Video: Amateur Radio in the Falkland Islands

This video about amateur radio in the Falkland Islands was put up on YouTube in January of 2021 and features VP8EME, VP8NE and VP8LP.

2020 Report for the 40-MHz EI1KNH beacon

Back at the start of January of this year, I had a post up about how often the Danish OZ7IGY beacon on 40 MHz was reported back in 2020. In this post, we'll look at the EI1KNH beacon in Ireland which transmits on 40.013 MHz and how many times it was spotted on the DX Cluster in 2020.

A total of 26 stations spotted the EI1KNH beacon on 40 MHz during 2020 and the number of spots per individual were... 9A6W (13), CT1DDN (2), CT1HMN (1), CT2IWW (1), DG0JPM (1), DK7UK (6), DM2TT (1), DM6HK (1), EA1FBU (1), EA2US (1), EA3ERE (24), EI3GYB (6), EI7BMB (1), EI7GL (2), F1EIT (7), F4FRQ (2), F6HTJ (4), OE3EMC (6), OH3BCX (1), OH3NE (1), ON4TA (3), OZ1BNN (1), PE1ITR (2), S5/M0MPM (1), SP5XMU (1), SP7VVB (1).

As the map shows above, most were in the region of 800 to 2000kms from the beacon which is a typical distance for Sporadic-E signals at 40 MHz during the Summer season.

The EI1KNH 40 MHz beacon which is just to the south of Dublin first became operational in May of 2020.

DX Cluster... If you do hear the beacon then make sure to report it on dx-clusters like DXSummit or DXMaps as some of the other clusters ignore spots for 40 MHz as they assume they're a mistake.

More information about the EI1KNH beacon can be found here... https://www.qrz.com/db/EI1KNH/

For more information on the 40 MHz band, go to this page... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html

Addendum...

Video clip from Tom, SP5XMU in Poland showing reception of the EI1KNH beacon...

Yugoslav ELTING 8000 radio for 40 MHz

If I come across any radio that will operate on the 40 MHz band, I like to keep a record of it here on the blog. One such radio is the ELTING 8000 which was a 1980's vintage radio that was built in Yugoslavia. It was also manufactured by RIZ.

This low-band VHF radio used FM modulation and had a maximum of ten crystal-controlled operating channels.

In the example shown above which is the base version, it is set up for simplex operation on 40.775 MHz, 41.220 MHz, 41.775 MHz and 42.200 MHz. The specified range of the radios was from 40.7 MHz to 42.4 MHz.

This is an internal view of the radio. The mains power supply can be seen quite clearly on the right. You can also make out the crystals just left of centre.

This is the view from the other side and as you can see, there is a second PCB.

The frequency chart below shows how the crystal frequencies were selected...

The transmit frequency is a 12th multiple of a crystal operating at about 3.5 MHz. Possibly something like X3 first, select the third harmonic and then multiply that by 4.

For this radio to operate on say 40.680 MHz (which is the centre of the 40 MHz ISM band - Industrial, Scientific, Medical), a crystal of 3.390 MHz is required for transmit.

To receive on 40.680 MHz, then a 51.380 MHz crystal is required (receive frequency plus 10.7 MHz IF).

There were several versions of the 8000 series... 1) 8000F for fixed operation, 2) 8000M for mobile and 3) 8000P for portable.

The RF output power of each one was 10 watts. There was also a hand portable version called the 8000/1.5P with a 1.5 watt output.

Some of these radios are available on the second hand market and might be a way to get going on just one select frequency on the 40 MHz band.

Links...
1) Crowave Blog

"Energy Island" to become a new IOTA for Denmark???

 

I was reading an interesting news article today about a new project to build a giant island off the coast of Denmark in the North Sea. It will serve as a hub for 200 giant offshore wind turbines.

The world's first energy island will be as big as 120,000sq m but there are hopes to make it as large as 460,000sq m. It is the biggest construction project in Danish history, costing an estimated 210bn kroner (£24bn; €28bn: $34bn).

IOTA... Located some 80kms or so off the Danish coast, I couldn't help thinking if it would qualify as a new IOTA reference?

The IOTA (Islands On the Air) awards programme is very popular with radio amateurs and is probably  second only to the DXCC programme in terms of popularity. I'm sure a new Danish IOTA reference would generate some interest.

Would it count though? From what I understand, it must be a certain distance offshore and 80 kms should certainly qualify. However, I think it must also be 1km in length. If it expands to its full size then it might.

Does a new large artificial island qualify as a new IOTA reference?

Update: It would seem that it won't count as a new IOTA as qualifying islands can't be man made.

