After reading a post on the blog of Roger G3XBM about the possibilities of FT8 on 144 MHz, I tried it out for myself. The results for me on receive on a flat band however were mediocre at best...
Like any experiment, you always learn something even if the results are poor.
The key points for me are...
1) Poor antenna..... Using an indoor Slim-Jim half wave vertical antenna in the attic doesn't cut it for weak signals on 144 MHz. It might be fine in the SE of the UK, the low countries or Germany but not here in Ireland.
2) Too far west..... I estimate the bulk of the FT8 stations on 144 MHz are at least 400 kms to the east of me. Roger had a lot more stations closer to him even from the continent.
3) Fewer planes..... With a 15 second transmission time, aircraft scatter probably plays a big part on the number of FT8 signals heard on 144 MHz. Here on the south coast of Ireland, most of the aircraft traffic is Trans-Atlantic going east-west. There would be a much higher number of planes criss-crossing over the south east of the UK with many at lower altitudes.
The results confirm what I would have kind of guessed anyway. FT8 is good but it's not that good. To operate 2m FT8 from here, I would need an external horizontal Yagi.
In the September 2018 issue of Echo Ireland which is sent out to members of the IRTS, it was announced that the proposed frequency for the new Irish beacon on the 8 metre band will be 40.013 MHz.
The only amateur beacon currently on the band is OZ7IGY from Denmark on 40.071 MHz. The one on 40.050 MHz from central England seems to be off the air and was last spotted several years back.
The proposed frequency for the Irish beacon on 60 MHz will be 60.013 MHz.
During the EI 2m activity period on Tuesday evening, I had a tune around the beacon band and used the PI4 software to see if I could see any faint signals in the waterfall. To my suprise, I could faintly see and hear GB3NGI which was 385kms away...
Considering I was just using a vertical Slim Jim in the attic of the house, I really wasn't expecting to hear anything.
I looked up the beacon website https://www.qsl.net/gb3ngi/ and found that the signals were alternating between CW and JT65b. As I had never used JT65b before, I had some trouble getting the WSJT-X programme to decode the signals.
After doing a bit of research, I changed some settings on the programme... Settings > General > Enable VHF/UHF/Microwave features and then used the settings in the graphic above. It now works ok and I can see the decoded signals.
0840 -25 1.4 1261 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
0842 -26 1.4 1260 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
0854 -26 1.3 1260 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
0856 -24 1.3 1260 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
0858 -23 1.3 1260 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
0900 -23 1.3 1260 #* GB3NGI IO65VB f
Thanks to G0MJI and the screenshots on his website which make things a lot clearer.
The IRTS 70cms and 2 metres Counties Contests, in which EI and GI counties are multipliers, take place on Sunday next, 9th September 2018. The 70cms event is at 1.00pm local time, for one hour, and this is followed by the 2 metres contest from 2.00pm to 4.00pm local time. There are separate sections in these contest for portable and fixed stations, low power and high power, as well as an FM Only section for single ops and an SWL section. The portable sections are for field-day type operations, so those entering one of the portable sections should be aware of the requirements for portable section entries in the contest rules.
See www.irts.ie/ contests for more details, which include the frequencies for these contests and the 'QSY Rule' that applies to FM QSOs.
The ICQ podcast is one of the most popular amateur related podcasts from the UK and is usually released once a fortnight.
In this episode released on the 2nd of Sept 2018, they discussed the recent linking of the online Zello network to the Southern Ireland repeater network.
On the video below, fast forward to about 21:35 for the SIRN item and it lasts until about 29:00.
Links...
1) The ICQ podcast show notes can be seen HERE
2) Previous post on this blog about the linking of Zello to the Southern Ireland Repeater Network HERE
The ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band goes from 40.660 to 40.700 MHz and is intended for use by a range of very low power devices. I came across some information recently about a garage door remote control system which operates in the band.
There was a news item on the Southgate ARC website today about a new DAPNET POCSAG Pager Gateway being licensed in the UK.
After reading up a bit on it, I found a website which lists the frequency allocations for commerrcial paging devices and it turns out that there is one in Italy at 40 MHz.
As always, I try to keep a record of any 40 MHz information here on the blog for references purposes.
