Building skills - still poor

As a result of my stroke, my building skills are still poor. Today I wound a loading coil for 472kHz on a 110mm diameter former and, frankly, it was very hard work and at the end of it I was exhausted.  Gradually my strength and stamina are returning, but there is some considerable way to go. I think, for now, I should avoid much experimentation that needs much/any building work.

G4VXE sked on 2m JT65B tonight

At 2000z I have a sked on 2m JT65B with G4VXE in Oxfordshire (IO91). Tim is running 25W to a V2000 vertical and me 2W to a V2000 vertical.  I hope we make the sked successfully especially hoping I get copied OK.

UPDATE  2040z: Although I could clearly see G4VXE (with 25-30W) sending JT65B when using Spectran I go no decodes from Tim, which cannot be right. I suspect finger trouble with my software (WSJT9). In the other direction my 2W was only copied as the occasional sync pulse and no decodes. G4VXE would have been workable on CW so I must be doing something wrong at my end with JT65B.

472kHz spots

My 472kHz WSPR reception continues and I now have 27 unique stations in the log. The latest stations, include HB9 which is also a new country, and the other station a G.

I have also wound  a loading coil and hope to TX on the band soon assuming I can match the antenna.

More 10m WSPR

Late this afternoon I was on 10m WSPR again with 2W and the Par 10/20/40 antenna. Yet again, the band was wide open to the USA and Canada with plenty of spots in both directions. Really, at present, 10m WSPR is too easy as DX is always there when I look.

UPDATE 1840z:  2.5 hrs after dark the 10m band was still wide open to the USA but then the transatlantic path suddenly died out.

Stroke

Walking at Anglesey Abbey today

My recovery from my stroke continues to frustrate me: although walking and swallow continue to improve, I have a feeling of sickness and nausea nearly all the time I am awake. Also I continue to be very clumsy when it comes to building.  Putting screws back in the FT817 case after fitting the TCXO-9 was a nightmare. I dread to think how I'd get on with any substantial building project.  For now, most of my experiments are with the kit and antennas already in place.

Any day now I am expecting the DVLA to tell me I cannot drive for 12 months. Luckily I applied for, and got, a blue disabled badge which means we can park nearer to the entrances at National Trust  places and supermarkets when shopping.

Transatlantic reception on 474.2kHz WSPR last night - 5888km

It had to happen and did (eventually) last night. WG2XJM (EN91wn) at 5888km was copied 3 times during the night on MF just using the FT817 (no preamp) and the untuned Par 10/20/40 antenna. Signal levels were not great, but as to be expected, at around -30dB S/N. 

So far this season, this set-up has now copied 25 unique stations in 8 countries and 2 continents on 474.2kHz WSPR.

Unique MF WSPR spots over last 2 weeks

TCXO-9 fitted

This afternoon I fitted the (loaned) TCXO-9 into my FT817. A sign of how my stroke is making me clumsy still, getting the screws back in to the FT817 cover was really hard work, when it should have been easy. TCXO calibration seems spot on. Tonight I am trying to decode G3WKW on 2m WSPR, so far without success even though Bob's signals are clearly visible on the WSPR screen.

UPDATE 2045z:  a solid decode of G3WKW (134km) at -24dB S/N no doubt aided by planes over N.London. At least with a warmed up rig fitted with a TCXO-9 my calibration on 2m is spot-on now.

Someone, asked me to measure RX current before/after fitting TCXO-9. Sorry,but I forgot and will not now do this because of my stroke and issues with fitting screws to the FT817 case - at present some things are just too hard for me.

New DX on 472kHz RX

As of now on 474.kHz WSPR RX, I am up to 24 unique station reports with best DX 1269km from LA1TN in Norway (JP33SA). I still think transatlantic reception (i.e. of a W) is possible if conditions are very good one night.

As an experiment, I may try to excite my PAR end-fed via a ferrite loading coil on TX this weekend to see who can copy me. This would be a very compromised TX antenna.

UPDATE 8.2.14: I cannot find the ferrite rod, so this TX experiment will have to wait.

TCXO-9

Yesterday,  I have received a TCXO-9  0.5ppm TCXO to fit inside my FT817. This has come from G3WKW, an old colleague, on loan. He may need it back.

In the next few days I hope to fit this to see what difference it makes, particularly on 6m and upwards. Stability should be much better ( x2).

I think it just plugs into a socket on the FT817 but may need to be netted against WWV or a GPS locked VHF beacon, after giving it time to stabilise first.

Has anyone tried this TCXO?

Most popular QRP transceiver kits?

I am wondering what people believe represents best value for money in QRP kits. Rigs like the KX3 are excellent products but, here in the UK at least, are VERY expensive indeed. One can buy an FT1200 100W rig or IC-7100 for the same price as a fully loaded KX3 here.

Rigs like the BitX  20 or 17m SSB transceivers,  are good value (<£200) and look easy to make from Hendricks Kits. Then again there are several very low cost kits from Kanga and from Walford amongst many.

Some are prepared to invest a lot on a QRP kit whereas others want to spend very little. What kit(s) have YOU enjoyed and do you feel represent good value for money? At the end of the day, the rig has to be genuinely useful. Some lower cost kits have VpERY compromised receivers making the end products of limited value, such as the Pixie. The Pixie and Micro80 were fun to make but (in my view) let down by the RX parts. I did not use a kit to build mine.