RSGB convention this weekend

 October 11-13th - RSGB 2024 Convention, Milton Keynes. See rsgb.org/conventon .

New QRP book

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the G-QRP Club, they have brought out a new book available from the RSGB bookshop entitled “50 Years of G-QRP”. As the title suggests, it is a collection of the best articles in the club quarterly magazine. SPRAT.

I am biased, but I still think SPRAT is the best amateur magazine. It comes out quarterly and is filled with simple projects. It’s a full colour A5 magazine. I think it is entirely run by volunteers and nobody is paid.

As I have said many times before, it would be the very last magazine to go if I was pushed.

See https://www.gqrp.com/.

QMX+ video on YouTube

The RSGB does a series called Tonight@8. Recently, it featured the QMX+ rig from QRP Labs designed by Hans Summers G0UPL.

RSGB webinars

 Usually, I miss these, but I was recommended to watch the recording of the one last Monday by Hugh HC02 an SWL in Portugal. It was given by G3ZIL in Southampton and focused on the use of digital modes for propagation research. There are definitely people around who are far cleverer than I am! In it, his research has highlighted a new possible HF propagation mode called side scatter. Judging by this talk, these webinars are worth watching.

 

New 8m T&I licence obtained

Even though I wish the RSGB and OFCOM would see sense and grant real experimenters an NoV for 8m, I have shelled out (yet again) to continue research at 8m until April 2nd 2024.  In my view their position on this seems totally stupid in the extreme!!!   As before, I asked for digital only at QRP.

I really hope as many as possible come on the ISM band without a licence whilst ensuring they are fully compliant with any national requirements. As I said yesterday, it is my view that anyone in the UK can run 10mW ERP WSPR beacons in the 40.66-40.70 ISM band without a licence and with whatever callsign you like!!

Strictly  speaking, you do not need to give your location, even with the T&I licence either! Personally I think this is bizarre.

Callsigns are not a requirement of ISM use, although I think there is nothing whatsoever to stop you using your amateur radio callsign as an identifier. This is not the Amateur Radio Service. You could, of course, make up your own callsign like "your initials"123!  If using WSPR, it is advisable to make sure the format of the callsign will be reported to WSPRnet.

70cm FT8 activity contest (Wednesday evening)

This evening, the 70cm FT8 activity contest organised by the RSGB starts at 1900z. I believe this coincides with a European 70cm FT8 contest that starts earlier. Activity is surprisingly good.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?contest=70cmsgmac .

Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 RX....with the 2m omni antenna!

RSGB 8m letter

This was sent to the RSGB's General Manager yesterday, with a request to forward it to the VHF manager. I am awaiting a reply. Any reply will be posted here. 

I thought just 5 kHz was the minimum. I hope OFCOM sees fit to allocate far more. Mind you, exactly what is our hobby about?  Discussing gardens with commercial gear on 80m? 😁😩

As someone who really wants to see self-training and radio science progress, I feel deeply that the RSGB and OFCOM are miles off target on this!!

Please contact the RSGB with your views.

"Dear Sir/Madam

Please would you clarify the position of the RSGB on a possible amateur band at 8m?  

It would appear both the RSGB and OFCOM are against this. Instead, true experimenters (like me) keen on self training have had to apply for, and pay £50 annually, to be able to do this.

As a retired senior manager in the communications industry, I am only too aware of the shortage in the UK of decent RF engineers, so I would have expected both the RSGB and OFCOM to support this.

The oft used phrase is "not more of the same".

These are my proposals:

• 40.680-40.685 MHz (just 5 kHz wide band)
• narrow digital modes only (no speech)
• available by NoV only
• power restricted
• strictly non interference
• secondary allocation.

If the RSGB actively supported this, it would certainly advance radio science and self training, in a way that discussing allotments on 80m with commercial gear cannot. Not only that, OFCOM has released 2000 kHz of VHF spectrum for amateur DATV experiments, which is great. This 8m band would be just 5 kHz wide for serious research and self training, which is what our hobby is surely about. 

With no commercial gear available except by modification and with no speech, only true experimenters are likely to apply for 8m NoVs.

With 2.5W and a low wire dipole I have reached 3 continents and 16 countries on 8m FT8 with my 8m T&I permit. It would be good to have a tiny amateur band at 8m to advance self training and radio science.

Your response is eagerly awaited. This would most definitely NOT be "more of the same". 8m is at the very boundary where HF meets VHF and is therefore ripe for research.

73s

Roger Lapthorn G3XBM"

70cm activity contest results

These have been published. My position is unchanged in the low power section.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2022 .

