QDX videos

There are lots of videos on YouTube singing the praises of the tiny QDX digital transceiver from QRP Labs. This is just one as an example. It really is tiny and for many it will be all you ever need on HF.

Last ones? - NOT amateur radio

We try to have a small bowl of fruit each morning with breakfast. For several weeks this has included wild blackberries picked from a bush about 25m away. 

I think the last ones have been picked for this year, but will see if there are any more, but I am not hopeful.

Yesterday

Yesterday I planned to sort out my PC and QDX. Instead I helped someone else with their PC and service provider. Can you imagine someone who is more ignorant about PCs than me!!? They exist! Later today I hope to do what I hoped to do some days before. 

Sunspots - Wednesday October 16th

Solar flux is 172 and the SSN 141. A=15 and K=2.

Middle East - NOT amateur radio

Although I understand Israel being aggrieved that certain countries want the nation wiped off the face of the earth, I have no sympathy at all for this endless cycle of violence that sees so many innocent people killed or wounded. It must stop.

In the end the only viable solution is for Israel to be accepted as a state with a right to exist and the people of Palestine also having a right to statehood and a right to live in peace.

Recent pronouncements about doing things in the interest of Israel by the Israeli leader don't exactly sound like words of peace. It seems to me that violence will lead to more hatred, more violence and probably Israel in even more peril. If Israel attacks Iran, Iran and all its proxi groups will lash back at Israel.

Jaw jaw, not war war!! 

Through the ground

 Back in 2012 I was busy with earth mode VLF through the ground before my stroke got in the way! On QRSS3 I managed 6km but had the feeling much further would have been possible with more power and a bigger baseline.

Plans for Tuesday

 My intention is to go on 10m FT8 with my Windows 10 PC and QDX. This is conditional on:

• Being able to get my USB connection to "see" the QDX. I am told there is a known issue with how Windows recognises devices connected to the USB port.
• Being able to upgrade PC protection without going to Windows 11.

Apparently there is a fix for the first by connecting and powering up the QDX first. There is not an issue with Linux, just Windows.

Peak of solar cycle 25?

The jury is still out on the smoothed peak of solar cycle 25. At one time it was last year, but now it is thought possible it could be October 2024 according to Solan. 

What is certain is solar conditions are good and likely to remain so for some years to come.

Sunspots - Tuesday October 15th

 Solar flux is 182 and the SSN 146.  A=8 and K=2.

Inclusivity - NOT amateur radio

It would appear one of the major shops in Cambridge is trying to be inclusive with lots of signs up to celebrate the Hindu festival of light in early November called Diwali. 

There are also lots of lights that could be for Divali........or Christmas. Am I being cynical thinking this is a way to increase profits, reduce costs, and look good?

Plans for Monday

 You can tell it is October in the UK! Drizzle, cold and miserable. 

As I am in Cambridge much of the day for my U3A courses I do not expect to do much radio today.

1940s coach - NOT amateur radio

 

Our local museum had some visitors who arrived in this vintage coach.

Sunspots - Monday October 14th

 Solar flux is 195 and the SSN 108. A=5 and K=1.

10m QRP FT8 (Sunday)

 Assuming it all works, I intend to go on 10m QRP FT8 after breakfast with my QDX.

UPDATE 1744z: It did not work! Apparently the QDX has to be power cycled. Not only that, but the Windows update wants to move to Windows 11 and the PC has not enough disk space. If I was more confident, I would convert it to Linux, but I do not understand how to do it and then install WSJT-X under Linux. Ideally, I would like someone locally to do it!

Shield bug - NOT amateur radio

 

This says today, but it was first on Facebook in 2017. 

Sunspots - Sunday October 13th

Solar  flux is 214 and the SSN 95. A=20 and K=1.

Granddaughter's visit - NOT amateur radio

Our granddaughter is sleeping here tonight. 

This photo was taken whilst she was watching "Strictly Come Dancing" on TV.

Pititico ultra simple transceiver

As far as I can tell this ultra-simple transceiver has a passive receiver. It was designed initially by PY2OHH and this version appeared in this Canadian club magazine. Others have made versions for other bands. 

Clearly with such an insensitive receiver, it is better to call others calling CQ as you may not hear others on the frequency. The RX sensitivity will depend how good the headphones are.

See https://www.calameo.com/read/0076654746ade7e23a716 .

See also https://hackaday.com/2024/07/12/tiny-transceiver-gets-it-done-with-one-transistor/ .

"Never knowingly undersold" - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week my wife had a little time to kill in Cambridge, so she went into a famous shop. Certainly in the past they used the phrase "never knowingly undersold" meaning if you could find it cheaper they would refund you. I think they have dropped this now with internet competition. 

They run as a worker's co-operative with staff sharing in profits. They seem to charge huge amounts for goods and they must be struggling in the fierce retail market. 

It would not surprise me if they do not survive in their current form. It is a nice shop, but they charge silly prices.

QDX or QMX+?

Both these QRPlabs products are excellent rigs and I have them both. 

QDX

Most of my operating is either WSPR or FT8 on either 15m or 10m. I cannot recall when I last used SSB on HF because of my poor voice. The QDX is much smaller than the QMX+, but has no display and does not include 6m. Later versions of QMX+ software promise SSB too.

Now, with my limited ability to use SSB, I am questioning if I should keep the QMX+ rig. I probably will for now, but really the QDX would do all I need in the size of a pack of cards.

UPDATE 1806z:   It has been such a long time since I used the QDX that I have forgotten the sequence in which things are connected. There is a known issue with Windows, but not with Linux. For some reason the QDX is not recognised at first.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

In many ways, this year seems to have gone fast. As mentioned yesterday, our perception of the passing of time may alter as we age.

