Valve QRP

This was several years ago at the QTH of G6ALB. Andrew did the building of this valve Sputnik TX and I did the operating. After about 10 minutes a CQ call on 15m resulted in a contact with a station in the USA. Present were G4NUA (SK), G6ALB and G3XBM (me). What fun we all had!

Valve days....

This photo was taken about 12 years ago when we were experimenting with Sputnik valves. We made a 400mW CW transmitter (I think it was 15m) and worked the USA on a first CQ call. G4NUA is now a SK sadly.

Sputnik Days

This came in from Oleg RX3G:

Reminder, tomorrow Oct 4 "Sputnik" QRPp Activity Days still begin.
Keep your ears open for Sputnik's "beep-beep-beep" and Vanguard's "V V
V..."  before  Oct  17.  See  detailed  rules  on  the Club 72 page -
club72.su  -  "Sputnik  Days"  in  menu.  Also you can see last years
results with a lot of pictures. See you on "orbit"!

72! Oleg "Mr. 72" RX3G
Duty operator of the Deep Space Communication Center :-)

Some years ago, G6ALB built a QRP 15m CW TX using old Sputnik valves. Our first CQ call resulted in a stateside QSO.  Great fun.

Sputnik Days

News from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik  Days 2017 will be soon (October 4 to 17). See details on the
Club 72 page, please. The categories:
- Sputnik's (valves)
- Vanguard's (transistors)
- Beacons
- SWLs
As  no  reason to have special e-mail reflector for Sputnik Days, I'm
strongly  recommend  to  subscribe  to  new  "72"  mail  group on the
groups.io
You can do it on the Club 72 start page (fill the form) or by the link
- https://groups.io/g/72 or ask me to add your e-mail in the list.
This "sputnik" reflector will be closed soon.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
all QSOs installed in the total log page. Thanks!
New memorable certificates sent to:
- Honor Cosmonauts
PA0PJE, OK1DXK, R1CAF/SWL
- Honor Astronauts
RA7RA, R2DNN/B, R2AJA/B
Note:  in  next  2017  "Sputnik"  Days  Beacon/TXs  may be claimed as
"Sputnik"  or  "Vanguard".  Identifications  "beep-beep"  or  "V V V"
require.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik Activity Days finished. Thanks to all participants and to all
spectators! I'll add all QSOs in the totals log and make the order on
the  page  this  evening.  My  sorry,  I  too much busy with my house
reconstructions now.
Note: the dead line for all reports before October 25.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (October 10 to 16, 2016)

Visitors of the week: UA1CEX, HB9DAX, OE5GYL, RA1M/mm, RU3NJC, UA1CEG,
R1CAF,  UR5EFD,  DK1HW,  US3EN,  S57RT, UA4NU, OM6TC, OK2HBY, OH6NPV,
US5ERQ, R2FAE, ON6KZ, SM5ALJ, HA7NE, DF9QV, DL2DBU, YO4BQV
Congrats S57RT, he became Honor Frequenter
See  full  Visitors  and  Frequenters lists at the Club 72 web page -
www.club72.su

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"


Dear Space Friends,
RA7RA/V  informed about new QSO with S57T on 14060 kc (150 mW). Also,
"Astronaut"  Vlad  R2DNN/V  send me pictures of his 120 mW one pnp Ge
transistor GT321 TX, enjoy pictures on the "results" page on club72.su
Note:  his  TX  installed  on  the  door's furniture (detail). What a
wonderful  idea,  isn't  it!  Also,  keep  attention for heat-sink of
transistor,  looks  like  micro-Sputnik  :-)  9  Volts battery name
"KOSMOS" (Space)
Sputniks?Vanguards frights to be continue before October 18.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
Cosmonaut Jiri OK1DXK (Sputnik) informed yesterday he logged QSO with
RX2AM on 40 m. Jiri used sloper wire 9 m long and 1 watt output.
Enjoy QRPp!
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
R2AJA  informed  about  his  a-la  "Vanguard"  beacon mode TX. Modern
components  used  in  the  auto-beacon  TX, 1 watt output to LW 10 m.
RA7RA/SWL  copied  R2AJA/Beacon  in  October 11. Picture of TX-beacon
installed on the totals result page club72.su
Flights  to  be continue before October 18. I looking for results and
QSO reports, please.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

More Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
thanks  Jos  for Mag Loop "Sputnik" QSO report. All QSOs installed in
the  totals log. Also "astronaut" Pavel RA7RA/Vanguard informed about
new  QSO with M0AUW with 150 mW e pnp transistor P416 (old type of ex
USSR).  In  the photo gallery I install some pictures of R2DNN Ge pnp
TX-beacon  (beacon  mode  only)  120...250  mW.  Enjoy  photo  of his
home-made heat sink so called "a-la sputnik" concept-form :-)
BTW.  On  the  1's USSR Sputnik and US Vanguard really TX beacons was
installed (both). So it looks like we need to add "Beacon" category in
the Sputnik Activity Days in the future. Isn't it?
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

More QRP, QRP Club and Sputniks

More from Oleg today:

Dear Space Friends,
thanks  to Peter PA0PJE for report of October 9. New 4 "Sputnik" QSOs
installed on the results page - club72.su
> ...make some more contacts on 30 meters. I worked 4 stns:
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP, QRPclub and Sputniks

From Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
QRP Rendez-Vous weekly report (October 3 to 9, 2016)
Visitors  of  the  week: OK2MSS, IK2RGV, DK1HW, HB9DAX, G3XJS, RV3GM, US3EN,  RU3NJC,  UA1CEG,  UA9MLY, UR0ET, RW3AA, CS7AFI, ON4MB, EA6BB, UA1CEX, OM6TC, UA1ASB, UR5EFD, OH6NPV, RN4W
Congrats!
ON4MB became Honor Frequenter
See full Frequenters and Visitors lists on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

Dear Space Friends,
a  lot of busy with my house reconstruction now. Sorry for delay. All
QSOs and pictures installed on the results page. I wonder, is the QSO
between  ON6WJ  -  PA0PJE  (PA6FBE) the 1'st 2-way Sputnik QSO in the
World? Great!

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


And this from Peter:

Dear Friends,

Today I was at the Fort again as it was the last day to be open to general public. I did a lot of Radio-talk again but also found time to make some more contacts on 30 meters. I worked 4 stns:

UY6IO Vasily at 10:06 S579-R569 He used 100 watts in a loop antenna
DL1DTX Knut at 10:35 S589-R599 he used 70 watts
GM3MXN Tom S579-R579 corrected later to S599+10 QSB he used 5 watts to an end fed so a true QRP/QRP QSO.
OK1HB Ruda S579-R589 he used 100 Watts to a G5RV

Everybody liked my 1 Watt xtal-TX

40 meters was very busy so I stayed on 30 this time however some pilups were created by split-uppers ovrcrowding 10.116 MHz.

I did attempt to transmit on 21 MHz with my Sputnik TX because I heard some activity, even JA and PY so called CQ but only 1 RBN report from UD4FD SNR 10dB. The GP was only partly demolished by the sheep so repair of the radials was quickly done but alas no QSO.

72/73 and keep beeping!

Peter - PA0PJE (Sputnik: PA6FBE) 

QRP - yet more on Sputniks

This just came in from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
the  2016  totals, comments, pictures page opened on the Club 72 site
today. There is a 1'st QSO in the log today - RV3GM/S to G3XJS.
Preferably, to send me results daily.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB


Dear Space Friends,
thanks  to  Peter  PA0PJE  for report and picture. I add photo on the
results  page  on www.club72.su  I only ask you to send me details of
today's "sputnik" QSOs to add in the totals log, please.

2'nd  picture  of  Yuri's UA1CEG "Vanguard" tcvr is on the page also.
Yuri informed he operated from the forest "wigwam" position today, but
no success for sorry.

