15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor active loop

Most of the day I have been on 15m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop indoors on the shack window. So far,  547 stations spotted at 1651z.

Furthermost was VK2QV (16898km).

15m FT8 RX with the active RX loop

For about an hour, I have been on 15m FT8 RX. So far (at 1010z) 54 stations spotted with the furthermost A41ZZ (5854km) in Oman. The antenna is again the indoor Wellgood active loop fixed to the shack window.

UPDATE 1145z:   123 stations spotted with the furthermost E25ETT (9673km) in the Far East.

UPDATE 1231z:   149 stations spotted with the furthermost CE2SV (11716km).

UPDATE 1545z:   259 stations spotted.

UPDATE 2150z:   QRT. 265 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX.

15m FT8 RX (Sunday)

 It is now 0920z. I have been on 15m FT8 RX for about 10 minutes with the Wellgood active loop antenna. So far, 12 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1145z:   89 stations spotted this morning. QSYing to 6m FT8 shortly.

15m FT8 RX

At about 1430z I QSYed from 40m to 15m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop.  It is now 1440z and, so far, 7 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1712z:  26 stations spotted, mostly in the USA.

15m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Since about 0930z, I have been on 15m FT8 RX will the indoor active loop. So far today, 29 stations already spotted with the furthermost 5Z4VJ (6858km).

UPDATE 1130z:  149 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1900z:   415 stations spotted before I QSYed.

15m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

At about 0950z, I turned on my 15m RX using the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. At 0954z,  27 stations already spotted with the furthermost ZS6AF (9156km).

UPDATE 1434z:  334 stations spotted so far today on 15m FT8 RX (see map).

UPDATE 1727z:  446 stations spotted.

15m FT8 RX (Monday)

For about 30 minutes I have been on 15m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop. At 1000z 62 stations have been spotted.

UPDATE 1305z:   327 stations spotted. Furthermost is LW2EDM (11776km).

15m FT8 RX (Sunday)

 At about 1115z I turned on my 15m gear using the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. So far (at 1137z) 104 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1455z:  275 stations spotted.

15m FT8 RX (Saturday)

Since about 0908z, I have been on 15m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop. It is now 0949z and, so far, 130 stations have been spotted with the furthermost E25ETT (9673km) in Thailand.

UPDATE 1327z:  521 stations spotted with the furthermost ZL4AS (18995km) on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1730z:   612 stations spotted today. QSY soon.

15m FT8 RX

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX using the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. So far today, after about 35 minutes, 116 stations spotted with the furthermost ZS4JAN (9386km).

UPDATE 1623z:  518 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today. Furthermost is VK4DW (14466km),

UPDATE 1857:  530 stations spotted today. Now QRT.

15m FT8 RX (Sunday)

My 15m FT8 RX with the active Wellgood RX loop on the window was turned on at 1006z. So far today (at 1217z) 248 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YD1FRU (11796km). 

UPDATE 1749z:  So far today, 608 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX. Certainly the Wellgood active loop is allowing me to copy all over the world on 15m FT8 RX.

15m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop RX antenna

For about 2 hours I have been on 15m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop RX antenna on the shack window.

So far today, 276 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost VK4ZC (16530km) in Australia. 

Even as high as 15m (21MHz), the Wellgood loop on the shack window works really well and I have made no attempt whatsoever to optimise it. It is just stuck on with Blutak! I shall have to try it on 10m!

UPDATE 1225z:  359 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX.

15m FT8 RX (Thursday)

At the moment I am on 15m FT8 RX with the Wellgood active loop on the shack window. So far, 96 stations spotted with the furthermost PY7ZC (7540km).  It is now 1035z and I have been on since about 0900z.

UPDATE 1232z:  232 stations spotted with the furthermost LW2EDM (11776km).

UPDATE 1518z:  468 stations spotted. Furthermost is LU8XW (13474km).

