Shack photo

 This was my shack in 2015. It is much the same now, although a few rigs have changed.

Pye Telecom PF8

Many years ago, I was involved in the design of the PF8. In the end, I do not think too many were sold. The antenna was my design as well as the TX audio.

It gained fame as it was used by Bodie and Doyle in the TV series "The Professionals". Style wise it was well ahead of its time. 

One has appeared on eBay untested . The last time I looked it was £225!! I should have kept one!

These are rare these days, but some were converted to work on 70cm. If you can find one, good luck!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/pye-pf8 .

10m QRP WSPR

As my 10m antenna was available, I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon.  So far this morning, I have been spotted by 10 unique stations with the furthermost FR5ZX (9740km).

UPDATE 1423z:  13 unique stations have spotted me today.

Stations spotting me by 1714z

UPDATE 1714z:  19 unique stations have spotted me today so far.

8m FT8 QRP

 As an experiment, I went on QRP 40.680 MHz FT8 briefly. No spots.

UPDATE 1425z:  No spots today.

Don't you just HATE this crappery? - NOT amateur radio

This just came in from Google. Why can't they just say they are changing instead of this stupid, stupid language?

" A reminder that we are sunsetting Universal Analytics"

Perhaps they will soon be saying they are dawning the replacement. 😊

70cm FT8 activity contest

Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 last night with the 2m omni

Last night was the 70cm FT8 activity contest. I continue to be amazed by how far stations can be copied with just a 2m omni. I am sure some sort of scatter is involved. In all, 5 stations were worked and my 5W to the 2m big-wheel was widely spotted.

Stations spotting my 5W to the 2m big-wheel on 70cm FT8 last night

OFCOM spectrum roadmap

OFCOM has released its latest Spectrum Roadmap. See the OFCOM website for details. Yet again, the bias is towards microwaves and users that pay. 

All I am asking for is a more open and tolerant attitude to radio amateurs who seek to "self train" and do research possibly on new chunks of the radio spectrum. I see little evidence.

The document starts:

"The radio spectrum (the invisible waves that enable wireless technology)...."

Hmm.

Apt saying - NOT amateur radio

 

This was on Facebook earlier. 

Plans for today (Thursday)

 At the moment my plan is to go on 8m FT8 QRP at about 1230z hoping to be spotted in the USA. I do not plan to go on 10m FT8 RX although I might go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

Sunspots - Thursday November 10th 2022

 Solar flux is 138 and the SSN 81. A=7 and K=0.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

My signal did not span the Atlantic today, but I was spotted in a new country - Denmark. I have lost count how many countries my QRP signal has been spotted in.

Doorway - NOT amateur radio

This doorway is on the winter walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. It has always intrigued me. It is through an old wall. I have no idea how old it is, but I'd guess it dates from the 1800s.

ISM bands legal operation

In some countries, people operate beacons to study radio propagation without needing a licence in the ISM bands. In the UK, such operation is unclear, so I have asked OFCOM to clarify. As I only asked yesterday I am not expecting an answer soon.

My question was:

"May I legally operate a test beacon, to investigate radio propagation, without a licence in the ISM bands at low power? If legal, at what power?"

Whatever the answer, I shall post it here.

In the meantime, this link seems to give a fair summary of legal ISM operation.

My reading indicates that at 8m one can use 10mW ERP legally under the short range devices legislation without a licence, but I do not know about type approvals. Can none type approved gear be used without a licence in the ISM bands in the UK? 

Sunspots - Wednesday November 9th 2022

Solar flux is 132 and the SSN 85.  A=12 and K=3. 

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

This evening was the 70cm activity contest (UKAC) organised by the RSGB. As usual I entered the low power section for about 40 minutes with 10W and the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. 4 QSOs were made (see map).

Poplars and duckweed - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey last week. It is about 5  miles from here by car.

Every year all the duckweed on the mill leat is cleared. They are doing it now. 

10m QRP WSPR TX (remembered!)

As I am on 8m FT8, my 10m antenna is free, so I have gone on 10m 500mW WSPR TX with my W5OLF beacon. Yes, I remembered!

Spots of me at 1346z

UPDATE 1346z:   So far, spotted by 9 unique stations.

UPDATE 1537z:  Spotted by 16 unique stations today.

8m QRP FT8 TX (first) and RX

 As 10m was looking good, I have QSYed to 8m (40.680) FT8 TX and RX.

UPDATE 1430z:  It looks like today is going to be disappointing for me on 8m. No spots of me or of others today. I am still on, but will probably go QRT later. I think conditions have to be really good for me to be copied in the USA on 8m.

8m monitors
active this afternoon

UPDATE 1632z:  Although I have not been successful"crossing the pond" today, there are several people on monitoring both in Europe and in the USA (see map).

10m FT8 RX

A promising start. 

I have been on 10m FT8 RX for about 20 minutes (it is now 1045z) and, so far, 129 stations have been spotted. 

At this rate, I shall definitely be trying 8m QRP FT8 later.

UPDATE 1127z:  234 stations spotted today.

AA7EE's blog

Dave has some excellent stuff. He is really into simple, low powered beacons and makes some magnificent assemblies using Me-Pads and Me-Squares.

See https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/.