2m SSB with a Liner-2

 

Pretty sure these first became available in the 1970s. They were based on a 10m rig and they revolutionised 2m. 

I got one second hand and was amazed how far I could work on a very basic antenna. Prior to getting my Liner-2, I had only used QRP AM and FM rigs. Most nights I found I could contact stations hundreds of kilometres away.

Later many used the ICOM IC-202 with a 30W amplifier and Tonna 9 el antenna.

These days the bands at VHF are far quieter as people have other ways of chatting (the internet) and working DX (FT8).

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/belcom-liner-2

Sunspots - Sunday June 16th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 134.  A=18 and K=3.

QMX+ first steps

So far I have not tried TX. 

At the moment I am familiarising myself with the menu system. So far, so good. It would appear that the diodes in the supply line drop the voltage to the rig to a safe 9V.

Tomorrow, I hope to try 10m or 6m FT8 or WSPR TX.

Rigpix

Amateur Radio Weekly brought to our attention the Rigpix database. If you have not noticed it, it is a very useful site for information about rigs including photos and specs..

See https://www.rigpix.com/ .

Changing coastline of Britain - NOT amateur radio

This map was on social media recently. It shows how the British coastline probably looked over the last few thousand years. In a human lifetime things change too slowly to notice.

Laurel hedge - NOT amateur radio

When we moved here almost 11 years ago we planted a laurel hedge. It looks fine, but needs a regular trim. In between the showers, I am trying to cut it. 

Bite sized chunks seems to be the best approach. I have done about half the top and some of the sides. Now coffee is called for.

6m 2.5W FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8 to the V2000 vertical omni antenna is turned on. So far this morning,  30 stations have spotted me.  

UPDATE 1256z: Now spotted by 64 stations. Most look like Es propagation. See map.

UPDATE 1721z: 136 stations have spotted my 6m FT8 QRP today. Most look like Es.

10mW 10m WSPR (Saturday)

Once again I am trying 10m WSPR at 10mW. So far, 2 spots by EA8BFK (2880km). This looks like F2 rather than Es.

UPDATE 0935z:   No further spots of my 10mW 10m WSPR TX.

UPDATE 1302z:  5 spots by 3 different stations of my 10mW 10m WSPR today. 

UPDATE 1608z:  9 spots of me by 5 stations so far today.

630m QRP WSPR overnight

Considering we are in mid June I was quite surprised to see my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR was spotted by 5 stations with the furthermost GM3YXM (425km).

Sunspots - Saturday June 15th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 117. A=18 and K=2.

National Health Service (NHS) - NOT amateur radio

In the UK, the NHS, providing free health care at the point of delivery, was created in 1948. It revolutionised health care. In recent years, the NHS has struggled. Waiting lists are long and people are living far longer. In many other countries the health service is better.

In my view the UK NHS is a great idea, but it needs a root and branch review looking at health services across the world to find what works best for everyone. We need to aim that the UK NHS should be the very best in the world.

In the past, I have personally experienced the NHS at its best and worst. In my view, throwing more and more money at it is NOT the answer.

Both health and social security need serious attention.

QMX+

 

My assembled and cased QMX+ from QRP Labs has arrived. Hopefully, I shall test it over the weekend.

10m 10mW WSPR (Friday)

 

In the last 12 hours I am amazed how many stations have spotted me, despite the very low power. My beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W, even though with the external attenuator it is actually far less. If the band is open with Es, 10mW  seems quite enough, whereas 500uW is much harder.

UPDATE 2109z: Just 2 stations have spotted my 10mW today. Whatever Es was about seemed very localised.

Arse and elbow? - NOT amateur radio

In the last few weeks we have received 3 letters through the post from Anglian Water saying how much we owe them or are in credit. 

The good news is that all show us in credit. The bad news is they are all different!  I am pretty sure all are generated by a computer, without human involvement.

What will the next bill be? I expect it will say we owe them hundreds!

6m QRP FT8 (Friday)

Since arriving home late yesterday afternoon, my 2.5W 6m FT8 to the vertical omni antenna has been spotted by 462 stations. The map shows the stations that had spotted me at 1100z. 

UPDATE 1131z: Now 478 stations have spotted me. I am amazed. 

Sunspots - Friday June 14th

Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 124.  A=4 and K=2. 

481THz beacon

 Another Google photo from many years ago. This was an optical beacon used for over the horizon tests.

