Latania (?) - NOT amateur radio

When it comes to plants I am definitely not an expert! We saw this on our walk a few days ago in somebody's garden. Not sure if it is a palm or fern. It is quite big. 

Has the decline already started?

Some time ago, I expressed my concerns about the future of our hobby as the average age of radio amateurs increased. 

My concern was that as we age, it is likely that fewer new radios will be bought. In 20 years' time several of us will be in care homes! If we still have amateur radio access, it will probably be with internet radios.

Already, I think one European amateur radio dealer has gone. My prediction is others will follow across the planet. 

The danger is magazines will see less advertising revenue, so some will shrink or go out of business. 

Some manufacturers will view our hobby as a "lost cause" and may decide to leave the market. There will be a scramble to cut costs. I really cannot see all our traditional Japanese manufacturers continuing in our market without radical changes to their business models. Those that will still be around are those that see the future and adapt accordingly.

Now, some places are bucking the trend and the number of new radio amateurs is increasing. In my view, this is the exception. What we have to recognise is that what attracted us is very unlikely to attract many newcomers today.

Be in little doubt, our hobby is about to encounter very hard times in my view.

Sunspots - Wednesday August 31st 2022

 Solar flux is 126 and the SSN 50. A=13 and K=3.

2m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 

As 10m was so dire, I QSYed to 2m QRP FT8 using the FT817ND and big-wheel omni antenna. 

Almost immediately this resulted in a QSO with G3TKF (221km) as well as 9 spots of me including one by G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall (see map).

3 stations spotted on 2m FT8 RX this morning.

UPDATE 1133z: 7 stations spotted on RX and 11 stations have spotted me on 2m QRP  FT8.

UPDATE 1332z:  9 stations have been spotted on RX here today with the furthermost DO7JVK (419km) in Germany. On QRP TX, I have been spotted by 13 unique stations today. Imagine if I had a beam!

Humming bird hawk moth - NOT amateur radio

Apparently these are quite common in southern and eastern England, but I do not recall seeing one at this house before. We have been here for 9 years now. They hover like humming birds.

See https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/humming-bird-hawk-moth .

St Barts - NOT amateur radio

 Our grandson is mad on bellringing. He has rung bells now in well over 40 different churches. St Barts survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. He rang here recently.

8m experiment (Tuesday)

Unless things improve dramatically on 10m, it is very unlikely I shall be on 8m FT8 QRP today. There is little point if my chances are so slim.

365project - NOT amateur radio

For about 9 years both my wife and I have done 365project. We use ours mainly as a visual diary. 

The idea is to add a photo every day. It is interesting to see our grandchildren grow a day at a time over all this time.

Yesterday my wife met up with an old school friend she has known for 61 years. She introduced her to 365 some years ago and loves it.

Corfu? - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken some years ago. I think it was in Greece, possibly Corfu, although I am not sure where. I do not recognise the islands.

10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

Today I expect to be on 10m FT8 QRP right from the start. It cannot be worse than yesterday!

UPDATE 0820z: Gear turned on at 0545z. 2 stations have spotted me (a local G and an MM). Nothing spotted on RX.

UPDATE 0954z:   3 European stations spotted on RX. Not exactly great!