Hello all,
A few days ago a list of “Active”
500khz stations was posted on this reflector. There were approx. 30 G or English
stations, 2-GM’s 2GI’s and 2GW’s. Whether there are many more
who obtained NOV’s I don’t know.
However, it seems a rather poor take up of
the privileged opportunity to operate on this interesting band. Excellent transmitter
designs by M0MBU and GW3UEP (and possibly others )have been posted here but
have not, as Mal G3KEV has said, found their way into RADCOM. Possibly
Dave G3YXM could bring these to the attention of the RADCOM people who select
construction and design articles. It is of course, a niche interest as are many
others in amateur radio but regrettably, one is drawn to the conclusion that
some UK
amateurs are a bit tardy when it comes to having to build equipment. Re the
availability of components, this is not really a problem. The big boys
Farnell, Radiocomponents and Rapid will now deal direct and the small suppliers
that come to mind are JAB, Sycom, and Mode Components and numerous others.
I too, am also critical of the current
trend in RADCOM as voiced by others but it must be born in mind that without
the representations by the RSGB we would not have had the NOVs on 500.and that
we are the only European country with that privilege.
I do fear that unless OFCOM make a
decision soon at to the future of the 500khz allocation there will now be
little incentive for people to go to the trouble of building for this
experimental band.
With apologies for the ramble
Mike GW4HXO.
