As I am out this morning, I am on 8m FT8 RX only at the moment.
UPDATE 1436z: Now home I am on 8m QRP FT8 TX and looking for QSOs. Six stations have spotted me so far.
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| Stations spotting me today on QRP FT8 TX |
In many ways November is the dullest month with miserable days and few lights. At least after Christmas the days start to get longer and there are a few positive signs.
8m is a great research band and it is a great pity more PTTs are not granting amateur radio access. Instead, in many countries people have to pay to do research.
In a few years, the conditions will be very different. Now is the best time to do propagation research.
You are probably unaware of just how subtly we are subject to propaganda.
The "others" are always the "bad guys" and we are the "good". Actually, the truth is somewhere in between. Many times in history we have been the "bad guys". Remember we are subject to propaganda as well, although we may not realise it.
The answer is get your data from multiple sources, often with radically different ways of seeing a situation. In reality, the truth is an amalgamation of inputs from various sources.
Don't believe at face value what you are being fed in the news.
My 2.5W to a low wire dipole in on. So far spotted by G4FKI (60km) only on TX. Just 9K2YM (4721km) spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1511z: 16 stations have spotted my 8m FT8 today. When the sunspots are good 8m behaves like 10m.
As yesterday was so successful, I think I shall do the same as yesterday i.e. 500mW 10m WSPR TX and 2.5W 8m FT8. Let's hope for more E-W F2 propagation on 10m and 8m,
Bo OZ2M reports that a number of OZ stations are now active on 8m using a LMR licence that has to be paid for and applied for. There are some restrictions.
I am totally surprised that so many PTTs seem dead against even a very narrow amateur radio 8m band, especially around solar maximum when much propagation research would be possible.
Perhaps they will grant it ....too late, years after solar maximum! I can imagine many committees, quangos and much bureaucracy!
I am told that this website often has the latest news on amateur radio. Perhaps we can just look at the photos or use Google translate!
See https://www.hamlife.jp/ .
One of the things that those in the USA seem to be excited about is "the American dream".
This seems to be a belief that anyone can "make it" under capitalism. It is interesting that in the states of the old Yugoslavia, most I have met preferred it when all had a house and a job under Tito's liberal communism. Society was fairer.
Now, no system is faultless, but I am not in favour of greedy capitalism if this means trampling over others. I cannot condone any form of society where the rich get richer at the expense of the poor.
Yes, all should have equal opportunity, but I want to live in a fair society, where wealth and privilege do not bestow advantage.
In my view everyone is equal, whether you are a king or dustbin collector.
My 40.680 MHz FT8 (2.5W to wire dipole) is active. G4FKI (60km) has spotted me. On RX I have spotted G9PUV(158km) and S57TW (1236km).
One of the aspects that I enjoyed was seeing how few parts were needed to make QSOs. This is one of the simplest circuits.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .
The owner of MFJ, Martin Jue, has retired. In my view, other amateur radio players will go.
Years ago I owned an MFJ Cub 15m QRP CW transceiver.
On the DX Explorer website is a series of videos about building and testing this rig. He mentions that it is no longer available. I must ch...
