Sunspots - Saturday July 26th

 Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 133. A=8 and  K=4.

Yaesu cashback

Yet again, I see MLS is offering cashback on certain Yaesu rigs. With the discounts, these look good value for money.

UPDATE 1248z:  with the cashback the FT710 is well below £1000, whereas the FTX-1 is a stupid price. I  my view Yaesu has kicked itself in the shins with the stupid, stupid FTX-1F prices.

I think Yaesu has lost its way.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

My 500mW WSPR TX beacon was turned on mid afternoon.

UPDATE 1522:  11 stations have spotted me around Europe. This looks like Es. 

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 vertical omni anenna was turned on at about 1350z.

UPDATE 1608z:  83 stations around Europe have spotted me. Mostly probably Es.

UPDATE 2025z: D2UY (6525km) in Angola is the furthest station spotted here on 6m FT8 RX. On TX, 303 stations, all in Europe have spotted me.

OFCOM, FCC and amateur radio

In the UK, the main authority dealing with amateur radio is OFCOM. I think in the USA it is the FCC. It is noticeable that many of OFCOM's publications are really about raising money. 

The feeling I increasingly get is that OFCOM is not really interested in amateur radio. This is probably true of many PTTs around the world. 

The impression created is that amateur radio is an embarrassing hangover from past times and they would rather it just went away.

Many times I have said that I suspect PTTs are tiring of amateur radio as it costs them money and creates no revenue.

It would not surprise me if amateur radio was deregulated in many countries.

"NOT amateur radio"

Since I stopped postings to my non amateur radio blog called "Miscellaneous Musings" a few years ago, I have appended "NOT amateur radio" when the posts are not amateur radio related items to this blog.  Usually I post several things that are not amateur radio related each week.

I propose to stop adding this to non amateur radio posts in future unless people strongly disagree.

CB - NOT amateur radio

In the USA CB radio started in 1958. In the UK it started in the early 1980s, although several people were involved illegally before then. 

In the UK it was very busy at first although I do not think this is the case now, although I have not been on CB for years. 

In the USA I have no idea of the situation. 

In the early days people came on CB for a number of reasons, many just to chat. These days people can chat for free with video across the world with the internet, so those who came on just for a chat have all but disappeared.

Friday plans

 Later, I plan to try again with 500mW 10m WSPR and 6m 5W FT8. The main Es season is drawing to a close.

The boys - NOT amateur radio

 

Our boys are now in their late 40s and their own sons are almost adults. 

They are all taller than me! 

Sunspots - Friday July 25th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 137. A=15 and K=2.