8m WSPR for all?

Certainly here in the UK and probably many (or all?) countries people seem to have licence free access to the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band as long as any national conditions are met. In the UK this means 10mW ERP maximum and full compliance with IR2030. Interference must be accepted and not caused. We know from Australia that 5mW 8m WSPR has been received at 5000km, so much of Europe could be spanned on 8m WSPR by anyone. 

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service!

This probably means any ISM band may be used licence free as long as national law is followed, although I have not asked OFCOM specifically about other ISM bands.   Remember OFCOM only covers the UK. You have to either be sure of the legality in your country or seek legal advice if you are unsure.

10m QRP FT8 (Friday)

My tiny QDX was turned on just before 0700z and already at 0721z 12 stations have spotted me. 

UPDATE 0905z:  35 stations have spotted me with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km) in Kenya and 53 stations spotted here. 

Stations spotting my 10m FT8 QRP today

UPDATE 1734z: 153 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today.

Friday plans

Later, I hope to be on 10m QRP FT8 with the tiny QDX transceiver.

Last night I wanted to try my FT-710 in the UKAC on 4m, but totally forgot!! 

Sunspots - Friday April 21st 2023

 Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 97. A=5 and K=1.

Head for heights? - NOT amateur radio

This man was way up the tower of Salisbury Cathedral. I have no idea what he was doing.

More AI crappery - NOT amateur radio

As an experiment just now I asked Chat GPT4 about my son, who is a professional jazz pianist. I tried about 7 times. The answers were all correct in parts, but every one was totally wrong on when and where he was born and many other details. 

My worry is people will believe that AI always is factually correct, when it isn't. 

Yes, I am sure a great deal of good can come from AI, but also it could result in a lot of incorrect data being assumed as correct.

At the moment, Chat GPT4 gets about 3/10 from me and "must try harder".

Artificial intelligence (AI) is coming, but it still has some way to go. I wonder what AI will be capable of in 10 or 20 years' time.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Stations spotting my 10m QRP FT8 late today

We have been away for a few days in Salisbury, so no amateur radio operation for a few days. We returned about 1515z today. I have been on 10m QRP FT8 and, so far, 60 stations on 4 continents have spotted me and I have spotted 119 stations on 5  continents. I am using the QDX transceiver. It runs less than 5W.

481 THz testing

The photo shows me testing my optical kit. It was recently tested locally. I want to do some over the horizon tests with G4HJW. 

Sunspots - Thursday April 20th 2023

Solar flux is 147 and the SSN 113. A=12 and K=1. 

The Knowledge - NOT amateur radio

Every day I get "The Knowledge " by email. It is a few minutes read summary of the news from various sources. It is free and produced by the makers of "The Week". As far as I can tell it is neutral, neither left or right politically. I find it excellent, especially if you have not too much time.

Today there was a piece about AI. Be afraid, be very afraid.