OFCOM updates

As usual, OFCOM has updated the information it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for details.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Friday)

Been on with my 500mW WSPR TX beacon about 10 minutes. No spots yet.

UPDATE 0950z: First spot of the day from Finland. Presumably by F2?

UPDATE 1311z: Following the usual pattern with east in the morning and transatlantic later. 11 stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR so far today on 10m.

UPDATE 1751z:  22 unique stations have spotted me today.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

At the moment, I am again on 8m QRP FT8. Time will tell if anyone sees me.  I am TXing first.

UPDATE 1005z:  Just exchanged FT8 reports with OD5KU (3468km) and copied EI2IP and 4X1BG (3532km) in Israel who was incredibly strong! Obviously the F2 MUF is above 40.680 MHz!

UPDATE 1058z:  4 stations have spotted me this morning. Until this morning, I had never been spotted in Asia on 8m QRP FT8. Now spotted by 4 Asian stations with the furthermost UN7MVB (3446km).

UPDATE 1132z:  QRT at the moment so rig cools. Hopefully, the USA will copy me on 8m FT8 later, despite the QRP.  Incidentally, I have never copied a transatlantic 8m station.

UPDATE 1306z: The latest station to spot my 8m FT8 QRP was RA9FMT (3503km), who got me at an incredible -9dB S/N. This is one of my best days yet on 8m.

UPDATE 1322z: I have lost count of the countries and continents in which my QRP 8m FT8 has been copied. I think it is now 21 countries and 4 continents. Even with real QRP, there is a lot to be find out on 8m. When the MUF gets high enough, it seems virtually anything is possible. My article about beaconing legally (in the ISM band) on 8m without a licence should be in PW either April or May.

UPDATE  1758z:   No USA spots today.

Across the fields - NOT amateur radio

 

A view of Chippenham village and church (near Cambridge) earlier this week.

Sixbox 6m transceiver

This design, from many years ago, was designed as a simple rig for local natters. It is ideal for use when the band is not open for DX.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/sixbox .

Sunspots - Friday, February 17th 2023

 Solar flux is 163 and the SSN 101. A=24 and K=2.

Getting taller - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows our elder grandson in 3 years. In 2021 he was a child. In 2023 he is a young man. Either I am shrinking or he is growing. It is mostly the latter!

 

10m QRP WSPR TX

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. So far today, 8 unique stations have spotting me. 

UPDATE 1246z:  11 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1604z: 15 unique stations have spotted me today. It is interesting that several stations would have been able to copy my 10m WSPR with far less power, assuming their noise floor was low. This confirms to me that many licence exempt 8m ISM beacons could be copied at great range on WSPR. I hope many use 10mW ERP  8m ISM band licence free WSPR to great effect this Es season. In some countries higher ERPs may be legal too. In the UK, it is 10mW ERP.

UPDATE 1832z:  19 unique stations have spotted me.

8m FT8 F2 backscatter test

At the moment, I am trying to reach G9PUV (158km) by F2 backscatter on 8m FT8.  I am copying Paul, but he is not copying my QRP signal.  My 8m QRP FT8 is reaching SV1DH (2410km) in southern Greece as well as another station in Greece. I suspect this is F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1230z:  Although I copied G9PUV Paul quite well, he was unable to decode my 8m QRP FT8. I am not sure if he copied anything at all from me, but it was not enough to get an FT8 decode. So, we failed. Now RX only.

Bankers pay - NOT amateur radio

This was a Facebook memory from 2011. I was appalled then and this is now 12 years later!! 

Whilst I am all for skilled people earning a decent wage, I hope these people really earn this. Many who play the markets are no more than gamblers.

£260k a year in 2011 sounded stupid money even then! No wonder locals cannot afford properties where they come from. Angry? You bet! I cannot see how these stupid salaries are ever fair. Don't get me started on footballers pay.

