Some time ago I posted this photo of my grandson in the back of my garage. It must have been earlier than 2013 as we moved QTH. He failed to get interested. He is 15 soon.
Unless young people like him are attracted, our hobby will die
We ate his last sausages yesterday with all the trimmings. Sad.
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| An early Heathkit advert |
Heathkit made a family of what became known as the Benton Harbor Lunchboxes. In many places they were the mainstay of VHF activity, way before FM, SSB and FT8.
They were valved and had a 5W AM TX and a super-regen RX. Most of the time this was fine for VHF at the time.
I cannot remember when they stopped being available, but I would guess mid 1970s.
At one time I had the manual, but never the rig.
The style I still like and in later years (before my stroke) fancied doing a modern equivalent for 10m with transistors and far smaller on a single PCB.
See http://www.radiomanual.info/schemi/Surplus_Radioamateur/Heathkit_HW-30_review_QST_2013.pdf
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| Autumn in Ontario, Canada |
As the 10m antenna is available I am again on 10m QRP (500mW) with the W5OLF beacon. The gear was turned on about 0850z. No spots of me yet today. It was copied in Antarctica twice last week.
UPDATE 0905z: Already plenty of spots from the Canary Is.
My 8m FT8 gear was turned on at 0845z. It will be on most of the morning and afternoon.
UPDATE 1628z: 1 station as spotted me - EA3ERE (1153km) and I have spotted 1 - S50B (1220km).
I went with my wife and grandson.
It was a good, happy, day in glorious weather.
The resulting chutney was great and my wife has asked me to make more!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
As usual, OFCOM has updated the data it holds on us. See the OFCOM website for details.
My 8m website has been updated with photos and information on my 8m station and results. Most times I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/8m-band .
UPDATE 1018z: No spots.
UPDATE 1037z: QRT at the moment. Back later.
UPDATE 1208z: On 8m QRP FT8 TX. One spot of me by G0HVQ (181km) - odd distance.
UPDATE 1827z: QRT.
My WSPR 500mW beacon was turned on before breakfast and synced at 0802z. Yesterday, 12 stations spotted me as the table shows. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1039z: Just the usual spots from the Canary Is so far today
UPDATE 1502z: 9 unique stations have spotted me today including several in the USA.
UPDATE 1623z: 12 stations have spotted me today on 10m FT8 QRP TX.
UPDATE 1832z: Still 12 stations have spotted me today.
As the 10m antenna is free, I am again on 10m QRP (500mW) using my beacon. So far, at 1027z, the usual spots from the Canaries and a YO3.
UPDATE 1455z: 10 spots of my 500mW QRP 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1715z: 12 spots of me so far with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).
Most of the morning I have been on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz. No spots.
UPDATE 1446z: 3 stations spotted so far on 8m FT8. EA8AQV (2930km) was "worked" on QRP 8m FT8. I hope he is legal, but I have no way of telling.
A few years ago, the UK made little of Halloween. This all changed.
At the moment, I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 (first). No spots. I hope to be on again later in the afternoon looking for some FT8 to/from the USA if the MUF goes high enough.
UPDATE 1422z: No spots at all today.
As I am on 8m FT8, my 10m antenna is free, so I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon. Plenty of spots of me by F2 from the Canary Is..
The following are due to take place this weekend. As always, it is wise to check the information before going a long way.
October 16th Sunday - Hornsea Amateur radio Club Rally. YO25 9DW. www.horseaarc.co.uk .
October 15-16th - National Hamfest. Newark showground NG24 2NY. www.nationalhamfest.org.uk .
OFCOM is consulting on the fees it charges for certain WT services. See their website for details.
It is now 0800z. I have been on 10m FR8 RX for about 15 minutes. So far, 92 stations spotted. 10m is really good already.
UPDATE 0852z: So far this morning, 193 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX including D2UY in Angola. I did not realise there is a bit of Angola that is cut off from the main body of the country.
This autumn, I am trying to reach the USA on 8m FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz USB with my QRP. I only use 5W to a low dipole antenna. It is possible if there are enough monitors and the MUF goes high enough. So far, I have not succeeded.
My rig is a modified FT817ND.
At 1900z, I think there is an RSGB organised activity FT8 contest. Before that, I think there is a European 70cm FT8 contest. I have already worked a local.
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| Stations spotting my QRP on 70cm FT8 this evening |
It is now 1503z and I have been on 10m WSPR TX (500mW), so far, after about 15 minutes by 2 stations in the Canary Is.
UPDATE 1736z: 12 unique stations spotted.
In a few moments I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz (first).
UPDATE 1748z: No spots on RX or TX. Perhaps another day I shall reach the USA? 10m WSPR has been good to the USA, but the E-W F2 MUF needs to reach 40.682 MHz.
The impression I am getting is there are fewer SSB stations active than there were a few years ago. Perhaps more are using FT8 than SSB these days? Unless I am mistaken the 70cm FT8 UKAC is tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how busy this is. My expectation is there will be far more people active during this.
We deliver local Christmas cards by hand. We were going to do it yesterday, but the rain was horrendous so we did it today instead in the co...