Autumn seems just a few weeks after last Christmas!  Where did the year go?  At the moment in our garden, trees are looking tired, but most are still in leaf. A few weeks, a few autumn gales will soon change things!

8m QRP FT8 (Saturday)

My 2.5W FT8 to a low dipole has been on since about 0910z. Surprised to see a very strong spot of me from ON5SE (473km). I guess this was aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 1114z:   Right on time, stations in South Africa are coming through (via TEP?) on 8m FT8.

UPDATE 1304z:  Spotted by 2 stations in Europe. No luck calling the South Africans earlier.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Saturday)

My QRP WSPR beacon was turned on at about 0910z.

UPDATE 1351z:  17 stations spotting me. The USA is coming through and spotting me, although I have the feeling things have been much better on other days.

Saturday plans

Although conditions again look disturbed, my plans currently are to try 8m QRP FT8 and 500mW WSPR TX.

Sunspots - Saturday October 12th

 Solar flux is 214 and the SSN 130. A=116 and K=2.

Each to their own

In amateur radio different people enjoy the hobby in different ways. It is a good thing we are all different! 

In my case, I enjoy getting the most from the least. Others chase DX and are happy to spend lots to get the very best gear. Others like amateur television. And so on...

I am still puzzled why MLS is advertising a microphone for almost £600. For a darn microphone!! Some people must have money to burn.

G3XBM videos

A reminder that many of my projects  are shown on my video channel on YouTube. 

I hope these can help you.  For example, this video is on the DX Explorer website. I always say use my designs as starting points for your own ideas. It is pretty certain most, if not all, of my designs may be improved.

Israel - NOT amateur radio

Some of my best friends are Jewish, but I am at a loss to understand what is currently happening. 

I understand that a certain state and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Huthies want to see the state of Israel wiped off the face of the earth. I also understand that Israel feels "on top" with their recent pager and walkie-talkie attacks.

What I fail to understand are these:

• Why are journalists not allowed into Gaza? 
• Why has Gaza got to be flattened?
• Why are so many women and children killed or maimed?
• Why are UN peace-keepers fired at?
• Why are innocent West Bank Palestinians being killed?
• Why drag innocents in Lebanon into the killing?
• Do the suffering of those Israeli hostages mean nothing?

One would have thought after the horrors of WW2 that Israel would not want to cause suffering to anyone, even their sworn enemies. It would appear that Israel wants a war. The oft use phrase is these terrorists use innocent civilians as human shields.

In the end, the only long-term solution is a just peace for everyone. Israel has to be recognised, but so has Palestine.

At the moment, Israel is in danger of appearing arrogant and turning away good friends. If they attack Iran, the state of Israel is in mortal danger.

This cycle of hate does nobody any good.

At the moment the Middle East is strategically important still. Gradually, it will be less so.

8m 2.5W FT8 (Friday)

My 2.5W 8m FT8 has been on since just before lunch.

UPDATE 1615z: No spots.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

 My QRP 10m WSPR beacon has been on all day.

UPDATE 1615z: No spots.

Friday plans

As conditions seem quite disturbed, I only plan to try 500mW WSPR beaconing on 10m today. 

Does time speed up as you get older? - NOT amateur radio

Last night somebody asked me if I had any plans for Christmas and said it only seemed like weeks since the last one! Shops are already putting up Christmas displays and this one has a Halloween display which seems like only yesterday since the last one.

It is my impression is that time passes faster as we age.

Sunspots - Friday October 11th

 Solar flux is 216 and the SSN 150. A=96 and K=6.

Wood wasp? - NOT amateur radio

This fearsome looking insect was on our garage door after breakfast. It was still there after lunch. 

I think it is a wood wasp, but I am no expert!  The body was about 3cm long.

It has a very large bottom which you can probably only see by enlarging the photo.

UK politics - NOT amateur radio

Since the UK Labour party came to power several months ago, they have been mired in controversy with the media feasting on free gifts for leading politicians and the withdrawal of winter fuel payments for many. For a Labour party set up to support workers, neither looks great.

The UK Conservative government lost heavily with the right wing Reform party picking up much support. The Conservative party is about to pick a new leader and the choice seems to be between two right wing candidates.

Moderation seems to have gone from politics in many countries, with disaffected people often voting for parties with extreme views.

Rallies at the weekend

 The following have been notified Please check details before going a long way. Both are on Sunday October 13th.

• Dartmoor Autumn Radio Rally, Yelverton, PL20 6AL. Contact 2e0rph@gmail.com . 
• Hornsea ARC Rally , Driffield, YO25 9FB. See hornseaarc.com .

8m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

So far, just spots by WESSEXSDR (267km) of my 2.5W to a dipole.

UPDATE 1040z: ZR1ADI (9777km) again coming through, but no QSO.

UPDATE 1356z:  2 spots from Poland and somebody signing "PA test" on 8m FT8 RX.  Not sure if this is somebody trying their power amp or someone testing in the Netherlands.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Thursday)

My stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon is already being spotted in South America  by PU5ALE (10191km). I assume this is F2 propagation. 

UPDATE 1438z:  24 stations have spotted my 10m QRP WSPR beacon today.

Thursday plans

 Later, I hope to go on QRP 8m FT8 (2.5W) and 500mW WSPR beaconing on 10m.

GQRP SPRAT

Many times, I have said that if I had to give up every radio magazine then SPRAT would be the last one to go. This is still my view. 

SPRAT is published every quarter as a colour A5 magazine. It is packed full mainly of simple construction projects and annual subs are very low. It is entirely run by volunteers with back issues of SPRAT available on a flash stick at a very reasonable sum. Well worth getting.

See https://www.gqrp.com/sprat.htm .