My war

It would appear that the world is entering recession, has higher fuel costs and Iran will emerge stronger and the USA weaker.

Iran is considered an evil state, but if a war is undertaken it is wise to think about how it might end.

WSPR versus FT8

It is now about 3 months since I got my 10m QDX-M FT8 transceiver and the Zachtek 200mW WSPR TX. Much to my surprise, I am getting more fun from the WSPR beacon than the FT8 transceiver.

There are more people (I think) using FT8, but overall I find 10m WSPR more fun. Most days on WSPR my 200mW gets spotted at amazing distances.

How to win friends

 This was a quote from the BBC website. I will let you guess who said it!!

"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8jke9v9xv9t  .

Economic emergency

 It is clear that the war against Iran is having consequences across the planet.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0750z. 

UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2001z: 7 stations have spotted me. Now QRT.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

In all yesterday I was spotted by 5 stations. 

See map from WSPR Rocks by VK7JJ. 

The spots from the German research base in Antarctica seem almost daily.

Sunspots - Tuesday March 31st

 Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 143. A=12 and K=2.

Zachtek WSPR beacon

I have a 10m 200mW WSPR beacon by ZachTek in Sweden. 

What I really like is that, apart from switching it on, nothing at all has to be done, Maidenhead locator and timing are all done by GPS. 

There is a much cheaper product from China, but this is inferior.

With a very average wire antenna it seems to get spotted widely around the world.

EV batteries - revolution about to happen?

It looks like the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has over 50% of the market share in sodium based batteries and the price of these will fall dramatically in the next few years. The battery life is greater too by a factor of about 2. 

Whatever happens with solid-state batteries, it looks like fewer EVs will need lithium. 

There is a great danger the USA will simply be left behind.

Time for a new reserve currency?

In my lifetime the US dollar has been the reserve currency. It has been regarded as a safe haven to invest in. Oil has been priced in US dollars.

It would appear the era of US dominance is drawing to a close and the USA appears to want a more isolationist stance. This appears to be the choice of the current US government, elected by the people.

If this is the case I can see the world looking for a new reserve currency. This would not happen overnight, but I can see things changing.

Whatever your views, certain other nations seem to be in ascendancy whilst the USA slowly declines. If I was a third world country I would not be looking towards the USA for inspiration.