It doesn't surprise me but G1KQH has told me that Moonraker (and others?) is offering the FT817ND for just £459.95 after a Yaesu cashback deal. I paid £499 from MLS for cash a few months ago.
Based on the favourable change in exchange rate much lower prices should be expected soon. And, of course, the replacement for the FT817ND is nowhere to be seen.
BTW, I recommend you don't buy patch leads from Moonraker - the ones I bought were useless at both ends with intermittent joints. I guess they just buy these in, but it would be good if they actually checked some as well! All I am saying is Moonraker (and others?) should periodically do quality checks on products they sell. There really is no excuse in the 21st century for selling poor quality goods. I did complain to Moonraker who offered me money back or exchange. Exchange for the same quality? No thanks. Andrew G6ALB kindly replaced the coax connectors at both ends - a decent solution. I guess buying a rig from them is low risk. Patch leads? Definitely dodgy unless you know the supplier checks stock for quality.
27 Jun 2014
6m - G0OQK and aircraft
G0OQK (98km) is coming in here regularly today on 6m WSPR. Looking at his traces on my WSPR screen, there is clear evidence of airplane involvement: most 2 minute transmissions appear with 2 or 3 Doppler shifted lines, suggesting planes along/crossing the path between us.
What I cannot be 100% certain of is if the path would "work" without airplanes As all successful decodes seem to be when there is evidence of planes, I think the path is only possible when there are planes, but honestly I am still unsure.
The last decode at 1124z had drift (probably Doppler) of 3Hz, which is a lot. Sometimes the drift/Doppler was 0Hz. So far this morning Nick G0OQK has been seen 9 times. The other Nick G4IKZ (18km) has seen me countless times, but he is very local.
Interestingly, G4IKZ had 0Hz Doppler/drift on all his spots overnight of G0OQK. The distance is 83km with crossed polarisation (I think). Perhaps this is evidence of pure tropo? At night few/no planes etc..
What I cannot be 100% certain of is if the path would "work" without airplanes As all successful decodes seem to be when there is evidence of planes, I think the path is only possible when there are planes, but honestly I am still unsure.
The last decode at 1124z had drift (probably Doppler) of 3Hz, which is a lot. Sometimes the drift/Doppler was 0Hz. So far this morning Nick G0OQK has been seen 9 times. The other Nick G4IKZ (18km) has seen me countless times, but he is very local.
Interestingly, G4IKZ had 0Hz Doppler/drift on all his spots overnight of G0OQK. The distance is 83km with crossed polarisation (I think). Perhaps this is evidence of pure tropo? At night few/no planes etc..
10m, then 6m, WSPR
Overnight, I remained on 10m but the only spots were by Es were from Norway, France, Spain and Germany plus G4KPX( local). No Es "super DX" here sadly!
At around 0904z I moved back up to 6m WSPR. with 1W ERP. G0OQK (98km) was spotted 3 times (so far) with moderate drift or Doppler , G4IKZ (18km) was spotting me at good strength and OH7AI (2000km) spotting me by Es at 0928z at -21dB S/N for the best DX so far today.
Sunspot count is 72 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal" so I'd expect F2 DX N-S today on 10m.
At around 0904z I moved back up to 6m WSPR. with 1W ERP. G0OQK (98km) was spotted 3 times (so far) with moderate drift or Doppler , G4IKZ (18km) was spotting me at good strength and OH7AI (2000km) spotting me by Es at 0928z at -21dB S/N for the best DX so far today.
Sunspot count is 72 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal" so I'd expect F2 DX N-S today on 10m.
26 Jun 2014
G0OQK - 6m WSPR GDX via planes
G0OQK (98km) has just spotted me on 6m WSPR with a large 4Hz Doppler, suggesting reflection/scatter from aircraft somewhere along the path. I am surprised that the software decoded with this much Doppler. My signal was not strong at -28dB S/N.
