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

Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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Mandarin ducks

Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:03 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/mandarin-ducks.html


On a recent visit to Ipswich, we saw several of these ducks on a pond in
the park. They are very colourful. I think they were introduced to England
in the last 200 years from China.

See https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/waterfowl/mandarin-duck .

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OFCOM and the upper 6GHz band

Posted: 28 Feb 2022 03:36 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/ofcom-and-upper-6ghz-band.html


OFCOM is consulting on the indoor use of this band. See the OFCOM website
for details.

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8m TX permit

Posted: 28 Feb 2022 04:40 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/8m-tx-permit.html


OFCOM has assured me that it has granted all I asked for, but seem unable
to tell me exactly what I am getting before I pay £50!
As I do not know several things, I have asked them to clarify these before
I shell out. I think this is reasonable. My wish is to go ahead.
Assuming all is OK, I hope to start TXing FT8 before the Es season and all reports will be appreciated. I suspect this summer could be most
interesting on 8m regarding propagation studies.
UPDATE 1239z: OFCOM has clarified things. It has granted me 40-42MHz and
I can use my own amateur callsign. It is soon to invoice me. The permit is
for a year starting April 2nd 2022. I must not cause interference!

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10m FT8

Posted: 28 Feb 2022 11:50 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/10m-ft8.html


After a very brief TX period with 2.5W FT8 (3 DX spots), I am now RX
only. 49 spots so far with the furthermost YB2IQ (11988km).
UPDATE 1154z: 114 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1947z: 463 stations spotted.

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Sunspots - Monday February 28th 2022

Posted: 27 Feb 2022 11:14 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/sunspots-monday-february-28th-2022.html


Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 48. A=13 and K=3.

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10m FT8 RX

Posted: 27 Feb 2022 11:06 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/10m-ft8-rx_27.html



Once again, 10m is becoming a great DX band.

Most days, DX from across the globe has been copied on 10m FT8.
If you are after a simple RX to monitor 10m FT8, then my 10FT8R RX may be
the answer. You may be able to make yours better or simpler!
See
https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

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40m FT8 in the last day

Posted: 27 Feb 2022 06:08 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/40m-ft8-in-last-day.html


578 stations spotted in the last day on 40m FT8 RX as the map shows using
the untuned 10m antenna.
UPDATE 1407z: 1005 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX in the last day.

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Sunspots - Sunday February 27th 2022

Posted: 26 Feb 2022 11:05 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/sunspots-sunday-february-27th-2022.html


Solar flux is 97 and the SSN 22. K=2 and A=2.

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40m FT8 RX (Saturday)

Posted: 26 Feb 2022 12:20 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/40m-ft8-rx-saturday.html


At about 1900z I QSYed to 40m FT8 RX using the 10m endfed antenna untuned.
So far (at 1957z) 221 stations spotted. At the moment 40m seems to be the
best all round band day and night. I shall probably leave it on overnight. UPDATE 2020z: 264 stations spotted.

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8m permit coming

Posted: 26 Feb 2022 06:25 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/8m-permit-coming.html


Yesterday I had an email from OFCOM saying they have approved my
application for an 8m permit. They forgot to tell me what the permit will
say! Assuming it is what I asked for, I shall be invoiced and will start transmitting before the Es season starts.
It seems this OFCOM department is more efficient than the last. It has
taken a few weeks whereas the last department took almost 5 months to tell
me to get a different licence!

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10m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

Posted: 26 Feb 2022 12:25 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/10m-ft8-qrp-saturday.html


At the moment I am on 10m FT8 QRP with 2.5W. After a brief period on TX (2
G spots). I am RX only with 4 spots so far, all European. I have also
spotted an FR4 earlier, but for some reason this did not appear on
PSKreporter. Both G stations were not local. So, this was either normal
tropo or aircraft I suspect. In the past, I have copied G stations from
across the country on normal propagation on SSB. FT8 is likely to be far
more effective.
UPDATE 0916z: Now one station in South Africa also spotted - ZS6KED
(8874km).
UPDATE 1026z: Now 25 stations spotted.UPDATE 1415z: 56 stations spotted. UPDATE 1642z: 122 stations spotted. I have seen better days.
UPDATE 1845z: 168 stations spotted.
UPDATE 2025z: QRT.

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40m FT8 RX in the last day

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 11:05 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/40m-ft8-rx-in-last-day.html


1289 stations spotted in the last day on 40m FT8 RX.


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Knobs and bezels

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 10:32 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/knobs-and-bezels.html


One of the things you can do if you (for now) lose your job is grow your
own business, which is what Toni is doing. There are some very nice bezels
and knobs.

See https://www.whizz3dparts.co.uk/ .

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Sunspots - Saturday February 26th 2022

Posted: 25 Feb 2022 10:31 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/02/sunspots-saturday-february-26th-2022.html


Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 22. A=8 and K=0.

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