146-147MHz: an extended 2m amateur band in the UK?

It looks highly likely that amateurs in the UK will get access to this additional slice of the 2m band later this summer. When it comes I shall no doubt use it, but feel spectrum elsewhere would have been much more useful for self-training in radio science.

Silly boy! I forgot - we only use ready-made black boxes on 2m and very few amateurs have the least idea how they work. Self training is a nonsense these days.  Oh and of course the revised UK 2m band plan will still have no space for AM people trying to self-train. Sorry, but I fail to see how another 1MHz at 2m will really benefit any real radio amateurs, just even more space for black box operators?

I know I should be grateful for another whole 1MHz to use, but I really cannot get excited about this at all when the current 2m band is vastly under-used. Even in contests there is still plenty of space for all.

Personally I'd like easy access below 8.3kHz, access again around 73kHz and a new 100kHz slot around 40MHz. Sadly all unlikely. WRC-2015 may grant us a contiguous international 60m band and that could be useful.

UPDATE 24.3.14 1845z: looks like the allocation may be temporary and only available by NOV. See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/vhf-143-169mhz/summary

6m Trans-equatorial propagation (TEP)

4X1DA and 4X1RF have been copying FR1GZ (over 6200km) away on Reunion Is, Indian Ocean, on and off today on 6m. Signals can be very strong. CN8LI has done even better at over 8000km 2-way. Here in the UK we are normally too far north to catch these TEP openings so we need some Es as well to link up with such openings. I keep trying in vain on WSPR. Best so far is 78km, hardly in the same league!

http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/images/8/89/Vk4yeh_TEP_1.jpg

HF forecasts are pretty good with stable conditions and a high sunspot count. Of course Es (needed to reach the TEP propagation areas) is not that predicatable.

See http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Trans-Equatorial_Propagation

Normality

When unwell, you almost forget what "being normal" is.  Last night,  I was given a lift to my wife's Brahms concert and most people were totally unaware of my current disabilities.  I am gradually on the mend,  but my biggest issue is wobbliness on walking or doing any activity.  Most people are totally unaware of this. I hope my brain rewires so this goes with time. 

It means normal radio tasks , especially building, are all but impossible for me still.  Using WSPR is one thing I can still do, but actually TALKING on the radio is still hard work.

Brahms' German Requiem - Cambridge
March 22nd 2014

Our good old friends Peter and Chris Branson, came to stay over the weekend and it was them who gave me the lift to the concert. Peter kindly cut our hedges and front lawn and did a pile of weeding (without being asked) - such GOOD kind and generous friends. It was Peter who helped with some VLF tests a few years ago. There is a photo of him on my main Sub-9kHz website https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/earthmode .

See  https://sites.google.com/site/cambschoral/  for details of the Cambridgeshire Choral Society (CCS) including how to join and details of other concerts you might enjoy.

My wife is 7th in on the LHS . She is a short lady, 2nd row back, with short greyish hair - now I shall be in trouble!

6m update

No TEP sadly but I did spot G6AVK at 78km on 6m last evening at -25dB S/N. This is a strange distance on 6m.  The -2 drift is almost certainly aircraft scatter, quite a common issue with inter-G paths on both 6m and 2m. It often makes decent signals not decode-able.

I do have a 0.5ppm TCXO fitted (it belongs to G3WKW) to the FT817 which helps minimise drift especially at VHF.  I plan to stay on 6m for more tries with TEP/Es today.

6m TEP

I notice from WSPRnet that there is some TEP (trans-equatorial) propagation in Africa on 6m. I have now switched to 6m (2W) to see if there is any chance of this reaching the UK.  It is a long shot I know,  but worth a try. On 6m I only have a V2000 vertical with little 6m gain. I assume Es and TEP will twist polarisation.

Longer low Marconi - not too good on 474.2kHz

Overnight with my 5mW ERP on 474.2kHz reached 3 Dutch stations, 1 Belgian and one English. This is a low number so I conclude the longer low Marconi is NOT a good antenna configuration for 474.2kHz.

Back on 474.2kHz

I changed my slightly longer baseline earth-electrode antenna into a longer, low height Marconi with the horizontal top going even further around the fence/trellis. I am currently evaluating it. Although copying a couple of Germans OK, my impression is it is not very good and the shorter Marconi was better (less loss?).  I shall leave it on overnight before judging results. There is a distinct lack of active G stations this evening, which doesn't help. G6AVK came on for about 30 minutes but his reports were worse than when testing a few weeks ago.

10m - harder work today (March 21st)

Although paths are open, it seems much more difficult on 10m this morning compared with recent days. Sunspot count is still 137 but solar conditions are more disturbed and these are noticeable. Even at 2W (quite QRO on WSPR!), spots are less easy to get.

UPDATE 1110z:   LZ1OI  is coming through at up to +8dB S/N on WSPR with 5W and this is a COLOSSAL signal.

UPDATE 1245z:  First transatlantic 10m RX spot was VE2PEP at 1240z at 5037km.

UPDATE 1500z: Conditions may a bit better than this morning. Quite a few transatlantic spots now but less easy than on recent days.

UPDATE 1536z:  HS0ZKM  in Bangkok being spotted - 9485km.

UPDATE 1555z: 17 spots from just one 10m 2W WSPR transmission is not bad with 11 transatlantic spots.

Some of the 10m WSPR spots on RX this afternoon - plenty of DX

WSPRing on other bands

Today I ventured onto 60m, 40m and 20m WSPR for a change. A few spots out to 448km on 5MHz and plenty of EU spots on both 40m and 20m.

I returned to 10m to see what was doing.  At this time of day 10m is THE place to find stateside DX in abundance. Conditions like this unfortunately cannot last.

I have now decided to take a look on 136kHz with the earth-electrode antenna and the VERY deaf  FT817ND.  I might JUST be able to copy DK7FC and possibly G8HUH but I do need to make a preamp.

UPDATE 2025z: absolutely nothing copied on 136kHz WSPR. I need a preamp!

Last day on 10m?

It is probable that today will be my last day on 10m for a while as I am no longer gaining data by being active on the band. 500mW, even with my compromise antenna, is enough to be spotted all over the world. I may try MF again, 60m or even 6m for some TEP, although there is sadly very little activity on 6m in this part of the world.

Last night, my last spot with 500mW on 10m was K9AN  at 6505km at 2114z, along with others. I spotted other transatlantic 10m signals until 2134z.

This morning, my 10m 500mW WSPR is reaching LZ1OI and 4X1RF only - conditions seem less good than recent days. I wonder how soon transatlantics will appear today? Sunspot count is 137 and conditions stable - looks quite promising.

I notice that  EX1UN (5423km) was being decoded here as early as 0628z today. PA4PS (436km), in JO33 square, is being regularly copied, I presume by tropo or backscatter. My first USA report today (10m 500mW) was AI4RY at 1228z at  6931km.