First we had reports of a short path 6m opening for Europe to New Zealand. Now we have news of this DX via the long path (22100km). Totally amazing. No wonder they call it "the magic band"!
I get exited by seeing NZ on 10m, but this is 6m!!
29 Jan 2023
10 GHz wideband FM
At one time Gunnplexers were popular, but there is a modern equivalent available at low cost (HB100). These can be bought on eBay for example.
Although I have not looked recently, I expect someone (or many?) have made 10 GHz WBFM transceivers with them.
Similar modules are also available for 24 GHz.
Wideband FM 10 GHz transceivers could be made with the 10 and 24 GHz modules without any microwave engineering at all. At the focus of a dish the 10 GHz ones have been used for ATV contacts over 100km.
If you know of WBFM transceivers designed around these, I'd love to take a look.
A quick look on eBay showed the 10 GHz units were available for just over £2.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/10ghz .
UPDATE 1535z: The link Jan has put in the comment below (in French) looks interesting and is just the sort of thing I had in mind.
8m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
No spots yet at 0947z.
I have heard of one 8m T&I permit being issued in the UK last week, so I remain hopeful that I shall be granted one this year.
Personally, I think it would have been far easier for OFCOM to have just granted a tiny, digital only, amateur allocation by NoV at 8m, with strictly no interference.
C'est la vie.
UPDATE 1200z: No spots today.
UPDATE 1343z: G8BCG (394km) spotted. He is located in central Cornwall and was very strong at 0dB S/N. This suggests aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1444z: Just had news that an Australian 8m WSPR ISM beacon at just 5mW has been decoded in the Cook Is over 5900km away. I am convinced that ISM WSPR beacons could be operated by anyone in the UK without a licence and could certainly be copied in Europe by Es. They would probably reach the USA.The rules on ISM beacons vary with the country. In the UK we can operate on the 8m ISM band with 10mW ERP as long as the technical requirements and IR 2030 are met. In other countries there are different limits.
UPDATE 1850z: QRT.
Early start on 10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on early today. Already at 0943z I have been spotted by 3 unique stations.
UPDATE 1322z: USA stations now spotting me.
Ends of the spectrum
This was a Facebook memory from 2012 and shows my 481 THz optical beacon from then. I always enjoyed experimenting at the ends of the spectrum!!
28 Jan 2023
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
5 stations have spotted my 500mW QRP WSPR today. I was on from about 1600z. Now QRT.
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
Despite being in for several hours late this afternoon, no spots on RX or QRP TX today.
Big British Garden Birdwatch 2023 - NOT amateur radio
This is organised by the RSPB every January. The idea is simple. You count the maximum number of each species seen at the same time in your garden, park etc. for any hour over the weekend and submit this. From these returns, the RSPB can learn a great deal about the birds around.
Certainly here, there are fewer smaller birds around. It is not uncommon to see 6-12 different species, but it is unusual to see that many different small birds. There are far more pigeons that in the past.
I do it every year. It is surprising what appears over the hour.
UPDATE 1625z: Just 6 species seen! Way down on previous years. Most of these were larger birds. Some very common birds were missing. Overall? January!! Dull and cold.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ .
10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
For a change, I am on 10m QRP FT8. The band is very busy.
Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today
UPDATE 1317z: 28 stations have spotted my QRP and 411 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).
Ely Cathedral in the mist - NOT amateur radio
You can see why they call this "the ship of the fens". This photo was on social media recently.
Apparently there are hardly any foundations. Remember, there were no JCBs when this was made in medieval times. It is the only medieval wonder of the world in the UK I think.
Ely cathedral is built on high ground above what was once marshy ground. Hence the name "isle of Ely".
27 Jan 2023
St John's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
The bikes and posters (on the railings to the right and just out of the photo) are very Cambridge!!
AGMs and Zoom
Just now, I attended the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) AGM by Zoom. This was a hybrid meeting with some there in person and some remotely via Zoom. I no longer (if I can avoid it) drive at night.
As for previous lectures, the Zoom worked really well, including voting by putting a hand up.
This hybrid format really suits me as I can take an active part in club activities even though unable to get in. In the past we have had speakers and listeners across oceans.
OFCOM publications update
Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for details.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
A few moments ago I switched on the 8m FT8 QRP TX. This was about 1025z.
UPDATE 1840z: No spots today on TX and RX.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX was turned on at 0946z.
UPDATE 1006z: 3 spots from the Canary Is so far this morning.
Voltage dropping
In a few weeks' time (with a following wind) my QDX digital transceiver should arrive. With a 12v supply, there is a danger of the PA being badly over-rated and failing. Most of my gear runs from a 13.8V, so it would be prudent to run the QDX from a lower supply voltage.
My easiest solution is a string of suitably rated diodes in the supply. I have 10 off 3A silicon diodes that should be here next week. I could drop 6V with these if I want, making the QDX run safely from 9.8V.
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