One large PC manufacturer just told me by email that they were doing Black Friday deals early and that there were some amazing bargains.So, I took a look.
As far as I can see, these "bargains" are as high as they have ever been.
I expect if I looked very hard I might find an old model that is a bit less expensive, so they can clear the shelves for 2025 models.
What me a cynic? Surely not !! 😃
The moral? Treat Black Friday "deals" with caution. Some amazing bargains are definitely not.
During this week is a chance to get slow scan TV from the ISS. This video may help. SSTV is not something I have done seriously.
My QRP FT8 has been on for a while after breakfast. 6 English stations have spotted me. One VU was spotted at the end of a QSO.
UPDATE 1438z: 36 spots of my QRP 6m FT8 (mostly English) with the furthermost spotted by VU2MSA (8178km). Obviously F2 to India is reaching 6m.
UPDATE 1940z: 41 stations have spotted me today.
18 stations have spotted me so far this morning at 1008z on 10m QRP WSPR TX. Most look like F2 propagation.
UPDATE 1730z: 82 stations have spotted me with the furthermost F61695 (9729km) in the Indian Ocean.
This evening is the November 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. I go on briefly with my 10W SSB and the 2m omni big-wheel.
UPDATE 2019z: 2 stations worked, then I gave up! Furthermost was G4CLA (105km).
Some months ago Yaesu announced the FTX-1F which was hailed as the successor to the FT817/818 range and a competitor to the ICOM IC-705. Since then I have heard ..... nothing! Even on the rumour mill, it has been deadly quiet.
Is there any information out there?
At the right price (below £1000) and with the right features, it could be a serious player.
In my time I have owned very many Yaesu products. They have all been very good and very reliable, although I have the feeling Yaesu lost its way and market leadership in recent years.
The Yen is extremely competitive against the US dollar and UK pound at the moment.
Maybe, just maybe, they will get it right this time. I do hope so.
There is an enormous quantity of stuff on YouTube. Whether your interest is amateur radio or something else, a quick search is almost sure to throw up something. The video attached is just an example.
UPDATE 1425z: 22 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 today.
Most beacons use PI4 whereas I would have expected them to use FT8.
Does PI4 confer some advantages? Maybe better sensitivity? In my view, unless there is something about PI4 I don't know about, I would prefer beacons to use FT8 or at least have an FT8 sequence.
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At the moment, I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX. UPDATE 1118z: So far, spots of me by just EA8BFK (2880km). See chart.
