Sunspots - Monday December 9th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 103. A=7 and K=3.

Beware!!

Earlier this afternoon I thought I had ordered a UV K5(8) transceiver from Aliexpress for the bargain price of just £0.98 with free airmail postage. 

At this price (well below the price of a coffee) I thought I could not go wrong. 

Later, I read the reviews. One pointed out that all you got was the antenna, despite it implied you got a full transceiver for this price. This is a total scam.

I cancelled the order immediately.

It must be near Christmas - NOT amateur radio

Today, we put up our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations. It must be the run-up. 

It seems 5 minutes since last Christmas.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My QRP 10m WSPX beacon was turned on at about 0800z. At 1006z, 7 European stations  have copied my QRP.

UPDATE 1855z:  47 stations have spotted me today.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QRP  6m FT8 was turned on about 0800z. At 1000z, my signal has been spotted by 19 stations.

UPDATE 2000:  55 stations have spotted me with 2 from "across the pond".

Oscar 100 narrowband transponder

Every few weeks I take a look at the narrowband activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite. I am disappointed by the lack of activity.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

The evolution of languages - NOT amateur radio

My family history can be traced back on my dad's side to the mid 1500s. This was 13 generations. Being generous, it takes about 60 generations to get back to the Roman invasion of England and the birth of Christ. 

Now, I have no idea when certain languages began, but we have so many very different languages in Europe at the present time. Some are right next door as countries e.g. France and Germany. It is estimated that there are between 5000 and 7000 languages on Earth.

What I find so amazing is that our languages can be so different. OK, until about 100 years ago most people did not move far. Nonetheless, I find it incredible that languages can be so different in so few generations.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language.

New radios

Looking forward, certain things seem apparent to me. These are:

• Manufacturers want to be competitive. This usually means high volumes and low variations between markets. For example products for the USA market should have the same hardware as for Europe and most of the world. Programming with different software is easy.
• People are finding prices high, so are looking for good value and to buy as few products as possible. The "shack in the box" looks attractive.
• Ideally many would like a radio that can do all bands (HF and VHF) in all modes. 
• A radio that could be used in the shack or car/truck means fewer variants, so higher volumes.
• Small size makes fitting in small spaces easier.
• Manfacturers must be mindful of low cost manufacturing areas around the world.

One solution might be a low power product with a separate linear?

So an ideal product might be the ICOM IC-705 or the Yaesu FTX-1F.

In my view the companies that will remain around are the ones that recognise these and develop products accordingly.

Sunspots- Sunday December 8th

 Solar flux is 183 and the SSN 91. A=6 and K=1.

Winter projects

Here in the UK it is now very dark in the mornings and it gets very dark early in the evenings too. We are drawing the curtains at about 4pm whereas it seemed like 5 minutes since we were doing it at 10pm!

With the onset of winter, many people turn to winter amateur radio projects. These days, my fine motor skills are poor, but in the past "rolling something of my own" has given me immense pleasure. 

I cannot describe the thrill of working somebody thousands of miles away on something you have designed and built yourself.  

However small, I can recommend building something. Maybe start with a kit?

Naughty but nice - NOT amateur radio

 This was the advert for breakfast at a local pub. Very nice 😊.

Tangerine Dreams - NOT amateur radio

Despite being re-potted and staked our very tall amaryliss decided to fall over again in the night, so we put it in the sink of the utility room weighed down with.......tangerines! 

Since this it has not (yet) fallen over.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

 My beacon has been on since breakfast. At 0943z, 6 stations have spotted my 500mW.

UPDATE 1325z:  21 stations have spotted me so far.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at breakfast time. So far, 15 stations spotted today at 0928z. See map.

UPDATE 1322z:  40 stations have spotted me today.

Sunspots - Saturday December 7th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 103.  A=5 and K=1.

Christmas spirit - NOT amateur radio

This was the entrance to our local museum last weekend. They had a very happy "Father Christmas" day that was very successful. 

All the kids (and adults!) had a really good time.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My QRP FT8  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since just before breakfast. 22 stations have spotted me. See map.

UPDATE 1538z:  Now spotted by 42 stations with the furthermost DU6/PE1NSQ (11141km).  On 6m FT8 RX an XV8 was spotted working a Swedish station. See map with bars for stations that spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today.  See table for the stations received here today on 6m FT8.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 My beacon has been on since just before breakfast. 2 stations have spotted me so far

UPDATE 1552z:  Spotted by 31 stations. I think this is via F2 propagation. See table.

King's College Chapel - NOT amateur radio

The Christmas service of nine lessons and carols from here is watched around the world by about 370 million people.  Some people queue all night for tickets.

It was quiet yesterday.

Friday plans

Later this morning I hope to go on 10m QRP WSPR and 6m QRP FT8.