VHF...  Whatever about IOTA, the new 'Energy Island' would be located out in a very wet locator square... either JO35 or JO36 and it would certainly count.

Considering how close it would be to Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, it would probably be very popular on all the VHF bands.

Noise?... While it's interesting to hear about new islands popping up out of the North Sea, it would hardly be a RF quite location with all of those inverters. Would radio communications be even possible on the HF bands? Would it even be allowed?

Video: Unusual signals heard on the VHF & UHF bands with a radio scanner

 

As radio systems gradually migrate from analogue to digital technology, more and more unusual commercial and non-commercial signals can be heard on the VHF & UHF radio bands.

Lewis M3HHY in Manchester has a very popular YouTube channel where he puts up well scripted and presented videos about a wide range of radio related subjects. He recently put up two videos about some of the digital radio signals that can be heard on the VHF & UHF bands.

Video 1... 

Signals...

1) POCSAG ...Wide area paging.
2) MPT-1327 ...Trunk radio communication networks. 
3) Commercial DMR ...digital communications.
4) Car Key Transmitters
5) TETRA ...TErrestrial TRunked RAdio
6) Temporary Traffic Lights
7) Autocab ...Radio dispatch system
8) TPMS ...Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
9) Multitone Paging
10) dPMR ...Digital Private Mobile Radio (446 MHz)

Video 2...

Signals...

1) FLEX ...Flexible Wide Area Paging Protocol
2) VOR ...Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (108-118 MHz)
3) DAB Radio ...Digital Audio Broadcast
4) DSTAR ...Digital Smart Technology for Amateur Radio
5) NXDN ...Next Generation Digital Narrowband
6) Motorola Type II ... Paging Control Channel
7) Wi-Fi ...802.11N
8) System Fusion ...Yaesu Amateur Radio Digital Mode
9) LTE ...Long Term Evolution Network (4GLT / E-UTRA - Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access). Mobile phone data.
10) AFSK ...Audio Frequency Shift Keying (Paging)

For additional information on unusual signals, visit this website... https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide

40 MHz page has now over 10,000 pageviews

 

At the end of January 2021, the 40 MHz page on the site passed the 10,000 pageview mark.

Back in 2018, Irish radio amateurs gained access to a large part of the low VHF spectrum between 30 MHz and 50 MHz. As I went looking for information on anything to do with 40 MHz operations, I found it scattered across the net with no real central source.

In 2018, I started collecting information about low band VHF signals and equipment and in the summer of 2018, I put the 40 MHz page up on the site. This was a place where I could put links to all of the relevant posts that I had put up on the site. It also meant that anyone new starting off could go there and get all of the relevant information in one spot rather than trying to find it on the net.

As the stats above show, the page got a steady stream of traffic in 2018 and 2019 but really took off in 2020 with the increased level of interest in the band.

Link to the 40 MHz page... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html

40 MHz contacts now accepted on the eQSL platform

 

Tim, EI4GNB reports that the eQSL website is now accepting 40 MHz (8m) contacts on their platform.

Many radio amateur use this site to confirm contacts that were made on the radio and is an alternative for many to the traditional physical QSL card.

Tim also notes that while eQSL are handling 8m QSOs now, a lot of the various logging software programmes still have to catch up as they still don't recognize 8m as a valid amateur band.

Opening on 28 MHz - Tues 2nd Feb 2021

 

There was a nice F2 opening on 28 MHz on the 2nd of Feb 2021 to SE Europe, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and the south of Russia. This was in complete contrast to the 1st of February when I heard just one FT8 signal all day.

The solar flux on the 2nd was just 73 which is well down on last November when it was over 100.

New 144 MHz beacon on the way for St Helena Island

 

The RSGB had a news item on their GB2RS last weekend about a new 144 MHz beacon on St Helena Island in the South Atlantic.

"A 2m beacon is operating on St Helena Island. The beacon frequencies are: Channel 1 144.435MHz; Channel 2 144.325MHz; Channel 3 144.375MHz and Channel 4 144.385MHz"

My understanding is that it actually not operational yet and the team behind the beacon will announce more details when it is.

70 MHz permits in Iceland allowed for 2021 & 2022

 

The Icelandic Radio Amateur federation (ÍRA) has been notified by the countries Post and Telecom Administration (PSF) that permits to operate on the 70 MHz / 4-metre band will be allowed from another two years. 

The frequency range is 70.000-70.250 MHz and is valid for two years from the 1st of Jan 2021 to the 31st of Dec 2022.