Evening I CQed on 200 mW TX on 14060 but no one RBN copied my signals,
sorry.  For  TX I use VXO and PA, both transistors are GT320B Ge pnp.
Ant is 42 m Delta at 6 m AGL.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP Sputnik days reminder

More from Oleg:

Dear Space Friends,
I only wish all sputniks and Vanguards happy flight!
All  comments,  reports,  pictures are appreciate here in the list or
direct  to  my  e-mail. All info's will be published on the "Sputnik"
results page - www.club72.su - totals log, soapbox, pictures etc.
SWLs are welcome also.
My  "Sputnik"  is  old  valves trcvr called "UW3DI" (14 valves) power
reduced  less  than  a  1 watt. My "Vanguard" trcvr is "Micro-80-pnp"
(only  Ge pnp 5 transistors on board) VXO 14060 kc 200 mW. Helping RX
is  "UA1FA" (home made in 70-80-th not mine hands). Antennas: 20 m GP
and Delta 42 m, both 6 m AGL.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB

QRP News - Sputnik days

From Oleg earlier:

Some years ago, G6ALB and I made a simple QRP CW rig, using Sputnik valves, for 21MHz and we worked a stateside station who replied to my CQ call.

Dates: October 4 to 18 annually
Mode - CW, output power less than 5 watts
Bands  -  all,  including  WARC  (it's  not  a  contest),  around QRP
frequencies recommend
Categories:
"Sputniks"
-  use old type valves(50'th)  TX, output power recommend less than 1
watt.  To  identification  add series of "dit" (beep-beep-beep...) in
start or/and finish of transmission
"Vanguards"
-  use  old  type  Ge (germanium, 50'th) transistors TX, output power
recommend  less  than  100 mW. To identification add series of "V" in
start or/and finish of transmission
SWLs
- copy time and freq of Sputniks and Vanguards (CQs or QSOs). Use main
callsign as SWL.
Each  operator  may  take  a  part in any categories sending separate
reports/logs for each category. Any QSOs in account. Same station may
operate on other bands or in other category on the same band.
Reports/logs  must be send daily (preferably) to the "Center of Space
Communications" :-) to - mr72@club72.su
Add  photos  of equipment, antennas including any comments. Dead-line
for reports/logs before October 25. Memorably certificate will be sent
to each station/SWL.
See totals log/comments/pictures since October 4 on the Club 72 page - www.club72.su
Ask  "Mr  72"  to add your e-mail in the special "Sputnik" discussion
group (reflector)
72! Deep Space Communications Center
Operator in duty -
Oleg "Mr. 72" RV3GM / KH6OB beep...beep...beep...

Last words on Sputnik Days?

From ON6WJ and Oleg....

"to Sputnik

dear Oleg (and radiofriends)
thank you very much for the magnificent “Sputnik” Certificate:
Here proud to be the owner of such exclusive “Award”
will print this on “brilliant photopaper” to decorate the shackwall.
Here no contester at all , neither a chaser for Diploma’s,Awards or Certificates,
but this “Souvenir” will be cherished ,always remembering me the ufb  QRPp QSO’s we had !

Spasibo Oleg

Jos
ON6WJ
(ps Sputnik Certificate already to see at my QRZ.com page hi)

> Dear Space Friends,
> Thanks for all operators taken part in the Sputnik QRPp Days!
> I send memorable certificates for all "Cosmonauts" and "Astronauts".
> The  list  of  all  participants  over  all  years  (2015 and before)
> published on the "Sputnik" page of Club 72 site - www.club72.su
> Cosmonauts: AA1TJ, DL3PB, OM6TC, ON6WJ, UA1CEX, UA3UAD, US5EVD
> Astronauts:  AA1TJ,  DL3PB,  OK1DPX,  ON6WJ,  RV3GM,  UA1ASB, UA1CEG,
> UA3UAD, UI7K.
> Also,  you can see results and pictures on the "Archive" page of Club
> 72 site.
> If  I  miss or forget somebody or something, put my nose to the facts
> :-)
>
> 72! beep-beep-beep...
> Deep Space Communications Center
> operator on duty -
> Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

Last words on Sputnik QRP tests?

