Sunspots

Sunspot number today is 62 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" . Just turned on the 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 0945z.Already LZ1OI (2153km) is spotting me well.

Lighter evenings

Since the shortest day, the evenings continue to lighten. In the evening it is now light some 30 minutes later than it was at the shortest day.  Even the mornings are starting to get a bit lighter earlier at last. The days are lengthening about 2.5 minutes a day and the rate of change speeds up as we approach the equinox. I much prefer lighter days! Already it is just about light still at 5pm.

See http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/cambridge .

Last USA 10m WSPR spot tonight

The last spot of my 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m was at 1714z by KK4MIP (6704km).  It is still possible other spots may yet come in but this is now unlikely.

First 10m WSPR spot from the USA today

N1NCO (5283km) was the first USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 1236z. There have been plenty of spots by USA stations since that time.

More EU spots of my 10m 500mW beacon

LZ1UBO (2039km) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) have been spotting me this morning. I think LZ1UBO is a new station reporting me who has not been in the log before. I think propagation is F2 judging by the distances.

More on the Minima transceiver

My mention of this Ashaar Farhen design yesterday seems to have been very popular, so I have dug out a bit more information. As it stands it produces 1W pep but it is easy to add a further PA.

See http://www.sarfata.org/ham/minima/ .

Although a kit of parts is available, I am not aware of a full kit with enclosure and a PCB being available as is the case with the BitX from Hendricks Kits.

Daytime 472kHz WSPR 5mW ERP and earth-electrode "antenna"

Nothing exceptional overnight.

This morning, I see I am being spotted by G4JVF (151km), M0ELS (81km) and G8HUH (250km).   I am spotting PA0O (440km) and PA3ABK/2 (306km). All not bad for full daylight propagation.

Sunspots up today

Sunspot number is climbing again and stands at 78 today (was 49 yesterday). 10m propagation is again expected to be "fair".  So far just local G4IKZ (18km) and LZ1OI (2153km) copying my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon but it is still very early.

The Minima transceiver

See http://www.phonestack.com/farhan/minima.html

This is the latest project from Ashaar Farhan. Component cost is said to be less than $100. This is based around a Si570 sythesiser and a programmed Arduino micro-controller IC. It looks a simple to duplicate rig covering up to 30MHz. It is the successor to the BITX rig I think. The IF is 20MHz. If you only want 0-15MHz or 15-30MHz (i.e. not both) the rig get even simpler.

Crystal alternative?

Buying crystals for specific frequencies is now getting very expensive. There may be a newer alternative.

See https://aa7ee.wordpress.com/2015/01/12/a-crowdfunded-si5351-breakout-board-from-jason-nt7s/ .

This synthesised solution allows any frequency from 8kHz to 160MHz to be generated.