Flower pot antenna

Steve G1KQH recently sent me an email with some useful links on how to make 1/2 wave verticals. I am sharing it with you in case this gives you ideas.

"The latest G4NSJ video pointed me to investigate..

Cheap to make for anything from 28MHz to UHF I guess.. Ideally a starting point is to make one for 2m

Gain 1dB over 1/4 Wave

Details here: 

http://vk2zoi.com/articles/half-wave-flower-pot/

You can even make it Dual band:

http://vk2zoi.com/articles/dual-band-half-wave-flower-pot/

There is even an online calculator:

https://nomonsuhendar.blogspot.com/2020/12/flower-pot-antenna-calculator.html

73's G1KQH"

17m FT8 QRP (Saturday)

At about 1130z, I went on 17m FT8 with 2.5W and the tiny indoor loop. It is now 1141z and 3 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost EA8WU (2985km) and nobody has spotted my QRP on TX. 

UPDATE 1145z: So far, 4 stations spotted on 17m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1259z: 15 stations spotted so far on RX. Nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1400z:  2 stations have spotted me on TX and 37 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1555z: 4 stations have spotted my QRP TX and 65 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost YB1AR (11781km).

UPDATE 1820z: 72 stations spotted today on 17m FT8 RX today. QRT soon.

630m WSPR TX 4 years ago

 

The table shows the stations spotting my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground in 2017. At the moment my transverter is faulty on TX, so I am restricted to RX. 

The tiny indoor loop

This is the inside of my loop antenna used successfully on 20m FT8 to 10m FT8. I am amazed how well it works. 

The wire used for the loop is quite small and I might try much thicker wire. Tuning should be sharper, but efficiency should be higher. My concern is higher Q means higher voltage at the high impedance point. 

Sunspots - Saturday March 6th 2021

Solar flux is 73 and the SSN 14.  A=5 and K=1.

2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

About an hour ago I QSYed to 2m FT8 QRP using 2.5W and the big-wheel omni antenna. It is now 2022z and so far tonight 19 stations have spotted me and 1 QSO.

UPDATE 2145z:  2 QSOs and 25 spots of my QRP TX this evening in 4 countries with the furthermost EI2FG (565km). 36 stations spotted on RX.

UPDATE 2240z:  43 stations spotted on RX and 25 stations have spotted my QRP on TX. QRT soon.

Covid 19 humour - NOT amateur radio

 Well, it made me giggle.

Anglesey Abbey earlier - NOT amateur radio

This morning, we went for a walk around Anglesey Abbey. The snowdrops are mostly gone and the daffodils are coming. They will be at their best in about 2 weeks. 

Earth-mode VLF blog

On my old website I have a blog about my experiments many years ago with VLF "earth-mode"  communications using 5W. 

As the page is very old, I cannot guarantee links work. The links on the left of that page are very old especially and should not be used as this was my old website that is not maintained.

Earth-mode is a form of VLF experimentation that does not need high power or big antennas. It is at the frontier and is open to all. 

My understanding is no licences are needed for this form of communications based on conversations with OFCOM many years ago. This is not a legal statement, just my interpretation. 

For radiated VLF communications I think those in the UK need an NoV, whereas in many countries below 8.3kHz is a free for all. As very special techniques are needed for amateur VLF radiated reception, I think the chances of being intercepted are very small.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp/Home/earthmode . 

17m FT8 QRP (Friday)

It is now 1012z. For about 40 minutes I have been on 17m FT8 with 2.5W to the tiny indoor loop. So far, 30 stations spotted on RX and nobody has spotted me on TX.

UPDATE 1042z:  56 stations spotted on RX including the first today from South America on 17m FT8.

UPDATE 1454z: 145 stations spotted here on RX and 3 stations have spotted me on QRP TX on 17m FT8.

UPDATE 1832z:  169 stations spotted on RX and 5 stations have spotted my QRP TX.