Growing up fast - NOT amateur radio

One of our grandsons was 11 last week. Here he is just after a haircut.

In 6 years he could be driving!

They grow up all too fast, but I guess that is life. We have made the most of his childhood days so far.

EU Article 13: a threat? - NOT amateur radio

Having a son who is a professional musician, I am keen to see his copyright protected. However, it seems that Article 13, which could become law in the EU, could have very unintended consequences. 

See https://youtube.com/saveyourinternet/  .

FETer - a very simple 80m transceiver

Many years ago, I created the FETer, a one FET transceiver for 80m. Although very simple, it certainly worked. It is featured on my main G3XBM website.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/feter-80m-qrpp-cw-transceiver

10m FT8

Since before breakfast, I have been on 10m FT8 RX. So far, 1 spot - F1RAD (867km).

UPDATE 1003z: Now 11 stations in 10 countries spotted with best DX IW0BCF (1476km). So far, these are all EU with no "real DX".

UPDATE 1025z: I spoke just too soon! FR4OO (9722km) on Reunion Is (south Indian Ocean) has now been spotted on 10m FT8 RX. Now 17 stations in 13 countries spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1106z: A recent CQ call (2.5W) was spotted by F1RAD (867km), although no QSO resulted. Presently 41 stations in 17 countries spotted today on 10m FT8 RX. Dead? Hardly!

UPDATE 1208z: Now 3 South Africans spotted in the Johannesburg area on 10m FT8 RX.

160m FT8 last night

Yet again, I went on 160m FT8 RX last night in the evening and overnight. As usual, there were  loads of stations in Europe and Asiatic Russia with WU1ITU the first transatlantic station spotted. In all, 5 USA and Canadian plus 4 Caribbean stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Best DX spotted on 160m FT8 RX was  W5IZ (7679km).

Sunspots - Wednesday November 21st 2018

Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=1.

Old Shack 1992?

Yesterday, whilst giving the shack a clean, I came across this photo of my radio gear in about 1992.

Although I cannot be sure of the year, there is a Yaesu FT747.  The MX2 is used with a homebrew 28MHz 1W transverter. Also in the picture is a Mk1 Lincoln 10m rig and a dual band Standard handheld (C828?) and charger.  Also visible is a Howes QRP ATU and a 70cms Pye PRM80.  I had more gear then than now!

At that time, I was using a table in our main bedroom.

America first - NOT amateur radio

Despite the brutal murder of a dissident reporter, the US president is still a supporter of Saudi Arabia. Perhaps this is tied up with arms the USA wants to supply them?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46283355

QSY to topband

At about 1815z I QSYed to 160m FT8. Already lots of European and Russian stations spotted on 160m FT8.

UPDATE 2052z: WU1ITU (4831km) is coming in a bit earlier each night now on 160m FT8 RX. This is always the first transatlantic station I spot.  Once again, there are lots of Europeans and Russians.

The Lesser Chirpy transceiver

This was designed for 10m when the solar cycle was on the up (rising sunspots). It could still be useful in Es conditions, or it might make the basis of a transceiver for other bands. I can already see how one capacitor can be saved! It uses FSK to eliminate chirp. In the past, I connected an SDR to the earpiece output and this allows much of the CW band to be covered on RX.

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

See also https://sites.google.com/site/sm6lkm/saqrx/ for a possible SDR .