My future on 8m

This morning, I am getting no 8m FT8 spots whereas G9PUV and SV1DH have plenty. Their ERPs are probably at least 10dB up on mine as I run just 2.5W to a low dipole.

At the moment, my inclination is not to go for a new 8m permit in April.  

Possibly I may try 8m WSPR in the ISM band with the call 8M3ISM with 10mW ERP without a licence, as is the right of all in the UK.

The results obtained so far are impressive, but without more stations, I am unsure of the usefulness of continuing. 

As the 8m band is located between 10m and 6m, we could expect 8m to open more often than 6m. It is highly disappointing that OFCOM (and the RSGB) and the FCC has shown such a negative attitude to even a small 8m secondary allocation. It is not as if they are neutral. It would appear they are dead set against!

If beggars believe that both the FCC and OFCOM (and the RSGB) can have such a negative attitude to the real purpose of our hobby. I am left with a bitter taste.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on at 1016z.

Conditions in Europe look encouraging with high MUFs.

UPDATE 1341z:  No spots.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W FT8 to a dipole was turned on at 1046z on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1950 Hz). No spots at 1227z.

QRP 8m FT8 (Wednesday)

My 2.5W FT8 on 40.680 MHz has been on for about 30 minutes. 

Better equipped stations are regularly getting across the Atlantic again. It is much harder with just 2.5W and a low dipole! As the F2 season is good in February and March, we can expect even better times ahead.

UPDATE 1515z:   No spots yet today.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

HF F2 propagation is looking good, so I am hopeful that I shall get some transatlantic spots again soon on 8m FT8 with my 2.5W and low dipole. Better equipped stations seem to be getting across the Atlantic regularly. I guess their ERPs are 10dB up on me, which could make quite a difference. I intentionally want to see how QRP performs. It would appear it is much like 10m if the MUF is high enough. 

At the moment, my inclination is to apply for a new UK 8m TX permit when my current one runs out in April. I object to having to pay, but I think the experiment is worthwhile. 

In the 2025 Es season I may concentrate on unlicenced WSPR activity with 10mW ERP, but that is some way off still. Who knows, we might have a tiny 8m amateur band in the UK by then!!

UPDATE 1156z:  At some point, I might try a modified CB vertical on 8m. I hope to get this up before the 2024 Es season.

UPDATE 1423z:  No spots all day.

UPDATE 1536z:  ZF1EJ (7761km) has spotted me. This is my first transatlantic 8m FT8 spot this year.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My 8m FT8 2.5W QRP was turned on a few hours ago on 40.680 MHz.  No spots.

UPDATE 1557z: PJ4MM (7483km) in Bonaire has been spotted on 8m FT8 RX. Nobody has spotted me!

8m - should I apply for a new TX permit from April?

To continue my 8m TX permit, I have (stupidly in my view) to pay OFCOM £50 a year!!  As I have worked just about all the stations on 8m TX currently, I am having second thoughts. Views?

Personally, I think OFCOM (plus the RSGB) and the FCC have totally stupid and blinkered views about genuine experimentation at 8m. Talk about dinosours .....

Instead, I may TX WSPR in the 8m ISM band at 10mW ERP using the call 8M3ISM during the Es season. With this ERP in the UK it is my view anyone may legally beacon in the 8m ISM band without a licence as long as they meet the interface requirements.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My 2.5W to the dipole was turned on at about 1200z, but so far no spots.

8m quiet?

It seems to me that the 8m experiment is drawing to a close.  

With quite a high sunspot number, there have been F2 openings as high as 6m.  40 MHz is between 10m and 6m, so one would expect the F2 MUF to climb to 8m at times when it did not make it to 6m.  

There are very few people active on 8m, whereas there are many on 6m, so short-lived 6m openings are more likely to be spotted, especially on FT8. During the Es season distances up to about 1500km can often be worked. 

At the moment, I am inclined to pay for just one more year on 8m, but it needs more people in more countries. I still find it incomprehensible (and totally stupid) that radio amateurs are not allowed access to just 5 kHz, secondary only, narrow digital only, power limited, no interference, at 8m. It is as if OFCOM (and the RSGB) and the FCC are very "anti" an allocation at 8m. They are not just neutral!!

I have tried my best, but can do little more. 

It needs more people to approach their administrations about a tiny 8m allocation.

8m QRP FT8 TX (Friday)

My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole should be on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1950 Hz) all day. It was turned on about 0945z.

UPDATE 1623z:   No spots.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 At 1135z my 2.5W 8m FT8 had been on for about an hour. No spots.

UPDATE 1615z:  No 8m FT8 spots.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

 My 2.5W FT8 gear was turned on at about 1000z. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1515z:  Although I have been on 8m FT8 all day, no spots on RX or TX. This could just be holiday season, or a slack time of year with fewer F2 and Es openings. Also, most people have worked all the stations available. We need more countries and experimenters on 8m.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 8m QRP 2.5W to the dipole was turned on about 1013z.

Via the QSL bureau I (unexpectedly) received QSLs from Slovenia and Croatia for 8m FT8. I shall QSL back direct .... although I shall have to make some cards first!

UPDATE 1335z:  No spots today on RX or TX.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 Although I have been on most of the day, not a single spot on TX or RX.

8m QRP FT8 tomorrow (Wednesday)

All being well, I hope to be on 40.680MHz FT8 (DF about 1950Hz) with my 2.5W and dipole tomorrow (Wednesday). I should be on from just after breakfast.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 My 2.5W FT8 to the dipole was turned on at about 1015z.

UPDATE 1049z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1545z:   Spotted by MM0AMW (523km) on the Mull of Kintyre. I think this is a new person monitoring 8m.

8m FT8 (Thursday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on after breakfast. 

UPDATE 1645z:  No spots today. Now QSYed to 630m QRP WSPR.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

On returning from Ely, I went on 8m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1715z:  No 8m spots today.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 Yesterday was a surprise with 2 spots of my 2.5W QRP from the Caribbean. My QRP FT8 is already on 40.680MHz (at 0930z). Who knows what today will bring?

UPDATE 1555z:  No spots. I get the feeling there will be no spots today.

8m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 8m FT8 2.5W is currently on. No spots until 1330z (TX or RX). 

As there is a small Es peak in mid winter, there is a chance of some European spots if there are people monitoring. I suspect there are fewer people monitoring at this time of year.

UPDATE 1725z:  Surprisingly, 2 spots of my QRP 8m FT8 from the Caribbean this afternoon.