481 THz optical experiments

It is many years since I used my optical gear. As mentioned previously, I want to check it all works, download Spectran 2 and do some local tests initially. Our local church is about 300m away, so perhaps I can do some QRSS tests bouncing off this? 

It the local tests work, I would like to do some over the horizon tests with G4HJW who is about 10km away. Sadly, there is a lot of clutter locally, so perhaps I would have a better chance with Bernie using cloudbounce, rather than clear air scattering? He might have to point to higher in the sky. With passing clouds, I might well copy him.

Being far more wobbly these days, this will be far harder for me now.

All my 100mm gear is still in the shack, but it all needs putting together and testing.

Spring? - NOT amateur radio

With snow on the ground it is hard to think of spring! We had snow overnight, which stopped this morning. My wife took these photos earlier this week and made the collage. A few more weeks?

Birthday boy - NOT amateur radio

 

Today is our elder son's birthday. We went out with him for lunch yesterday in Cambridge. 

Faulty PC repaired - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday I had an email to say my PC had been repaired and checked and Asus was awaiting collection by the courier. 

This was under warranty and was done very fast. I expect they just swapped the motherboard. They have contacted me at every stage. I hope it is OK now. 

When it arrives back I must check it and see if FT8 works with the FT-710.

70cm FT8 activity contest

 Yesterday evening was the 70cm FT8 activity contest (UKAC). I can only use 2.5W to my 2m big-wheel omni antenna, yet stations as far away as Germany were copied  (see map) and 2 locals worked. I was not on very long as we have a regular 2m FM net.

Sunspots - Thursday March 9th 2023

Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 146. A=8 and K=3. 

Windows PC

Currently I have 2 Windows PCs. Both run Windows 10 and were made by Asus. One I have had for years and is the main shack PC. The other failed under warranty and is currently being fixed.

Despite trying everything, I have still not got the FT-710 to work on FT8. I have downloaded the drivers, checked the settings are correct many, many times. This includes watching several YouTube videos. Until the other PC returns from repair, I cannot check the FT-710 with the other Windows PC.

Looking in Device Manager, all is there, but I cannot get CAT to work and there is no TX audio.

Of course, the FT-710 could be faulty, but I suspect the shack PC.

8m WSPR (Wednesday)

For a change, I am on 8m WSPR today. As the TX is on for longer periods, I am TXing at 1W instead for 20% if the time.

Our Close - NOT amateur radio

Although it is cold again, there are signs of spring in our Close. 

Sunspots - Wednesday March 8th 2023

Solar flux is 180 and the SSN 191. A=11 and K=2.