Solar flux is 98 and the SSN 39. A=9 and K=2.
1 Jun 2022
31 May 2022
2m FT8 QRP
As 10m seemed dire, I decided to go on 2m FT8 with 5W from the IC-705. Immediately, I was spotted by a couple of stations.
UPDATE 1605z: Already my 5W to the big wheel omni antenna has been spotted by 9 stations including a couple in Northern Ireland. Who needs beams and high power?
UPDATE 1844z: 20 stations have spotted me so far. On 2m FT8 RX the furthermost spotted is DL2ART (499km).
SLF amateur DX
Today, I heard about some remarkable experiments at 270Hz using earth-electrode antennas.
Hello OM'S!
After successful 470 Hz transmissions, we (DK7FC, DL3JPN and DL7NN) tried to push to even longer wavelengths. The next goal is/was 270 Hz, i.e. 1111 km wavelength. First, the existing ground loop at the transmitter site had to be resonated by enlarging the series capacitor. After all, 116 µF was required.
According to the wavelength / 2 PI definition, in this case we reach the far field after 178.8 km. The distance between our locations is 324 km, which is far field by definition. Since Stefan's reception was exclusively in the E-field, a simple coupling of the magnetic field could be ruled out. After an integration time of 4.5 hours, Stefan achieved a carrier S/N of 17.84 dB in a bandwidth of 62.2 µHz. Even in the spectrogram heavily overlaid with summery QRN, the carrier was still visible. For comparison, the 270.005 Hz transmission at a distance of 4 km from the transmitter on the DL0HOT grabber with a bandwidth of 3.8 mHz.
This may have been the first successful detection of far-field SLF transmission by radio amateurs.
73
Albrecht
DL7NN
10m WSPR QRP TX
As my 10m antenna (not the PC) is free, I am on 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW W5OLF beacon. Nobody has spotted me yet. I first turned it on about 0928z.
At the moment, I have not seen evidence of Es here.
UPDATE 1243z: Nobody has spotted me yet today.
UPDATE 1954z: Back on 10m WSPR again with my 500mW beacon. There is a little Es about with spots of me by OE3XOE (1233km).
Heathkits
When I was young (OK a long time ago!) Heathkits were popular. They sold some very good kits that made some classy pieces of equipment including VHF and HF transceivers.
In recent years, they tried to make a comeback, but their range was poor and overpriced. Their website still exists, although goodness knows how! They must have some very dedicated followers. With low cost kits from China, making kits for radio amateurs must be very hard these days unless the kits are good and the price is very competitive.
As mentioned yesterday, I coveted the valved HW30 2m AM transceiver. I realised that my website did not have a page on this, so I have added one.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/hw30 .
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathkit for the whole Heathkit story.
My whole professional career and hobby of 60 years owes a lot to Heathkit since my dad bought me a Heathkit Electronics Workhop for Christmas 1961.
8m experiment (Tuesday)
Later, I hope to again be on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. I usually transmit in the first period with signals about 1.95 kHz HF. It would be good to have some QRM, HI!!
It seems I need Es or aircraft scatter to have QSOs beyond the local area. When the band is open via Es, I get widely copied despite my QRP. This a bit limiting!
UPDATE 0936z: My FT8 TX was turned on at about 0928z. No spots yet on RX or TX.
UPDATE 1200: At the moment I am letting the rig cool, so I am disconnected. On the transmission earlier, nothing spotted on RX or TX.
UPDATE 1447z: After another day so far without spots on RX or TX, I am seriously considering going QRT on 8m and perhaps concentrating on 6m FT8 or 10m FT8. I have already found out my limitations and doubt much more can be learnt unless I increase my ERP, which is not my aim.
UPDATE 1546z: Now QRT on 8m and QSYed to 10m FT8 QRP.
UPDATE 1900z: Since about 1855z, I have been on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 TX. I shall probably stop in about an hour.
Bunting - NOT amateur radio
My wife ordered some union jack cupcakes on May 3rd. They were due May 30th, but had not been dispatched yet! So, the order was cancelled today.
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.
Se
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