10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

At the moment (1611z) I am on 10m FT8 RX. It seems wide open to North America. I was going to go on 8m FT8, but for some reason the SWR is very high.

UPDATE 1956z: 323 stations spotted so far.

8m local experiment

For several days over the last few weeks I have been doing tests with local stations to see if 10mW ERP 8m WSPR could be copied locally. In the end, 6 locals were able to get the signals and as far as I know they all used antennas that were not cut for 8m!!

My conclusion is that 10mW ERP WSPR beacons would definitely cover the local area. My own interpretation of UK ISM rules is that anyone may legally transmit beacons at 8m in the ISM band as long as they meet the technical requirements and IR2030 without a licence. With Es conditions such beacons will be copied in Europe occasionally.

My local tests have now stopped. 

Sunspots - Thursday December 15th 2022

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 174. A=4 and K=2.

Brrrr ... NOT amateur radio

This holly bush in our UK garden, really sums up the last few days - very cold, icy and snow. It should get a lot milder from Sunday.

10m FT8 next year

Currently, I  expect to be on 10m QRP (5W) quite a bit next year. Possibly I may also try 15m FT8.   I find voice QSOs hard these days. Many people are moving to FT8 now.  Around sunspot maximum, working the world should certainly be possible with QRP 10m FT8.

Staging post - NOT amateur radio

It appears the windmill next door is a staging post for starlings off to roost. It is not uncommon to see 100 on the sails (and a few squabbling on our bird table!) before flying off to their roost. In some parts of the UK,starlings are getting rarer. Not here!

If you look carefully at the photo, you may be able to see them starting to gather.

As you can see, still cold here - minus 4 degrees Celsius mid morning.

1896 (or 97) snowball fight - NOT amateur radio

This movie dates from the late 1890s and shows a snowball fight. It is believed to be the first movie of a snowball fight ever made.

Geminids Meteor shower

This peaks in the next few days. Starting tomorrow I hope to be on MSK144 on 8m. The best times are early morning, I think. So I shall be on 24/7.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 As my PC will be tied up with my QRP 8m local tests, I will be on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon.  I expect to be on from 0900z. 

UPDATE 1140z:  The usual spots from the Canary Isles as well as Turkey.

8m experiment - last day at 10mW ERP (Wednesday)

Today is the last day of my 10mW ERP 8m WSPR tests locally. The TX is due to be turned on again at 0900z. 6 locals have copied me with 10mW ERP even with non resonant antennas. 

My reading of the UK ISM rules suggests that anyone may operate 10mW ERP beacons without a licence, with callsigns not legally needed (or make one up) as long as the technical requirements and IR2030 are both met. For beacons, that do not result in a product going on the market, self declaration is fine. If you are in any doubt, seek your own legal advice. I honestly think OFCOM cannot really be bothered as we make them no money!

UPDATE 0931z: Been on 10mW ERP TX since 0858z (40% TX). No spots.

UPDATE 1437z:  Steve G4WSZ (11km) has only spotted me twice today. He had to move his 6m dipole as his fence was being replaced. It looks like with his 6m dipole at only 1m over the ground, it is very marginal.

UPDATE 1445z:  There has been speculation on the 8m io group just why the FCC and OFCOM seem so dead against allocating even the tiniest amateur band at 8m with heavy restrictions. The answer in many countries may well be the military have the last word and want to keep people off. This is pure speculation, but it would make sense. Secrecy rules probably saying so right out!