The Pixie Files

The Pixie and Micro80 are  well known simple transceivers for any HF bands. I've built both in the past and they do work well considering their lack of complexity. The main limitation is the receiver which uses the TX PA as a simple mixer. For those wanting more information on the Pixie and its derivatives check out The Pixie Files which is a collection of articles from SPRAT.

ERP calculation on 500kHz

I've recalculated my ERP based on a better measurement of antenna current. I was using a dust iron core for my current transformer, so swapped this for an FT37 ferrite toroid today and got a lot more current measured now. My antenna current is actually around 0.12A. My antenna is 5m long with a small spiral top so the effective height must be <5m. Even putting in 5m into the classic formula I cannot make my ERP exceed 1mW. I make it more like 600uW. Interestingly this is 20dB more than the original estimate from M0BMU and since then I'd increased the ERP, I believe, by around 20dB which would also make it 600uW. Of course the margins of error must be large.

The Internet in the 19th Century

Yes, the internet was alive in the second half of the 1800s, albeit in a rather more limited form. It was possible to find out information from right across the world in a matter of minutes as long ago as the 1860s by using the very extensive telegraph network that ballooned across the globe within a few decades. There is a fascinating book all about this that I can highly recommend called The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage which is available via Amazon and other booksellers. If you thought it was the coming of wireless that connected the world then think again.

More DX again tonight on 500kHz: 1232kms

Lubos OK2BVG is receiving me well again tonight on 500kHz WSPR. In the last hour two reports received via the database.

500kHz DX with 200uW ERP

Guess what?  Lubos OK2BVG has just spotted G3ZJO's tiny signal on 500kHz. Eddie is running only 200uW ERP. This evening conditions on 500kHz have been truly superb.

Done it at last! 1232 km on 500kHz

This evening, my target of exceeding 1000kms on 500kHz has been exceeded by a great margin. Lubos OK2BVG in JN88ks managed to hear my 1mW ERP signal at a distance of 1232kms. This is by far my best DX and a new country on the band using WSPR. Lubos even moved to his quieter country QTH in order to hear my weak signal. I am SO pleased he has such good ears! This was his message half an hour ago:

Hello Roger, LF!
This moment is just now:
2136  -7  0.2   0.503874  0 G4JNT IO90 23
2142 -29 -0.5   0.503910  1 G3XBM JO02

Congratulation!
Lubos, OK2BVG, JN88KS

A little later the signal was even stronger:
2206 -24 -0.6   0.503903  0 G3XBM JO02 0

K4TWJ - silent key

Dave Ingram, K4TWJ died this morning having lost his battle to overcome a massive heart attack on New Year's Eve. He wrote a regular column in CQ Magazine and was well known in the QRP community. RIP Dave.

10m WSPR reports from Germany

This afternoon I've been WSPRing on 10m with either 2 or 5W output to my 5m vertical antenna tuned via the Elecraft T1 ATU. Most spots have been from G4IKZ who is quite local, but I then had 4 spots from Germany including DK6MK in JN68. Even the briefest of openings is noticed using WSPR.

500kHz monitoring by OK2BVG

This email came in today from Lubos OK2BVG who is going to extraordinary lengths to help me meet my 1000kms target on 500kHz WSPR. I do hope he hears me from a quieter country QTH. Last night my best DX was 960kms.

Hello Roger!

I didn´t see your QRPP signal, when we tried WSPR some days ago.  So... I packed my receiver + computer to a car and I moved them on my portable QTH outside of town today morning. I have got EWE aerial for 500kHz there. I started whole set on frequency 502.400kHz. It will be receiving continuously some days and nights. I have got Internet line from my cottage to my home hamshack, so I am able to see what is written in WSPR window there. It will be interesting test, I think.

73! Lubos, OK2BVG, JN88KS

Plessey reborn as UK's newest semiconductor firm

Many of us remember the Plessey name from the range of RF ICs it made back in the 1980s e.g. the SL640, SL641 and the SL6440. In their day they were ahead of the time. Many an SSB transceiver was built around these ICs. Well, Electronics Weekly reports Plessey is back.

"Plessey Semiconductors, one of the most renowned names in the UK’s semiconductor history, has been relaunched as a chip business operating from the original Plessey CMOS fab at Roborough in Plymouth.
Plessey Semiconductors has been created out of Plus Semi, a company set up to acquire the manufacturing facilities of two former Plessey fabs in Swindon and Roborough."

Electronics Weekly is available online and is well worth checking.