Nearly - NOT amateur radio

The daffodils in our Close are starting to flower.  In a month they will be everywhere. 

These have just come out in the last day.  It looks like a few days will see more coming into flower.

8m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

My QRP FT8 has been on for about 2 hours. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1736z:  No spots all day.

UPDATE 1820z:  Scare!!  On 8m, there was no output on FT8. I feared the PA in the FT817ND had been damaged. I connected a 2m antenna and 10m antenna and tried FM. All was well thankfully. Later, I returned to 8m FT8 and all was well. I guess the PA had got too hot. Now QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Sunday)

My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been on for about 90 minutes. It is now 1540z. So far this afternoon, 17 stations have spotted me (see table).

UPDATE 1735z:  20 unique stations have spotted me today.

Optical over the horizon

Before my 2013 stroke, I enjoyed 481 THz tests over the horizon. These days I am unable to do these tests. 

Chilling

This photo was taken in 2006 on Lake Annecy in France.  Looks like a copy of Practical Wireless in my hand. 

Sunday plans

The first thing I want to try is my FT-710AESS again. One possibility is the AESS only works if everything is connected and then the rig turned on. If this fails, a phone call to MLS will be needed. I really hope this is it. Does anybody know if, on later firmware, the fan only comes on when the rig is hot?

Other plans are 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon and 8m FT8.

Yaesu FT-710AESS first impressions

Yesterday, I fired up my Yaesu FT-710AESS for the first time. It is very highly rated on the Sherwood tests coming 4th. 

As a dedicated QRPer, it will be used mostly on its lowest power (5W), although I may run 10W PEP on SSB. It is capable of 100W on the HF bands. It does not cover 2m and 70cm, but does include 4m.  

Everything (I think) seems OK, although the AESS appears not to work, merely switching to the external loudspeaker irrespective of the degree of balance. 

The fan (which used to be on all the time in first versions) appears not to be on. I am not sure if this was changed to come on only when the rig is hot. I want to do a full reset, but want to talk with MLS first in case this loses me 5 MHz and 70 MHz bands.

I am hoping the AESS issue is "finger trouble", although I did everything as stated in the manual (I thought). If the reset does not fix the issue and I cannot find something simple that I am doing wrong, it will have to go back to MLS under warranty. Otherwise it is a good buy.

UPDATE 1546z:  I tried making sure the external LS was connected before turning the rig on, but sadly this did not change things. I have asked MLS about a reset and the fan. I hope the rig does not have to be returned under guarantee as otherwise it is a fine radio.

Sunspots - Sunday February 12th 2023

 Solar flux is 210 and the SSN 209.  A=11 and K=1.

PSKreporter issues?

Usually, I use PSKreporter to see who is spotting my 8m QRP FT8. A few moments ago (about 1315z) briefly a spot showed up of me from the USA and the Canaries. I have not seen these since. So I am puzzled. Did I reach there or not? 

UPDATE 1640z: Mystery solved:  it was reporting my 10m WSPR. No PSKreporter issue. So no, I did not reach the USA today on 8m FT8. Ah well, you win some, you lose some. There will be another day.

Digital modes and time synchronisation

Many digital modes need the PC clock to be accurate. To this end, many use online time servers for this purpose. 

For some time now I have not bothered and use Windows 10 to do the syncing. To do this you have to make sure that Windows 10 can synchronise. Once a day seems to be adequate, although I have habit (probably not necessary) of doing a re-sync when I enter the shack.

If you have Windows 10, this may be all you need.

Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

 

This is another view of Hare Park showing the lake. At this time of year the extensive gardens are open so the public can see the millions of snowdrops that carpet much of it.

8m QRP FT8

Gear turned on 40.680 MHz at about 1020z. No spots.

UPDATE 1705z:  No spots all day. Now QRT.

10m QRP WSPR (Saturday)

Turned on the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at about 1020z. So far, no spots.

UPDATE 1121z:  Spots from the Canaries and Italy so far.

UPDATE 1650z:   18 spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR TX beacon (see table).

Plans for Saturday

In a few moments, I hope to go on 8m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW beacon. Later, I need to test the FT-710AESS.

Mathematical bridge, Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

When first erected this bridge was supposedly made without nails.

4m transverter

The photo shows my homebrew QRP 4m transverter. Late last year it was resurrected and copied some Es despite not having a 4m antenna. 

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .

Sunspots - Saturday February 11th 2023

 Solar flux is 208 and the SSN 190.  A=16 and K=3.

8m QRP FT8 (Friday)

 Just turned on 8m QRP FT8 on 40.680 MHz at 1000z. There look like brief meteor pings in the ISM band.

UPDATE 1220z:   G8JNJ reports very strong South African beacon reception on the WESSEXSDR this morning. I think I am receiving G9PUV (158km) by F2 backscatter and G0HVQ (181km) is spotting me, possibly by F2 backscatter.

10m QRP WSPR (Friday)

This morning, my 10m 500mW WSPR TX was turned on at about 0800z. So far, no spots. 

UPDATE 1007z:  It helps to connect the PSU!!  Just realised the -ve wire was out!  On QRP TX now.

UPDATE 1955z: 19 stations spotted my QRP today.

Sunspots - Friday February 10th 2023

Solar flux is 215 and the SSN 150. A=21 and K=2.

