The future of amateur radio

This is a subject I have discussed before. These are my current views. I may well be proved wrong.

• National authorities like OFCOM and the FCC gain nothing from amateur radio and have no real interest.
• In 20 years' time most of the people currently active in amateur radio will be dead.
• In the future, all amateur radio will be run by national radio societies like the RSGB and ARRL who will allocate callsigns for those that still want them.
• Exams will not be needed. Who needs exams to talk about gardening on 80m with commercial gear?
• Deregulated services like ISM and CB will merge with a deregulated amateur radio service.
• There will be fewer dedicated amateur radio products.
• There will be fewer, and smaller amateur radio magazines.

Amateur radio as a service is changing. In my view, the future is about deregulation and as long as you don't interfere with others, it may be allowed. Access to all (current) amateur bands will be open to all.

Does it bother me? Not really. Experimenters will continue to experiment and those that want to natter about gardening can just get on with it. 

Cynic, me?

Mr Putin, what are you hoping to achieve? - NOT amateur radio

The "special operation" by Russia against Ukraine is now in its second year. At one time the Ukrainian people had a certain respect for Russia. Indeed many in both nations have relatives in the other country. All respect by the Ukrainian people for Russia has gone. The Ukrainian people HATE Russia.

In my view, this war/invasion is totally and utterly stupid. What good can ever come of this? Every country has the right to determine its own future. By free and fair elections the people can choose their own future without external interference.  I sincerely hope peace can be created. 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65524104 .

New page on website

For the last month or so, I have been having great fun using my tiny QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs.  I am amazed that something this tiny works so well. If is so much smaller than my other rigs!  A webpage has been created. 

Mine is the version covering 20m to 10m. Other versions are available.

Just imagine a good multi-band transceiver with case with change for less than $100. Every amateur home should have one! If your soldering skills are normal this should be a straightforward build.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

8m QRP FT8

My gear (2.5W and a low dipole) was turned on at 0810z. In the last few days I have been spotted on every day without any Es DX and I spotted a newcomer to 8m G3WCS in IO83 square.

I just wish the RSGB and OFCOM would see the value of a very narrow band around 40.680 MHz by NoV for the Amateur Radio Service instead of both being so "anti".  5kHz would be so useful for research. Instead, we have to pay to do useful research!! Madness. 

Sorry, I have no sympathy with this position. Yes, I know weather radar may use some of these frequencies, but I gather these are at night to minimise interference to/from other services. The ISM band is protected by limits and international law. The RSGB should be actively fighting for us on our behalf. Instead, they seem to be meekly accepting OFCOM's position rather than causing a fuss. Yes, protect our existing bands by all means (personally I would prefer more, narrower bands BTW), but please understand that some of us wish to contribute to genuine research and not talk on 80m with commercial gear about growing carrots . Rant over.

Keeping within the law, I hope as many as possible will operate legally within the 8m ISM allocation 40.66-40.70 MHz with WSPR or FT8 beacons without a licence.

UPDATE 0834z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1258z:   Just G3WCS (223km) spotted on RX. No spots of me on 8m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1437z:  No 8m FT8 spots of me today so far. Disappointing.

UPDATE 1450z:   At last!  Some Es with a spot of me by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal. Thank you Hugh.

UPDATE 1557z:  Spotted in 5 EU countries so far today on 8m FT8. It took a while, but Es is definitely here!

UPDATE 1820z:  Just did a series of 8m WSPR tests with HC02 in Portugal, gradually dropping power to 50mW. probably 10dB in hand suggesting 10mW ERP in the ISM band will definitely be widely spotted in Europe.

Plans for today

Later, I intend to go on 8m QRP FT8. As yet, I have not seen any Es. This is late. 

Wisdom - NOT amateur radio

Back in the 1960s, I was invited by a friend to a Billy Graham crusade, that was televised to a cinema in Plymouth. Evangelical Christianity was not for me, but one thing has stuck with me to this very day. This was the difference between being clever and being wise. Many are clever, but not many are wise. My Auntie Kitty was not clever, but she was wise.

Some people are graced with wisdom. They can see beyond the obvious and discern what lies beyond. They have an inner sense of the ultimate truth that lies beyond the surface. These people have real wisdom.

The ultimate message is you do not have to be clever to be wise.

Wisdom is a gift. 

Sunspots - Monday May 8th 2023

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 99.  A=9 and K=1. 

8m access without a licence

Following correspondence with OFCOM here in the UK, it is my view that anyone at all may use the 8m ISM band 40.66 - 40.70 MHz for beacons without a licence as long as they comply with the technical requirements and IR2030. In the UK this means 10mW ERP . 

At times this will cross Europe on WSPR, possibly even on FT8. In your own country, rules may be different. If you are unhappy, seek your own legal advice as I am not a legal expert. In the UK callsigns and locators are not required by law in the ISM bands, but I advice using a callsign and QTH locator that can be reported on WSPRnet.

What this could mean is many more stations beaconing on 8m.

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service. 

As I see it, it is a legal way to do experiments and research on 8m.

Where is this? - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken 7 years ago. It is almost certainly somewhere in East Anglia, although I cannot recall where. If you recognise it, please put me out of my misery!

Bellringing bonkers - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons is totally mad on bellringing.  At the last count he had run in 109 places!. This video shows him ringing nearby. I think he is doing a full peel somewhere this weekend. This takes several hours.