OFCOM proposes new licences for broadband satellite internet

OFCOM has proposed new licences to support broadband internet from low orbit satellites. See the OFCOM website for details.

6m FT8 RX (Monday)

For about 15 minutes, I have been on 6m FT8 RX with the V2000 vertical omni antenna. It is now 0910z and so far today 13 stations spotted.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Monday)

It is not long since I turned on my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon, but I have already had 10 unique stations spotting me. 

It looks a promising day on 10m Es.

Covid-19 - NOT amateur radio

The UK has suffered badly with high percentages due to the more infectious delta variant. 

However, the UK has seen a very high proportion of its adult population vaccinated. Also, many have antibodies as a result of previous infections. For several days case rates have been falling. We are far from "out of the woods" on this pandemic, but there are a few glimmers.

For yourselves and for others please get a vaccine.  Wear masks in crowds.

There are some ridiculous "fake news" stories around like with the vaccine they can read you bank account. This and other stories are plain stupid. If you want factual data, look at Dr John Campbell on YouTube. He is totally independent and often critical of governments. He is a reputable medical expert with over 1 million subscribers. He is often interviewed in the international media.

The vaccinations are painless, take a few seconds and any side effects likely to be mild and very short lived. Both my wife and I had no side effects with either jab.

The risks of getting ill with getting Covid-19 far outway the very small risks with the vaccines.

Get vaccinated!!!

Breadboard

The photo shows me breadboarding my 472kHz transverter some time ago when I was fit. This is probably beyond me now as my fine motor skills are far worse. 

I have not ventured into our loft since 2013 and I have lots of amateur gear up there! 

The final design was in QST some years ago and is on my website. It is also in an RSGB book.

Museum Fete - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we had rain and thunder forecast. However it was dry with no thunder!

Our local museum next door had a summer fete which was successful. The photo shows the sea-shanty singers in action. They were very good. 

Near normal? 

Sunspots - Monday July 26th 2021

 Solar flux is 82 and the SSN 24.  A=3 and K=1.

Storm threat stops play

Late this afternoon, I disconnected everything as we had the threat of thunder and lightning. This meant prematurely going QRT on 10m and 6m. All being well, I shall be on again on Monday morning. 

As it happened, the storms missed us. We heard distant thunder, but I suspect the actual storms were many miles away.

6m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Well, the days of unbelievable Es seem to be diminishing. There will still be openings, but not so often. They do not call it "the magic band"  for nothing! 6m has a habit of producing the totally unexpected, such as the Europe to Australia openings more than once of late. This is where FT8 or WSPR can be so useful as there can be lots of people monitoring on specific slots so even fleeting openings are noticed. This is much harder on CW or SSB.

This morning, I am again monitoring 6m FT8 RX, It is now 0857z and, so far this morning, 6 Gs spotted. I was very briefly on TX with 2.5W and the V2000 omni, but just spots by G stations.

No signs of Es here yet today on 6m.

UPDATE 1043z:   13 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost F5PSR

Stations spotted on
6m FT8 RX to 1417z

 (1020km). Es?

UPDATE 1505z:  Now 34 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX with the furthermost K0GU (7431km). Judging by the other reports, I think he is genuine. No other USA stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 2121z:  QRT for many hours due to the storm risks. As Bas says in a comment below, Es can be good at any time, so it pays to be vigilant. I have had QRP SSB QSOs on 6m via Es as late as September. With FT8 or WSPR more openings will be spotted.

Oscar 100 activity

My regular peek at the narrow-band transponder was late Saturday morning in Europe. It was quiet! I really was expecting this to be far busier by now. It would appear this sort of operation is not liked by many. 

As I have said many times before, if one of the big manufacturers was offering a "black box" solution, I expect activity would be far greater. As it is, getting on the satellite is too hard for most who are cheque-book amateurs rather than true experimenters. 

What would a total solution cost? I suspect much less than £2k with everything needed including, rig, dish, feed, LNA, etc.. Remember, no towers, no beams, neighbour friendly, DX at any time, no QSB. In fact once set up, just chat!! I can see this appealing to many "black box" operators.

What seems to happen is the true experimenters like the challenge of getting going: building the kit, aiming the dish(es), sorting out the feed etc. Once this is done, many lose interest.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .