Interesting kits

Steve G1KQH has brought these interesting kits to my attention. 

See https://044640f.netsolhost.com/

Sunspots - Thursday October 15th 2020

Solar flux is 75 (higher than for some time) and the SSN 12. A=2 and K=0. There is definitely evidence building that we are on the up-slope of cycle 25.

2m FT8 (2.5W and the big-wheel omni)

At the moment I am again on 2m FT8 QRP. It is now 0907z. 6 stations have spotted me with G4RRA (333km) in Devon the furthermost,and I have spotted 2 stations so far.

UPDATE 1423z: 11 stations have already copied me (no QSOs yet) with the furthermost being EI2FG (565km). Also copied multiple times in Northern Ireland. 17 stations in 5 countries spotted here.

UPDATE 1530z: After a period on RX only, I am back on 2m FT8 TX. 4 stations have spotted me in the last 10 minutes including G4RRA (333km) in Devon again. On RX 22 stations spotted today.

70cm activity contest

As usual, I entered this competition organised by the RSGB last night entering the low power section with 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for about 45 minutes making 4 QSOs as shown on the map.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 13th 2020

 Solar flux is 72 and the SSN back to 0. A=3 and K=0.

QRP on YouTube

A recent visit to YouTube suggested there were lots of videos about QRP operating. As you know, a lot of fun can be had with low power.

See https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=qrp

Free video editing software for Windows PCs?

At one time Windows came with a free package (Moviemaker?) that allowed quite a lot of video editing. I do not think this is available free any more. What do people recommend? 

Like many, I want to send videos and video clips by email, so the main requirement is to make the videos smaller, possibly also adding titles and shortening.

The package needs to be free and easy to use on Windows 10.

Sunspots rising?

 A year from now we will look back on 2020 as a bad year. We have all been put out of sorts by the Covid-19 pandemic and solar activity has been poor. 

At last there are hints of better days ahead. This time next year the Covid-19 situation should be better and sunspot numbers should be climbing. We are in for a rough period, but thing will be better. Hang on in there and stay positive as the "sunlit slopes" await us! 

USA presidential elections - NOT amateur radio

These are getting very close now. 

President Trump has been out on the campaign trail just 2 weeks after being hospitalised with Covid-19. I have no idea what the election out come will be. The people of the USA will elect the president they want to lead them.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54516324

2m FT8

It is now 0756z.  For about 10 minutes I have been on 2m FT8 using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. Already 4 Gs (best in Devon) have spotted me and I have spotted 1 F.

UPDATE 0850z:  Best DX on 2m FT8 RX is DL6YBF (471km).

UPDATE 1000z:

Spots of me at 1000z

10 spots of me so far with G7RAU (461km) as best DX spot so far.

UPDATE 1435z: My QRP 2m FT8 has yet again been spotted in N.Ireland, the Isle of Man and Cornwall. I remain open minded on the mode: aircraft, some other sort of scatter or tropo, but I consistently get spotted at great range on 2m FT8 every single day.