Sunspots - Saturday July 29th 2017

Solar flux is 70 today and the sunspot number zero. A=7 and K=1.

UK Pound against the Euro - NOT amateur radio

My prediction was that the UK Pound would appreciate against the Euro later this year. At the moment it is getting weaker!

I am no expert, but still believe that the Euro will weaken. I am definitely not a financial expert and this is more of a hunch than science.

UK Pound against the US Dollar - NOT amateur radio

At the moment the USA seems to have a joke in charge who is even losing the respect of his own party. Personally, I give him 6 months, maybe 12, before his time will be up.

I fail to see how this billionaire is able to be the voice of ordinary US citizens. "Make America great again" is a fine tag line, but making it happen requires the gravitas of office and serious behaviour, not silly tweets.

Meanwhile, the US dollar continues to weaken against the UK Pound.

6m JT65 again

Yet again, I am on 6m JT65. Yesterday brought 3 USA stations in on RX, but it is anyone's guess what today will be like. I started on transceive (1W ERP) but no spots at all so far on 6m JT65.

UPDATE 1452z: In the last few hours there seems to have been an Es opening to Central and Eastern Europe on 6m JT65. As it was quiet, I stayed on beacon mode (1W ERP) sending "B G3XBM JO02" which has been widely spotted.

HAARP news

There are some interesting experiments going on.

See https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/gakonahaarpoon/operations-news

OFCOM and 3.6-3.8GHz

OFCOM intends to release this spectrum to mobile users and is consulting on this.

See http://ofcom.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/i/043A427CF942D7962540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Anyone for blackberries? - NOT amateur radio

Our neighbours are on holiday so they said, "help yourselves to the blackberries". I have lost count of the number we have picked, but it is a lot. Our "London" grandchildren ate a lot too.

The picture show those picked today. There are lots still there.

HB100 (10GHz) Facebook page

Quite a few people have been experimenting with very low cost 10GHz units that can be bought for very little on eBay. A few cups of coffee saved and you can buy 10GHz units. In Italy these have been used to work over 200km. Some have used them for 10GHz ATV.

There is a Facebook page on the HB100.

I have to admit to being a "fireside fusilier" in that I'm gunner do this and gunner do that. At some point I'd like to try 10GHz.

Rally

30 JULY 2017 : CHIPPENHAM AND DISTRICT AMATEUR RADIO CLUB RALLY
Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley SN15 5NJ. Talk in on S22 (145.550MHz). There are disabled facilities and on site parking. Doors open 10am to 1pm. Entry is only £2, under 16s are free. Car boot pitches are £6 for cars/vans payable on entry, tables inside £8 each. Access available from 7am for set up. Hot food and drinks are available on site. Details from Brian by email to g6huim3hui@gmail.com www.G3VRE.org.uk

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

OFCOM, 26GHz and 5G

OFCOM is consulting about allocating 26GHz spectrum to 5G. They will need a lot of masts! Clearly written by "experts".

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/A4DCDE61BC2736792540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C