Bee - NOT amateur radio

 

This bee was spotted a few days ago at nearby Anglesey Abbey.

10m WSPR QRP TX

As usual, I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon.

UPDATE 1516z:   45 unique stations have spotted me today. This is more than yesterday. I am pleasantly surprised by the level of activity on 10m WSPR.

8m experiment (Friday)

When the rig is cool I have been on 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. 

As encouragement to others, I have been copied by 5 stations so far this morning including DL0TUD/RX (939km), the latter being my 13th country to spot me on 8m FT8 despite just a few watts only from the FT817ND and low wire dipole. Es really is the QRPer's friend! However limited your set-up, I can guarantee fun on 8m, whether TX or RX.

I do hope administrations see sense and start to allow very limited amateur radio access to 8m. Ideally, this should be narrow digital only (no speech) with 40.680-40.685 MHz as a minimum.

Sunspots - Friday July 8th 2022

Solar flux is 121 and the SSN 88. A=20 and K=5.

10m WSPR QRP TX (Thursday)

So far today, 28 stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR on 10m. 

UPDATE 1900z: 35 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m QRP today.

Bury St Edmunds Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Most of the old Abbey is in ruins following the sacking by Puritans centuries ago in an act of pure vandalism. Luckily some of the ruins were incorporated into newer buildings. 

Window time sync?

Usually, I sync my PC to Internet time using https://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/ . I am not sure if later versions of Windows 10 or 11 do this Internet time synchronisation automatically and, if so, how often. 

For some reason, I am unable to sync with this time server today, so I have gone on TX anyway on 8m FT8 and 10m WSPR hoping the PC clock is right.

If you know about Windows and sync to Internet time, please let me know.

Rally

The following rally is due this weekend:

Saturday July 9th Houghton Radio Club Free Radio Rally. DH46LJ. I recommend contacting Amanda M6LXK on 07787155745 to confirm details. 

"Saturday 9 Jul - Houghton Radio Club Free Radio Rall : The Dubmire Royal British Legion Club, Britannia Terrace, Fencehouses DH4 6LJ.

Doors open 10am till 3pm. The rally is open to trade, clubs and private sellers/exhibitors. Table space is limited. There is no charge for tables and it is free entry. Donations are welcome to the Royal British Legion Club. Tea and coffees will be available and a licenced bar from 11am. Anyone wishing to book tables please contact Amanda M6LXK by. email: westona84@gmail.com or call: 07787155745."

8m amateur band in the UK?

According to Keith in a previous post, OFCOM is supporting a proposal for a space based radar to measure ice thickness somewhere between 40-50MHz at WRC23.

Personally, I cannot think why this should prevent them allocating just 5 kHz in the ISM band, by NoV only, narrow digital only (no speech), strictly non-interference, to the amateur service in the UK.

Personally, I think OFCOM is totally nuts over this!! Self training? Traceability? T&I licences? Come on!! Get real OFCOM. For serious self training and research we need this. There is a critical shortage of RF engineers in the UK (I know first hand) and both OFCOM and the RSGB could help address this by giving us the chance of self training at 8m.  As it is we have to pay £50 annually to do this.

8m experiment (Thursday)

After breakfast I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday was a good day.