70cm Moxon antenna

Many years ago, I raided my wife's cupboard to make a 70cm Moxon antenna from a coat-hanger. If I remember correctly, the whole thing took about 30 minutes to make. It was used out portable with my FT817 and worked well.

Never say you don't have a 70cm antenna!

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/antennas/70cm_moxon

Oscar 100 update

Periodically I check the web SDR at Goonhilly to see what the activity level is on the narrowband transponder of this geosynchronous satellite.

My own view is activity levels are similar to a month ago. Certainly the band is far from crowded. There is room for many more stations.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

Very simple 28MHz WSPR, FT8 or PSK RX

My trouble is I cannot remember where I've posted things!

So, if this has appeared here recently please accept my apologies. It is a simple, low cost, circuit and worth sticking on 10m WSPR when you have an antenna free. Most days you will copy something. As you can see it uses an oscillator running at half frequency and a Polyakov mixer.

I used a cheap GQRP 14.060MHz crystal, pulled. It worked well on 10m WSPR. The same idea would work on FT8 and PSK as long as you can find cheap crystals!

Our garden - NOT amateur radio

As the sun was shining, we did some work in the garden yesterday. In a month or so the leaves will fall and the garden will "sleep" over the winter. At the moment it looks tired and "late summer".

We'll blink and it will be spring.

Sunspots - Sunday September 22nd 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2.

Late switch to 2m FT8

Just now, I moved to 2m FT8. Yet again, my 10W FT8 CQ was widely copied with my best being a spot by G4LOH (455km) in Cornwall. On 2m FT8 RX all very quiet so far with just one G spot so far. I shall stay on 2m FT8 overnight.

Crosses - NOT amateur radio

Time and again I notice how hard life can be for some people and most of us are unaware.

Many people have mental health issues, or difficult parents or children, or a serious illness, yet choose not to share this with others. This may be their choice: some choose their hobbies to escape from these traumas. Many times I have said, "never judge a book by its cover".

We do not know the struggles some people have. All we can try to do is treat everyone with kindness.

Madness - NOT amateur radio

The UK is in a mess over BREXIT so what does the main opposition party (Labour) do? They hold a party conference and try to oust their deputy leader.

Personally, I think this is self-destructive and will lose them votes. Utter stupidity when all eyes are on them! This is pathetic navel gazing.

UPDATE 1105z: Apparently, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has quashed this. I expect he realised the harm it would do. Well, it is now almost inevitable I shall not be voting Labour in the near future.

6m FT8

Another promising start with 6 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted so far on 6m FT8 RX is SM0EUI (1387km) and my recent 10W 6m FT8 CQ call was spotted by G4RDC (127km).

I keep reminding people that 6m Es is there more often than people realise and FT8 is a perfect way of exploiting it.

UPDATE 1155z: Now 10 stations in 4 countries spotted so far this morning on 6m FT8 RX. A recent 10W 6m CQ call on FT8 resulted in one G QSO and 4 spots (all G).

UPDATE 1852z: 10 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX. A recent 10W FT8 CQ was spotted by 1 G station, although no QSO resulted.

UPDATE 2032z: A late 10W 6m FT8 CQ got no spots.

A better crystal set?

Some years ago QST had a circuit for a better crystal set that used a MOSFET. I have never tried this, but I should. It is supposed to be more sensitive than conventional designs, and uses no batteries.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf