Most from the least

This has always been a challenge for QRP operators. We know we can span the globe with a Japanese transceiver, a linear, a beam and a tower all costing thousands, but what may be done for the cost of a coffee in town?

There are many answers to this. It usually involves some element of compromise (usually with the receiver), but time and again people have shown that really simple gear works. I guess the "holy grail" is the rig that has the fewest compromises, yet gives you plenty of contacts. I am still looking!

One of the rigs I have tried is the Micro80 and the Pixie. A few years ago (possibly still) 40m Pixie kits could be bought with airmail from China for a few pounds. I have built versions for 80m and 40m and they have all worked. Albeit, the RX was far from perfect but they worked and resulted in QSOs.

The circuit is a typical Pixie.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .

Crab apple jelly - NOT amateur radio

Every autumn I harvest my crab apples and make crab apple jelly, which is delicious on some meats. 

This was the harvest from our single tree today.

Faroes - NOT amateur radio

 

As mentioned before, one of my friends on 365project lives in the Faroe Islands. This was one of his photos from a few weeks ago.

10m 500mW WSPR TX ( Wednesday)

My beacon has been on for about 40 minutes. So far, just spots by local G4KPX (14km).

UPDATE 1356z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me 14 times.

6m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 My 2.5W 6m FT8 was turned on at about 1045z after we returned from shopping. So far, 6 stations have spotted me.

UPDATE 1225z:  7 English stations have spotted me today. See map.

National Hamfest (UK)

The National Hamfest is this weekend September 27/28th at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground, NG24 2NY. See nationalhamfest.org.uk .

Sunspots - Wednesday September 25th

 Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 123. A=17 and K=4.

AA1TJ - fit and well

This afternoon I got an email from Michael Rainey AA1TJ.  It sounds like they have just emerged from a long crisis with his partner's health and things are getting back to normal after a long, hard, time. I am so pleased.

Buddleia - NOT amateur radio

Buddleia is supposed to attract butterflies, so we have planted one in our front garden. 

The one in the picture was not in our garden.

Cherry picker - NOT amateur radio

Our local windmill volunteers have hired a cherry picker (aerial hydraulic platform) to inspect the windmill sails. 

A cherry picker is so named as such devices were used originally to harvest fruits.