My 500mW 10m WSPR TX has been on for about an hour at 0920z. So far, 8 spots from the Canary Isles.
1 Feb 2023
31 Jan 2023
My PDF book - latest edition (issue 4)
Hopefully, the latest edition of my free G3XBM Project Scrapbook is now available. It is now at issue 4. Do not worry about missing versions. Several minor changes were made so I have published issue 4.
Modifying links will take me a little while. Please not that the tiny URL always goes to the first edition.
UPDATE 1507z: I think the link on my website, blog sidebar and email footer now point to issue 4. If you still cannot access it, please check with me. It certainly worked from my wife's iPad. The file is a PDF. As I make future issues, I shall try to point to the latest version.
UPDATE 2300z: For some reason my email footer always insists in adding the darn PDF book as well. Looking at the Gmail settings I can see no reason why. For now, I have removed the link to the latest version of the book from my email footer. This requires investigation!!
Village walk - NOT amateur radio
We call this our "Muntjac Walk" as we often see these deer on our way.
8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)
For about 3 hours I have been on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. Nobody has spotted me although EI9IP (607km) has been strongly spotted. I am sure this must be aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1655z: G0HVQ (181km) has spotted me.
10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)
My 500mW W5OLF 10m WSPR beacon was turned on just after 0900z. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1414z: 12 unique spots of me today. USA spotting me well now.
30 Jan 2023
High office - NOT amateur radio
There has been a lot in the UK media about people in high office "falling from grace".
Now, we all have faults and are all far from perfect. After all, we are just humans.
However, those in high office are bound to come under close scrutiny. It is important that those in high office (e.g. in government) are of the highest standards. It is not wrong for folk to be good business people. If they get rich because of their own business acumen I have no issues as long as nobody was "trodden on" on their journey.
What I deeply have a problem with is people who are not honourable and not honest. People who govern us must be of the highest moral standards and above reproach. If they are not, they will be judged.
Recently we have had several in the UK government that have not been above reproach. They have only themselves to blame.
I am not after perfection, just honesty.
'Our windmill' - NOT amateur radio
Robin - NOT amateur radio
QDX diodes
As mentioned before, I have an assembled QDX transceiver on order from QRP Labs.
Running from my standard 13.8V PSU, there is a risk of over dissipation in the PA devices, so I intend to drop the supply to the QDX with a number of silicon diodes. I can add up to 10, but will probably add 6. The diodes have arrived. This solution is noise free and the diodes are well rated.
Early start on 8m QRP FT8
At 0902z, my QRP 8m FT8 was turned on. No spots yet today.
It has been surprising just how many spots I have had on 8m, considering the few monitors and the time of the year. Many of the nearer reports look like aircraft reflection, but my 2.5W and dipole have made it across the Atlantic at least twice.
I do hope my 8m permit is granted for this year as there is so much still to research.
If it is not granted, there will definitely be times when I shall be on the ISM bands with 10mW ERP WSPR without a licence. The latter is, I believe, a course that anyone in the UK could take. Not being a legal expert you will have to judge your own legal position, although I very much doubt OFCOM would come knocking! In nearly 50 years I have never been inspected. When the man last came, he was more interested in a cup of tea!
My personal view is that OFCOM should have allocated a tiny, digital only, amateur band at 8m by NoV on a strict no interference basis. This would have meant full traceability whether on-air or off.
Both OFCOM and the RSGB seem dead against even a tiny 8m amateur band even by NoV. Personally I find this stance hard to understand. More public statements on this might help us to understand their reasoning. In the absence of data, we can only assume the military is against this. Personally, I think not making their reasons public is short-sighted and unhelpful. We should have full confidence in both the RSGB (that depends heavily on committed volunteers) and OFCOM. There must be good reasons for their position, so please share these!!
UPDATE 1042z: Spotted by WESSEXSDR probably via aircraft reflection. This mode seems more common than I thought at 8m and could well account for the frequent spots of my 2.5W by EI9KP (649km). It could be random MS, but I somehow doubt this.
10m QRP WSPR (Monday)
At 0902z, my 500mW TX beacon was turned on. Already spots from the Canary Isles and a local.
UPDATE 1052z: 3 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR today.
UPDATE 1540z: 14 unique stations spotting me today.
Sunspots - Monday January 30th 2023
Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 80. A=5 and K=0. It is interesting that when the most active regions are pointing away from us, the sunspot count is still pretty good.
29 Jan 2023
6m incredible DX
First we had reports of a short path 6m opening for Europe to New Zealand. Now we have news of this DX via the long path (22100km). Totally amazing. No wonder they call it "the magic band"!
I get exited by seeing NZ on 10m, but this is 6m!!
10 GHz wideband FM
At one time Gunnplexers were popular, but there is a modern equivalent available at low cost (HB100). These can be bought on eBay for example.
Although I have not looked recently, I expect someone (or many?) have made 10 GHz WBFM transceivers with them.
Similar modules are also available for 24 GHz.
