Shack

Since moving to this QTH nearly 10 years ago (doesn't time fly?) I have a dedicated shack. 

SSB and FM operation require me to be in the shack, whereas FT8 and WSPR may be monitored on a different PC in the lounge. 

I usually sync to internet time early morning (just using Windows 10) and I can pop in the shack (which I do often) in seconds.  Although I sometimes re-sync later in the day, I am not convinced this is really needed.

Although I have a separate bench for building, my poor fine motor skills mean it is rarely used these days, sadly.

The photo shows me looking at birds in the garden as the shack probably has the best view.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .

Oscar 100 narrowband

My most recent peek at this geosynchronous satellite last night was worse than last time! Activity was pathetic. My most recent look was at 2220z on a Wednesday evening. There were just 2 stations only active. 

My only recommendation is just don't bother. By now, I was expecting it to be busy, whereas it is seriously under-used. As mentioned before, people (well a few) enjoy the challenge of getting active, then lose interest. 

My own view is this is just too hard for the "appliance operators" of today. If one of the big manufacturers offered a rig (they won't as Japan and the USA are outside the footprint of the satellite), things would be different as "black box" operators could chat with much of the world without big beams and linears and with a small, fixed antenna. Don't tell them they can do this for free on the Internet!😀

What will happen? Things will carry on as now and activity might pick up as solar activity wanes. What is needed is a low cost add-on to enable appliance operators to get on the satellite using their main rig.

People happily shell out huge amounts for linears, beams and towers. None of these would be needed.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Crouching down - NOT amateur radio

 

One of the issues with getting old is crouching down. If you get down, it is hard to get up! However, we have an answer - grandsons! At their age they have no problems with hips or knees, so we ask them to take a photo. Problem solved.

Old pals - NOT amateur radio

We have known these friends since university days in the 1960s. My wife and I are in yellow.

This was at nearby Anglesey Abbey with a complete stranger kindly taking the photo.

Simple regen RX

Quite often I get asked how simple can you make a receiver that gives useful results. 

Of course the simplest of all is a crystal set that does not even need a battery. 

The simplest circuit that really works well is probably the one shown. I even adapted this into a 1 FET 80m transceiver. The RX works well on AM, SSB and CW.  By changing the tuned circuit, it will work on different bands. As a transceiver my main issue was netting the RX onto the TX frequency.

There are plenty of similar circuits on the Internet.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-or-40m-regen-rx .

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

Testing with the 500mW beacon started at about 0940z. It is now 1000z and, so far, 2 unique stations spotting me. No surprises.

UPDATE 1019z: 4 unique stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1420z: 13 unique stations have spotted my QRP today.

UPDATE 1621z: 19 unique stations have spotted me today. Certainly the station in the Canary Is could have copied me on microwatts at times if his noise floor was low enough. Pretty sure than 10mW ERP 8m WSPR (legal, I think, in the UK without a licence in the ISM band for beacons) could reach surprising distances at times.

8m QRP FT8 ( Wednesday)

 Testing began at about 0940z. No spots yet today.

UPDATE 1414z: It seems "crossing the pond" is almost daily at the moment on 8m FT8, even though the ERP is about 1W when the rig get hot!! Just spotted by FG8OJ (6670km). 

UPDATE 2142z:   On 8m FT8 RX today my system spotted G9PUV and EI2IP.  I am surprised that I do not copy many more. At some point, I need to check the 8m sensitivity. This would involve a trip to a nearby amateur with a calibrated signal generator. It would not surprise me if it was several dB deaf on 8m. Even so, I have still copied S.Africans and Caribbean stations several times.

SPRAT back issues

All the back issues of SPRAT are available on a flash drive. It is cheaper for GQRP club members. It is very low cost and well worth it. There are years of projects on it. Look for "SPRAT on a stick". 

Many times I have said that if all magazines had to go, SPRAT would be my last. This is incredible value. 

See  https://www.gqrp.com .

Sunspots - Wednesday February 22nd 2023

 Solar flux is 161 and the SSN 106.   A=16 and K=2.

Tulips - NOT amateur radio

These are colourful flowers in the spring. Sometimes they are floppy and an aspirin in the water makes them stand up again. I have no idea why! My wife likes flowers in the house.