Sunspots - Friday November 18th 2022

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 64.  A=2 and K=0.

630m (472 kHz) WSPR RX

Last evening the furthermost was SM6BGP  (994km). On my screen it said 1003km, but I am not arguing. I am on 630m RX again this evening.  Still using the coax to my 2m big-wheel and a mains plug earth. Tuning is again via the ferrite rod on the shack desk.

UPDATE  1950z:  Quite a decent start.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

It looks more like autumn every day. The photo shows the fallen leaves at nearby Anglesey Abbey yesterday. 

No wonder "autumn" is called "fall" in the USA!

Rallies at the weekend

The following rallies have been notified to me. As always, check before travelling far.

Saturday November 19th - Wiltshire Radio Rally, Chippenham, SN15 5NJ. rally@chippenhamradio.club .

Saturday November 19th - Rochdale and District Amateur Radio, OL12 7QR.  rozallin@gmail.com .

Sunday November 20th - CATS 43rd Radio and Electronics,CR5 1ES.  bazaar@catsradio.org.uk .

8m FT8

 I am on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. So far today, no stations spotted but I have been spotted by SR4DON (1352km).

UPDATE 1656z:  No further spots on 8m FT8 today. My 8m WSPR local tests start on Monday Nov 21st.

UPDATE 1720z:   I have just written an article about 8m for Practical Wireless. If they publish it, it should appear early next year. My aim is to try to get a tiny 8m amateur band by NoV and dispel the utterly stupid myth that such a band would be "more of the same".

10m QRP (500mW) WSPR TX

Currently I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1701z:   19 spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR today.

Pye Telecom PF9 - NOT amateur radio

In my working life, I worked on the famous PF8 and PF85 products. Many of these famous products were converted for use on the 70cm amateur band. I also worked on the 2 unit PF9 which replaced the PF1. Unlike the PF8, I have not seen these on the second hand market or converted for use on 70cm. 

Sunspots Thursday November 17th 2022

Solar flux is 133 and the SSN 85. A=2 and K=1.

Autumn colours - NOT amateur radio

All the seasons have a beauty all of their own with the brown leaves of autumn especially lovely as at Anglesey Abbey earlier today. 

8m ISM band for all?

At the moment, I am trying to drum up local support (near JO02DG) for some very low power WSPR tests in the 8m ISM band.  

Following a recent email from OFCOM, it is my view that anybody in the UK may use the 8m ISM band without a licence for beacons as long as they meet IR 2030. This allows 10mW ERP.   At first sight, this seems very low, but with WSPR this could well be spotted across Europe from the UK.

These local tests could indicate what might be possible.

Of course, I would much prefer a tiny, digital only, amateur allocation at 8m.

UPDATE 1228z:  Interestingly, the majority of my 10m WSPR spots today would have been possible at 10mW ERP assuming the local noise floor permitted.

UPDATE 1630z:  Several locals have offered help with my upcoming 8m WSPR tests. The tests should take place very soon, probably next week. 

UPDATE 1636z:  Of course access to the ISM bands does not have to be just 8m: here in the UK as long as long as IR 2030 is met many ISM bands could be used for beacons legally without a licence is my interpretation. ISM rules vary with countries and I am not a legal expert, so you will have to check yourself.