10m as the sunspot count declines

It is probably the case that I am rare in quite looking forward to the quieter solar years when propagation on 10m becomes more difficult. 

At the moment a few watts of 10m FT8 seems to get all over the planet. It is quite easy at the moment. 

At sunspot minimum it will be far harder, but it will be interesting to see how 10m FT8 QRP behaves then. It is my view that as long as monitors continue to look at 10m FT8 we will find paths open far more than we thought. 

As I have said many times before, people move to lower bands as it is easier. Sticking with 10m we will be doing real research. It would not surprise me to see N-S paths possible right at sunspot minimum with FT8.

Direct to smartphones from space? - NOT amateur radio

OFCOM is to permit satellites to communicate directly to smartphones if the terrestrial links are poor. I have no idea how feasible this is as traditional satellite phones needed big antennas. 

Perhaps OFCOM is doing this "just in case" it becomes feasible in the future?

MUF

The Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) is a good guide to the highest frequency to use on a given path. This map, although not always correct, is a useful guide.

See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .

Tower of London - NOT amateur radio

At the weekend we treated our daughter-in-law and her children to a trip around the Tower of London. She thoroughly enjoyed it and wants to go again! 

It has an important part in English history and dates back about 1000 years.

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

 😂

A friend recently stayed at a hotel and was overwhelmed by the size of the breakfast. 

I have fry-ups 3 times a week, but not like this!

If faced with this, I would make a good try 😋 . 

10m 6W FT8 (Tuesday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on just before breakfast on FT8.

UPDATE 2000z: 844 stations have spotted my 6W 10m FT8 today with the furthermost Antarctica. See map for spots.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 25th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 85.  A=19 and K=3.

Quiet village lane - NOT amateur radio

 

This is a quiet lane in our village. With blossom and daffodils there are plenty of signs of spring.

Covid-19: lab leak accident? - NOT amateur radio

Five years after the whole world suffered the effects of Covid-19, there are still debates over its origins. 

Increasingly it appears this was an accidental lab-leak in China. People do not want to say this in case it offends China. In truth, we can never be sure.

UPDATE 2110z:  This really does look like an accident.  They may have been working on a bio weapon, but the virus that escaped (if indeed it did) was not the strongest that could have been created.

Yaesu FTX-1F latest news

Basically, as far as I can tell there is none, at least available to Jo Public. 

No doubt dealers have been told the selling price and any features. There is a video bemoaning the fact that "early 2025" looks more like the end of June.....or never.