10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My QRP beacon was turned on at about 0844z.

UPDATE 1353z:  28 stations have spotted me. Furthest is V51RS (8481km).

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 0844z.  

UPDATE 1424z:  So far, spotted by 214 stations.  84 spotted on RX. Widespread Es today.  See map.

Sunspots - Friday July 11th

 Solar flux is 129 and the SSN 72.  A=4 and K=2.

The Es season

In the Northern Hemisphere this usually peaks in May, June and July. It often goes on longer, but less often. Bands most affected are 10m and 6m, although less often it can extend to 4m, Band II FM and even 2m.

The sad thing is outside the Es season, these bands may be deserted for hours on end. With modes like FT4 and FT8 it is much more likely that short openings will be caught. Peaks in propagation may be very short.

It is worth reminding people that Es can occur at any time.

Does MFJ still exist?

Many years ago I owned an MFJ 1W CW transceiver for 15m. Some impressive DX was worked with it before it was sold. Not having heard of MFJ for some years I was wondering if MFJ still exists. It would not surprise me if they had gone.

The demise of Ten-Tec

Recently we heard that Ten Tec were closing (I think). I had forgotten that the famous Argonaut rigs were made by Ten Tec. These were once very popular with QRPers. 

Ten Tec made some quite useful gear over the years and will be missed by many. 

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

Going back very many centuries (mid 1500s) I can trace my family history continuously to Hope Cove in South Devon. 

It is probable that one of my ancestors thousands of years ago manned the promontory Iron Age fort visible in the distance in the photo. Quite humbling.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

My QRP beacon was turned on about 0900z.

UPDATE 1619z: Spotted by 9 stations with the best V51RS (8481km).

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

Yet again my PL259 plug came off and had to be re-soldered. 

In days past, this would have been trivial, but not any more. My eyesight close-up is less good and my fine motor skills are poorer, so something as simple as soldering a plug is now a big deal.

UPDATE 1724z: So far, 106 stations in Europe and Africa have spotted my 6m 5W FT8 TX.  Lots of Es recently in the last few hours. Furthest is South Africa.

The future of amateur radio

Some remain optimistic about the future of our hobby and I very much hope they are right. 

What is clear is the "magic of radio" is no longer there. As a teenager in the 1960s radio was still magic and an amateur licence allowed one to communicate across the world. These days we can all do this in colour video from a phone in the hand for free!

Unless we can connect with (especially young) people I can see our hobby evolving and dying out.

Amateur radio as we knew it will not be the same in the future. I cannot predict the trajectory it will follow,  but change is inevitable.

Am I worried?  No.  Most people use amateur radio like CB anyway.

My predictions have not changed:

• Most radio amateurs are older males. 
• These will get older and fewer rigs will get bought. 
• Some dealers will close. 
• Some manufacturers will leave the market as it will no longer make them profits. 
• Ads will disappear. 
• Magazines will close or get much smaller. 
• Amateur radio will become like CB with free bands for appliance operators.
• Those who want callsigns will be allocated these by national societies, not PTTs.
• Somehow those few who experiment will still experiment.