Ofcom New UK Ham Radio Licence - A Light Hearted Look

[@banginghats2]

I think they put the new rules together when they were /DTP, or down the pub.

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Pubs On The Air - PuOTA. Interesting idea. Though, speech may become slightly slurred or CW a bit ropey after first few contacts 😅. Update: it is already a thing. I found a website for PACOTA - Pubs And Clubs On The Air.

[@johnmilton7578]

G3ZZZ lives in Margate, Kent.

[@dataterminal]

Anyone else notice if they run the full 1000w, their neighbours lights glow everytime you key up? will have to go /QRP at 800w from now on.

[@watersstanton]

Does it help reduce neighbour’s energy bills?

[@flyingchilders]

If anybody changes their callsign prefix, it’s really going to confuse stations chasing DXCC they won’t have a clue where the station is.

[@watersstanton]

Yes interesting! possibilities!

[@watersstanton]

It certainly has the possibilities of causing confusion to hams overseas!

[@pinkunwizard]

I heard my first ME0 station yesterday, my first thought was "what a plank".

[@ratsstuff1952]

Keeping mine. I'm on 88 for my dxcc - don't fancy starting again!!! Lol!!!

[@hamshackleton]

If I read the brief rules correctly, we can also now ADD the prefix E for England! So I'm optionally ME0HFF! But, of course, in CW, that can be mis-read as G0HFF - more confusion!

[@watersstanton]

Yes you are right - about the rules and the confusion!

[@paulsengupta971]

On the other hand, I'm happy they're allowed /AM now, but not so happy with the power limit. A lot of people responded to the consultation saying that the power was too low but Ofcom didn't budge on that one.

[@wrote8]

Gawd my 100 watts at 40mtrs already stops my wifi router and my remote wx station! 1kw would probably set next doors cat on fire 😁

[@paulsengupta971]

"How do you make a cat go Woof?"

[@paulsengupta971]

"Problem with the Suffixes" - are they the Royals who live in America now? I have both G1YJY and GW1YJY in QRZ.

[@stevewithnell911]

BUT. If you run 2kW to deliver 1kW to the antenna, then the input power is nearly 4kW for a linear amplifier. That's 17 amps - which really requires a dedicated circuit on the consumer unit...All of that for around 4dB upside. Not to mention the £1+ per transmitter hour in energy costs. 4kW is also getting to the point where the DNO is going to get excited if you are fed via a looped in supply, like many semi's and terraced houses.

[@watersstanton]

Interesting - and we are supposed to be SAVING energy!

[@watersstanton]

……. and we are supposed to be SAVING energy!

[@ronjoseph7973]

I believe OfCom made a huge mistake. The USA has entered a QRO race, people running legal limit which is 1.5 KW on a regular basis. QRO made sense when radio was predominantly AM. With SSB, and a decent antenna, you rarely need more than 600 watts. I own an amp and routinely only run between 250-300 watts since I live in a very compact suburban neighborhood. Running anything more, causes all kinds of problems specifically RFI. In addition, linear amps have become insanely expensive, about $3/watt for tube amps and $5/watt for solid state amps. Finally, misuse of amps are now squeezing out the vast majority of operators using 100 watts. This is both frustrating and demoralizing resulting in a handful of stations dominating the bands which is not good for anyone.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for sharing. 73 Peter

[@paulwynneroberts1731]

add as an alias callsign but you have to enter your locator and details

[@yorkshiresfinestpair]

so how do i calculate the db loss at my antenna feed end.?

[@watersstanton]

Measure the feeder length and note cable type. Th3n enter all the data on one of the web coax loss calculators.

[@ianharling9569]

I also suggest that you could put a power meter at the feed point of the aerial and note the power losses in the feedline/coax. 73 G7HFS/PA3IKH

[@1967deek]

My 250 feet of 12-year-old rg58 didn't like 1000 watts applied to it 😁

[@paulsengupta971]

I bet it kept the snow off it though!

[@hoardagency4754]

But all the issues you raise are problems today if I transmit at another location in the uk? Hasn’t ofcom just said they’ll leave it up to us to decide as it isn’t a matter for the regulator. If you don’t use GM in Scotland they aren’t going to revoke the licence (as before this would have been a breach of the T&Cs). On the whole it all appears quite sensible

[@watersstanton]

Fundamental problem is dropped prefixes may no longer indicate the ham radio “coin try .”

