11 Nov 2022
Autumn 10 years ago - NOT amateur radio
Prices for amateur radio gear
Just had the latest email from a major UK dealer and I see that prices for second hand gear seem expensive. I am not sure if these have recently gone up, or if they have always been high. I was aware of certain prices rises on new gear.
Times are hard for us all, and there is less money around for discretionary spending. People are using most of what they have for food, fuel and heating. In times like these being a dealer cannot be great, so I have some sympathy. On the other hand, you want people still to be buying. It is getting the balance right. Profits are necessary, but you cannot afford to ask too much.
OFCOM data on us
As usual, OFCOM has updated the information it holds on us. See their website for details.
DX soundbites
10m QRP SSB DXCC was achieved over 30 years ago, so I no longer actively chase DX. If I chance on DX that is fine, but I cannot see the point of just going after it purely for another tick. 8m is different as this is real radio science.
These days I am far more interested in radio propagation. My favourite HF band remains 10m. Antennas are small and when it is wide open the world can be worked with low power on SSB..
Mostly I am on WSPR or FT8 because of my poor voice. I am told fewer people are on SSB these days. Chasing DX on FT8 seems to be the favourite activity. I guess there is less need for amateur radio for those just wanting to chat. Some years ago there was little choice.
If you want to know what some DX sounds like you may want to look at this site.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/dx-soundbites-2020 .
8m QRP FT8
Hoping to reach the USA again, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my modified FT817ND and low wire dipole. So far today, no spots.
UPDATE 1500z: No spots.
10m 500mW WSPR TX
As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 500mW TX with my W5OLF beacon. It is now 1141z and, so far today, 12 unique stations have spotted my QRP.
UPDATE 2200z: 29 spots of me today on 10m WSPR TX.
10 Nov 2022
Pye Telecom PF8
Many years ago, I was involved in the design of the PF8. In the end, I do not think too many were sold. The antenna was my design as well as the TX audio.
One has appeared on eBay untested . The last time I looked it was £225!! I should have kept one!
It gained fame as it was used by Bodie and Doyle in the TV series "The Professionals". Style wise it was well ahead of its time.
These are rare these days, but some were converted to work on 70cm. If you can find one, good luck!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/pye-pf8 .
10m QRP WSPR
As my 10m antenna was available, I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the W5OLF 500mW beacon. So far this morning, I have been spotted by 10 unique stations with the furthermost FR5ZX (9740km).
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| Stations spotting me by 1714z |
8m FT8 QRP
As an experiment, I went on QRP 40.680 MHz FT8 briefly. No spots.
UPDATE 1425z: No spots today.
Don't you just HATE this crappery? - NOT amateur radio
This just came in from Google. Why can't they just say they are changing instead of this stupid, stupid language?
" A reminder that we are sunsetting Universal Analytics"
Perhaps they will soon be saying they are dawning the replacement. 😊
70cm FT8 activity contest
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 last night with the 2m omni |
Last night was the 70cm FT8 activity contest. I continue to be amazed by how far stations can be copied with just a 2m omni. I am sure some sort of scatter is involved. In all, 5 stations were worked and my 5W to the 2m big-wheel was widely spotted.
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| Stations spotting my 5W to the 2m big-wheel on 70cm FT8 last night |
OFCOM spectrum roadmap
OFCOM has released its latest Spectrum Roadmap. See the OFCOM website for details. Yet again, the bias is towards microwaves and users that pay.
All I am asking for is a more open and tolerant attitude to radio amateurs who seek to "self train" and do research possibly on new chunks of the radio spectrum. I see little evidence.
The document starts:
"The radio spectrum (the invisible waves that enable wireless technology)...."
Hmm.
Plans for today (Thursday)
At the moment my plan is to go on 8m FT8 QRP at about 1230z hoping to be spotted in the USA. I do not plan to go on 10m FT8 RX although I might go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon.
9 Nov 2022
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
My signal did not span the Atlantic today, but I was spotted in a new country - Denmark. I have lost count how many countries my QRP signal has been spotted in.
Doorway - NOT amateur radio
ISM bands legal operation
In some countries, people operate beacons to study radio propagation without needing a licence in the ISM bands. In the UK, such operation is unclear, so I have asked OFCOM to clarify. As I only asked yesterday I am not expecting an answer soon.
My question was:
"May I legally operate a test beacon, to investigate radio propagation, without a licence in the ISM bands at low power? If legal, at what power?"
Whatever the answer, I shall post it here.
In the meantime, this link seems to give a fair summary of legal ISM operation.
My reading indicates that at 8m one can use 10mW ERP legally under the short range devices legislation without a licence, but I do not know about type approvals. Can none type approved gear be used without a licence in the ISM bands in the UK?
8 Nov 2022
70cm activity contest (UKAC)
Poplars and duckweed - NOT amateur radio
Every year all the duckweed on the mill leat is cleared. They are doing it now.
10m QRP WSPR TX (remembered!)
As I am on 8m FT8, my 10m antenna is free, so I have gone on 10m 500mW WSPR TX with my W5OLF beacon. Yes, I remembered!
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| Spots of me at 1346z |
UPDATE 1346z: So far, spotted by 9 unique stations.
