Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

18 Dec 2022

8m problem solved

It was the coax plug that was faulty, so issue now fixed.

Sunspots - Sunday December 18th 2022

Solar flux is 155 and the SSN 139. A=2 and K=0.

17 Dec 2022

Just before Christmas we like to have an "at home" day when the neighbours can pop in for a drink and nibbles. Because of Covid this has not been possible since 2019. It was so nice to have them around again.

This was one of the reasons I did not get around to fixing my 8m antenna/coax issue today. Maybe tomorrow?

8m - military influence?

For some time now, there has been speculation about just why the FCC and OFCOM are so much against even a small amateur allocation at 8m. It is not as if they are neutral. The clear impression is they are dead against this.

One possibility is that the military are doing their best to keep the "riffraff" out.

Even recent experimental licences in the USA have been turned down. It is almost as if the real reason for refusals is being hidden.

One possibility is that officials in OFCOM and the FCC have signed the Official Secrets Act or it equivalent and cannot reveal the full truth without fearing prosecution.

Logically, a tiny 8m band could help research. I am convinced we are not being told the whole truth. I suspect the 40.66-40.70 MHz ISM band is a real embarrassment.

I wonder if OFCOM will renew my 8m permit?

Extreme QRP?

In my emails today was the Elecraft Newsletter.

One of the articles was about "extreme QRP". This looks interesting I thought, only find out it was about 1W. To my mind extreme QRP is microwatts, not watts. I would have been more impressed if this person had got spots with 100uW rather than 1W!!

From my own tests years ago, well below 1W can get spots.

I know of at least one person who has been spotted across the planet with 20mW on 30m.

Salcombe, Devon - NOT amateur radio

In the late 1960s, I worked as a barman in the Great Gates Hotel in Salcombe, Devon during my summer vacation from university. This hotel was converted to flats many years ago. It had a great view, as you can see from the photo.

My future wife washed dishes. She reckons the person she worked with broke crockery worth more than she earned that summer!

Salcombe is where I was brought up as a child.

2m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Most of the day I have been on 2m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1741z: As PSKreporter seems not to be working at the moment, I am not sure where I have been spotted today.

UPDATE 2222: 59 stations spotted today including EA and SP. Not bad for an omni antenna.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

Yet again I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. 18 unique stations have spotted me as the table shows.

Cambridge Winter Sun - NOT amateur radio

This was Cambridge earlier in the week in the winter sun. It has been very cold for the last week.

Next week should be milder.

I think the senate house on the left is where degrees are presented.

Sunspots - Saturday December 17th 2022

Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 0 (I suspect this is an error, although it still shows 0 at 1939z). A=6 and K=0.

16 Dec 2022

8m tomorrow

For some reason, I am now seeing a very high SWR on 8m. I think it is the coax plug to the rig. I have a way of checking this that I shall try tomorrow. If this is successful, and the problem is fixed, I intend to do more QRP FT8 tests at 2.5W and the low dipole.

My 10mW ERP WSPR tests have now (successfully) concluded. 10mW ERP can definitely cover the local area (to at least 17km) on WSPR even with antennas that are not 8m antennas at the RX end. With proper 8m antennas at the RX, who knows what the range would be?

In the car - NOT amateur radio

This was the view through the car window yesterday on the way into Cambridge. We do not get much snow these days.

We have had snow on the ground since last weekend, then it froze. Lovely to look at, but hard to walk on.

OFCOM and drones

OFCOM has been consulting about commercial drones. It is aware that they are getting bigger and better with longer ranges, so it has worked out a licencing regime for those controlling them. See the OFCOM website for details.

OFCOM has also updated the data it holds on us.

Cambridge Market - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows Cambridge Market earlier this week.

Winter Es

Don't ask me why, as I do not know, but there is a small uptick in Es propagation in mid-winter. Do not be too surprised to copy Europeans on 10m and 6m, and possibly 4m too. I think Es can remain good until the end of January (ish). Remember that Es can occur at any time of year but is most common in the northern hemisphere in May, June and July.

FT8 can be good for this as even very short openings are caught and FT8 is well monitored. As you know, Es signals can be very strong.

2m QRP FT8

As my 2m antenna was already connected to the rig, I am on 2m QRP FT8 this morning with 2.5W to the big-wheel omni antenna. Already spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost G4RAA (333km) in Devon.

UPDATE 1139z: 6 stations spotted on RX in 4 countries. My own 2.5W has been spotted in 2 countries (6 stations with the furthermost GI6ATZ (479km) in Northern Ireland.

UPDATE 1928z: 15 stations have spotted me with the furthermost GM0HBK (668km). See map.
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10m QRP WSPR TX

As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR with the W5OLF beacon. 4 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 2045z: 15 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today. Now QRT. For spots, see table.

2m MSK144 overnight

As it is the Geminids MS shower, I left the RX on 144.360 MHz overnight. Only 4 stations spotted on MSK144 with the big-wheel omni. I think I was just too late.

Sunspots - Friday December 16th 2022

Solar flux is 166 and the SSN 140. A=5 and K=2.