Wideband FM 10 GHz transceivers could be made with the 10 and 24 GHz modules without any microwave engineering at all. At the focus of a dish the 10 GHz ones have been used for ATV contacts over 100km.
If you know of WBFM transceivers designed around these, I'd love to take a look.
A quick look on eBay showed the 10 GHz units were available for just over £2.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/10ghz .
UPDATE 1535z: The link Jan has put in the comment below (in French) looks interesting and is just the sort of thing I had in mind.
8m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
No spots yet at 0947z.
I have heard of one 8m T&I permit being issued in the UK last week, so I remain hopeful that I shall be granted one this year.
Personally, I think it would have been far easier for OFCOM to have just granted a tiny, digital only, amateur allocation by NoV at 8m, with strictly no interference.
C'est la vie.
UPDATE 1200z: No spots today.
UPDATE 1343z: G8BCG (394km) spotted. He is located in central Cornwall and was very strong at 0dB S/N. This suggests aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1444z: Just had news that an Australian 8m WSPR ISM beacon at just 5mW has been decoded in the Cook Is over 5900km away. I am convinced that ISM WSPR beacons could be operated by anyone in the UK without a licence and could certainly be copied in Europe by Es. They would probably reach the USA.The rules on ISM beacons vary with the country. In the UK we can operate on the 8m ISM band with 10mW ERP as long as the technical requirements and IR 2030 are met. In other countries there are different limits.
UPDATE 1850z: QRT.
Early start on 10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on early today. Already at 0943z I have been spotted by 3 unique stations.
UPDATE 1322z: USA stations now spotting me.
Ends of the spectrum
This was a Facebook memory from 2012 and shows my 481 THz optical beacon from then. I always enjoyed experimenting at the ends of the spectrum!!
28 Jan 2023
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
5 stations have spotted my 500mW QRP WSPR today. I was on from about 1600z. Now QRT.
8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
Despite being in for several hours late this afternoon, no spots on RX or QRP TX today.
Big British Garden Birdwatch 2023 - NOT amateur radio
This is organised by the RSPB every January. The idea is simple. You count the maximum number of each species seen at the same time in your garden, park etc. for any hour over the weekend and submit this. From these returns, the RSPB can learn a great deal about the birds around.
Certainly here, there are fewer smaller birds around. It is not uncommon to see 6-12 different species, but it is unusual to see that many different small birds. There are far more pigeons that in the past.
I do it every year. It is surprising what appears over the hour.
UPDATE 1625z: Just 6 species seen! Way down on previous years. Most of these were larger birds. Some very common birds were missing. Overall? January!! Dull and cold.
See https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ .
10m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
For a change, I am on 10m QRP FT8. The band is very busy.
Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today
UPDATE 1317z: 28 stations have spotted my QRP and 411 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX (see map).
Ely Cathedral in the mist - NOT amateur radio
You can see why they call this "the ship of the fens". This photo was on social media recently.
Apparently there are hardly any foundations. Remember, there were no JCBs when this was made in medieval times. It is the only medieval wonder of the world in the UK I think.
Ely cathedral is built on high ground above what was once marshy ground. Hence the name "isle of Ely".
27 Jan 2023
St John's College, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
The bikes and posters (on the railings to the right and just out of the photo) are very Cambridge!!
AGMs and Zoom
Just now, I attended the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) AGM by Zoom. This was a hybrid meeting with some there in person and some remotely via Zoom. I no longer (if I can avoid it) drive at night.
As for previous lectures, the Zoom worked really well, including voting by putting a hand up.
This hybrid format really suits me as I can take an active part in club activities even though unable to get in. In the past we have had speakers and listeners across oceans.
OFCOM publications update
Every week OFCOM updates the data it holds on licences etc.. See the OFCOM website for details.
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
A few moments ago I switched on the 8m FT8 QRP TX. This was about 1025z.
UPDATE 1840z: No spots today on TX and RX.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Friday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR TX was turned on at 0946z.
UPDATE 1006z: 3 spots from the Canary Is so far this morning.
Voltage dropping
In a few weeks' time (with a following wind) my QDX digital transceiver should arrive. With a 12v supply, there is a danger of the PA being badly over-rated and failing. Most of my gear runs from a 13.8V, so it would be prudent to run the QDX from a lower supply voltage.
My easiest solution is a string of suitably rated diodes in the supply. I have 10 off 3A silicon diodes that should be here next week. I could drop 6V with these if I want, making the QDX run safely from 9.8V.
Fame? - NOT amateur radio
To my surprise, an email I wrote to the BBC regional programme "Look East" was read out on the programme last night. It was about our local bus service.
In the past, a couple of my photos have been used on the local TV weather forecasts, but this was a total surprise.
23cm beacon hunting
Last night I went beacon hunting on 23cm with my tiny indoor 2 element beam. I monitored GB3DUN on Dunstable Downs for several minutes. This is probably my best chance of copying a 23cm beacon.
