10m JT65

At the moment the sun is shining at there is no risk of storms until much later. I am on 10m JT65 and am likely to be using this band/mode most of the day. I am not expecting "real" DX, but there could be some Es around Europe. No spots so far today.

UPDATE 1115z: So far today just spots from G6SSN (75km) on 10m JT65. No Es. There are storms over the English Channel, moving our way. I need to keep an eye on these. but it is likely to be OK for several hours yet.

UPDATE 2112z: Widespread 10m Es with lots of spots of my 10m JT65. About to go QRT. Es still great!

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday May 28th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 21. A=14 and K=7. With disturbed conditions I am not expecting great things of 10m today, although Es may well help.

Storm risk has passed - now on 10m JT65

As the storm risk has passed I have turned on my FT817 and PC on to 10m JT65. No JT65 spots as yet.

UPDATE 1945z: ZP5PIA (10275km) in Paraguay was the first station spotted n 10m JT65 at 1926z.

UPDATE 2045z: The station in Paraguay looks like the only station spotted on 10m JT65 since late this afternoon when I first switched on.

Enforced QRT - storms

There is thunder and lightning about so I decided not to go on the air today. You can track the storms at https://www.lightningmaps.org/?lang=en#y=52.2238;x=0.0464;z=6;t=3;m=sat;r=0;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;n=0;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday May 27th 2017

Solar flux is 79 today and the sunspot number 22. A=3 and K=1.

Rallies this Sunday

MAY 28th 2017 : DURHAM & DISTRICT ARS RADIO RALLY

Bowburn Community Centre, Co Durham, DH6 5AT The venture has disabled facilities and car parking on site. Doors open from 10.30am to 2.30pm with disabled visitors gaining access from 10.15am. Admission is £2. There will be trade stands, Bring & Buy, talk in and catering on site. There will be an RSGB bookstall. More details from Michael, G7TWX on 0782 692 4192 or by email to dadars@gmx.com


MAY 28th 2017 : CAUSEWAY COAST GLENS ARC RADIO RALLY

Bushmills Community Centre, 14 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim BT57 8QG There is car parking and disabled facilities at this venue. Doors open at 11am and entry is £3. There will be trade stands, a Bring & Buy and an RSGB bookstall. There is catering on site. Stevie Morrow, MI0ULK on 07544 923 956 or email stephen769@talktalk.net.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Are ICOM and Yaesu struggling?

I am beginning to wonder if some of the large Japanese companies are getting tired of amateur radio.

When ICOM introduced the IC7300, Yaesu looked like they reacted and quickly brought out the FT991A. Yaesu seems to have "gone off the boil" in recent years. System Fusion is being pushed, but years after DSTAR. Most of us remember Betamax, VHS and Video 8. The last thing we want is a standards war.

There were no new products launched at Dayton, at least nothing was reported. I am beginning to think the Japanese have decided to introduce fewer amateur radio products. Perhaps they see a dwindling market with less profits in the coming years?

As for an FT817 successor - I think this is never happening.

Dayton Hamvention 2017

This was last weekend. It is possible I missed announcements, but nothing new appears to have been announced by the big manufacturers.

I have never been, nor am I likely to, but this is the big one. It moved venues this year. Looking at the photos, most attendees look old.

See http://hamvention.org/ .

Trident and terrorism - NOT amateur radio

Some estimates put the bill to replace our "independent" nuclear submarine fleet at more than £100 billion. Most countries don't have nuclear weapons, let alone an "independent" nuclear deterrent.  Even the Labour party supports Trident's replacement. This is at a time when we complain there are not enough police or people able to analyse people who may be a terrorist threat to the UK.

Why not scrap Trident and spend some of the money on police and anti-terrorism?

No-one in their right mind would press the nuclear button. It would lead to widespread death and destruction. We need things to counter the threats of today. 

As for nuclear deterrence, how do most countries manage without such weapons perfectly well? Just a small fraction of the Trident replacement costs would go a very long way.

Mobile phones on aircraft - NOT amateur radio

So, OFCOM has changed the rules to allow mobile phones on aircraft. I objected. In my view this is stupid idea. Imagine phones ringing all the time on a long flight. People managed in the past.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/B17ECEB3D452F524/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C