8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

As the Es looks promising, I am again on 40.680 MHz FT8 (TX 1st, DF about 1950 Hz).  No spots yet.

UPDATE 1452z:   My 2.5W 8m FT8 spotted by 5 unique stations so far.

OFCOM and my requested 8m T&I licence changes

I sent an email to Dave Parsons at OFCOM, who has always been quick and helpful. Within 24 hours he came back to me for some clarification. Hopefully, he will unblock things. He is one of the better people there.

UPDATE 1333z:  Just a day after contacting Dave, my licence has been amended so I can run 20W if I need/want to on 8m.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 6th 2023

Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 151. A=5 and K=2.

Yaesu FT-710 versus ICOM IC-705

My IC-705 was traded in some months ago for the Yaesu FT-710. Both are excellent radios and I have enjoyed them both. The FT-710 has 4m but no 2m or 70cm. The FT-710 also has an auto ATU which I find quite useful. The FT-710 is a 100W  radio whereas the IC-705 is a 10W radio (5W with the attached battery). As a QRPer, 10W was more than enough for me.

I was hoping that Yaesu would announce a new QRP SDR transceiver at Dayton as a proper replacement to the FT817. Sadly, no such product was announced. Had one been announced, I might have traded it for the FT-710.

In my view amateur radio is at a crossroads. In many countries, amateur radio appeals mainly to older males. As these age, fewer new rigs will be sold and magazines will lose advertising revenue from dealers. Some will get smaller, less frequent, or close. In my view, several larger manufacturers will leave the amateur radio market as they will be unable to make profits. My prediction in the UK is that amateur radio will cease to be a service supported by OFCOM. I can see (not many years ahead) when CB, ISM and amateur radio will all become a "free for all" as these generate no income and are unnecessary hassle. The watchwords will be "no interference".

European Es today (Monday)

 At the start of today, I had great hopes for Es in Europe. Sadly, certainly at the moment, things are not looking too great.  Hopefully things will get better.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/8m-40mhz-spot-band/ .

Multiple lives - NOT amateur radio

We are used to thinking of time flowing from the past into the future and experiencing just one life from cradle to grave. 

However, we are only aware of one life, which is the one experienced now. It is equally possible that we could have been born on a different planet at a different time. We could have multiple lives, not one.

All we know is things are far beyond our imaginations. We are just humans with limited brain power.

Poplar fluff? - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo on a recent walk. It looks like poplar fluff, although I am no expert! On the ground it looks a bit like snow.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Monday)

Been on 10m WSPR TX since before breakfast. It is now 0958z and, so far, 12 unique stations have spotted me.  These are the usual suspects.

UPDATE 2057z: 50 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.

8m QRP FT8 ( Monday)

As the Es looks encouraging today, I have stuck with 8m QRP FT8. Already spotted by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal. 

UPDATE 1749z:   4 stations have spotted me. Better than I was expecting, especially as 2 of these were new reporters.

Sunspots - Monday June 5th 2023

 Solar flux is 169 and the SSN 110. A=6 and K=1.