Why NOT to use QRO on 136kHz

Andy G4JNT was testing a 600W RF WSPR beacon on 137kHz today when he noticed burning from the plastic shed used to house the ATU. When he opened the door he saw the plastic shed and shelf melting and flames everywhere which he quickly extinguished.  LF at high power can be dangerous stuff and one reason why I've restricted my activity to QRP.

New all-band SDR from Funk Amateur

SDR transceiver PCB assembly

http://www.dh1tw.de/first-pictures-of-allband-software-defined-radio-fa-sdr-trx

The German magazine Funk Amateur has a new all-band 1W SDR transceiver kit in the October edition. This will sell for around $170 US and looks a very interesting project. More details from the link above.

137.5kHz WSPR - best DX now 61km with less than 20uW ERP

137.5kHz WSPR reports so far today - with <20uW ERP!

Just got a -27dB S/N report on 137.5kHz WSPR from G3XVL near Ipswich at 61km. This is particularly good as this is more or less in the null of my TX loop antenna: in the better direction the signal could be some 6-10dB stronger!

From Michael Rainey's blog

http://aa1tj.blogspot.com/2010/09/verweile-doch-du-bist-so-schon.html

Michael Rainey AA1TJ has an excellent blog in which he covers a range of subjects. This post (see link) is about a tiny pocket watch made almost entirely from wood and other organic materials that Michael came across in a museum in Vienna.

WSPR success on 137.5kHz

G3XIZ's 137.5kHz WSPR reports today

Chris G3XIZ has successfully received my QRPp WSPR beacon this morning on 137.5kHz. ERP is around 10-20uW from the class-E PA producing around 4-5W. This brings my total number of WSPR reports on the band to two with the best DX now 46km.

Shortwave America blog

If you want to look at the quirkier side of SW radio activity check out http://www.shortwaveamerica.blogspot.com which is written by Dan KC9NCF. Most recently he's talking about pirate activity just below the 40m band.

137.5kHz WSPR 7-11pm UK time Friday

137.5kHz WSPR TX transverter

My WSPR beacon will be on-air from 7-11pm UK time Friday and any reports would be appreciated.

137.675kHz QRSS3 beacon report

The <20uW ERP 137.675kHz beacon was copied again by G3XIZ 48km to the west of me last night. I'm pleased with this report as the power from the PA was less than it was a week or so ago, yet he still managed to copy me. Work is now progressing on the class-E PA based WSPR beacon which should run about 10W from the PA (ERP around 20-50uW).

iPad case with keyboard ....but why???

http://www.senacases.com/ has a case for the Apple iPad which incorporates a Bluetooth connected full keyboard. Excuse me, but why not just buy a netbook at far less half the price in the first place? In the UK there is a range of netbooks available around £180-220 whereas the cheapest iPad is over £400.

137.675kHz QRSS3 beacon back on

This evening I restarted beaconing with my sub-20uW ERP beacon on 137.675kHz having fixed the blown FET PA. The current design is stable and seems to be working very reliably with around 4-5W from the PA. All being well the latest version of the 137.5kHz WSPR beacon will be ready and on-air this weekend. The design of this is a class-E PA and should run around 10W from the PA with an ERP of up to 50uW.