Sunspots - Monday September 15th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 75.  A=14 and K=5.

10 years time?

It would appear that amateur radio is mainly a hobby for older men, often with more disposable income than many. The hobby still attracts very few women and few young people. This may be different as I write this with a UK bias.

If we extrapolate to the next solar maximum in about 2035, many current amateurs will be dead, incapacitated, in care homes and NOT buying new rigs. The inevitable consequence is amateur radio is no longer a profitable business for many manufacturers or dealers. They will leave our market or go out of business, As I have said before, many magazines depend on a very few dealers to stay viable. I can see some magazines and dealers folding or magazines being published less often, digital only or smaller physically.

Many will say we have to attract and keep younger people. Perhaps.

There is little doubt that amateur radio is changing. 

My own view has been for some time that amateur radio as we knew it will disappear. PTTs will want to wash their hands of it, so deregulation will be the order of the day.

My prediction?   Amateur radio will combine with CB, amateur radio will become deregulated, fewer magazines , fewer dealers, manufacturers and national societies. Experimenters will continue in some other way.

10m 2W FT8 (Sunday)

Today I am on 10m FT8 with 2W. My gear was turned on at about 0907z.

UPDATE 1948z: Spotted by 54 stations. This looks like F2 propagation. See map. Furthermost is Reunion Is.. Now QRT.

The impression I am getting is "appliance operators" are moving down in frequency as the higher HF and 6m bands are now too hard without Es.

Sunspots - Sunday September 14th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 43. A=6 and K=2.

The 21st century

Since the end of WW2 we have (sort of) lived in a fairly stable world. In many ways, the world seems to be changing in this century. 

We seem to be moving into a world of dictators with the USA now being more isolationist and China coming strongly onto the world stage.

Unlike in years past, the world seems less stable. We need to accept that other people may hold views different from ourselves. In small ways we have to be kind to each other and work towards a better world.

In the bath

At this time of year, spiders are more common in the house in the UK.  I guess the house is more inviting at this time of year.

Some hate spiders, but to me they are just fun.

This spider appeared in the bath this morning. It is about 5cm across. I think it is a giant house spider. It must have come up the plug hole.

In the UK, most spiders are totally harmless. I usually catch them in a glass and put them out of the window.

QRP operation

Ever since I started in amateur radio I have enjoyed QRP.  DXCC was worked with 10W SSB on 10m with a low dipole in the 1980s.  

These days with FT8 basic QSOs are even easier. In my experience 5W FT8 or less and simple antennas are all that is needed to work the world. Of course 1000W and a big beam would make things easier, but where is the fun?

There is a whole array of QRP radios available either as kits or ready built. I guess the choice now is greater than ever.

Quantum consciousness theory: is your brain connected to the universe?

This video is over 2 hours long! It explores consciousness from a quantum mechanical viewpoint. It is controversial, but worth watching. 

It argues that consciousness itself is an important component in the universe. It underlies just how little we really know.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at about 1000z. 

UPDATE 1830z: Spots by 4 stations. Best is EA8BFK (2880km).

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

Today at about 1000z, I decided to go on 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1827z:  Spotted by 25 stations. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday September 13th

 Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 67. A=8 and K=2.

Allergies

It is noticeable that people in the developed world are more prone to allergies. As my mother-in-law used to say, "eat a peck of dirt before you die". 

It looks like she was correct with far fewer allergies with people like the Amish who live closer to horses and are more exposed to microbes. 

It would seem that we build up immunity by being exposed to these microbes which we are exposed to far less these days.

Made in China

It seems that most things I buy are "made in China". Often there is an importer, but the words "made in China" are marked on the goods.  I guess we are addicted to low prices and making in the UK prices would be far higher. 

It seems that prices of most goods in the USA imported from China will go up in price and that the price of products from other countries (like Japan) will go up in price there because of tariffs imposed by President Trump. I cannot see goods made in the USA will be as inexpensive with higher labour costs.

Red Admiral butterfly

Whist out picking blackberries for breakfast, I noticed this butterfly sunbathing near our front door. 

Of course as soon as I tried to take a photo it flew away. This was the best I could manage.

10m 5W FT8 (Friday)

Today, I decided to try 10m FT8 at 5W with my gear turned on just before breakfast.

UPDATE 1433z:  261 spots of me with the furthest CA6SNT (12447km). 

UPDATE  1808z:  285 stations have spotted me .  Since about 1500z I have been at 1W FT8.

Looking at the number of spots of me on 10m FT8 compared with WSPR, it suggests I am far more likely to be spotted on FT8. In future I shall go on 10m WSPR only when I go on 6m FT8.

Sunspots - Friday September 12th

 Solar flux is 115 and the SSN 92. A=10 and K=2.

