QRP convention online

Because of the Covid-19 restrictions the GQRP convention is online this weekend. GQRP members can access the talks for £4. Normally it is held in Telford. Maybe next year?

See http://www.gqrp.com/GQRP_Conference_Agenda.pdf

472kHz WSPR

We are now approaching the DX season on 472kHz. Last autumn, I used my homebrew transverter and was regularly spotted in Norway despite using 10mW ERP WSPR and my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. The transverter puts out about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is quite inefficient. 

When I left the band earlier in the year, I think there was a break in the connection to the "antenna" which I need to mend.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472wspr

See also https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/mflf/472khz_tvtr

Antenna choices

As mentioned yesterday, I want to erect an external antenna for 10m, probably a dipole or inverted vee. It occurs to me that a nested pair of dipoles for 10m and 15m is still small and not much more difficult to erect. 10m is my favourite band, but 15m is often good when 10m is not. Having both bands available would give me choice. Neither would require an ATU.

Peregrine - NOT amateur radio

Our grandson loves animals. His best friend's dad is a vet. The photo shows our grandson recently with a peregrine. These falcons are one of the fastest birds in the world: they swoop down on their prey at great speeds.

15m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop

At  0830z, 15m FT8 RX was turned on. Apart from a few unstable carriers (local SMPUs?) nothing yet spotted.

UPDATE 0930z:  17 spots on RX so far today, all European.

UPDATE 1432z:  53 stations spotted here so far on 15m FT8. All are in Europe with best DX spotted SV1QN (2410km) in Greece.

UPDATE 1803z:  Currently 95 stations spotted here on 15m FT8 RX. Best DX spotted here is J68HZ (6860km) in St Lucia.

UPDATE 2110z: Now QRT. 105 stations spotted in last 12 hours on 15m FT8 RX with the indoor loop. Best DX spot was PU2OOC (9598km) in Brazil.

Is PW in trouble?

I am wondering if the UK magazine Practical Wireless is in trouble? Personally I hope not. It has been in existence for a very long time, but I have heard horror stories about major retailers being unable to get copies this month.

If you regularly get copies via a newsagent have you experienced any problems recently? I get copies by post and, so far, I have not had issues.

Sunspots - Saturday September 5th 2020

 Solar flux is 70 and the SSN 0. A=8 and K=2.

Yaesu competition for the ICOM IC-705?

Apparently Yaesu has discontinued a couple of their popular transceivers. According to Steve, G1KQH, he thinks Yaesu is about to launch competition to the IC-705, but at lower prices. 

In recent years, I have thought of Yaesu as being followers rather than leaders. In my own experience, it would not have surprised me if Yaesu threw in the towel and left the amateur radio market based on their terrible marketing performance. They totally missed the boat with the FT818, which was pathetic. 

For over 40 years I have been a great Yaesu supporter and have owned many Yaesu transceivers. They have all been good, reliable radios, so I hope Steve is correct. 

20m FT8 RX

A few moments ago (it is now 1718z) I QSYed to 20m FT8 RX.  Already 22 spots on RX in 3 continents.

UPDATE 2150z:  511 stations in 5 continents spotted so far on 20m FT8 RX on the FT817ND and the tiny indoor loop antenna. QRT. 

15m and 17m FT8

For a change, I am trying FT8 with 2.5W and the other small loop on 15m and 17m.  The other loop is far less efficient than the loop used on 10m. Several European stations have spotted me on 15m. 

Currently I am RX only on 17m FT8. 53 stations in 4 continents already spotted on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1650z: Currently 75 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX. I may QSY to 20m RX soon.