I was curious to read some typically vehement exchanges, dating back to about 2005, on the asserted impossibility of one-way propagation on HF.

I'm never one to be quite so ready to draw conclusions, though the whole issue of propagation is very complex and straight-line paths we imagine to take place are frequently much more convoluted.

This morning, we have a grey line situation between myself and the east coast of South America.  Not much, other than clear Atlantic sea water, between us.

On WSPR, two stations lying in line with one another, separated by what is likely to be (so far as anyone can actually tell) less than a skip distance.  They are in southern Brazil and Uruguay.  They can hear my 5W, I can't hear theirs.  Yes, they are transmitting!  Typically, my WSPR set-up compares very favourably with any UK WSPR station, and on an assessment of other data, I'd say that often, it does better than most.  An unbuilt, elevated site, very little or no noise and a copper mine for ground does, I expect, help the situation.

WSPR tends to involve people using simple verticals or omnidirectional wires.  Beams are not common and of course defeat the whole object of a beacon mode like this.  That goes a long way to providing a more uniform system of set-ups, although the quality of receivers can of course vary considerably and may well fully explain apparent one-way propagation.

So, whilst I have no proper assessment to say apparent one-way HF propagation is in fact real, I think WSPR does allow a much more nuanced, evidence-based approach to the question where, previously, it was just down to who could shout loudest.

I wonder if anyone has done proper analysis of WSPR signals with this question in mind?

No doubt I should not worry about the strength of responses about to come this way!

J.

I was interested to read the comments about the bi-square loop.

I note the gain figures quoted, which are perhaps the minimum to be expected in practice.

In a more recent discussion on this, models suggest a gain of between 7 and 8dBi, rising to nearly 10dBi if the lower legs are raised (squashed loop), but the top is left at about 11m.  My own use had earlier suggested about 6dBi gain.  The discussion is at:

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=80843.0

I keep this antenna as a string of wire on the grass when the 10m band is dead.  When it's active, a single fishing pole goes on top of the cement mixer quadrapod, and up to 10m it goes in seconds.  Wonderfully practical, pocket money antenna with very useful peak gain at relatively low angles that, if mounted optimally, nearly matches a three-element yagi.  I feed mine with balanced line.  A good discussion is found in the ARRL/RSGB book International Antenna Collection.
 
As an interesting adaptation, you can coax feed one leg via a 4:1 balun, attaching a 1m counterpoise to the other pole of the balun.   You get a vertical 2-element beam for 20m, which I've not tested fully due to windy conditions at the time, but certainly matches nicely and seemed to have good, strong signals on receive.  I found the design in Les Moxon's HF Antennas For All Locations, a book worth its weight in copper.

Thanks very much Steve!  Very practical, comprehensible advice there (a rarity in amateur radio!)

I'm sure the TS-50 will do just fine for now, but I agree that a newer model would be a simpler nut to crack. 

I just need to work on the XYL interfacing, then  ;-)

73 from Wales,
J.

I see a couple of hams online are using the Signalink USB with the old (but very good) Kenwood TS-50.

I wonder if anyone here has direct experience of this or other interfaces with this old time rig?  I look at the manuals, listen to the moans about wrong diagrams, the cables that do or don't come with the unit, and quickly give up trying to figure out what might actually be a simple PSK31 solution (if such a thing exists!)  I'm rather amazed at the contacts made already with manual keying of the mic, but it's a bit tricky typing and keying at the same time, hence the need for an interface!

Any help, advice or experience greatly appreciated (don't tell me I can build one - I'm about as useful as a 'p' in pneumonia with electronics; I just like communicating!) 

Thanks,
J.

The UK's Information Commissioner has this morning issued the outcome of a complaint made against the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) concerning data protection issues.

In its three-page report, it concludes that 'on the basis of all the information available, we have decided that it is unlikely that the Society have complied with the requirements of the DPA.'

The conclusion goes on to say 'This is because on this occasion, it appears the Society were unable to satisfy a condition in schedule 2 of the DPA for disclosing [the complainant's] personal data to third parties and, furthermore, doing so was unlikely to be within [the complainant's] reasonable expectations.'

The incident arose when correspondence sent to the RSGB was allegedly sent by e-mail to eleven members of an external organisation.

The RSGB has been asked to consider the information provided to it by the ICO and steps have been taken by the RSGB to prevent the situation from happening again.

