Yaesu FTX-1F video

 As mentioned before, the Yaesu FTX-1F (due "early 2025") is meant to be the competitor to the ICOM IC-705 and the successor to the FT817/818 QRP radios. I have not yet heard any more details of specs or price. With the stiff competition, it has to be keenly priced.

I came across this video earlier. Many are trying to show what it can do, but without full specs there are lots of guesses!

A  quick check at  Ham Radio Japan (all in Japanese!) had no more details. I wonder if Yaesu was "testing the waters" to judge interest?  It would not surprise me if Yaesu decided the competition is just too fierce to make any money and drop it even before it is launched. Do you have any more details?

I cannot imagine the IC-905 sells many and makes ICOM any profits.

Amazon algorithms - NOT amateur radio

This has been discussed before I continue to be amazed at how stupid Amazon is with its algorithms and how easy it would be for them to change.

Regularly I get suggestions about what to buy. Here is the thing. These suggestions are almost always based on what I've just bought, meaning it is highly improbable I will want something similar soon. How daft is that!  

Surely the algorithm could be changed to exclude items similar to those recently bought. This is not rocket science!

10m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

My QMX+ was turned on at about 0900z. So far, 37 spots of me at 0929z.

UPDATE 1209z: 316 stations spotted with the furthermost VK6APK (14532km) in Western Australia. My own 10m FT8 QRP has been spotted by 216 stations.

UPDATE 1856z: 580 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today. Basically, a few watts of 10m FT8 gets all around the planet. 

QRT soon.

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

 

This was "our" windmill next door yesterday.

Sunspots - Tuesday January 7th

Solar  flux is 172 and the SSN 154.  A=15 and K=2.

Signs of better weather - NOT amateur radio

 

There are definite signs of better times ahead.

10m QRP FT8 (Monday)

At about 1400z, I QSYed to 10m QRP FT8. Immediately my QMX+ was spotted by 80 stations with many in North America. At a guess, I was radiating a few watts.

UPDATE 1426z: Spotted by 164 stations with the furthermost ZD7GB (7606km) on St Helena, South Atlantic.

UPDATE 1900z:  354 spots of me with the furthernost K6RO (8711km). See map.

10m QRP WSPR (Monday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on at about 0920z.  So far, just one spot of me from an SV.

UPDATE 1220z:  6 spots of me so far today.

The USA and UK - NOT amateur radio

Every, and I really do mean every, person I have ever dealt with in the USA has been kind and generous. Whenever I have been there they strike me as a kind and generous people.

What puzzles me is the image they create outside of the USA is of a brash people (I remember being pleasantly surprised how good the driving was when I first went there!) only interested in themselves and making money. Perhaps this is why so many voted for Mr Trump? Perhaps he, along with Elon Musk, represent what many aspire to? 

In many ways I like the American people, but I wish Mr Musk would keep out of UK politics. He may be the richest man in the world, but seems uninformed about some things.

In my view, if we have a choice, we would be better turning more towards Europe than the USA.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0920z.  So far, just 3 English stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1353z:   10 English stations spotting me today.