My 2.5W FT8 to the vertical V2000 antenna was turned on about 1300z. So far, just UK spots of me.
23 Jan 2024
630m WSPR overnight
Although no great DX, there were more stations spotting my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground last night. In the UK we are between storms and yesterday was much calmer, certainly here. One thing is I do not have to worry about antennas and towers in storms!
22 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Monday)
My 630m QRP WSPR (10mW ERP) was turned on at about 1820z. So far, 9 stations have spotted me. The furthermost is EI4HQ (588km).
70cm FT8 (Monday)
As 8m (2.5W FT8) and 10m (500uW WSPR) resulted in no spots today, I am trying my luck with 2.5W 70cm FT8 to the vertical omni V2000 antenna. After about 10 minutes, no spots.
Outside of contests, I have no idea of activity levels. I might be better the 2m horizontal omni antenna.I shall swap antennas at 1700z.
Punting on the River Cam last week - NOT amateur radio
8m QRP FT8 (Monday)
Conditions look a bit more promising than yesterday (in places the MUF is above 40 MHz) so I am trying 8m FT8. No spots. At the moment I am on my dipole, but may try the loop which has a better match.
8m CEPT allocation proposal
As I could not immediately see on the RSGB website to whom it should be sent , I sent my 8m CEPT proposal to the RSGB General Manager with a request that it is forwarded to the right people. Apparently these are the VHF Manager and the Spectrum Forum Chair.
I hope my request is looked at favourably as there is a great deal of propagation research that could be done by radio amateurs at 8m. There are countries within CEPT that have already granted amateurs access to this spectrum. Just 5 kHz within the 8m ISM band with very limited modes and power, by application, no interference, should encourage experimentation and avoid "chatting".
Maybe others would care to support this?
I am mindful that the real purpose of our hobby is self-training and research.
630m QRP WSPR overnight
There were fewer stations spotting me overnight. There could be several reasons. In the UK we had a severe storm with high winds (Storm Isha) so there may have been fewer stations on. If my theory of the earth-electrode "antenna" forming a loop in the ground is correct the effective loop size will be smaller in wet weather. It is now bright and sunny with much lighter winds
21 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Sunday)
My 630m 10mW ERP was turned on at 1832z. 2 stations have spotted me so far.
UPDATE 2210z: 4 stations have spotted me.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday) - not today
At one point I had thoughts of going on 8m QRP FT8 today, but I have decided against this. Borat S50B has antenna issues, so that is one keen person not around. Conditions do not seem to be exceptional, which is probably necessary for me to be spotted "across the pond". So, I shall stick with 6m FT8 at 2.5W and 500uW 10m WSPR. 6m has more FT8 monitors and this helps.
King’s College residents pass - NOT amateur radio
For many years we have had resident’s passes that give us free entry to King’s College Cambridge as well as other colleges. As part of the renewal I had to send a recent photo. I should hear next week.
6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
My 6m FT8 QRP (2.5W to a vertical omni V2000 antenna) is on. So far just a spot by M1ABK (70km).
UPDATE 1140z: 3 stations have spotted me with the furthermost SM7KOJ (935km).
UPDATE 1405z: 11 stations have spotted my QRP (better than I was expecting), but I am unsure of the propagation. I am sure it is not F2 backscatter, so it is possibly aircraft scatter or patches of Es.
UPDATE 1445z: No further stations spotting me, suggesting the propagation is some short-lived mechanism such as aircraft or Es that quickly went.
UPDATE 1701z: 12 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 today.
HF propagation
Conditions on HF do not seen exceptional today. I am not expecting to get any spots on my 0.5mW 10m WSPR beacon, but you never know!
See https://prop.kc2g.com/ .
Scenes around Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
20 Jan 2024
Sunday plans
My intention is to continue my tests with 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR, but I may go on 6m FT8 rather than 8m FT8. 6m has the advantage of more people monitoring, both in the UK and Europe. If things look very promising, I might try 8m FT8 in the afternoon.
Changing world order - NOT amateur radio
Most of us have grown up in a world dominated by western democracies. We have been told countless times that this fair and just: it is the right way for people to follow.
However, things are changing. Increasingly, developing countries are looking towards China and Russia. Many of their ways appear bizarre to those of us in the west.
We have to admit that western democracies are not perfect. Under capitalism the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The gap gets ever bigger.
The world was once in the thrall of the USA. This is no longer the case.
In the end, things will (I hope) sort themselves out. Capitalism is not perfect and neither is communism or extreme right wing politics.
630m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
My 10mW ERP was turned on at 1700z. 4 spots on the first transmission.
UPDATE 1807z: 9 stations have spotted me.
CEPT 8m amateur allocation?
Before I start, there are no plans for this.
However, the band is now available to radio amateurs in at least 2 CEPT countries and in many CEPT nations some are experimenting on 8m with special permits.
From figures provided to me by an amateur in Belgium, radio amateurs would produce less interference than ISM users between 40.66-40.70MHz. It would be great if CEPT allowed radio amateurs access to the band.