Just occasionally there was a very brief signal that may have been this beacon. It was there for (at most) a second, then was gone. The direct path is very obstructed and my only real hope is by aircraft scatter. The impression I got was this was not aircraft. I have no idea if you get MS on 23cm.
Other beacons I also looked out for on my waterfall, but nothing was seen.
26 Jan 2023
Assembled QDX status?
The status of the queue of assembled transceivers from QRP Labs has not been updated since late last week.
Rally
The following rally has been notified to me: -
Sunday January 29th - Lincoln Shortwave Club Winter Rally, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. Contact m5zzz@outlook.com .
As always, it is worth checking before going a long way.
8m QRP FT8
My 8m FT8 on 40.680 MHz was turned on at 0952z.
UPDATE 1625z: Just G0HVQ (181km) spotting my QRP and nobody spotted on 8m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1925z: QRT. No further spots.
10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)
My QRP 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 0952z.
UPDATE 1000z: Just local G4KPX (14km) spotting me so far.
UPDATE 1610z: 17 stations spotting my QRP (see table).
UPDATE 1922z: 18 stations spotted me today. QRT soon.
10m FT8
With sunspots again good, 10m is again coming into its own. It is quite easy to copy stations on every continent in daylight now on 10m. More people are using FT8 now. This is a digital modulation that is even better than CW, handling and decoding very weak signals. It has already shown that the 10m band is "open" when many leave it.
If you are after a simple 10m FT8 RX that is effective and does not tie up "the big rig" how about my 10FT8R receiver? This is very simple and low cost, but works well.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
Plans (Thursday)
Later, I hope to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX with my 500mW beacon and 8m FT8 QRP. I may also see if I can detect any 23cm beacons with my 2 el beam indoors.
Kingsbridge Estuary - NOT amateur radio
This photo of where I come from in Devon was on social media a little while ago. This not actually an estuary. It is actually a ria, a drowned river valley. One of my favourite walks was between Salcombe (bottom left) and Kingsbridge (top). It took me about 90 minutes then. It would take me hours now, if at all!
25 Jan 2023
Ukraine war - NOT amateur radio
The war in Ukraine is almost 1 year old. What a total waste of everything!
I hear now that Germany and the USA are sending tanks. I am sure we in the west, as well as people in Russia, are not being told the whole truth. This often happens in wars.
Russia is paranoid about its security, but at the same time invading a neighbouring country is not the answer. More countries (Finland and Sweden) want to join NATO. If these countries were attacked or any NATO country, the reaction would be devastating.
In the end I very much hope some sort of peace can be found. It seems to me that the elements of this must include:
- No nation to be invaded by neighbours.
- Russia gets guarantees that nobody ever intends to invade it.
- Sweden, Finland and Ukraine do not join NATO but have their security guaranteed by NATO.
- Russia has access to Crimean ports for its Navy.
- Sanctions are lifted with guarantees of good conduct after a fixed period.
- Both Ukraine and Russia do not apply war crimes against each other.
8m - is 10mW ERP legal for beacons without a licence in the ISM band?
Recently, I was asked this question. If it is, many more UK stations could get on 8m. It is my firm view that 10mW ERP is enough to get into southern Europe from the UK in good Es conditions by WSPR. It might even be possible rarely with FT8. Local tests have proved to me that well over 17km is possible locally, even without 8m antennas at the RX end.
Now, I am no legal expert, so you will have to seek your own legal advice. In different countries, different regulations will apply, so it is your duty to ensure legal operation.
My interpretation is WSPR beacons without a licence are legal in the UK in the ISM bands as long as the technical requirements and IR 2030 are met. This means 10mW ERP. Interference must not be given and must be accepted.
This is NOT the Amateur Radio Service, but is arguably very much amateur radio!
This is what OFCOM said when I asked:
"The use of licence-exempt apparatus is authorised under exemption regulations, with set emission powers and other criteria. This is in order for it to be available to all users with minimal risk of disruption or interference.
The limits, including maximum power levels and whether airborne use is permitted, are set out in the UK Interface requirement IR2030. If apparatus being used for testing meets the relevant technical criteria and complies with IR 2030, then a licence will not be necessary. Please note that some frequency bands which may be licence-exempt in other countries, such as the USA, may not be so in the UK and only the frequency bands listed are eligible for the exemption of qualifying apparatus.
In some circumstances we may be able to authorise the test or development of non-compliant radio apparatus under an Innovation and Trial (I&T) licence. However, this generally will be under conditions that are sufficiently remote, shielded or otherwise unlikely to affect other users. I&T is not intended for the operational use of radio apparatus, such as for the monitoring / control / telemetry of other apparatus, where a licensed or exempt authorisation is already generally available. Even if it were the radio apparatus itself that is under test or development (in excess of normally permitted limits) we should emphasise that, as described above, it will not be possible to grant an operational permission for its future deployment and use."
10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on at 1406z. So far, no spots.
U3A course - late on radio
As I am in Cambridge for my University of the 3rd Age lecture on the Bank of England history, I will be late on the radio today.
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