QRP Marathon

From Oleg:

Dear Friends,
keep your QRP activity over April
welcome all QRP operators to take a part in the QRP Marathon "Look In the Horizon" over all April month. See rules on the Club 72 web page. Sign-In form will be open at 00 UTC April 1'st.
Honor certificate will be send to all participants.
Wish you good luck with collection of "LUK" points! www.club72.su
Wish you all the best, 72!
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB

Quiet on 10m WSPR today

Although I've been on 10m WSPR TX and RX since mid-morning, I have seen no DX as yet. M0JEK (68km) has been spotted a couple of times, but otherwise it has been very quiet here so far today. Judging by the Doppler, I think the reception of M0JEK was aided by aircraft.

Cynical, me? - NOT amateur radio

OK, I know I am becoming a grumpy old man but I was not impressed by the latest statements that the exchange of nuclear waste with the USA would benefit cancer sufferers. To me, this sounds like "spin" which we can well do without. We are NOT stupid.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35930906 .

Over 1000km on 472kHz TX (5mW ERP)

It's funny, but I had a feeling that last night was going to be "the night". LA8AV (1035km) managed to decode me on 472kHz WSPR in the early hours at 0020z. This is the best TX DX on 472kHz this season and I was pleased, yet again, to break the 1000km barrier. As before, I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  I find the results incredible. Only 1.5 hours later the PC decided to close, presumably to install updates. On RX, I am using the same earth-electrodes with the barefoot (and slightly deaf) FT817, with no preamp externally.

630m WSPR last night - note LA8AV (1035km) at 0020z

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 31st 2016

Solar flux is 83 today and the sunspot number is just 12 (K=3). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor" again. I am not yet on 10m WSPR, but will be shortly.

QSYed to 630m WSPR

A few minutes ago I went QRT on 10m and am now active again (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX) on 630m (472kHz) for the evening and overnight.

472kHz WSPR this evening to 2030z

UPDATE 1840z:  Just the single spot on 10m WSPR all day.  Already spots given and received on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2135z:  LA8AV (1035km) has been spotted 7 times so far this evening at up to -22dB S/N. If he is spotting others then there is an outside chance he might copy me at some point during the night.

IC7300 price

Still I reckon that the UK price of the ICOM IC7300 is too high.

With a simple SDR architecture I believe the price should be some way below £1000, but the dealers will keep prices high if buyers are prepared to buy at the high price. What I am saying is the price is what it is because some in our community want this rig and are prepared to pay. I like the IC7300 at a fair price.

Dealers are not greedy, just following the rules of the marketing jungle.  It is only because some are prepared to buy at a high price that the dealers charge this price. All dealers will plead poverty and say their hands are tied by the Dollar prices and exchange rates.

Charge a fair price (dealers make a fair and reasonable profit) and the IC7300 will continue to sell well.  At some point this year there will be an ICOM-Yaesu price war between the IC7300 and the FT991 . ICOM is better placed to win. In the meantime, I shall wait and I hope others will do too.

See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-pc-302.php.

As I have said many times, the IC7300 is a nice radio at the right price.

The reviews of the IC7300 should make interesting reading.
See http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/12742 .

EU referendum in June - NOT amateur radio

My intention was to vote to remain IN, although I am less sure than I was. At the moment I really have no idea which way I shall vote. Any result would not surprise me. The IN campaign has been very negative so far. They need to be sending a more positive message or people will vote OUT. There are lots of messages about the risks of leaving and very few about the positives of staying IN.

OFCOM Plan

Well this is reassuring. OFCOM has a plan of work.

Someone said I should go easy on OFCOM as there are administrations that are worse in Europe. Well, let us hope they have improved since I dealt directly with them a few years ago. At that time they were totally useless. I can only judge by what I see and experience. If I am wrong then so be it. I certainly hope they have improved.

See http://www.ofcom.org.uk/about/annual-reports-and-plans/annual-plans/annual-plan-201617/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Ofcom-confirms-its-work-plan-for-2016-17&utm_term=annual%20plan%2C%20ofcom%2C%20strategy%2C%20communications

Cambridge, UK, Concert - NOT amateur radio

My XYL's concert is in Cambridge this Saturday evening. It should be good. Tickets will be available on the door. For the first time they are using the new concert hall at the Leys School, Trumpington Rd..

Clicking on the poster will bring up a larger image.

See www.cambschoral.org.uk .