The VK2DJG blog

Call me slow - but I’ve only recently noticed on RigPix (posted in February), that there’s a new ICOM rig on the way. The IC-7000 looks set to replace the IC-706MkIIG which has been a solid performer for several years now.

It was apparently announced at Dayton recently. Some information from AB4OJ’s website can be found here.

Update: After what seems an eternity, the new IC-7000 seems to have made it to Icom America’s web site.

I’ve not a heard a chirp on the 2m, 6m or 10m bands for weeks. I monitor beacons on a regular basis, and leave the receivers running on the 2m and 6m SSB calling frequencies.

The merging of the low winter and low solar cycle periods leave little activity.

I have to qualify the above statements by adding that I don’t live in front the receivers so I will miss things now and again but in general there’s not a lot happening.

I need to get my 2m meteor scatter setup up and running again. There’s usually always some level of activity in the mornings. I can’t work further south than Rex, VK7MO, in Tasmania. After that there’s nothing but ocean before hitting Antartica. Working into New Zealand would be a challenge - from this QTH it’s right on the accepted range for “normal” MS working at around 2200 km (1400 miles). With a little “assist” from a duct, though, it could be possible.

VK2RSY near Sydney has resumed transmission on 6m. The beacon, on 50.289 Mhz, is running 12 watts to a dipole which fires north/south.