Copied text below......"In Italy the 26.225-26.935 MHz band (AM/FM, odd frequency steps) and 40.0125-40.0875 MHz (in 25 kHz steps) may be used for local pagers. These frequencies are often used for on-site hospital paging systems, including voice paging."
Going off the information above, the four Italian frequencies are... 40.0125 MHz 40.0375 MHz 40.0625 MHz 40.0875 MHz
As can be seen from the proposed 8 metre band plan from the IRTS, these pagers are in the beacon band.
Considering that pagers are only intended to receive local signals, it's unlikely that they are susceptible to interference from Sporadic-E type signals. However, those frequencies are probably best avoided for beacons in Ireland or elsewhere.
Low Band VHF Pagers... I have included a list of frequencies between 30 and 50 MHz which are used for paging systems below...
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society have announced that the next Amateur Station Licence Examination will be held on Thursday 15th November 2018 in the ComReg offices in Dublin and at other centres if warranted by the numbers. The closing date for applications to sit this examination is Thursday 1st November 2018.
There has been a lot of interest of late in 'Network Radio' and the most popular app for this is probably Zello. (See previous post)
In the last few days, the Southern Ireland Repeater Network has been connected to the Zello network. In effect, this allows people to access the repeater network over the internet.
From my understanding of it, anyone can listen to the SIRN on Zello but only licenced radio amateurs are allowed to gain access.
Here is some info from one of the repeater group moderators...
Hi all, I’m delighted to announce that the Southern Ireland Repeater Network now has a Zello gateway. This is a very comprehensive network which covers most of the country with VHF, UHF, 4m, and also has a DMR link. Please visit our pages for all the info and we welcome all licensed amateurs and listeners. The same moderator structure as used in network radio is in place just add as a friend and you will be trusted as a friend and have full access to most of EI on RF! As these are RF amateur repeaters it will be obviously for licensed holders only though non licensed operators can listen. I believe this will be one of the first Repeater network gateways to be accessed through the Zello network and we’re very excited to be able to provide this facility which will enhance more activity. Thank you very much de John EI2HW. https://sirnrepeaters.blogspot.ie/
*** SIRN Activity... The Southern Ireland Repeater Network covers roughly half the island of Ireland and consists of two repeaters on 2m and five on 70cms. It is also connected to the DMR network on TG27240.
The repeater network can be pretty quiet considering the number of repeaters on the network. The busiest period is usually on Tuesday evenings when the IRTS news is read out at 9:30pm local time.
The EI activity evenings on 2m and 70cms are on the first two Tuesdays of every month and it's worth having a listen then as well.
If you are calling in via Zello then be sure to give your callsign and call more than once if you get no answer at first. A number of people may well be monitoring or scanning and may not hear you first time around.
Zello to Zello.... Just remember that if you do access the network via Zello then you are tying up a whole RF repeater network. If the person you are talking to is also on Zello then that conversation can be held on Zello instead.
Remember that it is not just another Zello channel, it's a means of accessing a repeater network in Ireland from the Zello network.
Getting on Zello.... It's very easy to get started on Zello. If you have a smartphone or tablet then just download the app for free and then set up a Zello account. To get on the Southern Ireland Repeater Network, just go to the this page.. https://zello.com/channels/k/e8Tb1 or scan the QR code that is shown there.
SIRN Coverage... A map showing the RF coverage of the Southern Ireland Repeater Network can be seen below...
I came across a piece on the web today about an Italian CB allocation at 43 MHz. This is especially relevant considering that the proposed 8 metre radio amateur band in Ireland will go from 40.0 to 44.0 MHz.
The graphic above is from a 2012 brochure from Intek. A close up of the mobile is shown below...
International Versions... Note there seems to be an 'International Version' with 224 channels! With 12.5 kHz spacing, that's about 2.8 MHz of spectrum and it seems to cover 42.300-45.0875 MHz. The power o/p has been increased from 4w to 20w.
List of 43 MHz CB radios... Alan HM-43 4 W, Dragon MX-430 4 W, Intek K-43 4 W, Intek SY-343 4 W, Intek SY-5430M 4 W, Layayette ULTILITY
Wikipedia... Here is some info from Wikipedia...