I hope G0OQK comes on TX again soon as I'd like to see his trace on my software to see if he can be decoded by pure tropo. It seems to me that planes have to be around for the path to "work" and even then the Doppler has to be low enough, ideally much lower than 4Hz. There was a successful decode of G0OQK on 6m a few days ago with 0Hz Doppler but I think that was an aircraft crossing our path and not pure tropo. I'd like to think the path between us can be worked without the help of planes.
UPDATE 1750z: Apart from a single spot of me by G0OQK, all recent 6m WSPR spots have been by local G4IKZ (18km). I may go back to 10m.
UPDATE 1840z: Returned to 10m but it is very quiet with no Es, no GDX and no locals being copied on WSPR. Earlier JT65 attempts on 10m (called CQ) were no good. I had success with JT9-1 on 20m.
UPDATE 2112z: 10m "woke up" briefly here at 2012z with an Es opening to OE3ODW. Just a couple of 2 minute WSPR slots and he was gone.
As G0LRD has pointed out, drift on 6m (and higher) is as likely to be TX drift as aircraft reflection. Looking for multiple lines in any 2 minute slot is the only sure way to know if there was Doppler, and this only works with several planes with differing Doppler shifts. What we can never know is if a single line, drifting maybe, is TX drift on a direct (tropo) path or aircraft reflection.
I hope G0OQK comes on TX again soon as I'd like to see his trace on my software to see if he can be decoded by pure tropo. It seems to me that planes have to be around for the path to "work" and even then the Doppler has to be low enough, ideally much lower than 4Hz. There was a successful decode of G0OQK on 6m a few days ago with 0Hz Doppler but I think that was an aircraft crossing our path and not pure tropo. I'd like to think the path between us can be worked without the help of planes.
UPDATE 1750z: Apart from a single spot of me by G0OQK, all recent 6m WSPR spots have been by local G4IKZ (18km). I may go back to 10m.
UPDATE 1840z: Returned to 10m but it is very quiet with no Es, no GDX and no locals being copied on WSPR. Earlier JT65 attempts on 10m (called CQ) were no good. I had success with JT9-1 on 20m.
UPDATE 2112z: 10m "woke up" briefly here at 2012z with an Es opening to OE3ODW. Just a couple of 2 minute WSPR slots and he was gone.
As G0LRD has pointed out, drift on 6m (and higher) is as likely to be TX drift as aircraft reflection. Looking for multiple lines in any 2 minute slot is the only sure way to know if there was Doppler, and this only works with several planes with differing Doppler shifts. What we can never know is if a single line, drifting maybe, is TX drift on a direct (tropo) path or aircraft reflection.
JT9 QSO
As my vocal chords are still not right, I am trying to limit myself to digital (keyboard) modes like WSPR, JT65 and JT9. This afternoon I worked SV1BHF on JT9 on 20m when using 5W. No great DX but I see from PSK reporter I was copied in the USA as well. CQs by me on 10m and 6m in JT65 went unanswered. I have now gone back to 6m WSPR.
We had our 3rd Virgin Media broadband outage this afternoon. I reported it (someone already had) and it was quickly fixed (under 3 hrs) but it is annoying when it happens. Still, the broadband is fast now with claimed speeds up to 50MB. Even over wi-fi it was almost 30MB, so can't complain.
We had our 3rd Virgin Media broadband outage this afternoon. I reported it (someone already had) and it was quickly fixed (under 3 hrs) but it is annoying when it happens. Still, the broadband is fast now with claimed speeds up to 50MB. Even over wi-fi it was almost 30MB, so can't complain.
Chinese X108 QRP transceiver can now be ordered
G1KQH has told me that the 9-band multmode transceiver, the X108 from China, can now be ordered on-line.
http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?
Personally, I'd prefer the FT817 but, even with shipping to the UK, taxes and duty , the price is attractive, even if the product looks rather ugly (to me). It still looks "back shed" design to me. Personally I'd rather wait until the Chinese are really there with their designs. Others may disagree, but the industrial design of this product certainly lets it down.
