Today I returned to 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial. This resulted in my first report from Denmark.
UPDATE 1543z: Now QSYed to 10m FT8.
15 Jul 2022
When I could build and experiment
14 Jul 2022
10m simple sideband transceiver.
Before my stroke got in the way, I had every intention of making a simple transceiver for 10m sideband.
Originally, I was thinking of a DSB rig, but these days a better bet might be a phasing SSB. A synthesiser chip and low cost micro-controller might allow full band coverage and other bands with minor changes.
In my mind, this was to have been a small, single PCB design, much like a small Heathkit Lunchbox. It would make a neat and low cost club project.
Sadly, although I had some ideas, much of the design remains to be done. In the next few years 10m will be very good. Antennas for 10m are small and fit in most gardens. Even CB verticals and wire dipoles work well.
If you are in a position to finish this, I would be very pleased.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10m-simple-sideband .
Cornish poppies - NOT amateur radio
This photo was posted on Facebook a few days ago. It deserves sharing. It show a poppy field in Cornwall with the sea behind.
Some people in Cornwall are fiercely independent wanting it to be a separate country called Kernow. The Cornish language is being revived.
10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)
UPDATE 1015z: 30 stations have spotted my 10m QRP FT8 today and I have spotted all over on FT8 RX (see photo).
UPDATE 1425z: 447 stations spotted on RX and I have been spotted by 61 unique stations.
Famous quote - NOT amateur radio
Every now and then you see a quote that resonates. We are finite and imperfect, but our experience of life is important and unique.
Blame it on old age!
Yesterday I was about to put a photo on of me testing a loop antenna in the garden at our old house in 2013. Then I checked and found that I had posted a very similar photo only a few weeks ago!! The trouble is I post in various places and can't remember where the photo has been posted. Blame it on old age.
13 Jul 2022
Shack PC fixed!!
In the end I had to reinstall the network drivers. This has totally fixed the issues I had, which were a total inability to connect to the Internet and sync network time.
My thanks go to everyone who tried so hard to help me fix it. It happened after a Windows update. I thought Windows updates were intended to make things better?
6m QRP FT8 TX (Wednesday)
10m QRP FT8
After a little while on full power with the FT817ND, I decided it was too easy on 10m FT8. So, I have now reduced to minimum power (500mW?) and am still making QSOs. Perhaps I should add an external attenuator and try at 1mW 10m FT8?
70cm activity contest reminder
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| Stations spotted on 70cm FT8 this evening |
This evening is the 70cm FT8 activity contest. I do not usually submit a score, but usually come on with my QRP and 2m omni big-wheel antenna. I am always surprised how far I can spot.
South Devon again - NOT amateur radio
This photo was taken some years ago and shows Burgh Island from Thurlestone.
10m QRP WSPR TX
It is very easy to forget (I just did!) that I can go on 10m QRP WSPR TX with my 500mW W5OLF beacon. It has just been turned on at about 0812z.
UPDATE 0850z: 3 spots by OH2FHJ (1721km) I may try 10m FT8.
8m experiment (Wednesday)
At the moment I am on 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial using the old PC. Interesting that the power has not dropped suggesting the audio from the usual PC may have been dropping over time? No spots.
UPDATE 0851z: No spots. May QSY to 10m FT8 soon.
12 Jul 2022
Perugia, Italy
Perugia is near Assisi.
8m QRP FT8 TX
At the moment (2028z) I am on 40.680 MHz FT8 TX with the "old" Windows PC. So far, no spots.
PC not fixed
My issue seems to be no Internet connection. I have tried most things I know about, but so far no luck. I shall try again tomorrow.
UPDATE 2020z: I am currently on 8m FT8 QRP TX with the "old" Windows PC. So far, no spots.
Little things please little minds - NOT amateur radio
This cartoon that appeared on Facebook today must be very old, but it amused me! The USA has had 2 presidents since.
Minimalist transceiver
This has been on before, although I make no apologies. It was inspired by a 40m design by W2UW (now a SK). My main issue was netting the receiver, although you may have a way of doing this. The rig must still be around somewhere - probably in the loft. As I recall, it needs just 14 parts including a single FET.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/80m-feter-transceiver .
Dad's seats - NOT amateur radio
My dad died in 1987 after working for the water board in South Devon for a very long time. Before that he was a plumber and before that a Pathfinder in Lancasters in WW2. he rarely spoke of his war. I think he hated it.
11 Jul 2022
Fuel prices in the UK - NOT amateur radio
In the last few months wholesale UK fuel prices have dropped back quite a bit. OK, the US dollar exchange rate has got worse and oil is bought in dollars.
Now, I am no expert, but it seems when prices rise that oil companies are keen to put up prices, but are less keen to put prices down when they pay less wholesale.
It is interesting that they are very keen to avoid that £2 a litre figure with the diesel price widely at £199.9 a litre.
It would be rather nice if garages dropped their prices/profits when they can.
Burwell Museum - NOT amateur radio
Our local museum next door is vast with many things besides the windmill. It goes on and on!
One of the exhibits is a Nissan hut with things from WW2. I cannot rave it more highly as it is probably one of the best local museums in the UK. Really well worth visiting.
