10m Simple Sideband

Before my 2013 stroke, I was working on a simple rig for 10m. At the time I was thinking of a dead simple DSB transceiver, but these days a better approach might be an SSB transceiver based around an SI5351 or similar synthesiser.

Whatever the approach, I had in mind a very simple, low cost rig on a single PCB.

10m is very good again and should be good for several years. It is good for Es most summers even in sunspot minimum years. It is also good for local natters. Antennas are small and CB verticals work well.

Such a simple design would make a low cost club project. When built, such a rig could be very useful especially if made as a synthesised SSB rig.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-simple-sideband.

6m F2?

It would appear that better stations are working into Africa by F2 on 6m. F2 is usually better on N-S paths than E-W. I know of at least 1 serious 6m operator that has 4 x 6 elements on 6m. That is seriously keen!

The sunspot number and solar flux are usually high most days, so the N-S MUF probably goes above 50 MHz briefly.

Want a laugh? - NOT amateur radio

This cartoon was sent to me yesterday. I have no idea where it originated. It made me laugh.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Sunday)

At 0946z, my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon by W5OLF was turned on. No spots yet.

UPDATE 1006z:  Good spots of me from Crete.

UPDATE 1120z:  7 stations spotting my 500mW. Some Es?

UPDATE 1436z:  14 stations have spotted me today.

UPDATE 1735z:  21 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

At 0947z, my 8m FT8 was turned on. I am on 40.680 MHz (TX first) with 2.5W to a low wire dipole. The audio offset is about 1950 Hz.

UPDATE 1121z:  No spots.

UPDATE 1222z: G4FFC (47km) in Bedford has spotted me.

UPDATE 1742z: Spotted in Puerto Rico and Canada on 8m FT8 QRP.  My power is probably about 1.7W!! Altogether 5 stations have spotted me and 4 were "across the pond". Best day yet on 8m.

Stations spotting my 8m QRP FT8 today

Later today (Sunday)

A listener in Florida, USA got some bursts around 2000 Hz audio offset (probably of an FT8 transmission on 40.680 MHz) yesterday. He has copied me in the past and I usually send around this offset when on 8m FT8. So I shall definitely try 8m FT8 later, even though only QRP.

If on 8m, I shall also go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with my beacon.

At the moment, I cannot get to the shack as I have to walk through another bedroom first, and my 11 year old granddaughter is in there ....asleep!

Burwell church - NOT amateur radio

Most of our local church dates from the 1400s, although parts of the tower are Saxon.

This photo was taken a few days ago in dull January. There are a few signs of new life, but things will be much better in a few weeks when the daffodils are in flower.

Our grandson rings the bells here when in Burwell. 

Sunspots - Sunday January 15th 2023

Solar flux is 228 and the SSN 170. A=11 and K=4.

Shetland storm - NOT amateur radio

 

This photo was posted recently by a friend on 365project. It shows a storm on the Shetland Isles.

QDX - soon

Around Christmas I ordered a QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs. Mine covers 10m and was ordered ready built. When ordered I was told the wait was about a month. Most days I check where I am on the list.  When I started, I was way down the list. At this rate I should get mine in February.

Exhaustion - NOT amateur radio

There is world of difference (I have found out the hard way) between tiredness and exhaustion. With tiredness, you feel you need sleep to feel better. With exhaustion, you feel totally drained even though you may have had a good sleep. This may just be old age or a result of my 2013 stroke. I tend to feel exhausted now far more than I did.

If someone, e.g. with MS, tells you they feel exhausted, they are not just tired; they are EXHAUSTED.

Triffid? - NOT amateur radio

At this time of year (dull January) we get great pleasure seeing amaryllis grow from bulbs to huge plants with splendid flowers.

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

 I have been on 2.5W FT8 on 40.680 MHz USB dial for about an hour. No spots.

UPDATE 1427z:   Just G0HVQ (181km)  has spotted me today on 8m FT8.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Saturday)

At the moment I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. So far today (it is now 1125z) , 4 unique stations have spotted me. There is some evidence of winter Es. 

UPDATE 1145z:  Still the same 4 stations spotting me.

Stations spotting me today

UPDATE 1529z:  16 unique stations spotting me today on 10m QRP WSPR TX  (see table).

Plans for today (Saturday)

Later this morning I expect to go on 10m WSPR QRP TX and 8m QRP FT8. This is still the mid winter Es season so there is a chance of being copied in Europe on 8m FT8 despite the low power. 

VLF earth-mode

This photo was taken in 2011 and shows where my VLF beacon could be received locally. The TX was 5W. 

Oscar 100 - worst yet?

It has never seemed this bad. The photo shows the narrowband transponder on a European weekend morning. Where is everyone? 

Stations on Oscar 100 at 1010z

UPDATE 1012z: A little better, but still very under-used.

Oscar 100 wideband transponder spectrum

UPDATE 1020z: There appears to be better use of the wideband transponder on Oscar 100. Although there is a spectrum display (see photo), I am not aware of a site with DATV streams. If so, I do not know of it.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ .

Apparently (this was news to me) there is a weekly TV net on Oscar 100 on Thursday nights at 2000z. 

See https://batc.org.uk/live/oscar100net . This link streams the results. I must check this out.

Sunspots - Saturday January 14th 2023

Solar flux is 209 and the SSN 181. A=12 and K=3.

20m FT8 RX (Friday)

For the last hour or so, I have been on 20m FT8 RX using the 8m dipole, which is way off tune. At 1858z, 35 stations spotted with the furthermost N1HMT (5245km).

Where I come from - NOT amateur radio

 

This is where I come from in South Devon. This unspoilt area is known as the South Hams.