Bouvet DXpedition 2023

It is a very long time since DXCC was chased.  10m DXCC was managed with QRP SSB back in the 1980s. Ever since it has not appealed to me.

Next January (January 2023), there is supposed to be a DXpedition to Bouvet. This is in the South Atlantic Ocean and is the most remote uninhabited island in the world. It is owned by Norway.  The callsign is meant to be 3Y0J (I think). DXCC chasers will be going mad to work this station. No doubt I shall stand back and leave them to shout! Can you imagine the pile ups?!! Somehow I can imagine those with big beams and big linears will be shouting very loudly! Let's hope the operators like wind, penguins and seals.

The photo attribution is the International Space Station crew, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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

Sunspots - Sunday December 11th 2022

Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 111. A=8 and K=2. 

Bah humbug - NOT amateur radio

This was the Grand Arcade in Cambridge a few days ago gearing up for Christmas. 

At least, the lights cheer us all up at a dark time of the year. They say Christmas was originally a Pagan festival.

Frosty morning - NOT amateur radio

When I first came to Cambridge in the early 1970s, it was cold and frosty in the winter. Snow, when it occurred, usually lasted for several days. These days, snow is rare and frosts are infrequent. The climate is milder. 

These last few days it has been exceptionally cold. The photo was taken a few days ago outside our bungalow. It is extremely cold (for us) at the moment, although we have escaped most of the snow.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 Despite being on QRP FT8 most of the day, no spots.

Someone else to do 8m ISM tests locally

Another local ham is to do tests on the 8m ISM bands. 

Once the weather gets better, he is doing some 10mW ERP tests (using his signal generator) to me across the fens. Hopefully I can receive him.  He usually very strong on 2m FM with 25W. I think he erecting an 8m dipole for these tests. Antenna work needs better weather!

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

It is now 1002z. I am again be on 10m QRP WSPR with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1023z:  2 spots so far today. It looks as if I am again reaching the Canary Isles.

UPDATE 1512z:   10 unique stations have spotted me.

VLF tests 2010

This was 2010 when I did some earth-mode VLF tests out in the Fens. 

Sunspots - Saturday December 10th 2022

Solar flux is 149 and the SSN 116. A=11 and K=2.

Christmas visit - NOT amateur radio

 

My wife's brother and his wife came for lunch. They are staying nearby with one of their sons.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Although I have been on most of the day, no spots on RX or TX.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

 Once again, I am on WSPR QRP TX (500mW) with my W5OLF beacon. The usual spots from the Canary Is, that I assume are by F2. Yesterday, my QRP WSPR on 10m was spotted by 8 unique stations including the USA and Canada. Transatlantic spots are almost daily.

UPDATE 1609z:  So far today, 11 spots of my 10m QRP WSPR.

Where I come from in South Devon

This is where I come from in South Devon. We have lived hereabouts for over 500 years for certain and probably for thousands of years. 

8m ISM research

 OFCOM has still to come back to me about legal operation in the 8m ISM band and self certification if there is no intention to market a product and the intention is simply research. I expect their lawyers need to be consulted first!! 

UPDATE 1616z:  Bingo!!! A definitive statement from OFCOM if you comply with IR2030 you do not need to apply for a licence in the ISM bands. These are OFCOM's exact words

"If it is radio equipment intended for telecommunications research purposes it may be possible to obtain an innovation and trials licence from Ofcom.

You can find more details on this here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/non-operational-licences  

 

If it conforms to the usage conditions laid down in IR 2030 you don’t need to apply for a licence. Regarding conformity of the equipment to other requirements, e.g. required for the marketing of products, or any potential liability to comply with those requirements, e.g. whether it is deemed as placed on the market / put into service, etc, isn’t something Ofcom can advise on.

 

Guidance on this aspect is published by the UK Government here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-market-conformity-assessment-bodies or you should seek your own independent advice."

Will it catch on?

This photo was a FB memory from a few years ago. Bet you are filled with envy!! 😉

Sunspots - Friday December 9th 2022

Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 115.  A=11 and K=2.

