The first version of this little transceiver was designed and built in 2011. Shown on my main G3XBM website is the second version, that stopped the chirp. This was called the 10m Lesser Chirpy, for obvious reasons.
19 Oct 2022
10m QRP
The first version of this little transceiver was designed and built in 2011. Shown on my main G3XBM website is the second version, that stopped the chirp. This was called the 10m Lesser Chirpy, for obvious reasons.
8m QRP FT8 (Wednesday)
Assuming I can sync time, I intend to be on 8m FT8 QRP non 40.680 MHz later.
UPDATE 1455z: As a later post shows, I was able to sync time on the PC.
Where I was born - NOT amateur radio
After WW2, this grand place was a nursing home. I was born here.
This photo here shows the place (Flete in South Devon) well over 100 years ago. At the time, we lived in a modest council house, but I enjoy telling people I was born in a stately home!
10m QRP (500mW) WSPR TX (Wednesday)
Just gone on 10m WSPR QRP TX with my beacon synced using my atomic clock. Thanks *****!
UPDATE 0806z: Spots from the Canary Is already, so a promising start.
UPDATE 1023z: 5 unique stations have spotted me today so far. I get the impression there is now far more F2 propagation on 10m again.
Microsoft time sync - NOT amateur radio
For several weeks now, I have used the internet time sync provided by Microsoft (time.windows.com) quite happily.
This morning, despite the internet being on and working fine, I have been unable to sync time. Hoping this is just a temporary glitch, I shall try again later. If not, I shall have to go back to my original way of doing this.
At first I wondered if it was because I had still to do one of their infernal updates. So I did this, but to no avail. If Microsoft is so wonderful why do they have to do updates so often? In the lounge (and now) I use a Chromebook from Asus that has been fantastic for nearly 3 years.
Just wondering if this is just me?
UPDATE 1015z: Still unable to sync.
UPDATE 1513z: Sync works again, thankfully.
18 Oct 2022
UK Prime Minister - NOT amateur radio
In the last few weeks the UK's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, has had a very bad time.
Firstly she introduced a mini-budget intended to encourage growth. The markets tanked. Her authority was in tatters. Then she replaced her Chancellor. The new Chancellor cancelled most of her changes, further undermining her. The opposition parties want a General Election.
The next crunch moment is October 31st when the new chancellor has to explain how he will fund the mini-budget. It is likely this will involve cuts to public services. This is likely to anger people both in the general public and Conservative party.
8m FT8 (Tuesday)
Most of the morning I have been on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8 TX and RX. So far, no spots.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Tuesday)
As the 10m antenna is available, I have been on QRP (500mW) with my WSPR beacon most of the morning. It is now 1213z and so far 9 stations have spotted me.
UPDATE 1920z: 45 stations have spotted my 10m 500mW QRP WSPR today.
Punting on the Cam - NOT amateur radio
DMR journey
At the moment, I am trying to get going on DMR. Although without a DMR radio or hot-spot, access DMR should be possible via my Android phone.
Some advice has been forthcoming and am working through this. As I get though this, I shall report back.
UPDATE 1914z: What a mess!!! Getting active on DMR is complicated! You first have to get a DMR ID (done), register on Brandmeister (done) and get a vocoder. If I am struggling, I imagine many will be too. I am still not connected. Hopefully tomorrow ......or 2030?? Getting going on Echolink was so much easier.
17 Oct 2022
The future of our hobby
Unless things change, I can see our hobby radically changing in the next 10 years. Most of us are old males.
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
The very last - NOT amateur radio
We ate his last sausages yesterday with all the trimmings. Sad.
16 Oct 2022
Heathkit HW family
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| An early Heathkit advert |
As a teenager I always wanted a 2m HW30 kit. Goodness knows why, as by modern standards they were poor!
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
Autumn - NOT amateur radio
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| Autumn in Ontario, Canada |
This photo of Ontario in autumn was posted by a friend on 365project recently. What amazing colours.
10m QRP TX WSPR (Sunday)
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.
UPDATE 1614z: 28 spots of me today on 10m QRP WSPR TX.
8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)
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).
Bury St Edmunds Abbey - NOT amateur radio
Until King Henry VIII, this was one of the largest abbeys in England. Then it was dissolved by the King. Today, all that remains are the ruins. Sacrilege.
15 Oct 2022
Apple Day - NOT amateur radio
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!
Simple 10m FT8 RX
These days, 10m is again in great shape. A very simple, but effective, FT8 receiver that does not tie up the main rig is my 10FT8R that appeared in RSGB RadCom last year. I built mine without a PCB, although a PCB would be ideal as a low cost club project.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
Covid booster and flu vacs - NOT amateur radio
Our local doctor's surgery combined with a few others to give them. One jab in each arm. Totally easy and painless.
OFCOM updates
As usual, OFCOM has updated the data it holds on us. See the OFCOM website for details.
8m FT8 QRP TX (Saturday)
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.
10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)
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.
Predicting rain? - NOT amateur radio
One of my friends on 365project posted this photo of cows sitting down. An old wives tale says that sitting cows means rain is coming. A minute later it rained!
Sub 9 kHz earth-mode
10 years ago I was active with experiments with earth-mode below 9 kHz. When I had to stop because of my stroke, 6km had been spanned.
14 Oct 2022
Using up gluts - NOT amateur radio
We had lots of green tomatoes and cooking apples, so I decided to make some chutney.
10m QRP WSPR TX
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).
8m QRP FT8 (Friday)
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.
Ham Radio Magazine
When it first appeared, it was A5 format. I think it is still available online in PDF format for back issues, although I forget the link. It was a great magazine.
In the coming years, I can see several amateur radio magazines going or shrinking in size. It would not surprise me if many national radio societies go to A5 format for their magazines as adverts get fewer and as a cost saving measure. It would not bother me at all is they went to A5 size.
630m (472 kHz)
Commercialisation - NOT amateur radio
A few years ago, the UK made little of Halloween. This all changed.
13 Oct 2022
8m QRP FT8 TX (Thursday)
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.
10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)
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..
UPDATE 1647z: 23 spots of my QRP so far with the furthermost DP0GVN/3 (13685km) in Antarctica.
Rallies this weekend
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 .
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