FT710 and IC7300mk2

ICOM has announced the mark 2 version of the IC7300, which has sold well across the world. 100,000 units have been sold. 

The FT-710 scores very highly on the Sherwood tests. I do not think the latest ICOM rig has been tested, although the mark 1 was somewhat lower down. For most people most of the time these numbers are academic.

Both rigs cover up to 70MHz. I know the FT710 can be widebanded without uncasing. I am not sure about the IC7300mk2.

The Yaesu radio is considerably less expensive in the UK and comes with a Yaesu cashback. I think Yaesu offers a 3 year warranty.

I am sure both are good radios.

Sunspots - Tuesday November 18th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 45. A=11 and K=2.

Another day off the radio

 As I was in Cambridge most of the day, I decided not to go on the radio today.

Sunspots - Monday November 17th

Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 66. A=12 and K= 2.

VHF magnetic loop antenna

VK3YE is a real experimenter. This is a recent video describing the use of a tin can as a VHF loop antenna.

Times Radio on YouTube

Most days I try to watch TimesRadio on YouTube.  I find watching these most informative. They tend to interview lots of different people who have views on the international affairs.

Day off radio

 This morning we went shopping and our son and grandson came for lunch, so I am having a day off the radio.

6m 5W FT8 yesterday

In all, 20 stations spotted me on 6m QRP FT8 yesterday.  See map.  This included several continental Europeans although I am not sure of the propagation mechanism.

Sunspots - Sunday November 16th

Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 97. A=9 and K=3.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on about 1645z.

UPDATE 1940z:  Spotted by 20 stations.

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

 At about 1645z, I QSYed to 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1650z:  Spotted by 3 English stations.

10m 4W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on  late morning.

UPDATE 1653z: So far, spotted by 519 stations today. See map. Now QSYed to 6m.

Sunspots - Saturday November 15th

 Solar flux is 145 and the SSN 114.  A=5 and K=1.

Frontline for Times Radio

This is a YouTube channel I look at quite often for world news. They frequently interview some important people on the world stage. 

As I often say, it is important to get your news from multiple sources to minimise bias.

CB and amateur radio

It is a while since I listened on 11m CB, but in the past the CB band was busy when the 10m amateur band appeared to be dead. 

It is my view that at some point in the future there will be a merging of amateur radio and CB. I have come across an online SDR which monitors the CB band from the UK.

10m 4W FT8 (Friday)

My gear has been on since breakfast.

UPDATE 1915z: So far, 594 spots of me.

Sunspots - Friday November 14th

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 104. A=59 and K=1.

Born in a stately home!

After WW2 Flete House in Devon was a nursing home. This is where I was born. At the time we lived in a council house.

4m transverter

 This was designed and built some years ago and is on my main website.  It was also in GQRP SPRAT.

Old photo

The validity of this photo is not known. I first saw it well before AI!  If correct, it is probably a photo of a human being born in the 1700s