Yet again, I am trying to be spotted in the USA on 8m QRP FT8. I was spotted there by 2 stations a few days ago. A transatlantic QSO would be even better.
On RX, ZS6WAB (8931km) has been spotted strongly several times.
UPDATE 1922z: No spots all day apart from the ZS several times on 8m FT8 RX. Now QRT.
My stroke was in 2013. Apart from my poor voice and always being giddy, most of my body is fine.
I am now even more aware of a couple of things that may have been a result of my stroke or just old age.
Firstly, names of words rarely automatically look wrong when they are written down. At one time I could just look at a word and know it was wrong.
Secondly, I hate driving or being driven. It as if my mind is in overdrive and stressful. All the time I am thinking of potential hazards. It also seems my perception of speed is different. It feels like everything seems faster 30mph feels like 50mph and so on. Perhaps my brain needs more time to process things.
Later, I hope to go on 8m FT8 QRP. At the moment I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX. So far at 1007z, 7 unique stations spotting me. This is encouraging.
Just had this response from OFCOM about the use of ISM bands without a licence in the UK:
“The use of licence-exempt apparatus is authorised under exemption regulations, with set emission powers and other criteria. This is in order for it to be available to all users with minimal risk of disruption or interference.
The limits, including maximum power levels and whether airborne use is permitted, are set out in the UK Interface requirement. If apparatus being used for testing meets the relevant technical criteria and complies with IR 2030, then a licence will not be necessary. Please note that some frequency bands which may be licence-exempt in other countries, such as the USA, may not be so in the UK and only the frequency bands listed are eligible for the exemption of qualifying apparatus.
In some circumstances we may be able to authorise the test or development of non-compliant radio apparatus under an Innovation and Trial (I&T) licence. However, this generally will be under conditions that are sufficiently remote, shielded or otherwise unlikely to affect other users. I&T is not intended for the operational use of radio apparatus, such as for the monitoring / control / telemetry of other apparatus, where a licensed or exempt authorisation is already generally available. Even if it were the radio apparatus itself that is under test or development (in excess of normally permitted limits) we should emphasise that, as described above, it will not be possible to grant an operational permission for its future deployment and use.”
My reading of this is that as long as we meet the interface requirements set out in IR 2030, we are perfectly at liberty to use ISM bands for beacons without a licence.
At 8m, this means a limit of 10mW ERP. 10mW ERP does not sound much but on WSPR or FT8 range might be surprising.
This means anyone in the UK can use 8m (or any other ISM band) for beaconing as long as they fully comply with IR 2030.
I am not a legal expert and I have just shared what OFCOM has written in answer to my question earlier in the week. In this instance, OFCOM has been very helpful indeed. I should like to thank OFCOM for the prompt reply.
Twice this week I have received blog comments that I have reported as SPAM.
On first reading , they look like genuine comments, often with flattering comments saying how useful the blog is. Then there is a link which takes you directly to, what is, blatant advertising.
Every comment is approved. Almost all get posted. Just a very few do not get that far. It is some time since I have had to reject one.
For the avoidance of any doubt, adverts or grossly off topic comments will never appear.
If making a comment I would be most grateful if you post your callsign (if you have one). Anonymous posts are not usually allowed, especially if the poster is not known.
I would very much like this blog to be a friendly and inclusive place. I do not mind views that grossly differ from my own. We are a free country and we each have views.
Just had the latest email from a major UK dealer and I see that prices for second hand gear seem expensive. I am not sure if these have recently gone up, or if they have always been high. I was aware of certain prices rises on new gear.
Times are hard for us all, and there is less money around for discretionary spending. People are using most of what they have for food, fuel and heating. In times like these being a dealer cannot be great, so I have some sympathy. On the other hand, you want people still to be buying. It is getting the balance right. Profits are necessary, but you cannot afford to ask too much.
As usual, OFCOM has updated the information it holds on us. See their website for details.
It has been cold and sunny for several days. We decided to go for a walk in the nearby village of Lode. It was too icy to go on our usual r...
