15m Pipit QRP transceiver

Pretty sure this has appeared before, but not sure when!

Back in the 1980s I designed an 800mW, VXO controlled, transceiver for 15m CW. For quite a while this was the only rig I used.  As I recall it worked plenty of stations with a low wire dipole. I never seemed to struggle. The receiver was direct conversion.

It worked very well, and far better than I ever expected. It was first designed and built in 1984 and appeared in GQRP SPRAT in 1987.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/15m_pipit

Low cost ventilators and radio amateurs

The ARRL website has news of a collaborative effort to make a low cost ventilator to help battle Covid-19. Some very well known amateurs are involved.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/radio-amateurs-team-up-to-help-university-design-low-cost-ventilator

Sunspots - Thursday March 26th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0.  A=4 and K=1.

Lovely walk - NOT amateur radio

In the warm March sunshine we did a lovely walk in the village today.

In all, we have walked about 3.75 miles today, with everyone keeping at least 2m apart!

Shops shut - NOT amateur radio

Quite a few of the businesses in our village are now closed. See the photo.

2m FT8

Today I am on 2m FT8 using 10W and the horizontal big-wheel omni antenna. So far, 12 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 2011z: 47 stations in 7 countries have spotted my 10W 2m FT8 today. GI6ATZ (479km) called me and was worked. EI2OC (583km) spotted me.

UPDATE 2300z: Now QRT.

Sunspots - Wednesday March 25th 2020

Solar flux is 71 and the SSN 0. A=4 and K=2.

How we adapt - NOT amateur radio

It's strange how quickly we adapt to a new reality.  Many countries are on a war footing in the battle with Covid-19 including here in the UK. A year ago no-one could have remotely imagined this. All of us are changing our ways of living and life goes on: we adapt.

My great hope at the end of all this is that we are kinder to each other. Across the entire planet we have all been in it together. This has been a battle for all humanity.

Garden in spring - NOT amateur radio

Springtime again! Despite the virus, life goes on. Today the lawns were cut for the third time. We are lucky to have a garden.

Amateur radio resurgence?

With many of us in full or partial lockdown, minds will turn to what we can all do at home. This year, gardens will be well tended. Home improvements will get done. Many books will get read. Friends and neighbours will be phoned or contacted by video chats.

All things being equal, amateur radio has its part to play. It is a free way to keep in contact with like-minded people. We have an outlet, so let's use it.

One of the things I shall try is to write a few radio articles for magazines. I usually write about things I have done.