Failed by the RSGB and OFCOM?

For 60 years I have been an RSGB member, but I feel I am being failed. Let me explain.

OFCOM is on record as saying they will NEVER allow UK radio amateurs on 8m. Why? 

The RSGB has (it would appear meekly) said "OK" to this. Wouldn't it have been nice if, for once, they had said "rubbish!!"?

In my view they should have said a very few kHz wide band at 40.680 MHz USB dial, narrow digital modes only, by NoV, strictly non-interference would have actively encouraged self training and propagation research. Personally I would happily lost a few kilohertz off any band for a few kilohertz around 40.680 MHz.

Instead we can talk about hernias and potted plants with 400W and commercial gear on 80m!  Absolute madness!!

RSGB and OFCOM please wake up.

70cm activity contest

Results for this activity contest organised by the RSGB have just been published.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=432MHz%20UKAC&year=2022 .

OFCOM statement about UK 8m permits

This statement by OFCOM about UK 8m operation has appeared in many places and the RSGB has made a statement. I have re-read the OFCOM statement many times as I have my licence.

Now, I am no legal expert and what follows is my interpretation, but....

I think the RSGB is wrong.

My reading and re-reading of the OFCOM statement and my amateur radio licence leads me to these conclusions:

1. OFCOM does not want to release any 8m spectrum for radio amateurs. Personally I think this is stupid when they could have released just 5 kHz, digital modes only, at 5W, no contests, by NoV, on a strictly non interference basis. Surely self training is what our hobby is all about?

2. As long as those operating on 8m hold an amateur radio licence and callsign and are receiving crossband reports from other radio amateurs using the frequencies only allowed in their licence schedule, I cannot see this is illegal. Yes, those working crossband to 8m non radio amateurs licenced under T and I conditions would be illegal.

3. Inter-working other stations duly authorised to operate on 8m is legal in the UK. Working those in other administrations is a matter for those administrations.

These are my personal views, not legally binding views. You need to seek your own legal position.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/march/rsgb-statement-concerning-40mhz-in-the-uk.htm#.YkV-BIrMLrc

UPDATE 1512z:   I think OFCOM really wanted a "light touch" on this. As the RSGB sought clarification, they had to answer. The RSGB interprets this differently to me.

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. 

Sad news

There is a report on Southgate News that Giles Read, who was the technical editor of RadCom, has died suddenly of cancer.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/march/giles-read-g1mfg-sk.htm#.YjjIRorP3rc .

2m activity contest results

 A few weeks ago I entered this 2m activity contest organised by the RSGB. After just 1 QSO I gave up with my low power and omni antenna. My poor voice is not really any good in contests these days!

These activity "contests" are more about activity than contesting. In the past, I have always found them friendly.

The results are now available.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&Date=&year=2022 .

2m activity contest tonight?

Later I need to check, but usually the first Tuesday of the month is the 2m UKAC. If it is, I shall go on although because of my poor voice I rarely manage to stay on long. Most times I run low power and my big-wheel omni antenna. 

UPDATE 0906z:   The activity contest is on tonight.

8m NoV submitted to OFCOM

My online application for a time and power limited access to the 8m band is with OFCOM and the RSGB. OFCOM has acknowledged receipt. No doubt it will take months to process. I hope it is successful.

I note that the OFCOM NoV application form has a tickbox to say the RSGB approves. I guess without this they immediately reject it.

2m activity contest (UKAC) Tuesday evening

As I was away, I missed the last one, but hope to be on Tuesday evening. Usually I run 2.5W to my omni big-wheel antenna for about an hour.  It is organised by the RSGB. Friendly and fun. Not like an HF contest!

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2021&contest=2mukac .

2m RSGB activity contest results published

Once a month the RSGB organises a 2m activity contest (UKAC) on Tuesday evenings lasting up to 2.5 hours. I usually manage an hour with my QRP, omni antenna and poor voice. Results have just been published for the year including the April session.

See https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/vhfresults.pl?Contest=144MHz%20UKAC&year=2021

/P and contests

 According to Southgate News, the RSGB is to accept /P entries in contests from March 29th. They state you have to obey local Covid rules, but the "stay at home" message is to be replaced (we hope) by "stay local" in England. This would mean /P operations would be legal if local.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/rsgb-contest-committee-agree-to-accept-portable-entries.htm#.YF3yKiuTLrc

EMF calculator (revised)

Southgate News reports that a new EMF calculator is now available from the RSGB.  If your EIRP is greater than 10W, you may have to use this.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/new-rsgb-emf-calculator-available.htm#.YFsX-yuTLrc .