[@thomashabetsse]

This is just looking for problems where none exist. Nobody called me a pirate when i visited Northern Ireland and had to change my call sign while there.

[@watersstanton]

But you no longe have to change your call there even if you are in a different “country.”

[@thomashabetsse]

@@watersstanton right. I'm saying it was never a problem, and will continue to not be a problem with permanent, not just temporary, variation in locators.

[@wblue74]

Isn't GM3ZZZ's callsign already G#3ZZZ?

[@watersstanton]

,,,,,,,, or bad CW GE3ZZZ becomes Z3ZZZ!

[@ferdinandfrozenstein]

Well, if G, GM, GI, GW and also GJ, GD etc. should remain valid as separate DXCC entities, I think the prefixes should remain as they are. If not, UK should then shrink into one DXCC entry, same as Germany for example. In such case, nobody would care about your prefixes. However as you describe it, it looks like a mess. And what about GW3ZZZ and GM3ZZZ? Who will get the shortened G3ZZZ? Will you need to register that? Forever? Or just for a contest, next contest the other guy will have the chance? Wow, that's so confusing... Some G stations are three letter, such as G5X, it's so short that sometimes I am thinking "did I miss some letter?" when hearing that in contest... Other extreme is MM0 prefix, in CW it takes quite long, I am happy that I don't have to key that one every day..., the 2E0 is not great in CW either, so your regulator authority might rather have offered you to fix that instead...

[@ferdinandfrozenstein]

P.S. What about contest calls? E.g. we have normal 5-6 letter calls and if you're a contester, you can register a 4-letter one for the contesting purpose only. That might work for UK too, GM5Z might be the contest call of GM3ZZZ if (s)he needs to be faster... One more note... Even having a 5-letter callsign, when being abroad, extending it to e.g. SP/call/P makes it unusably long, especially when trying QRP SSB... :-/

[@dixsusu]

Now i'll say this because many in comments don't agree . I welcome these changes , there is a place and options for everybody . I do not like all of them , but you have the fredom to do and options whitin limits sets by ofcom at ppls sugestions . These ppl are still hamradio ppl. Please accept it that we are all diferent but somehow the same . 73. There is a place and space for everyone .

[@watersstanton]

Nice to get your input. 73 Peter

[@swimmingpools2652]

I’m from the other side of the channel and do understand the logic of Off Com. It’s just to confuse use like feet, ounce, yard and not mentioning driving in the left lane and playing bowls ;-) Like your videos Peter!

[@watersstanton]

Nice one! 73 Peter

[@DavidCase-ov5uo]

How about /B if acting as a Beacon or /E if passing emergency traffic? G4BTI.

[@watersstanton]

Perhaps we should have a list of proposed suffixes, or perhaps not!

[@Chris-hy6jy]

They need to increase the maximum power limit of simplex gateways to be inline with repeaters. 25w ERP.

[@allyburg7145]

Some will violently disagree but there is really no need to go to a full licence now, I am intermediate, will I go to a full, have no need to learn how to build a radio. May be one day I will, we will see.

[@watersstanton]

Good point. 73 Peter

[@gabrielsansar6187]

i`m adding `the big sexy` as my suffix

[@watersstanton]

Make sure you remove your address from the call book and QRZ!

[@gabrielsansar6187]

Hahahahaha @@watersstanton

[@spweber54]

Very interesting changes! I trust my fellow ham radio friends across the pond will get this all sorted out! 73 - Stan WB5UDI

[@watersstanton]

Yes interesting! Bice to hear from you. 73 Peter

[@spakkajack]

The band police will be visiting mental health clinics in droves.

[@watersstanton]

You bet!

[@arcticradio]

Hearing the UK stations here in Northern Finland some of the most readable/audio quality stations were only running 100W. I would not be interested in ever running any great power.

[@clivedavies3]

Exelently put i enjoyed your point of veiw it brought up a few poblems lol.

[@watersstanton]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@derekG7LFC]

Fair comments about the prefix and pirates; but we English stations have had this problem for years when travelling to Wales and having to change our call signs from G to GW, for example.

[@watersstanton]

……. or from GE to GW!

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

Its the beginning of the end amateur radio. Intermediate licence holders being given 100watts will create a culture of operators who will say there's no need to get a full licence.

[@watersstanton]

Oh for a crystal ball!

