160m FT8 RX (Saturday)

 This evening and overnight I am on 160m FT8 receive. The last time I monitored a few days ago I copied some stations in North America.

Low cost rechargeable batteries

In the end, we will all be driving electric vehicles  rather than vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Recent political events in the Middle East has probably hastened this.

Many EVs used lithium-ion technology, but CATL in China has been exploring far cheaper alternatives like sodium-ion. Common salt is an abundant material. It is heavier.

Broadstairs Cafe

As mentioned some days ago, we visited East Kent with our son. 

We went to Broadstairs and had a cup of coffee and a cake in this cafe. Outside towards the end of October!

10m 1W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at 1306z when we got back from seeing our son and family in Kent.

UPDATE 1817z:  39 stations have spotted me including North and South America. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday October 31st

 Solar flux is 90 and the SSN 36. A=10 and K=3.

The Iran war

 It would appear the current US administration is threatening to ramp up the Iran war after the midterms. 

If this is correct,  I fear the outcome for the USA and the world would not be good. 

Allegedly, stocks of weapons have been depleted and Iran is likely to retaliate, dragging the USA in even deeper. 

I am no military strategist but I cannot see any good resulting.

Changing habits

SSB seems less popular on HF with modes like FT8 becoming far more popular. 

In the long term  people like me years ago would not accidentally  find amateur radio. My first experience of amateur radio was accidentally coming across local amateurs on 160m AM on a crystal set . 

In future, potential radio amateurs will come to the hobby by different routes … or not at all!!

Endings

 Like many, I find endings hard: life goes on along without much change and suddenly something is different. It may be something small or big, but things are different and we have to adapt. In truth, we are always in a state of flux and are always having to adjust. This is life.

Sunspots- Friday October 30th

Solar  flux is 89 and the SSN 22. A=4 and K=1.

Broadstairs, Kent

 Our younger son drove us to Broadstairs in Kent. This is an old fashioned seaside town .  We were blessed with mild, sunny weather . Charles Dickens lived here at one time.