16 Jan 2023

That free Scrapbook

This is now at Issue 3. The link is here .

Sunspots - Monday January 16th 2023

 Solar flux is 234 and the SSN 117.  A=30 and K=1.

15 Jan 2023

DATV via Oscar 100

As mentioned yesterday there is a live stream of the (D?)ATV net on Oscar 100 starting at 2000z Thursdays. I must try to remember this as I have never seen live ATV via this geosynchronous satellite.

See https://batc.org.uk/live/oscar100net .

10m Simple Sideband

Before my 2013 stroke, I was working on a simple rig for 10m. At the time I was thinking of a dead simple DSB transceiver, but these days a better approach might be an SSB transceiver based around an SI5351 or similar synthesiser.

Whatever the approach, I had in mind a very simple, low cost rig on a single PCB.

10m is very good again and should be good for several years. It is good for Es most summers even in sunspot minimum years. It is also good for local natters. Antennas are small and CB verticals work well.

Such a simple design would make a low cost club project. When built, such a rig could be very useful especially if made as a synthesised SSB rig.

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

6m F2?

It would appear that better stations are working into Africa by F2 on 6m. F2 is usually better on N-S paths than E-W. I know of at least 1 serious 6m operator that has 4 x 6 elements on 6m. That is seriously keen!

The sunspot number and solar flux are usually high most days, so the N-S MUF probably goes above 50 MHz briefly.

Want a laugh? - NOT amateur radio


This cartoon was sent to me yesterday. I have no idea where it originated. It made me laugh.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

At 0946z, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon by W5OLF was turned on. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1006z:  Good spots of me from Crete.

UPDATE 1120z:  7 stations spotting my 500mW. Some Es?

UPDATE 1436z:  14 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1735z:  21 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)


At 0947z, my 8m FT8 was turned on. I am on 40.680 MHz (TX first) with 2.5W to a low wire dipole. The audio offset is about 1950 Hz.

UPDATE 1121z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1222z: G4FFC (47km) in Bedford has spotted me.

UPDATE 1742z: Spotted in Puerto Rico and Canada on 8m FT8 QRP.  My power is probably about 1.7W!! Altogether 5 stations have spotted me and 4 were "across the pond". Best day yet on 8m.

Stations spotting my 8m QRP FT8 today

Later today (Sunday)

A listener in Florida, USA got some bursts around 2000 Hz audio offset (probably of an FT8 transmission on 40.680 MHz) yesterday. He has copied me in the past and I usually send around this offset when on 8m FT8. So I shall definitely try 8m FT8 later, even though only QRP.

If on 8m, I shall also go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with my beacon.

At the moment, I cannot get to the shack as I have to walk through another bedroom first, and my 11 year old granddaughter is in there ....asleep!

Burwell church - NOT amateur radio

Most of our local church dates from the 1400s, although parts of the tower are Saxon.

This photo was taken a few days ago in dull January. There are a few signs of new life, but things will be much better in a few weeks when the daffodils are in flower.

Our grandson rings the bells here when in Burwell.