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| Stations that spotted my QDX this afternoon on FT8 |
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| Stations spotted on 20m FT8 RX this evening on the QDX |
Often there is a need to monitor 10m FT8 without using the "big rig". You might like to consider my 10FT8R 10m FT8 RX. This is simple, works very well and is low cost. Mine never got beyond the breadboard stage (as you can see)!
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .
It is now 0920z and I have been on for about an hour. So far, no spots.
UPDATE 0955z: No spots. I shall turn things on 8m off TX shortly, but on later in case there is any transatlantic F2.
UPDATE 1251z: Spotted by MCP44 (47km).
My 500mW WSPR TX beacon was turned on at 0805z. So far today, no spots.
UPDATE 0921z: 17 spots of my QRP so far from the Canary Is.
UPDATE 1300z: 8 unique stations have spotted me today, mostly from the USA.
At the moment my plan is to go on 10m WSPR TX and 8m QRP FT8. Depending on my QDX coming, I may try this.
UPDATE 1211z: My built QDX is supposed to have arrived at Castle Donnington in the night. It is meant to be delivered here by 1800z.
This video of a hiking "path" in Switzerland is sure to raise your blood pressure.
See https://twitter.com/OTerrifying/status/1627562598463082496 .
Almost forgot! When on 8m FT8, I can go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with the 500mW beacon as the antenna is available. So for about 10 minutes (it is now 1327z) 6 stations have already spotted me.
At about 1318z, I QSYed to 8m QRP FT8. So far, just one spot by FG8OG (6670km). It seems transatlantic reception even of my QRP is almost daily.
UPDATE 1534z: 2 spots of my QRP (again) from the Caribbean. It feels like this is most days. I may try WSPR another day. At 1W on the FT817ND I wonder how this will be?
This rally has been notified to me. Always worth checking the details are correct before travelling a long way!
Sunday Feb 26th - West Manchester Radio Club Red, Leigh, WN7 2PJ.
I have also received news that the Callington (CARS) Rally in Cornwall in March has been cancelled.
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| Stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today |
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| Unique stations spotting me on 10m FT8 TX at 1300z |
SSB and FM operation require me to be in the shack, whereas FT8 and WSPR may be monitored on a different PC in the lounge.
I usually sync to internet time early morning (just using Windows 10) and I can pop in the shack (which I do often) in seconds. Although I sometimes re-sync later in the day, I am not convinced this is really needed.
Although I have a separate bench for building, my poor fine motor skills mean it is rarely used these days, sadly.
The photo shows me looking at birds in the garden as the shack probably has the best view.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/shack .
My most recent peek at this geosynchronous satellite last night was worse than last time! Activity was pathetic. My most recent look was at 2220z on a Wednesday evening. There were just 2 stations only active.
My own view is this is just too hard for the "appliance operators" of today. If one of the big manufacturers offered a rig (they won't as Japan and the USA are outside the footprint of the satellite), things would be different as "black box" operators could chat with much of the world without big beams and linears and with a small, fixed antenna. Don't tell them they can do this for free on the Internet!😀
What will happen? Things will carry on as now and activity might pick up as solar activity wanes. What is needed is a low cost add-on to enable appliance operators to get on the satellite using their main rig.
People happily shell out huge amounts for linears, beams and towers. None of these would be needed.
Of course the simplest of all is a crystal set that does not even need a battery.
The simplest circuit that really works well is probably the one shown. I even adapted this into a 1 FET 80m transceiver. The RX works well on AM, SSB and CW. By changing the tuned circuit, it will work on different bands. As a transceiver my main issue was netting the RX onto the TX frequency.
There are plenty of similar circuits on the Internet.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-or-40m-regen-rx .
Testing with the 500mW beacon started at about 0940z. It is now 1000z and, so far, 2 unique stations spotting me. No surprises.
UPDATE 1019z: 4 unique stations spotting me.
UPDATE 1420z: 13 unique stations have spotted my QRP today.
Testing began at about 0940z. No spots yet today.
UPDATE 1414z: It seems "crossing the pond" is almost daily at the moment on 8m FT8, even though the ERP is about 1W when the rig get hot!! Just spotted by FG8OJ (6670km).
UPDATE 2142z: On 8m FT8 RX today my system spotted G9PUV and EI2IP. I am surprised that I do not copy many more. At some point, I need to check the 8m sensitivity. This would involve a trip to a nearby amateur with a calibrated signal generator. It would not surprise me if it was several dB deaf on 8m. Even so, I have still copied S.Africans and Caribbean stations several times.
Many times I have said that if all magazines had to go, SPRAT would be my last. This is incredible value.
See https://www.gqrp.com .
Been on 8m FT8 early (since just before breakfast). So far, no spots today.
UPDATE 0955z: Still no spots. OFCOM has confirmed that my new T&I 8m licence has all I asked for.
My 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was turned on before breakfast. It is now 0912z and all the usual reports including many from the Canary Isles, which I assume is F2 propagation.
UPDATE 1658z: So far today, my 500mW WSPR has been spotted by 19 unique stations with the furthermost WA2N (6488km).
UPDATE 1837z: 22 unique stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today.
Just heard from OFCOM that they have approved my T&I 8m permit for when mine runs out in April. I have asked for a provisional copy to check over. Assuming this is OK, it means I have broadly the same as currently until April 2024.
It is now 0950z and I have been on since 0900z. Spots of me by a local and from the Canary Isles.
UPDATE 0959z: 4 unique stations spotting me now. Most are probably via F2.
