2m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

A few moments ago, I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna.

UPDATE 1900z: Just a single spot of my QRP so far, from DF0MU (475km).  Nothing yet on RX.

15m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)

This morning I am on 15m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. Already spotted by SV8JNL (2485km) on TX and 19 stations already spotted on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1425z:  230 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop and 4 people have so far spotted my QRP TX. The furthermost on RX is LU1FJP (11306km) in Argentina. On TX QRP the furthermost is RK4FF (2964km).

Stations spotted
on 15m FT8 today

UPDATE 1655z:  370 stations spotted so far on 15m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1845z:  405 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today. Soon to QSY to 2m FT8.

Mill Leat - NOT amateur radio

This photo was on a few days ago as part of a collage. It was taken at nearby Anglesey Abbey. 

Yaesu FT7 transceiver

My first commercial HF rig was a 10W Yaesu FT7. It was used mainly on 10m SSB and enabled me to work all over the world with simple, low, wire dipoles. 

It was later sold to a friend, who still has it. 

It only covered part of 10m, used no synthesisers and had a modular design. It was very quiet on RX and was one of the best rigs I have ever owned.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ft7 .

The video shows the FT7B which is the 50W version.

Shack photo

 

This photo of me in the shack was taken in September 2013.   

Since then, there have been a few changes.

Memory prices

A few moments ago I ordered a 16GB micro SD card for my XYL's camera. I was amazed how low cost this was. This is from a reputable manufacturer.  Just a few years ago the cost would have been very high. 

Now you can buy micro SD cards with over 1TB!!  At some point I shall buy a 256GB (or even larger) memory card for all my photos. 

A few years from now I expect 1TB micro SD cards will be dirt cheap and seem so small.

WSJT-X rc4

The latest release candidate of WSJT-X has been released. It is rc4. When I tried to install it on my Windows 10 machine it kept blocking it. After going through the hoops several times I eventually installed it. This version runs until Feb 2nd when I expect to go through all this hassle again. I know why this is done: to keep the PC safe. rc3 no longer works after Jan 26th.

WSJT-X is used for FT8 and WSPR here

See https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html

Crystal set DXing

It is some years since I last tried this, but it was fun. 

Although it is possible to envelope detect amateur stations if strong enough, identifying amateur SSB stations can be quite hard. The first amateur stations copied were on 160m AM way back in the 1960s.  Since then I have copied amateur SSB stations on 80m at some distance. Signals need to be S9++. 

In a crystal set all the power is from the TX end, with nothing at the RX end. No batteries, nothing.

I have seen broadcast signals from all over the world and these were genuine in original country broadcasts, not via relays.  These days there are fewer English language broadcasters as more and more people move to the Internet. 

The circuit shown here is capable of hearing this DX even though it is ultra-simple. For the detector I used a germanium diode, but a hot carrier diode might be suitable. The secret is choosing a diode with a very low turn-on voltage. Silicon diodes are not suitable.

I am sure there will be better circuits around.

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

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

Sunspots - Tuesday January 26th 2021

Solar flux is 77 and the SSN 26. A=17 and K=2. 

"Our" windmill - NOT amateur radio

We live right next door to a fully restored 200 year old windmill. Every day, we notice somebody coming to take a photo.  You cannot blame them. 

We can see the windmill when we have breakfast and from the lounge where this photo was taken.

During the Covid-19 pandemic they removed some slats from the sails. I expect they will be repainted and replaced soon. The whole windmill is due for a repaint.