As before, the following conditions apply:

(1) Maximum bandwidth is 16 kHz. No molding conditions; 

(2) the maximum radiated power is 100W; 

(3) the authorization is subject to the interruption of other electronic communications activities, transmissions must be stopped immediately and 

(4) call signs must be used at the beginning and end of the electronic communications connection and at appropriate regular intervals during the electronic communications connection.

Licensees must apply for authorization to the PTA before transmissions begins in the frequency range. 

The map above shows the distances in kms from Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. 

Analysis... It's very likely that stations on 70 MHz from Iceland will be heard elsewhere in Europe from May to July during the Sporadic-E season. These will likely be in the range of 1000 to 2300 kms with most in the range of about 1300 to 2100 kms.

As the map shows above, the countries within one-hop range are likely to be the UK & Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, NW Germany, Denmark, Norway & Sweden.

Distances greater than 2300kms may be possible be some form of multi-hop propagation but this is rarer at 70 MHz as compared to 50 MHz where it is a lot more common.

First contact between Croatia (9A) and Slovenia (S5) on 40 MHz - 26th Jan 2021

The very first contact between Croatia and neighbouring Slovenia on the new 40 MHz (8m) amateur band took place on the 26th of January 2021. This comes just two weeks after the very first 40 MHz contact between Croatia (9A) and Ireland (EI).

Using the FT8 digital mode, Patrik 9A5CW completed a successful QSO with Ivo, S59F over an hilly 70km path.

The screenshot above from S59F shows the FT8 contact with the signal from 9A5CW being in the region of -7dB to -8dB. This suggests that while the signal levels were too weak for say a SSB voice contact, a marginal CW or a solid FT8 contact was possible.

The contact took place on 40.680 MHz which is in the centre of the 40 MHz ISM band (Industrial, Scientific, Medical).

Patrik 9A5CW said that he was using an ICOM IC-706 Mk2 running 10 watts into an inverted L vertical antenna for the 60 metre band (5 MHz). S59F was using an ICOM IC-7300 and a HF vertical with very good vswr on 40MHz.

9A5CW also conducted tests over a 70km path with S50B using the JT9 digital mode. While S50B heard a -22dB signal, there was no contact in this case.

Links...

1) 40 MHz page on this blog

50 MHz South Pacific Summer Propagation season 2020-2021... by CE3SX

Back in mid-December 2020, I had a post up on the blog about some remarkable openings on 50 MHz between Australia and South America with some contacts were up to 13,000kms in length... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2020/12/remarkable-13000-km-opening-on-6-metres.html

Pipe CE3SX in Chile has now compiled his own report on the 50 MHz South Pacific Summer Propagation season 2020-2021.

The report covers 6m openings from Chile to Australia & New Zealand from the 8th of December 2020 to the 23rd of January 2021.

In summary, CE3SX in Chile completed 77 QSO's on 50 MHz across the South Pacific... 47 with New Zealand (ZL) which is obviously closer, 26 with Australia (VK) and 4 with the Chatham Islands (ZL7).

64 of the contacts were via the JT65 digital mode, 9 via FT8 and 3 via FT4.

The first contact of the Summer season was to ZL1RS on the 8th of December 2020 which was also the first South America to Oceania 50 MHz contact of the season.

The first contact to Australia was to VK4MA on the 9th of December 2020.

The longest contact was with VK4BLK which was 12,380 kms in length.

The map above shows the locator squares worked by CE3SX on 50 MHz during the 2020-2021 South Pacific Summer Season.

Mode of Propagation???... The maximum distance for one Sporadic-E hop is about 2300 kms. If all of these 10,000 to 12,000km openings were due to multi-hop Sporadic-E then a lot of patches of Sporadic-E had to line up in a row and at the correct distance for it to work.

It has been suggested that part of the propagation path may have been to Polar Mesospheric Summer Echos (PMSE) with electrons gathering around ice crystals.

The full report from Pipe CE3SX can be seen here... https://www.qsl.net/ce3sad/SPSP.html

Buzzing interference on a digital DMR signal

 

On the 4th Tuesday of every month, we hold a local digital net here in Cork and this weeks net was on the DMR Talk Group 2723.

During the net, it was noted that Robby EI3GGB had quite a loud buzzing noise on his audio. His voice blocked out the buzzing/hum but the sound was very noticeable in between his words.

Rob was using a TYT MD-380 handheld with a magmount antenna on 70cms.

The buzzing sound sounded very much like mains hum, as if he was using a battery charger at the same time as when he was transmitting. He tried switching from the mains power supply to just a battery pack on its own but to no avail.

Through a process of elimination, we eventually traced the problem back to an external speaker mike.

