People are getting increasingly concerned about the debt in the USA. This stands at over $40 trillion. Rates are rising in many countries and the US $ is no longer being seen as the safe haven it once was.
9 Sept 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Wednesday)
Shortly I expect to go on 10m WSPR TX.
UPDATE 0850z: Just 1 English station spotting me.
8 Sept 2026
10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)
Just after tea I QSYed to 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1655z: 3 spots by a station in Spain.
Cheating in amateur radio
For many years there has been something called "the ham spirit".
Basically radio amateurs of whatever race or creed helped each other. Politics did not matter. Whether you were rich or poor did not matter. Whether you were white, black, yellow or green did not matter. Whether you were a capitalist or communist did not matter. Whether you were sighted, blind, bedridden did not matter. Behind the mike we were all the same.
Sadly, this is changing. There is evidence of cheating in recent contests.
West Bank Israeli settlements
When I was taking A level exams in 1967 (and still had hair!) Israel occupied the West Bank.
Increasingly, Israel is creating settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal according to international law.
Israel and the USA have warned the UK there could be counter measures if the UK announces sanctions against West Bank settlers.
My worry is there could be more anti-Jewish sentiment in the UK.
It is so sad that we cannot just live in peace and respect each other's differences. We may believe different things - so what?
Toadflax
This is a wild flower that has been growing in our front lawn. Although the weather has now changed with far more rain , the grass everywhere has been brown and brittle although the weeds have done well!
Declining interest?
One of the locals on our weekly 2m FM net G8AKL is now a SK. He was always a booming signal and he will be missed.
As many active radio amateurs get older, it is likely activity will fall. Also, as noticed by another friend at the Telford Rally at the weekend, there seemed to be less money being traded.
Unless others come into the hobby and stay, I am afraid for the future of our hobby.
It will be interesting to see the situation at the next solar peak. There are more modes to explore, but probably far fewer active people.
10m 1W FT8 (Tuesday)
UPDATE 1056z: Just 1 local spotting me. I was surprised. The SSN is quite good as is the solar flux. Maybe there is even less activity now the Es season is over?
UPDATE 1529z: Increased my power to 3W. I was worried that my 1W signal was being buried in local noise? This noise is increasing on the HF bands and lower VHF bands, getting worse as you go lower. I do not have a problem on 6m FT8. 3 stations spotting me, probably tropo.
UPDATE 1642z: Spotted by 8 stations (see map). Now QSYed to 10m 200mW WSPR.
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