Also, this is a kit, but with very little soldering.
http://www.wouxun.us/item.php?
Personally, I'd prefer the FT817 but, even with shipping to the UK, taxes and duty , the price is attractive, even if the product looks rather ugly (to me). It still looks "back shed" design to me. Personally I'd rather wait until the Chinese are really there with their designs. Others may disagree, but the industrial design of this product certainly lets it down.
Also, this is a kit, but with very little soldering.
10m - very early F2 propagation
FR1GZ (9724km) was being spotted on 10m WSPR as early as 0614z, which is very early. I have already seen him 3 times with the last one (so far) at 0738z. He has not spotted me yet, although I am running less power (2W rather than 5W).
G8JNJ/A (184km) has been seen a couple of times (0018z and 0828z) for good 10m GDX with low Doppler.
G7EOB (76km) was also spotted with -2Hz Doppler (planes?) at 0518z, again 10m.
Sunspot count today is 52 and 20-30MHz conditions described as "normal".
UPDATE 1055z: No more F2 DX since breakfast time, just Spanish and Italian stations on 10m Es and G8JNJ/A at 1014z (184km with 1Hz Doppler).
G8JNJ/A (184km) has been seen a couple of times (0018z and 0828z) for good 10m GDX with low Doppler.
G7EOB (76km) was also spotted with -2Hz Doppler (planes?) at 0518z, again 10m.
Sunspot count today is 52 and 20-30MHz conditions described as "normal".
UPDATE 1055z: No more F2 DX since breakfast time, just Spanish and Italian stations on 10m Es and G8JNJ/A at 1014z (184km with 1Hz Doppler).
25 Jun 2014
10m WSPR and Es
When 10m is in good Es shape it is really easy to work all around Europe and further sometimes. With WSPR (some 12-14dB better than CW) it is even easier. At the moment I QSYed to 10m WSPR for a change from 6m where I was copying and being copied by the same stations.
1000 visits a day
This blog seems to receive an average of around 1000 visits a day. Sometimes it is less if I've not had much to say. I thank you all for your continued interest.
It has not been easy of late because of my stroke and the fact that (presently) I am doing far less building than in the past because of my poor health. I hope to be back to near normal health again soon (later this year?) with a similar level of experimentation as in earlier years. Right now, I'm still too wobbly to solder and climb ladders. People have been very kind. My voice is still poor so digital modes are best e.g WSPR, JT65 and JT9.
For now, I write about what I can still do and the things that interest me. I hope you stick with me until the sun shines fully in my life again. At the moment it seems to be hiding in the clouds.
It has not been easy of late because of my stroke and the fact that (presently) I am doing far less building than in the past because of my poor health. I hope to be back to near normal health again soon (later this year?) with a similar level of experimentation as in earlier years. Right now, I'm still too wobbly to solder and climb ladders. People have been very kind. My voice is still poor so digital modes are best e.g WSPR, JT65 and JT9.
For now, I write about what I can still do and the things that interest me. I hope you stick with me until the sun shines fully in my life again. At the moment it seems to be hiding in the clouds.
10m WSPR results so far today
These are the unique reports sent and received on 10m WSPR today. In most cases there were multiple reports each way and this list shows these just once. In all, a widespread Es opening on 10m plus some useful distances on GDX signals.
Currently HB9JOI (835km) is coming in here on 10m WSPR at a colossal +12dB S/N signal with 2W, stronger than the locals! Such is Es when the skip is just right.
UPDATE 1840z: IK1WVQ is coming through at -2dB S/N which is also big.
UPDATE 1845z: Best 10m DX here today is still a spot from EA1KV (1304km). This is far less than on 6m.
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| 10m WSPR unique reports today |
UPDATE 1840z: IK1WVQ is coming through at -2dB S/N which is also big.
UPDATE 1845z: Best 10m DX here today is still a spot from EA1KV (1304km). This is far less than on 6m.
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