Add on a tower and beam you would be talking about £20000! Not my idea of amateur radio. Each to their own.
If I was paying that, I would expect the buttons and knobs to be solid gold. Mind you, if you were a rich sheik I expect you can ask for that for a few thousands more!
The basic design is about 12 years old. You place the order and wait for it to be hand-built.
See The BEST Ham Radio You've Never Heard Of - Hilberling PT-8000A - YouTube
The following has been notified to me. Always check details.
Scientists say they have found the strongest evidence yet that there is life on other planets. They have found 2 molecules that are signatures of life. This planet is 124 light years away, so a visit is unlikely!
I guess intelligent life is far less common. However, this discovery, if confirmed, makes finding intelligent life "out there" more likely. I am sure if we found other planets with intelligent life it could have a profound effect.
See Scientists find promising hints of life on distant planet K2-18b - BBC News
My 6W FT8 from the IC-705 was turned on at 1054z.
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| Stations spotting me to 1836z |
My IC-705 at 6W FT8 has been on since about 0800z.
UPDATE 2121z: 30 stations have spotted me today.
Although it looks like conditions will be disturbed, I hope to go on 10m QRP FT8 later.
My IC-705 has been on 6m 6W FT8 since the second half of the morning.
UPDATE 1921z: 19 spots of me.
Been on for the second half of the morning, but no spots of me.
UPDATE 2056z; 2 stations spotted me today.
There are an unbelievable number of planets believed to exist in the universe. Human consciousness should just cease when we die. The truth is we have no idea what happens. If anyone claims to know, I don't believe them.
There are estimated to be more planets in the known universe than grains of sand in the whole world! I find this and life totally mind blowing. We really know so little.
See https://www.livescience.com/space/how-many-planets-are-in-the-universe .
It is estimated there are 100 sextillion (10 followed by 23 0s!!!) planets. This is a huge number.
Considering the huge advances in AI in just a few years, it is hard to be certain what we find is sentient life.
My IC-705 at 6W FT8 was turned on at 0645z.
My IC-705 at 6W 10m FT8 has been on since breakfast.
Earlier this week our son took this photo at night.
It is hard to predict the future, but some trends are clear:
Take together, things will inevitably change. The same situation is likely in many countries e.g. the USA and Germany.
It is my view, quite possibly totally wrong, that deregulation is the most likely outcome. One possibility is:
It is far from clear what the future holds, but change will come. One possibility is than any frequency may be used with the exception of certain restrictions such as frequencies allocated to the military or commercial services and broadcasting as long as no harmful interference is caused.
Am I concerned? No. My interest has always been experimentation and any such changes are unlikely to make things worse. Also, most amateur radio operators are appliance operators these days, buying their transceivers from a dealer with little or no idea about how it works! I know of one local who does not know how to even use the transceiver he bought!
This was 14 years ago when I was still fit. I used to drive out in the car to see where my 5W beacon could be received.
My 6W 10m FT8 was turned on at about 0620z.
UPDATE 0845z: 17 spots of me so far with the furthermost Gabon in central Africa. The impression I get is conditions are "average".
One of the aspects of amateur radio I really like is its ability to completely transcend politics.
Way back in the days of the USSR many stations were worked. Likewise I worked many stations in the USA and Canada. These days there are more Chinese stations active. To this day I still exchange emails with a radio amateur in Moscow. I also exchange emails with someone in the USA.
Most of us are just interested in some aspect of the hobby and politics just doesn't matter. Some are capitalists, some are communists. It really does not impact us.
All we can do is continue to break down barriers and remember we are all the same really.
The last I heard they were awaiting FCC approval before doing a worldwide launch. With all the turbulence in the USA, I have no idea when this will be.
What I do know is each additional month, and extra tariffs make it less likely to be successful in the USA, which would have been one of the major markets.
It would not surprise me if this was quietly dropped.
We have since moved.
The following should take place at the weekend, although I always recommend checking first.
