So what to get, I’m still happy with windows mobile as well, my Axim x50v served me well but it wasn’t a phone, replacing that with an HTC of sorts still meant shelling out quite a lot more than I was prepared to. So I plumped for a blackberry Storm, second hand on eBay. Always a risk but worth a punt.

After getting hold of one for a reasonable price and a few hassles with the email as it was still locked to the previous owner I’ve managed to get my email on it and a few of the apps that I used constantly with my Axim and hey presto a single device with a phone, push email, camera, gps all in one.

The gps proved useful on a trip to Glasgow where I needed to find a restaurant and the Google maps app got me there in a heartbeat, shame it isn’t turn by turn  (Blackberry maps doesn’t seem to work with Orange and Vodafone doesn’t work in my house!).

So, for those who don’t do Apple I can heartily recommend it. I don’t need a spirit level or baby shaking application so it seems as though its been a very useful purchase.

After some scanning through the band I cam across a few EA stations and fired through a few responses as they were a strong 59. EA1GE responded and my 6m career spluttered back into life. A good 1000 miles with a lashed together set up gave me a smile and although short lived the Es also allowed a good 59 on the CS5BLA beacon.

It has been a really frustrating time trying to get a working PSK-31 set up with this rig and I was beginning to think that it was the rig and not the PC, but after switching things around with our Advent netbook and several copies of Ham Radio Deluxe and using both the ACC socket, RJ45 and speaker output I finally came to the conclusion that the rig is ok but in desperate need of the mic mod.

So what to get? I quite fancy something powerful and a bit useful but also something low energy. Unfortunately the two don’t go hand in hand. I like the idea of the desktop type set ups using Intel Atom processors but it might be worth waiting until the graphics get sorted out with the Ion GPU. Also either an internal or external soundcard will be a must if I’m going to venture into the SDR route with a bit of gusto.

Decisions, decisions

At least the rig is ok

I think I’ll download a copy and see how it works under a virtual machine. Sounds like it could be worth a punt for the shack computer

I’m chuffed to bits and hope that it turns up soon…Really can’t express how nice it is to be so generously rewarded for such a small email. Thanks very much RSGB

I’ve had a couple of goes at swimming, but with recent experience i can safely say that I’m certainly no natural at it. Stroke, breathing and just general ability is pretty poor so I can only manage about 250m freestyle without feeling knackered. I’ll be having some tuition by a superstar on Friday to see what he can suggest but this is a good opportunity to take a few months to learn how to swim properly in case I can aim for the Cockermouth Triathlon.

After some serious googling I cam across a ROM that provided the x50v with the right ROM and after about an hour of prating around and waiting the sign that I was waiting for. Connection to my network. happened and so i could reinstall all the software that was currently not doing very much on what was essentially a brick.

So if you fancied having a go at WM6.1 then start looking in the usual places (xda forums) and find a ROM that suits. As with previous posts I’m sure this is a grey area. But I’d happily pay for a copy if it were available through the OEM’s

W1AW reports through the regular bulletins that the sun spot numbers have changed a bit over the last few months to give an extended low. Something that is all too familiar if you try and listen out for DX at the moment.

Below is a graph of the smoothed numbers that are taken from the recent published numbers. I’ve added a polynomial trend line to show what the smoothed smoothed sun spot numbers look like.

In order to mitigate the worst of the salt water effects I take down the base and keep it in the garage over winter whilst the remaining sections are always kept out of harms way until I need them.

I noticed this year that the fed point was starting to get corroded in the treads so needed wire wool treatment to remove as much of the oxide as possible. The mast sections suffer as well and so they got similar treatment taking care not to to score the surface which could lead to harsher forms of corrosion that the general thinning that is happening.

A worthwhile exercise has brought the antenna back into service with the minimum amount of effort and almost no expenditure.

I am expecting to replace this section in due course but I’ll see how long I can make it last before having to throw it in the bin