8m tests (Monday)

 After a brief period on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX (1 local spot), I am RX only on 8m FT8.  So far, nobody spotted today.

UPDATE 1022z:  Someone has just raised a very interesting question. In the ISM bands 40.66-40.70 MHz his calculations suggest 50uW can legally be used into 50 ohms. I think he calculated that anyone in the UK could legally go on 40 MHz TX without a licence as long as they are in the ISM band. On WSPR, it would not surprise me if 50uW could be detected in central Europe in a decent Es opening. Now, I am no legal expert and have not looked in to this, but if correct it means anyone could legally TX on the ISM band without a licence as long as the ERP was less than 50uW. This is worth checking out. I think you can make up your own callsigns to ID yourself in any reports. As I said, I am not a legal expert and you need to check carefully if this is correct.

This from the OFCOM document about ISM:

“industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications (of radio frequency energy): Operation of equipment or appliances designed to generate and use locally radio frequency energy for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic or similar purposes, excluding applications in the field of telecommunications.” 

Maybe the excluding applications in the field of telecommunications is the killer? Mind you, I cannot imagine OFCOM ever policing this!

UPDATE 1341z:  For 8m I just have a low wire dipole which is strung between the support for my 2m big-wheel and the end of my 10m end fed antenna. You may just be able to see it in the photo.

UPDATE 1436z:  About to go on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.

UPDATE 2039z:  QRT now. S50B and G9PUV both copied earlier on 8m.  Doing a test on Tuesday from 0600z on 40.680 MHz MSK144 with G9PUV.

Village walk - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday we went on a walk around the village. The collage shows some of the things we saw 

Duxford - NOT amateur radio

In WW2 my dad was a Pathfinder on Lancasters. I had no idea how brave and scared he must have been. Back in 2019 my son and grandson went to the museum at Duxford and went on a Lancaster.

Oscar 100 narrowband activity levels

My most recent peek at activity on the geosynchronous Oscar 100 satellite at a weekend afternoon in Europe found activity levels on the narrowband transponder still low. I am sure people lose interest. 

I can imagine the scenario: those keen enough assemble the dish, feeds, TX and RX and carefully align the dish. They work some DX, tell them all about the gear.....then lose interest. 

Imagine the difference if a "black box" was available from a Japanese manufacturer. Of course, they are looking for volumes and a return on their investment - neither of which is likely. They are also worried that Oscar 100 might suddenly stop working.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/.

Sunspots - Monday April 11th 2022

 Solar flux is 104 and the SSN 13.  A=34 and K=4.

Village Cottage - NOT amateur radio

This cottage is in our village. We have a real mix of old and new houses. 

Steam trains - NOT amateur radio

Back in the late 1950s these were a common sight in my trainspotting days in Devon. 

This photo was on 365project yesterday. 

10m WSPR TX beacon (Sunday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. So far just local spots. 

UPDATE 1412z:  5 stations spotted. Furthermost is TA4/G8SCU (3010km).

UPDATE 2200z:  QRT. 

8m tests continue

At the moment I am on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. So far, just 1 local spot of me. Later I shall be just on RX. 

UPDATE 0836z:  RX only now on 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Nobody spotted. I hope more stations in Europe manage to get 8m permits this Es season.

UPDATE 0941z:  Nobody spotted.

UPDATE 1135z: G9PUV (158km), near Brighton, spotted on 8m FT8 this morning.  At the strength I got him (off the side of the dipole) I don't think he would spot me. Maybe on WSPR?

UPDATE 1507z:  Still on 40.680 MHz (8m) FT8 RX. Just 1 station spotted today so far.

UPDATE 1947z:  QRT soon. One possible first (to be confirmed) is the reception on 8m of an EI station by VP8ADR/40 in the Falkland Islands. It would be good if VP8s could TX on 8m, but I am not sure what the law there says.

Redundant church - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago, I did a blog of the local churches that we visited. It is some years since I updated the blog.  One visited was this one in Cambridge.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk

UPDATE 0948z: Church blog updated!