15 Dec 2022

Cambridge Christmas - NOT amateur radio

This was central Cambridge earlier today. It was very cold. There were fewer people about than normal. This may have been because of the cold or because there is less spending money.

2m MSK144 RX (Thursday)

As it is the Geminids MS shower, I am on 144.360 MHz MSK144 RX using the 2m big-wheel omni antenna. I am hoping to copy some DX on 2m, probably early morning. I am told this is the best place to look.

UPDATE 2212z: DL2NBU (791km) spotted strongly.

Winter wonderland - NOT amateur radio

This morning we drove into Cambridge. My wife had her U3A course and I went shopping. She took this photo through the car window.

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

At the moment (1611z) I am on 10m FT8 RX. It seems wide open to North America. I was going to go on 8m FT8, but for some reason the SWR is very high.

UPDATE 1956z: 323 stations spotted so far.

8m local experiment

For several days over the last few weeks I have been doing tests with local stations to see if 10mW ERP 8m WSPR could be copied locally. In the end, 6 locals were able to get the signals and as far as I know they all used antennas that were not cut for 8m!!

My conclusion is that 10mW ERP WSPR beacons would definitely cover the local area. My own interpretation of UK ISM rules is that anyone may legally transmit beacons at 8m in the ISM band as long as they meet the technical requirements and IR2030 without a licence. With Es conditions such beacons will be copied in Europe occasionally.

My local tests have now stopped.

Sunspots - Thursday December 15th 2022

Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 174. A=4 and K=2.

14 Dec 2022

Brrrr ... NOT amateur radio

This holly bush in our UK garden, really sums up the last few days - very cold, icy and snow. It should get a lot milder from Sunday.

10m FT8 next year

Currently, I expect to be on 10m QRP (5W) quite a bit next year. Possibly I may also try 15m FT8. I find voice QSOs hard these days. Many people are moving to FT8 now. Around sunspot maximum, working the world should certainly be possible with QRP 10m FT8.

Staging post - NOT amateur radio

It appears the windmill next door is a staging post for starlings off to roost. It is not uncommon to see 100 on the sails (and a few squabbling on our bird table!) before flying off to their roost. In some parts of the UK,starlings are getting rarer. Not here!

If you look carefully at the photo, you may be able to see them starting to gather.

As you can see, still cold here - minus 4 degrees Celsius mid morning.

1896 (or 97) snowball fight - NOT amateur radio

This movie dates from the late 1890s and shows a snowball fight. It is believed to be the first movie of a snowball fight ever made.

Geminids Meteor shower

This peaks in the next few days. Starting tomorrow I hope to be on MSK144 on 8m. The best times are early morning, I think. So I shall be on 24/7.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

As my PC will be tied up with my QRP 8m local tests, I will be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. I expect to be on from 0900z.

UPDATE 1140z: The usual spots from the Canary Isles as well as Turkey.

8m experiment - last day at 10mW ERP (Wednesday)

Today is the last day of my 10mW ERP 8m WSPR tests locally. The TX is due to be turned on again at 0900z. 6 locals have copied me with 10mW ERP even with non resonant antennas.

My reading of the UK ISM rules suggests that anyone may operate 10mW ERP beacons without a licence, with callsigns not legally needed (or make one up) as long as the technical requirements and IR2030 are both met. For beacons, that do not result in a product going on the market, self declaration is fine. If you are in any doubt, seek your own legal advice. I honestly think OFCOM cannot really be bothered as we make them no money!

UPDATE 0931z: Been on 10mW ERP TX since 0858z (40% TX). No spots.

UPDATE 1437z: Steve G4WSZ (11km) has only spotted me twice today. He had to move his 6m dipole as his fence was being replaced. It looks like with his 6m dipole at only 1m over the ground, it is very marginal.

UPDATE 1445z: There has been speculation on the 8m io group just why the FCC and OFCOM seem so dead against allocating even the tiniest amateur band at 8m with heavy restrictions. The answer in many countries may well be the military have the last word and want to keep people off. This is pure speculation, but it would make sense. Secrecy rules probably saying so right out!

Frosty morning - NOT amateur radio

This was our garden yesterday. We have had a very cold snap.

It is still very cold this morning.

Sunspots - Wednesday December 14th 2022

Solar flux is 153 and the SSN 159. A=4 and K=1.

13 Dec 2022

70cm activity contest (UKAC)

Tonight was the 70cm activity contest organised by the RSGB. After just a single contact I gave up. Activity seems lower than it was although I only use 10W pep and the 2m omni big-wheel antenna.

Speech contests are hard work these days for me and the shack was quite cold. The 70cm FT8 activity contest tomorrow evening is a bit easier for me.

The Knowledge - NOT amateur radio

Every day, I get a news briefing in my email. This is quite useful if you are short of time. It takes just a few moments to read and contains the essence of what you need to know to keep up-to-date. It is written by someone who used to write for "The Week".

As far as I can tell, it is fairly neutral.

See https://www.theknowledge.com/ .