My shack

Shack - operating position Jan 8th 2015

As many of you know, I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 which was operated on. I am steadily recovering, but my voice is still poor so I much restrict operations using voice modes for now.  The picture shows the operating position in my shack. As shown, I am using 500mW on 10m WSPR (WSPR-AXE-CW beacon) and 5mW ERP on MF WSPR via a homebrew transverter (just below the clock) and the earth-electrodes in the garden.  MF uses the PC and FT817 whereas the 10m beacon is tiny and needs no PC. The loading coil (above the power meter) is not used with the earth-electrodes. It is used when on MF when loading up miscellaneous other antennas. It is not in use at all currently.

When fit again, I intend to resume field experiments.

Not shown are any of the optical, 136kHz or VLF kit or the bench used for building. The latter is currently awaiting better health again.

Stroke Update

Many of you know I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 (16 months ago) and was in hospital for 3.5  months. Slowly I am recovering, but it is taking much longer than I expected. 

Amateur radio field experiments and building work are on hold.  This is frustrating but I hope this will come right again in time.

Main issues are I get tired quickly,  I feel drunk when I walk, my speech is poor and drinking thin liquids is not easy. Most foods are OK now. All limbs, eyes, ears and intellect are fine.  I still feel unwell and not my old self yet.

First and last 10m spots from the USA today

N1MGO (5293km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW 10m beacon today at 1254z. This was quite early for recent days. A  couple of other USA spotters were K3ZV (5692km) and WG2Z (5600km) at the same time. This bodes well for a decent afternoon on 10m WSPR.

At the time of writing (1758z) the last USA station to spot me was K9AN (6505km) a 1748z.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 106 and 10m propagation is described as "fair". Already plenty of spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR-AXE-CW from CX2ABP/D (11080km) in Montevideo on 10m over lunchtime.

Amateur transatlantic messages on 8822Hz

See http://w4dex.com/vlf/8822hz_dec14/  .

In the last month W4DEX has successfully transmitted an amateur VLF true message across the Atlantic. Up to this only constant carriers have been copied. It seems almost anything is now possible with good equipment, hard work and patience.

Return to 472kHz WSPR

At about 1920z I gave up on 6m and returned to MF for the evening and overnight. My best DX spot was from G3WCB (101km). at -20dB S/N.   I am again using 5mW ERP from the short baseline earth electrode "antenna". Within just a few minutes on 472kHz WSPR  I am getting results whereas nearly a day on 6m drew a total blank.

Early days on 2m

My first ever RX outings on 2m were with a derivative of the CQ2 super-regen RX circuit from Practical Wireless back in the late 1960s. The very first signal I ever heard on 2m was G3VEH/P on Caradon Hill in Cornwall. I was located at Kingsbridge in South Devon. I used a small crystal earpiece and a 19 inch whip. The same receiver was later adapted with the addition of an RF amplifier in my Fredbox AM transceiver. These were the days when AM was still king on 2m. The best DX contacts with the 10mW Fredbox were impressive.

A few years ago, I rebuilt my Fredbox and had a few local QSOs on 2m AM. It still works well for something this small and simple. More details of the Fredbox are on my website. Follow the link above.

6m - another dead loss day

I've been on 6m WSPR most of the day, but no spots given or received yet again. I really am wasting my efforts on this band at this time of the year.

First and last 10m WSPR spots today

My first 10m spot by a station in the USA was K3ZV (5692km) at 1446z.  He was also the last to spot me at an early 1626z. There may yet be other spots later, although I doubt it. There have been plenty of European spots, presumably winter Es or maybe F-layer backscatter?

Trying yet again on 6m WSPR

Yet again, I am WSPRing on 6m (1W ERP vertical 20% TX, 80% RX) but so far no success at all on RX or TX.  I am still on 10m (500mW) 100% TX.