Solar flux is 120 and the SSN still 0. A=14 and K=2.
25 Feb 2026
24 Feb 2026
Russia-Ukraine conflict
This has now been going on for 4 years.
No nation is perfect, but I really wish this would end fairly and end soon.
My worry is the USA will just walk away. Clearly Europe is concerned about President Putin's aims beyond Ukraine, for example in the Baltic and Finland. At one time an attack on one NATO nation was the same as an attack on all NATO members and was a strong deterrent. Would the USA join?
The Ukrainian people have put up a stalwart defence.
How?
I know things are more integrated but both Aliexpress and the manufacturer make profits!
The future
It appears that the USA is moving towards an economic model in which they become self-sufficient in their hemisphere or (ideally) within their own borders. At a pinch the EU could do this and Russia. In the case of China I am less sure.
I think the "big" players are getting nervous of long supply chains.
The UK is very vulnerable. It is very dependent on long supply chains for most things. As long as international trade works the UK is OK. If this is disrupted the UK is in deep trouble.
Forty-9er transceiver
This was a design for a tiny QRP CW transceiver for 40m CW. This short video shows the radio with a digital display, which was non-standard.
See https://www.norcalqrp.org/files/49erOrigMnl.pdf
Kits are still available.
Christ's College, Cambridge, UK
Today the scaffolding had been taken down, so I took this photo.
We see this several times every week for free. Others travel across the planet to see some of these sites.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at breakfast.
UPDATE 1636z: So far, 40 spots. See table.
UPDATE 1922z: Spotted by 43 stations today with the best AE5AU (7209km) who has spotted me 11 times! Now QRT. Map by Phil VK7JJ.
23 Feb 2026
Heathkit
In the late 1960s Heathkit made some great radios. Take, for example, the SB101.
Then the Japanese started making transceivers that meant there was little difference in making a kit. Most bought a ready made transceiver instead.
“Lord of the flies “ TV series
This famous book by William Golding is being serialised by the BBC. It tells the tale of children isolated on a remote Pacific island following a plane crash. They revert to savages and hunt for food.
Much of western civilisation depends on inter-connected trade these days. It would take very little for western civilisation to collapse and us having to return to savagery . There’s a message here.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002qk4w/lord-of-the-flies
Bouvet Island DXpedition
For many years I have not actively chased DX. We are all different thankfully, so this might be important to you. I think this was delayed.
British politics
In case you are puzzled by the British political system, this diagram may help. I found it earlier.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0945z .
UPDATE 1721z: Spotted widely even though the SSN is zero! See table.
22 Feb 2026
More like spring
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The evenings are lighter and the weather today has been mild with some sun.
Xiegu G106
There are quite a few transceivers from China now. I expect we will see more in the years to come. I think the Japanese monopoly on amateur rigs is drawing to a close.
QDX-M on 10m FT8
It has only been used on FT8 but it seems to copy loads (over 1100 stations yesterday).
I run mine via suitably rated diodes in the power lead to ensure I am below 12V when using a 13.8V PSU so I reckon the output is about 2.5W.
At this power it has been spotted in the USA multiple times, although sometimes you get clobbered by a QRO station. Unlike my WSPR beacon it does not change frequency randomly between TX bursts.
It is very small and probably is smaller than a pack of cards. If, like me, you have a poor voice, it is ideal. I think the 10m version also covers 12m and the 11m CB bands, although I have not explored these.
10m 2.5W FT8 (Sunday)
UPDATE 2025z: 373 stations spotted on RX. 10 spots on TX. Now QRT.
See map of stations received today on 10m FT8. Even though there are stations from all over the world, I think conditions were better yesterday.
21 Feb 2026
Is there a world outside of ourselves?
We (I think!) experience the universe as if we are just a small part of it, yet when we die all our senses (I think!) die with us. This raises a philosophical question about "is what I perceive the same as you?".
