B IS FOR “BOMB”: Big sunspot AR2738 is crackling with B-class solar flares. This morning in France, astrophotographer Philippe Tosi caught the sunspot in mid-flare, inserting an image of Earth for scale.
On the “Richter Scale of Solar Flares,” B-class events are considered weak. In solar physics, however, such terms are relative. A typical B-class solar flare releases as much energy as 100 million WWII atomic bombs. Only on the sun, which is itself a 10^27 ton self-contained nuclear explosion, would such a blast be considered “weak.”
Despite the objective potency of B-flares, they have little effect on Earth. Their UV output causes short-lived waves of ionization to ripple through our planet’s upper atmosphere, subtly affecting the propagation of shortwave radio waves. That’s it. An M-class or X-class flare would have more impact, but the relatively simple magnetic field of sunspot AR2738 does not appear to harbor sufficient energy for those more powerful explosions.
Antenna
100 ft Tilting Tower
Raising a 100 ft tower with a winch on a 35 ft pole. Read more
I Found & Eliminated My QRM / RFI (Radio Frequency Interference)!
This is the third in a series of videos following my efforts to track down a source of local QRM / Radio Interference. Following the build of a succes... Read more
HF Antennas for Beginners: Tuesdays with Tim and Jeff
“We are bringing in 2021 with Tuesdays with Tim, K3LR and Jeff,KB8ZWT discussing HF antennas. Did you recently upgrade from tech to general? Tha... Read more
New Product MFJ-4713
This MFJ-4713 HF 4-Position Remote Antenna Switch lets you switch between four antennas remotely. Covers 1.8 to 30 MHz. Run one coax from the indoor s... Read more
New portable antenna from Comet Japan
We are pleased to announce the release of a new portable Antenna system from Comet Japan covering 1.8 to 50 MHz – ideal for the new Icom IC-705 and ot... Read more
Equipment
Icom AH-705 Announced on Christmas
AH-705 HF/50 MHz Automatic Antenna Tuner Features Covers the 1.8 MHz to 50 MHz bands, using a long wire element 2-way power sources using alkaline bat... Read more
mAT-705 Tuner Introduction
mAT-705 Tuner Introduction The MAT-705 is a very small and powerful tuner for portable shortwave devices, especially designed for the Icom IC-705. The... Read more
THE NEW MOUNTAIN TOPPER MTR-4B V2 BY LNR PRECISION
MTR-4B V2 Photos COMING SOON “The Mountain Topper” The LnR Precision MTR transceivers are designed to be efficient portable CW rigs. Whether climbing... Read more
NanoVNA SAA2 Version 2 Vector Network Analyzer – Ham Radio Antenna Analyzer
NanoVNA SAA2 Version 2 Vector Network Analyzer – Ham Radio Antenna Analyzer Read more
Introducing QCX-mini 5W CW transceiver!
The miniature version of our popular QCX 5W CW transceiver, with special portable-friendly features for SOTA and other portable operators: – Sma... Read more
VHF
AMSAT/Vanderbilt RadFXSat-2/Fox 1E Set to Launch
Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne is a go for launch on Wednesday, January 13, at 1500 UTC, carrying the AMSAT/Vanderbilt RadFXSat-2/Fox-1E CubeSat into spac... Read more
144 MHz signal from the Faroe Islands heard 3000kms away in Bulgaria during Geminid Meteor Shower – Dec 2020
Every year, the Geminid meteor shower peaks around the 14th of December and many VHF radio amateurs make contacts by bouncing signals off the meteor t... Read more
QYT KT-780 Plus 100 Watts 2 meter Mobile Radio Review and Demo
The QYT KT-780 Plus is a 100 watt mobile radio on the 2 meter Amateur Radio Band, and works on FM mode. Today we will walk through the menu of the rad... Read more
6000km TEP path on 144 MHz opens up between Buenos Aires and the Dominican Republic
Hot on the heels of the last post about the 5400km TEP opening on 144 MHz between Argentina and the island of Aruba, we have details of some more cont... Read more
Retevis RT95 Budget Dual Band Mobile Transceiver
Specifications GENERAL Frequency Range VHF:144-148MHz UHF: 430~440MHz Number of Channels 200 channels Channel Spacing 25K (Wide Band) 20K(Middle Band)... Read more
Here is a brief information release regarding Radio SL8SUB, the 1st Submarine Flotillas official military amateur radio call sign: The 1st Submarine F... Read more
Firmware update for the IC-705, IC-7300 and IC-9700* offers smoother FT8 operation. One touch FT8 mode preset, Scroll mode and other updates for each... Read more
Much like last year, Hamvention 2021 has announced their cancellation of the Hamfest for 2021. Lots of us are disappointed, but I wanted to share my t... Read more
Dayton Hamvention® will not take place for the second year. “Unfortunately, several setbacks in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic make necessary... Read more
Orlando HamCation® has announced that ARRL Life Member Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, of Bloomington, Indiana, is the 2021 recipient of the Carole Perry... Read more
News
SL8SUB – 1st Submarine Flotillas official military amateur radio call sign
Smoother FT8 Mode Operation with Constantly Evolving Firmware (IC-705/IC-7300/IC-9700)
Hamvention 2021 is Officially Cancelled
Dayton Hamvention Cancels 2021 Show
ARRL Life Member Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, is 2021 Carole Perry Educator of the Year