Thoughts on 8m

As many know, I decided not to renew my 8m TX permit. This was costing me £50 every year! 

I was hoping that OFCOM was going to issue a Notice of Variation to my amateur licence for a limited time around sunspot maximum. 

It would appear the RSGB was not prepared to support this, which I personally found extremely sad. In all my dealings with the RSGB I found them very against, not even neutral!! If ever there was a case for an NoV, this was surely it around sunspot maximum. I was hoping the RSGB would have been supportive of real research - not so.

In the event, and without the backing of the RSGB and OFCOM my 2.5W FT8 to a low wire dipole was spotted in Europe, South Africa, the USA, Canada, Caribbean and Asia . Continuing as the MUF declines would probably contribute less, hence my decision.

Instead I have concentrated on 6m, where my 5W FT8 to the V2000 omni has reached the Far East, Europe, South Africa, the USA, the Caribbean, Canada and Argentina probably by E layer, TEP and scatter. 

My outings on 8m have left me with a very bitter taste: if you want real experimentation in the true spirit of amateur radio do not expect to be supported in the UK by the RSGB and OFCOM sadly.