It would seem that the problem is the RF signal on transmit is getting into the speaker mike and causing interference. We don't know yet whether the RF is getting into the electronics in the microphone or via the lead and into the radio.

Robby bought the 'Kenwood' speaker from China but it's not clear whether it's the real deal or just a clone. Hopefully the RF interference can be cured by using a simple clip on split ferrite core which Robby is going to source.

If you are using DMR and people start saying that your audio is distorted, noisy or buzzing then try removing the speaker mike if you have one.

SMC Transportable Log Periodic HF VHF Antenna 30-88MHz

Whenever I come across suitable antennas for the low VHF bands, I try to keep a record of them here. I spotted this Log-Periodic beam recently on eBay...

This antenna is described as a 250w Transportable Log Periodic HF VHF Antenna 30-88MHz and it was sold in the past by SMC in Southampton, England.

As the photo shows above, it was probably destined for the military market.

Tactical, Anodised Green. SMC Part Number - TLP3088.

The specs above say it was 4m from the rear to front element and the gain was in the region of 6dBd. I suspect it was probably a bit less at around 5dBd but it would still be a fine antenna for anyone  monitoring the low VHF spectrum from 30 to 88 MHz.

Keep an eye on the second hand market.

Link... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143924931851?ViewItem=&item=143924931851

Temporary 70 MHz permit for SM0TSC in Sweden

 

While the 70 MHz (4m) amateur band is allocated across much of Europe, it is allocated to 'Land Mobile and Fixed radio' in Sweden. The Swedish licensing authority however do allocate temporary 4m permits to radio amateurs.

On the 26th of January 2021, Johan SM0TSC got a temporary 6-month license for the 70MHz band. The terms of the permit are that he must operate on the spot frequency of 70.1375 MHz and the ERP (Effective Radiated Power) of his transmissions must be 25 watts or less.

SM0TSC is near the capital Stockholm and his locator square is JO99CF. In recent months, both SM4KYN (JO69XH) and SM7CAD (JO77UM) have been active on the 70 MHz band with temporary permits.

The map above shows the location of SM0TSC. The major activity on 70 MHz will be in early May when the summer Sporadic-E season starts. The typical range for Sporadic-E on 4m is about 1000 to 2300 kms with the majority in the 1200 to 2000 km range.

There is also license free radio band in Sweden at 69 MHz and these FM signals were often audible here in Ireland during the summer of 2020. It's likely that the Swedish radio amateurs on 70.1375 MHz should be easy to work from the UK and Ireland as well.

Credits: Thanks to Rob PE9PE for the original news item

German beacons heard on 28 MHz in 2020

During the Summer of 2020, I did many scans of the 28 MHz beacon band from about 28.160 to 28.340 MHz. This post is about the number of days that I heard one of the 10m beacons in Germany.

The map above shows the distribution of 28 MHz beacons in Germany. Note that the DB0MFI beacon in the south of Germany was off air in 2020.

The chart below shows the number of days in 2020 that I heard a German beacon on 28 MHz...

1) DL0IGI with its 50 watts into a vertical antenna was heard on 46 days and is easily the most consistent German beacon here in Ireland.

2) DL0UM has just 4 watts into a vertical dipole and was heard on 44 days. Like DL0IGI, it is about 200kms further away from me compared to some of the other beacons and perhaps the slightly longer skip distance made a difference?

3) DK0TEN (10w GP) and DB0TEN (2w GP) were both at 44 days. (Note - GP is a ground plane vertical antenna)

4) DF0ANN (5w dipole) and DM0AAB (10w GP) at 36 and 37 days were slightly behind. As for why?

5) DB0FKS was heard on just 19 days but this can be easily explained due to the fact it has just 1-watt into a small DV-27 vertical antenna (i.e. a loaded mobile whip).

6) DB0BER (5w) was heard on just 5 days. I'm not sure why there are so few reports?

In terms of distance, the German beacons are about 1,200 to 1,500 kms from my location in Ireland.

In 2019, I did a similar experiment... report HERE. It's interesting that the results for 2020 and 2019 are pretty much the same. 

Most of the beacons were in the same order with DL0IGI on top and DB0UM in second place. The key difference was that DL0IGI had a much greater lead in 2019.

In 2019, I heard DL0IGI on 35% more days than DB0UM whereas in 2020, it was just 5% more days.

In conclusion... The reason I collected this data was to see if there were any unusual findings.

a) Was there a difference between North and South Germany? For the second year running, the answer seems to be no. The slightly more northern path didn't seem to have fewer openings.

b) Did distance matter? I seemed to hear beacons at 1,200kms as often as ones at 1,400kms but DB0UM out at 1,550kms seemed to have the edge. The problem is that this is only one data point although I do suspect that extra few hundred kms does give it a slight edge.

