Sunspots and 10m - Sunday April 16th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. Sunspot number is 11.  A=6 and K=2.

Tenbox - simple 10m AM transceiver

Years ago, before my stroke, I started work on the Tenbox, a very simple AM transceiver for 10m. As this used a super-regen receiver, this would really only work on AM and not be suitable for DX. It was to have been a "cross town" natterer. Sadly, my stroke got in the way and the rig was never completed.

I had intentions of making this in the style of the old Heathkit lunchbox rigs of old. It would make a nice club project on a simple PCB. When I left it, it needed a loudspeaker amplifier and another 10dB power on TX, maybe a simple linear amplifier.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .

Failed missile test - NOT amateur radio

So, the North Korean missile test failed. I am not that surprised as I feel the USA had something to do with this. Of course, I may be totally wrong, and indeed I hope I am.

The Trump administration would be unable "neutralise" the North Korean nuclear threat without unpredictable consequences, but the USA Secret Service was probably in a position to do something to put a "spanner in the works".  Of course, the USA never uses such underhand techniques.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39612095 .

Sunspots and 10m - Saturday April 15th 2017

Solar flux is 72 today. The sunspot number is 11. A=14 and K=2.

North Korea - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not a great fan of North Korea. I visited South Korea in 1994 and it had a vibrant economy even then. It would be good if those in North Korea were able to enjoy the same freedoms.

What worries me about the North Koreans is their nuclear weapons. They want to develop these.

As I speak the USA has not taken any action, despite threats. Personally, and I may well be wrong, I think a more likely scenario is deliberate hacking so that any nuclear tests fail and no political capital can be made from the tests.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39604361 .

Easter Egg Hunting - NOT amateur radio

Whilst here with us the "Kent" grandchildren had to have an Easter Egg Hunt in the garden!

More 6m MSK144 RX

9A4ZM (1298km) is another new country on 6m MSK144 RX. I have lost count of all the countries now spotted on 6m using this mode.

Today so far 15 stations in 9 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX and it is only 0940z!

UPDATE 1224z: So far today 17 stations in 10 countries on 6m MSK144 RX.

UPDATE 1736z: 22 stations in 13 countries now today on 6m MSK144 RX. Best day yet.

Tulips - NOT amateur radio

It is hard to think that in the 1600s tulip bulbs were worth more than houses in Holland until the price crashed and lots of people lost lots of money.

We have had a strange spring. Daffodils were late, but now are mostly dead. Tulips are mainly dying now. I saw my first swallow earlier this year than previous years here in East Anglia.

Our garden always looks at its best at this time of the year. The blossom is largely out and the green on the trees is "spring fresh".

VLF Transmitter

This image has been posted before.

The link takes you to my 5W transmitter that I used a few years ago from my old QTH to cover 6km by utilities assisted earth-mode. I tried a test using this TX over a 32km radiated path without success.  A test in 2014 from the new QTH was a total failure! The TX is based on a TDA2003 audio IC. It used a keyer to produce a preprogrammed message in either CW or QRSS3.

At some point I want to do more VLF tests but my health has been against this. I need to improve my earth-electrode "antenna" before doing more tests.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vlf/8-97khz-earth-mode-transmitter

Home quiet once more - NOT amateur radio

After a busy couple of weeks we are alone again. All grandchildren have now departed. We love seeing them very much, but when they go we return to calm! It was pretty "full on" and I am exhausted. As the old saying went, "nice to see them come, nice to see them go".  In years to come we will miss these visits.