RSGB - Impact of VDSL interference on Amateur Radio Service

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The RSGB has released an interim report - Determination of impact of VDSL interference on the Amateur Radio Service

The RSGB has been measuring the levels of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) from VDSL broadband since 2014. Work has included measurements on test sites and at Amateur Stations where RFI was reported as degrading communication. A summary of the levels for 92 locations reported in 2016 recorded typical RFI levels for the VDSL bands. A detailed report covering eleven reported problem locations dated 28/9/2016 was produced, shared with and discussed with BT, Openreach and Ofcom.

As a result of this meeting, limited observations from Ofcom concluded that levels observed at amateurs’ premises did not constitute Harmful Interference. RSGB refuted this and a further set of tests were proposed.

RSGB Forum - VDSL Emission Investigation - http://www.thersgb.org/forums/index.php?threads/vdsl-emission-investigation.84/page-12#post-3406

VDSL Interim Report PDF - http://rsgb.org/main/files/2018/10/Impact-of-VDSL-RFI-on-the-Amateur-Radio-Service-Interim-report.pdf

EI Station Works Japan on 70cms Moonbounce for EI First

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Irish Amateur Radio operator Tony EI8JK has successly worked Japan on 432 MHz, bouncing a 70cms singal into Japanese station JA6AHB.

The pair have been trying to make the contact for several weeks with Tony making small incremental improvements to his system to squeeze out every fraction of a dB. In the end, they managed to complete the contact using the JT65 mode on Monday morning during a 2-hour window to make it an EI-JA first on the UHF band.

In terms of equipment, JA6AHB was using 500 watts into a 7 metre dish while Tony was using 4 x 21 element yagis with a medium powered amplifier.

Tony EI8JK Antenna System - https://ei7gl.blogspot.com/2018/09/ei8jk-works-japan-on-70cms-moonbounce.html