Italy has a "VHF CB" allocation at 43 MHz, usually called "Apparati a 43 MHz" or "CB 43 MHz". Italy, like many other countries, suffers from extremely lax enforcement of radio communications laws, and "freeband" modified equipment covering wider frequency ranges as well as amplifiers are widely available and openly advertised by communications equipment vendors. "Freebanding" occurs with both the 27 MHz area (often as low as 25 MHz and as high as 30 MHz) and the 43 MHz area (as 43 MHz CB equipment is often modified to cover down to 34 MHz and up to 47 MHz, using 12.5 kHz steps). There is evidence of these frequencies being used outside of Italy for illegal "CB-like" operations. Italian 43 MHz "VHF CB" or "43 MHz CB" allocation. 24 channels, FM mode, 12.5 kHz channel spacing. Each channel has a "recommended use" associated with it. Portable handheld (walkie-talkie), in-vehicle mobile and base station transceivers are available for this band. Channels are numbered in straight sequence, however many transceivers marketed for this band also include a frequency display. Due to the low-VHF band frequency characteristics of this band, it is often used as an adjunct to, or replacement for, the traditional 26–27 MHz CB allocations. CH - FREQ - USE 1 - 43.3000 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 2 - 43.3125 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 3 - 43.3250 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 4 - 43.3375 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 5 - 43.3500 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 6 - 43.3625 MHz – Rescue, Road/Traffic Control, Forestry, Hunting, Fishing, Security 7 - 43.3750 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 8 - 43.3875 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 9 - 43.4000 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 10 - 43.4125 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 11 - 43.4250 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 12 - 43.4375 MHz – Industrial, Commercial, Agricultural, Crafts 13 - 43.4500 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors 14 - 43.4625 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors 15 - 43.4750 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors 16 - 43.4875 MHz – For safety of life at sea, Marine Use (Ship-to-Ship/Ship-to-Shore), Marinas and Harbors 17 - 43.5000 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities 18 - 43.5125 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities 19 - 43.5250 MHz – To aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities 20 - 43.5375 MHz – to aid in the administration of sports and other competitive activities 21 - 43.5500 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them. 22 - 43.5625 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them. 23 - 43.5750 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them. 24 - 43.5875 MHz – For use by health professionals, doctors, hospitals, and activities related to them.
On Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th August 2018, members of Limerick Radio Club activated Loop Head lighthouse in Co.Clare as part of the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
The Countrywide programme on RTE 1 radio had an interview with the club... see below...
Amateur radio enthusiasts are gathered at Loop Head in Co. Clare this morning to connect with fellow operators across the world as part of the 21st International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend. John met members of the Limerick Radio club to find out more.
It seems to be a week of new records on 144 MHz. Following on from the new Region 1 tropo record on the 5th of August 2018, a new world record for meteor scatter on 144 MHz was set on the 7th of August.
In the early hours of the 7th of August, Dieter DJ6AG (JO51eq) in Germany worked Fernando EA8TX (IL18qi) in the Canary Islands to set a new world distance record of 3428 kms. The FSK contact took several hours to complete with the final decode being received in Germany at 00:14 UTC.
The new record of 3428 kms breaks the old record between EA8TJ and S50C by 51 kms.
Previous best distances by meteor scatter on 144 MHz in Region 1...
Distance record on 144 MHz Propagation : MS BandPropagationCall aLocCall bLocModeDateDistance 144 MHzMSS50CJN76JGEA8TJIL18RJFSK4412013-08-123377 144 MHzMSEA8TJIL18RJPA4EMEJO20WXFSK4412013-08-123132 144 MHzMSGW4CQTIO81LPUW6MAKN97VECW1977-08-123101 144 MHzMSHB9FAPJN47PHEA8TXIL18QIFSK4412014-08-143077 144 MHzMSHB9FAPJN47PHEA8TJIL18RJFSK4412013-08-133069
It's very probable that there was a combination of meteor scatter and tropo involved in this record. It was probably a long meteor scatter hop of about 2,200-2,300 kms from Germany to the south coast of Portugal and marine ducting tropo from there to the Canary Islands.
On Sunday the 5th of August 2018, Mark Turner EI3KD managed to work D4Z on the Cape Verde Islands off the coast of of Africa on 144 MHz, a distance of some 4163 kms. This remarkable contact made on CW was a new record for tropo in IARU Region 1. The previous record of 4130 kms was set back in July of 2015.
