UK Shipping Forecast on LW to End?

The possibility of the retirement of Long Wave transmitters could endanger shipping around the UK, as shipping forecasts transmitted on FM would only reach 12 miles off-shore.

Peter Jefferson, a retired shipping forecast announcer, who had provided updates for 40 of the 90 year service was discussing the service at a recent Radio Times Festival in Hampton Court, UK.

He said how many people relied on the service, not just seaman, as some land based listeners used the shipping forecast as a “sleeping pill”

"If long wave is retired, which might be the case, then I don't know what will happen to the shipping forecast." - Peter Jefferson

Full article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/11892805/End-of-Shipping-Forecast-on-long-wave-radio-could-leave-sailors-high-and-dry.html

Proposed German SDR Network

A Software Defined Radio (SDR) consists of a high-frequency transmitter and receiver, in which smaller or larger shares of the signal processing can be performed by computer software.

With the L-wide SDR network, it will be possible for 120 users to  simultaneously and independently use the receivers in the network via the Internet to monitor the frequency range of 100 kHz to 60 MHz. This equates to each site being used by up to 8 users.

"The propagation conditions in Germany and an amateur's own transmission can be monitored by radio amateurs from around the world using various SDR locations in Germany. The intense, discussion as to the value of a 60 MHz wide frequency range can now be judged by everyone, "said Stefan Scharfenstein (DJ5KX), chairman of the Bad Honnef radio amateurs club, a major player in the project.

At the tender for the multi-user WebSDR network 31 local DARC clubs showed interest from which 15 were selected. The clubs location, their activity level in the hobby and availability of good Internet access were taken into account in the choice of the 15 clubs to host the SDRs as stated by DARC Executive Christian Entsfellner (DL3MBG) at the presentation of the project at the end of last year.

The globally unique WebSDR Network in Germany will be installed at the following locations:
Schwabach-Rotz (B13), Norderstedt (E12), Wetzlar (F19), Bad Honnef (G09), Neuwied (K08), Husum (M04), Rheine (N16), Stadtlohn (N53), Hagen (O08), Leonberg ( P24), Wuppertal (R13), Zwickau (S60), Schönau (S65), Günzburg (T02) Ludwigslust (V28) and the "Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt" in Braunschweig

The technical decision of the SDR to be used was the amateur radio enthusiasts developed HiQ SDR from DB1CC. Stefan Goerg (DL2STG) is responsible to develop the R2T2s firmware and Linux code. Implementation lead of the DSP server / client side is Michael Wild (DL2FW).

This nationwide network of SDR receivers is unique in the worldwide amateur radio. So far there have been only isolated locations with similar technology. e.g. since 2008 at the Dutch University of Twente.

Currently, the prototype is being tested extensively. The handover of the equipment is expected shortly.

The cost is 1300 € per unit. The used SDR concept combines control processor, transmitter and receiver.

The club funds required for the procurement came from the project-related promotion of DARC "Pro" membership "in 2014. The devices remain in the inventory of the DARC in Baunatal and are on "permanent loan" to the individual clubs.

QRO Club - Free DXpedition Travel Amps

A newly formed club, the 'QRO CLUB', supported by Nathan Cohen, W1YW and the Fractal Amateur Radio Club (W1FRX), one objective - to keep DX on the bands active.

The group feel that Dxpeditions have split into two camp, between large “big deal” operations and extended weekend, low power / QRP operations.

“Low power/QRP is an exciting challenge. But if you are going anyplace that’s even remotely rare, you have to be loud. Many DX’ers would like to encourage the third camp (which used to be common)—low cost, high power operations, with a minimum of gear but plenty of signal ”

— Nathan Cohen, W1YW

Whilst Cohen admits that ”Everyone is grateful for the ‘big deal’ DXpeditions, which cost ½ million dollars and take years of preparation ... there are plenty of juicy DX locations that you can reach hopping on a jet, with a full station in a single bag, including amp. Modern rigs are great for travel, but designs have been pulling back power in the last 20 years. Clubs used to help by providing amps but as DX clubs consolidated, they’ve concentrated on providing money to the bigger DXpeditions. It’s time to bring back the suitcase KW station for smaller DXpeditions.

Over the two years, W1YW has quietly gathered almost two dozen amplifiers, organizing the QRO CLUB loaners. “Some of these have been/will be sold to facilitate repair costs , others will be on-loan to actual DX, still others will be travel amps. The QRO CLUB’s initial offering is Dentron MLA-2500’s as free travel amps.”

“The MLA-2500 is a great travel amp, and can be used with a 1KW inverter off 12V if needed. Two of these will be immediately available as DXpedition loaners to modest US- initiated DXpeditions. Traveler insurance must be purchased to cover baggage loss/destruction, otherwise the amps will be free for use. The amps will be returned to the QRO CLUB and sent to the next DXpedition. If they break during use, the Dxpeditions won’t be responsible; Murphy happens. With the withering sunspots, we just want to encourage more activity on the bands, and lots of great DX.”

Preference will be given to US-initiated small DXpeditions to rare and semi-rare DX countries, with previous DXpeditioner success. 

Contact W1YW for details at W1YW@aol.com.