These emails came in from Bert and Oleg:

"Hello dear Sputnikers,
Although I did not participate on the bands, I enjoyed to follow your
"adventures" here on the Sputnik Days report.
I enjoyed all, from the wigwam shack to Pampus.
Thanks to all.
73, Bert PA1B"


"Dear Space Friends,
> I enjoyed all, from the wigwam shack to Pampus.
> 73, Bert PA1B
Bert,  thank you very much for nice comments! Hopefully, milliwatting
will be continued all the year, not only in Sputnik Activity Days. We
can inform about mW results here in discussion e-mail group any time.
Dead  line  for  all Sputnik Days results is October 25. Send me your
results/pictures/comments  if anybody forget it before. After October
25  I'll  send  e-mail  nice  art  memorable  Certificates  for  all
participants    (including   assigned  personally honor titles, hehe)
Club  72  art designer Vlad UR0ET (Dnipro, Ukraine) have hardly works
with it now - thanks Vlad!
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

Sputniks again

Just received this email from Peter in The Netherlands...

"Hello to all Sputnikers/Vanguarders,
We spent two days in rain and cold on the island, so we expected visitor count to be low...
That tuned out not to be the case and as I already said: Putting old computers with a morse-key attached to it in a radio room generates questions, need for demonstration and a general unbelief that "we" actually could reveal all sorts of trials into text by simply listening while talking to somebody else...
As a result real radio was at times possible but we also had to cope with noise and power drops as the generator did not function 24/24.
I first tried 40 metres with the GRC9 and managed to make two QSO's, checked activity on 30 metres, sent some CQ's there on what I guessed must have been around 10.115 MHz but no response... I then unpacked my KX3 that I took with me as a last minute decision, to have a monitor and after checking the transmitted sigs decided to rapidly go back to 40 metres with the GRC9... Work to do.
I made three nice QSO's on 30 metres with the KX3 short before we had to arrange our leave for the day. It may be an island but I rather would not leave expensive things for the taking.
Sunday was just as rainy and cold. After switching on the GRC9 40 literally burst with activity with rapid 5NN's all over the place. Not a good environment to try a QSO using a simple superhet with DC-receiver-like bandwidth.
But even more visitors arrived that needed insight in what we were doing and more children that, once shown some action with a morse key, could hardly be persuaded to hand it over to someone else.
So: Did we make a lot of DX? No. But we did a lot of PR for CW, for Hamming and for showing that sending messages with simple means still is possible in this internet day-and-age...
72/73
Peter
PS: As I have no good pictures of this session, the attached photo is an older one I took on a similar summer session. Later we decided to use no more that two laptops as 4 in a row is near impossible to manage...:-)"

And this from Oleg... 

"Dear Space Friends,
thanks Peter PA0PJE for interesting story/picture. Sure, new young PA operators will be on the air soon.
Sputnik  Days  finished. But somebody can send results before October 25. After that date an "officially" totals will be published.  Thanks to all participants and readers! Even Sputnik Days closed but milliwatting is continued. Our discussion group is not closed, you can inform about your milliwatting news here."

Yet more Sputniks

I had these 2 emails from Oleg yesterday and today:

"Dear Space Friends,
yesterday   was   nice QSO between Sputnik US5EVD (two rod valves 500
mW) and Vanguard UI7K (one Ge pnp transistor 100 mW) on 3579 kHz. Also
US5EVD  operated  with EW6FA on 80 m. Day before op. Alexander US5EVD
can't to finish QSO with EW6FA because his battery was discharged. See
the  picture  of  Alex's  Sputnik  TX  on  the "Sputnik Days" page on www.club72.su Note: all components are old ex USSR types. On the green
battery you can see words "Сделано в СССР" (Made in USSR by Russian).
Two big size Ge transistors rectifier for high (anode) voltage used in
the TX.
Tomorrow October 18 is the last day in the Sputnik/Vanguard activity.
I  wish  all  Cosmonauts and Astronauts good luck and looking for any
reports.
>> It will be nice to log QRP QSO with Pampus Fort Island
For  sorry  I  have not radios for 30 and 40 m so far. I see a lot of
RBNs  reports  of  PA6FAP  today.  Hopefully, Peter PA0PJE enjoyed in
Pampus Fort shack today :-)
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"


