Elecraft KX3

There is no doubt that the very best radio for QRPers is the Elecraft KX3. In the UK this is not low cost as VAT and duty are both payable if importing from the USA. One UK dealer sells either kits or ready made units. For the price of the KX3 you can buy a couple of Yaesu FT817ND radios covering more bands. The KX3 is the better radio. I guess one has to save up if one wants the Elecraft.

http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/KX3_small1.jpg

This image is located on the Elecraft site and not on this blog. It will be removed if having the link is a problem.

See http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/kx3.htm .

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Feb 7th 2016

Solar flux is 118 (good) and sunspot number a respectable 71 (K=1).  10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" today.  Despite this "poor" forecast, my 2W 10m WSPR has already been spotted in Australia more than once and Israel.

I cannot tell you how often I have been spotted on the other side of the planet on 10m WSPR when the 10m forecast is "poor". Just go on 10m WSPR, regardless of the forecasts, as they are often no guide!  10m is still good - it just lacks activity: some think it is no good and go to lower frequencies. As WSPR proves, 10m propagation is still good. Like 6m, 10m is a magic band and you can never be sure.

10m WSPR

As of about 1056z,  I closed down on 40m and have moved to 10m WSPR. It takes a few minutes for things to settle. On 10m, the cycle is as 40m i.e. 2W TX for 20%, followed by RX for 80%.

UPDATE 1112z: VK2KRR (16789km) has already been spotted and spots exchanged with FR1GZ (9724km) both ways. I have also been spotted in Brazil. A very good start on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1138z: 4X1RF (3519km) has also spotted me. Local G4KPX (14km) was spotted with -4Hz drift at 1124z. I was too late getting into the shack to check the WSPR-X screen, but this must be due to aircraft coming into or leaving Lakenheath or Mildenhall. Normally Richard shows no Doppler.  With aircraft reflections you often see multiple traces with different Doppler shifts. WSPR decodes the trace with least Doppler or fails to decode if it gets confused, even if the traces are strong.

10m WSPR spots to 1150z today

Conditions on 10m are excellent today. I think USA 10m WSPR spots are a near certainty this afternoon.

UPDATE 1810z:  Surprisingly, not a single USA spot today on 10m WSPR.  Lots of spots of G4KPX (14km) with large Doppler shifts by aircraft movements in the Ely-Burwell area.

UPDATE 1425z: G4KPX (14km) was spotted not long ago with a huge Doppler shifted second signal as strong as the direct signal. The Doppler shift was about 20Hz or more. I think the direct signal decoded. No USA 10m WSPR spots yet.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Feb 6th 2016

Solar flux is 122 (good) and sunspot number 113 (very good). K=2 which is also quite good. 10m propagation today is forecast to be "fair" again, so we could be in for a decent day on 10m WSPR.

Spotted in Australia on 40m

VK3WE (17019km) spotted my 40m WSPR at 0830z this morning. This was very pleasing considering the antenna is very poor and low on 40m. The actual ERP must be very low on this band. I was pleased with this and the USA 40m WSPR spots. Shortly, I shall QSY to 10m WSPR.

Budding artist? - NOT amateur radio

The Santa Maria by our grandson, aged 6.

For a 6 year old I think our little grandson has REAL artistic talent. This is ALL his own work. We have seen him do similar and he totally switches off when doing this sort of painting or drawing. I think he could earn a living from his artwork when a grown-up. He loves drawing money!

Kaifeng Scroll - NOT amateur radio

There has been a fascinating TV programme narrated by Michael Wood about the history of China. I was particularly interested in the Kaifeng scroll  of the Sung dynasty.  Nearly 1000 years ago a Chinese artist created a massive scroll showing the capital city (of 1 million people even then) in immense detail. The scroll has been recreated with moving people and animals in a museum in Shanghai.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kRA9it9bKk .

Whatever your views on China today, it certainly has a rich history, much if it unknown in the West.

40m WSPR for the night

The 10m station hs been closed down as I was just spotting G4CUI (172km) and I am now active on 40m WSPR. So far, I see I have spotted EA4 and been spotted by TA2AEG (2547km) in Turkey on 40m WSPR despite a high local noise level on that band and a poor, low antenna for 40m..

10m WSPR - TX was NOT enabled

It was strange that I was getting no spots (of me) on 10m WSPR despite the band being wide open. I see I had not enabled TX.  How stupid can you be? Rather too late in the day, I have now enabled TX on 10m WSPR. W1VR (6965km) in Florida has been spotted several times.

UPDATE 1935z:  I have now gone QRT on 10m and QSYed to 40m WSPR.

Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Cambridge - more bikes!

Today we visited the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge and had a very nice meal at a cafe at the URC church just down the road. Cafe prices were very good, as was the food. All the cafe staff are volunteers and many have mental disabilities. The Fitzwilliam has some famous exhibits.  It is funny how one takes this wonderful city for granted. People travel half way around the world to see sites we can see every day if we want, for nothing. I am sure a visitor would love Cambridge.