Sunspots - Wednesday June 28th 2023

 Solar flux is 151 and the SSN 141. A=8 and K=2. 

Navel gazing

It is very hard to predict the future of amateur radio. There are some things we know, and many more we  do not.

These are the things we know:

• What excited us years ago are not necessarily what gets people excited today.
• People can chat across the world for free with video using the internet.

These are the things we do not know:

• What will attract and keep people interested in amateur radio in the years ahead?
• As most amateurs age and become inactive, what will become of our hobby?
• How many dealers will be around in 20 years?
• How many manufacturers will still make dedicated amateur radio products?
• How many magazines will survive?
• What impact will AI have on our hobby?

In all honesty I have no idea. What I do know is in 20 years' time things will be very different.

Es skip

Usually, Es skip is about 1000km. Recently, there has been some very short skip and some incredible reports. Today, for example, I have had some very strong 10m WSPR spots in the Netherlands and Germany. Yesterday I was spotted in Eire on FT8. I do not think this was aircraft. 

365project - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned before, for about 10 years I have taken part in 365project. The idea is to post a picture every day. Unless you are an ace member it is totally free. 

This photo was posted today by a friend in the Shetland Isles, which is the most northerly part of the British Isles. 

See https://365project.org/lifeat60degrees/365/2023-06-26 .

Yet more Google crappery - NOT amateur radio

 I am sure they mean well, but I have just received this:

"We are contacting to inform you of a change to our Google Publisher Policies. To continue to ensure the integrity of the ads ecosystem, we have amended our language to allow IP addresses to be used for the purpose of fraud detection."

As I said, yet more "crappery".  What the heck is an "ads ecosystem"?

Plain English please.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

My 500mW beacon has been on for about an hour. Already spotted by 10 unique stations at 0947z.

UPDATE 1302z:  50 unique stations have spotted my QRP. Really good.  Most look like Es.

UPDATE 2136z:  58 unique stations have spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR. I think this is a record number.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

After about an hour, 2 spots of my 2.5W 8m FT8 from Poland already. Es seems quite good today.

UPDATE 1637z:  Spotted by 8 stations today so far on QRP 8m FT8. A good day.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Since just after lunch my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on. It has been widely copied across Europe and in the Canary Islands. 

8m update

Yesterday my 2.5W 8m FT8 was spotted by 6 stations across Europe.

I gather ZF is getting an 8m band permanently. They also have 4m for a year. 

Come on OFCOM (and RSGB) and the FCC get into the 21st century. Slowly, more and more countries are getting 8m allocations rather than just saying "no".  Their attitude seems stupid. 

Sunspots - Tuesday June 27th 2023

Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 158. A=11 and K=2. 

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

Much of the afternoon, I have been on 8m FT8. Quite a good session with spots of me from Eire and Poland. 

Plans for today (Monday)

After lunch, I expect to be on 10m QRP WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8. At the moment, European Es does not look great.

Cockchafer beetle - NOT amateur radio

Last evening I saw what I think was a cockchafer beetle in the garden. I don't recall seeing one since the 1960s. 

See https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-identify-cockchafer-may-bug.html.

Sunspots - Monday June 26th 2023

 Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 180. A=15 and K=2. 

Last night's concert - NOT amateur radio

 

Last evening, we attended a concert by the Ely Consort in our local church. It was good, but very hot.

What happens next in Russia? - NOT amateur radio

This is being written on Sunday afternoon and a lot can change very fast. My own reading of the situation is this:

1. Apparently there was a half-hearted attempt at a coup by someone that at one time was close to Putin.
2. When this started Putin was worried about being overthrown. At the time there was talk of treason and backstabbing.
3. Very soon the leader of this coup backed down. He was promised no charges for him and his men if he went to Belarus, the leader of which sides with Putin.  This is all very odd.
4. It is unclear how this will pan out. We could see at least 3 outcomes: 
1. Putin becomes even more tight in his grip on power and purges those around him he sees as a threat.
2. Putin is overthrown either by someone who is even worse or more liberal.
3. There could be a lurch back towards communism by the people.

It is a brave man that predicts how this will end, but most think it has weakened Putin.  One thing is clear: this has not ended. It may appear to have for now, but what happens next?

In the meantime we just carry on.

European Es today (Sunday)

It is my impression (so far) that Es in Europe is average and could be much better.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/.    This site is excellent.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0830z.

