8m FT8 RX (Thursday)

 I have QSYed to 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz using my end-fed long wire.  We'll see if I spot anyone today.

UPDATE 1626z:  No spots. At the moment 8m is disappointing.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Today, I am on 8m FT8 RX, more in hope than expectation, using my end-fed long wire antenna. I have no idea of the polar plot on 8m, but it has been used to copy CT, EA and G on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1455z:   No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0920z.

UPDATE 1523:   No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

 Since lunchtime I have been on 8m FT8 RX.

 UPDATE 1512z:  No spots.

Reconsidering 8m TX permit

 At the moment, I am undecided about submitting a new application for an 8m TX permit. I am unlikely ever to need modes except FT8, WSPR and CW and unlikely to need much power.  I really just need 40.680-40.683MHz.

The best time would be to get active around February to catch any F2 and then the Es in the spring and summer. Also I might catch some F2 in autumn 2026.

I enjoy experimenting, but don't like the idea of paying.  Maybe just one year? Thinking!

8m FT8 RX again (Tuesday)

 Yet again, I am trying 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE  1158z:   G8VER (66km) and CT7BIZ (1422km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2016z:   QRT.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

My gear was turned on at 1030z.

UPDATE 1812z:  EA1YV (1321km) spotted.

8m FT8 receive (Sunday)

My gear was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1654z:  Just G8VER (66km) spotted again. This is the Verulam Club in St.Albans.

If I get no more spots today, I may return to another band tomorrow.

UPDATE 1908z:   No further stations spotting me. QRT.

8m FT8 receive (Saturday)

My 8m dipole was taken down some months ago. This afternoon, just for fun, I am on 8m FT8 receive with my end-fed long wire. I have no idea at all how this works on 8m. Let's see if I get any spots. Also, I have no idea how sensitive the IC-705 is at 8m.

UPDATE 1621z:  G8VER (66km) spotted. It works.

I remain extremely disappointed that so many PTTs seem to have a very negative attitude to 8m. A few PTTs have granted access to 8m, some for a limited time. As far as I know there have been NO reports of interference caused by those granted access. I object to having to pay to do valuable research especially when my own PTT (OFCOM) seems so negative.

UPDATE 1935z:  I shall probably try 8m FT8 RX again tomorrow.

8m operation

Although I did not renew my UK 8m TX permit, there is still activity with stations in the Caribbean getting licences and Spain getting permits for another 18 months.

Instead, I have QSYed to 6m FT8 and been surprised to find real continental DX stations spotting my 5W FT8 to the omni vertical antenna on every day I have been operating. The moral is do not give up on 6m.

In my view, 8m deserved special permits in very many countries around solar maximum to allow real propagation research. Instead, very very few bothered. I was disgusted.

8m operation

As I was not prepared to pay to do research I did not renew my 8m TX permit when it expired this summer. 

I was very disappointed by the very negative attitude of several PTTs even to very limited access to the band around solar maximum. I am told that it is still being used by some.  I really wish them well.

Instead, I have concentrated on 5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna.  This autumn my QRP has been spotted by 2 stations in Brazil on 6m.

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.

Comparing 6m and 8m

It is over a week since my 8m TX permit expired. Instead, I am concentrating on 6m FT8.  There are several differences:

• Activity on  6m FT8  is vastly greater than on 8m. This is because there are far fewer stations permitted to TX on 8m and few PTTs seem to be bothered.
• In the Es season it is quite easy to get all over Europe and with low power. This is almost certainly true on 8m, but there are far too few on the band.
• The MUF  seems to reach 8m far more often than 6m. This is especially true around sunspot maximum.
• I would imagine aurora would be better than 6m.

8m TX permit expired

Even though it wasn’t issued to me until far later, OFCOM said it had to run from when I applied!! Really “switched on” logic 😢.  £50 for far less than 12 months! OFCOM or OFCON?

I have now given up on 8m.

Goodbye 8m

My 8m TX permit expires soon.

As it would cost me £50 annually to continue my research and the RSGB, OFCOM and others seem so against (not even neutral) even a small band, I have taken down my 8m dipole and have no intention of carrying on. Sad. 

As I have said many, many times, the best time for research would have been around the solar peak, which has passed. Instead I am concentrating on 6m and 10m.

Life is too short to battle on. 

I hope in the end we will see a very tiny allocation at 8m, but I can't see this happening soon. If it does come about, I shall return to 8m.

Goodbye 8m

 Today, I took down my 8m dipole. This means I can no longer go on 8m TX. It marks the end of my campaign and experiments on the band. Everything I sought to find out has been completed and I refuse to pay £50 a year to continue. Instead I am QSYing to 6m and 10m.

It is a sad day, but life is too short to continuing my battle with the RSGB and OFCOM. In my view, their attitude is disgraceful.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

 My QRP FT8 was turned on at about 0625z. Already spotted by EI3KF. Is this some kind of scatter?

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My gear (2.5W to a low dipole) was turned on just before 0700z.

UPDATE 1950z:  8 spots of my QRP. See map. Now QRT.

Back on 8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 Whilst I still have my 8m TX permit I am again on 40.680MHz FT8 (offset about 1950 Hz).

UPDATE 0920z:  Just EI3KF (574km) spotting me.

8m disappointment

We are now in the Es season, but we still have far too few countries on the band. 

After my 8m T&I permit expires later this summer I have no plans to continue. 

Far more would be learned if we had many more countries on the band, even for a short period. Although there may be some F2 propagation in the autumn and spring on 8m it is likely to decline especially on E-W paths.

I have tried to my best to encourage the RSGB and OFCOM, but I give up.

My plan is to go on 6m instead.