Southgate News reports that the FCC is, at last, supporting USA amateurs being given access to the 2200m and 630m bands. I sometimes complain that OFCOM here in the UK needs a kick up the backside, but the FCC seem an order of magnitude worse. I do hope that the USA gets these bands. I've had an article of mine on 472kHz approved by the ARRL now for nearly 2 years, awaiting the release of the 472kHz band over there! I am amazed just how slow the FCC seems to be. In many ways the USA takes a far more "grown up" attitude to the use of the radio spectrum, but the unbelievable slowness over the release of these 2 bands just beggars belief.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/april/fcc_proposes_to_permit_amateur_access_to_2200_and_630_meters.htm#.VUKSWpNQqPc
30 Apr 2015
UK General election - NOT amateur radio
The UK General Election next week still looks far too close to call.
Some opinion polls show the Conservatives ahead and others show Labour.
UKIP seem to be gradually losing support.
At the moment my intention is to vote Lib Dem as they do have a chance of winning here in East Cambs. Labour really have no chance at all having won just 6.5% of the vote last time. UKIP could well split the Conservative vote, so the Lib Dems have a decent chance.
Personally, I think the moderating influence of the Lib Dems on either the Conservatives or Labour would be a good thing. I supported the Greens in the European elections but in a "first past the post" General Election they (sadly) have no chance here. Elsewhere, who knows?
I believe in living within our means both personally and nationally, but austerity measures should be toughest on those who caused the problems in the first place and NOT those who really have very little. Bank bonuses should be stopped or very heavily taxed until we live within our means. In almost 40 years of work I never got a bonus for working hard and neither do most workers. Why should a few "wide boys" get millions in bonuses for gambling with OUR money?
At the moment my intention is to vote Lib Dem as they do have a chance of winning here in East Cambs. Labour really have no chance at all having won just 6.5% of the vote last time. UKIP could well split the Conservative vote, so the Lib Dems have a decent chance.
Personally, I think the moderating influence of the Lib Dems on either the Conservatives or Labour would be a good thing. I supported the Greens in the European elections but in a "first past the post" General Election they (sadly) have no chance here. Elsewhere, who knows?
I believe in living within our means both personally and nationally, but austerity measures should be toughest on those who caused the problems in the first place and NOT those who really have very little. Bank bonuses should be stopped or very heavily taxed until we live within our means. In almost 40 years of work I never got a bonus for working hard and neither do most workers. Why should a few "wide boys" get millions in bonuses for gambling with OUR money?
So, I was amused "11 element stealth antennas"
Maybe I have the definition wrong, but I thought "stealth antennas" meant antennas that were somehow hidden or disguised so you could not easily tell they were there?
So imagine my amazement to see an 11 element HF beam listed as a "stealth antenna". Maybe every house but mine has one to hang their washing on? No surely not!
In my book an 11 element (compact?) HF beam is in no way a stealth antenna. By all means sell these - no doubt they sell well to some at over £1090, but not as a "stealth antenna".
As I have said before, a simple wire antenna and 500mW is enough for my signal to reach the far corners of the planet and I see no need whatsoever for such a big and, in my personal view, ugly antenna in my garden. My HF antenna is practically invisible: I am sure most are unaware it is even there! This is a hobby to be enjoyed in many different ways. All are valid.
Big, expensive beams are not for me. Of course if you have this antenna you need a big, strong rotator and a big mast. Then you probably need a big rig. Sorry, not amateur radio in my definition.
See http://www.force12inc.com/categories/applications/stealth-ham-radio.html?sort=pricedesc
In my book an 11 element (compact?) HF beam is in no way a stealth antenna. By all means sell these - no doubt they sell well to some at over £1090, but not as a "stealth antenna".
As I have said before, a simple wire antenna and 500mW is enough for my signal to reach the far corners of the planet and I see no need whatsoever for such a big and, in my personal view, ugly antenna in my garden. My HF antenna is practically invisible: I am sure most are unaware it is even there! This is a hobby to be enjoyed in many different ways. All are valid.
Big, expensive beams are not for me. Of course if you have this antenna you need a big, strong rotator and a big mast. Then you probably need a big rig. Sorry, not amateur radio in my definition.
See http://www.force12inc.com/categories/applications/stealth-ham-radio.html?sort=pricedesc
No 10m USA WSPR spots, well not yet (1512z)
So far, apart from quite a bit of Es on 10m WSPR, EA8BVP (2986km) has been there spotting me a lot this afternoon presumably by single-hop F2. As yet, no signs of 10m WSPR spots by any USA stations, but if the band opens at all in that direction, it is likely to be later. Sunspot number is lower than the last few days but we are seeing relatively undisturbed conditions, so a very brief opening is not out of the question.
UPDATE 2055z: No USA 10m WSPR spots today, and it seems unlikely now. However, last night one station did not copy me until after 2200z, so who can tell?
UPDATE 2155z: We I'll be .........(expletives go here). KA4M (6916km) spotted me at 2132z. So far, this is the only spot today from the USA of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon but I was amazed to be copied at all.
UPDATE 2055z: No USA 10m WSPR spots today, and it seems unlikely now. However, last night one station did not copy me until after 2200z, so who can tell?
