New offering from Banggood?

It seems possible we may have some competition in the low cost, dual band handheld market.  On the Banggood blog there is mention of a $35 handset from China. At the moment the photo appears to show dummies but as they say, "watch this space".

See  https://blog.banggood.com/xiaomi-mijia-walkie-takie-dual-band-51940.html .

6m MSK144 RX

Although I stayed on 6m MSK144 RX overnight and am still monitoring, no new spots received today so far. I am likely to remain monitoring 6m MSK144 for a few more hours before moving to 10m JT65.

UPDATE 1020z: F1BHB (314km) spotted on 6m MSK144. Aircraft reflection?

UPDATE 1138z: HB9SHD (762km) spotted on 6m MSK144. Aircraft or random MS?

UPDATE 1208z: GM4UYE (507km) brings today's 6m total to 4 countries received by MSK144.

QRP and QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,

Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous Report (March, 5, 2017)
Visitors  of  the  week:  OK1DNZ,  RV9WMZ, UR0ET, US3EN, RV3GM, R1OA,
DK3EZ,  R1CAF,  UA1CEX,  DK1HW, UA1CEG, RV3UF, UA1ADF, PD0HRS, EA6BB,
UR7VT,  EA2EFI,  OH6NPV, PA5XM, UR5EFD, UA0SBQ, US5ERQ, G3XJS, UA4NU,
RN4NAA,  LY2PX,  UR5LEH,  YO2UP,  ON6KZ, IK2RMZ, R2AJA, R2FAE, RD6MZ,
OM6TC
Congrats!
PD0HRS, UR5LEH became Honor Frequenters (regular visitors)
Welcome new Visitors - DK3EZ, LY2PX, YO2UP
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 web page.
Comments.......
See full WQR Report on the blog page -http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Thanks to ALL! See you on the next QRP Rendez-Vous round tables.

NOTE: to subscribe regular "72 Newsletter" bulletin send request to my
"mr72" e-mail, please.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

Overwintering Swallows - NOT amateur radio

Swallows (migratory birds) usually return from Africa here in early April. Swifts are later, arriving here in early May. The return of swallows is something I look forward to.

I have heard a few reports of swallows that managed to survive long into winter on the insects near seaweed. There was a report of at least one hanging-on over the entire winter. The Daily Mail sometimes gets its facts wrong, so I have no idea if this report was correct or just journalistic hyperbola. It dates from 2009.

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1115442/Meet-Rambo--tough-little-swallow-forgot-fly-South-winter.html .

Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 6th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 11.  A=16 and K=3.

Trump - NOT amateur radio

Opinions vary widely over Donald Trump who was elected US president recently. He may do some good for the USA, but looking in from the outside he seems irrational and unstable. Time and the US people will be his judge.

The latest controversy seems to be about Obama wire tapping Trump Tower. In this age of "false news" it is hard to separate what is factually correct from what is made up. As far as I can tell, President Trump needs to back up his claim with evidence.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39172719 .

Nicholas Parsons - NOT amateur radio

Unless you are in the UK you probably have never heard of this name. He hosts a weekly programme on the radio (BBC Radio 4) called "Just a Minute". What I did not realise was his age: 93. Yes, ninety three!! He sounds like he is 40 years (or more) younger. I guess he enjoys the programme and the public enjoy him and he will go on until he drops.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Parsons .

OFCOM and interference to amateurs

Sorry, but I have a dislike of quangos that do not do a good, useful job.

OFCOM seem to have come in for recent criticism for not investigating interference suffered by radio amateurs properly. Unless there is money involved, I guess they have no interest.

Sadly, our government and its quangos seem only interested in money and profits. Nothing much else matters. I understand that money is short, but that is no excuse. In "the good old days" the GPO would have helped.

OFCOM - mice or men/women?? If you cannot do a decent job then it is time to "get on your bikes" and look for real jobs and replace OFCOM with something that works.

My son's jazz gig this Friday in Kent - NOT amateur radio

This Friday, March 10th, my son is performing in Broadstairs, Kent. He plays jazz piano professionally, mainly in London. He has been on the radio including the BBC.

See https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/arts-and-culture/event-details.aspx?instance=62201

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday March 5th 2017

Solar flux is 75 today although the sunspot number is zero. A=22 and K=3.

See http://www.solen.info/solar/ for the recent trends in solar activity. Although the solar activity is slowly declining, it is very slow and conditions are often better on the higher bands than people expect. On some days the higher bands are still very good.