What was this?

 Flicking through Google photos I came across this picture from 2012. I have no idea what this is! It has a DBM, so maybe a prototype WISPY receiver perhaps. If patient I could trace the circuit.

Where I was born - NOT amateur radio

After WW2 this was a nursing home. I was born here in 1948. We lived in a very simple council house, but I enjoy telling people I was born in grand house on a big estate!

Sunspots - Thursday June 13th

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 145. A=5 and K=1.

Sibling reunion - NOT amateur radio

We are in Lincoln for our 21st sibling reunion. This is a photo of us all outside Lincoln Cathedral before having an excellent lunch in the pie shop.

Still there

Some of you may recall Birketts in Lincoln selling all sorts of radio related stuff with adverts in radio magazines. 

I think the original owner John Birkett died a few years ago and his son ran the business. I was glad to see this still in Lincoln.

Sunspots - Wednesday June 12th

 Solar flux is 165 and the SSN 95. A=12 and K=0.

Lincoln - NOT amateur radio

 

The view from the Travelodge hotel window. We are here for a couple of nights for my wife’s sibling reunion .

2200m beacon

 This was made about 12 years ago . It was later cased and blown up by mistake!! It has been on before but shows things don’t have to be complex.

Sunspots - Tuesday June 11th

 Solar flux is 178 and the SSN 146. A=11 and K=4.

10m 500uW WSPR (Monday)

My beacon was re-synced to internet time this morning.

UPDATE  1945z:  No spots all day.

6m QRP FT8 (Monday)

My 2.5W 6m FT8  to the V2000 vertical omni antenna has been on all day. 

UPDATE 1935z:  87 spots of me today.

UPDATE 2014z:  96 spots of me today.

European Es less good today?

Compared with a few days ago, the impression I am getting is that the Es in Europe is not as good. With Es, things can rapidly change.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Busy - NOT amateur radio

Recently, my old bird table blew over in the wind and was damaged beyond repair. As a replacement I bought two smaller bird tables to encourage small birds and discourage larger ones.   Since then, we have had a squirrel, many jackdaws and starlings. 

My strategy did not work!

630m QRP WSPR overnight

6 stations spotted my 10mW ERP 630m WSPR overnight. No great DX, but more spots than I was expecting.

My 630m transverter

ISM experimentation?

It seems many radio amateurs are becoming "appliance" operators rather than experimenters as was the case many years ago. This is sad. 

Experimentation is still happening, although not so much with amateur radio. It would appear the spirit of early amateur radio is still there on the ISM bands.

Personally, I think amateur radio will die a slow death in the next 20 years merging with CB and true experimenters will increasingly not be from the radio amateur community.

Granddaughter and our son - NOT amateur radio

This was our granddaughter with our son yesterday. 

The roses look good too this year.

Sunspots - Monday June 10th

 Solar flux is 181 and the SSN 148. A=5 and K=1.

MF WSPR tonight?

Although my last attempt with 10mW ERP on 630m WSPR was not too great, I am tempted to try again this evening and overnight. Last night I stuck with 6m FT8.

European Es (Sunday)

Although with Es things can very rapidly change, today does not look too great. At the moment I shall remain on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP.P WSPR.

See https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/radio-propagation-maps/europe-sporadic-e/ .

Grandson tea - NOT amateur radio

 

This was my grandson having tea last night.

Chordal hop Es

To me, it seems very improbable that many of the long Es paths are multi-hop. Yes, some might be, but I think it is much more probable these are some sort of chordal hop Es.

6m USA and Caribbean

Stations spotted
here in the last
day on 6m FT8

For the first time this season both the USA and the Caribbean were copied on 6m FT8 here. Sadly my 2.5W did not “cross the pond". The map shows stations spotted here in the last day on the omni antenna.  

UPDATE  0952z:  From the spots of my QRP, I can see evidence of European Es.

6m QRP FT8
spots of me
this morning

UPDATE 1115z: 50 spots of my 2.5W FT8 to the omni this morning. The map shows the stations spotting me this morning.

UPDATE 1900z: Spotted by 72 stations today. About to QSY to 630m QRP WSPR.

Good day on 10m QRPP

In the end 4 stations spotted my 500uW 10m WSPR yesterday, which was my best day yet, so Es must have been good. Note the beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W even though with the PA off it is only 500uW (0.5mW).

UPDATE 1900z: No spots today.