Spy transceiver

 

DX Explorer has some truly amazing projects. This tiny transceiver fits in a matchbox.

What gives YOU fun in amateur radio?

 One of the great aspects of our hobby is that it may be enjoyed in so many ways. Some just like a chat, some chase DX, some like ATV, etc..

I think interests change as you get older, so now is perhaps time to reflect.

My interest has always been in the experimental side. I have enjoyed experimenting  sub-10kHz, but I have also enjoyed testing over the horizon at 481THz. I like QRP.

These days I am less mobile, so try to experiment at home, with FT8 and WSPR modes being my favourites as my voice is poor. In the past I would have dashed in my car to carry out some experiment!

Probably I get as much pleasure from listening as I do transmitting these days. Working DXCC with QRP SSB on 10m 40 years ago has something to do with this! Being retired there is always the next day.

In this hobby there is always something new to try tomorrow!

Red Kite (bird)

Not many years ago the idea of seeing a red kite out of the kitchen window would have sounded stupid. They were re-introduced some years ago and they seem to be widespread now.  

Often they are seen beside roads where they feed on roadkill. A long train ride also results in quite a few sightings.  

They can easily be recognised by their forked tail. As far as I am aware they are the only large bird in the UK with a forked tail.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_kite .

10m 3W FT8 (Tuesday)

My gear (10m QDX-M - see picture) was turned on at about 1410z.  It is fed via a series of suitably rated diodes to keep well within the 12V power limit. The output without the diodes is about 4W, I suspect I am running around 3W.

UPDATE 2015z:  666 stations spotted on RX with plenty of stations in the USA, Canada, South America and Africa. I find it amazing something this tiny works so well. With my 200mW 10m WSPR beacon and this rig I get about 95% of my amateur radio fun these days.

UPDATE  2056z:  QRT.

Russian economy

The Russian inflation rate is high and going up and the interest rate is high. In theory, this suggests the economy is in trouble. In the short term this has not been a problem in a war economy.  The longer time goes by the harder it gets.

10m 200mW WSPR (Tuesday)

 My beacon was turned at breakfast time.

UPDATE 1010z:  38 spots by EA8BFK (2880km). The variation in S/N is over 20dB, most of which is probably QSB on the path, but some might be local noise I guess. Some might be QRM from other stations. At time just microwatts would be enough! 

Sunspots - Tuesday February 17th

 Solar flux is 118 and the SSN 69. A=29 and K=2.

UK antenna petition

In the UK planning permission is required for (some?) amateur radio antennas. 

I am strongly opposed to this change, which would allow amateurs to erect towers to 15m and 2 antennas with widths up to 8m to be put up without planning permission!

Imagine that in your next door neighbour's garden!

No!!

Personally, I would rather people "self train" with modest antennas and low power.

Thankfully, this is very likely to fail.

King's College Chapel, Cambridge, UK

 

The picture shows King's College Chapel from 2 different sides.

10m 200mW WSPR (Monday)

 My beacon has been on since about 0900z.

UPDATE 0932z:   Several spots already by EA8BFK (2880km).

UPDATE 1615z:   Spotted by 29 stations so far. 200mW seems quite enough. See table. I must be getting lazy: I just switch on my WSPR beacon (no PC needed) and just  monitor where I am received. I was planning to try 10m 5W FT8, but that will now have to wait until tomorrow!