MLS and the FTX-1

With great fanfare the UK dealer MLS has announced that soon people who pre-ordered the rig will get deliveries after the first UK unit arrived.

I fail to see what the attraction is: it is £400 more than the ICOM IC-705 and, as far as I can see, offers less than the ICOM rig apart from 4m in European versions and the larger battery.  The IC-705 is now several years old .

When I saw what was on offer I was seriously underwhelmed. In my view at under £1000 they might have stood a chance.  At £1599, no chance. 

People who must have a shiny new radio, maybe, but the vast majority will give it a miss at this stupid price. 

If ICOM next make a true mutlimode, multiband portable, they could make a killing. In my view Yaesu has seriously "lost the plot"..... and the market.

Buddlia bush

A few years we had a small tree that had been disturbed by the wind, so we replaced it with a small buddlia. 

It has flowered for the first time. 

Buddlia flowers are supposed to attract butterflies.

10m 2W FT8 (Saturday)

Today, I am trying 10m FT8 with 2W FT8. It was turned on at about  0855z.

UPDATE 0930z:   Already 79 Es spots of me. Even with very low power I get spotted by many stations on FT8. Who needs kilowatts?

UPDATE 1740z:  221 stations have spotted my 2W QRP 10m FT8. On RX 317 stations spotted here with the furthest the Falklands. Still plenty of Es about. 

Anglesey Abbey

We went for a walk here earlier this week avoiding the rain. 

As it is summer holidays for schools they are gearing up for kids as they have crazy golf. 

The scissors ✂️ are for a fashion exhibition.

Loop antennas

 These can be surprisingly effective, especially if the loop is made with really low loss material. What surprised me was how well they did with QRP and normal wire .

This photo dates from August 2013 in the garden at the old QTH.

Sunspots - Saturday August 2nd

 Solar flux is 146 and the SSN 129. A=13 and K=3.

Tree trunk flowers

On the Causeway (a tree lined road in our village) they had to cut down a tree.  I am so pleased they have made a feature of it by planting some flowers in the old tree trunk base.

First ones

 

Every year I like to grow a few tomatoes 🍅 at home. I am sure they would be cheaper from a supermarket but you miss the smell and the fun. Today I picked the first ones.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My QRP beacon has been on most of the morning. As the Es is good today, I have been spotted by lots of stations already.

UPDATE 0954z:  26 spots of me already with the furthest EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1901z: 51 stations have spotted me with the furthest V51RS (8481km). QRT.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My IC705 to the V2000 vertical omni was turned on just before 0800z.  It was good to see so much Es.

UPDATE 1051z:  Spotted by 435 stations. Amazing Es.

6m FT8 RX to 1330z

UPDATE 1332z: 657 stations have spotted my 1W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni including VO1CH (3737km). On RX several stations spotted in the USA. In my view this is one of the best days on 6m FT8 this Es season. The map shows the stations received on 6m FT8 today on the V2000  vertical omni until 1330z.

UPDATE 1900z: 698 stations have spotted my 1W 6m FT8 today. QRT.