No one was available this morning from the RSGB for comment on the ICO's findings.

ISHERWOOD: AM SUPPORTS AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY

NORTH Wales Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood, visited Anglesey during the week of World Amateur Radio Day and Marconi Day to discuss planning issues affecting amateur radio operators and has since been thanked for the support he is giving the global amateur radio community.

Mr Isherwood had a meeting with operator John Rowlands to find out more about amateur radio and the problems affecting operators. Mr Rowlands has since contacted Mr Isherwood to report the positive progress generated from his visit.

He said: “OFCOM were able to issue a special callsign - GB0NAW - in record time in recognition of your visit. I'm delighted to say that, despite some challenging conditions due to solar-terrestrial effects, I was able to get plenty of interest from amateurs who called in to support us from very many parts of the globe.

“I would like to add my voice to the many callers who commented positively on the support that you are giving the global amateur radio community, and of course more especially those of us daily acting as willing ambassadors for Wales each time we transmit.”

During the visit Mr Rowlands demonstrated to Mr Isherwood how unreasonable it is for simple, inherently low-impact wire antennae to be subject to full planning permission.

Mr Rowlands added: “It would be very encouraging if Wales could lead the way in providing some leeway for operators - all of whom have passed a quite demanding examination - and acknowledge the long history of radio here, which includes the sending of the first ever direct signals between the UK and Australia, sent in 1918 from the Marconi station at Cefn Du, Caernarfonshire.”

At the meeting Mr Rowlands also discussed with Mr Isherwood the possibility of establishing a temporary radio station for a day at the Assembly building itself in the coming months, and of giving a presentation to Assembly Members on radio in Wales both past and present.

He said: “I would anticipate there would be huge interest throughout the world in such an event.”

I think the fist post - an automatic ATU and a wire is a very good way to go.

If you don't want to splash out money, and you can either put out radials or have a good RF earth for a rod, you can do a lot, lot worse than get one of the end-fed wires. 

See here: http://www.earchi.org/92011endfedfiles/Endfed6_40.pdf 

Tunes hassle-free between 40 and 6m.  Absolutely stunning performance from here, relative to cost and complexity.  I've never used a $300 commercial vertical, but I'd be surprised if they were much - or indeed any - better.  A $20, 30-foot fishing pole completes the antenna, which goes up and down in a jiffy and disappears when fixed with cable ties and some rope to a washing line or fence post.  You can use radials, but I have good RF earth and never found a problem or RFI with just a good ground rod.

Real world performance?  Depends on propagation, like everything else, but it's got me into Japan on short path, far reaches of Russia and even ZL land on long path one morning.  It's not a yagi, but then we're not asking about those.  The delta loop is far better, but the end-fed is very flexible and covers all bands easily.

Easter has slightly got in the way of getting a Notice of Variation issued, but we hope to celebrate Welsh Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood's visit to an Anglesey-based radio station on the 16th of April with a special callsign.

The callsign will hopefully be GB0NAW (National Assembly for Wales), and may be available until 21st April.

Mr. Isherwood will hopefully be able to have a small number of brief QSOs at about 14:00-14:40GMT on the 16th. 

The purpose of the visit is to promote amateur radio and the daily goodwill that exchanges between nations.  We also hope to use the event to continue promoting better planning freedoms for amateurs across the UK.

So, if you hear GB0NAW (or MW1CFN!) on the 16th, please let Mr. Isherwood know your thoughts on the wider benefits of amateur radio.

As recently announced, Welsh Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood (Conservative) will visit MW1CFN to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding amateur radio today.

The special callsign GB0NAW (National Assembly for Wales) will operate for five days from April 16th.

Of particular focus will be the currently unhelpful nature of the UK planning system in not allowing within the permitted development rights, anything larger than a standard TV antenna on a short mounting pole.  Those of a certain age will recall that TV antennae of old were once quite large!

Mr. Isherwood has already lent his support in making a written representation to the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, to which a reply is anticipated shortly.

Nobody, including MW1CFN, considers change will happen overnight.  But all operators are encouraged not to leave it to others, and to contact their local politician to ask for assistance.  That way, change may come slightly earlier!

Those wishing to have an opportunity to speak briefly to Mr. Isherwood on air are encouraged to listen for GB0NAW on the 20 or 15m bands between about 14:00 GMT and 14:40 GMT on April 16th, as conditions allow.  

