My optical tests were great fun. They all happened before my 2013 stroke. I can recommend optical experiments to anyone, as all the gear for use and testing was homemade easily in the back of the garage (literally).
If that darn stroke had no got in the way, I should probably still be doing optical tests today!
We will probably be pushing up daisies!
At the moment, I am on 40.680 MHz FT8. My TX period is first. No spots at 1212z.
UPDATE 1322z: No spots today.
It looks like all UK amateurs (anyone actually!) may legally operate beacons on some of the ISM bands without a licence as long as they comply with IR2030. Callsigns are not needed, but you could use your amateur callsign.
ISM is not for radio communication, but my reading of the rules suggests beaconing is fine.
In the case of 8m this means 10mW ERP. My current plan is to test locally initially at the power of my T&I permit (5W) and then repeat the test at 10mW ERP. I shall probably try WSPR and maybe (if the test is successful) later with FT8.
If successful, it means many more in the UK could run beacons on 8m, or indeed any permitted ISM band, albiet at low ERP. 10mW ERP at 8m is probably enough to cover the local area. On better Es openings DX copy is possible.
Of course a small amateur allocation at 8m would be better. I cannot understand why in the UK and other administrations they don't permit amateurs access to 8m with just a band of even 5 kHz wide, narrow digital only, secondary, low power, by NoV or similar, strictly no interference. To my mind this is stupid and backward. Such a band would actively encourage research and self training. As it is, in the UK we have to pay annually to do this!!
UPDATE 1824z: I have emailed members of my local radio club membership list hoping to do some local tests with WSPR. When using 10mW ERP I propose to use the call ISM1, so people know when I am on 10mW ERP WSPR. FT8 might work, but WSPR works with much weaker signals. Measuring 10mW ERP could be a challenge.
See https://www.rfcafe.com/references/electrical/pwr2volts.htm .See https://www.qsl.net/co8tw/Coax_Calculator.htm .
Yet again, I am trying to be spotted in the USA on 8m QRP FT8. I was spotted there by 2 stations a few days ago. A transatlantic QSO would be even better.
On RX, ZS6WAB (8931km) has been spotted strongly several times.
UPDATE 1922z: No spots all day apart from the ZS several times on 8m FT8 RX. Now QRT.
My stroke was in 2013. Apart from my poor voice and always being giddy, most of my body is fine.
I am now even more aware of a couple of things that may have been a result of my stroke or just old age.
Firstly, names of words rarely automatically look wrong when they are written down. At one time I could just look at a word and know it was wrong.
Secondly, I hate driving or being driven. It as if my mind is in overdrive and stressful. All the time I am thinking of potential hazards. It also seems my perception of speed is different. It feels like everything seems faster 30mph feels like 50mph and so on. Perhaps my brain needs more time to process things.
Later, I hope to go on 8m FT8 QRP. At the moment I am on 10m QRP WSPR TX. So far at 1007z, 7 unique stations spotting me. This is encouraging.
