Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 126. A=5 and K=1.
28 Jul 2025
Out of touch?
Yesterday I was listening to a UK repeater that seemed to be linked to loads of stations by Allstar and Hubnet. I was listening via Echolink. It was good to hear it busy.
It is interesting that I know very little about this branch of amateur radio.
27 Jul 2025
Es going?
At the end of the Es "season" the usual pattern is there are fewer good days and fewer really big days. Es can still occur, but it becomes more sporadic.
In past years I have noticed it opens to the north more, but this is not scientific. I have worked Scandinavians on 6m QRP SSB as late as September with just my vertical omni antenna.
My advice is stick with it, especially 10m and 6m FT8. F2 will be good in the autumn and we might see a few fleeting openings where Es and F2 link up.
10m 5W FT8 (Sunday)
My gear was turned on at about 0836z. At first it was on FM which seemed odd. Then I realised!
UPDATE 0926z: 3 stations have spotted me. As I had received no spots (which I thought was odd) I quickly tried 15m FT8 to confirm everything was OK. 2 spots were soon received on 15m, so I QSYed back to 10m. I am surprised how few people I am seeing on 10m FT8. It is almost as people have QSYed to lower bands now the Es season is going as it's easier. I get the impression that most people are only really interested in working new countries, so 10m would be too hard if you are an"appliance operator".
UPDATE 1134z: 27 stations have spotted me. Es I think.
UPDATE 1540z: 63 stations have spotted me and I have spotted 30 here including North and South America.
Crumble
My wife makes a very good crumble.This one is wild blackberry and apple. It’s delicious with the ice cream.
Vegan "steak" pie
I am sure if I was given a blind test, I would not have been able to tell which was which. It was excellent, but far less expensive.
I shall buy these again.
Heathkits
In my youth these were a way of getting on the air for less by making your own gear.
They were famous for their step-be-step assembly instructions. These days it is less expensive to buy Japanese or Chinese made gear either new or second hand.
I thought Heathkit had died, then I saw a website which had a few products. Compared with Heathkits of old, these were very limited and very expensive. I thought this "rebirth" was doomed to failure. It would appear it still exists, much to my surprise.
Unless they increase their range and drop their prices I just can't see them surviving for long. They must have a very loyal group of supporters.
President Trump's "private" visit to Scotland
It is reported that this visit is accompanied by huge security.
As this is a private visit to his golf courses, shouldn't Mr Trump pick up the security costs? It seems grossly unfair if this has to be done by the Scottish taxpayers.
Instead, why does he not try a bit harder in his quest for a Nobel peace prize by helping to get a lasting peace in the Middle East and the Ukraine?
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