8m activity this Es season

A feeling shared with another on 8m is there are fewer people on 8m this Es season than last. This is a great pity, especially with Belgium about to release an amateur band at 8m.

However, it looks like many of the "old gang" have already been worked (or FT8 reports exchanged) with them. This being the case, I think this Es season I shall concentrate on 4m and 10m FT8 instead, unless conditions suggest I should get on 8m.

With some exceptional distances being worked on 6m, there is little else I shall learn this Es season on 8m, and I think radio science will not be advanced much on 8m unless there are many more stations active. I was hoping we would see lots of stations operating on 8m TX under ISM rules. This does not appear to be the case sadly.

Great Powers in the 21st Century - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that China is already growing into a great world power. The USA sees this growing dominance as a threat.

In my view, there is room for both. Already, Europe and the USA buys lots of goods from China. If the supply of semiconductors from Taiwan was disrupted, the whole world would suffer.

Behind all conflicts is insecurity.  

Russia feels (illogically) threatened by the west. China feels threatened by the USA. The USA feels threatened by China.

Why can't we get along in peace? We all need to invest heavily in alternatives to fossil fuels and not waste our money on blowing each other up!

Lunch - NOT amateur radio

 

As my wife was out with old school friends, I had a pizza for lunch. I added some ham and mushrooms.

8m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 For a change, I am on 8m QRP WSPR. I am on 40.680 MHz (DF about 1550 Hz, Tx 20% of the time) running 2W. 

UPDATE 1305z:  Just one spot by HC02 in Portugal.  Back on 8m QRP FT8 again now.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0800z. I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 (DF about 1950 Hz, TX first). With strong Es already in Europe, I am hopeful.

UPDATE 0930z: No spots of me.

UPDATE 1304z:  After a period on WSPR, I am back on FT8.

8m amateur band in Belgium

Although I have no data yet, I gather, after much lobbying, the Belgian authorities are releasing some spectrum at 8m for radio amateurs. At this time, I repeat, that I have no details. If correct, this is great news.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

My 10m 500mW W5OLF TX WSPR beacon was turned in just before 0800z. So far,  no spots.

UPDATE 0925z:  Plenty of 10m Es this morning. The map shows my unique spots so far today. Map is from http://wspr.aprsinfo.com/ .

UPDATE 1333z: 16 unique stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.

OFCOM crappery

Way back in early April I wrote to OFCOM to request a simple change to my 8m T&I licence. They wrote back to say they were very busy, but I have still not received an answer. The answer would have taken about 90 seconds in an email.  I am sure that if I was talking about 6G I would have got an answer back in just minutes!!

No, basically we do not matter much and it shows.  My own view of OFCOM is they could not care less about anybody unless they can generate money. 

Is this the future? Deregulation and go ahead, but you must not cause interference to services that generate money.  As mentioned before, I can see a day coming when all non-licenced operation is combined and we can use any CB, amateur radio frequencies and ISM frequencies without a licence. Amateur radio generates no money, so why care?

The Es season is already well through.  Perhaps I should go ahead anyway and seek forgiveness later!

BTW, OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website for the latest.

New Yaesu HF QRP Transceiver?

Does anyone have any idea if Yaesu is planning to launch a new HF QRP radio as a proper replacement for the FT817?  The FT818 is a joke.

One has been overdue for many, many years and I fear they have lost their chance. They now have an SDR platform and surely could do this. 

With the right features and form, it could still be a winner. I would certainly consider one. As time progresses, they are facing yet more competition from ICOM, Elecraft and various Chinese offerings.

This is their very last chance!! If one is not forthcoming very soon, I fear it is curtains for Yaesu in the Amateur Radio Service.

UPDATE 1314z:   I think Yaesu has blown it (yet again). Initial reports from Hamvention suggest nothing. If they had anything at all (even a non working mock-up) they would have shown it. I give them 3 years in the Amateur Radio Service market before they are out, possibly less at this rate. I am a great Yaesu fan, but in recent years their marketing has been unbelievably poor. If I was in charge, the entire marketing department for amateur radio would have been sacked as totally incompetent.

Sunspots - Saturday May 20th 2023

Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 155.  A=9 and K=4.