OFCOM consulting on some changes to short range devices licence exempt rules

OFCOM is consulting on some changes it is proposing on its licence exempt SRD regulations. As far as I can see these affect some microwave allocations. This affects the Spectrum Licensing Regulations. See the OFCOM website for details. 

EME

As pointed out in his earlier comment, John Regnualt, G4SWX, who is the RSGB's VHF manager, has directed us to a truly excellent website all about EME (earth-moon-earth) communication. 

John is an expert on EME communication and got his 2m DXCC some years ago. As far as I am concerned this is really good experimental work, no doubt having spent some time optimising his EME station.

To have success in EME requires hard work and dedication.  By comparison, I am a "fireside fusilier" in that I am gunner do this and gunner do that. It looks like John is not!!

See https://www.ok2kkw.com/eme1960/eme1960eng.htm .

QRSS or WSPR?

Although WSPR comes in several guises and speeds, I have no idea how QRSS (slow CW) compares with WSPR. Maybe Googling will tell me the answer.

For very low power (QRPP), one of these modes is probably better. WSPR has the advantage of being widely reported via WSPRnet.  Certainly very slow WSPR is probably better than QRSS at reasonable speeds.

The answer is probably the same as, "how long is a piece of string?", but any pointers would be appreciated.

ISM rules?

Although I am pretty sure that in the UK people can use the ISM bands for research without a licence, as long as they personally ensure conformity to any technical requirements and IR2030, I have asked OFCOM to confirm this. I am awaiting a response.  My thoughts are it is easier for OFCOM just to confirm this than ask, "is this legal?".

At 8m this means a beacon can not be more than 10mW ERP. We already know this can cover a local area well on WSPR and could probably be copied in Europe by Es.

What happens in your country is not known.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My FT8 on 40.680 MHz was turned on at 1003z. No spots. Running 2.5W to the low wire dipole.

10m WSPR QRP (Thursday)

 My 500mW beacon was turned on at 1000z. No spots yet at 1006z.

UPDATE 1043z:  Lots of spots from the Canary Isles of me again.

UPDATE 1235z: 3 stations now spotting me. No USA yet.

2m FT8 activity contest

Stations on 2m FT8 RX last evening

Yesterday evening was the 2m FT8 activity contest. I worked 2 stations, but over 50 were received here including EI, GI, ON and PA (see map). 

The other map shows where I was spotted with 2.5W FT8 and the big-wheel omni antenna.

Stations spotting my 2.5W FT8 on 2m with the omni antenna

Poster - NOT amateur radio

Every year my wife creates a kitchen poster. This is the 11th. 

It usually has pictures of friends, grandchildren, sons etc. She has been doing these since 2012. 

It is amazing to see how people change.

There are several companies we could use. You do the layout and upload digital images. 

Arecibo dish

Back in 1964 (corrected - thanks John!), the amateur community benefited from 2m and 70cm EME QSOs using the huge dish in Puerto Rico usually used for astronomy research. At the time it was the biggest radio telescope in the world. Many people managed EME QSOs that would have been impossible with smaller antennas.

Sadly the antenna collapsed and will not be rebuilt.

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

Sunspots - Thursday December 8th 2022

Solar flux is 148 and the SSN 107. A=18 and K=3.

Geminids meteor shower

This normally peaks in mid December. Usually, the ionised trails result in enhanced VHF propagation during short bursts. MSK144 is often a good mode as signals may be strong, but short lived. Better equipped stations experience better bursts for longer. 

This time, I may try 8m MSK144 during the shower.

See https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/ .

KST chat

Personally, I find this very useful. 

When I remember, I share my current 8m activity so people know where to watch for me. 8m activity is on the 50 and 70 MHz chats.

I see others use it to arrange skeds.

See http://www.on4kst.info/chat/index.php .

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

Later I hope to go on 8m QRP FT8. No spots on 8m yesterday. If the MUF goes high enough today, I am in with a chance of reaching the USA again. 

Chances of a tiny 8m UK amateur band look slim, even by NoV.

