RadCom articles - lost?

Last October, I submitted 3 articles to RadCom. One was published, but the other 2 seem to have disappeared down a black hole. Today, I chased them. 

It is fine to not publish them, but it is also good to know why. As I recall, they were short fill-in articles, but it was so long ago I cannot recall what was in them!

With Giles Read dying suddenly they must be in a pickle in the short-term.

UPDATE 1500z:  The articles have been found. 

10FT8R in RadCom (August)

All being well, my simple, low cost, RX for 10m FT8 should appear in RSGB RadCom in August. This is not certain.

My thanks go to Jay W5OLF for kindly doing the schematics. Jay is developing the circuit further. I hope it brings him success.

Article in RadCom

The photo shows the August edition of RadCom which has an article of mine on QRP.

See https://rsgb.org/

RadCom article

Much to my amazement, my short article on FT8 has been published in November RadCom. I was hoping to see it in a few months, but this took me totally by surprise!

FT8 article for RadCom

A few weeks ago I submitted another article for possible inclusion in RadCom the RSGB's monthly magazine. It looks like this will appear in the near future. It was only short, but probably apposite. Watch this space.

Writing articles is quite enjoyable. Usually I write about things done by myself, as I find these "flow" naturally. Sadly, my poor health has meant few articles about field work of late. Let us hope this changes.

Another RadCom Article

Today, I was told that another of my articles is to appear in RadCom. I have no idea when this will be.  They are likely to change things quite a bit. It was on compromise antennas, especially for 472kHz.  Basically, it was to encourage others whatever they have: poor antennas still get out!

These days I write about things I can still do. Major projects are mostly beyond me, as I get tired quickly because of my stroke. Mostly I miss my VLF and optical experiments. These were fun.

Despite things, I still enjoy the hobby.

Ideas are brewing for another article!

New MGM (digital) RSGB contests

According to the latest RadCom, the RSGB's VHF contest calendar now includes a couple of contests aimed at digital operators.

See RadCom Feb 2018 p70/71

Rad Com spelling mistake

My February 2018 RSGB "RadCom" arrived in the post today. Right on the front cover was a spelling mistake! Receiver it should have been! Reciever it was for all to see without unwrapping.

How can they make such a basic mistake? What about spell checking?  Honestly, it made my blood boil. I wrote to the editor there and then. Such a basic mistake is totally unacceptable in 2018. My excuse for errors is my addled brain. What is your excuse RSGB?

RadCom and RadCom Plus

This is the magazine of the RSGB, the UK's national amateur radio society. There is also an additional online version available to members (RadCom Plus) with extra content. Usually the paper copy is a mix of technical and operational news.

See http://www.rsgb.org/  .

Big-Wheel review

The first article that I have written since my stroke has been published. This was a 1 page article about my Big-Wheel 2m antenna in the Jan 2016 edition of RadCom. David G0LRD kindly did the erection for me. I was really grateful to him. He just came over and did it.  A true hero in the real spirit of amateur radio. A million thanks David.

The short article was a start. I hope I can do a few more in 2016.

RadCom and the IC7300

My RadCom arrived by post today. Unlike in the recent edition of PW, the advertisers were publishing details of the new ICOM radio and were keen to take deposits. Perhaps they have got later data? I quite like the look of the new IC7300 radio, but feel the price will soon fall to £799 or less. I can wait. I may wait to see what the FT817 replacement looks like. A 5W (or maybe 10W) radio would suit my needs better.

The latest RadCom has a review of ICOMs latest flagship radio, the IC7851, selling for around £9000. Does anyone really spend this sort of money on amateur radio gear?  With PSU, tower, big beam and big rotator this implies over £10000 on amateur gear. I suppose some people must spend this sort of money. My FT817 has served me for over 14 years now. To me, this was an investment and I had to give it careful thought.  I wonder how many XYLs are happy for their husbands to spend over £10000 on a hobby?

Each to their own. If you really have that kind of disposable income how you spend it is your decision.

RadCom Plus

This morning I received a request to write for RadCom Plus, the on-line RadCom supplement for members only. I shall have to think about this. My health is still not too brilliant but I do enjoy writing, so may try to give this a go. Need to think what to write about first, HI.

