25 Jun 2022

8m experiment (Saturday)

Although I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX for about 40 minutes, no spots given or received so far. It is now 0918z.

UPDATE 1853z:  No spots at all today on 40.680 FT8. You get the impression that 8m, with far fewer monitors than 10m and 6m, is on the wane. Yes, there will be good days, but now we are beginning to see more days with no Es propagation. It seems amazing that next week is July!

2 comments:

ken g4apb said...

I am amazed how bad this band can be! Two days now, without a single wspr spot, AND, I have not seem anyone on FT8 today either. I created a remote station locally to check my transmissions and can decode them fine. 10m working well as is 6m using the same tx and almost same antenna (fan dipole for 10m, 8m and 6m). Maybe just not enough listeners?
I tuned across the band and do hear a lot of strong QRM. Maybe this ISM part of the spectrum is just to noisy too?
I don’t understand why Ireland have so much more freedom on these airways than we do. Do we know who on the RSGB committee is responsible for speaking up on our behalf? Maybe he needs a few more letters from us amateurs that want to expand our knowledge?
73 Ken g4apb

Roger G3XBM said...

I have written to "my man" at OFCOM with a request he forwards it to whoever it should go to. I have also said I am forwarding to the RSGB (I shall find out who the right person is!). After nearly 40 years in RF design, many as a manager, I know how acute the RF design shortage is. Being offered 2 jobs at aged 73, they must be REALLY desperate,HI. I emphasised the "self training" opportunities and growing future RF engineers. Personally I think the 8m T&I licence is a total cop-out.