As 10m was not doing much, on my set-up at least, I have now QSYed to 160m FT8. At first I briefly called CQ (2.5W to the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground), although I am now RX only. The CQ was spotted by M0RTP (116km).
UPDATE 1706z: No spots yet on 160m FT8 RX, although the sun is still well up.
UPDATE 1722z: Just a couple of Europeans spotted so far on 160m FT8 RX.
25 Mar 2019
OFCOM annual plan
OFCOM has published it annual plan. Great. I am so excited. 😆
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/141914/statement-ofcom-annual-plan-2019-20.pdf .
See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/141914/statement-ofcom-annual-plan-2019-20.pdf .
Misunderstanding - NOT amateur radio
In 2013, I suffered a brain bleed that has left me with hidden disabilities. On my feet I am permanently exhausted. My voice is poor. Doing anything physical or mental and I am exhausted after about 20-25 minutes. I am convinced that no-one, really no-one, really understands how I feel inside.
Outwardly I look well. Many think I am fully recovered. It takes a lot of energy to look and behave "normally", so I have a great deal of sympathy with people who appear well, but are not.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .
Outwardly I look well. Many think I am fully recovered. It takes a lot of energy to look and behave "normally", so I have a great deal of sympathy with people who appear well, but are not.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .
Fewer shortwave broadcast stations
Today Southgate News reports on more shortwave broadcasters closing, this time in South Africa. I guess more broadcasters are turning to the internet as it is probably cheaper and more reliable.
I guess this means more shortwave spectrum for amateurs potentially, but the nature of the shortwave broadcast bands is changing. In 20 years a casual tune from 3-30MHz will sound quite different, assuming the manmade QRM is low enough!
It would not entirely surprise me if OFCOM released the entire shortwave spectrum at a limited power level on a non-interference basis. This could happen within 5 years. Increasingly, people are deserting shortwaves as too unreliable, which suits amateurs perfectly. Maybe they will release spectrum on something like the FCC's Part 15 rules.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/bloemendal-shortwave-station-final-transmission.htm#.XJircfZ2u00 .
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_47_CFR_Part_15 .
I guess this means more shortwave spectrum for amateurs potentially, but the nature of the shortwave broadcast bands is changing. In 20 years a casual tune from 3-30MHz will sound quite different, assuming the manmade QRM is low enough!
It would not entirely surprise me if OFCOM released the entire shortwave spectrum at a limited power level on a non-interference basis. This could happen within 5 years. Increasingly, people are deserting shortwaves as too unreliable, which suits amateurs perfectly. Maybe they will release spectrum on something like the FCC's Part 15 rules.
See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/march/bloemendal-shortwave-station-final-transmission.htm#.XJircfZ2u00 .
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_47_CFR_Part_15 .
10m FT8
As of about 0950z I went on 10m FT8. As yet, no spots. I called CQ (2.5W) briefly, but no spots.
UPDATE 1020z: No spots so far today here on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1319z: Still no 10m FT8 spots today.
UPDATE 1558z: Just G0OYQ (177km) is the only 10m FT8 spot so far today.
UPDATE 1622z: G4YBI (83km) also spotted on 10m FT8. I shall soon be QSYing to 160m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1020z: No spots so far today here on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1319z: Still no 10m FT8 spots today.
UPDATE 1558z: Just G0OYQ (177km) is the only 10m FT8 spot so far today.
UPDATE 1622z: G4YBI (83km) also spotted on 10m FT8. I shall soon be QSYing to 160m FT8 RX.
160m FT8 RX
Yet again, 160m FT8 was good. As reported yesterday a VK4 was spotted that I believe was genuine. 15 North Americans, 1 Caribbean and 1 South American were spotted overnight with a total of 449 stations.
At 160m, I think the earth-electrode "antenna" acts as a loop antenna in the ground, although the propagation is by normal means. At higher frequencies the loop get progressively less effective. At 160m I am surprised how well it works. It exceeds expectations.
At 160m, I think the earth-electrode "antenna" acts as a loop antenna in the ground, although the propagation is by normal means. At higher frequencies the loop get progressively less effective. At 160m I am surprised how well it works. It exceeds expectations.
 |
| Overnight on 160m FT8 RX |
Lackford Lakes - NOT amateur radio
Cycle 25 predictions
It is a brave person that predicts the size of the next solar cycle peak, when some are still predicting the next minimum in 2023!
Recent data may suggest we are already through the minimum, but this could just be a blip. A recent Nature article suggests a peak for Cycle 25 that is slightly bigger than the last peak. Who knows? As time goes by, no doubt the predictions will get better. After the next peak, they will be 100% accurate! 👍
Recent data may suggest we are already through the minimum, but this could just be a blip. A recent Nature article suggests a peak for Cycle 25 that is slightly bigger than the last peak. Who knows? As time goes by, no doubt the predictions will get better. After the next peak, they will be 100% accurate! 👍
24 Mar 2019
160m FT8 RX
As well loads of Europeans, VK4CMV (16366km) spotted on 160m FT8. At first I dismissed this as a pirate, but see he has been spotted by a couple of Australians and New Zealanders, so probably is genuine. If genuine, this is by far the furthermost I have ever spotted on 160m FT8 or indeed by any mode. The time, I think, looks right.
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