Italy on 8m in 2025

 Italy has again been permitted to use 8m amateur radio in 2025 . Why oh why can’t OFCOM do the same? Idiots!!

Going home - NOT amateur radio

We’re on our way home after a few days in Newcastle/Durham. It was a good trip. Everyone in Newcastle was SO friendly. I can imagine it is a great place to be at university.

UPDATE 1822z:  Been home for a few hours.

Sunspots - Saturday April 26th

 Solar flux is 164 and the SSN 169. A=5 and K=2.

Durham Cathedral outside - NOT amateur radio

 This impressive Norman cathedral was built almost 1000 years ago before they had heavy lifting gear and CAD.

MLS prices

 I’m sorry but I don’t get it. Why do people waste so much on amateur radio gear? 

MLS is proudly advertising amateur gear at reduced prices, but still far more than I am prepared to pay! 

Each to their own  but I  have had as much fun with homemade gear costing a few pounds as anyone spending thousands.

Hotel breakfast -NOT amateur radio

This was my breakfast today with toast.

Weathered wall - NOT amateur radio

 This weathered sandstone wall was near Durham Cathedral yesterday.

Rally this Sunday

 Sunday April 27th - Cambridge Repeater Group Rally, Foxton near Cambridge ,  CB22 6RN. See www.cambridgerepeaters.net .

Durham Cathedral yesterday - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we visited Durham Cathedral and an old school friend of my wife.

Apparently this was where Scottish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 prisoners were kept hundreds of years ago. To keep warm they burned wooden things, but spared the clock as it has a small thistle. 

Sunspots - Friday April 25th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 152. A=13 and K=1.

The tiny QDX is all you need?

 Because of my poor voice following my 2013 stroke I use WSJT-X digital modes almost all the time. I still use voice modes occasionally. Arguably, all you ever need is the QDX which is so small.

Newcastle artwork - NOT amateur radio

 This was seen in a shop window in Newcastle UK yesterday in the colours of Newcastle football ⚽️ team.

Sunspots - Thursday April 24th

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 132. A=7 and K=2.

Kitchin regenerative RX (more)

 I am a great fan of regen receivers as you get lots of “bang for your buck” in that they work well yet are simple.

Newcastle cathedral - NOT amateur radio

This was Newcastle cathedral earlier. The people are extremely friendly.

3D printed CW key

 This was on the DX Explorer YouTube channel earlier. I like this channel. There are lots of very informative videos on this channel.

Millennium bridge , Newcastle UK - NOT amateur radio

 This links Newcastle and Gateshead .

Sunspots- Wednesday 23rd

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 142. A=12 and K=1.

Train food - NOT amateur radio

This was the meal I had on the train from London to Newcastle. Only 3 hours and 10 minutes- really good.

Glasshouse - NOT amateur radio

 This is in Gateshead on the banks of the River Tyne, UK.