Does anyone know of anything that proves the universe exists beyond ourselves? This question has been asked here before. Perhaps it is a tautology and impossible to prove.
As an aside, when I was at university a fellow student was set an essay question:
"Are all truth functional schemas primarily analytic?"
I did not understand the question then and am still no wiser!
10m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)
My gear was turned on at about 0715z. At the moment TX is enabled.
UPDATE 1029z: 2 English stations have spotted me and I have spotted 97 stations on RX with the best ZS2DL (9836km). Just on 10m FT8 RX for the last hour.
UPDATE 1952z: 1105 stations spotted here on RX today on 10m FT8 RX. See map. QRT soon.
Near Islands
Apparently, they are part of the Aleutian Islands off Alaska and they belong to the USA.
They are in the Baring Strait dividing Russia and the USA by just a few miles.
They came up when I was wondering why the International Date Line was not straight!
What is gravity?
For years, scientists have been trying to understand gravity. Both Newtonian and quantum theory appear to give different answers. There's a New Scientist video that tries to explain this puzzle.
I think it's true to say we really understand very little about things.
20 Feb 2026
US Supreme Court overrules Trump on tariffs
The US Supreme Court has overruled President Trump 6-3 on tariffs.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
In the last few days, we have faced a constitutional crisis in the UK like never seen in 350 years. Times Radio has a video about it. It brings to the fore wealth and privilege. Our monarchy has some benefits for the country, but it lacks transparency.
10m 200mW WSPR TX (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at about 1515z.
UPDATE 1612z: Spotted by 18 stations so far.
UPDATE 1953z: Spotted by 31 stations with 2 in Brazil. Now QRT.
The evolution of computers
In my lifetime computers have come a very long way. No doubt the next evolution will be quantum computers.
Also far higher memory capacities are likely. I can imagine people in 30 years' time being amazed we managed with just 10TB hard drives. It would not surprise me if someone, somewhere, makes a tiny memory that has the capacity of the human brain.
Radioless All Star node
If you want to connect into All Star, you can connect without a radio transceiver using this device which is about £150. There is a Tech Minds video about this. I think All Star allows you to connect to repeaters across the world, although I have never used this.
10m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)
Later, I hope to go on 10m 2.5W FT8. Although I shall mostly be on RX, I shall go on TX from time to time.
UPDATE 1615z: On 1100 stations spotted on RX (see map), and 58 stations have spotted me. The map shows the stations received here. Now on WSPR TX on 10m at 200mW.
FT2 digital mode
I believe this is a new experimental digital mode that is a good deal faster than FT8. Being faster means QSOs can be completed far more quickly than FT8, although it is about 8dB S/N worse than FT8 so not as good with really weak signals.
This news came to me via Steve G1KQH.
19 Feb 2026
Over a month early!
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It is hard to convey just how tiny it is, so I have put it next to an A5 sized SPRAT for comparison.
It really is incredibly small and at less than £20 delivered is remarkable value.
It is better than a communications receiver of 50 years ago with more features, modes and bands.
10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1300z my little WSPR beacon was turned on.
UPDATE 1312z: Several spots of me already from the USA.
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My beacon was turned on at 1000z.
UPDATE 1010z: Yesterday was good with a couple of spots of me in Antarctica as well as lots of other spots of my 200mW.
18 Feb 2026
10m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My gear was turned on at breakfast. With a 12V supply it produces 3.4W so with my diodes in the supply line I think (at most ) my output is 2.5W FT8 on 10m. Today I am mostly on RX.
UPDATE 0950z: Spotted by 36 stations on TX and I have spotted 390 stations here on RX with the best ZL1HD (18360km). There seems to be far more activity on FT8 than WSPR on 10m.
Frightening AI
Just now I watched a 15 second video clip. It shows a fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Nothing special, except this was entirely created using AI from a 2 second prompt.
I am sure there will be many good things about AI. At the same time AI could be used in the media to, for example, re-create dead people. It could revolutionise movies.... and create a dearth in jobs.
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