GB3MCB 8m beacon in Cornwall

This beacon on 40.050 MHz began operation this weekend. 

It is situated in mid-Cornwall near St Austell. It should be very useful to indicate when 8m is open across the Atlantic. It has an FT8 sequence, so can be monitored with WSJT-X free software. The antennas are crossed dipoles.

Initially, it is operated under a test and innovation licence. In my view both the RSGB and OFCOM should have just granted them an NoV to the amateur licence as this truly helps propagation research and self training. The RSGB should have made the case and OFCOM agreed.

OFCOM and the RSGB -- just wake up!!!  You are making yourselves look unbelievably stupid! Surely the whole purpose of our hobby is self training and radio research. Is it any wonder we cannot find RF engineers in the UK if there is no support?   

8m need not be "more of the same". It is uniquely situated in the radio spectrum, on the HF/VHF boundary, to offer radio amateurs a real chance to contribute to radio propagation research. Instead, both the RSGB and OFCOM appear to be obstructive.

I am still totally puzzled why OFCOM seems so against even 5 kHz (just 5 kilohertz!!) at 8m being allocated to the amateur service by NoV. They could insist on narrow digital only and make us secondary users with limited power. It just seems so short-sighted. Like the Chinese trying to stop Covid or King Canute trying to stop the tide - there are some things in life that make no sense.

UPDATE 0804z:  No spots overnight.

UPDATE 1556z: Still not a sign of that beacon. My feeling is that this is a complete waste of time.  I thought I might see the odd MS burst, but nothing. Maybe I should remain on until the morning? Probably the 15 second TX period is too long for random MS. In a shower I might have better luck.

Cornish poppies - NOT amateur radio

This photo was posted on Facebook a few days ago. It deserves sharing.  It show a poppy field in Cornwall with the sea behind. 

Some people in Cornwall are fiercely independent wanting it to be a separate country called Kernow. The Cornish language is being revived.

K prefix

Stations in Cornwall are being allowed to use K in their prefix this year only. K stands for Kernow, which the ancient name for Cornwall.

An old work colleague, Richard G3TFX, worked the Poldu club station when they were using the special prefix on 40m SSB in recent days. I have still to work a Cornish station this year, although I have not really been trying.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/k_for_kernow_st_pirans_day.htm .

K for Kernow (Cornwall)

Cornish amateurs are being allowed to use K (e.g. GK0***) all next year. There are some special awards for working stations in Cornwall.

See  http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/headlines/2015/11/27/k-regional-identifier-for-cornwall/ .

Special prefix for Cornwall?

I need some clarification. OFCOM are suggesting the use of GK and similar prefixes for Cornwall a county in south west England. The K stands for Kernow the ancient name for Cornwall. Is this actually happening?

2m GB3MCB - 410km: no luck at all

The mid-Cornwall 2m beacon GB3MCB is 410km away on an all-land path and, as yet, I have still to receive it, even for very brief periods. I keep looking, but without any success so far.  By now I would have expected the odd MS ping or aircraft reflection but, so far, an absolute blank.

Can anyone confirm it is on-air?

UPDATE 1900z: A very weak signal,somewhat low (144.46802MHz CW) may have been a weak ping from this beacon? Too weak to tell and no callsign copied.