Pipit QRP CW transceiver

 

Way back I designed and built this QRP transceiver for 15m CW. For many months it was the only rig I used. It was really fun and worked remarkably well. It appeared in GQRP SPRAT and is on my website. It produced about 800mW.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .

Sunspots - Monday August 18th

 Solar flux is 117 and the SSN 53. A=5 and K=0.

Classic car day

Yesterday was the Classic Car Day at our local museum. It is always hugely popular. As usual, there were plenty of people, cars and motorcycles.

Another old QSL card

Old QSL cards are becoming quite collectable. Some people collect old QSL cards as a hobby. This one dates from 1949.  

I suppose with LOTW, eQSL and similar they are becoming rarer. Certainly it is many years since I sent one.

HackRF One and HackRF Pro

If I was fitter I might seriously consider buying one of these. 

They work on RX and TX from VLF to 6GHz, making them ideal for experiments, especially with an external RF amp. 

Output power is in the low milliwatt range and I expect a low pass filter would need to be added for "on air" use e.g. as a beacon.

I see MLS in the UK supplies them.

The Faroe Islands

One of my friends on 365project lives in the Faroe Is. He posts some amazing photos.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faroe_Islands

6m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My 5W FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on since about 0856z.

UPDATE 1925z:  153 stations have spotted me.  See map to see where I was spotted today. QRT soon.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon has been on since about 0856z.

UPDATE 1929z:  13 stations have spotted me. One looks like F2 and the others probably Es. QRT soon.

Crab apples

This was our grandson picking crab apples yesterday. We make crab apple jelly which is great with some meats.

Sunspots - Sunday August 17th

 Solar flux is 122 and the SSN 123. A=6 and K=1.