OBSERVATIONS FROM SCOTLAND                            16 Feb 2009                              GM1SXX

Whatever happened to GB3COA... more .

One could be forgiven for thinking that some sort of weird happening is going on  re GB3COA. First the application was on, then it was withdrawn, only to be resurrected, ...followed by it being withdrawn again, and all over a four year period.  On both of the most recent applications for this beacon,  Ray James, GM4CXM, has raised several 'objections', first with the RSGB Microwave Committee and in the most recent application, he  dragged both the Committee and the UK regulator OFCOM into his 'complaint' about the application.

This despite the fact that on both occasions, the application had the 'complete support' (my words.)... and those of the chairman of the RSGB's Microwave committee.  ray's 'complaint' was made in both cases before GB3COA even made it onto the air.  Lodging a complaint about something that hasn't yet happened, or a situation that might occur is IMHO a completely new angle in amateur radio.

Some geography.

Ray lives to the NNE of me at somewhat over four miles distant. My application for GB3COA was for a 1W PA driving a pair of modest quagis beaming East and West on 1296.755Mhz, a frequency selected by the committee as being a suitable choice.  Ray's 'complaint'?  GB3COA 'might cause IMD problems for him'.  I did suggest to one of Ray's GB3CSB beacon group members GM6BIG  (who I have exchanged quite a few emails with)  that it would be a simple matter to block RF leakage in Ray's direction by applying selective screening to the aerials. I got no feedback from that.  This technique is used to good effect in some TV repeaters and other applications,  where selective screening is used to block interfering co-channel signals.  It's an old but effective trick.

IMD

One pillar of Ray's complaint was that GB3COA might cause him IMD problems.  IMD problems are generally a receiver issue.  At least the last time I checked, this was certainly the case.   One UK 23Cms beacon I know of runs at least 400W ERP, http://www.microwavers.org/r1-uwave.htm  (see theMartlesham Beacon info) yet the locals have learned to live with it, so it begs the question.... why should 1W, four and a half miles away, split two ways and beamed  E/W *away* from Ray be such an issue.  23Cms in this area seems to be dominated by weak signal operators who consider a one watt transmitter almost five miles distant to be QRO yet who are happy to run legal limit themselves on TX!  Ray also complained about the 'lack of co-ordination' re beacons. I just can't see it myself. The committee is there to co-ordinate beacons and IMHO, they do a very good job and the committee is staffed by very competent people.

 He may also have conveniently 'forgotten' that the original GB3COA application was lodged before he got involved in 23Cms.  As you may be aware, Ray and his group (which include GM4CXM, GM6BIG and GM4ISM)  of course have applied and received an NOV for a triplet of beacons to be located in the local Kilsyth hills (GB3CSB). 

Their triplet of beacons will run 25W ERP beaming 150 degrees with a 67degree beamwidth.  You can read more on Google.

A search for GB3CSB should do the trick, or click on...

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=GB3CSB&meta=

  TheKilsyth Hills are to the NNE-NE of me .  Go figure!

In order to save the RSGB microwave committee and OFCOM any further involvement in this fiasco, I've yet again decided to drop the application for GB3COA , out of consideration to those who have negotiated hard  on my behalf, and instead will set up a personal beacon in the 1298Mhz band segment.  I'd have preferred to have been in the 1296Mhz segment because many transverter users can only cover 1296-1298 but I'm happy to move to 1298 .  I'll re-use the same hardware as before with a new crystal and there's a possibility of a far better location for this beacon.   The beacon comfortably meets commercial standards for spurious signals.  

From my point of view, it's essentially ... 'same shit, new wrapping'.

73 AL.
GM1SXX

Notes and Errata.

In the light of some feedback from Ray about the above posting, I  stand corrected on something I made mention of in the item above. Although Ray did not see fit to involve me 'in the loop' over his December 2008 complaint to OFCOM re  the GB3COA application, he did in fact contact me a couple of years ago on a different matter.

Ray said (two years ago!) ....I did invite you to join the Scottish Microwave Beacon Group but you told me you're not a "clubby" person. I also invited you to my home to experience 23cm activity during an activity night or tropo opening and this fell on deaf ears.....I can only do so much.

I include it here for completeness.   While it's true that in general that I'm not in general a 'clubby' person, I am a member of the RSGB and of a foreign AMSAT group as well as a local Amateur Radio Society. It was also a member of AMSAT-UK for many years until my membership lapsed last month..

Ray objected to me linking directly to his website so I have replaced the link with Google search parameters .

I'd also like to point out that over the last few years I've had a fair bit of communication with David GM6BIG, who has always been very helpful and courteous in my dealings with him  in the true spirit of amateur radio.  David is  involved in the construction of the GB3CSB beacon cluster.

I have been taken to task by Ray who has informed me that  there is no such thing as the GB3CSB beacon group. While this may indeed be the case at a formal level,  I used the description is a somewhat less formal manner to describe 'the group of people involved in constructing and financing the GB3CSB cluster'.    Tomato Tomato... IMHO.

73 Al.