DSB v. SSB

Now, I am very happy to be told I am wrong, but I think DSB rigs can be received on other DSB receivers, but it is much more tricky than receiving DSB on an SSB receiver. I have no experience of this, but a comment on a post yesterday has me thinking. The comment was made by Ken G4APB. Thanks Ken.

Clearly a simple SSB 10m transceiver (if very low cost, simple and easily copied) would be much preferable to a DSB transceiver, but I am unsure of the relative costs.

If you have experience, please let me know. 

Clearly, if 2 DSB transceivers can not (easily) communicate, maybe a simple 10m DSB transceiver is not as ideal as a club project, even though most QSOs would be with SSB stations.

I wonder how inexpensive a 10m SSB transceiver can be made as a simple kit?

10m WSPR QRP TX

 On 10m WSPR TX I am using my 500mW beacon. So far (at 1017z) I have been spotted by nobody! 

UPDATE 1050z:  One spot from Italy suggests there is Es about.

8m experiment (Saturday)

 After my best day yet yesterday, I am again on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1012z:   EI4GNB (445km) spotted strongly on FT8, but no spots of me.

UPDATE 1630z:  4 stations spotted here today on 8m FT8 RX with the furthermost ZS6WAB (8931km). Today has been surprisingly good. The ZS was probably a combination of TEP and Es. There are a couple of newly active 8m stations near Preston that I hope to copy.

UPDATE 2047z:  Actually 5 unique stations were spotted today. GR9B near Preston was spotted on FT8 working ZS6WN, but for some reason this did not appear on PSKreporter. At -21dB S/N he was not strong so this might have been Es backscatter or tropo. Now QRT.

How the other half lives - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a garden in Thurlestone, Devon, UK a few years ago. 

"just popping down for a round of golf"

No, this is NOT mine!

Sunspots - Saturday May 7th 2022

 Solar flux is 119 and the SSN 64.  A=5 and K=1. 

10m sideband

Before my stroke in 2013, I had an idea for a very simple DSB transceiver for 10m. 

This was never competed, but with 10m looking good again, now is an ideal time. With just a few watts Europe should be easy and you will work DX. Don't forget antennas are small and simple and CB verticals work well.

What I envisioned was a very simple, easily copied, DSB transceiver on a single, small, PCB. These days a simple phasing SSB rig may be possible with a synthesised VFO. This would be better, but the design goals, were simple, low cost and easy. 

This would make a neat club project next winter. Imagine if all builders had a simple sideband transceiver for 10m that they built! I should be more than happy for someone to design this and do a PCB. No design rights, simple...

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

Getting worse? - NOT amateur radio

Many things are better nowadays, but many things have got worse. My coats have fewer pockets, my underpants are thinner, National Trust bags are more inferior, Picasa has been "retired". You get the distinct impression that suppliers are designing to a fixed price.

Recently we bought some new cordless phones. As far as I can see these are the replacements of the ones we have. On the old ones we can assign ring tones to certain people e.g. family, friends etc... On the new ones I cannot see how to do it! This was a really useful feature as we could ignore SPAM. If it is a call from people we know, we answer. If it is someone else important, they will leave a message or ring again. If I cannot find out how to do this, they are of no use and will be returned.

What are your views?

8m experiment (Friday)

Shortly, I shall be back on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday was disappointing. 

UPDATE 0917z:  My FT8 TX was started at 0813z. EI9KP (649km) has spotted me and I have spotted him. This is so regular that I am suspecting aircraft reflection.

Stations spotting my QRP 8m FT8

Stations spotted here on 8m FT8

UPDATE 1502z: Reports exchanged with S50B (1220km) in Slovenia. 5 stations have been spotted on the band here today. Belgium 8m amateur operation is currently illegal, although the Belgians are considering a small amateur allocation. So far, I have been copied in 5 countries on 8m, despite my QRP system.

How many? - NOT amateur radio

This photo shows a family of ducks we saw on our walk yesterday. At first I could only see 6 ducklings, but then I spotted the 7th. Can you? 

Sunspots - Friday May 6th 2022

Solar flux is 120 and the SSN 85.  A=4 and K=0.