Since the start of the Ukraine war ("special operation"? Who is he kidding?) wholesale oil prices have dropped back about 20% to close to $100 a barrel. Whilst exchange rates have got worse, the price at the pumps has hardly changed. It is still hovering close to £2.00 a litre for diesel.
It would be good if UK fuel prices dropped a bit too, as fast as they go up. I know oil company profits vary widely, but big profits right now seem immoral.
Today I returned to 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This resulted in my first report from Denmark.
UPDATE 1543z: Now QSYed to 10m FT8.
Before my stroke got in the way, I had every intention of making a simple transceiver for 10m sideband.
Originally, I was thinking of a DSB rig, but these days a better bet might be a phasing SSB. A synthesiser chip and low cost micro-controller might allow full band coverage and other bands with minor changes.
In my mind, this was to have been a small, single PCB design, much like a small Heathkit Lunchbox. It would make a neat and low cost club project.
Sadly, although I had some ideas, much of the design remains to be done. In the next few years 10m will be very good. Antennas for 10m are small and fit in most gardens. Even CB verticals and wire dipoles work well.
If you are in a position to finish this, I would be very pleased.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-simple-sideband .
UPDATE 1015z: 30 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today and I have spotted all over on FT8 RX (see photo).
UPDATE 1425z: 447 stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 61 unique stations.