German 28 MHz beacons... These are the current ones as of the end of 2020

28.205 MHz - DL0IGI - JN57MT - 50w Vert
28.210 MHz - DB0FKS - JN49IT - 1w DV27 GP
28.245 MHz - DB0TEN - JO42UV - 2w GP
28.257 MHz - DK0TEN - JN47NT - 10w GP
28.265 MHz - DB0ANN - JN59PL - 5w Dipole (Used to be DF0ANN)
28.273 MHz - DB0BER - JO62QL - 5w
28.278 MHz - DM0AAB - JO54GH - 10w GP
28.279 MHz - DB0UM - JO73CE - 4w Vert Dipole
28.285 MHz - DB0MFI - JN58HW - 9w GP (Off Air - Last spot on DX-Cluster Sept 2019)

Methodology notes...
1) The equipment used for reception was a Kenwood TS690 transceiver with a vertical half-wave antenna. The take off to the east towards Germany is good with no obstructions.
2) I usually scan the beacon band on 28 MHz once I hear FT8 signals at a reasonable level that are easily audible. i.e. I know for sure the band is open.
3) All beacons must be positively identified before I post them on DXMaps which in turn puts them on the DX Cluster.
4) The mode of propagation for all signals heard was Sporadic-E.

Update on the 40 MHz OZ7IGY beacon in Denmark - Jan 2021

Thanks to Ivan OZ7IS for the following update on the Danish OZ7IGY beacon on 40 MHz (8m).

Since the start back in 2007 the OZ7IGY 40 MHz beacon has been running on yearly experimental licenses based on reasoned applications. It has been increasingly difficult to come up with new good reasons every year. As a result it was off air in-between licenses. 

The last five months of 2020 it was off-air! As all 12 OZ7IGY beacons together represent an operating cost of approx. 2500 € every year the 40 MHz beacon was occasionally switched off for economic reasons. After all OZ7IGY beacons switched to the “Next Generation” platform a new problem arose: The 40 MHz beacon interfered with the microwave beacons and was therefore switched off for several periods. 

The good news is that due to changes in the regulations we have now been granted a permanent license until the end of 2035. On January 2, the beacon on 40,071 was back on air! In addition, we have solved our interference problems and found a sponsor to cover the license fee for the 40 MHz beacon. So if no other problems arise the 40 MHz beacon of OZ7IGY has now become reliable 24/7/365! 

On behalf of the OZ7IGY-team - Vy 73 de OZ7IS, Ivan.

* * *

For more information on the OZ7IGY beacons or if you would make a financial donation to them then visit their website... http://www.oz7igy.dk/

For more information on the 8m band, see the 40 MHz page... https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/p/40-mhz.html

Various antennas for the suite of OZ7IGY beacons

Short skip opening on 28 MHz - 23rd Jan 2021

Over last week, there have been plenty of days where the 10m has been practically dead all day. So it came as a bit of a surprise when there was a nice short opening on Saturday the 23rd of January 2021.

The main opening was when there was some Sporadic-E in the evening time. What was unusual was the fact that there was short skip from here to the east of the UK, a distance of about 500-600kms.

I had a listen for some QRSS signals when the skip went short and I got this screen grab...

Despite the fact that we are now 13 months in the new sunspot cycle, the solar flux was only 78 today. Was the surge in sunspots last November just a false dawn?

I suspect conditions on north-south paths on 10m should pick up in March and after that, we're into the start of the Sporadic-E season in late April.

Dragan Mojsilović 9A6W - Silent Key

 

Borut S50B reports the sad news that Dragan 9A6W has passed away.

"9A6W Dragan Mojsilović, Great person, Good friend, Army Officer HRV MOD, retired, Very active ham radio enthusiast, is SK
Thank you for everything you have done for amateur radio society in Croatia
R I P and hope you are now pulling cables and installing antennas somewhere in heaven...
73 SK"... de S50B

It was only on the 10th of January 2021 that Dragan made the very first contact on 40 MHz with EI4GNB in Ireland.

Condolences to his friends and family.

WANTED: Circulator for 40 MHz OZ7IGY beacon

 

The team that maintain the OZ7IGY beacon in Denmark are currently looking for a Circulator for their 40 MHz beacon.

The Circulator must be capable of operation at 40 MHz and it must be able to handle 25 watts.

If anyone has a spare one and would like to support this group, contact the beacon team via their website... http://www.oz7igy.dk/support/