I think the issue is that the oscillator has stopped for some reason: I can detect nothing at 3.2MHz on a nearby RX. I shall look again at the weekend as now I am so so tired! Just a few minutes is so taxing now.
This may be as simple as a dry joint. I guess the first thing to try is retouching all the solder joints in the oscillator. It is most likely to be this. I had a diode probe, but I have not seen it for years! I guess I should check the DC volts around the oscillator before doing this.
In the end, the aim is to TX again on 630m QRP. Before the fault arose my measured ERP was just under 10mW. This regularly was spotted on WSPR in Norway.
As Covid-19 is still having an impact, this large UK rally is being held virtually again.
Like many boring old farts (BOFs), I am appalled by the spelling on the main page, which is seen by thousands. Does nobody check?
OFCOM is issuing licences for communications at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next year. See the OFCOM website for more details.
Both use the PA as the mixer on RX. The RX is the compromise although both work. Pixie kits were available as kits from China at very low cost. I bought one for 40m, with a crystal on 7.023MHz. If you get one you may want to consider crystals on 7.030MHz which is the QRP calling frequency in Europe. These crystals are available at low cost.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/8040m-pixie-and-micro80-transceivers .
Since 0800z, I have been on 10m FT8. As usual, I was on 2.5W TX for a few minutes, then RX only. It is now 0811z and no spots given or received yet. It is still very early.
UPDATE 0835z: Just a spot of me on TX by G0FWX (160km).
UPDATE 1300z: 11 stations spotted on RX with furthermost D60AC(8211km) on the Comoros Is in the Indian Ocean.
Yesterday was quite a good day on 10m FT8 RX. There were stations spotted on RX from Indonesia, Africa, South America and Europe. On the whole, there is less Es and more F2 DX.
These were tiny dual-band FM handhelds produced by Yaesu.
In the past I have used these (I have a VX1 and VX2) on both 2m and 70cm simplex and repeaters. Many found the supplied antenna not as good as they could be and they replaced these with better ones.
These days, many have bought much less expensive Beofeng units, although the quality control on these seems a bit hit and miss.
At the moment the Chinese manufacturers seem to have work to do to get amateur radio products to the same consistent quality we are used to from Japan. They will get there, but it may take a few years. When Chinese products get to the same quality and consistency we are used to from Japan the Japanese will face serious competition.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/yaesu-vx2 .
As far as I know the Weston Super Mare rally is ON this Sunday September 26th, but as always check with the organisers before setting out on a long journey.
At 0811z, I went on 10m FT8. Initially I was on TX with 2.5W, but now am RX only. No spots yet at 0858z.
UPDATE 1632z: So far today, 91 stations spotted on RX in 4 continents with the furthermost VP8LP (12773km).
UPDATE 2030z: 106 stations spotted on RX today.
As many know I had a stroke 8 years ago and can no longer do some of the things I used to enjoy.
Several times in the last few years I have been struck by how kind some people are. I won't name them, but 2 have offered to build my Phaser kit, one to fix my transverter for 472kHz and someone else did a schematic for me and has sent a ferrite antenna and crystals. Someone sent me some sensitive earpieces and I have been sent crystals and a clock. I am sure I have forgotten something, but you get the drift.
This was pure kindness and generosity. I have been so impressed with the sheer kindness of others. They wanted nothing in return. Thank you so very much.
The ham spirit is alive and well. If you can, do something kind for others and keep the amateur spirit alive.
As I have often said, there are far more kind people than bad people, but kindness is not newsworthy.
Thank you again.
Every Wednesday evening the Cambridge Radio Club (CDARC) has a net on 145.55MHz FM at 1900z. It usually lasts just over 30 minutes. We recently combined this with the East Cambs Net that used to meet on Mondays. The same people were largely on.
With my poor voice, this is quite a challenge, but I try to come on if I can. It helps when there are several people on so I don't have to speak that often, HI.
Usually I run 10W to my V2000 vertical omni. Last time I forgot to connect the PSU, so was running 5W from the battery on the IC-705.
Anyone is warmly welcomed. You do not have to be a CDARC member.
By mistake, I left my 10m FT8 RX running overnight. Late last night, 1 G was spotted calling CQ, but nothing was spotted overnight.
My antenna is a low Par end-fed dipole at about 3m above ground.
So far today just a spot of PA0KGB (278km) on RX.
