The following rally is due to take place on Sunday May 29th. As always in these strange times, it is advisable to check with organisers first if travelling far.
Sunday May 29th - Durham District ARS Radio Rally, Bowburn Community Centre, DH6 5AT. Contact dadrs@gmx.com .
All being well, I intend to be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX on Friday after a week away. It would appear there were some good Es openings that I missed!
As you know I take a regular peek at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Today's peek was at 0610am central European time. 30 minutes later there was nobody active at all!
Now, this seems to show that outside Europe, e.g. India and the Gulf states there is very little interest. OK, it is a work day and very early in Europe.
My over-riding impression is that activity levels are very low. In some ways I am surprised, but in other ways I am not.
Our hobby has largely evolved into "appliance operators" who buy an HF rig, and maybe a linear, tower and HF beam. There are far fewer real experimenters. With no real "black boxes" available there is a certain threshold to have success with Oscar 100. For most, this threshold is just too hard. Based on recent evidence, I cannot see geosynchronous amateur satellites having a bright future.
Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 93. A=6 and K=1. The sunspot number has dipped below 100 for the first time in a while. The number is still pretty high.
Now is not the usual time to think about projects. The usual time is as the nights start to draw in and winter approaches.
I am still hoping my G3XBM Scrapbook will be available as a free PDF download by the end of May, but June is next week!!
In the meantime, take a look at my main G3XBM website. Hopefully you will find some ideas there.
As soon as that book is ready, I shall post a link here. At this rate, I suspect the book will be available mid June unless May is extended by Royal decree!!
For 60 years I have been an RSGB member, but I feel I am being failed. Let me explain.
OFCOM is on record as saying they will NEVER allow UK radio amateurs on 8m. Why?
The RSGB has (it would appear meekly) said "OK" to this. Wouldn't it have been nice if, for once, they had said "rubbish!!"?
In my view they should have said a very few kHz wide band at 40.680 MHz USB dial, narrow digital modes only, by NoV, strictly non-interference would have actively encouraged self training and propagation research. Personally I would happily lost a few kilohertz off any band for a few kilohertz around 40.680 MHz.
Instead we can talk about hernias and potted plants with 400W and commercial gear on 80m! Absolute madness!!
RSGB and OFCOM please wake up.
