New page on website

For the last month or so, I have been having great fun using my tiny QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs.  I am amazed that something this tiny works so well. If is so much smaller than my other rigs!  A webpage has been created. 

Mine is the version covering 20m to 10m. Other versions are available.

Just imagine a good multi-band transceiver with case with change for less than $100. Every amateur home should have one! If your soldering skills are normal this should be a straightforward build.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/qdx

8m QRP FT8

My gear (2.5W and a low dipole) was turned on at 0810z. In the last few days I have been spotted on every day without any Es DX and I spotted a newcomer to 8m G3WCS in IO83 square.

I just wish the RSGB and OFCOM would see the value of a very narrow band around 40.680 MHz by NoV for the Amateur Radio Service instead of both being so "anti".  5kHz would be so useful for research. Instead, we have to pay to do useful research!! Madness. 

Sorry, I have no sympathy with this position. Yes, I know weather radar may use some of these frequencies, but I gather these are at night to minimise interference to/from other services. The ISM band is protected by limits and international law. The RSGB should be actively fighting for us on our behalf. Instead, they seem to be meekly accepting OFCOM's position rather than causing a fuss. Yes, protect our existing bands by all means (personally I would prefer more, narrower bands BTW), but please understand that some of us wish to contribute to genuine research and not talk on 80m with commercial gear about growing carrots . Rant over.

Keeping within the law, I hope as many as possible will operate legally within the 8m ISM allocation 40.66-40.70 MHz with WSPR or FT8 beacons without a licence.

UPDATE 0834z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1258z:   Just G3WCS (223km) spotted on RX. No spots of me on 8m FT8 TX.

UPDATE 1437z:  No 8m FT8 spots of me today so far. Disappointing.

UPDATE 1450z:   At last!  Some Es with a spot of me by HC02 (1808km) in Portugal. Thank you Hugh.

UPDATE 1557z:  Spotted in 5 EU countries so far today on 8m FT8. It took a while, but Es is definitely here!

UPDATE 1820z:  Just did a series of 8m WSPR tests with HC02 in Portugal, gradually dropping power to 50mW. probably 10dB in hand suggesting 10mW ERP in the ISM band will definitely be widely spotted in Europe.

Plans for today

Later, I intend to go on 8m QRP FT8. As yet, I have not seen any Es. This is late. 

Wisdom - NOT amateur radio

Back in the 1960s, I was invited by a friend to a Billy Graham crusade, that was televised to a cinema in Plymouth. Evangelical Christianity was not for me, but one thing has stuck with me to this very day. This was the difference between being clever and being wise. Many are clever, but not many are wise. My Auntie Kitty was not clever, but she was wise.

Some people are graced with wisdom. They can see beyond the obvious and discern what lies beyond. They have an inner sense of the ultimate truth that lies beyond the surface. These people have real wisdom.

The ultimate message is you do not have to be clever to be wise.

Wisdom is a gift. 

Sunspots - Monday May 8th 2023

Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 99.  A=9 and K=1. 

8m access without a licence

Following correspondence with OFCOM here in the UK, it is my view that anyone at all may use the 8m ISM band 40.66 - 40.70 MHz for beacons without a licence as long as they comply with the technical requirements and IR2030. In the UK this means 10mW ERP . 

At times this will cross Europe on WSPR, possibly even on FT8. In your own country, rules may be different. If you are unhappy, seek your own legal advice as I am not a legal expert. In the UK callsigns and locators are not required by law in the ISM bands, but I advice using a callsign and QTH locator that can be reported on WSPRnet.

What this could mean is many more stations beaconing on 8m.

This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service. 

As I see it, it is a legal way to do experiments and research on 8m.

Where is this? - NOT amateur radio

This photo was taken 7 years ago. It is almost certainly somewhere in East Anglia, although I cannot recall where. If you recognise it, please put me out of my misery!

Bellringing bonkers - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons is totally mad on bellringing.  At the last count he had run in 109 places!. This video shows him ringing nearby. I think he is doing a full peel somewhere this weekend. This takes several hours.

Changes

When I was first involved with amateur radio it was 1962. 