UPDATE 2155z: We I'll be .........(expletives go here). KA4M (6916km) spotted me at 2132z. So far, this is the only spot today from the USA of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon but I was amazed to be copied at all.
Kanga Products
See http://www.kanga-products.co.uk/. Although I have to admit that I have not used this supplier or its sister site in the USA, they seem to have a useful range of kits and products in stock. If you are after QRP or QRSS frequency crystals, then these are at a decent price. I have no idea how well priced their other items like solder are compared with other suppliers.
As I have said before, these suppliers could soon disappear if they do not get enough trade. The competition from China is fierce indeed and many very good bargains may be had on eBay. I wish Kanga well.
As I have said before, these suppliers could soon disappear if they do not get enough trade. The competition from China is fierce indeed and many very good bargains may be had on eBay. I wish Kanga well.
Sunspots and 10m - Thursday April 30th 2015
With the sunspot number even lower at 26 (K=1) and 10m expected to be "poor" today, one should expect 10m to be marginal, but this band is full of surprises and anything is possible. With 10m having allowed my 500mW WSPR to be spotted in the USA for the last few days, I am not ruling out a brief USA opening later.
Certainly Es is livening up things on 10m at last, although I have not yet been spotted by Es on 6m, and neither have I spotted others on 6m by Es.
UPDATE 1334z: The Es season is definitely here now with 10m WPSR spots received from across Europe. EA8BVP was probably single hop F2, but the rest (apart from local G4IKZ) so far today look like spots of me by Es.
Certainly Es is livening up things on 10m at last, although I have not yet been spotted by Es on 6m, and neither have I spotted others on 6m by Es.
UPDATE 1334z: The Es season is definitely here now with 10m WPSR spots received from across Europe. EA8BVP was probably single hop F2, but the rest (apart from local G4IKZ) so far today look like spots of me by Es.
 |
| Unique 10m WSPR spots received today so far. |
Yesterday on 10m WSPR - 3 USA stations spotting me
With a very late spot by KA4M (6916km) at 2202z, the total of USA stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR rose to 3 different stations. KA4M, at this late hour was a total surprise. I had just about given up for the day. As always, 10m is filled with surprises!
This morning the 10m band has lots of Es in evidence with OE, HA and I stations spotting me. We are now definitely in the Es season.
This morning the 10m band has lots of Es in evidence with OE, HA and I stations spotting me. We are now definitely in the Es season.
6m WSPR analysis by PA1B
Bert PA1B has done some analysis of my recent aircraft scatter WSPR spots on 6m.
As is usually the case, clicking the image will bring up a larger chart.
As is usually the case, clicking the image will bring up a larger chart.
Hello Roger,
PA1B's analysis on my 6m WSPR spots
At the moment I am very busy with all sort of things.
I am making a new website in Wordpress, which is taking a lot of time.
We did some house improvement, for about two more weeks.
And today we went to the opening of the outdoor swimming pool with my grand children.
(great fun)
This evening I took some time to make an analysis of a number of spots on 6 meter.
I took the most interesting spots for airplane scatter.
I hope you like it and can place it in your blog.
I left in M0EMM to show the difference. hi
Positive drift means the path is becoming shorter.
It's my pleasure.
73, Bert PA1B
Hello Roger,
The spots of M0MVB shows spots where the path is becoming shorter (+3Hz per minute)
and spots where the path is becoming longer. (-2 Hz per minute)
I just saw that the spots of M0YOU with scatter, are much stronger than the spot without scatter. The lower the lowest possible power, the stronger the signal. A lowest possible power of 1 mW is 17 dB stronger than 50 mW. hi.
I left in the spots of M0EMM, to show that there is no Doppler andthe signals are not that strong.
Good luck in further analysis,
73, Bert PA1B
29 Apr 2015
Windmill - NOT amateur radio
At the moment, the sails are facing in the direction of our bungalow, although they change direction quite often with the wind. The sails have flaps that can be closed or open. The sails usually go around (flaps closed) on Thursdays and Sundays when the museum is open.
10m WSPR - USA yet again today!
So far just a single (very early) spot from the USA today: K9AN (6505km) at 1140z . No other 10m WSPR spots from the USA today. Signal report was weak at -26dB S/N.
I just wonder if this was F2 or multi-hop Es? I guess it could even have been F2 backscatter? Anyway, yet another day, quite late in the season, when a USA station has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon. Will there be others later I wonder?
UPDATE 1735z: At the moment, it looks like th(e single spot by K9AN this morning was a "one off". Things could get better later?
UPDATE 1804z: WB2TQE (7097km) has been spotting me a few times recently.
UPDATE 2004z: The last USA spot was WB2TQE at 1828z. I am wondering if that is it for the USA today (2 unique stations) or whether there will be surprises later.
I just wonder if this was F2 or multi-hop Es? I guess it could even have been F2 backscatter? Anyway, yet another day, quite late in the season, when a USA station has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon. Will there be others later I wonder?
UPDATE 1735z: At the moment, it looks like th(e single spot by K9AN this morning was a "one off". Things could get better later?
UPDATE 1804z: WB2TQE (7097km) has been spotting me a few times recently.
UPDATE 2004z: The last USA spot was WB2TQE at 1828z. I am wondering if that is it for the USA today (2 unique stations) or whether there will be surprises later.
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