8m experiment (Saturday)

After being in Cambridge most of the morning, I am again on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial. No spots yet.

UPDATE 2147z:  Just a spot by EA3ERE (1153km). 

 

Archetypal Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

It is good to see people enjoying Cambridge again. It felt like old times. 

My free PDF Project Scrapbook

The first edition is now ready. Click the link to gain access and download.

If I make any corrections or additions, I hope to use the same link so you are always pointed to the latest version. 

https://tinyurl.com/y56vjhd6

Sunspots - Saturday July 23rd 2022

Solar flux is 114 and the SSN 107. A=11 and K=3.

OFCOM updates

 OFCOM has updated the information it holds on us. See the OFCOM website for details.

10m QRP WSPR TX

Since 0726z, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my tiny 500mW W5OLF beacon. It is now 0840z and, so far, 6 unique stations have spotted me. This looks like Es in the main.

8m experiment (Friday)

Much to my surprise I was spotted by 3 unique stations yesterday on 8m FT8. Shortly, I hope to be on 40.680 MHz USB dial QRP FT8 again.

Full FT8 reports and locations (I cannot call this a QSO because of OFCOM - what utterly crass stupidity!!) were exchanged with one station in central Europe.

UPDATE 0937z:  Spotted by HC02 (1808km) in southern Portugal.

Es (sporadic E)

July usually marks the end of the main Es season in the northern hemisphere, although Es can occur at any time. Usually the peak months are May, June and July. Some remarkable distances have been spanned on 6m, although I still believe many of these long paths are some sort of chordal E propagation, not involving multiple hops. These very long openings are too frequent for multiple hop Es to be probable. Yes, this may occur on occasions, but I am convinced there is some other mechanism. 

One thing I have learnt is experts are frequently wrong! Often they parrot myths that are just not true that they heard years ago. 

Garden rose - NOT amateur radio

 

This rose was seen recently. 

ISM band access licence free?

The ISM bands were agreed internationally so that things like microwave ovens could use spectrum without the need for a licence. 

In different administrations the rules vary, but they may allow access at very low power for serious experimenters and without the need for a licence. It is possible that WSPR or FT8 could legally be sent in the ISM bands without a licence. Callsigns are arbitrary. 

Please check what the rules are in your country. It may be a way of many gaining legal access to bands like 8m for serious experimenters.