Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 40. A=9 and K=2.
31 May 2022
30 May 2022
Heathkit HW30 2m rig
When I was young I coveted a Benton Harbour Lunchbox.
This was a 5W 2m AM transceiver. At the time, 2m was very quiet and a super-regen RX was fine. These receivers were sensitive, but lacked sharp selectivity.
Looking back these rigs were quite poor, although I always liked the ergonomics. Versions were made for 11m CB, 10m and 6m too. In their day, they served a purpose, but these would struggle these days.
I once owned the manual, but never the rig. These days all the functionality and far, far, more may be obtained in a tiny dual band VHF FM handheld.
SeFarmshop breakfast - NOT amateur radio
Although not low cost, they do make a nice breakfast. Ideal as a treat.
That free PDF book
Tomorrow is the last day of May. We have visitors, so I shall not finish the book as planned by the end of May!
My current deadline (self imposed) is mid-June. If I manage to do it sooner, you will hear it here!
Dayton
The numbers have been released for the number of Dayton Hamfest attendees over the last few years. There were fewer attendees this year, but not down much. Not bad for the first "in person" event since 2019.
See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2022/may/hamvention-attendance-figure-announced.htm#.YpTFkY7MLrc
8m experiment (Monday)
As I proved that with my new USB cable 10m FT8 worked fine on the IC-705, l shall resume 8m FT8 TX tests shortly on 40.680 USB dial as there seems to be Es about.
UPDATE 1147z: Now on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX.
UPDATE 1211z: QRT as the transceiver cools. Back on about 1245z.
UPDATE 1308z: Back on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. Still no spots on RX or TX. Bad day so far. It appears that unless there is Es propagation, I am unlikely to be spotted. The trouble is, I do not know who is monitoring! Often there are monitors in places that do not have 8m TX permits
Canada Great Lakes - NOT amateur radio
This photo was posted on 365project recently. I think it is of the Great Lakes in Canada at sunrise.
29 May 2022
8m experiment (Sunday)
As I am busy setting up with 10m FT8 on the IC-705, it is unlikely I shall be testing on 8m FT8 today. Maybe at teatime?
It would appear that by Es my QRP 8m FT8 signal can be widely copied across Europe. Unlike many of the better equipped stations on 8m, I have not been copied outside Europe.
UPDATE 1245z: On 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680.
FT8 with the IC-705
A while ago I tried FT8 with the IC-705 using a USB cable from the PC. As the noise level was high, I stuck with the FT817ND and SignaLink instead. As I have now got a good screened and choked USB cable, I shall try again later.
UPDATE 0858z: Well it works on TX with a spot by G0FWX (160km), and I think it works on RX, although nobody spotted yet. At the moment it gives 5W without the ALC coming on. Assuming all is fine, I shall probably download WSJT-Z, which goes back onto CQ TX after a QSO. With WSJT-X it goes to RX after a QSO.
UPDATE 1005z: Working on both RX and TX. Initially I was seeing none of my RX spots on PSKreporter, but there are lots now as well as lots of TX spots. Best DX on TX is a spot of me by ZS6KVZ (9120km). No QSOs yet. I wonder how much better FT8 is than SSB? Having worked ZL with 10W SSB some years ago, I am pretty sure I can get DXCC on 10m FT8 if I tried. Not sure I really want to try. 10m FT8 at 5W seems too easy!
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