UPDATE 1715z: 34 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today with the furthermost PT2VHF (8874km) in Brazil. Seems to be quite quiet at the moment.
UPDATE 2016z: A brief period on TX was spotted by M0NKR (27km). No further spots on RX.
As a youth, I was quite a good Christian. As I got older, I have become less sure what I believe. I think agnostic best describes me: I am unsure.
It seems to me that all world religions hint at something beyond ourselves. It puzzles me that, depending on where we are in the world, we are Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Taos, Dos etc. All cannot be totally wrong. It seems amazing to me that in different cultures different religions take hold.
There has always been an element of trying to "sell" a particular religion to a different culture with the chosen religion always being "right".
Most wars and conflicts have religions at their heart, sadly.
No, I think all religions are hints and try to explain our finite lives. Not one religion succeeds in my view.
Just seen this message from Steve G1KQH:
"Graham G3MFJ is currently in hospital so club sales is closed until further notice. Please send no orders and make no enquiries about components until you hear from us.
If you have already placed an order then we will appreciate your patience as it can't obviously be dealt with.
Kind Regards
Tony G4WIF"
I have no information further to this. I bought a SPRAT on a stick only quite recently. Quite a few people use GQRP club sales. Let us hope this is nothing too serious.
I really should try to find the fault in my 472kHz transverter.
At first, I thought it was my earth-electrode antenna, so I completely replaced the wire. The output FET was replaced.
If my brain was less foggy I am sure I could get to the bottom of it and find what is wrong. With 10mW ERP (measured) it was regularly making it to Norway.
There are a lot of people monitoring, but few on TX.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/630m-472khz-transverter .
A reminder that a lot of my past projects are on my website.
On my video channel you can find videos about my projects.
I hope you can be inspired by these sources. Nothing would please me more than if these were a springboard for your own projects. Probably all my projects can be improved, so don't be afraid to experiment.
We have fought wars in Afghanistan of about 200 years. We left ignominiously recently having spent billions along with the USA. The latest cock-up is revealing the identities and photos of interpreters whose lives are now in mortal danger.
I am conflicted, but feel after the last 20 years we have spent a lot of money and achieved very little. Maybe we should learn the lessons of history. There is little doubt over the original aims after 9/11. Nation building was never, publicly, an aim.
Following my usual pattern, I went on 10m FT8 TX with 2.5W for a few minutes and then RX only. No spots given or received and no QSOs.
UPDATE 0902z: 2 spots on RX with furthermost F5RD (681km).
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .
Because of my poor building skills, a very kind amateur in Scotland has built and tested my 10m Phaser kit. All being well, it should be back this week.
The Phaser is a QRP SSB transceiver, for FT8 mainly, producing about 3W pep. It is a phasing rig designed by Dave Benson K1SWL. It should allow the "big rig" to be used for other things.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-phaser .
As many of you will know, I had a stroke in 2013, out of the blue. It put me in hospital for 3.5 months. I had never before stayed in hospital! All strokes are different, and overall I was lucky with all my main functions remaining intact. My fine motor skills are poor. Although you may disagree (!), my intellectual functions seem unchanged.
I am currently reading a book by Oliver Sacks that has got me thinking. Now, this may just be me getting older, but I am aware of some changes. Since my stroke, I always felt giddy and have had a very poor voice, although most of me works. My wife and I have enjoyed some good holidays both here and abroad. Apart from the giddiness, walking is OK.
In the last year, I have been aware of brain overload. When driving I seem to think of everything that can be a hazard. Driving is no longer a pleasure. Generally, things seem to be exaggerated. It strikes me that this is similar to how some autistic people must experience the world - basically my brain feels overloaded.
It leaves me wondering - are some strokes and some forms of autism similar? I'd be interested to hear of any research in this area.
After a brief session on 2.5W TX I have been on RX the rest of the time. It is now 0840z, and just 1 G spotted and nobody spotted me.
UPDATE 1037z: Just 3 stations spotted so far. The 2 from mainland Europe were probably Es, but could have been aircraft reflection. At this point yesterday, things were better.
UPDATE 1917z: Only 7 stations spotted. All in Europe. A bad day.
UPDATE 2058z: 10 stations spotted with the furthermost LU8EX (11209km) in Argentina.
We go for walks in nearby Anglesey Abbey most months. This is a photo of the main house. The property is owned by the National Trust.
