Winter projects

Here in the UK it is now very dark in the mornings and it gets very dark early in the evenings too. We are drawing the curtains at about 4pm whereas it seemed like 5 minutes since we were doing it at 10pm!

With the onset of winter, many people turn to winter amateur radio projects. These days, my fine motor skills are poor, but in the past "rolling something of my own" has given me immense pleasure. 

I cannot describe the thrill of working somebody thousands of miles away on something you have designed and built yourself.  

However small, I can recommend building something. Maybe start with a kit?

What next for the autumn?

My thoughts are starting to turn towards amateur radio this autumn.

Unlike in previous years, I cannot imagine being fully fit by then. So, I shall be on the lookout for some new challenges that don't involve driving, don't involve building and probably don't require much, if any, antenna work. Also, it would be helpful if actual talking is kept to a minimum as I find talking very tiring.

I suspect JT65 and JT9-1 will be on the list as I can use (some of) these modes on 630m, 40m, 20m, 10m, 6m, 2m and 70cm with existing antennas.  I may ask for some help to improve my earth electrode antenna for 630m. With luck I may be able to drive again later this year. This means I might be able to restart some field work again.

If you have any suggestions let me know.

Maybe I should try for QRP DXCC on JT65/JT9-1? No talking, use existing antennas and rigs, and a new challenge.

Universal QRP Projects Box?

This is really a follow-on from the previous post. As a "mechanically challenged" QRPer I really do hate the stage of putting a completed project into a tidy box. Some people love drilling holes but many do not, so I wonder if there is a market for a "universal" QRP projects box with pre-drilled holes at the front and back? Perhaps a variation of the GQRP Limerick project box could be made available for wider project use?

Most QRP transceivers need a power connector, a coax socket and a key on the back. They need a VFO(or VXO) control knob, a gain control and a socket for phones. Maybe another control and a couple of front panel switches.

So, I wonder why no-one (as far as I know) produces a pre-drilled box that could be used for a range of projects. Surely there is a market for this. A set of water transfer control legends could also be supplied with the box (remember the Radio Constructor sets?).

Just my thoughts having spent an afternoon engineering a 481THz transceiver mechanics and drilling an aluminium box.