Thanks for the support, Dave - much appreciated.

I agree entirely with what you say.  Interestingly, more than one planning official and surveyor here has told me recently that, with so many enormously tall wind turbine applications coming forward now, seeing an application for a puny 10m (say) tower is more likely than ever to be approved.

So, given that knowledge, it is at least a good time to start promoting the hobby a bit.  The radio establishment response so far has been a deathly silence.  Who would have guessed?

Yes, with so much goodwill transmitted between nations throughout the day, every day, it really ought to be that at least wire antennae, and hopefully something a bit more substantial, should be clearly deemed as not requiring planning permission.  It will take time, but I'm a determined sort.  Anyone can help, of course, by inviting your local politician or doing some polite lobbying by letter.

73
J.

Conservative North Wales Assembly Member, Mark Isherwood has been
invited by MW1CFN to better understand modern amateur radio by visiting
a welsh station.

Mr. Isherwood readily accepted the invitation, whereby it is hoped a
positive image of our hobby can be put forward.

John Rowlands, MW1CFN says "Mark Isherwood is a very hard working
politician and takes a genuine interest in the activities within his
area.  He is enthusiastic to find out more about a hobby that is not
always as well-presented in the public imagination as it could be." 

Mr. Rowlands continues "In particular, it is clear that permitted
development rights within the planning system, despite some lobbying by
the RSGB and recent changes to the planning system in England, have yet
to accommodate the needs of the amateur community in
the UK, despite the widespread popularity of the hobby.  I hope Mr.
Isherwood's  visit will mark the beginning of a process to clarify and
improve planning law for amateurs throughout the UK."

Mr. Isherwood's visit to an Anglesey-based radio station will take place
in early April.

I also would like to (rather belatedly) thank everyone for the answers - and especially the detailed modelling, whichis fantastic and very interesting. 

On a point arising from modelling, are there any references to 'ground truthing' the simulations?  The more software simulations are used - and they are now used a lot - the more is the need to ensure what they're telling us bears a reasonable approximation to reality.   

Mind you, it seems to me there's a lot to be said for picking an antenna, erecting it as ideally as possible at any given QTH, and sticking with it for a fairly long while.  It's far too easy to decide on one test that an antenna is 'too noisy' or 'not getting through' when the next day, it gets you to antipodean points easily.  I guess models can't yet accommodate the vagaries of the many modes of propagation - or the patience (or lack thereof) of the operator!

Thanks once again.  I'm going to go back to my 2-element convoluted full wave loop construction, I think.  I'm sure someone will tell me that's a waste of time and resources, too!   

 

Some good points there, and much appreciated.  Some good ideas for experimentation, too!  There you go.  Spring on the way and time to get the toolbox out!

I very much like the idea anbd potential of a bi-square loop.  Although a 10m version is fairly easy to accommodate using, say, a 33' (10m) fishing pole support, a 15m band version is rather less so, needing at least 12m, ideally more in height support.

I notice a few articles mention collapsing loops a little to accommodate more readily-achieveable heights.  So, my question is: has anyone squashed a bisquare loop successfully, or does it simply not work very well?  Practical experience or proficient modelling results very welcome!

73.

Thanks Mel.  I don't think I was suggesting any aggression; quite the contrary.  My primary concern was not to have called on any reserved or otherwise 'special' frequency when I should have realised it.  No sweating it at all, glad to say! I'm more commonly on radios fitted to aircraft, which is altogether much more seriouss than using amateur radio!

My point about groups was pretty much exactly yours - that if a slot is busy, you move on.  As I understand it, no operator is more deserving of a slot than any other - except those users indicated in the band plan.  Believe me, I'm the least likely person to get tardy on air - I like to enjoy radio rather than live and breathe it to the point of getting upitty!  I'd like to think that, in the event someone makes an error or doesn't realise/can't hear what's going on, it could be pointed out in a rather less annoyed way than "you're on the DX channel!", which anyway appears to be rather less than an accurate depiction of reality.

The comment about listening on spot frequencies is interesting.  Is that a fundamental problem of operating, or just the distinction between £3000 rigs and those costing 10 times less?  I'm not sure.

Anyhow, I think we've established that in fact, 14.220 is not a reserved frequency!