OFCOM and spectrum at 3.6GHz

OFCOM has issued a statement about 3.6GHz spectrum.

See http://ofcom.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/i/C2AD8437ED18A39A2540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

Trinity College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Living very close to Cambridge, it is very easy to take some wonderful places for granted. This is a picture of the entrance to Trinity College. There is a proctor in the photo complete with bowler hat (bottom left in the shadows). As a local we get free entry into the colleges, which some cross the world to see. With bus passes these are totally free. What a privilege.

630m transformer

When I moved to the "new" QTH 4 years ago I found I needed a step-up transformer to match my 630m transverter to the earth-electrode "antenna". For this I used my traditional method - try it and see what works.

An auto-transformer was wound on a 3C90 42mm toroid core (at least I think that is what it was). It worked and seems to give a decent match.

Of late, I have used the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna as a Marconi, tuned against ground with a ferrite rod ATU. So far, best DX is Norway (769km) with 31 unique spots of my 10mW ERP.

10m FT8

Amazing again!  Already loads of Europeans copied and 5 continents spotted on 10m FT8 RX when the sunspot count is low. FT8 - pure magic! This proves it is often a lack of activity rather than conditions on 10m. With FT8 all users are in a narrow slot, which helps.

UPDATE 1746z: 65 countries spotted in the last week on 10m FT8. No North Americans today so far.

10m FT8 RX today - dead?

UPDATE 2138z:  I've been on 630m WSPR for some hours now. When I left 10m FT8, there were still loads of South Americans coming through. And to think 10m is meant to be "dead".

Sunspots - Wednesday October 25th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 23. A=18 and K=4.

Late night on 10m FT8 RX

For a change, I decided not to switch to 630m WSPR, but stick instead on 10m FT8 RX. I shall be on overnight, so that I am on very early in the morning. XE1XJB (8919km) in Mexico was spotted quite late.

OFCOM and mobile radio repeaters

See http://ofcom.cmail19.com/t/ViewEmail/i/76988C81CE021D152540EF23F30FEDED/59D1BD3EA2F08127C67FD2F38AC4859C

10m FT8

So far today only 3 continents on 10m FT8. Best 10m FT8 DX, so far, is F5MYK/MM (9767km) near Mauritius.

UPDATE 1712z: With 16 unique stations spotted in North America today and loads in South America, today is again a great day on 10m FT8, proving that a lack of activity on 10m is often the problem rather than poor conditions.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 24th 2017

Solar flux is 77 today and the sunspot number is 23. A=6 and K=2.

Overnight on 630m WSPR

In the last day my 10mW ERP was spotted by 12 unique stations and I spotted 12 unique stations.  In all, 31 unique stations have spotted my QRPP over the last two weeks.