MF transverter

This photo from 2012 was found earlier. I cannot remember if this was the original 500 kHz transverter or the one for I did for 472 kHz. The 472 kHz one has been used most autumns and winters with my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground on WSPR. Even though the ERP is very low, it is regularly gets spotted in Norway. The transverter produces 10W, but the ERP is about 10mW. 

Salcombe harbour, Devon - NOT amateur radio

This photo of Salcombe was taken yesterday I think .  As an earlier post today indicated, this was where I spent my childhood. 

On our primary school classroom ceiling, we could see the reflection of sunshine on the water reflecting on the ceiling. Funny how I can remember this and seeing the harbour from the playground. We just took it all for granted, not appreciating how lucky we were.  

Just 10 years before some of the landing craft in the Normandy landings of WW2 went from here. It must have been so different then.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

For about an hour, I have been on 10m QRP TX running 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. So far, 3 unique stations have spotted me. It is now 1205z.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

It is now 1120z. I have been on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz for about 20 minutes. So far,  1 spot on TX by G4FFC (47km), On RX, no spots. On 8m FT8 I Use 2.5W and a low wire dipole.

UPDATE 1502z:  Nothing back from the RSGB about my email suggesting a 5 kHz wide 8m amateur band, narrow digital only. Am I surprised? Not really. No further stations spotting me today and I have spotted nobody.

UPDATE 1518z: In the UK my understanding is we can use equipment without a certificate of conformity or type approval at 8m as long as it meets the technical requirement and the interface requirements as detailed in IR 2030. This is because we have no intention of putting anything on the market.  This means 10mW ERP and we are responsible for compliance. From my own tests and tests by M0NYW, 10mW ERP certainly covers the local area with WSPR and might well work on FT8 over some paths, especially with proper 8m antennas at both ends. My own tests were with a low wire 8m dipole, whereas most locals receiving me were using a variety of (non 8m) antennas. In better Es openings I would expect 10mW ERP to reach Europe. This means many more UK stations could legally operate 8m WSPR beacons.

Salcombe 1960s? - NOT amateur radio

Salcombe is where I lived as a young child. This photo probably dates from the early 1960s or even late 1950s. It shows the waterfront in Salcombe. 

Plans for the day (Saturday)

 Later, I expect to be on 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX.

Sunspots - Saturday December 3rd 2022

 Solar flux  is 124 and the SSN 66.  A=16 and K=2.

OFCOM Updates

Every week, OFCOM updates the figures it holds on us and publishes these. Check the OFCOM website for their latest figures.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 Nearly forgot again that when I am on 8m FT8, I can also go on 10m QRP WSPR with my stand-alone W5OLF beacon. The beacon was turned on at about 1130z. At 1305z, my 500mW beacon had been spotted by 7 unique stations.

This little beacon has given me good service for many years.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 At about 1130z I turned on my 2.5W QRP 8m FT8 (TX first and RX) on 40.680 MHz.  At 1257z, no spots.

Plans for today (Friday)

After shopping in a minute I think I shall immediately go on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. This will be around 1100z.

So far this autumn my 2.5W has only made it to the USA once on 8m. 

23cm update

As regular blog readers will know, I now have a 2W 23cm transverter. I have yet to use it as I have been busy with other things. I still have to get some leads. My plan is to do some tests locally with the supplied test antenna and do some portable operating with a better antenna in the activity contests next year. So, if you are local, stand by!! 

Sunspots - Friday December 2nd 2022

Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 49. A=28 and K=3.

Dramatic scene - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was posted on 365project a few weeks ago by a friend. It shows a village in the Shetland Isles.

Picket line - NOT amateur radio

It seems like many in the UK are after a pay rise to help pay the high prices we have at the moment. This was a picket line for Cambridge lecturers who have not had a decent pay rise in a long time. I do not know the answer, but the gap between rich and poor is too great and getting greater. This is not healthy.  

Whilst, I think some people need decent pay rises, there is a danger their public support will wane.

2m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

As the fog is descending and conditions might be "up", I have decided to switch from 8m FT8 to 2m FT8 with the antenna my 2m big-wheel omni. 

So far, 11 stations have spotted me at 1648z with the furthermost G7RAU (461km) in Cornwall. 

Still using 2.5W FT8 to the omni antenna.

UPDATE 1914z: 14 stations have spotted my 2.5W with the furthermost F5EGD (472km). 17 stations spotted on RX so far. 

UPDATE 2210z: 17 stations have spotted my 2.5W FT8 and I have spotted 27 here. A very useful (local) tool is the 2m FT8 grabber at http://g0lrd.vs.mythic-beasts.com/cap/ . This allows me to see if I am getting out and if the signal is clean. David's grabber is about 25km from me. The stations that spotted me at 2108z are shown on the map.

RSGB 8m letter

This was sent to the RSGB's General Manager yesterday, with a request to forward it to the VHF manager. I am awaiting a reply. Any reply will be posted here. 

I thought just 5 kHz was the minimum. I hope OFCOM sees fit to allocate far more. Mind you, exactly what is our hobby about?  Discussing gardens with commercial gear on 80m? 😁😩

As someone who really wants to see self-training and radio science progress, I feel deeply that the RSGB and OFCOM are miles off target on this!!

Please contact the RSGB with your views.

"Dear Sir/Madam

Please would you clarify the position of the RSGB on a possible amateur band at 8m?  

It would appear both the RSGB and OFCOM are against this. Instead, true experimenters (like me) keen on self training have had to apply for, and pay £50 annually, to be able to do this.

As a retired senior manager in the communications industry, I am only too aware of the shortage in the UK of decent RF engineers, so I would have expected both the RSGB and OFCOM to support this.

The oft used phrase is "not more of the same".

These are my proposals:

• 40.680-40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz wide band)
• narrow digital modes only (no speech)
• available by NoV only
• power restricted
• strictly non interference
• secondary allocation.

If the RSGB actively supported this, it would certainly advance radio science and self training, in a way that discussing allotments on 80m with commercial gear cannot. Not only that, OFCOM has released 2000 kHz of VHF spectrum for amateur DATV experiments, which is great. This 8m band would be just 5 kHz wide for serious research and self training, which is what our hobby is surely about. 

With no commercial gear available except by modification and with no speech, only true experimenters are likely to apply for 8m NoVs.

With 2.5W and a low wire dipole I have reached 3 continents and 16 countries on 8m FT8 with my 8m T&I permit. It would be good to have a tiny amateur band at 8m to advance self training and radio science.

Your response is eagerly awaited. This would most definitely NOT be "more of the same". 8m is at the very boundary where HF meets VHF and is therefore ripe for research.

73s

Roger Lapthorn G3XBM"

Updated solar data

At the start of the month Solan updates its data on solar conditions. The latest update was this morning. It still shows the latest solar cycle peaking late next year. This is very early.

Personally, I find this data very interesting.

See https://www.solen.info/solar/ .

8m 2.5W FT8 (Thursday)

Since breakfast, I have been on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz, but with no spots.

UPDATE 1405z:   No spots. Soon to go QRT on 8m.

10m 500mW WSPR TX

Since breakfast time I have been on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the W5OLF beacon. So far, just the usual spots from the Canary Isles.

UPDATE 1220z:  3 unique stations spotting me so far today: EA8 and LZ.

UPDATE 1609z:  14 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today (see table).