Not sure about you, but I am all mixed up over the days of the week! I thought yesterday was Tuesday.
Tonight is the first 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. I usually stay on for less than an hour and enter the low power section with my ICOM IC-705 and big-wheel omni antenna.
See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=2mukac .
This is being written on my Asus Chromebook. It has been owned and used for over 3 years. It still has a good battery life, boots up in seconds and does most things I ever need.
When I first got it, I wondered if I was going to make a big mistake. Instead, it has been brilliant and I have no regrets at all.
Since just before lunch, I have been on 40.680 MHz FT8 with my 2.5W to the dipole.
UPDATE 1804z: No spots on TX or RX today. QRT soon.
Since just before lunch, I have been on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. So far just local spots.
OFCOM has informed me that my T&I permit (and all similar) are not renewable, but I am free to apply for a new one.
My current permit expires in early April. As there seems little prospect of even a very tiny 8m amateur band, I guess I have little alternative but to pay £50 to do experiments that should be free.
Perhaps I should ask for 10kW from 1 kHz to 300 GHz, all modes, to show how utterly stupid this is.
Remember, no callsigns or locations are needed! How totally stupid! I could cause horrendous interference to vital services and be totally untraceable!!
My elder grandson is mad on bell ringing He as rung in over 80 towers now in London and East Anglia. He has a YouTube channel with some recordings of tower bells. He recently changed the channel name to StedmanTriples783.
I have been most of the morning on 8m 2.5W FT8, but no spots as of 1425z.
UPDATE 1425z: Now 8m FT8 RX only.
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| Activity on the narrowband transponder of Oscar 100 on New Year's Day afternoon |
As usual, when I am on 8m FT8, my 500mW W5OLF 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon is on. It is now 1043z and, so far, no spots. Probably many are still in bed as it is Sunday and New Year's Day.
UPDATE 1327z: Just spots from SV9 so far today.
UPDATE 1510z: Doh: it helps if the PA of beacon is switched on too!! So, the SV spots were probably with just microwatts only. I have now turned on the PA.
At the start of the month, there is usually an update of solar data at this site. It is usually my first port of call for solar data.
As late as yesterday, it was still showing the solar peak as November 2023, which seems early to me, although I am no solar expert!
Anyway, I really hope 2023 is a good one for everyone. The last year was a tough one for many and I hope this one is better.
If you are chasing rare DX or DXCC good luck!!
Unlike previous years, I have not made any special resolutions (other than trying to get rid of a bit of weight!). All the best for the year ahead.
At the moment in the UK Royal Mail workers are having a series of strikes to get a higher wage. Whilst I can understand workers trying to get salaries that keep up with inflation, there is a great danger of long-term damage to their jobs.
Fewer letters and postcards are being sent these days as people use email instead. They are trying to focus on parcels, but people are finding out there are alternative people who do this at competitive rates that are often cheaper. There is danger people will always use them in future further damaging the Royal Mail's business model, and profits.
See https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps .
UPDATE 1600z: I have been told by Steve G1KQH that the deadline to use up old stamps has been extended to next July following complaints by customers.
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon TX was turned on at 0905z. No spots at 0915z.
UPDATE 1810z: 7 stations spotting me.
My QRP 8m FT8 was turned on about 0905z. As yet, no spots.
UPDATE 1147z: No spots.
Many people start the new year with resolutions to do things differently. At the moment I have not made any plans apart from going on a diet!!
Yes, I shall test my SDR later!! Also, I intend to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX and 8m QRP FT8.
As there seems little prospect of even a tiny 8m amateur band by NoV, I have asked OFCOM if it will renew my T&I licence when it expires in April. Awaiting a response. If it and the FCC are so dead set against an amateur band at 8m for research at least they could explain why.
Most of the day, I have been busy and I have not got around to testing the SDR. Unless I get it tested tonight, it will have to wait until the weekend.
The site I most use for data is still predicting that solar cycle 25 will peak in November 2023. This seems quite early. Certainly conditions have been good for some time now.
Even if this is correct, we can expect solar conditions to remain good for several years. I was quite surprised how FT8 proved solar conditions were respectable north-south even when there were no sunspots.
Often there is a second peak about a year after the first. Fingers crossed!
As I did not get around to trying my SDR yesterday, my main aim is to get this going. If time allows, I hope to be on 10m QRP WSPR TXand 8m QRP FT8.
It would be really great if many more people could come on 8m TX in 2023. What would be helpful would be if many asked for limited access i.e. for a fixed time with limits. The reason is radio science research around solar maximum.
Please ask your local body responsible for permits for limited 8m access. The following would be what I would suggest you ask for:
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .
About 10 minutes ago, I switched to 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. So far today (it is now 1435z) no spots.
UPDATE 1643z: No spots. QRT soon on 8m. I suspect that with my low ERP, I miss a lot on 8m. Still that was what I wanted to find out: just what could be achieved with an ultra-simple QRP 8m set-up. I think I now know what my limits are and also the limitations of the 10mW ERP (the legal 8m ISM limit for ALL in the UK without a licence) locally. I shall probably renew my T&I permit for another year, although I doubt I shall learn much more. It would be really helpful if more tried to get 8m permits, if only for the Es season. Wouldn't it be great if many countries had 8m FT8 or WSPR access next year?
As mentioned a few days ago, I have ordered a built QDX transceiver for 20-10m from QRP Labs. This is a 5W transceiver that will be mostly used on 10m FT8 and WSPR.
I can still use voice modes like SSB and FM, but it is much harder for me these days.
Looking at the priority list, my order is creeping up. I can see it being my main rig and well used when it comes. My antenna is a good match on most of the bands covered by the QDX.
We expected to see quite a few snowdrops out and maybe a daffodil. Instead, we saw no daffodils out (just a few that will be out in 2-3 weeks) and just one snowdrop out.
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| Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX to 1322z |
UPDATE 1322z: 362 stations spotted today. 422 stations
UPDATE 1357z: 422 stations spotted.
