For about an hour, I have been on 6m FT8. So far, 13 stations have spotted me and 1 have had 1 QSO. I noticed the BNC plug was intermittent. Mending it took about an hour. In years gone by this would have taken me 5 minutes.
10 Apr 2023
80m FT8 (Monday)
At 1255z, I moved from 160m FT8 (no spots) to 80m FT8 using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The FT8 frequency on 80m seems to be 3.573 MHz.
160m FT8 (Monday)
As my earth-electrode "antenna" is now matched, I am currently using it on 160m FT8 with 10W from the FT-710. No spots, although I am not surprised in daylight. I must double check on the 160m FT8 frequency in Europe. I have never tried FT8 on topband. I have used WSPR in the past. Currently I am on 1840 kHz FT8, which seems right.
UPDATE 1120z: This looks a useful resource for digital modes in Europe. See https://www.pa8s.nl/knowledge-base/frequencies-for-digital-modes/
 |
| Spots of me at 1814z |
UPDATE 1856z: 15 stations in 7 countries have so far spotted my 10W FT8 on 160m this evening in the daylight. And the antenna is invisible to my XYL!
UPDATE 2005z: My first FT8 QSO on topband with GM8IEM (753km). Although I was in beacon mode and not answering calls earlier, I see I was called by several stations including one in Denmark. 21 stations have spotted me tonight Now QRT on 160m FT8.
Museum open again - NOT amateur radio
Yesterday, after what has seemed a long winter, our local museum and windmill next door reopened. The weather was sunny and pleasant. Parking near our house is not usually an issue. It was yesterday!!
Monday plans
My main aim today is to match my earth-electrode "antenna" on MF. I I can do this, I can try it on FT8 or WSPR TX on 160m or 80m.
Later, I may try 10m QRP FT8 again with the QDX, although it does not teach me much - I know less than 5W of FT8 can get spotted across the planet. All these stations could be worked, but I do not have the energy to chase these!
UPDATE 1021z: After adding more turns to the primary of my 3C90 transformer I can get a perfect match on 160m and 80m with my earth electrode "antenna" with the auto-ATU in the FT-710. I shall try 160m WSPR or FT8 tonight!
2m activty contest (UKAC) last week
Last Tuesday was the activity contest organised by the RSGB. My incredible score (I am joking!!) has just been submitted as I almost forgot. Tomorrow evening is the 70cm activity contest.
The impression I am getting is interest in this contest is waning with the FT8 contest on the following evening doing better. This is pity as it is a very "un"contest contest with people happy to see the activity levels up. I have been taking part for several years.
Earth-electrode "antenna"
My earth-electrode "antenna" has been reinstalled.
Much to my surprise I am unable to tune it using the internal auto-ATU suggesting the impedance is greater than 150 ohms.
I shall have to try a new matching transformer to bring it in range of my auto-ATU. This make take a few goes. I want a good match at MF.
9 Apr 2023
Rain Gauge - NOT amateur radio
One of my wife's Christmas presents was a rain gauge. We record the rain that has fallen each day and total up the month. February was very dry and, so far, in March, we have already had more than the whole of February!
2m Fredbox QSO
This was in 2011 and shows me in QSO with the 10mW 2m AM Fredbox. Many years ago I had a cross channel QSO with it handheld. These days it is hard enough having an FM QSO on 2m!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/fredbox.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
