As I understand things, the Chinese rip-off does NOT contain switchable low pass filters, so the harmonic output is unlikely to be very good.
See https://www.zachtek.com/product-page/wspr-desktop-transmitter
Probably you would still get change from £2k, which is less than the cost of many HF transceivers, a linear and a beam on a tower plus rotator. I guess operators now have confidence in this after many years.
The advantages are many. The dish is small, fixed and no HF rig is needed. Within the footprint of the satellite DX is always available and without QSB. In many ways I am quite surprised many DXers have not gone for this option already.
I prefer experimentation.
See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/ if you want to take a peek.
Incidentally, I heard recently about someone in the UK working a German station who was mobile on Oscar 100!! I think the station in the car was listening on the webSDR but using the 2.3GHz uplink to the satellite.
I suppose a low(er) cost option is to make or buy a TX transverter and helix and listen on the webSDR.
My gear was turned on at about 1245z
UPDATE 1330z: So far, 59 stations have spotted me.
As a club project you can even buy 5 kits (yes five kits!!) for $150 total. Individual kits are just $39.
See www.hfsignals.com .
UPDATE 2021z: 10 stations have spotted me with the best PU2YFR (9602km). Now QRT.
Already, I am thinking about 2026. Sunspots and solar activity should still be good although declining.
My instincts are to go mainly on 10m QRP FT8, although I shall go on 6m FT8 in which case I shall go on 10m WSPR wth my 500mW beacon that does not need the PC at the same time.
Still tempted by 8m, TX, although I think most of the activity would be in the Es season. If I was to reapply for a TX permit, I would time it to coincide with the Es season, so leave any new application until late March, so the permit would be in place in time for the Es season. I may decide not to bother.
There is no doubt that AI will have a huge impact on the lives of everyone in the future. It will get better and better and will have impacts for good and evil.
In many ways I have been impressed with AI. For example I asked it to colourise an old black and white photo of my dad in his RAF uniform during WW2. The colourisation was excellent.
On the downside I asked Gemini to "make a picture of Roger G3XBM" as an experiment. I tried this both in "fast" and "thinking" modes. On both attempts the person looked nothing at all like me. It created a radio shack (far more extensive than mine, HI) and a plaque with my callsign, but the person was totally wrong. I suppose it has to find a photo of me to learn from.
This is one of the dangers of AI. People may believe what they are being told. Often it will be correct. At the same time it can be very wrong! For now, it is best to treat AI with some caution knowing it can go "rogue" and give totally false results. It can only be as good as the sources it learns from.
I have QSYed to 8m FT8 RX on 40.680 MHz using my end-fed long wire. We'll see if I spot anyone today.
UPDATE 1626z: No spots. At the moment 8m is disappointing.
My beacon was turned on just after breakfast.
UPDATE 1016z: Just 2 stations in the Canary Isles spotting me so far.
My gear has been on since just after breakfast.
UPDATE 1914z: So far, spotted by 5 English stations.
This is a contest I do not submit an entry for. I gave a few (very few!) CQ calls and was copied in southern Eire. There is no doubt there is a lots of activity.
Stations that spotted my 2m 10W FT8 this evening
UPDATE 2102z: Now QRT. Worked 4 stations in the 2m FT8 UKAC contest.
