As mentioned before, I have an assembled QDX transceiver on order from QRP Labs.
Running from my standard 13.8V PSU, there is a risk of over dissipation in the PA devices, so I intend to drop the supply to the QDX with a number of silicon diodes. I can add up to 10, but will probably add 6. The diodes have arrived. This solution is noise free and the diodes are well rated.
At 0902z, my QRP 8m FT8 was turned on. No spots yet today.
It has been surprising just how many spots I have had on 8m, considering the few monitors and the time of the year. Many of the nearer reports look like aircraft reflection, but my 2.5W and dipole have made it across the Atlantic at least twice.
I do hope my 8m permit is granted for this year as there is so much still to research.
If it is not granted, there will definitely be times when I shall be on the ISM bands with 10mW ERP WSPR without a licence. The latter is, I believe, a course that anyone in the UK could take. Not being a legal expert you will have to judge your own legal position, although I very much doubt OFCOM would come knocking! In nearly 50 years I have never been inspected. When the man last came, he was more interested in a cup of tea!
My personal view is that OFCOM should have allocated a tiny, digital only, amateur band at 8m by NoV on a strict no interference basis. This would have meant full traceability whether on-air or off.
Both OFCOM and the RSGB seem dead against even a tiny 8m amateur band even by NoV. Personally I find this stance hard to understand. More public statements on this might help us to understand their reasoning. In the absence of data, we can only assume the military is against this. Personally, I think not making their reasons public is short-sighted and unhelpful. We should have full confidence in both the RSGB (that depends heavily on committed volunteers) and OFCOM. There must be good reasons for their position, so please share these!!
UPDATE 1042z: Spotted by WESSEXSDR probably via aircraft reflection. This mode seems more common than I thought at 8m and could well account for the frequent spots of my 2.5W by EI9KP (649km). It could be random MS, but I somehow doubt this.
At 0902z, my 500mW TX beacon was turned on. Already spots from the Canary Isles and a local.
UPDATE 1052z: 3 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1540z: 14 unique stations spotting me today.
Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 80. A=5 and K=0. It is interesting that when the most active regions are pointing away from us, the sunspot count is still pretty good.
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!!
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.
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.
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on early today. Already at 0943z I have been spotted by 3 unique stations.
5 stations have spotted my 500mW QRP WSPR today. I was on from about 1600z. Now QRT.
Despite being in for several hours late this afternoon, no spots on RX or QRP TX today.
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/ .
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).
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".
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.
Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for details.
