DX crystal set

This is a circuit I have never built. It was in QST some years ago and uses a zero bias MOSFET to give better sensitivity. You may want to have a go. Please read the ARRL article below.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

ARRL National Convention

As far as I know, this is still on. It is in Orlando, Florida, USA this Thursday. As always, check with organisers first before travelling far. This may be of interest to people in the USA.  

See http://www.arrl.org/arrl-expo .

DX news

It is a very long time since I chased DX. If I work DX these days it by accident.  To some people, chasing DX is their main focus in the hobby.  The ARRL has a weekly DX bulletin than some may feel useful.

See http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive/ARLD039/2021 . There is also an archive of past bulletins.

ARRL 10m contest

A friend has reminded me that this contest is this weekend. Entries are for CW and phone contacts. I don't think there is a digital section.

These are the rules https://contests.arrl.org/ContestRules/10M-Rules.pdf

8m band in the USA?

The FCC has received a "Petition for Rulemaking" making the case for an 8m amateur allocation. This is just a first step in what could be a long process. 

Midway between 10m and 6m this could be a really interesting allocation for serious experimenters especially with Es and MS. This was first made in June last year. I have no idea what happened. Even a few kHz and a limited power or ERP limit would be useful. If the FCC is as dynamic as OFCOM I expect the children will not understand how useful to radio science this could be.

Personally I would say 10kHz wide, narrow modes only (CW, digital) , secondary allocation, non-interference, 1W ERP to start with. Wouldn't this be a great FT8 or WSPR (or its replacement) allocation?

See the ARRL website for further details.

ARRL HQ

According to Southgate News the ARRL is trying to minimise the risks to its staff by stopping visitors. Someone had better tell the US President.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2020/march/announcement-from-american-radio-relay-league-headquarters.htm#.Xm6O1MiTK00

High sensitivity crystal set

The ARRL website still has a public link to an old QST article on using a MOSFET as a high sensitivity crystal set. I have not duplicated this design, but should try it on HF. There is lots about crystal sets on my website.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/crystalset

A better crystal set?

Some years ago QST had a circuit for a better crystal set that used a MOSFET. I have never tried this, but I should. It is supposed to be more sensitive than conventional designs, and uses no batteries.

See http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/culter.pdf

ARRL

The ARRL is the national organisation in the USA for radio amateurs. It is a bit like the RSGB in the UK.

For a while I joined and received their monthly magazine QST. QST is quite a big magazine, but I decided not to renew as the RSGB's RadCom seemed to be enough for me with PW and SPRAT.

See http://www.arrl.org/

ARRL numbers falling

There is a gradual downward trend in ARRL membership. This does not surprise me. However, it is worrying.

Around the world, generally, the amateur radio population is getting progressively older and it is getting harder to attract and keep younger people. We come over as an old man's hobby. I know this is not so, but we have to "connect".

As the demographic gets generally older, membership of national societies and radio clubs is likely to suffer. When I was fitter, I gave quite a few talks at radio clubs in East Anglia, UK.  By and large, the audiences were male and older men with very few women and young people. Unless we attract and keep younger people our hobby will die.

New FRS rules in the USA

This applies in the USA and NOT in Europe!

The ARRL reports on some rule changes by the FCC which come into effect next year.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/view/new-fcc-part-95-personal-radio-services-rules-published-in-the-federal-register?utm_source=amateur-radio-weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

"Successful" HAARP WSPR test?

Well, not in my book.

Southgate News carries news of this test using WSPR around the end of July and start of August. The report mentions the hundreds of WSPR reports from all over the USA and Canada. Using 1GW ERP this is distinctly average.

OK, apparently D-layer absorption was high on 80m, but I would have expected reports from elsewhere too.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2018/august/successful-haarp-wspr-research-campaign.htm#.W3LXXPZFzIU

DXpedition to the Spraty Islands now March

According to the ARRL, the DXpedition to the Spratly Islands is to go ahead in March. You may recall the sovereignty of these was disputed by China. More than likely this is about oil, mineral or fishing rights.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/postponed-dxpedition-to-disputed-spratlys-reset-for-march

Bouvet Island DXpedition off

3Y0Z was to have been a DXpedition to the sub-Antarctic island of Bouvet. Because of technical problems the DXpedition has had to be abandoned. The team hope to return at some point. Weather has been appalling.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/3y0z-bouvet-island-dxpedition-aborted-over-safety-concerns .

ARRL 10m contest

This was last weekend, but guess who forgot? Apparently conditions were not good, so I probably missed very little.

ARRL 10m Contest - this weekend

Southgate News reminds us that the ARRL 10m contest is this weekend. With declining solar conditions, 10m is much harder than a few years ago. It's funny how dead bands come to life in a contest!

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2017/december/the-arrl-10-metre-contest.htm#.WiaB8kx2v4g .

And STILL they wait....zzzzz

In the USA the FCC has still not released 137 and 472kHz to radio amateurs!! Frankly this is almost unbelievable. The FCC seems so unbelievably S L O W. At this rate many potential users will be dead i.e. those over 30 years old before these bands are released.😟 

I suspect most at the FCC know absolutely nothing about radio. This is demonstrable by the time taken to make radio related decisions. Come on FCC - get a grip!!!

I am losing all faith in the USA. First you elect Donald, seen by many in the world as a bad joke, and your main radio regulator appears useless to many of us in the rest of the world.

See http://www.arrl.org/news/band-plan-proposed-for-eventual-472-479-khz-use .

ARRL book about JT65 and JT9

There is an ARRL book on the digital modes JT65 and JT9. These are among my favourite modes and ideally suited to QRP. I have used JT9 on bands up to 10m. I have used JT65 on bands up to 6m.

See http://www.arrl.org/shop/Work-the-World-with-JT65-and-JT9/ .

At the moment there is a special ARRL deal so you get this book free when you buy a new ARRL Handbook.

630m Transverter

A reminder that there was a 4 page article in Sept QST on the design of my simple transverter for 630m. This is also on my main website at www.g3xbm.co.uk. I use it with my FT817, but other rigs could be used.

630m is a good band and the transverter puts out 10-15W into 50 ohms. Even with my earth-electrode "antenna" it has spanned most of western Europe on TX with a measured ERP of about 5mW on WSPR.

QST article

A couple of people who see QST magazine have told me that my article on a 472kHz transverter appeared in the September 2016 edition. I have not seen this as I don't get QST. Although I was sent a draft for corrections, I've not seen the final version. There was some doubt about it appearing as the ARRL were waiting and waiting for the band to be allocated in the USA.

The article was written years ago (2013?) before I was ill with my stroke. Anyway, I hope those who get QST will be inspired to have a go on this fascinating band. Although the transverter puts out 10-15W, my ERP on the band was in the low milliwatts. Despite this, I have been copied over 1000km on WSPR with just an earth-electrode antenna. With a "proper" antenna for the band and a decent ground it should be easily possible to exceed 2000km.