At the time of writing we do not know the fate of the second US airman missing in Iran.
4 Apr 2026
10m 5W FT8 (Saturday)
UPDATE 1852z: Spotted by 36 stations. 127 stations spotted on RX, but nothing from South America. See map of stations spotted here.
QRPGuys digital transceiver
On the DX Explorer website is a series of videos about building and testing this rig. He mentions that it is no longer available. I must check the QRPGuys website. It is a reminder that very simple gear can result in worldwide contacts using FT8.
UPDATE 0934z: It looks like the earlier version is still available. I wonder if they had too many PAs failing at high power? From my experience , I am sure plenty of QSOs will be possible at the lower power.
What next?
As I write this the war in Iran could go either way.
On the one hand President Trump could be angered by the loss of that airman and escalate the war. He is in danger of committing war crimes to say nothing of Iran’s backlash.
Alternatively, he may fear the backlash at home and just walk away and de-escalate.
We’ll see.
Sixbox 6m transceiver
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Opening SPRAT 206 I was pleased and surprised to see my 6m Sixbox QRP transceiver. It was entered into the Constructors Competition . It is also on my website and there is a video on my G3XBM YouTube channel.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox.
3 Apr 2026
Closer UK ties with Europe?
With all the political uncertainty around at the moment, it would appear the UK is moving back more towards Europe.
I think this makes sense both from a defence and economic viewpoint. The EU is far from perfect, but European allies appear more dependable than the USA currently.
On the world stage, the USA comes across as an arrogant bully, whereas I have always found those in the USA to have been kind and generous.
Pam Bondi no longer Attorney General in the USA
The background to this is confused and I am unsure how she left to go to the private sector.
10m 200mW WSPR (Friday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0955z.
CB radio in the UK
CB has been legal in the UK since 1981. At the time "the authorities" were a little snooty about CB and basically did not approve.
Originally in the UK two bands were allocated. These were at 27MHz (FM only) and 934MHz. The latter was later withdrawn.
In the early days 27MHz CB was very popular as gear was low cost and this was before the Internet. A licence was needed in the early days. Latterly the band was extended and other modes allowed and no licence was needed.
I have not used 27MHz for very many years. I think these days CB is very quiet apart from those chasing DX and farmers mainly.
In the future I can see CB and amateur radio merging.
10m 5W FT8 (Friday)
My gear was turned on at about 0830z.
UPDATE 0858z: Just spotted by 2 G stations and, surprisingly, nobody spotted here on RX.
2 Apr 2026
10m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My 10m FT8 was turned on at about 1050z.
UPDATE 1513z: 132 stations have spotted me this afternoon.
UPDATE 1639z: 139 stations have spotted me including Brazil, Thailand and South Africa. See map.
Back to the moon
I have mixed feelings. Clearly many are excited that humans are again venturing into space and this could be a stepping stone to Mars.
On the other hand the vast amounts of money could have been invested in the real challenges of climate change, which unlike certain leaders in the USA, I believe to be very real and a threat to humankind in the years ahead.
King's, Cambridge, UK across the meadow
As mentioned yesterday, about now is good in Cambridge with few students and visitors. 
The photo shows the world famous King's College Chapel across the meadow.
There are often cattle in this field.
Just out of view is room K6, which I went to for a meeting when I first came to Cambridge in 1970.
6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)
My gear was turned on a few minutes ago.
UPDATE 0820z: Spotted by 4 stations with the best GW7SMV (242km).
10m 200mW WSPR (Thursday)
My beacon was turned on just before breakfast.
UPDATE 0816z: Just spotted by a station in Greece so far.
The windmill next door
At a guess, it is about 10m from our kitchen. We can see it having breakfast and from the lounge.
The sails turn around only on special occasions and sound then like a creaking ship!
20m FT8 RX (Wednesday and early Thursday)
Since about 1915z last evening I have been on 20m FT8 RX. My antenna is totally unsuitable being an end-fed that hardly matches on 20m and is probably far too low.
UPDATE 0809z: 2 stations spotted. The noise floor on 20m is S9+. Now QRT on 20m FT8.
1 Apr 2026
10m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)
Although I am mostly FT8 RX, I was briefly on 10m 5W FT8 TX at about 1105z.
UPDATE 1117z: On 5W 10m FT8 TX, spotted by 3 stations and on 10m FT8 RX 12 stations spotted here.
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
My beacon was turned on at breakfast.
UPDATE 1003z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.
Spring colour
This is the very best time of year with new growth and new hope.
Many colleges back on to the River Cam.
Cambridge late March
At this time of year it is usually quieter here as the university has gone down and there are fewer visitors. The photo shows the back of King's with the River Cam.
31 Mar 2026
My war
It would appear that the world is entering recession, has higher fuel costs and Iran will emerge stronger and the USA weaker.
Iran is considered an evil state, but if a war is undertaken it is wise to think about how it might end.
WSPR versus FT8
It is now about 3 months since I got my 10m QDX-M FT8 transceiver and the Zachtek 200mW WSPR TX. Much to my surprise, I am getting more fun from the WSPR beacon than the FT8 transceiver.
There are more people (I think) using FT8, but overall I find 10m WSPR more fun. Most days on WSPR my 200mW gets spotted at amazing distances.
How to win friends
This was a quote from the BBC website. I will let you guess who said it!!
"You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won't be there to help you anymore, just like you weren't there for us."
10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)
My beacon was turned on at about 0750z.
UPDATE 1340z: 4 stations spotting me.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
See map from WSPR Rocks by VK7JJ.
The spots from the German research base in Antarctica seem almost daily.
30 Mar 2026
Zachtek WSPR beacon
What I really like is that, apart from switching it on, nothing at all has to be done, Maidenhead locator and timing are all done by GPS.
There is a much cheaper product from China, but this is inferior.
With a very average wire antenna it seems to get spotted widely around the world.
EV batteries - revolution about to happen?
It looks like the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has over 50% of the market share in sodium based batteries and the price of these will fall dramatically in the next few years. The battery life is greater too by a factor of about 2.
Whatever happens with solid-state batteries, it looks like fewer EVs will need lithium.
There is a great danger the USA will simply be left behind.
Time for a new reserve currency?
In my lifetime the US dollar has been the reserve currency. It has been regarded as a safe haven to invest in. Oil has been priced in US dollars.
It would appear the era of US dominance is drawing to a close and the USA appears to want a more isolationist stance. This appears to be the choice of the current US government, elected by the people.
If this is the case I can see the world looking for a new reserve currency. This would not happen overnight, but I can see things changing.
Whatever your views, certain other nations seem to be in ascendancy whilst the USA slowly declines. If I was a third world country I would not be looking towards the USA for inspiration.
10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)
My beacon was turned on at 0836z.
UPDATE 0844z: Immediately spots by EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1946z: Spotted by 5 stations with the best Antarctica.
29 Mar 2026
Internet archive
In case you have not come across this treasure trove, the Wayback Machine has many snapshots of websites dating right back to the very early days of the internet. I managed to find a 1996 snapshot of one of my very first websites.
One amazing resource is the DLARC collection of amateur radio related documents. It truly is amazing. If you have not looked before I highly recommend it.
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