Every few weeks I take a peek at activity on this geosynchronous satellite. Activity remains low, even on a late afternoon in Europe at a weekend. The photo shows activity on the narrowband transponder. In my view, this satellite is, sadly, a failure.
Once again I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. It is now 1103z and spots have been received from EA8 , 9H1 and OH, presumably by F2.
As someone missed my recent local ISM 8m tests, I am repeating them again with the WSPR signal appearing at 40.6815 MHz.
The callsign at 10mW ERP will be 8M3ISM.
UPDATE 1050z: The 10mW ERP 8m WSPR beacon is ON again. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1620z: G4WSZ (11km) has spotted my QRP 10mW ERP many times. He is using a low 6m dipole.
Next January (January 2023), there is supposed to be a DXpedition to Bouvet. This is in the South Atlantic Ocean and is the most remote uninhabited island in the world. It is owned by Norway. The callsign is meant to be 3Y0J (I think). DXCC chasers will be going mad to work this station. No doubt I shall stand back and leave them to shout! Can you imagine the pile ups?!! Somehow I can imagine those with big beams and big linears will be shouting very loudly! Let's hope the operators like wind, penguins and seals.
The photo attribution is the International Space Station crew, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvet_Island.
At least, the lights cheer us all up at a dark time of the year. They say Christmas was originally a Pagan festival.
Another local ham is to do tests on the 8m ISM bands.
Once the weather gets better, he is doing some 10mW ERP tests (using his signal generator) to me across the fens. Hopefully I can receive him. He usually very strong on 2m FM with 25W. I think he erecting an 8m dipole for these tests. Antenna work needs better weather!
It is now 1002z. I am again be on 10m QRP WSPR with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon.
Once again, I am on WSPR QRP TX (500mW) with my W5OLF beacon. The usual spots from the Canary Is, that I assume are by F2. Yesterday, my QRP WSPR on 10m was spotted by 8 unique stations including the USA and Canada. Transatlantic spots are almost daily.
UPDATE 1609z: So far today, 11 spots of my 10m QRP WSPR.
OFCOM has still to come back to me about legal operation in the 8m ISM band and self certification if there is no intention to market a product and the intention is simply research. I expect their lawyers need to be consulted first!!
UPDATE 1616z: Bingo!!! A definitive statement from OFCOM if you comply with IR2030 you do not need to apply for a licence in the ISM bands. These are OFCOM's exact words
"If it is radio equipment intended for telecommunications research purposes it may be possible to obtain an innovation and trials licence from Ofcom.
You can find more details on this here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/
If it conforms to the usage conditions laid down in IR 2030 you don’t need to apply for a licence. Regarding conformity of the equipment to other requirements, e.g. required for the marketing of products, or any potential liability to comply with those requirements, e.g. whether it is deemed as placed on the market / put into service, etc, isn’t something Ofcom can advise on.
Guidance on this aspect is published by the UK Government here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-market-
