8m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

Once again, I am monitoring 8m FT8.

UPDATE  1206z:  No spots. This will probably be my last day concentrating on 8m FT8. I am disappointed in 8m activity.

UPDATE 1822z: Just EA3ERE (1153km) spotted. QRT soon.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

Although I no longer hold a UK TX permit for 8m, I still monitor 8m FT8  from time to time. 

I am monitoring today.

UPDATE 1308z:   Just G8VER (64km) spotted.

Is 8m "going off the boil"?

As many know, I held a UK TX permit for the band getting all over the world with just a few watts and a low wire dipole. I was considering getting a new permit, despite the £50 price tag for the pleasure. In the end I decided not to bother, but to concentrate on 10m and 6m instead.

As the sunspot numbers decline, I reasoned that radio science, and me, would learn nothing new. 

Also, I was extremely disappointed by the very negative attitude of many PTTs, when even temporary access to the band around sunspot maximum could have taught us so much. It is, arguably, too late now.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Today, I am trying 8m FT8 RX again.

UPDATE 1450z:  No spots. I think my antenna must be poor on 8m.  I might try the coax to my 2m antenna via an ATU if it works at 40.680.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

At 1106z, I QSYed to 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1830z:   No spots all day. QRT now. I suspect this will be my last test on 8m until the Es season.

USA back on 8m (and 4m too)

A person in the USA has obtained an experimental licence for 8m and 4m. 

This is not amateur radio so QSOs certainly with radio amateurs in the USA and, probably overseas too, are not permitted. Probably FT8 and WSPR reports are fine.  

Remember this is not amateur radio.

I hope the FCC sees fit to issue more.

Thoughts on 8m

In the last few years I have (not now) had an 8m TX permit in the UK.

I ran 2.5W to a low dipole using my FT817ND modified by the dealer MLS. Most DX paths were worked on FT8 like South Africa, USA, Canada and the Caribbean.

Both OFCOM and the dealer were helpful, although I am sorry to say I did NOT find the RSGB supportive or helpful in the least. To be honest the RSGB appeared dead set against me and even a temporary NoV. Instead I had to pay £50 to do propagation research when many other CEPT nations gave either temporary or permanent access to the band.

In the RSGB's defence, they are often dependent on volunteers and saw defending 6m as a higher priority.

In my view, the most important propagation research was around sunspot maximum. We are now on the downward slope. Yes, there may well be more very long paths opening especially N-S and there will be other modes such as Es and MS.

What of the future?  I cling to the (weak) hope that the RSGB will change to a more supportive role and encourage OFCOM to join other enlightened CEPT nations that have allowed radio amateurs access to the band. Unless we gain free access to the band I am unlikely to apply for a TX permit.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

 At about 1345z I switched to 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE 2023z:  No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Friday)

 All day I am on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1802z:  No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Thursday)

 I have QSYed to 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz using my end-fed long wire.  We'll see if I spot anyone today.

UPDATE 1626z:  No spots. At the moment 8m is disappointing.

8m FT8 RX (Sunday)

Today, I am on 8m FT8 RX, more in hope than expectation, using my end-fed long wire antenna. I have no idea of the polar plot on 8m, but it has been used to copy CT, EA and G on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1455z:   No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Thursday)

 My gear was turned on at about 0920z.

UPDATE 1523:   No spots.

8m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

 Since lunchtime I have been on 8m FT8 RX.

 UPDATE 1512z:  No spots.

Reconsidering 8m TX permit

 At the moment, I am undecided about submitting a new application for an 8m TX permit. I am unlikely ever to need modes except FT8, WSPR and CW and unlikely to need much power.  I really just need 40.680-40.683MHz.

The best time would be to get active around February to catch any F2 and then the Es in the spring and summer. Also I might catch some F2 in autumn 2026.

I enjoy experimenting, but don't like the idea of paying.  Maybe just one year? Thinking!

8m FT8 RX again (Tuesday)

 Yet again, I am trying 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz.

UPDATE  1158z:   G8VER (66km) and CT7BIZ (1422km) spotted on 8m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 2016z:   QRT.

8m FT8 RX (Monday)

My gear was turned on at 1030z.

UPDATE 1812z:  EA1YV (1321km) spotted.

8m FT8 receive (Sunday)

My gear was turned on before breakfast.

UPDATE 1654z:  Just G8VER (66km) spotted again. This is the Verulam Club in St.Albans.

If I get no more spots today, I may return to another band tomorrow.

UPDATE 1908z:   No further stations spotting me. QRT.

8m FT8 receive (Saturday)

My 8m dipole was taken down some months ago. This afternoon, just for fun, I am on 8m FT8 receive with my end-fed long wire. I have no idea at all how this works on 8m. Let's see if I get any spots. Also, I have no idea how sensitive the IC-705 is at 8m.

UPDATE 1621z:  G8VER (66km) spotted. It works.

I remain extremely disappointed that so many PTTs seem to have a very negative attitude to 8m. A few PTTs have granted access to 8m, some for a limited time. As far as I know there have been NO reports of interference caused by those granted access. I object to having to pay to do valuable research especially when my own PTT (OFCOM) seems so negative.

UPDATE 1935z:  I shall probably try 8m FT8 RX again tomorrow.

8m operation

Although I did not renew my UK 8m TX permit, there is still activity with stations in the Caribbean getting licences and Spain getting permits for another 18 months.

Instead, I have QSYed to 6m FT8 and been surprised to find real continental DX stations spotting my 5W FT8 to the omni vertical antenna on every day I have been operating. The moral is do not give up on 6m.

In my view, 8m deserved special permits in very many countries around solar maximum to allow real propagation research. Instead, very very few bothered. I was disgusted.

8m operation

As I was not prepared to pay to do research I did not renew my 8m TX permit when it expired this summer. 

I was very disappointed by the very negative attitude of several PTTs even to very limited access to the band around solar maximum. I am told that it is still being used by some.  I really wish them well.

Instead, I have concentrated on 5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna.  This autumn my QRP has been spotted by 2 stations in Brazil on 6m.