8m disappointment

It is very disappointing that, in the UK, we have to pay to do research at 8m. In the USA, they appear to have stopped permits for 8m altogether!

In the past the RSGB would have "fought our corner" with OFCOM, who would probably have granted, on application, a very narrow, perhaps time limited, 8m amateur band by NoV for a dedicated few. Instead those of us that want to do genuine 8m propagation research have to pay!!

As sunspot numbers decline, such NoVs would have less value.

All this has left a very bad taste in my mouth. When my current (paid for!) 8m TX permit expires I have no intention of renewing it.

Self training and research??

Quantum entanglement - NOT amateur radio

A very long time ago I did quantum mechanics as part of my degree. One of the things I remember is that all things can be described as a wave function that exists in all space and all time. This is a strange idea to grasp. There is a video that tries to explain quantum entanglement.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on after breakfast.

UPDATE 1324z: No spots. After all this time, I am puzzled. The DC power is connected, the antenna is connected, I thought time was sync'd. I have re-sync'd time to see what's happening. I notice Angola is being worked from the UK on 6m FT8 , so I am surprised by the total absence of 10m WSPR spots.

UPDATE 1358z: Still no spots.

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My IC-705 set at 6W was turned on just after breakfast.

UPDATE 1258z:  13 UK stations spotting me.

Weak signal modes

One of the questions people ask is how effective various weak signal modes are.  This link may provide some answers. This table is extracted from the article.

Sunspots - Sunday March 30th

 Solar flux is 157 and the SSN 107. A=9 and K=2.

Oscar 100

This geosynchronous satellite has been up now for several years. Many would like a "solution in one box", which is almost possible with the DX Patrol full duplex unit. You still need rigs for TX,RX, a fixed dish and LNB plus a GPS antenna. Overall, it is still not cheap.

There  is a video of this from TX Factor.

Powerful autocrats - NOT amateur radio

There is an interesting piece in The Knowledge today about the most powerful men in the world (Putin, Trump, Erdogan and Xi Jinping). 

They all seem to have had a difficult childhood. In some way they all seem to be "damaged" people.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

 My 500mW stand-alone WSPR beacon has been on since about 1410z.

UPDATE 1437z:  No spots yet.

UPDATE 1449z:  Mind you, it helps to turn the PSU on! Still no spots.

UPDATE 1911z: Just EA8BFK (2880km) and TA4/G8SCU (3010km) spotting me.

6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

Since about 1410z, I have been on 6m FT8 with my IC-705 at 6W.

UPDATE 1453z:  6 English stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1912z:  16 stations have spotted me including one in Germany. QRT soon.

8m permits in the USA?

If I am correct 8m TX permits in the USA are granted by the FCC.  With all the changes in the USA of late, I am wondering if 8m permits in the USA are more, or less, likely?  

In my view the FCC in the USA and OFCOM in the UK have been stupid over 8m.

Old trees - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo, taken a few days ago, shows some dead trees near a river in the nearby village of Lode.

Western Democracy - NOT amateur radio

 If I was in Africa looking for a politics to follow would I look towards the USA currently? The USA (sadly) comes across as a big bullying nation at present. I say sadly as EVERY person I have ever met from the USA has been kind and generous, in the true spirit of democracy.

Whilst I understand that free trade means lower costs and making things where labour costs are low, I cannot believe that making everything in the USA will be as low cost for consumers. Also, why fall out with your friends and allies?

None of us is perfect I do accept.

10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My IC-705 at 6W was turned on at about 0930z. So far, mostly eastern Europe and Middle East stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1413z:  67 stations have spotted me on 4 continents.

Putin portrait of President Trump - NOT amateur radio

Apparently (according to the BBC)  President Trump has received a portrait of himself sent by Vladimir Putin.

Changed market

Since the FT817 was introduced about a quarter of a century ago a lot has changed. At that time Yaesu had a totally unique product that sold really well across the world.

These days there are several competitors and the Chinese are coming up fast.

In my view Yaesu are now playing "catch up" and the longer they delay getting the FTX-1F to market, the harder it will be.

Sunspots - Saturday March 29th

 Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 80. A=16 and K=3.

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

Until I left university, I lived in South Devon, not far from where the photo was taken. I have definitely been hereabouts since the mid 1500s (family history research) and probably for thousands of years before that.  On the promontory in the distance is an iron age fort. One of my distant ancestors probably manned it!

Although I have lived in East Anglia for most of my life, I still feel my spiritual home is in South Devon.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolt_Tail .

zBitx

This radio represents incredible value for money. It is available ready built from India. Even if you add duty and VAT it is still remarkable value.

Satellites

 Years back I recall receiving North Americans via Oscar 6 and 7 late at night when the passes were favourable, tracking the passes with a hand made device that showed the passes and what I might expect to hear. Usually the passes were brief of about 10 minutes.

Apparently Oscar 7 is still working after all this time.