AM and UK Band Plans

Because of my poor voice (as a result of my cerebellum brain bleed) I tend to use digital techniques, like WSPR and JT65, but I still enjoy AM.  Like many, I've worked transatlantic AMers on 29-29.1MHz with real QRP and simple antennas using AM. It makes a great change from SSB.

One could be forgiven for thinking AM is a dirty word at the RSGB.  In UK Band Plans published in the February 2015 edition of RadCom, AM gets no mention on 28MHz and 50MHz and gets a (begrudging) comment as a footnote only in the 144MHz Band Plan when other modes get "centres of activity" mentions. AM is alive and well in the 29-29.1MHz sub-band. AM on the 144MHz (2m) band here in the UK can be found on and around 144.550MHz. There has been AM on 29-29.1MHz for years and years and years - in fact almost as long as I've been active on the air. Yes, this is in the all-mode section, but why not say this is the 28MHz (10m) AM sub-band? Also, why are 144MHz AM users asked to "consider adjacent channel activity"? AM should easily fit in 6kHz!!

Yet again, AM is being treated as a dirty and outdated mode. Here in the UK, ex-PMR AM rigs ripe for use on VHF can be picked up for virtually nothing and there is certainly room for AM on all bands from 28MHz upwards. AM has its enthusiasts on other bands too, but yet again the RSGB seems keen to kill off this mode. Why I wonder?

Allegedly, a RadCom article on digital TV in the 146-147MHz band was pulled last month at the last minute because "someone at the RSGB" thought it would not fit in the new band! Sometimes one wonders. Maybe the day when I only get SPRAT is closer than I thought? Thankfully, there are many good articles in RadCom.

Writing for radio magazines

In recent years I've written articles on a wide range of subjects, from VLF to optical, for several different radio magazines around the world. Now I don't do it for the money as I have a pension that covers my needs adequately, but I am surprised how poorly radio magazines do pay authors. This may be one reason why they find it hard to find new authors.  I won't quote figures here as I don't want to embarrass anyone, but you have to write articles for the pleasure of doing so and not for the financial rewards, especially when tax is deducted.

One of the lowest payers appears to be the ARRL, which I find particularly surprising considering that QST must have one of the largest circulations in the world. Considering how long it takes to put a decent article together  with illustrations and schematics (very many hours), the rewards are probably better if one stacked shelves at a local supermarket or worked on the local dustcart.  It doesn't exactly encourage budding authors.

Times are hard and revenues in amateur radio magazines from adverts is probably falling, but reading QST, Practical Wireless and RadCom I see pages and pages of adverts that must bring in a decent amount. Maybe they'd get, and keep, more readers if they encouraged people to write interesting articles by paying a little more?

Getting Going on "Bottom Band"

Well, guess what, I am a year younger (amateur radio wise) than I thought. Having looked up some old RSGB Bulletins this evening I see that I actually joined the RSGB in 1963 and not 1962, so I've only been a member for the last 49 years. Suddenly I feel a year younger!

I was looking for an article about lightbeam communications that was in the very first RSGB Bulletin (later Radcom) I ever received and this was in April 1963 and not 1962. It was called "Getting Going on Bottom Band". The article was an April Fool's one but I didn't realise this and got the reference books from the library. But, the fascination with communicating a long way over a beam of light was kindled in that very article and only now am I giving the subject proper attention, some 49 (and not 50) years later. I feel as if I have a whole year extra in which to enjoy the hobby, HI.

Earth Mode VLF article in October RadCom

If things go to plan, there should be a 3 page article of mine in the October RadCom. As I am away in France I've no idea if this appeared or not.

The RSGB Luso Tower fiasco

Some time back, the RSGB bought a huge Luso tower - list price £31k, although they got it for less - but are now selling it for £13.5k as they can't get planning permission for it at their new home at Bletchley Park.  What has this sort of monster got to do with amateur radio? What sort of example is our national society giving to newcomers? Pay BIG money for everything to get a BIG mast, BIG yagi, BIG rig and BIG linear?

The RSGB must give more of a lead by showing that this does not have to be a "fat cheque book" hobby and that simple, low cost, equipment can be effective. RadCom does carry some excellent articles, but I fear many newcomers reading the magazine would come away thinking it's an expensive hobby.