We live not far from Cambridge. At the moment there are no foreign visitors. It is still a beautiful place.
3 Apr 2021
Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
We live not far from Cambridge. At the moment there are no foreign visitors. It is still a beautiful place.
2 Apr 2021
5MHz (60m) band
Despite a small slot being allocated to the amateur service at a WRC meeting many years ago, this slot is not universally available. As an example, it is not allocated in the UK. Other 5MHz allocations with higher power are available at 5MHz in the UK.
As a dedicated QRP man, and speaking personally, I would trade the bitty allocations for a smaller, contiguous band with lower power. I have only been on the band with WSPR, so am not well qualified to comment!
Sub-9kHz amateur radio
Some years ago I experimented on amateur radio below 9kHz. To receive amateur radiated signals at range needs very stable TX signals, very narrow filters and integration periods measured in hours or days. Just listening will not work! Luckily the software needed is freely available on the Internet.
The photo shows G3XIZ. The frequency is Hertz!! My antenna was the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
It is some years since I last experimented on real VLF. As I recall, I copied amateur sub-9kHz signals from several European stations including 2 in Germany and 1 in Austria I think.
In the past I have successfully experimented at the far ends of the spectrum from visible light to far ELF. There is no doubt that we still have a lot to learn. At both these ends of the spectrum the equipment and test gear can easily be home-brewed. In many ways this is one of the attractions. My own VLF earth-mode gear was fabricated in the back of the garage as was my light beam gear: low cost and great fun. The second link includes a link to the files on my earth-mode article in RSGB RadCom in 2011.
Some very old blog pages (which are not maintained so do not follow the links on the left) are at https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode. This is a blog about my own experiments with VLF earth-mode.
Narrowboat - NOT amateur radio
This morning we did a walk along Burwell Lode. The photo shows a narrowboat on the Lode. The people on the boat were enjoying the birds including several marsh harriers.
It feels much colder.
1 Apr 2021
IC-705 antenna tuner
The ICOM AH-705 auto ATU sells for about £300. It is not small and not low cost. They do not even guarantee it is water and dust proof and they do not even quote the worst-case VSWR it can match.
In my view this is not a great auto ATU. I have no plans to buy one.
Tea in the garden - NOT amateur radio
This is our older son on the right. He lives in the same village. Until recently he has only been to the door with his mask on.
5.5G and 6G
We are just rolling out 5G. Already there is talk of 5.5G and 6G! I cannot imagine what this would be.
Southgate News has a piece about an upcoming talk.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2021/march/5-5g-and-6g-for-2030.htm#.YGXV12jYrrc
IC-705 on the air
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| IC-705 |
In the coming days I want to try FT8 and D-star.
The RX seems to work well even on LF with good reception of DCF77 on 77.5kHz with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It, so far, fits my operating well. I was surprised to get so many GPS satellites with the rig indoors in the usual operating position.
ICOM has done a great job.
I have ordered the Radio Today guide to the IC-705 from the RSGB.
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