UPDATE 0935z: Already spotted by 21 unique stations. Very promising. 

UPDATE 1238z: 22 unique stations have spotted me. Almost all look like Es (see map).

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 After a poor day yesterday with no spots at all, I am again on 8m QRP FT8. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 0934z: No spots.

UPDATE 2032z : 3 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 QRP. 

Barnacle geese - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken a few years ago in Helsinki. It shows barnacle geese with young. They were just outside the opera house. In the UK we may see barnacle geese as adults in winter. We don't see them as young in summer. 

They look a bit like small Canada geese. 

Ten years ago

Ten years ago I was experimenting with a loop antenna and QRP in the garden of the old QTH. 

Sunspots - Sunday June 25th 2023

Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 200. A=16 and K=5.

DX soundbites

It is fun to listen to DX sound bites from long ago.  Try these from 2004:

http://hamgallery.com/dx2004/

ICOM future plans

On Amateur Radio Weekly there was a bit about the future plans of ICOM.

Amateur Radio Weekly comes to me each Saturday as a free email newsletter.

See https://www.icomjapan.com/api/download.php?post_id=3823&fl=JTJGdXBsb2FkcyUyRmNvbXBhbnklMkZJY29tJTIwSW5jJTIwTWVkaXVtJTIwVGVybSUyMEJ1c2luZXNzJTIwUGxhbiUyMDIwMjZfRU5HX01heTIwMjMucGRm. 

Es season

This is a site I find quite useful. It gives an instant view of the Es situation in Europe. Often Es drifts, so paths that are not open open up and vice versa. What I find quite useful is seeing how active 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m are. It is not foolproof, but it is useful. If a band is "open" in a certain direction, then it is worth not missing the fun.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

UPDATE 1500z:  Es today looks poor.

8m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

My QRP (2.5W) FT8 has been on since about 0900z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1736z:  No spots still. So far, today has been really poor on 8m FT8 for me.

UPDATE 1103z:  Spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal.

UPDATE 1313z: Still just HC02 spotting me on 8m FT8 today. Nobody spotted on RX.

OFCOM publications

 Just a reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

My 10m WSPR beacon was turned on about 0900z. So far today, local G4KPX (14km) and OE3XOE (1233km) and IV3DXW (1200km) have spotted me.

UPDATE 1410z:  9 unique stations have spotted me.

Herbaceous Border - NOT amateur radio

This was the herbaceous garden at nearby Anglesey Abbey earlier this week. The border displays look wonderful, if short lived. We will blink and the herbaceous garden will be closed and looking dead. They will be tended and look good again next year.

8m QRP FT8 yesterday

Yesterday was probably my most successful Es day on 8m FT8 with 7 stations spotting my 2.5W FT8 to the low wire dipole. If the propagation is there, it would seem this power is sufficient.

UPDATE 1249z:  Interestingly, I think every time I have ventured on to 8m FT8 this Es season somebody has spotted me. Maybe not at first, but over the day.

Sunspots - Friday June 24th 2023

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 194.  A=9 and K=1.

Garden Room - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to have two reception rooms. When it's hot (like now!) we choose the coolest. In the morning this is the garden room at the back of the house. 

The photo shows the view looking from a chair in the garden room. 

OFCOM consulting on the future of amateur radio - IMPORTANT!!

 OFCOM is consulting on the future of amateur radio and is seeking views. If you have views it is important you read the proposals and give your feedback.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/263181/consultation-amateur-radio-review.pdf .

Amateur radio cartoon

This was sent to me by Steve G1KQH. I have no idea where it originated. Made me laugh! 

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Friday)

 My QRP W5OLF WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0820z. Already spotted by stations in Hungary and Sweden.

UPDATE 1020z:  Already spotted by 15 unique stations.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My gear was turned on about 0820z. Already my 2.5W has been spotted strongly by EA3ERE (1153km).

UPDATE 1437z:   4 stations have spotted me.

Sunspots - Friday June 23rd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 176. A=8 and K=2.

Bee on vetch - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo earlier today at Anglesey Abbey. 

Rally on Sunday

The following rally has been notified to me. Please check details first.

Sun June 25th - Newbury Radio Rally. RG18 9QZ. Contact details not given.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Turned on the 8m QRP FT8 gear just after breakfast as Hugh in Portugal tells me England starting to come through.

UPDATE 1010z: No spots. 

UPDATE 1613z:  Spots of my QRP have been received from Spain and Slovenia today.