"Dear Space Friends,
Sputnik activity days close to finish. Jos ON6WJ informed about 4 QSOs
today,  all QSOs on 80 m band in a circle distance of 150 ml - PA and
ON. I be happy to get any news in last Sputnik hours.
Have a nice soft landing!

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

Even more Sputniks

More on Sputnik tests...

"Dear Oleg,

I have the same experience...
I used both my Vanguard 40 mW tx and the 1P24 Sputnik tx when I was at the fort but no QSO, no response.

Tomorrow and Sunday Ger, PA3GKX and I will be showing what CW can do on the Fort-Island Pampus using two Pixies to send and receive but only over a short distance for demostration to children that (I hope in large numbers) will visit us. Yesterday we arranged the tables, light etc in one of the rooms and put up a dipole. When time permits we will be QRV with an old army-radio AN/GRC9 on 40 or 30 metres as PA6FAP but I know that most of the time will be used to show how to "send" morse code to old DOS-computers that can decode what is sent with a straight key... A challenge that beats any tablet or iPhone, I can assure you.

On 20 October I will be giving a presentation about the "Sputnik days" in one of the local club meetings, showing all details I collected and of course the transmitters I have used so it seems more true than I expected: Get retired and find out that you have even less spare-time...

72/73 and keep beeping and VVV-ing.

Peter - PA0PJE"


"Dear Space Friends,
New Cosmonaut Alexander US5EVD informed: October 15 he repaired valve
TX  and called CQ on 3560 kHz. EW6FA called Alex but QSO not finished
because battery discharged, sorry. Alex going to try PSU today.
Only two days before Sputnik Days finish, I looking for any comments.

72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

More Sputniks

From Oleg...

"Dear Space Friends,
bad  condx last days, it is not good for QRPp activity. Even RBNs did
not copied my 50 mW CQs.
Yesterday op. Jozef OM6TC logged QSO with OM3PV with Sputnik clone TX
160 mW on 21060 kc to 30 m LW. Congrats Jozef!
Only  three  days  before  finish  of Sputnik Days. I looking for any
reports, please.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

Yet more Sputnik QRP QSOs

This from Oleg:

"Dear Space Friends,
today I logged two "vanguard" QSOs on my new DC TRX 50 mW on 14060 kHz
- UR7VT (2 watts) and UR5FEO (4 watts). Both gives me 539 reports.
I looking for any Sputnik/Vanguards/SWLs reports, please.
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"

More Sputniks

This just arrived from Oleg:

"Dear Space Friends,
First of all I happy to inform about Sputnik QSOs.
Thanks Cosmonauts Jos ON6WJ and Jozef OM6TC for reports and very nice
pictures of their Sputniks.
Using 800 mW TX on 3561 kHz Jos ON6WJ/S logged follow stations ON5JD,
PA0FOX, DG3DBO, ON4ADI, F3ET.
Jozef OM6TC used 100 mW two "rod" tubes TX 21060 kHz logged OM3PV.
Me, over a hour I CQ'ed on 14060 kHz with my "Vanguard" 50 mW but got
only  RBN  reports  from  DL,  HA,  SM  2...10 dB. Sorry no one alive
operator copied my "Vanguard" TX.
See pictures and read comments on the "Sputnik Days" page on the Club
72 site - www.club72.su
72! beep-beep-beep...
Deep Space Communications Center
operator on duty -
Oleg ("Mr. 72") RV3GM / KH6OB"