UPDATE 1926z: 583 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX.

15m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

For about an hour I have been on 15m FT8 RX with my Wellgood active loop on the shack window. So far, 80 stations spotted with the furthermost VR2XMT (9530km) in Hong Kong.

UPDATE 1410z: So far today, 348 stations spotted from most continents.

UPDATE 1656z:  637 stations so far spotted today on 15m FT8 RX with the Wellbrook active loop.

15m FT8 RX

As 10m FT8 RX was disappointing, I QSYed down to 15m, which was filled with North Americans on FT8 RX. 

As an experiment, I swapped the coax to my big-wheel for the Wellgood active loop. If anything, the Wellgood loop is better, so I have left it connected.

Already 51 stations spotted, most on the tiny indoor Wellgood active loop antenna.

UPDATE 1620z:  122 unique stations spotted, most on the Wellgood active loop antenna. I have now used the Wellgood active loop from 630m to 21m. Perhaps I should try it on a new band this evening?

15m FT8 RX (Wednesday)

Like yesterday, I am again on 15m FT8 RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna, ad hoc though it is! After about 15 minutes, 23 stations already spotted.

UPDATE 1204z:   176 stations spotted today on 15m FT8 RX today.

UPDATE 1441z:   343 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today. I am amazed how well this "antenna" works. Basically, anything will work. On TX too via an ATU if necessary.

UPDATE 1501z:  Just for fun, I went on 15m FT8 TX with 2.5W and this unusual "antenna". Sadly, no spots of me received after a few minutes TXing! Maybe I am being clobbered by a much stronger station, so I'll QSY and try again. After QSYing about 500Hz HF I was spotted at -20dB S/N by SV1ONU (2409km) and at -15dB S/N by K4EA (6742km). 354 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1606z:  395 stations spotted today. After another brief TX period with 2.5W, I was copied by no stations.

UPDATE 1826z:  424 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX today.

15m antenna?

Judging by the results on FT8 RX today with my very improvised 15m antenna, I am tempted to convert my Par end fed antenna to 15m. 

I suppose I could make it cover 10m and 15m by putting up 2 wires. Already today, I have spotted 350 stations on 15m FT8 RX. Don't forget that some of the time the PC had closed down with a flat battery too!  With a "proper" antenna , I would expect even better results.

All that should be needed to cover 15m is a longer wire.

15m FT8 RX (Tuesday)

As a complete change I am on 15m FT8 RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna. The SWR looks quite low without any additional ATU. So far, 28 stations spotted.

UPDATE 1131z: 158 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX with this daft antenna! 

UPDATE 1213z: 207 stations spotted so far.

UPDATE 1435z:  Doh!! Guess who forgot to turn on the PC charger? The laptop went flat, so I had to turn it on again and check time was synced. 315 stations spotted with lots of USA stations.

UPDATE 1557z: So far today, 373 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX with the improvised antenna.

UPDATE 1835z:  403 stations spotted on 15m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1929z:  QRT.

15m Pipit transceiver

This design is now very old. It dates from way before the end of the last century. It appeared in GQRP SPRAT magazine. This was way before digital schematics, so the schematic was hand drawn. It worked some impressive DX.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .

21MHz (15m) QRP CW - my homebrew "Pipit"

Many years ago I designed and made this QRP (800mW) CW rig of 15m. 

It worked remarkably well and worked some impressive DX. 

For several months it was the only rig I used, out of choice. Every QSO was so satisfying. It appeared in GQRP SPRAT. It was in the days before schematic drawing packages, so the schematic was hand-drawn. I used Neosid toroids as these were at hand, although I am sure Amidon ones would be suitable with turns adjusted.

Values are on my webpage. As with all my designs, please use this as a starting point for your own ideas and do not be afraid to change things if this makes the design better! The SBL1 mixer can certainly be replaced by similar double balanced mixers or a homebrew version.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/15m-qrp-cw-pipit .