QDX getting closer

When I ordered this around Christmas it was about 144th in the queue. It is now very near the top so should be here in March I expect. Hans makes some good kit. 

See https://qrp-labs.com/ .

Oscar 100 narrowband activity

Every few weeks I take a peek at activity on the narrow-band transponder of this satellite. Although a bit busier than the last time I looked, it is still well under-used.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Green stripes on the left of UK car registration plates - NOT amateur radio

Apparently the green stripes on the left of UK car registration plates indicate the car produces zero emissions from the exhaust pipe. This can only be achieved with electric vehicles (EVs) I think. Maybe hydrogen vehicles can as well, but these are very rare. 

Until my son came to stay recently, I did not know this. I (wrongly) assumed the green could be on all new cars, but this makes a great deal of sense.

It still seems to me that non emission vehicles have a long way to go. The main issue is improving the range between charges and making batteries from materials that can be made with cheap, easily available  materials. Until these issues are cracked, I cannot see a turning point soon. 

These days CRT TVs and photographic films look ancient. Let's hope this soon happens with non emission vehicles. Surely the age of fossil fuel is drawing to a close. The planet badly needs this. If these breakthroughs occur, there really will be a tipping point. I am surprised it has not happened already.

See https://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/green-number-plates-explained#gref.

Me

This is a photo of me earlier this week at Hare Park, Chippenham, near Cambridge. There are snowdrops everywhere!

My wife says I am expecting triplets!

OFCOM consultation

 OFCOM is consulting about its 28 GHz allocation to Arqiva. See the OFCOM website for details.

4X1BG on 8m

This station in Israel seems to be legal with an experimental permit for the 8m band. 

At the moment, I do not know further details e.g. power, frequencies, times etc..   I copied him yesterday on 8m FT8.  Robbie Phelan EI2IP worked him on SSB on 8m.

I really hope people in other countries apply for, and get, special permits, if just for the time around the sunspot maximum. With the MUF now exceeding 41 MHz quite often, this year could be excellent.

Sunspots - Thursday February 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 174 and the SSN 140.  A=29 and K=3.

Springtime? - NOT amateur radio

Central Cambridge earlier 

It is just mid-February, but here it felt very spring-like today. There are far more daffodils in flower and the birds are starting to repair nests. Yes, the weather can turn far colder again, but there is a hint of spring on the way.

8m FT8

After a few minutes on QRP FT8 TX, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 RX. So far (at 0918z) no spots. 

UPDATE 1448z: 4 unique stations spotted today on 8m FT8 RX (see map). Now on QRP TX.

UPDATE 1540z: 5 unique stations have been spotted today. Nobody has received my QRP 8m FT8. Back on 8m FT8 RX only again. 4X1BG (3532km) spotted. Is he legally on the band?

10m QRP WSPR TX

Just before 0900z my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m was turned on. Spots from a local and an Italian so far. 

UPDATE 1512z:  29 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR today.26z: 

UPDATE 1626z:  35 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR with the furthermost F61695 (9729km).

UPDATE 1921z:  36 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR TX.  QRT soon. Spots of my 10m WSPR QRP are shown on the map from wspr.rocks.

Wednesday plans

My current plan is to go on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon and 8m FT8 RX. 

Old relative? - NOT amateur radio

We found this when clearing my mum's house years ago. It was a Facebook memory. 

Staggering numbers - NOT amateur radio

Continuously, I get amazed by the number of planets in the universe. One estimate puts the number of planets as 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, which is totally mind blowing. 

At the same time SETI has been searching the universe since the 1960s and have found not a single sign of intelligent life. To me, I find this odd. In the early days, equipment was not as sophisticated as today. However, by now, I would have expected to find something.

My only conclusion is that our view of the universe must be flawed or that we are somehow missing something important.  

To me, all our religious beliefs are too "Earth centred".

I look at the heavens and feel awe.

See https://www.seti.org/ .

