6m homebrew SSB/CW transceiver and the Sixbox

6m is an ideal band for experimenters. Local coverage is very good, Es DX possibilities in spring and summer are good (strong signals out to about 1500km) and the frequency low VHF so less layout critical than 2m.

I am always on the lookout for interesting ideas for 6m QRP rigs and just noticed this one from Japan. This amateur also manages to package his designs so neatly: they look like factory-made products.  See http://www.qsl.net/7n3wvm/xcvr-6m.html for a neat 3W QRP SSB/CW transceiver.

For a really simple AM transceiver design see my Sixbox on my main website. Ideal as a basis for further design for local natters. Very simple concept that works.  On the main website click images and schematic for clearer versions.

See also http://www.pg1n.nl/articles.php?lng=en&pg=145  for a list of 6m designs. His website also has lists of designs for other bands.

6m update

After a very brief Es opening to Italy this afternoon, all is again quiet on 6m WSPR. I have left the kit running but only G4IKZ is spotting me at the moment.

6m is an even more fickle band than 10m and even more challenging because of it. At the moment Es is starting to wake up the band, although stations further south (around the Med.) have been able to work remarkable distances by TEP in recent weeks. Also,  there has been 6m TEP between Japan and Australia.

ARRL website - crap!

Don't lose your user name or ID or you may never get in again!

I was a 90 day guest member, decided to join for one year on a special offer. Lost my user name (PC crashed) so asked ARRL for help getting back in to read QST etc.. 6 days later (6 DAMN days!!!!) and not a single reply from ARRL. What a load of tossers!  They have now had 3 emails.

Next year, it is very unlikely I shall rejoin.  This level of member support is totally pathetic. I am not at all impressed with their "help". If you lose you user name it appears the on-line help does not help at all, but (so far) neither does emailing ARRL!

How can a national society's website be totally inaccessible to paid up members? How come ARRL is so bad at supporting its members?

10m and 6m

Sunspot number 146 and the 20-30MHz forecast is "normal" so it is anyone's guess what 10m will be like today.  I am now monitoring (and TXing) on 6m WSPR but all is very quiet on that band so far with just locals G4IKZ and G4KPX copying me so far, and very well. Things on 6m (and 10m) can rapidly change of course and that is half the fun.

On 6m there is a decent level of  European activity, so if  Es appears I should be spotted. 6m is a nice challenge right now. On 10m I pretty well know who will copy me when the band opens by F2 and 6m QRP is a good new experience on  WSPR.  Spots from 4X1 were a real surprise a few days ago.  6m at the moment is likely to be mainly Es but there is just a chance of some F2 layer propagation.

UPDATE 1535z:   IK1WVQ (1084km) spotted at -8dB S/N at 1528z on 6m WSPR. Some Es about.  A little later he was +9dB. Typical Es.

South Sands - Salcombe (in danger)

See http://qss2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/salcombe-south-sands.html.

Not amateur radio, but a concern of mine. Salcombe, Devon is where I originally came from.  It is still dear to my heart as it is a seaside town in grave danger of being ruined by profiteering developers and rich playboys with far too much money and in many cases very little brains. Salcombe is losing its heart and soul. Prices are such that locals are being priced out by second home owners, with many homes empty much of the year.

The development linked above is just one such development. Planners are playing their hands very close to their chests, suggesting they may want to over-develop the site and ruin the sea end of a beautiful valley.

If you have an interest in ensuring the long-term well being of this pleasant seaside town please check the plans next week and use your democratic right to influence the plans.

Salcombe was the home of my mentor and CW instructor Les G4PJ.  I could copy him on 160m 4 miles away on a crystal set.

6m DX?

G4IKZ, G4KPX and G0LRD on 6m today so far. All locals. No Es seen so far today but it could all change very quickly,  so will leave the kit on. It would be nice to see some more EU stations appear by Es. It would be even better to see some North Americans by multi-hop Es but this is more probable later in the season and it depends on some N.American 6m WSPR activity!

Unique 6m spots today - all locals and no DX today.

GDX on 6m

During the day a few more G stations have been spotted on 6m WSPR as well as the great DX to CN8 and 4X.

As well as lots of spots from G4IPZ I have been spotted by G4KPX, G0LRD (all locals) and earlier this afternoon by G1IDZ in IO82tc at a distance of 183km. G1IDZ is real GDX at a great range. I would expect this station also had a vertical antenna?

Israel on 6m - 3519km with 1W ERP

After earlier success on 6m QRP WSPR (1W ERP) with CN8LI imagine my delight to be spotted seven times this afternoon on 6m by 4X1RF (3519km). If Es, this is multi-hop but there were no reports from nearer in Europe, so it could be single hop F layer? Again, the antenna is the V2000 vertical fed with quite lossy coax. 6m - magic band!

4X1RF 6m WSPR reports - 1W ERP 3519km!

G4IPX was also copying me at just 14km.

Morocco on 6m

Just when about to give up (for now) I see my 1W ERP on 6m WSPR has been spotted in Morocco by CN8LI at a remarkable +2dB S/N at 1252z.. Distance is 2113km. I shall leave the 6m gear running! Propagation will have been Es.  For Es, a V2000 vertical is an effective omni antenna. Mine is fed by a length of  RG58 cable, not exactly low loss too! The FT817 is on the "3 blobs" setting as on 10m which is about 2.5W into the feeder.

CN8LI's 6m spot of me today at 1252z

On 6m again this morning

Conditions (tropo) are up on 2m today with the Kent 2m beacon measuring strongly on the FT817ND's S-meter. Usually, the S-meter does not even move. I don't know if tropo has as great an impact on 6m (I think not) but so far today just the usual good reports from G4IKZ (18km). Later, I hope to catch some sporadic-E (Es) propagation or even some GDX by 6m tropo, or more distant "semi-locals".

G4IKZ's first report was at 0648z when I first turned the rig and PC on today.  Reports vary by about 6dB but this could be G4IKZ rotating his beam rather than propagation. I'd be surprised if propagation varied by 6dB over such a short path. The other explanation is my local noise floor is increasing as the day goes on and more local appliances are activated? Another explanation is aircraft reflections from small planes over Cambridge? Maybe there is more activity today. That could explain the Doppler on my signals too.

Otherwise all very quiet  here so far at 1000z. It is a bit early in the day for Es which usually peaks around lunch and teatime unless the band is really humming.

Currently, I am not monitoring 10m, but the sunspot count is 130 and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "good", so HF should be good.