The contact was made on 144.300 MHz at about 18:26 UTC at a time when the band was also open to the Canary Islands from the south of Ireland and the UK.
EI3KD RIG: 11el F9FT, only at 7m agl or so, RX mast preamp, TX 400W.
Station setup
EI3KD: 11el F9FT, only at 7m agl, RX mast preamp, TX 400W.
D4Z: IC 275, max 100W, 2 stacked dipoles on 3 directions (omnidirectional antenna), no preamp.
Just to an idea of just how far the new record is, if the same distance of 4163 kms was measured west of EI3KD's location then it would reach as far as Nova Scotia in Canada!
Earlier in the day, the D4C beacon on 144.436 MHz had been spotted at 08:37 UTC by GI6ATZ locator IO74AJ distance 4476km and by GM4ZJI at 16:40 locator IO86KE distance 4739km. The beacon was running just 14W into a stacked dipole array.
D4Z also worked G7RAU and G4LOH in the South-West of England on 2m SSB.
Video of D4Z working EI3KD on 144 MHz...
The mode of propagation was probably marine ducting which is a process whereby VHF and UHF signals can get trapped between the water surface and a layer in the lower atmosphere. The result is that signals can travel over quite far distances and the path from the UK and Ireland down to the Canary Islands can produce some of the longest distances in Europe. On rare occasions, the path can extend as far as the Cape Verde Islands.
Spot on the DX Summit cluster... EI3KD 144300.0 D4Z 18:26 05 Aug IO51VW
HK76MU tnx!!! 4163km Cape Verde
Previous best distances for tropo on 144 MHz for Region 1... BandPropagationCall aLocCall bLocModeDateDistance 144 MHzTRD44TSHK77KEM0VRLIO70POSSB2015-07-094130 144 MHzTRM0VRLIO70POD44TDHK86NOSSB2011-08-104106 144 MHzTRG4LOHIO70JCD44TDHK86NOCW2007-08-044041 144 MHzTREB8BRZIL27HKYT3IKN05HPSSB2009-06-083757 144 MHzTREI5FKIO51RTRW1ZC/MMIK18PQSSB2005-08-153745
The tropo forecast below from F5LEN shows the path conditions around the time of the contact.
For the first time this summer, I have heard a Japanese station on FT8 on 28 MHz. As the map above shows, I heard JA4FKX at 08:39 UTC or 9:39am local time.
I have been monitoring the FT8 frequency on 10 metres more or less full time since early May 2018 and this is the most easterly station I have heard to date. Over the last few weeks, I have heard Thailand and Indonesia but they are more southerly paths.
The European stations that heard JA4FKX on 28 MHz today are shown below. These include MI0JST in the north of Ireland and GM4WJA in Scotland.
Other stations in Japan were also spotting JA4FKX so I presume it was genuine? I was just using the usual vertical half-wave about 5m above the ground.
I also checked the FT8 reception reports for other EI stations on 50 MHz and there doesn't seem to have been any similar opening on 6 metres.
Southgate Amateur Radio News had an item today about the number of licences in the UK and how they are broken down. I had a look at the raw numbers for the nearly 88,000 licences and plotted it out as a chart.
Raw data is all very well but sometimes you need a chart to make things clearer. As can be seen, the Foundation licence accounts for the two most popular class of licence.
Foundation and Intermediate licences now account for 38.6% of all amateur radio licences in the UK.
After seeing a news item on the Southgate Amateur Radio website last week, I had a try this evening at decoding signals on 145.800 MHz from the International Space Station as it passed over Europe.
This was my first time using the MMSSTV software and trying to decode Slow Scan TV signals so the images could probably be better.
Better image on the second pass...
The signals were heard with an indoor Slim Jim half-wave in the attic of the house.
The next scheduled passes that are within range of Ireland (& NW Europe) are on Tuesday 31st July... 16:59 to 17:08 UTC and 18:36 to 18:45 UTC. (Note times are UTC... Irish / British Summer time minus one hour).
For anyone on the South coast of Ireland or the UK, there is a very high pass at about 21:17 local time. Although the SSTV signals are supposed to be off at that stage, it should be a very good visual pass if the skies are clear.
