6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since about 0856z.

UPDATE 1925z:  153 stations have spotted me.  See map to see where I was spotted today. QRT soon.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon has been on since about 0856z.

UPDATE 1929z:  13 stations have spotted me. One looks like F2 and the others probably Es. QRT soon.

Crab apples

This was our grandson picking crab apples yesterday. We make crab apple jelly which is great with some meats.

Sunspots - Sunday August 17th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 123. A=6 and K=1.

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

Stations spotting
me on 5W 6m
FT8 this evening

My gear was moved from 10m 1W FT8 to 6m 5W FT8 with the V2000 vertical omni at about 1750z.

UPDATE 2107z: 116 stations have spotted me. Plenty of Es.. Most of my activity is now on FT8 or WSPR. I blame it on my poor voice, but generally there is a move away from other modes on HF and VHF/UHF.  In the end I suspect we are moving into a future in which amateur radio may not exist or be very different. QRT soon.

Wimo video about Yaesu's FTX-1 Field

Wimo has a video on YouTube about the FTX-1 Field. They did this before the radio arrived in Europe. It is quite a decent overview of the product.

It is quite a respectable radio but far too expensive in the UK and, I presume, mainland Europe. It comes without GPS and Bluetooth. If it was £999 or less I might have considered it, but at this utterly stupid price I am afraid, like many, I shall give it a miss.

For a long time I have said Yaesu has lost its way. They make some good products, many of which I have owned, but for some time they have appeared to have been drifting.  I have serious concerns about their future in this market. I hope I am very wrong and the FTX-1 drops in price a long way!

Putin and Trump

These two leaders met in Alaska yesterday. They failed to reach an agreement on peace in Ukraine.

I gather the Ukrainian leader is travelling to Washington for talks with President Trump on Monday. I hope the president treats him better than the last time he went to Washington which won President Trump no friends around the world. It was utterly disgraceful.

We all want peace in Ukraine. I hope a settlement can be reached that is fair to everyone so all think they have won.

In my mind I think something like Germany after WW2 might work: clearly Russia has influence in the east of Ukraine and in Crimea. Maybe (for now) there is Western Ukraine and Eastern Ukraine. In 30 years time things could be very different as in Germany.

Whatever the final outcome Ukraine MUST be involved.

Outside Anfield, Liverpool, UK

Anfield is where UK league champions Liverpool FC play their home football matches. They recently lost a key player in a road accident. Judging by the flowers outside the ground he clearly meant a great deal.

10m 1W FT8 today (Saturday)

My 1W FT8 has been on since just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1747z: 73 stations have spotted me on 6 continents. 1W FT8 seems quite enough.

10m 1W FT8 yesterday

Stations spotted here on 10m FT8

Having been away for a few days, I went on 10m QRP FT8 yesterday when I got back. There was no Es in evidence yesterday.  On 1W QRP my furthest was Israel although several South American stations were copied on RX . See map.