8 Apr 2016
MF this evening
I have been active on 472kHz WSPR since early evening. So far results have been mediocre - see below. I shall be staying on overnight.
OFCOM Updates - NOT amateur radio
UK Rallies
I have been notified of these UK rallies:
Sunday 10 APRIL : NARSA EXHIBITION (Blackpool Rally) organised by Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association, Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. The venue has car parking as well as disabled facilities. There will be a talk-in station and Morse proficiency tests are also available. Highlights include trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups, and an RSGB bookstand. There is a licensed bar and catering facilities. More information from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608 or by email to dwilson@btinternet.com. www.narsa.org.uk
Sunday 10 APRIL : 32nd YEOVIL QRP CONVENTION
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA Doors open 9.30am, admission £3. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and club stalls, plus a programme of talks. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & RSARS. Contact Bob Harris, by email to wjh069@gmail.com. [http://yeovil-arc.com/
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
Sunday 10 APRIL : NARSA EXHIBITION (Blackpool Rally) organised by Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association, Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA. The venue has car parking as well as disabled facilities. There will be a talk-in station and Morse proficiency tests are also available. Highlights include trade stands, a Bring & Buy, special interest groups, and an RSGB bookstand. There is a licensed bar and catering facilities. More information from Dave, M0OBW on 01270 761 608 or by email to dwilson@btinternet.com. www.narsa.org.uk
Sunday 10 APRIL : 32nd YEOVIL QRP CONVENTION
Digby Hall, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AA Doors open 9.30am, admission £3. There will be traders, a Bring & Buy and club stalls, plus a programme of talks. Supported by RSGB, RAFARS & RSARS. Contact Bob Harris, by email to wjh069@gmail.com. [http://yeovil-arc.com/
A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/
Sunspots and 10m - Fri April 8th 2016
Solar flux is 93 today (rising) and the sunspot number is 26 (K=2). The forecast for 10m propagation is again "poor". Today could be another disappointing day?
Late start on 10m WSPR today
As we have grandchildren with us, I was late starting 10m WSPR today. I eventually started just before lunchtime.
7 Apr 2016
Google changes to blog address - NOT amateur radio
To get to my blogs you may have to change the URL. See the following from Google:
Coming in late April!
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://.blogspot.com.
Existing links and bookmarks to your blogs will continue to work. As
part of this change, the HTTPS Availability setting will disappear, and
your blogs will always have an HTTPS version.
Coming in late April!
All visitors will be able to view your Blogspot domain blogs over an encrypted connection by visiting https://
10m short-skip
It looks like the Es season is nearly here on 10m. Today there was just one spot from OE6PWD (1232km). These are the spots so far.
RSGB and the EMC Committee
See http://rsgb.org/main/about-us/committees/electromagnetic-compatibility-committee/ .
Having just read the latest minutes, my negative views on OFCOM have been re-enforced. They seem to want to do very little about real EMC issues. I quote:
"JR reported that Ofcom had said that the WTA s54 Regulations, consulted on a year ago, would be published very soon. Although very welcome, if they only covered a narrow definition of “apparatus” in EMCD terms, that would leave a major hole in their scope. We would need to examine them carefully and consider how to respond. Ofcom were to have an article about the Regulations in RadCom. Ofcom said they were setting three conditions to act under the Regs.
1. Harmful interference needed to be demonstrated;
2. All reasonable steps had to be taken to reduce/alleviate the interference at the receiver;
3. There had to be a realistic prospect of an outcome. "
Full marks to the RSGB for continuing to challenge OFCOM.
OFCOM bureaucrats - do your jobs or go! There is zero space these days for quangos that do not add value. I have heard the arguments in support of OFCOM, but in all recent dealings with them I have not been at all impressed. Yes, they may bleat "lack of resources", but fewer bureaucrats and more engineers in the field would be a good start.
Having just read the latest minutes, my negative views on OFCOM have been re-enforced. They seem to want to do very little about real EMC issues. I quote:
"JR reported that Ofcom had said that the WTA s54 Regulations, consulted on a year ago, would be published very soon. Although very welcome, if they only covered a narrow definition of “apparatus” in EMCD terms, that would leave a major hole in their scope. We would need to examine them carefully and consider how to respond. Ofcom were to have an article about the Regulations in RadCom. Ofcom said they were setting three conditions to act under the Regs.
1. Harmful interference needed to be demonstrated;
2. All reasonable steps had to be taken to reduce/alleviate the interference at the receiver;
3. There had to be a realistic prospect of an outcome. "
Full marks to the RSGB for continuing to challenge OFCOM.
OFCOM bureaucrats - do your jobs or go! There is zero space these days for quangos that do not add value. I have heard the arguments in support of OFCOM, but in all recent dealings with them I have not been at all impressed. Yes, they may bleat "lack of resources", but fewer bureaucrats and more engineers in the field would be a good start.
The virtues of QRP
As you know only too well, I love QRP. No TVI, no noisy fans, low electricity bills, etc.. Yes there are times when more power helps - this I do understand. However, most contacts at QRP levels are fun, and this is something that I enjoy.
Our hobby is such that it can be enjoyed in many different ways: if you chose to run 1kW and a beam and rag-chew, that is fine by me. If you like satellites that is fine too. All I am saying is QRP is fun. Two-way QRP is even more rewarding, especially if some of the gear is home made. I like 472kHz as my transverter was designed and built by me. Details are on my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk .
Over the years I have managed well over 100 DXCC countries with QRP SSB. Others have worked far more countries than me. I hope this does not sound boastful: it is intended to encourage others. Even in the worst years of solar cycles N--S paths are sometimes workable with QRP SSB on 10m.
If you think high power is necessary, may I invite you to turn the power down to 5W? You may be surprised by what you can still work, even with SSB.
Our hobby is such that it can be enjoyed in many different ways: if you chose to run 1kW and a beam and rag-chew, that is fine by me. If you like satellites that is fine too. All I am saying is QRP is fun. Two-way QRP is even more rewarding, especially if some of the gear is home made. I like 472kHz as my transverter was designed and built by me. Details are on my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk .
Over the years I have managed well over 100 DXCC countries with QRP SSB. Others have worked far more countries than me. I hope this does not sound boastful: it is intended to encourage others. Even in the worst years of solar cycles N--S paths are sometimes workable with QRP SSB on 10m.
If you think high power is necessary, may I invite you to turn the power down to 5W? You may be surprised by what you can still work, even with SSB.
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs April 7th 2016
Solar flux is 88 but sunspot number is just 13 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation is yet again "poor". I have been on 10m WSPR for about 30 minutes.
UPDATE 1135z: No spots, as yet, on 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1135z: No spots, as yet, on 10m WSPR today.
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