8m FT8 with 2.5W QRP

Earlier this week I carried out some local tests with 10mW ERP from my low wire dipole. By comparison, 2.5W seems really high power! Shortly, I hope to be on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8. The 20dB pad has been removed and the FT817ND back on 3 bars on TX.

UPDATE 1435z:  8m FT8 QRP TX now switched on.

UPDATE 1700z:  I gather Bas has asked the authorities in the Netherlands if he can  TX in the 8mISM band legally at 10mW ERP without a licence. If we did this in many administrations we could see a number of new experimenters on 8m in the next Es season. Certainly, WSPR would be more effective than FT8.

Another view of St John's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, I put a photo of St John's College on the blog. This is a slightly different view.

See https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

All morning I have been on 10m QRP FT8 with 2.5W. 30 unique stations have spotted me. On RX 331 stations have been spotted from all over.

Sunspots - Friday November 25th 2022

 Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 61.  A=6 and K=3.

Rally on Sunday

The following rally this weekend has been notified to me. It is advisable to check before travelling any distance.

Sunday November 27th - Bishop Auckand RAC Rally,  Spennymoor, DL16 6DB. Contact g4ttf@yahoo.co.uk

Outside St John's College, Cambrdge - NOT amateur radio

This is a view towards St John's College, Cambridge earlier. This is a typical Cambridge scene.  Many foreign tourists travel across the planet to see this. We can see this every week for free.

Trinity Street, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This was this morning just opposite Trinity College. 

The famous Heffers bookshop is on the left. Years ago they sold masses of academic books.

10m WSPR full power QRP (Thursday)

Funny how 500mW seems high power after recent 50mW and 10mW tests!! On 10m WSPR TX with 500mW again today. No spots yet. 

UPDATE 1818z:  13 stations have spotted me today.

Sunspots - Thursday November 24th 2022

Solar flux is 113 and the SSN 68. A=3 and K=2.

UK general strike? - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that the UK is in a mess. Inflation is much higher than target, jobs remain unfilled and energy costs are high. The gap between rich and poor is now greater.

In my view, we are heading for a general strike. This would be the first since 1926. I have no idea what the outcome would be.

There is little doubt that most will be poorer. Compared with some countries, we are a wealthy nation even now.

The answers remain unknown. Clearly, we do not want to stoke inflation, yet people need to be able to buy food and heat their homes. The gap between rich and poor needs to be narrowed.

My own view? 

1. Individuals who have plenty of money should pay via taxes.
2. We need to pay workers who really contribute more money and "hangers on" less.
3. We should allow more EU citizens in if there is no way of filling vacancies in the short term.
4. Rejoin the EU customs union.
5. A national government for a period.

I have always been centralist in my views. It looks like my views are socialist. I hope they are not, just realistic in a fair society.