My online application for a time and power limited access to the 8m band is with OFCOM and the RSGB. OFCOM has acknowledged receipt. No doubt it will take months to process. I hope it is successful.
I note that the OFCOM NoV application form has a tickbox to say the RSGB approves. I guess without this they immediately reject it.
At about 0745z, I turned on 10m FT8 RX. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 1222z: 59 spots on RX so far with the furthermost ZS6RHL (9089km). Most propagation on 10m now appears to be by F2.
This evening, I went on 2m SSB with 10W and the big-wheel omni antenna. I was on for about 30 minutes. GD was heard, but not worked. I stopped early because of my poor voice after working 6 stations.
As usual, OFCOM has updated its "Communications Monthly" with the latest statistics it holds. See the OFCOM website for details.
As I was away, I missed the last one, but hope to be on Tuesday evening. Usually I run 2.5W to my omni big-wheel antenna for about an hour. It is organised by the RSGB. Friendly and fun. Not like an HF contest!
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2021&contest=2mukac .
Since about 1315z, I have been on 10m FT8 RX using the simple 10FT8R receiver.
So far, just 1 station spotted at 1322z on PSKreporter maps - a local G0VQH (13km).
UPDATE 1342z: 5 stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX with the furthermost EA8AXT (2996km).
UPDATE 1712z: 40 stations spotted today with furthermost 4X4OQ (3615km).
UPDATE 2126z: QRT.
Some secret papers have just been leaked. They seem to confirm that many politicians the world over are corrupt. All along, I have thought how few are in politics for the greater good. Whatever a politician says, do not believe it! This seems to be the message. Sad. There is some explaining to be done.
Having heard nothing extra, I propose to complete and submit my 8m NoV application tomorrow. Let's hope this is successful.
A reminder, OFCOM now does NoVs online and wants a sketch of the proposed antenna and ERP to ensure public safety. I would be amazed if this is an issue.
At about 0845z, my 10FT8R was turned on on 10m FT8 RX. No spots yet after 5 minutes.
UPDATE 1100z: 7 stations spotted, with furthermost IW8PQ (1928km) in Italy.
UPDATE 1235z: 13 stations around Europe spotted so far on RX.
UPDATE 2110z: 87 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. QRT.
Whilst playing with the 10FT8R something occurred to me. With FT8, oscillators only have to be stable over 15 seconds. Many free running HF oscillators are far more stable than this even long term.
So, I think the crystal can be replaced by a just a tuned circuit making this receiver work on any HF FT8 frequency. All that really matters is reasonable long term stability and good short-term stability. All that's required is to scale the RF tuned circuit (one tuned circuit) and set the oscillator to half the FT8 frequency needed. I have not tried this but cannot see why it should not work.
This may work as high as VHF where I have made free running oscillators work even on 2m.
Do not be afraid to experiment!
This should make the whole receiver very low cost indeed. It would not surprise me if many can make the entire RX for less than the cost of one coffee out.
472kHz WSPR RX beckoned this evening, but I decided to watch TV instead. Funny how it suddenly seems to have gone dark at night and we have moved into "winter mode".
As a benchmark, I want to try first with the original design, then swap crystals but without the toroid near the crystal. I should be able to net the crystal without the toroid.
The simple direct conversion RX uses a Polyakov mixer with injection at half fequency.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
UPDATE 1400z: As expected, the even simpler circuit around the crystal works fine with plenty of South American stations immediately spotted. The map shows the stations spotted in just the last 30 minutes on the 10FT8R with the simpler circuit (no toroid) and a 14.037MHz crystal. It works. The revised circuit is shown on the photo, without the crystal T50 toroid.
50 years later I am bald and much different. Where did the years go?
It is a very long time since I chased DX. If I work DX these days it by accident. To some people, chasing DX is their main focus in the hobby. The ARRL has a weekly DX bulletin than some may feel useful.
See http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive/ARLD039/2021 . There is also an archive of past bulletins.
At 0700z I went QRT on 10m FT8 RX and QSYed to 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Furthermost is SM6NOC (1056km).
On RX it is excellent copying 10m FT8 the world over. It does not (yet) work on TX, but I am sure this is "finger trouble" with the PC that I have to get to grips with. I am doing something wrong I suspect.
Steve G1KQH has just sent me an eBay link to yet another multi-band HF SSB SDR transceiver from China. This retails for about £115! How do they do it and make money?
Jason M0NYW has just forwarded me some 14.037MHz crystals that came originally from Jay W5OLF. These are for use in my ultra simple 10FT8R receiver for 10m FT8. This should simplify the oscillator and allow me to remove a toroid inductor. I hope to try this shortly.
I have just received the latest newsletter from a major UK dealer. It included 2 products that seem pointless to me! For over £115 you can have a box that disconnects the antenna. For £190 you can automatically disconnect and ground 2 antennas. Surely you can just unplug antennas? Am I missing something here?
Sorry, but this seems to be another way for the manufacturer and dealer to make money from gullible people or people with deep pockets. I for one will not be rushing...
Early next week I propose to send the final version of my application online to OFCOM. If you have any views on how it could be improved, please tell me over the weekend. The latest draft can be viewed via my website at https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band . I hope this will be successful and that next Es season we can see more countries active on 8m.
FT8 looks the best mode as there are plenty of potential monitors, FT8 works with weak signals (although Es is often strong) and it is already supported by PSKreporter. All one has to do is park your RX on the right 8m frequency and wait. With luck, we can all be on FT8 within the same small chunk of the band so just a single FT8 frequency can be monitored.
UPDATE 0904z: My widebanded FT817ND does TX on 8m. Just tried it with a dummy load. At first I tuned up from 10m, but it went to 100kHz after I reached 33MHz. Then I tuned down from 6m and all was well.
UPDATE 1645z: NoVs can be applied for online. As is to be expected, OFCOM is very keen to see that the general public, including neighbours, are safe. They require a sketch of the proposed antenna location and an EMF assessment. Running 10W or less to a dipole with a duty cycle on a 50% , I cannot imagine this being an issue. See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/51198/ofw306.pdf for their form.
Since just before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX. It is now 0813z. So far 3 stations have been spotted with the furthermost 4Z4WD (3561km). I suspect this is via F2 propagation.
UPDATE 0845z: 22 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. It looks like F2 and tropo propagation modes this morning.
UPDATE 1233z: Stations widely spotted by F2 on 10m FT8 RX. So far today, 68 stations spotted. The furthermost is YB6MIX (10252km).
We go for walks in nearby Anglesey Abbey most months. This is a photo of the main house. The property is owned by the National Trust.
