Heathkit HW-8

These were very popular QRP CW transceivers some years ago. I owned a built one and had lots of fun with it. As I recall, I mostly used it on 15m CW and had plenty of DX QSOs despite it being 2W.

Although I have yet to get it, I have just bought a much modified HW-8 ready built. Whether I use it depends on my ability to send CW!!

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/heathkit-hw8

iPhone amateur radio apps

Many people have iPhones. I had no idea (until seeing it in Amateur Radio Weekly yesterday) how many apps there are for Apple and Android. Many of these are free and very useful.

Check the iPhone app store.

The Knowledge

Every day in my email I get The Knowledge newsletter (Google it). It is free. Shown today was a farmhouse in Suffolk, UK. 

I am sure many can afford it.

6m 3W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0905z.

UPDATE 1238z:   Spotted by 158 Europeans and I have spotted 177 here, presumably Es.  Currently RX only.

10m 200mW WSPR (Sunday)

 My beacon is on.

UPDATE 0837z: So far 33 European stations have spotted me. Es?

Hotel breakfast

Most hotels now have a buffet breakfast that keeps you going all day. This was my breakfast in Canterbury yesterday.

Sunspots - Sunday May 31st

 Solar flux is 142 and the SSN 133. A=15 and K=3.

Ferrite rods as TX antennas

Most people are familiar with ferrite rod antennas as RX antennas. I think this works as the effective size of the rod is "magnified" as the effective permeability is much larger than that of air. This can be used in electric field antennas as well.

As long as the material does not saturate, i.e at very low power, they may be used in TX antennas as well, e.g. in WSPR beacons. Some years ago I carried out some experiments to prove they worked. They would be far down on a "proper" antenna, but they do work.  As I recall my antennas were effectively loaded E field antennas rather than H field loops.

As I often say do not be afraid to experiment!  This is one area of experimentation that has really been neglected.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/ferrite-rod-tx-antennas .

Russia-Ukraine nuclear plant risks

 The largest nuclear power plant in Europe (I think) is in a war zone.

Meshtastic node

Quite a few people are experimenting by sending data over LoRa Meshtastic which is around 898MHz in Europe and does not need amateur radio or the internet: it is licence free.   I see MLS is selling a solar powered node at about £64.

In rural areas the problem is often coverage gaps. Such a node might help.

I have not experimented, but am tempted.