Further to my earlier comments in a blog post yesterday, I have received several comments about both rigs. The general view remains that the performance of the KX3 exceeds that of the FT817ND although it is in many ways less suited to field use than the FT817.
I have never owned a KX3 as these are very expensive in the UK. I own both a very old FT817 and a recent FT817ND. For the modes I use mostly, the FT817s do a great job. I just wish Elecraft radios were not so expensive and looked, and were, more robust. I for one would think twice about using an expensive KX3 as a field radio. I am sure they work really well, but they look flimsy. A fully loaded KX3 is currently more than twice the cost of the FT817, which is a fine radio. My FT817 gets used from MF (with my homebrew transverter) all the way to 70cms. The FT817 has worked all over the world, including indoor handheld SSB QSOs with the USA.
For the avoidance of any doubt I love the FT817 radios and would like a KX3 for home use, if the latter was less expensive. My views, others may not agree.
If you have views, please leave your name and callsign. In future, unattributable, anonymous, unkind, comments will be deleted. I want to foster debate, but please keep it civil.
8 Feb 2016
QSYed to 10m WSPR
At 0930z I went QRT on 40m and moved up to 10m WSPR. It will take a few minutes to stabilise before any WSPR spots appear. Any spots (received or given) will be a bonus on 10m today. As before, 20% TX at 2W and 80% RX.
UPDATE 1006z: Well, yet again some surprises on 10m WSPR. Already VK2KRR (16789km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR,before 1000z and I have spotted a Russian.
UPDATE 1006z: Well, yet again some surprises on 10m WSPR. Already VK2KRR (16789km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR,before 1000z and I have spotted a Russian.
Sunspots and 10m - Mon Feb 8th 2016
Solar flux is good again at 117. Sunspot number is 84 (not bad at all) although K=4 so quite disturbed. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. I am not expecting great things of 10m today.
Stroke or old age? - NOT amateur radio
When driving the car I seem to drive less fast than I did. To me, 50mph seems more like 60mph or faster. It is as if the world seems faster to me, at least on the roads. Also, I seem much slower doing things these days. I put these down to my stroke 2.5 years ago, but I guess I am getting older and slower. At 67 I don't think of myself as very old though.
When our children were little we had a family joke about drivers with hats. There seemed a high correlation between drivers with hats and slow, doddery drivers. We put this down to age (most hat wearers were old) and maybe they started driving before the driving test became compulsory?
Anyway, I guess I am looked at as "a hat" these days, even though I don't wear a hat to drive! Ho hum!
When our children were little we had a family joke about drivers with hats. There seemed a high correlation between drivers with hats and slow, doddery drivers. We put this down to age (most hat wearers were old) and maybe they started driving before the driving test became compulsory?
Anyway, I guess I am looked at as "a hat" these days, even though I don't wear a hat to drive! Ho hum!
USA again on 40m WSPR this morning
After the Canadian spot last evening, I was spotted in the USA a couple of times around breakfast time this morning on 40m WSPR with the low antenna. I'll stay on 40m WSPR a little longer, then move up to 10m WSPR for the rest of the day.
7 Feb 2016
QSYed to 40m WSPR
After a very successful day on 10mWSPR, I have now moved to 40mWSPR overnight until tomorrow morning. As yet, there are no spots either given or received.
UPDATE 2150z: Luckily I noticed that the "Enable transmit" was not on. It is now enabled. As yet, it has not gone on to TX.
UPDATE 2235z: My first 40m WSPR spot was by VE2DPF (5260km) at 2222z.
UPDATE 2150z: Luckily I noticed that the "Enable transmit" was not on. It is now enabled. As yet, it has not gone on to TX.
UPDATE 2235z: My first 40m WSPR spot was by VE2DPF (5260km) at 2222z.
Aldi - NOT amateur radio
For a long time, fellow blogger Steve G1KQH and my relatives have been urging me to shop at Aldi's. Sadly, our nearest Aldi's is in Ely, which is a fair bit further by car than our nearest Waitrose or Tesco. I have noticed that prices for a weekly shop seem to have gone up by around 20% at Waitrose when groceries and food generally have had negative inflation. As we were going to Ely anyway this afternoon, we called in at Aldi's to do a basic shop. For branded items you do indeed pay far less than at Waitrose. Either Aldi has very low margins or Waitrose is creaming off the profits. Either way, we'll go to Aldi's again when in Ely. I like Waitrose as a shop, but do not like being ripped off.
10m is in good shape today - use it!
EA8/DL9XJ (2981km) has been spotted several times this morning on 10m WSPR along with Australia, Belgium and the UK. I have been spotted in Australia, Israel and the UK on 10m WSPR a few times today too. It looks like 10m is in quite a good mood!
A year from now it is likely to be a lot harder as the solar activity drops off. As I have said many times, even in the quietest years, N-S propagation supports QRP SSB contacts at times and Es is good at the right times of year irrespective of the sunspot cycle.
I am a great believer in WSPR (have you guessed?) and regular WSPR use of 10m will reveal the openings which otherwise would be missed.
UPDATE 1620z: Several different USA stations spotted this afternoon on 10m WSPR here and KD6RF (7571km) has spotted me. The band is in good shape still.
A year from now it is likely to be a lot harder as the solar activity drops off. As I have said many times, even in the quietest years, N-S propagation supports QRP SSB contacts at times and Es is good at the right times of year irrespective of the sunspot cycle.
I am a great believer in WSPR (have you guessed?) and regular WSPR use of 10m will reveal the openings which otherwise would be missed.
UPDATE 1620z: Several different USA stations spotted this afternoon on 10m WSPR here and KD6RF (7571km) has spotted me. The band is in good shape still.
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.
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 .
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| http://www.elecraft.com/KX3/KX3_small1.jpg |
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.
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.
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