For everyone who might be interested in the mysteries of working HF, Norfolk ARC have produced a series of four videos, each about an hour and a half long introducing new amateurs to the dark art. They can be found on the NARC YouTube channel. This is the link to the first in the series:
FT8 Superfox Mode
The following is taken from the excellent website of the Jarvis Island DXpedition 2024.
This great new mode will enable even more FT8 QSOs and enables the chasers (us) to be sure that we are listening to the real DXpedition.
Read on and enjoy.
1. What is SuperFox mode in WSJT-X?
SuperFox mode allows an expedition to make digital QSOs at rates higher than possible with previous versions of WSJT-X. In previous versions the Fox would transmit up to 5 streams, with each stream being 50 Hz wide.
The SuperFox transmits a full power constant-envelope waveform 1512 Hz wide. The SuperFox may send reports or RR73s to as many as nine SuperHounds simultaneously. Importantly there is no reduction in received signal strength to do so. A SuperHound will experience the same received signal strength regardless of the number of Hounds being contacted by the SuperFox.
In addition, the SuperFox transmits a digital signature of authenticity. This signature allows the SuperHound to verify the legitimacy of the expedition, thereby reducing or eliminating piracy. This is covered in more detail soon.
2. Do I need special software?
Yes, both the SuperFox and SuperHound need to run WSJT-X version 2.7.0-RC5 or newer. (expect the release around July 1).
3. Do I need to set my receiver or transmitter to a certain bandwidth for SuperFox decoding?
No, as the SuperFox transmits a signal 1512 Hz wide, using the same settings you use now with WSJT-X will work fine.
4. What software settings do I need to be a SuperFox or SuperHound?
For the SuperFox: In the Settings—Advanced tab of WSJT-X, select the Fox radio button, and check the SuperFox mode box. You also need to obtain a Key and fill in the Key field. (More detail on the Key field is below).
For the SuperHound: In the Settings—Advanced tab of WSJT-X, select the Hound radio button, and check the SuperFox mode box. No Key setting is needed.
In both cases a red SuperFox or SuperHound marker will be displayed in the lower center of the WSJT-X screen when the Settings window is closed.
5. Where will the SuperFox transmit?
Using a 1512 Hz bandwidth, the SuperFox will start at 750 Hz and go up to 2262 Hz.
6. Where should the SuperHound transmit?
The previous limitation of Hounds sending above 1000 Hz has been removed. A SuperHound may transmit anywhere from 200 Hz and up. Unlike the old-style Fox and Hound operation, the SuperHound’s frequency is not shifted down after being called.
7. Do I need to change the rig Split operation settings for SuperFox or SuperHound modes?
No, you can use the same Split settings as before. For “Fox” you may also use None, as no VFO shifting will be done.
8. Are there special SuperFox frequencies on each band?
This is up to each DXpedition to define. Expeditions should post their desired frequencies on websites or live via a DX spotting network. SuperFox stations should never transmit on standard FT8 frequencies.
9. How will I know the SuperFox is not a pirate?
The SuperFox will transmit a digital signature which will be verified by the SuperHound when received. A displayed message will state the SuperFox’s callsign has been verified. If no such message appears, the transmission is not verified.
10. Do I need special equipment to work a SuperFox?
No, your hardware will remain identical to your current usage. As stated in question #2, only your WSJT-X software needs to be upgraded.
11. How do I know the QSO is complete?
An RR73 message will be received as in previous versions of WSJT-X. If you did not receive RR73 after repeatedly sending your R+report, you can wait a few minutes and call again.
12. How do I know that the mode is SuperFox mode vs regular FT8?
A normal FT8 signal is only 50 Hz wide; the SuperFox signal is 1512 Hz wide. The sequence of tones is markedly different and it is easy to tell that SuperFox is not a normal FT8 signal.
13. Do I keep calling on every odd cycle until the SuperFox comes back to me?
This is difficult to answer. A Hound or SuperHound has no way to know where you are in the Queue or if you are in the Queue at all. Generally, it is suggested to continue calling until a reply is received.
