XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.equipment, uk.radio.amateur
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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog
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Original FM broadcast band in the USA
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 08:09 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/08/original-fm-broadcast-band-in-usa.html
Until recently I did not know that at first the FM broadcast band in the
USA was around 42.5MHz. Later this changed to Band II. Occasionally, there
are special transmissions at 42.5MHz to commemorate this.
I do hope that the amateur service gets a small allocation around 40MHz
(8m) as we could all learn so much. Even 10W or less, digital only, 10kHz
wide, would be a start. I suspect this will start with individuals applying
for special permits, much as is happening in some countries around 70MHz.
Such an allocation would attract serious experimenters only as no
commercial amateur radio transceivers cover this band on TX without modification as far as I am aware.
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x80 Rybakov vertical
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 06:36 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/08/x80-rybakov-vertical.html
I bought this about 10 years ago, but apart from a few weeks it was not
used and is in perfect condition.
For those unfamiliar with Rybakovs, these are multi-band antennas that are
end fed via a balun. In most cases the auto-ATU in modern rigs can easily
match the antenna on most bands. In many cases the SWR is low even without
an ATU. They make useful multiband antennas. I believe there are more
recent versions available.
On HF I am almost exclusively on 10m, so this was wasted, so I have
recently swapped it for an active RX loop.
See
https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/x80 .
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10m FT8 QRP (Saturday)
Posted: 28 Aug 2021 11:21 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/08/10m-ft8-qrp-saturday.html
At 0705z, I went on 10m FT8 QRP with 2.5W. I was on TX for about 30
minutes, but am now RX only. 3 stations spotted me with the furthermost
F4IWN (700km). On RX just 1 G station spotted here so far G4RDC (127km).
UPDATE 1120z: 22 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX so far, all in Europe. Es still probably.
UPDATE 1440z: 40 European stations spotted so far on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1820z: 44 stations spotted including 1 South American.
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Yesterday on 10m FT8 RX
Posted: 27 Aug 2021 11:36 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/08/yesterday-on-10m-ft8-rx_28.html
There was a good opening to South America on 10m FT8 yesterday as the map shows. 10m FT8 Es still occurs, but is less frequent.
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Sunspots - Saturday August 28th 2021
Posted: 27 Aug 2021 11:20 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/08/sunspots-saturday-august-28th-2021.html
Solar flux is 90 and the SSN is 73. A=19 and K=3.
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