8m (40MHz band)

Re a small 40MHz allocation to help with Es research, this was on the RSGB forum earlier:

In the ITU Radio Regs, please remember there is no international amateur allocation for 50 MHz in Region-1 (ie Europe, Africa, Middle East). We are very focussed on trying to fix this under WRC-19 Agenda Item 1.1. Our usage (and by other european countries) is effectively a national non-interference one. Only Region-2/3 have formal 50 MHz amateur allocations.

Getting that change for Region-1 you might think ought to straightforward given the spread of 50 MHz national level licenses - but it is most definitely not. It needs agreement from first CEPT (where Russia and France have serious objections) and indeed all 193 ITU Member States. The impact of that on an ordinary amateur is both lower activity and a direct restriction in your UK personal licence. When you are abroad or Maritime Mobile in Region-1 international waters - 50 MHz usage may be barred. If you look on the other thread in this C3 forum, there is a new draft paper on 'Spectrum Prioritisation and Development' which covers the challenge and explains that CEPT/193 issue further.

The recent 5MHz WRC result (and this weeks announcement in GB2RS re no 5MHz future changes) is proof that this is not an easy process. It is not free either - attending the Ofcom/CEPT prep meetings costs RSGB (ie members subs) quite a bit over the four years of that WRC15 cycle, and more in the run up to WRC-19. Smaller amateur radio societies in other countries often cant afford to do that and thus fail to get their governments fully on side.

Returning to 40MHz. Years ago when we and the Danes did our 40 MHz beacons, other IARU Member Socs were formally encouraged to do likewise - nothing happened (not even in South Africa). If other amateurs cant even manage that (let alone convince their governments to have a Tx allocation) - then you can assume its not going to happen very quickly...

We do recognise that some knowledge of propagation at 40MHz is a technical nice to have - but we need to be realistic re an 'allocation'

73

Murray G6JYB

PS. Dont forget members subs also have to go into protecting what we have first, before acquiring more.
PPS. 50 MHz and 70 MHz are in the same boat of course - as they are national and not ITU allocations (A great Question for Advance exams that!)
PPPS. Any future item for WRC-23 will need all those 193 states to approve it at WRC-19 just to even have it added to the agenda
PPPPS. IARU is funded by IARU Member Socs - basically Progress needs Pounds (or Euro or whatever) - ie healthy membership subs for Member Socs

Continuing on 6m MSK144 RX

Already 6 stations in 5 countries (OZ, G, EI, F, HB9) spotted on 6m MSK144 RX this morning. I shall leave the RX and PC running whilst I cut the grass.

UPDATE 1320z: Now 9 stations in 7 countries on 6m MSK144 RX today.

UPDATE 1530z: Now 11 stations in 8 countries on 6m MSK144 RX today and another new country (LX) on this band/mode.

UPDATE 1905z: Now 12 stations in 9 countries on 6m MSK144 RX with SK0TM (1156km).

Sunspots and 10m - Sunday March 26th 2017

Solar flux is 74 today. Sunspot number is 11.  A=4 and K=0. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor".

British Summer Time - NOT amateur radio

Well, if you are in the UK did you remember to put your clocks forward an hour?

BST means it is darker for longer in the morning, but it is lighter in the evenings. It also helps delineate winter from spring - lighter evenings bring a promise of better weather as we move on through spring.

Pipit - 15m QRP CW transceiver

Many years ago I designed and built the Pipit, an 800mW CW transceiver with a direct conversion receiver. It really worked and for some time was my main rig. Used with a low dipole it worked some decent DX. The design was published in GQRP "SPRAT" many years ago.

Sadly, the rig was dismantled some years later. I regret this!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit

Obamacare - NOT amateur radio

Although I don't live in the USA, free healthcare, it seems to me, should not depend on wealth. There is a lot wrong with our NHS here in the UK, but the Trump version of Obamacare seemed, to me, to be a step backwards. Yes, the richer have to subsidise the poorer in society. So what?

Now, I am no USA politics major, but looking in from the outside, I think Congress was right to dismiss Mr Trump's healthcare bill at the first hurdle.

As I said, this is my opinion. You may well disagree!

Cattle Egrets - NOT amateur radio

Before the late 1980s, seeing a little egret in the UK would have been rare. Now they are everywhere. I have even seen these in our village here in East Anglia.

Now it is the turn of the cattle egrets, which are becoming increasingly common in Devon. These are slightly smaller than little egrets with a different bill colour. They tend to be near cattle.

See https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/c/cattleegret/

See also https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cattle_Egret/id

UPDATE 1638z: I see that a swallow was seen in Slapton village, Devon 17.3.17,which is very early. I think it will be well into April before I see one up here.

Lady Day - NOT amateur radio

Today, March 25th, is Lady Day. Years ago, this marked the start of the year. The UK tax year starts April 6th, which was Lady Day before calendars changed. This day had great non-liturgical importance too. I remember my parents moving house on Lady Day 1959.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Day

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday March 25th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 12. A=6 and K=1. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor".

North Norfolk

Yesterday we drove up to North Norfolk. We ate at "The Old Reading Room" in Kelling. This is a simple place run by real locals and serving simple, no nonsense food.

Later we went to the coast for a short walk where we saw these hardy fishermen.