70cm activity contest

Last evening, I took part in the 70cm UKAC activity contest organised by the RSGB. As I had just sold my IC-705, I had to use my FT817ND at 2.5W without the speech processor. 

To my surprise I worked 6 stations and some good DX as the map shows.

Once again, my antenna was the 2m big-wheel omni.

Sunspots - Wednesday February 15th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 206.  A=8 and K=4.

Hawkedon, Suffolk NOT amateur radio

The photo shows two of the grandchildren on a walk at Hawkedon in Suffolk today.  

Our son says it is a lovely walk we must do.

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

Reset done on the FT-710AESS

Just now, I did a microprocessor reset on the FT-710AESS. Indeed the audio does come out of both speakers, but there still seems far more from the external speaker irrespective of the AESS balance. Overall, I am not impressed with this AESS "feature". The rest of the rig seems excellent.  At QRP levels, I doubt I shall hear the fan very often! In fact, I have never heard it yet!

UPDATE  1638z:   Must try the transceiver with FT8 soon.

Almost forgot!

Almost as time was running out, I remembered that I had not submitted an entry for the 2m UKAC activity contest for February. With just 2 QSOs before my voice said "enough", I expect I shall be somewhere near the bottom of the low power section! 

Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo of my wife and I was taken at nearby Hare Park, Chippenham earlier.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

 On my 500mW QRP WSPR beacon again. So far today, spotted by 16 unique stations at 1356z.

UPDATE 1636z: 27 unique station spots of my QRP WSPR today (see table).

UPDATE 1730z:  The map shows the spots of me today. 

See http://wspr.rocks/.

UPDATE 1955z:   29 unique stations have spotted me.

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

Just been copied across the Atlantic again on 40.680 MHz FT8 - VO1SIX (3933km).  Again, my power was 2.5W to the low wire dipole. On RX G9PUV and G4APB copied probably by F2 back scatter.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday afternoon we went for a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. The photo shows a bracket fungus (I think) on a tree trunk. The place is now full of snowdrops and the daffodils are starting to flower. 

This photo was taken on my Canon Powershot Zoom camera on zoom. I bought mine on Amazon, but have just realised the price has shot up again!  Probably wait a bit and the price will fall dramatically again!

Village Church at night - NOT amateur radio

This was our local church last night when it was dark. 

Sunspots - Tuesday February 14th 2023

Solar flux is 189 and the SSN 185.  A=4 and K=1.

FT-710 full reset

MLS have told me it is safe to do a full reset on this rig and I shall not lose 5 MHz and 70 MHz by doing so. Shortly I shall try this in the hope it fixes my issue with AESS not working.  

They also tell me the fan comes on only when necessary. At QRP levels, this should be very infrequently.

UPDATE 2053z:  Reset not yet tried.

Parkin - NOT amateur radio

We have our son and grandson here for a few days.  Our grandson loves Yorkshire Parkin. This is a sort cake made with treacle. It is very soft and tastes delicious.

See https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/parkin .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

 As usual, I am on TX with my 500mW WSPR beacon.  Plenty of F2 spots of me after an hour.

UPDATE 1710z:  32 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 2027z:  35 stations have spotted me today with the furthermost F61895 (9729km). QRT.

Monday plans

Hopefully I can resolve the FT-710AESS issue with AESS and with the fan not being on on RX or low power TX. I shall go on 8m FT8 QRP and 10m QRP WSPR TX. 

UPDATE 1812z:   My son and grandson have been staying here, so only 1 of the 3 things has been done: 10m WSPR TX. The others will have to wait.

South West Coast Path - NOT amateur radio

Sadly I am too old these days to do this walk, or even short stretches of it. I have walked many parts of it in South Devon, and as you might expect, there are some great views. Some do the whole lot over several weeks

See https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk/ .

Sunspots - Monday February 13th 2023

Solar flux is 200 and the SSN 197. A=7 and K=0.