Briefly on 10m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

Before a thunderstorm too close for comfort (everything disconnected!) I was briefly on 10m 5W FT8. 6 stations spotted me before my forced QRT. Best DX was a spotted by CX3VB (10791km).

Big skies

 

Anyone who knows the UK will agree that this part (the Fens) is pretty flat, but we get some great skies. 

Buying a new rig

When we buy a new transceiver, we often go through many subconscious stages. This video might help you. 

I don't buy new rigs that often, but it is worth asking why you need it and what bands is it going to be used on, what modes and how. 

Some bands and features maybe a complete waste of money.

Should I carry on with 10m WSPR?

The main reason I carry on with 10m WSPR is because I can use my stand-alone beacon and the PC is unnecessary. The 10m antenna is also free when I go on 6m FT8.

Most times I get a few spots from V51RS, many from the Canary Is, and some from continental Europe. Really, I learn little. 

My inclination is  to QSY to 10m FT8, alternating with 6m FT8 on different days. Of course when on 6m FT8 I can also put the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon on.

Thunderstorm risks

At the moment the risk looks low, although I shall keep an eye on the thunderstorm map  in case things chance. At the moment, the risks are far away.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My beacon has been on since about 0830z.

UPDATE 1347z:  4 stations spotting me with the furthest V51RS (8481km).

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

My  gear has been on since about 0830z.  

UPDATE 0900z:  8 spots so far. One station in Poland with the rest in England.

Sunspots - Thursday September 11th

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 94. A=13 and K=2.

More Anglesey Abbey

 This was Anglesey Abbey near Cambridge yesterday.

Lightning threat

 As they threatened lightning today I avoided going on the air until this evening.

Sunspots - Wednesday September 10th

 Solar flux is 121 and the SSN 99. A=18 and K=4.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)

My beacon has been on since 1210z.

UPDATE  1325z:  Spotted by 4 stations including 2 in the Canary Is.  F2?

Hedge trimming

We go for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey quite often. This morning was bright, dry and sunny, We sat on a bench for a few minutes and noticed this man trimming a hedge.

Can you spot him?

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

 My gear has been on since 1210z.

UPDATE 1742z:  Just 19 stations spotting me. A few Europeans, but not many. Aircraft? Scatter?

Sunspots - Tuesday September 9th

 Solar flux is 124 and the SSN 93. A=12 and K=2.

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

Already lots of spots from Europe. If this is Es, it is very late in the Es season. Could it be scatter or aircraft reflection?

Stations spotting me on 6m FT8

UPDATE 2047z:  Spotted by 92 stations in the last day on 6m FT8. Now QRT.

Amsterdam cheese shop

The Netherlands is famous for cheese. This was a cheese shop in Amsterdam last week.  Heaven for a cheese lover.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

Already 9 stations spotting me with a surprising number of Europeans. I an unsure of the propagation. Furthest is V51RS (8481km) with very early spots of me.

UPDATE 2052z:  14 spots of me in the last day with 500mW 10m WSPR. Now QRT.

More Apple Day

 As mentioned yesterday our neighbour next door invited us around to pick apples. 

The photo collage shows more of this happy day.

Sunspots- Monday September 8th

 Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 83. A=5 and K=2.

PSKreporter maps

 Most days I us this to see where my 5W 6m FT8 reaches. Hopefully this is just a temporary glitch, but mid afternoon in the UK on Sunday, this was not working,

Yes, the world is going mad

Usually I do not buy a Sunday newspaper preferring to watch TV and go on the internet. Today, for a change, I bought one.

On one of the pages was a photo of a model wearing some clothes: a tweed jacket over £12k, a tweed coat over £12k , some shorts £1.3k, and a shirt £1.23k. 

All told, this outfit would be approaching £30k. Does anyone actually buy this crap? All I can say is there must be some very, very, stupid people around. 

I also think this is grossly immoral when people are starving.

UK dealers

At one time there were many UK dealers, whereas now there are far fewer. 

In the end these are businesses whose aim is to generate profits for their shareholders. To succeed, you have to provide customers with what they need at a price they can afford.

Sometimes rigs seem to be at daft prices, yet people still buy for something they must have. Those dealers that remain on the scene are desperate to please their customers as they may stay loyal in the future. One of the most successful UK dealers is MLS who have a video on their origins.

One thing I always say is will they still be around to honour their guarantee?

In the past I have dealt with several UK dealers that still remain.

Shack

This is most of what I need at present.  Currently I am not on 8m or 630m.

Just out of shot is my 10m WSPR beacon that is about the size of a pack of cards on the shelf below producing 500mW.

Also out of shot it the small PC used for FT8.

The IC-705 at 5W to the V2000 vertical omni has been spotted across the planet on 6m FT8.