14. Is old-style Fox/Hound Mode still available?
Yes, there are now three major FT8 sub-modes in WSJT-X: Normal FT8, Fox/Hound, and SuperFox/SuperHound.
Congratulations Caspar 2E0KRH
Congratulations to Caspar Pierce, 2E0KRH who was awarded Kenwood Trophy for the work he’s done to re-establish the amateur radio club at University of Surrey and to encourage 23 fellow students to sit the Foundation exam. 
RATS and CARC win the 2m Trophy Contest
After many years of trying and several wins in the 6-hour Open section, CARC and RATS have won the 24-hour open section of the RSGB 2m Trophy contest. The contest is coordinated across the whole of IARU region 1 with the most participants of any VHF contest each year.
The team logged 736 valid QSOs in 24 hours at an average distance of 419km giving an overall total of 308496 points, all record numbers for the team.
The team consisted of Peter G0VVE, Alwyn G8DOH, Andy G7FWE, Mike G0KAD, Zander M1YAP and Stewart G3YSX. We were joined for the first time, and hopefully not the last by Pete G4CLA.
Crawley ARC and Reigate ATS Win VHF NFD 2022
A super effort by the joint Crawley and Reigate contesting team has been rewarded with the outright win in the Open Section of this year’s RSGB VHF National Field Day.
The team operated on five bands, 6m, 4m, 2m, 70cm, and 23cm with the best four bands contributing to the final score. Band wins on 2m and 70cm laid the foundation and a fantastic effort on 23cm was rewarded with 868 points out of a possible 1000, the best we have achieved in years. 6m and 4m were solid performances matching our closest competitors while GM enjoyed some exclusive Sporadic E not seen in the SE of the country.
GB70E Special Event Station
CARC is pleased to have been granted use of the GB70E special event callsign on SSB for both 19th and 26th of June. We will be operating the club shack on both days and encourage all members to take a turn at the microphone for what promises to be two very enjoyable days on the air.
Her Majesty The Queen
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has ruled for longer than any other Monarch in British history, and is a much loved and respected figure across the globe. Her extraordinary reign has seen her travel more widely than any other monarch, undertaking many historic overseas visits. Known for her sense of duty and her devotion to a life of service, she has been an important figurehead for the UK and the British Commonwealth during times of enormous social change.
Her Majesty continues to carry out a full programme of engagements, from visits to charities and schools, to hosting visiting Heads of State, to leading the nation in Remembrance and celebratory events.
The Queen sees public and voluntary service as one of the most important elements of her work. She has links – as Royal Patron or President – with over 600 charities, military associations, professional bodies and public service organisations. These vary from well-established international charities to smaller bodies working in a specialist area or on a local basis only. Of course, the Queen’s husband HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, was patron of the RSGB until his death in 2021.
The RSGB is very pleased to join with the radio amateurs throughout the Commonwealth and the World to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen’s exceptional reign.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south. The country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain, which lies in the North Atlantic, and includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state.
Special Event Stations
RSGB Special Special Event Stations are being activated from the four UK Home Nations and three Crown Dependencies: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
The UK regulator Ofcom, has licensed some special call signs that will be active only during June 2022, including from 2-5 June 2022, which is Jubilee Holiday celebration weekend in the UK.
These call signs are: GB70E, GB70M, GB70W, GB70I, GB70J, GB70U and GB70D.
Operation will be on multiple bands and modes. Some of the Special Event amateur stations will be open to the public. Please check the QRZ.com pages for each call sign for details of activations.
RSGB Celebrations
Full details of the RSGB celebrations can be found on our website.
QSOs with the Special Event Stations will count towards our Award 70 program.
RSGB Convention 2022
For the first time in three years, the RSGB Convention will be taking place in person over the weekend of 8/9 October. It’s open to all so no RSGB membership is required.
The convention is a super event, based in Kents Hill Park, a comfortable residential convention center in Milton Keynes. There are five streams of lectures running constantly each day catering to every level of experience and covering most aspects of amateur radio. These will be published and refined in the coming months.
