How?

 

For this price both the manufacturer and AliExpress make profits. I am amazed. In the UK one could not buy even the crystal for this!

Some years ago I bought a Pixie kit from AliExpress. It cost a few pounds, but worked perfectly when fired up on the air.

Sunspots - Sunday December 15th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 86. A=10 and K=3.

Sunday plans

Tomorrow I plan to try 10m QRP FT8 with the IC-705. 

If I have time, I shall try to use PuTTY to put my QMX+ on 8m FT8 TX. I think the RX would need HW changes to the RX BPF. I intend to convert the 20m TX settings to 8m. This should only need me to change the frequency  and low pass filter selected.  The 6m LPF should do.  As my fine motor skills are poor, I shall have to accept the (poor) RX sensitivity.

Chinese - just how do they do it?

Just seen this on AliExpress.  It is a Chinese copy of a UK designed radio. The moral is register your design. What amazes me is the price. 

This is what the big Japanese manufacturers are up against. In my view, if the Japanese want to remain in the amateur market, I suspect the answer is to design in Japan, but make products in a low cost country. In the future this may not be China.

Ely Train Station - NOT amateur radio

 

The photo shows Ely rail station with Ely cathedral in the background.

Memories - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife and I met in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in 1968. I see it is now part of a UK set of stamps.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on at about 1050z. So far, 7 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE  1524z:  28 stations have spotted me. Furthermost Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was on all night. Lots of European spots. Was this the Geminid shower?

UPDATE 2108z: 81 stations in Europe have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday December 14th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 82. A=11 and K=3.

Humour - NOT amateur radio

As someone pointed out , perhaps you should pack a ladder 🪜 if staying at this hotel in Cambridge!😉😉.

Geminid meteor shower

 Throughout the year there are meteor showers. At the moment we are at the peak of the Geminid shower. Often the ionised trails enhance VHF signals.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

UPDATE 1455z: 19 stations have spotted me so far today.

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 As an experiment I left my QRP 6m FT8 on overnight. 19 stations spotted me in the last 6 hours.

UPDATE 1452z:  55 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours. See the comment below. It could be linked to MS.

Sunspots - Friday December 13th

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 91. A=6 and K=0.

Proud grandparents - NOT amateur radio

One of my granddaughters was awarded a place with the Royal Ballet against very stiff competition. 

Recently she performed at Westminster Abbey in front of 2 future UK kings. It was recorded and is being broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve.

I am not a royalist, but am extremely proud, as she is still very young. I would post a photo, but it is probably copyrighted.

Pixie transceiver kits

 A few moments ago I looked at AliExpress for Pixie transceiver kits. The lowest price I found was £1.28 with free delivery from China!! The term "free delivery" seems to be a bit odd as most seem to charge for "shipping". 

I just do not know how they do it and make profits.

Village Christmas Tree - Not amateur radio

Every year a Christmas tree 🌲 is erected outside our post office.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since late morning. At 1334z 17 stations had spotted me with several in the USA and Canada.

UPDATE 1657z: 29 stations have spotted me.

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My QRP has been on 6m FT8  since about 1215z.  At 1230z 8 stations have spotted me, all in England.

UPDATE 1641z:  18 stations have spotted my 6m QRP FT8 today.

Sunspots - Thursday December 12th

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 114. A=6 and K=2.