10m 1W FT8 (Friday)

My IC-705 was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1120z:  143 stations have spotted me with the most distant RA5CW (4778km).

Interconnected world

It concerns me just how interconnected much of our life now is and how all this could collapse like a pack of cards. 

Much electricity in the UK is produced from gas. Without gas, less heating , less electricity.  Less electricity less travel as fewer traffic lights. Less electricity less delivery, less food.  Less pumping affecting water and sewage.

I am not a fan of isolationism but if the intention is to reduce this interdependency I have some sympathy.

One way of reducing this interdependency is large trading blocks such as the EU, China, Russia and the USA. Basically trading within the blocks adds a degree of security. 

Outside large trading blocks we become very vulnerable.

Friday plans

 At the moment I am inclined to try 10m 1W FT8.

Sunspots - Friday January 2nd

 Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 120. A=12 and K=4.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on at about 1000z. 

UPDATE 1054z:  7 stations have spotted me including one OH.

UPDATE 2142:   QRT soon. Lots of Europeans (63) have copied me today. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR ( Thursday)

My beacon was turned on at about 1000z.

UPDATE 1018z:  Spotted by nobody yet.

UPDATE 2138z:   20 stations have spotted me. See map from WSPRrocks by Phil  VK7JJ. QRT soon.

Space travel

Just now I watched a video on YouTube about space travel. 

It made the point that distances are huge and even if we reach speeds approaching that of light, it would take so long that a human space traveller, even with time dilation for the traveller, would arrive back on Earth millions of years in the future.  

Even unmanned probes do not solve this problem. Inter-stellar travel really poses all sorts of problems. Essentially any such space travellers have a one way ticket.

Sunspots - Thursday January 1st

 Happy New Year everyone. May the year bring you and those you love health and happiness.

Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 127. A=7 and K=3.

Thoughts on 8m

In the last few years I have (not now) had an 8m TX permit in the UK.

I ran 2.5W to a low dipole using my FT817ND modified by the dealer MLS. Most DX paths were worked on FT8 like South Africa, USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

Both OFCOM and the dealer were helpful, although I am sorry to say I did NOT find the RSGB supportive or helpful in the least. To be honest the RSGB appeared dead set against me and even a temporary NoV. Instead I had to pay £50 to do propagation research when many other CEPT nations gave either temporary or permanent access to the band.

In the RSGB's defence, they are often dependent on volunteers and saw defending 6m as a higher priority.

In my view, the most important propagation research was around sunspot maximum. We are now on the downward slope. Yes, there may well be more very long paths opening especially N-S and there will be other modes such as Es and MS.

What of the future?  I cling to the (weak) hope that the RSGB will change to a more supportive role and encourage OFCOM to join other enlightened CEPT nations that have allowed radio amateurs access to the band. Unless we gain free access to the band I am unlikely to apply for a TX permit.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE  1524z:  16 stations have spotted me in 4 countries with the furthest SM5EPO (1344km). See map.

UPDATE 2120z:  28 stations spotted me today. See map. Now QRT.