You may have noticed that the wspr signal from 5X7JD is off the air. There are at least two unrelated problems.

First, the main electrical transformer supplying line power to our village is out. This has happened before when someone climbed the pole, drilled a hole in the bottom of the transformer and stole the oil. It didn’t take long for the transformer to burn out. Uganda Power has told us they will have power restored in two weeks. I am not optimistic. The last time this happened it was three months!!

Second, high winds are rare in Uganda but once in a very great while a storm will come in off Lake Victoria and wreak havoc. Such has happened and it blew down my antenna. It is, or was, a simple HyGain vertical but it is now in pieces. Tom, my associate in Uganda thinks it can be fixed and I am somewhat hopeful.

So, don’t expect a wspr signal anytime soon. We are experiencing technical difficulties.