Of course, there are plenty of opportunities to mingle with new and old friends from “the air” over the free tea, coffee, and biscuits available in the lounge.
Martin Lynch is sponsoring the event so they will have a good selection of shiny kit on display and there is usually a top-line radio operating on HF to drool over.
Tickets have just gone on sale here. There are many options available with pre-booked day tickets starting at £20 (£15 for Sunday) a discount of £5 over on-the-day prices. Of course, the convention has accommodation on site and some may opt to stay for two nights B&B with a seat at the Gala DX Dinner on Saturday evening. Every option in between is possible.
An excellent 3-course lunch is available each day at a very reasonable price, parking is free and a shuttle bus runs to and from Milton Keynes Central station with direct trains from East Croydon should you wish to visit by train.
So there’s really no excuse. Several CARC members will be heading that way so sharing a lift is one of the best ways of getting to the convention.
Hope to see you there (I’ve already bought my weekend ticket).
Mike, G0KAD. CARC Chair
CARC Mills on the Air 2022
CARC will be taking part in the Mill on the Air event on Sunday 8th May. We will be establishing an HF station at the Ifield Mill operating as GB0IWM (Ifield WindMill).
If there are any CARC members who would like to help set up, operate the station or discuss Amateur Radio with visiting members of the public please get in touch with David Wilde, M0WID or make contact through the website.
CARC Zoom Meetings and Club Nets
While there have been no changes to the official guidelines regarding meetings, the latest OMICRON variant is certainly spreading fast. My daughter is one of the 130000 who tested positive yesterday and while I don’t have to self-isolate, I shall not be putting others at risk by mixing unnecessarily. Attendance at the last couple of meetings before Christmas reflected the growing concern amongst members with only a couple of people coming along.
With Crawley and surrounding areas all in the newly doubled bracket of 1600+ infections per day https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map/cases it seems prudent to take no unnecessary risks and so the Wednesday meeting will take place exclusively on Zoom with the following details:
Topic: CARC Weekly meeting
Time: Dec 29, 2021 08:00 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84683947803?pwd=YjVMREdNd3BtK2lIYTZ5c0MyNUwxZz09
Meeting ID: 846 8394 7803
Passcode: 248168
The Sunday meeting will also take place on the air with 28.430MHz being the frequency of choice starting from 10:30am. Instructions on how to connect to the club WebSDR were circulated just before Xmas and this will be available for the net.
Have a very happy and safe New Year.
Mike, G0KAD CARC Chair.
CARC Resume Meetings at Hut18
The committee met last night via Zoom and top of our agenda was restarting the twice-weekly meetings at Hut18. Since the last national lockdown restrictions were removed some 6 weeks ago, the statistics have beaten even the most optimistic “expert” models. While COVID remains in wide circulation around the UK, hospital admissions remain relatively low and the worst consequences of the virus even lower. The picture is even better for the double vaccinated. This is excellent news and with booster jabs being rolled out from early next week the committee voted to resume both Wednesday evening and Sunday morning meetings at Hut18.
Of course, this is not a time to be complacent and we will keep a keen eye on the national and local situation going forward.
There are a few things that we can all do to keep each other safe:
- Social distancing remains a key measure to help reduce transmission. Wherever possible give each other space and be respectful if members want more space
- Ventilation. We will be keeping doors open for as long as the weather allows
- Masks help protect others. While not mandatory, they are a real demonstration of your concern for fellow members
- Testing. Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) are available to everyone free of charge from the NHS. Please consider using them before attending meetings.
- Reporting. If you test positive for COVID in the days after attending a meeting, it is vital that you report this to BOTH the NHS Test and Trace AND to CARC (chair@carc.org.uk)
- Signing in using the normal club book at the entrance is now mandatory. This allows us to quickly inform all close contacts to enable their testing if necessary.
I hope to see you at the club this Sunday 19th September, our first Wednesday meeting will be on September 22nd with a talk on VHF NFD which the club entered back in July. This will be available both in-person and via Zoom to maximise participation, something we intend to continue going forward.
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