OFCOM and 3.6GHz

OFCOM are looking at the 3GHz region of the spectrum and are consulting. This part of the microwave spectrum could be where 5G goes. With all this attention on parts of the spectrum ripe for commercial use (i.e. money), I hope this results in amateurs getting more access to low VHF and other less popular slices of the spectrum e.g. at HF, MF, VLF and ULF.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-3/changes-to-spectrum-trading-regulations

Shack PC and WSJT-X v1.7

Later today, I shall again try to install WSJT-X V1.7 on my shack PC and get active on JT65 again. If all else fails, I can swap the lounge and shack PCs, but that should not be necessary.

5MHz in Germany

My German is poor, but I think the Germans have been granted early access to the WRC15 15kHz wide band at 60m (5MHz).

I have said many times before, it would have been better if CEPT countries were allocated a contiguous 100kHz wide 60m band. 15kHz is good, but a wider band would have been so much better.

As the solar conditions worsen, the 60m band will become very important. As a secondary allocation, I am surprised that a contiguous wider band is not being allocated as many countries have daft allocations in channels, which differ around the world.

See http://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/hf/aktuelles/

SAQ this Christmas Eve?

Encouraging news from Sweden following the recent fire at SAQ (17.2kHz VLF):

"We are now planning for the traditional transmission with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz on the morning of Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The message transmission will take place at 08:00 UTC and the transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC.

Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission will be cancelled with short notice. An updated information will be published on our website www.alexander.n.se.

There will be activity on Amateur Radio Frequencies with the call SK6SAQ.
Frequencies: - 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW

QSL-reports on the SAQ transmission or SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by mail to:
Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N

The radio station will be open to visitors.

Welcome!

Yours
Lars SM6NM"

Low cost 10GHz

My thanks yet again to Southgate News for finding this very low cost approach to 10GHz. My friend G6ALB has also been using these low cost motion sensor modules at 10GHz.

See http://home.deds.nl/~knol/HB100/

Sunspots and 10m - Thursday December 22nd 2016

Solar flux is 75 today. Sunspot number is 15. A=23 and K=4, so things look quite disturbed.

WSJT-X V1.7

As yet, I have still to install V1.7 of this software on the shack PC. On another machine it installed OK. We had visitors this afternoon and I am still doing my tax return online. Basically I ran out of time.

Christmas Tree - NOT amateur radio

My wife took this photo of our Christmas tree earlier. My birthday is Friday and one son is coming up tomorrow. I hope we have a peaceful Christmas.

Winter Solstice Dec 21st - NOT amateur radio

So, we are at the turn of the year and the days get longer from now. Not before time! Although I enjoy all seasons and enjoy cosy dark evenings, I prefer lighter and longer days. The one thing I do not like is just how fast time seems to fly: it seems no time since the summer.

January always feels a long,dark month, but February flies by. Then it is March and spring is coming and lighter, brighter days.

Sunspots and 10m - Wednesday December 21st 2016

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number 25. A=6 and K=1. Not too bad.