10m FT8 simple receiver

This has been on before, so this is just a timely reminder. 

10m FT8 is becoming very popular and this receiver allows 10m FT8 reception without tying up the main rig. It is simple, very low cost and works really well.

I could probably convert it into a full FT8 transceiver!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/10ft8r-rx .

"London" grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Two of our grandchildren are half French. On May 2nd their French grandfather has his birthday, so we took a photo in our back garden to send.

10m (28 MHz)

At various times of the solar cycle our largest HF allocation enjoys most propagation modes. At all parts of the solar cycle it experiences Es openings in spring and summer. It is often open when people desert it. This is where FT8 could prove useful in the quieter years.

It is also good for local chats. At one time modified CB rigs were very popular. With these and a CB vertical ranges of about 30km locally were common.

At the moment, it is a great DX band. It is usually better in the daytime, although when it is really good, it is often open for DX in the evenings.

It is wide enough for all modes. Even digital TV has been tried above 29 MHz.

It remains my favourite HF band.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .

Spring - NOT amateur radio

 

These flowers were in a garden in a nearby village. For the last couple of days it has felt like spring at last.

Getting ready - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson has rung in 109 towers now including this one at Isleham where they seem prepared for the coronation next weekend. 

In general, the whole preparation for the coronation feels very low key. I am old enough to remember the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II!! I guess we were still getting over WW2 and this was a bit of light relief. 

I remember going to watch the coronation on a neighbour's tiny TV screen in black and white. We did not have a TV until 1957 and that was just one channel and back and white. At the time we thought it was amazing. Before then, we used to watch a snowy TV picture whilst sitting on the floor a a local radio/TV shop. At that time we were about 150km from the nearest TV transmitter.

10m QRP FT8 with the QDX

 

Since about 1120z, I have been on 10m QRP with the QDX. So far, mostly Europeans, I presume by Es.

UPDATE 1340z:   80 stations have spotted my QRP.

Crabapple - NOT amateur radio

We only have one crabapple tree. It seems to be good every other year, so we are hoping for a good crop this year and some good crabapple jelly, as last year was poor. 

Sunspots - Sunday April 30th 2023

 Solar flux is 156 and the SSN 82.  A=20 and K=1.

Multiband antennas

Quite a good multi-band antenna is the end-fed via a 9:1 balun. At the end of the wire it presents a high impedance and the 9:1 balun drops the impedance to a low SWR, certainly less than 3:1 that can be tuned via the auto-ATU in many modern rigs. On many radios an ATU will not be needed at all. With QRP, RF on the coax is not usually an issue. With high power, more care or a counterpoise may be needed.

At the moment I am using an end-fed antenna. I have not found a counterpoise necessary.

Commercial versions are available (e.g. from Moonraker), although many make their own.

Amateur Radio Weekly

Thus comes to me as an email on Saturdays. It is a precis of amateur radio news and very good it is. There are links to the originating articles.

See https://hamweekly.com/ .