My gear was turned on at about 0800z. I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 (DF about 1950 Hz, TX first). With strong Es already in Europe, I am hopeful.
UPDATE 0930z: No spots of me.
UPDATE 1304z: After a period on WSPR, I am back on FT8.
20 May 2023
8m amateur band in Belgium
Although I have no data yet, I gather, after much lobbying, the Belgian authorities are releasing some spectrum at 8m for radio amateurs. At this time, I repeat, that I have no details. If correct, this is great news.
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 10m 500mW W5OLF TX WSPR beacon was turned in just before 0800z. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1333z: 16 unique stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.
OFCOM crappery
Way back in early April I wrote to OFCOM to request a simple change to my 8m T&I licence. They wrote back to say they were very busy, but I have still not received an answer. The answer would have taken about 90 seconds in an email. I am sure that if I was talking about 6G I would have got an answer back in just minutes!!
No, basically we do not matter much and it shows. My own view of OFCOM is they could not care less about anybody unless they can generate money.
Is this the future? Deregulation and go ahead, but you must not cause interference to services that generate money. As mentioned before, I can see a day coming when all non-licenced operation is combined and we can use any CB, amateur radio frequencies and ISM frequencies without a licence. Amateur radio generates no money, so why care?
The Es season is already well through. Perhaps I should go ahead anyway and seek forgiveness later!
BTW, OFCOM updates the data it holds every week. See the OFCOM website for the latest.
New Yaesu HF QRP Transceiver?
Does anyone have any idea if Yaesu is planning to launch a new HF QRP radio as a proper replacement for the FT817? The FT818 is a joke.
One has been overdue for many, many years and I fear they have lost their chance. They now have an SDR platform and surely could do this.
With the right features and form, it could still be a winner. I would certainly consider one. As time progresses, they are facing yet more competition from ICOM, Elecraft and various Chinese offerings.
This is their very last chance!! If one is not forthcoming very soon, I fear it is curtains for Yaesu in the Amateur Radio Service.
UPDATE 1314z: I think Yaesu has blown it (yet again). Initial reports from Hamvention suggest nothing. If they had anything at all (even a non working mock-up) they would have shown it. I give them 3 years in the Amateur Radio Service market before they are out, possibly less at this rate. I am a great Yaesu fan, but in recent years their marketing has been unbelievably poor. If I was in charge, the entire marketing department for amateur radio would have been sacked as totally incompetent.
19 May 2023
Dayton Hamvention - Ohio, USA
This is probably the biggest ham gathering in the world. Many (who can afford it!) like to go there to see the gear and meet old friends. It is on this weekend.
It is often the place where new rigs are launched. You can imagine the panic in many labs in the run-up! As yet, I have not (yet) seen any major announcements, but this is the place to do it.
See https://hamvention.org/ .
In my honest view, this is a last chance for some manufacturers including Yaesu. If they "miss the boat" they may never, ever, get another chance. As the average age of radio amateurs increases and many become SK, the outcome could be bleak for many manufacturers and dealers.
UPDATE 2010z: Well Dayton has been running for several hours and I have not yet heard any announcements about new rigs.
OFCOM and eLoran
OFCOM is consulting on eLoran which may operate 90-110 kHz. I do not thinks this will cause issues with the Amateur Radio Service. The consultation is open until July sometime and your input would be welcomed.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 8m QRP FT8 has just been turned on (40.680, TX first period, DF about 1950 Hz). No spots yet.
UPDATE 1052z: Still no spots. I get the distinct impression there are fewer people on 8m FT8 than in the last Es season. Unless things change soon, I may concentrate on 10m FT8 instead this season.
UPDATE 1434z: one spot of me by EA3ERE (1153km). Es definitely. Spotted in 4 countries so far this Es season.
UPDATE 1550z: Now spotted by S50B (1220km).
10m 500mW WSPR TX
Although the QRP beacon has just been turned on, already spots from 4 unique stations. These look like Es and F2. A very promising start today.
UPDATE 1047z: 6 unique spots of my QRP 10m WSPR so far today.
UPDATE 1440z: 19 spots of my 10m QRP WSPR so far today. Once again, the furthermost is F61695 (9729km) on Reunion Is in the south Indian Ocean.
SMD parts
Few radio amateurs have the tools to solder SMD parts. As time progresses, SMD parts will get progressively smaller and discrete parts rarer. Some sort of SMD capability will become essential for experimenters.
In many ways SMD parts are better. Without leads they become more predictable in RF circuits. With leaded parts, lead inductance can be significant, especially at VHF and above.
The smallest SMD parts are now 0.25mm x 0.125mm!! Good job I am retired. 😁
Imagine a sneeze!! Oh b****r. 😆😊
Es - promising?
A quick look at https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ suggests that European Es could be promising later. My current plan is 8m QRP FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR TX, with 8m WSPR later. Things will be turned on later this morning.
If 8m is disappointing and few stations are active this Es season, I shall probably QSY to 10m FT8 next week. If the Es looks really good, I shall go on 8m again and on 4m FT8.
My 8m "experiment" was to find out how effective a very simple QRP station could be. For this lots of monitors are needed. Sadly, I think there are fewer people on than in the last Es season, at least so far. I was hoping 8m would be busy with WSPR and FT8 beacons from stations without a licence operating under ISM rules.
UPDATE 1446z: Good Es today in central Europe!
4m - underused
Yesterday I went on 4m for the activity contest and on FT8.
My conclusion is 4m is underused, at least outside the Es season. If you are thinking about getting on 4m you might be disappointed.
18 May 2023
6m FT8 (Thursday)
Quite late (1945z) I QSYed to 6m FT8. Just 5 Gs spotting me.
 |
| Stations spotting me on 6m FT8 this evening |
4m FT8 (Thursday)
Whilst waiting for the 4m activity contest to start I went on 4m FT8. G3WCS (223km) spotted me pretty well. even though I was using the low 8m dipole via the auto-ATU in the rig.
After proving the rig/antenna worked OK on 4m SSB, I have returned to 4m FT8. At the moment just G3WCS is copying me.
UPDATE 1951z: When I checked back on SSB activity later, I could copy few stations, so I went back to 4m FT8. Just G3WCS spotting me, so I QSYed to 6m FT8.
8m QRP WSPR (Thursday)
At about 1550z, I changed to 8m WSPR. I am running 2W on 40.680 MHz (20% RX, DF about 1550 Hz in the WSPR window). Already spotted by HC02 (1808km) in S.Portugal quite well. Nobody spotted on RX. I shall probably be on until about 1845z.
Rallies
The following rallies are due this weekend. I always advise checking before going far.
Sunday May 21st - RetrotechUK. Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL. Contact jezzer3@hotmail.com
Sunday May 21st - Dunstable Downs Radio Club Annual Rally, Luton (No postcode or contact details given).
4m UKAC tonight
As you can tell, I seem to back losers!! A reminder that the 4m activity contest is on tonight starting at 1900z (8pm UK clock time). I hope to come on and maybe work someone.
Oh look, there goes another flying pig! 😁
10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)
On 10m QRP (500mW) WSPR TX. Spots look like local and F2 so far.
UPDATE 1537z: It looks like we are seeing (at last) a widespread Es opening in Europe.
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