Thermidor

Having bought these from a UK store I decided to try my own. There was too much tomato so next time I'll get my wife to do the sauce. 

Not bad for a first attempt. 5/10 and a star for effort.

Comparing regen and direct conversion receivers

In this video VK3YE compares these types of receivers. In my view, both have their places.

Sunspots - Sunday October 5th

 Solar flux is 158 and the SSN 137. A=20 and K=3.

The garden in autumn

 

Although most trees still have their leaves, they will soon lose them. The colours this autumn are great.

SSB on the QMX and QMX+

These radios from QRP Labs now support SSB. I see there is a video on how to wire up an electret mic to use with the QMX.

Yucca

This is in a neighbour's garden. 

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

My stand-alone 10m beacon has been on since lunch.

UPDATE 1950z:  12 stations have spotted me including plenty ""across the pond". See table.

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

Since lunch I have been on 6m QRP FT8.

UPDATE 1754z:   12 stations have spotted me. See map.

Sunspots - Saturday October 4th

 Solar flux is 170 and the SSN 161. A=30 and K=3..

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

My 10m QRP WSPR TX beacon has been on since mid morning. Once again, plenty of spots from the Canary Is..

UPDATE  1919z: Just those 2 stations in the Canary Is. all day. Now QRT.

Pass it on

 Last night my wife and I re-watched the film "The History Boys" by Alan Bennett. It really is a very good film, although I have not read the book. 

It is actually a very deep film. One famous quote (it's been on this blog before) is about "pass it on". See https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8740630-pass-the-parcel-that-s-sometimes-all-you-can-do-take .

See also https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464049/?ref_=fn_all_ttl_1 .

It is available on Amazon.

"Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it, and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on.”

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

Since returning from shopping I have been on 6m QRP FT8. 

UPDATE 1117z:  17 stations have spotted me in England, Wales and Eire. 

UPDATE 1917z:  37 stations have spotted me today. See map. Now QRT.

Friday plans

 After shopping I plan to go on 10m 500mW WSPR and 6m 5W FT8 again.

Sunspots - Friday October 3rd

 Solar flux is 167 and the SSN 161. A=45 and K=5.

10m 500mW WSPR (Thursday)

 My beacon was turned on just after lunch.

UPDATE 1340z:  No spots of me.

It's coming

We are now firmly in autumn. Leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter. It is starting to become cooler here in the UK. 

It amazes me how we always adapt. Every season has something to enjoy.

6m 5W FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on after lunch.

UPDATE  1328z: 11 stations, all in England, have spotted me so far.

UPDATE 2039z:  25 stations have spotted me including several in Iberia. See map.  Even in October I am being spotted widely despite my 5W and vertical omni antenna.

Pititico transceiver

This circuit originated in Brazil. Here it is on the DXexplorer site. I think it has been on this blog some time ago.

See https://www.qsl.net/py2ohh/trx/pititico/pititico.html .

Incidentally, PY2OHH's site has a wealth of data.

Storm coming

This weekend is likely to be wet and windy in the UK as we get hit by the remains of a hurricane. Although we can expect strong winds and rain, it is unlikely to be as bad as it was a few days ago. Anyway, it does not look like weather to go far!

Thursday plans

 Probably I shall go on 10m 500mW WSPR and 6m 5W FT8 again, most likely after lunch.

Sunspots - Thursday October 2nd

 Solar flux is 184 and the SSN 161.  A=50 and K=6.

Article in RadCom Basics

In the latest edition of this online RSGB magazine is an article by me about 6m. You may want to read it. See the RSGB website.

Innovative

 

This is an innovative use of an old tree stump. It is filled with flowers that look lovely at this time of year.

6m 5W FT8 (Wednesday)

Stations spotting my 6m FT8 QRP earlier

My gear has been on since early this morning.

UPDATE 1614z:  31 spots of me so far including some in continental Europe. See map.

10m 500mW WSPR TX (Wednesday)

 My beacon has been on since early this morning.

UPDATE  1244z: Just spots by 2 stations in the Canary Is..

6m QRP FT8 yesterday

Yesterday only English stations spotted me as I think conditions were disturbed. 

It goes to show how useful the 6m band could be for inter-G QSOs, especially on modes like FT8.

Sunspots - Wednesday October 1st

Solar flux is 187 and the SSN 171. A=75and K=5.

10m 500mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 My beacon has been on since late morning.

UPDATE 1257z:  Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me.

6m 5W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear was turned in late morning.

UPDATE 1255z: Just 11 English stations have spotted me so far. See map.

Tuesday plans

 Later I hope to go on 6m 5W FT8 and 10m 500mW WSPR. 

Sunspots - Tuesday September 30th

 Solar flux is 186 and the SSN 131. A=27 and K=7.

Autumn in the garden

 

My wife took this photo showing the leaves changing colour for the autumn with holly behind.

Before we know it it will be winter and spring.

Every season has things to enjoy.

Ultra-simple transceiver

Many years ago I set out to see just how simple a viable transceiver could be made. It was published in GQRP SPRAT. It certainly works! Others built it and have worked some remarkable DX. It is also on my website.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .

6m 5W FT8 (Monday)

My gear has been on since mid morning.

UPDATE 1303z:  So far just 10 English stations spotting me today. I had been looking at the last day by mistake.

My favourite walk

When I was younger and fitter this walk near Salcombe in Devon was one of my favourites. You crossed the foot ferry from Salcombe and walked about 5 miles to Prawle Point. The views are spectacular.

10m 500mW WSPR (Monday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 0930z.

UPDATE 1001z: Spotted multiple times by EA8BFK (2880km).  If this station is active I seem to get spotted most times. I guess this is single hop  F2.

6m QRP FT8 yesterday

Stations spotting my 3W 6m FT8 yesterday

It continues to surprise me how well just 3W 6m FT8 does. It is well after the main Es season has ended, and I am unsure of the propagation mechanism. Being spotted in Finland could be a patch of Es, it could be some sort of scatter and even F2 but I think this very unlikely.

Anyway, the message is clear: with FT8 on 6m be prepared to be surprised! If I can do it with 3W to a V2000 omni vertical imagine what 50W and a beam could do.

Sunspots - Monday September 29th

 Solar flux is 171 and the SSN 131. A=10 and K=2.

Handheld QRP

 

This short video shows this rig in operation. Great fun. I see it is available from Amazon UK for less than £100.

Pears

These were on a tree in our village earlier. We moved ours a couple of years ago. It’s smothered and had no fruit this year.