These are my proposals for an 8m amateur band:
- 40.675-40.685 MHz (just 10 kHz wide in total, in the ISM band. A minimum would be 40.680-40.683 MHz)
- Secondary
- Only available by application (NoV or equivalent)
- 5W maximum
- Narrow digital only (modes like FT8, WSPR and CW), no phone
- Strictly no interference
- Only available to full licencees
Almost all the activity on 8m is propagation research. Such a small CEPT amateur allocation could really advance radio propagation science.
Please approach your national society and licencing authority for an 8m amateur band.
See https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/sm/R-REC-SM.1056-1-200704-I!!PDF-E.pdf .
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
As my 8m dipole is showing a high VSWR, my 2.5W 8m FT8 is connected instead to my loop on the shack windowsill on which the match is good.
UPDATE 1847z: No spots all day.
Connect the antenna! (Saturday)
For the first few hours today, my 500uW 10m WSPR beacon had no antenna connected. When running QRPP it helps to have an antenna!! Doh!
My 0.5mW beacon has been on (with an antenna! 😄) since about 1230z.
UPDATE 1900z: No spots all day.
Windmill next door - NOT amateur radio
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As many may remember, we live next door to a fully restored and working 200 year old windmill which is part of Burwell Museum.
Just occasionally, they turn the sails on but they never disturb us. It is just over the garden wall. The attached photo was taken from the lounge window. The sky was blue, but it was very cold!
630m QRP WSPR overnight
25 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP in the last 12 hours as the table shows.
19 Jan 2024
630m QRP WSPR (Friday)
Rather earlier than usual, my 630m 10mW ERP WSPR was turned on at about 1515z. So far, spotted by 3 stations. As usual, I am using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 2120z: 22 stations have spotted me in the last 12 hours including OH1LSQ (1733km).
G8BBB/G4BEL SK
Today I heard that Roger Taylor had passed away. He was very much into VHF/UHF and microwaves and had an excellent location at Haddenham near Cambridge, UK. Many will miss him.
Shopping Habits - NOT amateur radio
More of us are shopping online.
Gradually, over the last 20 years, the way many of us shop has changed. On the whole we are more confident that goods delivered to our door will be fine and, if they are not, they can be easily returned. No longer do we need to find car parking spaces (and pay for these) and we no longer struggle with heavy packages.
This means more retail businesses will go out of business and those that remain are working harder to retain customers. In my view (as it has been for many years) is that those who will survive will have a strong online business and shops that remain will be mainly for browsing. Many of our well loved brands in shops may disappear. This is a trend that will continue. In a few years' time we may not recognise our high streets.
In my view, High Street shops will only survive if they offer something unique. I expect the future will be more places where people can meet (cafes) and more flats for single people to live.
My future on 8m
This morning, I am getting no 8m FT8 spots whereas G9PUV and SV1DH have plenty. Their ERPs are probably at least 10dB up on mine as I run just 2.5W to a low dipole.
At the moment, my inclination is not to go for a new 8m permit in April.
Possibly I may try 8m WSPR in the ISM band with the call 8M3ISM with 10mW ERP without a licence, as is the right of all in the UK.
The results obtained so far are impressive, but without more stations, I am unsure of the usefulness of continuing.
As the 8m band is located between 10m and 6m, we could expect 8m to open more often than 6m. It is highly disappointing that OFCOM (and the RSGB) and the FCC has shown such a negative attitude to even a small 8m secondary allocation. It is not as if they are neutral. It would appear they are dead set against!
If beggars believe that both the FCC and OFCOM (and the RSGB) can have such a negative attitude to the real purpose of our hobby. I am left with a bitter taste.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
My 2.5W 8m FT8 was turned on at 1016z.
Conditions in Europe look encouraging with high MUFs.
UPDATE 1341z: No spots.
10m 500uW WSPR TX (Friday)
Although my QRPP beacon is on, no spots today (well yet). It amazes me this is so widely spotted.
I suppose it shouldn't surprise me as 500mW is so strong sometimes and 500uW is just 30dB weaker and we are now around solar maximum.
UPDATE 1338z: Spotted in the Canary Is. yet again today!
Norwich by train - NOT amateur radio
We travel to Norwich from Ely several times a year by train. It takes under an hour and Norwich is a fine city. A day return with a Senior Railcard is not expensive.
The journey is relaxed and the scenery pleasant. Being East Anglia (which is a fairly flat part of the UK) hills are rare! Travelling there and back, you see fens, brecks, forest and arable land as well as a glimpse of Wymondham Abbey with its 2 towers.
The photo shows a pig farm! I know you couldn't wait! 😀
630m QRP WSPR overnight
No great DX (best Germany), but 22 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
18 Jan 2024
70cm - times they are a changing
When I was first licenced here in the UK there was a class A licence and a class B licence. Class B licencees were only allowed on 432MHz and above and did not need a morse test. My first call was without CW and 432MHz and above. Class B operators could operate a Class A station under supervision. I remember doing this at the QTH of the late G4PJ.
These days there is far less activity on 70cm sadly. Those that are active come on mainly in contests usually on FM or SSB. This is pity as often 70cm tropo can be better than 2m. I remember years later having loads of fun working FM DX on 70cm simplex with 4W from an FM321. Often lifts on 70cm were more localised.
Times they are a changing...
St Pancras station, London - NOT amateur radio
At one time, this was earmarked for demolition, but saved after a campaign by poet laureate John Betjeman.
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