XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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OFCOM and aircraft licences

Posted: 17 Jan 2022 03:55 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/ofcom-and-aircraft-licences.html


OFCOM is proposing some changes in the wording of aircraft licences. See
the OFCOM website for more details. I guess this does not require thinking
or an understanding of RF.
It would be good if they gave me an update on my 8m NoV application
submitted in October! I chased last week many times, but after a week I
have still heard absolutely nothing apart from their computer generated
reply confirming receipt! Really, it is hard to be impressed. I think they
have lost it and are too embarrassed to tell me.

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10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Posted: 17 Jan 2022 03:30 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10m-qrp-wspr-tx-monday.html


As my 10m antenna is available, I am on 10m WSPR TX using the W5OLF 500mW
TX beacon. As of 1127z, I have been spotted by 3 stations with the
furthermost EA8BFK (2880km) in the Canary Is..

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70cm FT8 (Monday)

Posted: 17 Jan 2022 03:31 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/70cm-ft8.html


Although it probably won't be good before tonight, I shall be going on 70cm shortly. During the day I shall call CQ occasionally on FT8 with 2.5W and
the V2000 vertical omni antenna.
UPDATE 1125z: A brief QRP TX session was spotted by nobody. On 70cm FT8 RX
2 stations (both Gs) have been spotted.

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Sunspots - Monday January 17th 2022

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 11:40 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunspots-monday-january-17th-2022.html


Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 103. A=19 and K=1.

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Tropo forecasts

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 08:20 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/tropo-forecasts.html


Usually, I just randomly see if VHF/UHF conditions are "up". These days
there are some forecasts which can give you a little warning of when
conditions could be promising. One of these is the Hepburn Tropo Forecast.
From this, it looks like conditions could be promising in the UK on Tuesday
to the east. I shall certainly try 70cm FT8 again on RX (and maybe QRP TX)
on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Clicking on the map steps the forecast forwards 3 hours for the next few
days. Further out, it appears to step forward every 6 hours.

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G3XBM history page updated

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 02:30 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/g3xbm-history-page-updated.html


The G3XBM history page has recently been updated.
See
https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/g3xbm-history .

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6m FT8 (Sunday)

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 06:45 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/6m-ft8-sunday.html


A brief period with 2.5W TX to the V2000 vertical omni resulted in no
spots. On RX, at 1006z, just 2 spots so far with the furthermost EA4LO (1334km). This could be winter Es or perhaps aircraft reflection.
UPDATE 1105z: 8 spots on 6m FT8 RX. Many of these look like winter Es.
UPDATE 1444z: 18 stations spotted.

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10m WSPR TX (Sunday)

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 09:04 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10m-wspr-tx.html


My 500mW W5OLF beacon has been on for about 20 minutes (it is now 1004z).
So far, 3 spots by EA8BFK (2880km).
UPDATE 1130z: 24 spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon by 2 stations in the Canary
Is so far on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1445z: 3 unique stations spotted with the furthermost FY5KE (7110km).

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70cm opening over for now?

Posted: 16 Jan 2022 02:00 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/70cm-opening-over-for-now.html


In the last 12 hours only 3 Gs spotted on 70cm FT8 RX suggesting the
opening is over for now. Looking at the weather forecast, it could yet be
good again.
Later, I shall try 10m WSPR and 6m FT8.

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Sunspots - Sunday January 16th 2022

Posted: 15 Jan 2022 11:26 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/sunspots-sunday-january-16th-2022.html


Solar flux is 116 and the SSN 120. A=22 and K=3.

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70cm FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Posted: 15 Jan 2022 10:05 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/70cm-ft8-qrp-saturday.html


Once again, I am on 70cm QRP FT8 with 2.5W and the V2000 vertical omni
antenna. After a brief TX period with 3 spots of me with the furthermost
G8VHI (127km), I am RX only. 3 stations have been spotted on RX with the furthermost, GI6ATZ (479km).
UPDATE 1805z: 9 stations spotted on RX including 2 in the Netherlands and
1 in N.Ireland. Some must be tropo, but I wonder if some are scatter?

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10FT8R 10m FT8 RX

Posted: 15 Jan 2022 06:17 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/01/10ft8r-10m-ft8-rx.html


10m is again a great DX band.

Back in the summer, the RSGB printed an article of mine on a very simple
and low cost RX for 10m FT8 called the 10FT8R. It is also on my website.
Since then, I discovered a low cost source of 14.037MHz crystals, making
the schematic even simpler as the inductor next to the crystal is not
needed. With a PCB this would make a great club project in the years ahead
in solar cycle 25.
See
https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

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