OFCOM - are they ALL automatoms?

Having now contacted OFCOM very many times in the last month I am getting heartily fed-up with the auto-response email system advising me to wait 5 days for a reply. So far, it is more like 5 WEEKS and I have still to hear from a single human being as opposed to that damn machine!  You may recall my inquiries related to sub-8.3kHz operation and operating with very low power around 73kHz and both queries should require straightforward quick answers.

They really must be understaffed, or is it just that unlicenced stuff (i.e. no income stuff) automatically goes to the bottom of the piles? Personally, I am less than impressed.

At current rate of progress I am getting inclined to TX on ANY frequency as I doubt ANYONE at OFCOM is actually bothered unless anyone happened to complain. And I am one who likes to keep to the law!

Based on OFCOM's total lack of interest I assume sub-8.3kHz can be used freely in the UK. Surely they would have screamed," NO, NO WAY!", long ago if they had a serious issue? I do wish they would reply unambiguously, and soon.

Stroke progress

After several days when, frankly, I felt I was going backwards, this morning I awoke free from sickness and nausea and feeling quite a bit better. So far, I have chosen to take no pills at all. I still feel a lot better, still wobbly on my feet but 50% of my old normal self rather than 45%. For the first time in many weeks I feel a full recovery will come given time.

UPDATE 1730z:  Downhill after lunch. Drinking coffee (especially) and tea seem to be more problematic than they should be , even with thickener added. I felt worse again this afternoon, and after SUCH a promising start today. 

26 uniques on 474.2kHz

25 uniques on 474.2kHz WSPR with15m baseline E-W earth-electrode antenna and 5-10mW ERP

The total number of unique spots of my 5-10mW ERP 474.2kHz WSPR signal from the E-W 15m baseline earth-electrode antenna has now reached 26 stations with best DX last night of F1JBB way down in SW France, Nr Santes, at 722km. Since this table was created G4NRG has spotted me for spot no.26 at 58km.

I'll leave things running overnight tonight.  The earth-electrode antenna does not show pronounced directionality, which is a bit puzzling as it throws into doubt the "loop in the ground" theory. I would have expected reports from N-S to have been much weaker than E-W directions.

The ~15m baseline earth-electrode antenna has now exceeded ALL my expectations for it with DX reception at least as good as with the 20m baseline earth-electrode antenna at the old QTH.

Back on 472kHz

I have decided to go back onto 472kHz WSPR TX (and RX) with the 15m baseline earth-electrode antenna. Already I am getting spots from the usual UK local and semi-local (101km) stations. I shall leave the system running through the night in the hope of increasing the total number of unique spots of my signals to greater than 22.  On RX I think I need a preamp with the earth-electrode antenna as signals are weaker than with the PAR antenna "in the air".

2nd FT817 and a Z817 auto-tuner

 After a lot of consideration, this week I purchased a second FT817 (this time an FT817ND) as well as the LDG Z817 auto-tuner. One thing  to bear in mind is the Z817 is no longer supplied with a 0.5m long coaxial RF patch lead. It comes with the CAT cable only.

Current operating position with 2 x FT817s and a Z817 auto-ATU

My FT817ND has been widebanded so it covers 5MHz and I went on that band for the first time today and was spotted on WSPR in Holland with 1W to a totally non-resonant antenna matched with the Z817.

I must say from a QRP base station point of view the Z817 is a neater, and much cheaper, ATU solution. It matches the Par 10/20/40 end-fed on most bands and seems to do as good a job as the Elecraft T1, which I need to repair as it is intermittent.

The second FT817 means I can WSPR on one band and operate on another band at the same time. As I  have just bought the OLD version, you can be sure now that Yaesu will showcase a NEW version of the FT817 next month! Martin Lynch and Sons were very easy to deal with and thoroughly helpful suppliers. I can recommend them.

No stateside DX on 10m today but just exchanged spots with CX2ABP at 11127km on 10m with the new kit.

22 unique spots on 474.2kHz with 15m spaced earth electrodes

After one more night, the total number of UNIQUE stations spotting my QRP ERP WSPR signals has reached 22 with reports last evening from PA0WMR (351km). I am now going to try the 15m spaced earth-electrodes on other bands.

Given more time I'd be assured of LOTS more spots especially from UK and Irish stations.

RSGB's Bennett Prize

This morning I received a total surprise in the form of a letter from Graham Coomber G0NBI, RSGB General Manager, to tell me they have awarded me the Bennett Prize, G8PF, to "recognise any significant contribution which furthers the art of radio communications" for my article last  year in RadCom on 472kHz earth-electrode antennas.  Sadly, my health will prevent me from picking up the award at the RSGB's AGM in Manchester next month. I was quite amazed and very humbled.

2nd FT817 and a Z817 tuner

Today I placed an order with Martin Lynch for the above. I was able to negotiate a decent deal both with MLS and with W+S, but decided on the former. Delivery should be this week. This should allow me to WSPR on one band and operate with other modes on different bands including 5MHz. My original FT817 has served me well and the FT817ND should serve me for years to come.

I have separately ordered a 250Hz CW filter for the new rig.

Hoping for more unique spots on 474.2kHz WSPR

474.2kHz shack set-up currently

At the moment (2215z) I have received 21 unique spots so far of my 474.2kHz QRP ERP WSPR signal from my resonated and matched 15m baseline earth-electrode "antenna". I shall leave things running overnight in the hope that other new stations will also spot me.  The system has been running only a few days at good efficiency.


UPDATE 1015z Thurs Feb 20th: no new spotters overnight, just the same ones as yesterday, so the total of UNIQUE spotters remains at 21 over the last week almost.  Will be leaving it running all day and overnight to see if anyone else spots me. May then try 160m.

21 unique spots so far on 15m baseline earth electrode on 474.2kHz

Incidentally, as you see, only a fraction of the coil is needed and this could have been on a ferrite rod, but I was unable to find one. The 3C90 matching coil is very small and runs cool, as does the transverter.

OFCOM - sub-8.3kHz and around 73kHz in the UK

You may recall that several weeks ago I contacted OFCOM to clarify (1)  the legality of no-licence operation in the UK below 8.3kHz (band is unallocated) and (2) operation around 73kHz with limited ERP (licence exempt). 3 emails later, I have STILL to receive a response. I wrote again today hoping for a reply this time.

The same issues are to be raised by the RSGB on March 13th at their OFCOM liaison meeting.

It now looks like the address I was given was a DEAD email address  Today I contacted Spectrum.Licensing@ofcom.org.uk  and hope, this time, to get an answer.