Sunspots - July 29th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 189. A=7 and K=2.

8m permanent allocations?

A few administrations have made an allocation to radio amateurs (the progressive ones?).  At the last count I think this was 6 administrations. Many more have allowed operation at around 8m outside the amateur radio service.

I hope many more come to their senses soon. As I have said many, many times, just 5kHz, narrow digital only, and QRP power amateur radio allocation would be a start and allow research. 

Why do radio amateurs in some countries have to pay to do research?

Am I alone in thinking the negative attitude of some PTTs is encouraging law breaking?  At least with licenced radio amateurs traceability is easy.  With my current T&I call I don't have to use a callsign or give my location, so traceability is non-existent. Talk about stupidity!!

A limited time (2 years around the sunspot peak?) amateur radio allocation at 8m with a strictly non-interference clause, with the limitations shown above, would surely cause no harm.

QMX/QMX+ firmware update

Steve G1KQH has informed me that there is a firmware update. As the changes do not really impact me, I shall not update my firmware this time. The upgrade does not add SSB.  Had it done so, I definitely would have upgraded!

European Es (Sunday)

 Es activity in Europe is holding up, at least on FT8. 

Opinions vary over the length of the Es "season" in Europe, but certainly May, June and July can be good. Others think the season goes on to September. 

In my experience it peaks in the late spring and early summer. Indeed, Es will be there at all times of year, but the intensity and frequency go down. 

I suspect FT8 and FT4 will show that 10m, 6m and 4m are open on Es paths far more often than we think. It is for this reason that I hope people will stick with FT8/4  on these bands. We have so much to learn.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

8m QRP FT8 TX (Sunday)

My QRP 8m FT8  TX is currently on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Hoping for reports and QSOs. 

UPDATE 1124z:  No spots on 8m FT8 so far today.

UPDATE 1508z:  As I was out most of the afternoon, I was on 8m FT8 RX only. Only spotted 1 station CT1END (1676km).

UPDATE 1513z:  On 8m QRP FT8 TX again.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

Very shortly, I hope to be on 6m QRP FT8 with my V2000 vertical omni antenna.

UPDATE 0936z:  6m QRP FT8 on. Spotted by 34 stations mostly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. See map. I think this is Es, so I am now on 8m QRP FT8.

Cow Tower, Norwich - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, Norwich is a fine city. Cow Tower (shown in the photo) was built at the end of the 1300s as part of Norwich’s defence’s.

See https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/cow-tower-norwich/ .

Amateur radio?

We have to be grateful for "big" stations with "big" antennas, who sometimes hear us when others might not. 

However, this is not my idea of amateur radio fun. I prefer to see how far my QRP signals reach with very modest, low, antennas. 

Each to their own.

Sunspots - July 28th

 Solar flux is 204 and the SSN 178. A=13 and K=1.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today, we took the train to Norwich. It is a very fine city with a fine cathedral shown in the photo.