70cm activity contest

My single 70cm SSB contact

To say I am under-equipped for 70cm SSB is a gross understatement! I use 10W to a 144MHz omni big-wheel antenna. I have a very poor voice as well, which does not help. 

Usually I manage a few contacts and give up after about 30 minutes. This time I gave up after a single contact. I get the impression SSB activity is going down. I may be totally wrong. It is a shouting match that I find hard these days. 

FT8 amazes me as I consistently spot stations at vast distances and have no trouble being received at distances I only dream about on SSB.

Strait of Hormuz

President Trump has, allegedly, promised to make the Strait of Hormuz USA territory after he wins the war with Iran. 

With President Trump it is hard to separate fact from bluster. In my view, Iran has "all the cards" to use a phrase he used last year.

Amateur radio abbreviations

Ever wondered why we say CQ and 73 and a host of other codes in CW and voice modes? Peter's video may give some clues.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0820z.

UPDATE 1941z:   Spotted by 90 stations in Europe, presumably via Es. It never fails to amaze me how well just 200mW 10m WSPR performs. Now QRT.

Shield Bug

Most certainly I am not a bug expert. I know this is a shield bug, but I have no idea what sort this is. 

It was about 2cm long and seemed to like my shirt and shoes! 

In the end it flew away.

The Meidas Touch videos

 It is pretty certain that Ben Meiselas has a very low opinion of President Trump judging by his videos.

Sunspots - Sunday August 16th

 Solar flux is 117 and the SSN 111. A=6 and K=1.

The Chinese are coming

For years the Chinese have been on the edge of the amateur radio market.  Their products are usually far less expensive than their Japanese counterparts, but there has often been a question mark about quality and reliability.

It is my view that they will soon match the Japanese and grab the amateur radio market. 

Already, many consumer products are "made in China" even if they were designed somewhere else. They take advantage of low labour and material prices.

They like volumes, so expect amateur radio and CB products to be similar. It would not surprise me if they had a product that was basically a commercial, amateur radio and CB transceiver that was basically the same radio to, effectively, increase volumes.

No, the Chinese are coming. Give them a few years.

10m 200mW WSPR (Saturday)

My beacon was turned on at about 0950z.

UPDATE 1012z:  Spotted by nobody yet.

UPDATE 2109z:  Spotted by 16 stations have spotted me with the best V51RS (8481km). QRT.

Sunspots - Saturday August 15th

 Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 106. A=9 and K=1.