran, the state of Israel is in mortal danger.

This cycle of hate does nobody any good.

At the moment the Middle East is strategically important still. Gradually, it will be less so.

8m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since just before lunch.

UPDATE 1615z: No spots.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR beacon has been on all day.

UPDATE 1615z: No spots.

Friday plans

As conditions seem quite disturbed, I only plan to try 500mW WSPR beaconing on 10m today. 

Does time speed up as you get older? - NOT amateur radio

Last night somebody asked me if I had any plans for Christmas and said it only seemed like weeks since the last one! Shops are already putting up Christmas displays and this one has a Halloween display which seems like only yesterday since the last one.

It is my impression is that time passes faster as we age.

Sunspots - Friday October 11th

 Solar flux is 216 and the SSN 150. A=96 and K=6.

Wood wasp? - NOT amateur radio

This fearsome looking insect was on our garage door after breakfast. It was still there after lunch. 

I think it is a wood wasp, but I am no expert!  The body was about 3cm long.

It has a very large bottom which you can probably only see by enlarging the photo.