Ultra simple 80m transceiver

If you get bored this holiday, you may get some ideas from the XBM80-2 transceiver on my website. It really works!! You would be hard pressed to find anything simpler.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-xbm80-2 .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

About 10 minutes ago, I switched to 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. So far today (it is now 1435z) no spots.

UPDATE 1643z:  No spots. QRT soon on 8m. I suspect that with my low ERP, I miss a lot on 8m. Still that was what I wanted to find out: just what could be achieved with an ultra-simple QRP 8m set-up. I think I now know what my limits are and also the limitations of the 10mW ERP (the legal 8m ISM limit for ALL in the UK without a licence) locally. I shall probably renew my T&I permit for another year, although I doubt I shall learn much more. It would be really helpful if more tried to get 8m permits, if only for the Es season. Wouldn't it be great if many countries had 8m FT8 or WSPR access next year?

QDX - creeping up

As mentioned a few days ago, I have ordered a built QDX transceiver for 20-10m from QRP Labs. This is a 5W transceiver that will be mostly used on 10m FT8 and WSPR. 

I can still use voice modes like SSB and FM, but it is much harder for me these days. 

Looking at the priority list, my order is creeping up. I can see it being my main rig and well used when it comes. My antenna is a good match on most of the bands covered by the QDX.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We go to Anglesey Abbey usually several times a month, but realised we had not been since mid-November. 

We expected to see quite a few snowdrops out and maybe a daffodil.  Instead, we saw no daffodils out (just a few that will be out in 2-3 weeks) and just one snowdrop out. 

In a few weeks many snowdrops will be out. The next few months there is always something to see.

10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Stations spotted on 10m
FT8 RX to 1322z

Yet again I am on 10m FT8 RX. I have been on since about 1000z. It is now 1012z and, so far,  71 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1322z:   362 stations spotted today. 422 stations

UPDATE 1357z:  422 stations spotted.

8m FT8 QRP yesterday

Yesterday, I spotted no stations on 8m FT8, but my 2.5W FT8 was spotted again by EI9FP (649km) and G0HVQ (181km). Later today, I may try 8m FT8 again.

Sunspots - Thursday December 29th 2022

 Solar flux is 160 and the SSN 88. A=5 and K=1.

17m FT8 RX

Just turned on 17m FT8 RX. 15 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 2245:   59 stations spotted today. BTW, using the 10m end-fed antenna. QRT.

Amazon - NOT amateur radio

Amazon is like Marmite in that some are dead against Amazon and some are for the company. 

They should always treat workers well. Yes, they should pay fair taxes. In fact, perhaps all online sales should be taxed so that we are encouraged to use high street shops more?

Personally, I quite like the convenience of Amazon. Things get ordered one day and the goods usually arrive the next day. 

One day my wife went to our local chemists to buy some very ordinary nail scissors. They had none and no plans to stock any. She went on Amazon and they came next day. I cannot remember the price we paid. If you are housebound or unable to carry things a long way, the convenience of online delivery is great.

The demise of retail outlets on the high streets is sad, but our shopping habits have changed.  I just wonder what our high streets will be like in 2030. We cannot be like Canute. Change always happens. Perhaps the nature of high streets will change with more independent shops and bigger retailers offering free home delivery of goods bought in store. Also, I expect there will be more places to meet and more flats.

UPDATE 1513z:  Toilet seat broken. Ordered from Amazon after lunch yesterday. Arrived and fitted just after lunchtime today. Free return not needed.

UPDATE 1515z: Amazon has been used here for years. In all this time, I have never had things delivered to the wrong place. I have had to return things very, very infrequently. Whether from Amazon or other suppliers, my experience of shopping online has been good.

8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)

 At the moment (1000z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 with 2.5W to the low wire dipole. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1022z:  Still no spots. One thing is clear from my experiments: running QRP ERP I do lose out on a lot both on TX and RX. Compared with a station with a modest beam at several metres, I am probably 6-10dB down, possibly more. Running just 2.5W on TX is probably 10dB down on many stations, if not more. This means I could be at least 16dB weaker than many stations. Despite this I have still been copied in 16 countries and 3 continents on TX. Moral? I have learnt something!

UPDATE 1228z:  No spots today.

UPDATE 1755z:  2 stations have spotted my 2.5W 8m FT8 to a low wire dipole.  Nobody spotted on RX.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Wednesday)

When on 8m I forget that I can still go on 10m WSPR 500mW TX with my beacon. On now.

UPDATE 1010z:  So far, spots from SV9 (F2 or Es?).

UPDATE 1052z: 3 unique stations have spotted me today so far. I think this is mid-winter Es.

UPDATE 1230z:  4 unique stations have spotted my QRP 10m WSPR so far today.

UPDATE 1735z:  8 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon today.

Break? - NOT amateur radio

We love seeing our grandchildren, but at our age we get more tired, sooner. We have a break of about 7 days before they come again for a few days. It is a chance to "recharge batteries".  

Maybe it is a chance to try some new amateur radio stuff?  Maybe that SDR or 23cms?

At one time our elder grandson contacted us most nights. He has now got more friends his age who share his interests, so we are less of a crutch. All part of growing up, and totally natural.

Plans for today

Today I have 2 aims. 

Firstly I want to concentrate on 8m QRP FT8. It is the winter Es season and the F2 MUF is increasing. Yesterday the USA was spotted in Australia on 8m. There are more countries monitoring 8m. 

Secondly I want to test my SDR for the first time. 

UPDATE 1807z:   My SDR tests will have to wait until tomorrow.

Wisdom - NOT amateur radio

Many years ago I was taught that wisdom is quite different from being clever. Often the most profound things come from someone with wisdom, as these words that are supposed to have come from a woman of 92.

2m FT8 RX near Cambridge

When I go on 2m FT8, a very useful resource is the monitor a G0LRD. It is situated not far from Cambridge and my signal is usually about +5dB S/N. With it, I can look at 2m FT8 activity received locally, and check my own 2.5W is clean.

An example of David's page is attached. I think David also uses a Wimo big-wheel omni antenna. It is a great local (to me) resource.

See http://g0lrd.vs.mythic-beasts.com/cap/. 

Sunspots - Wednesday December 28th 2022

Solar flux is 150 and the SSN 89.  A=25 and K=2 .

When will my assembled QDX transceiver arrive?

My built QDX transceiver covering 10m has been ordered. According to Hans the waiting time is currently about 1 month, so it might be ready at the end of January. As FT8 and WSPR are the main modes used because of my poor voice, I can see this transceiver being well used. It covers 20m,17m,15m,12m and 10m. My antenna is a good match on all bands except 20m. Even there it could be used on RX.

See http://qrp-labs.com/qcxmini/assembled.html .

See http://qrp-labs.com/ .

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

 

This Christmas we saw all our grandchildren. The photo shows them with my wife yesterday.

Dalham Church - NOT amateur radio

Dalham church is almost outside the village, so parishioners would have had a long uphill walk every Sunday. It is conveniently next to the old Lord of the Manor's house!  

Rally on Thursday

The following rally has been notified to me. I guess they are assuming most attendees are still on holiday.

Thursday December 29th -  Yeovil ARC Rally, West Camel,  Yeavil,Somerset BA22 7QX. No contact details given, but always worth checking before travelling.