Decision made!

After thinking hard, I have decided to make a G3XBM PDF projects scrapbook that will be free to download from my website. 

As I make changes to the book these can simply be made. As I make no money I cannot imagine any copyright issues, which could be a problem with a printed version that is charged for. Some of my designs have appeared in magazines across the world in many languages. 

My aim has always been to collect my ideas for other people and never for commercial gain. 

The scrapbook will be linked from my main website.

I hope to complete the book by the end of May.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/book

Sunspots - Wednesday April 13th 2022

Solar flux is 96 and the SSN 23. A=12 and K=3.

PI4 versus FT8?

Until today, I did not realise that PSKreporter supported PI4, which is a mode used by some beacons. What I do not know is the sensitivity of PI4 versus FT8. If anyone knows, please tell me.

That projects book

Several people have suggested that I do a book of all my projects. I started it, but have not got too far! It is a lot of hard work, but might be a good idea. What do you think? 

Looking back, I have done several projects and it might be a "good thing" to have them all together. These cover VLF to light (1 kHz to 481 THz) plus some antennas.

Someone in the comments suggested a PDF version, which is not a bad idea. Maybe I should consider this? 

I am not really after money for this, so maybe I should do it and add it as a free download from my website? If anyone wants to give a charity donation, they would be free to do so. If they just want the PDF book, that is their choice.

Hopefully, Practical Wireless, RadCom and QST (maybe others too?) could give the link.

Tenbox

Many years ago, before my stroke, I intended to build a simple 10m phone transceiver aimed at local contacts only. What I had in mind was a 10m version of my 6m Sixbox and 2m Fredbox. 

It used a super-regen RX with isolating pre-amp to avoid radiation, so would not be suitable for DX work. Having said that, it had no problems receiving USA AM stations in the car with just a base loaded whip. 

My idea was to build a rig that could be used when 10m is dead, such as at night or in poor solar years. 10m is a great band and very little used when not "open". 

It is ideal for local contacts as antennas are small especially when compared with 160m. CB antennas work well. 

In my mind was something like the old Heathkit Benton Harbour Lunchboxes (remember those?), but far smaller and on a single simple PCB.

Sadly my stroke got in the way and the project was not completed.  It would be great if someone else completed this project. There may well be better solutions these days.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-am-tenbox .

10m WSPR QRP TX (Tuesday)

At the moment, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF beacon. So far today, just local spots. 

UPDATE 1052z:  Still just local spots. 

Clunch - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a house in our village that is having its plaster removed to reveal the clunch beneath. Clunch is a kind of chalk commonly used as a building material locally. 

8m tests (Tuesday)

This morning I am doing MSK144 tests with Paul G9PUV nearby Brighton. I am copying him, but he is not copying me. 

UPDATE 0801z:  Sadly he did not copy me. At times he was very strong, presumably by random MS bursts. I guess with his much higher power they were long enough for me to decode Paul. Being much weaker, it would need a very long burst for me to be decoded at his end. We tried. I am sure with a proper MS shower or Es backscatter, we have a chance. Currently FT8 RX on 8m on 40.680 MHz USB dial.

UPDATE 1314z:  No FT8 spots.  I see both S50B and ZS6WAB are monitoring. I think I have a very modest station, so my "experiment" is really to see how 8m does with a QRP station and small wire antenna.

UPDATE 1345z: Now on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX again. 2 local spots so far. I have still to have a 2-way exchange of reports on 8m.

UPDATE 1530z:   For about the last hour, I have been on 8m 40.680 MHz FT8 RX. No spots. I must see if I can see the Irish beacon EI1KNH near Dublin on 40.013 MHz sending FT8 for part of its cycle. I may just be possible to copy this beacon by tropo, but I expect it will be strong on MS pings just as the old Rosemarkie beacon GB3RMK was on 6m. Even with my poor 6m antenna it peaked on random MS pings every few minutes.

UPDATE 1652z:  The EI1KNH 8m beacon is not copyable by tropo.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 12th 2022

Solar flux is 99 and the SSN 24.  A=13 and K=1.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Monday)

Once again, I am on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from my W5OLF beacon. 5 unique stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1955z:  12 unique stations spotted me today. Quite a good day really.