A local amateur has set up a personal beacon on 4m. He is about 3km away. I have no 4m antenna, so I tried reception with the V2000 vertical omni antenna and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. Good copy was possible despite the power being only 10mW.
7 Feb 2022
8m NoV- update this week?
It would be great to get an update on my 8m NoV application to OFCOM submitted last October! It is now 4 weeks since I requested an update on progress.
My NoV application was submitted 4 months ago, and I have still been told nothing. The NoV (hopefully) ran from March 1st 2022, which is just a few weeks away!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .
UPDATE 1925z: Nothing (again) today. Am I surprised? No. I have written yet another letter requesting a progress update by return. If this was private industry, someone would be accountable and either retrained or sacked.
"Dear xxxx
Original case reference number xxxxxx - amateur licence G3XBM
The original NoV application was submitted in October 2021. 4 weeks ago I requested an update, quite reasonably. I have heard absolutely nothing at all on progress! As this NoV was for a limited duration, with low power, intended to run from March 2022 (just weeks away) I am asking (yet again) for a progress update.
By return, please give me an update. "
Improving HF conditions
For the next few years we can expect HF conditions to improve. Some days will be poor but on average things will get better until about 2025. 10m will be good again and we might even see some F2 openings on 6m. I hope you have fun! 😁😁
Oscar 100 activity
As regular blog readers know, I take a peek at activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite. My last look was at 1545z on a Sunday. There were a few QSOs ongoing, but things remain pretty quiet. I am sure the challenge is that first QSO, then the interest wanes.
It is surprising this is not busier: I guess for most the effort is just too hard. Many DXers just go out and buy a new rig and linear. Soldering iron? Which end do I hold? RF - what is that? 😁
6 Feb 2022
Grandson bellringing - NOT amateur radio
This morning our grandson rang the church bells at Bottisham about 5 miles from here. He has now rung bells in 4 places.
French amateur success on 8.27kHz
F5VLB has been received in Todmorden, UK by Paul Nicholson. Jean-Marie was using a 75m base earth-electrode antenna. Paul was integrating the signal which had to remain stable for a very long time (days). This is, I am sure, the first reception of a French amateur outside France below 10kHz. Huge congratulations to both stations. This is a result of hard work by both.
UPDATE 2230z: Apparently the power has been increased a bit and he is being copied in Italy too!
In the snowdrops - NOT amateur radio
My wife yesterday at Hare Park, near Cambridge. There were snowdrops out, but no daffodils. I think the snowdrops will be better next week.
Classic QRP transceivers
The challenge is often trying to make the simplest rig that actually works. Often it is receiver that is the weakest link. With modern rigs, mW signals can often be dug out of the noise.
One classic is the Pixie and its predecessor the Micro80. Pixie kits can often be bought from China at stupid prices. These work and allow real QSOs, but they are let down by the RX. The challenge is to get a rig where the RX is up to the job. Often I do not call CQ in case a weak signal I cannot hear is already there. With QRP, calling others is often a better approach.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .
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