One of my aims for today is to reinstall my earth-electrode antenna in the ground and try it out on MF with the FT-710. I shall probably go on 12m or 10m FT8 with the tiny QDX.
8 Apr 2023
Absent friends?
It is odd how you do not see postings from people you know about for a while and then realise they are not there. Many times there is a good reason and they pop up again. For some time I have not heard from Mike Rainey W1TJ or Jay Wilson W5OLF. Just wondering if they are OK? If you have any news please let me know. They're kind and generous people.
First swallow seen - NOT amateur radio
See the RSPB website for details: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/swallow/
7 Apr 2023
Simple 10m FT8 RX as the Es season approaches
Now seems a good time to remind people of my very simple 10m FT8 receiver, the 10FT8R. Even buying all parts new, I doubt it would cost more than 4 cups of coffee out. It allows the "big rig" to be used for something else whilst keeping a watchful eye on 10m FT8. The design uses low cost crystals and a Polyakov mixer that requires injection at half frequency in a direct conversion RX. The design appeared in RadCom last year. It works remarkably well. My thanks to Jay, W5OLF for doing the schematic drawing.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
10m FT8 QRP with the QDX (Friday)
Again, I am on 10m FT8 QRP with the QDX which runs less than 5W. It is now 0925z and I have been on for about 10 minutes. So far, spotted by 1 station 4X1UF (3513km) and 4 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1550z: So far today, my QRP 10m FT8 spotted by 57 stations on 5 continents.
Oscar 100 narrowband transponder
Every few weeks I like to give an update on activity levels on this geosynchronous satellite by looking at the web SDR at Goonhilly Downs in Cornwall. The last time I looked was late afternoon in the UK on a Thursday. Activity levels remain low.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .
6 Apr 2023
OFCOM updates
A reminder that OFCOM updates the data it holds on us every week. Check the OFCOM website for details.
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