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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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Back on 8m FT8 TX Friday

Posted: 25 May 2022 11:55 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/05/back-on-8m-ft8-tx-friday.html


All being well, I intend to be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX on Friday
after a week away. It would appear there were some good Es openings that I missed!

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Oscar 100 activity

Posted: 25 May 2022 08:37 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/05/oscaar-100-activity.html


As you know I take a regular peek at activity on the narrow-band
transponder of this geosynchronous satellite. Today's peek was at 0610am central European time. 30 minutes later there was nobody active at all!
Now, this seems to show that outside Europe, e.g. India and the Gulf states there is very little interest. OK, it is a work day and very early in
Europe.
My over-riding impression is that activity levels are very low. In some
ways I am surprised, but in other ways I am not.
Our hobby has largely evolved into "appliance operators" who buy an HF rig,
and maybe a linear, tower and HF beam. There are far fewer real
experimenters. With no real "black boxes" available there is a certain threshold to have success with Oscar 100. For most, this threshold is just
too hard. Based on recent evidence, I cannot see geosynchronous amateur satellites having a bright future.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

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Sunspots - Thursday May 26th 2022

Posted: 25 May 2022 08:17 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/05/sunspots-thursday-may-26th-2022.html


Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 93. A=6 and K=1. The sunspot number has
dipped below 100 for the first time in a while. The number is still pretty high.

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Ideas

Posted: 25 May 2022 11:15 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/05/ideas.html


Now is not the usual time to think about projects. The usual time is as the nights start to draw in and winter approaches.
I am still hoping my G3XBM Scrapbook will be available as a free PDF
download by the end of May, but June is next week!!
In the meantime, take a look at my main G3XBM website. Hopefully you will
find some ideas there.
As soon as that book is ready, I shall post a link here. At this rate, I suspect the book will be available mid June unless May is extended by Royal decree!!

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Failed by the RSGB and OFCOM?

Posted: 25 May 2022 10:49 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/05/failed-by-rsgb-and-ofcom.html


For 60 years I have been an RSGB member, but I feel I am being failed. Let
me explain.
OFCOM is on record as saying they will NEVER allow UK radio amateurs on 8m. Why?
The RSGB has (it would appear meekly) said "OK" to this. Wouldn't it have
been nice if, for once, they had said "rubbish!!"?
In my view they should have said a very few kHz wide band at 40.680 MHz USB dial, narrow digital modes only, by NoV, strictly non-interference would
have actively encouraged self training and propagation research. Personally
I would happily lost a few kilohertz off any band for a few kilohertz
around 40.680 MHz.
Instead we can talk about hernias and potted plants with 400W and
commercial gear on 80m! Absolute madness!!
RSGB and OFCOM please wake up.

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