UPDATE 1242z:  On 40.680 MHz QRP FT8. No spots.

8m FT8 spots
of me today

UPDATE 1807z:  2 spots of me today and I have spotted a single station on 8m FT8 RX. Sadly, it looks like I did not reach the USA on 8m today.

UPDATE 1833z:  I asked the RSGB about a tiny 8m amateur band. Reading the email reply this is very unlikely in the UK. Those in the UK who want to continue with 8m propagation research will have to get T&I licences. These cost £50 for a year. Many might be able to use ISM regulations that allow 10mW ERP without a licence. I have asked OFCOM for clarification on the ISM rules.

Crab prize - NOT amateur radio

Ten years ago I was staying in Devon with my brother. We attended the local history society where I won this huge dressed crab as a raffle prize. It was too large to take home, but my sister-in-law made some excellent crab sandwiches!

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

Shortly I'll be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 

UPDATE 1113z:  Just spots of me from the Canary Isles so far today.

St John's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows the main entrance to St John's College, Cambridge on Monday. 

Sunspots - Wednesday December 7th 2022

Solar flux is 144 and the SSN 123. A=4 and K =0.

OFCOM and mobile data

OFCOM has consulted on spectrum for mobile data. See the OFCOM website for details. 

8m amateur band?

Recently I approached the RSGB to enquire about their position on a very tiny 8m amateur band (just 5 kHz wide) by NoV. The response from the VHF manager was to point me to the RSGB's statement back in March. At this rate experimenters will again have to pay to do research on 8m in 2023 in the UK. It sounds like both the RSGB and OFCOM are dead against even a tiny 8m amateur band. To me, this is illogical. 

By some means I intend to continue my 8m propagation research in 2023.

Also sought was clarification on research in the ISM bands in the UK from OFCOM. Their reply on this is awaited.

It would be really good if true researchers could gain access to 8m without having to pay, especially around solar maximum when there is so much to be explored.

It would be really good if many more stations and countries were permitted access to the 8m band, ideally FT8 with 40.680 USB dial. More stations would certainly make research more interesting.

Once again, this is about research and self training, which is surely what our hobby is really about? 

Personally, I am not particularly interested in 2-way communications at 8m. What interests me is radio science, particularly propagation.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)

 For about and hour or so, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. 6 unique stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE  1443z: 10 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

 For about an hour, I have been on 8m QRP FT8. It is on 40.680 MHz but I am TXing second (running 2.5W) in the hope of being spotted in the USA. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1446z: No spots.

Some amazing numbers - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday was the last lecture on cosmology as part of my U3A sessions in Cambridge. We heard some truly staggering numbers which I shall share here.

• There are at least 100000000000 (100 billion) galaxies in the observable universe.
• Each galaxy contains at least 100s of billions of stars.
• The universe is mostly empty space.
• 5% of the universe is atomic matter. The rest is mostly dark matter or dark energy. We do not know what these are.
• Many stars have planetary systems.
• The universe is at least 41 billion light years across.

It was an interesting series of lectures, but my "take away" thought is just how little we really know.  Many of the theories fit, but many are incomplete.  Some theories involve multiple universes.  We really know nothing. Humans are a speck.

Back in the 1960s there was a series of books by Eric von Daniken. His basic theory (I seem to recall) was religious events were the result of visits from other worlds of beings different from us. Events at those times long ago were interpreted as supernatural. Remember, we still believed in witches just a few centuries ago!   Now, I am not saying he was right, but it an interesting thought.

What I do know, is that whatever we think now is most probably wrong. It is our interpretation of things by our (small) human brains. The truth is we do not know. All we can do is live kindly. Most religions have kindness to others at their hearts.

Plans for Tuesday

At lunch I intend to go on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz in the second TX period. As many in the USA seem to be TX in the first period, this may help my chances of being spotted over there with my 2.5W and low dipole. Yesterday I was first period and spotted by 2 in England and 1 in Eire.

I also intend to go on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon.

Sunspots - Tuesday December 6th 2022

 Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 89. A=8 and K=1