My first venture into radio was when my dad bought me a Heathkit Electronics Workshop for Christmas 1961. This allowed you to make a variety of circuits without soldering. That first Christmas I was DXing on Medium Wave. I joined the RSGB shortly afterwards. My first G8 call was in 1966 and I became a G3 in 1967, taking my Morse test in the famous Liver building in Liverpool.

My first serious TX activity was when I moved to Cambridge in the early 1970s. My first outings were on 2m AM, then 70cm AM with a simple homemade QRP transverter. In those days most people were crystal controlled, so it was "tuning high to low" to get a contact.

These days, people rarely come on just for a chat. Times are changing.

My 2m-70cm transverter was based on this circuit in the old "VHF Communication" magazine. It produced  about 100mW on 70cm. From a local hill you could almost guarantee a QSO with this in the 1970s.

OFCOM updates

A reminder that OFCOM updates the information it hold on licences etc. every week. See the OFCOM website for the latest data. 

Incidentally, I enquired about changes to my T&I 8m licence. A month later, I am still awaiting a response. They say they are incredibly busy. At this rate, the Es season will be over before they respond!  I know from work days how this can feel, but a response email would take just a few minutes!

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

After breakfast, my plan is to go on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 again in the hope of catching some Es. 

UPDATE 0854z:  Gear turned on at 0820z. No spots. 

UPDATE 0948z: G3WCS spotted (IO83). Is this genuine?

UPDATE 1046z:  It turns out G3WCS is genuine, Also WESSEXSDR (265km) has spotted me on RX. In the last few days I have been spotted on 8m FT8 every day, and not one of these was Es, despite using just 2.5W FT8 and a low dipole.

UPDATE 1918z:  2 stations have spotted me today on 8m FT8 and I have spotted 2. No Es. QRT soon.

Sunspots - Sunday May 7th 2023

Solar flux is 152 and the SSN 99. A=30 and K=2.

2m activity contest last Tuesday

As usual, I go on the 2m activity contest on the first Tuesday evening in the month. As I run 2.5W and an omni big-wheel antenna and my voice is poor, I am usually on for less than an hour. Conditions seemed a bit "up" and it was quite busy.  In 37 minutes 7 contacts were had (see map). Next Tuesday is the 70cm activity contest.

4m personal beacon

Jason M0NYW has a personal 4m beacon. I predict he will see lots of spots this Es season.

It is on 70.093 MHz (70.092 USB-D) sending FT8 + CW ID + dashes. It has an output of 1W to a halo. I hope I can spot it. It runs pretty much 24/7.

See www.qrz.com/db/M0NYW/b for more details.

Just popping down for golf - NOT amateur radio

Sir John Beckwith's helicopter at Thurlestone. How the other half live!! 

Next door - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live just next door to a fully restored windmill. This is the view from the lounge window. 

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since 0720z, I have been on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 0907z:  No spots. 

3 spots of my QRP 8m FT8

UPDATE 1539z:  3 spots of me on TX. No sign of Es all day. Nobody spotted on RX. Even these 3 spots of me were great and much appreciated. The power was definitely less than 2.5W.

Screaming swifts - NOT amateur radio

This is a common sound at this time of year. Swifts scream overhead in feeding parties. They are definitely back!! 

UK Coronation - NOT amateur radio

Although definitely not a strong royalist (I think a symbolic monarchy is better than an elected president - who would we choose?), like millions I shall probably be watching the UK coronation on TV. 

Basically, I am against wealth and privilege simply as a result of who your parents were. Much wealth came from the slave trade centuries back, which I find abhorrent. That is history. What matters is how we are today.

Overall, I favour a much slimmed down monarchy much closer to the people. Those that work for the UK get the royal purse. Hangers on do not.  There is no doubt our history and traditions are worth millions in tourism and help stability.

UPDATE 0841z:  Our church bells are ringing.

UPDATE 1400z:  A good service and parade that passed (thank goodness) without incident. It rained....again! Why does it always seem to rain on Coronations?! I am old enough to remember the last coronation in 1953 and crowding around a tiny, snowy, picture on a black and white TV in a neighbour's house.

Zadoc the priest

Saturday plans

In the last 2 days, my 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz has been spotted by 2 Gs. I have not managed any Es yet, but I expect this will soon change.  So, I plan to go on QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz (TX first) with a DF of about 1950 Hz.