4m Es

Later this spring, I should be able to operate properly on 4m. Up to now, I have only used my homemade transverter. 

I intend to erect a 4m halo. Hopefully, I shall be able to work some Es on 4m later. I have not seriously tried 4m TX for many years. 

It would also be worth me trying a few 4m activity contests.

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

Once again, I am on 40.680 MHz QRP FT8. As of now (1325z) no spots.

UPDATE 1404z:  ZS6OB (9099km) spotted a while ago. This is my first South African spotted on 8m this year.  Nobody has spotted my QRP.

10m QRP WSPR (Thursday)

As my 10m antenna is available, I am again on 10m WSPR with my 500mW beacon. 14 stations have spotted me so far.

Rally on Sunday

The following rally has been notified to me. As usual, it is best to contact the organisers before travelling any distance.

Sunday February 12th- MIDCARS Radioactive Fair, Nantwich, CW5 5DG. No contact details given I am afraid.

Sunspots - Thursday February 9th 2023

 Solar flux is 192 and the SSN 142. A=18 and K=3.

10m QRP WSPR (Wednesday)

As usual, I am on 10m QRP WSPR with my 500mW beacon.  25 stations spotted me today on 10m QRP WSPR.

Hare Park, Chippenham near Cambridge - NOT amateur radio

Every year, the grounds of this place open to the public so people can see the snowdrops. At a guess, there must be millions here. The photo shows one of the lakes.

2m UKAC

Last evening, I was briefly on 2m SSB in the monthly activity contest. After a couple of QSOs I decided to go QRT: with my poor voice it was hard work. The band seemed a bit "up" as the photo indicates.

8m FT8 (Wednesday)

Yet again, my very low ERP 8m FT8 signal has been spotted in the USA and Canada. At the time or reception the ERP was about 1W as the power drops when the rig has been on a while.

I have also spotted CO2OQ (7510km) in Cuba on 8m FT8, although I suspect he may be a pirate. The time of day (1327z) was about right, so I am open minded at present. 

Many years ago

This was me building a new transceiver in the back of the garage in our old house at a guess in 2011? 

Sunspots - Wednesday February 8th 2023

Solar flux is 185 and the SSN 110. A=20 and K=2.

10m QRP WSPR (Tuesday)

As usual when I am on 8m, my 10m antenna is available, so I have gone on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF TX beacon. So far, the usual local and the Canary Is station spotting me.

UPDATE 1355z:  11 stations have spotted my 10m WSPR QRP so far today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km).

8m QRP FT8 (Tuesday)

At about 0930z my 8m FT8 QRP on 40.680 MHz was turned on. At 0940z, unsurprisingly, no spots. At the moment, my only real hope is aircraft scatter or a very good F2 opening with a high enough MUF. Those with higher ERPs have a much greater chance of success.

UPDATE 1340z:   EA8/DF4UE (2876km) has spotted me very strongly (+2dB S/N) and I have spotted Eire and Croatia.

UPDATE 1359z:  Still no news from OFCOM about my T&I permit for after April.

UPDATE 1515z:  No further 8m FT8 spots today.

Bark - NOT amateur radio

This bark was seen yesterday at Hare Park at Chippenham near Cambridge.  

There is different Chippenham in Wiltshire.

QDX status

Hans Summers from QRP Labs has been away for a few weeks, so the status of built QDX transceivers has not been updated for a while. 

Looking at my place in the queue (updated Saturday), I think I should get mine in March. This will certainly be in time for the 2023 Es season, although I expect to span the globe this year with it by F2 propagation.

Sunspots - Tuesday February 7th 2023

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 139.  A=18 and K=3.

What a difference a day makes - NOT amateur radio

 

In the last day, the price of this zoom monocular camera has dropped by £60. 

I am glad I waited.

2m QRP FT8 (Monday)

When my coffee is finished, I intend to try 2m QRP FT8. It is daytime, so some people will be at work. Hopefully, some will be on. 

On 2m FT8 I can run 2.5W to the omni big-wheel antenna. The 2m FT8 frequency is 144.174 MHz. 

Usually, I monitor the 2m FT8 RX online at G0LRD about 25km from me to make sure all is working and my signal is clean. This is very useful.

UPDATE 1159z:  My QRP FT8 was spotted by 12 unique stations and I have spotted 10 with the furthermost being F6FGQ (564km) in Brittany. On SSB I would have great difficulty spotting furthermost Brittany and Germany. Not with 2m FT8!

Stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX
with the big wheel omni antenna

UPDATE  1645z:  57 unique stations spotted today on 2m FT8 RX. 7 countries. 2m dead? I think not!

Bye bye Christmas tree - NOT amateur radio

We have had a real Christmas tree that has lasted 2 Christmas times. Sadly, it is looking tired and will be put out for composting later. This means getting another for the next Christmas. 

In the past, we have had artificial trees, but prefer a real one.  In the photo it does not look too bad, but I can tell.

It is odd to think we will blink and it will be Easter!! Blink again and it will be Christmas again!

10m WSPR TX

My 500mW WSPR beacon was turned on about 0930z.  So far, the Canary Is and a local have spotted me.

UPDATE 1201z:  5 unique stations have spotted me this morning with the furthermost FR1GZ (9724km).

UPDATE 1804z:  29 unique stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR today.