As I am on 6m FT8, the 10m antenna is free, so I am on 10m WSPR TX with the 500mW W5OLF beacon. It is now about 1553z and I have been on for an hour. No spots of me.
UPDATE 1729z: Still no spots. Basically rubbish.
4 Sept 2022
6m FT8 QRP (Sunday)
The gear (V2000 vertical omni antenna and FT817ND) was turned on at 1120z. So far (1137z) 6 spots of me including what is probably Es, but none of anyone else!!
UPDATE 1703z: 9 stations spotted me today so far including 1 in Italy and 1 in Portugal. 1 QSO .UPDATE 1751z: 11 stations have spotted my QRP 6m FT8 today, with what looks like 3 by Es in southern Europe.
3 Sept 2022
Reverse beacon network
I have to confess that it is a long time since used the Reverse Beacon Network. It can be quite useful to find where your signal gets to even when you don't manage a 2-way QSO.
6m QRP FT8 (Saturday)
In a few moments, I again expect to be on 6m FT8 QRP with the FT817ND and the V2000 vertical. Yesterday was a good Es day. I somehow doubt this will be the case today!
UPDATE 0723z: Gear turned on at 0715z. Spotted by GB0SNB/SDR (65km). I spotted an ON on RX, but this has not appeared on PSKreporter maps. Often, my very early RX spots do not appear. Not sure why this is.
UPDATE 0816z: Just been spotted by M1ABK (70km). Still nothing on 6m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1011z: 3 stations have spotted me on QRP TX and I have spotted 4 on RX. All UK. No sign of any Es.
UPDATE 1700z: Quite a good 6m day considering the lack of Es. 12 stations spotted on 6m FT8 RX and 8 stations have spotted my QRP with the furthermost SP5QWB (1405km). Was the SP by Es?
That 4m transverter
Jason (in a comment on an earlier post) may well be correct. I was puzzled why the FT817ND was flagging "HI SWR" when I went to TX on the 4m transverter.
Somewhere way back in the mists of time I did do a mod to my original FT817 to add 5V to the RF line from the rig. Of course, this is not there on the FT817ND, so the relay will not switch over to TX.
At some point before the next Es season, I must do this mod on the FT817ND. I cannot recall what I did, so I shall have to photograph and copy exactly the original mod.
As it stands, I can monitor on 4m, but not TX.
I guess an RF detector could be added to the transverter to switch on the 5V TX. This would avoid the need to doctor the FT817ND inside.
UPDATE 0830z: Anyone know if the 5V TX is present on the RF connector of the unmodified IC-705? If so, I could just use the IC-705 with the 4m transverter instead! Guess I should just try it.
UPDATE 0838z: Tried it with the IC-705 Still high SWR, so guess +5v not there either. Pity.
UPDATE 0852z: Just found this from when the transverter was first designed and made, " I also did the FT817 DC switching mod to put 5V DC on the antenna pins when on TX. It was easy to do, with care, and made the transverter switching so much easier. Don't understand why it was not there as standard for the sake of 1 capacitor and 1 resistor."
UPDATE 1714z: If the mod is within my capability, I shall do the 5V TX mod. I must note that I should use the front BNC for 4m.
Click bate - NOT amateur radio
In the last few weeks I seem to have lots of adverts telling me (from the photo) that adding things like cola or toothpaste to the car fuel tank has "taken Brits by storm" and saved lots of money. Curiosity encourages many people to click to view. This is pure click bate and I HATE this!!
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