UPDATE 1537z: Spotted by 16 unique stations today.
8m QRP FT8 TX (first) and RX
As 10m was looking good, I have QSYed to 8m (40.680) FT8 TX and RX.
UPDATE 1430z: It looks like today is going to be disappointing for me on 8m. No spots of me or of others today. I am still on, but will probably go QRT later. I think conditions have to be really good for me to be copied in the USA on 8m.
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| 8m monitors active this afternoon |
10m FT8 RX
I have been on 10m FT8 RX for about 20 minutes (it is now 1045z) and, so far, 129 stations have been spotted.
At this rate, I shall definitely be trying 8m QRP FT8 later.
UPDATE 1127z: 234 stations spotted today.
AA7EE's blog
Dave has some excellent stuff. He is really into simple, low powered beacons and makes some magnificent assemblies using Me-Pads and Me-Squares.
Amateur radio kits
It is very hard to make money selling amateur radio kits. Some try and then fail quietly to disappear for ever.
Some (especially from China) appear very low cost. Some of these are fine, but some are poor with unclear instructions and errors. If buying these, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). My advice is look at what others have said first. If you are not sure do not spend money!
One of the very best has been QRP-Labs, by Hans Summers. His kits have been around for many years and are of high quality. They sell fast. Hans is a bright man. Unlike many, he really understands.
If you are considering getting a kit, think about what you are buying. Will they be here next year? Will the quality be what you expect? What if there are issues? Do they understand English? Can you communicate with them?
Plans for today (Tuesday)
This morning I intend to go on 10m FT8 RX. At lunch time I will QSY to 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 if things are promising.
7 Nov 2022
Not on the radio today (Monday)
As I was out most of the day at my Cosmology lecture at the University of the Third Age in Cambridge (given by an ex Cambridge mathematician), I decided not to go on the radio at all today. My overriding thought is, "this cannot be the whole story". We really understand so little.
Following Murphy's Law, there were several transatlantic 8m FT8 QSOs today! Hopefully, I shall be on tomorrow and conditions might support 8m FT8 QSOs. Compared with better equipped stations, I am probably at least 10dB down. To achieve a transatlantic FT8 QSO, I probably need conditions to be very good. At least I know my signal can reach the USA judging by results last week.
The Earth as a living organism? - NOT amateur radio
At first this seems a crazy idea. In some ways it is less so. Certainly it is worthy of some thought.
For a long time I have been puzzled by scale. The world of sub-atomic particles and the sheer vastness of the universe seem so remote from each other. I have often wondered if our concepts of space and time are wrong. Perhaps the universe (or some universes) are actually in what we perceive as the micro world? What if every cell and atom in our body is a whole universe? We are used to thinking of things on the scale that we know.
A quote from the article:
"Earth seems to be stuck at a stage called an “immature technosphere.” This is a scenario where technological activity has fully developed and taken root — yet it’s not yet harmoniously integrated with other systems, such as the physical environment. It is important to integrate these two spheres, for only when the biological and technological processes are in sync can we ensure productivity and human’s future on this planet."
What's so interesting? - NOT amateur radio
Something is fascinating them!
137kHz (2200m)
It is a very long time since I was on this LF band.
On TX, I have used my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and a loop in the garden made with 0.2mm diameter multi-strand wire. Thicker wire would have been better.
On TX I used a QRSS beacon or a transverter, both home designed. I have been copied overseas. My transverter is shown on my video channel and on my main website.
For RX only, the antenna can be very small e.g. an e-field probe, also described on my main website.
6 Nov 2022
10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
When on 8m FT8, I keep forgetting that I can go on 10m WSPR as this uses a different antenna and does not need the PC.
At about 1555z, I went on 10m QRP WSPR with my W5OLF 500mW WSPR beacon. I could have gone on hours earlier.
UPDATE 1609z: 4 WSPR spots from the USA and Canada.
Lithium-Ion batteries
Since I retired in 2008, technology may have moved on. What I recall was li-ion batteries were a nightmare.
Failures were, thankfully, rare but when they occurred they could be very bad. At a guess I would say 1 in 150000 failed. This does not sound too bad, but how many are out there in laptops and other devices? I know of at least one person who had her flat totally destroyed when she was charging a li-ion battery pack.
If abused, the batteries can catch fire and explode. For this reason I never ever leave li-ion batteries charging unattended. Assume they are potential bombs.
See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-63532906 .
I am sure many incidents in the past were brushed under the carpet as product recalls could be extremely expensive.
These batteries can be misused. Treat them with the greatest respect.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
Yet again, I am trying to get spotted in the USA on 8m. A QSO would be amazing! So far, I have been on about an hour, but no spots. With my 5W and low dipole, it has to be good to be spotted.
UPDATE 1557z: No spots. QRT on 8m.
Miniature UHF transceiver
See https://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio/handheld-radio/all-handhelds .
I have no idea about guarantees, extras and programming. MLS have given me good service in the past, but I wonder why the price is so different? Surely MLS could sell this for far less and still make a good profit?
As you know, I am all for dealers making fair margins.
You can even get three from Ali Express with shipping from China for less!
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