Our grandson is mad on bellringing. He has rung bells now in well over 40 different churches. St Barts survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. He rang here recently.
30 Aug 2022
8m experiment (Tuesday)
Unless things improve dramatically on 10m, it is very unlikely I shall be on 8m FT8 QRP today. There is little point if my chances are so slim.
365project - NOT amateur radio
The idea is to add a photo every day. It is interesting to see our grandchildren grow a day at a time over all this time.
Yesterday my wife met up with an old school friend she has known for 61 years. She introduced her to 365 some years ago and loves it.
Corfu? - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken some years ago. I think it was in Greece, possibly Corfu, although I am not sure where. I do not recognise the islands.
10m FT8 QRP (Tuesday)
Today I expect to be on 10m FT8 QRP right from the start. It cannot be worse than yesterday!
UPDATE 0820z: Gear turned on at 0545z. 2 stations have spotted me (a local G and an MM). Nothing spotted on RX.
UPDATE 0954z: 3 European stations spotted on RX. Not exactly great!
Remote islands - NOT amateur radio
4m transverter
Some years ago I needed a way of getting on 4m. This transverter was the result. I have no idea where it is now! Possibly it is in a shack drawer or in the loft. I really ought to try and find it and give it another go, perhaps with a wire dipole. Several have been made since it appeared in GQRP SPRAT. It is also in my G3XBM Project Scrapbook and on my website.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter
According to the webpage I listened for a local station's personal QRP 4m beacon. I cannot recall using the transverter. Maybe it was with something else.
UPDATE 1345z: I have found the transverter! It was in the shack at the back of a drawer. Assuming it still works, I must try it out. First I have to erect an antenna for 4m.
UPDATE 1409z: In preparation for trying the band again, I started looking for information. At one time, the place to go was the 4m website, but I get the impression this is no longer well maintained. Instead I turned to the RSGB's 4m page.
UPDATE 1428z: I have connected the transverter to the FT817ND and the 10m antenna. At the moment I am on 70.100 MHz USB dial FT8 RX. I hope the crystal is still on frequency. I must check this. Noise goes up when the antenna is connected - a hopeful sign. Nothing copied.
UPDATE 1504z: I am puzzled what is the best frequency to try for 4m FT8 RX. Some say 70.100 MHz whereas some say 70.154 MHz. Which has the best chance of spotting anyone please? The 42 MHz crystal is oscillating and on 42.000 MHz . Currently I am monitoring 70.154 MHz USB dial.
29 Aug 2022
10m FT8 QRP
At about 1350z, I QSYed to 10m FT8 from 10m WSPR. It seems very quiet with no spots on 10m FT8 RX or TX.
UPDATE 1447z: Just a single spot by local G0LRD (26km) of me on QRP TX with PA2WDR (280km) on RX. I am quite surprised.got
UPDATE 1607z: ZD7BG (7606km) spotted on RX.
UPDATE 1732z: Unless things dramatically improve, today has been terrible on 10m here.
UPDATE 1936z: It got no better. Apart from the ZD7, just 2 Gs spotted. Basically dreadful! Now QRT.
Free Scrapbook PDF reminder
You can just look at it online or, if you want to, download it and print off. You could always just print off what you want. I want no money for this. I just want people to realise our hobby does not have to be expensive at all, and experimentation is fun.
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