One of the great things about our hobby is that it can be enjoyed in so many ways. Some get excited by amateur TV, some just enjoy a good chat, others like DXing, others EME and so on.
When I was fitter, I enjoyed experimenting with VLF. Several European amateurs were detected around 8kHz. My own thing was "earth-mode" VLF which involved injecting a signal at home (5W) then going out in the car to see where it could be detected. 6km was possible and far further was probably possible, but my stroke got in the way sadly.
To this day, I still host the Sub-9kHz Amateur Radio page and you may get some useful pointers from my old blogs. It would be great if someone carried this forwards as it is an area ripe for simple experiments.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode. This is on my old website which is not maintained, so do not follow the links on the left that may not work!
21 May 2020
10m WSPR
Just remembered that I could be on 10m WSPR TX 100% (500mW) using my stand-alone WSPR beacon, whilst being on 6m FT8 transceive. Now, there is not as much WSPR activity as there was, as most people prefer FT8, but it is still worth having a go. I am on the indoor loop on 10m WSPR. Although the beacon is on 100% TX, frequency is changed randomly every 2 minute slot. As of 1400z (after about 10 minutes) nobody had spotted me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1448z: The last time I checked the WSPRnet database it was very slow. I seem to recall this was an issue last year. Other pages seem OK, so I don't think it is my internet connection.
UPDATE 1818z: So far, not a single spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR. Either there are few people or not much Es. I suspect the former, but it might be both. On previous occasions local G4KPX (13km) has always spotted me so I know the loop works. Even if it is a few dB down, with Es I'd expect to get some spots.
UPDATE 2008z: No spots of my 10m WSPR. Looking on the WSPRnet database, there was not much Es activity in Europe. Either this means most WSPR users have moved to FT8 or this was just a bad day. I'll try again tomorrow.
UPDATE 1448z: The last time I checked the WSPRnet database it was very slow. I seem to recall this was an issue last year. Other pages seem OK, so I don't think it is my internet connection.
UPDATE 1818z: So far, not a single spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR. Either there are few people or not much Es. I suspect the former, but it might be both. On previous occasions local G4KPX (13km) has always spotted me so I know the loop works. Even if it is a few dB down, with Es I'd expect to get some spots.
UPDATE 2008z: No spots of my 10m WSPR. Looking on the WSPRnet database, there was not much Es activity in Europe. Either this means most WSPR users have moved to FT8 or this was just a bad day. I'll try again tomorrow.
6m FT8
A few moments ago, I went on 6m FT8. Everything had been disconnected because there was a risk of thunder. Within a few minutes I was spotted by 12 stations including some in Portugal by Es. After about 10 minutes I had been spotted by no less than 27 stations despite just 10W to the V2000 vertical omni antenna. On RX just 2 stations spotted so far.
UPDATE 1251z: So far today, 83 spots of me and plenty of 2-way QSOs via Es. On 6m FT8 RX 57 stations spotted so fa
UPDATE 1451z: Now 122 spots of my 6m FT8 10W today so far.
UPDATE 1251z: So far today, 83 spots of me and plenty of 2-way QSOs via Es. On 6m FT8 RX 57 stations spotted so fa
UPDATE 1451z: Now 122 spots of my 6m FT8 10W today so far.
20 May 2020
OFCOM consultation
OFCOM is consulting on the use of spectrum between 100GHz and 200GHz. See their website.
2m FT8
6m is humming with Es. For a change, I am on 2m FT8 hoping for some Es. It is currently 1030z. So far, no Es evident.
UPDATE 1142z: 16 stations have spotted my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna on 2m FT8 today. 3 QSOs on 2m so far. No Es.
UPDATE 1856z: IT9GSF worked on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 Maltese stations spotted. 2m Es.
UPDATE 1142z: 16 stations have spotted my 10W to the big-wheel omni antenna on 2m FT8 today. 3 QSOs on 2m so far. No Es.
UPDATE 1856z: IT9GSF worked on 2m FT8 using 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. 2 Maltese stations spotted. 2m Es.
Reach walk - NOT amateur radio
6m FT8
Last night I took the unusual step for me of being on 6m FT8 with the auto sequence feature turned off. Usually I work everyone that calls me. In the Es season this means QSOs with stations all across Europe. Last night I was hoping that the band would open across the Atlantic, but if there was any I missed it! At the moment I am NOT on any band (0600z).
UPDATE 1034z: 6m FT8 is buzzing with Es. Several QSOs already too.
UPDATE 2052z: At about 1905z I returned to 6m FT8 and worked some stations in southern Spain.
UPDATE 1034z: 6m FT8 is buzzing with Es. Several QSOs already too.
UPDATE 2052z: At about 1905z I returned to 6m FT8 and worked some stations in southern Spain.
ICOM IC-705 price
MLS has announced the price of the IC-705 as £1299.95. The release date is now shown as July 2020. Personally, I suspect this will be later. As far as I know it has not yet been released in Japan, although I stand to be corrected.
For a QRP radio this seems very high, although it is a 10W radio with HF, VHF and UHF bands. Like the IC-7300 I cannot see a rush to drop the price.
The FT818 is far less than half price. In my view the IC-705 is market priced as the punters will pay. As an SDR, the receiver should be less expensive than a superhet architecture.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705
For a QRP radio this seems very high, although it is a 10W radio with HF, VHF and UHF bands. Like the IC-7300 I cannot see a rush to drop the price.
The FT818 is far less than half price. In my view the IC-705 is market priced as the punters will pay. As an SDR, the receiver should be less expensive than a superhet architecture.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/ic705
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