• [G3XBM] Original FM broadcast band in the USA

    From G3XBM via rec.radio.amateur.moderat@21:1/5 to All on Sun Aug 29 01:21:36 2021
    XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.equipment, uk.radio.amateur
    XPost: free.uk.amateur-radio

    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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