8m experiment (Monday)
As I am unlikely to fix things today, I suspect there will be no action on 8m FT8 TX here today.
UPDATE 1927z: reset router and flushed DNS cache, but still no success....yet.
Fixing that FT8 PC
It looks my issue with time sync is more general with DNS addresses. All websites fail to connect with this PC although other PCs work fine. I have found a very good site to systematically work out what's wrong. After lunch, I intend to work through these and fix the problem.
UPDATE 1930z : Flushed DNS cache and reset router, but no success.... yet.
10 Jul 2022
8m experiment (Sunday)
Well, FT8 is working on 8m FT8 RX on a different PC, but not yet on TX. The audio shows TX on the SignaLink USB, but no power on TX.All sliders are at maximum. It must be something stupid I am doing. This PC must be about x20 slower than the machine usually used!
UPDATE 1236z: No spots on 8m FT8 RX today.
10m QRP WSPR TX
As I can sync my 10m WSPR TX beacon without the PC, I am able to TX WSPR at 500mW. It is now 1000z and so far today 6 stations have spotted me.
I need to fix the PC as this is needed for FT8.
Looking towards Cornwall - NOT amateur radio
This was the view some years ago looking towards Cornwall from Thurlestone in South Devon.
9 Jul 2022
FT8 and PC time sync
Until I can sort out my PC time sync issue (to Internet time on the PC) I am unable to use FT8 on any band.
Years ago I would have been able to do this logically. Since my 2013 stroke, it is like part of my brain is scrambled and I find logical thinking and problem solving so much harder.
The best way I can describe it is as follows. Imagine wading through glue. It is a bit like this. It is all but impossible to think clearly these days without becoming exhausted.
Dry - NOT amateur radio
We went for a walk around the village of Reach earlier before it got too hot. A few months ago it was muddy. Now it is very dry.
10m WSPR QRP TX (Saturday)
Again on 10m WSPR QRP TX using my 500mW TX beacon by W5OLF. So far, at 1000z, spots by 6 unique station, predominately more northerly stations.
Is it my imagination or do we get more northerly stations on 10m later in the summer? I have noticed this before.
UPDATE 1537z: 28 unique stations have spotted me today.
Windows bug?
My time sync seems to have stopped.
For several days I have had an error with my usual time server being unavailable. I turned this off and tried using the Windows own sync, This failed and I got a different message saying the last sync was in 2015. Yesterday it said last Wednesday. I am beginning to think this might be a bug with the last update.
I synced my WSPR beacon using my clock linked to a very accurate source online i.e. without the PC. Of course, with the PC I cannot do this. The PC is needed for FT8 and WSJT-X.
Has anyone else had this issue recently and is there a fix please?
8m experiment (Saturday)
Again, I am on 8m TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial FT8 but I have been unable to sync the PC clock. No spots.
Iceland 2011 - NOT amateur radio
This is the spot where Iceland had its first parliament. It is on a fault line. Iceland is a beautiful place.
8 Jul 2022
2m operation
You often hear the cry "2m is dead these days". It is true that fewer people come on the band just for a chat as, these days, they can do this with video for free locally or across the world on the Internet. My XYL chats with an old friend in Australia on video and it is like she is in the same room. I am also amused when our club Zoom talks are given by someone 5000km away! In many ways the Internet has shrunk our planet and we feel more connected.
Back to 2m. These days there are far more modes, some which require far less bandwidth, yet can go a very long way. An example is FT8 which works with signals far weaker than SSB or CW. I have found that unheard of DX seems possible at just about any time on 2m QRP with an omni antenna. By the way, FT8 needs just 50 Hz of bandwidth whereas SSB typically needs 2400 Hz.
Yes, 2m is quieter than it was 30-40 years ago, but there is still activity of a different sort. Indeed, if you listen on repeaters or FM simplex these can be quiet. Calling CQ on SSB is far less likely to get a response.
In some areas, local noise can be a nightmare. Here, thankfully, it is still fairly quiet. I use a V2000 vertical for FM and a big wheel omni for SSB and FT8. Even with QRP, I find great DX can always be worked with 2m FT8. Give 2m a go sometime.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/2m-operation .
OFCOM updates
OFCOM has updated the data it holds about licences etc. See the OFCOM website for details.
My brother's garden in Devon - NOT amateur radio
10m WSPR QRP TX
As usual, I am on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF beacon.
UPDATE 1516z: 45 unique stations have spotted me today. This is more than yesterday. I am pleasantly surprised by the level of activity on 10m WSPR.
8m experiment (Friday)
When the rig is cool I have been on 8m FT8 QRP TX on 40.680 MHz USB dial.
As encouragement to others, I have been copied by 5 stations so far this morning including DL0TUD/RX (939km), the latter being my 13th country to spot me on 8m FT8 despite just a few watts only from the FT817ND and low wire dipole. Es really is the QRPer's friend! However limited your set-up, I can guarantee fun on 8m, whether TX or RX.
I do hope administrations see sense and start to allow very limited amateur radio access to 8m. Ideally, this should be narrow digital only (no speech) with 40.680-40.685 MHz as a minimum.
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