[@ratsstuff1952]

There wasn't a reason before. 50w gets you around the world if you focus on getting your Shack working efficiently.

[@MONTY-YTNOM]

Only reason I'm not going to take it is because I don't want to lose my CS

[@grandpaandlucas7054]

@@watersstanton We don't need a crystal ball peter we have M3 licence holders who will never get to intermediate licence. why they have a ham licence and no one cares about their power output. so why would some intermediate holders ever want to study a full licence when their radio puts out 100watts. its great for retailers selling amplifiers for thousands of pounds. but do you ever ask what licence the buyer holds. No you take the cash and sell the amp. how many radio's have you sold and wide banded for non licence holders that pirate 27 mhz. Harry Leaming G3LLL would not sell you a fuse with out a ham licence.

[@paulsengupta971]

@@ratsstuff1952"if you focus on getting your Shack working efficiently." Like building it on top of a hill?

[@Captcasper7]

Peter think you have been running too many watts and its fried your noddle. LOL You're normally level headed about such things, keep up the good work.

[@watersstanton]

Thanks for the tips!’

[@mikewright8174]

Thanks Peter, Interesting and humourous, Keep up the great videos,

[@watersstanton]

Thanks, will do! 73 Peter

[@trevorrickard9451]

G3ZZZ lives in Margate,

[@1967deek]

Just seen his QRZ page

[@Quoodle1]

What if your antenna is a double bazooka and your coax IS your antenna.... jk

[@watersstanton]

You could be snookered!

[@alzag6hpr553]

As a keen VHF/UHF contester I can see the duplicates, never mind, the adjudicator will sort that out. 😂 as for the power changes, on 2m in particular, 1kw is going to be a killer, especially for all the local stations around the 1kw station only running 10w and 100w, they want be hearing much either because the 1kw station will be killing their receive. Another great video Peter.

[@watersstanton]

Interesting thoughts! Many thanks. 73 Peter

[@mollyfilms]

Thanks for making it clear.. you are one of the few 😂😂

[@watersstanton]

I am not sure in either count!

[@placeholder-065]

Don't forget to smile !!

[@watersstanton]

…….. or perhaps laugh!

[@placeholder-065]

@@watersstantonEven better !

[@vbrindle]

Did anyone count how many times G*3ZZZ was said? 😂

[@watersstanton]

Was it thatboring!

[@vbrindle]

@@watersstanton No lol

[@paulsengupta971]

Is this a drinking game?

[@brianfields4479]

Confused, you should be, but 1kw to work where, the moon. Just worked zl with 10w, why do I need 1kw. One guy said to an American, it's great dx, but I will use 1kw to get 59 plus hi. If you cannot work the USA, get a better ant. Well done Peter, and not so good stations who think everyone should use 1kw. More qrm for us all, and God help the neighbours.

[@watersstanton]

Many thanks for sharing. 73 Peter

[@MONTY-YTNOM]

I'm GW3ZZZ and so is my wife

[@watersstanton]

Yes I am also a fan of Monty Python!

[@gavindouglas5581]

They should leave the license as it is like new Zealand. Zl1gam

[@watersstanton]

Ah but that is called common sense!

[@charlieoscar09]

The CallSign changes are absolute B*llocks ..... Giving people Historic callsigns was also a mess G5's G3's G4's should have never have resurfaced. I used to gauge my replies picking out Wise callsigns now all you get is G5 muppets

[@watersstanton]

Are we allowed to use “Billhooks” - need to check that one out.

[@charlieoscar09]

@@watersstanton As long as it is camouflaged

[@paulsengupta971]

@@watersstanton"Four candles"

[@g7eit]

Great video and full respect to G3’s out there from G7EIT/ITP (in the pub)

[@watersstanton]

Nice one! 73 Peter

[@brian.7966]

or you could use g3zzz/ 2.C.F.P.T which is G3ZZZ/ 2 CORN FLAKE PACKET TOPS. THIS IS HOW SILLY THIS IS GETTING.

[@watersstanton]

It was conceived by the Ministry of Silly Walks!

[@seanfitzpatrick8278]

Made me smile! 73 de GE7SJD/OYT On KZbin. Also the secondary location gives you a direction to point the beam ,and your value in points to the other station. Remember you taking time to chat and explain to me at Elvaston Rally.40 years on its all changed at W and S . No Elvaston sadly but now we see you every week😂. It is progress ,embrace the changes.