The only spots of me today look like F2 and local, with no Es. EA8BFK (2880km) and G4KPX (14km) have spotted my 500mW.
17 Sept 2022
Ripening? - NOT amateur radio
This year our tomato plants have been a failure with very few turning red. The green ones are on the windowsill to ripen. If this fails it will be green tomato chutney!!!
Still no luck here with the EI1KNH 8m beacon
Although Keith in Lincoln has been successful, I have still not decoded the beacon. We are at similar distances from the beacon, I think. It would seem my low horizontal dipole is not as effective as Keith's long wire. I note that the beacon has a vertical dipole whereas mine is horizontal. With scatter and MS this probably does not matter, but with WSPR and tropo it could make all the difference. I shall keep trying!!
I must check the screen during a WSPR slot to see if it is there at all. It sends WSPR every 20 minutes. If I can detect it at all, I might briefly try my other antennas just in case these are better in that direction and with vertical polarisation.
Otherwise, it is MSK144 in a meteor shower.
UPDATE 0936z: In the last WSPR slots absolutely nothing on the screen with the 8m dipole or 10m end fed antennas.
UPDATE 1410z: In view of Paul's (G9PUV) comments that he has never spotted WSPR from this beacon, I have switched back to 8m FT8 RX. You never know! It will be monitored all weekend.
16 Sept 2022
Yaesu FT-710 MLS price
Puzzled.
MLS has just announced the price of the new 100W SDR transceiver, that seems to have a very similar spec to the FTDX-10. It seems the price is lower than the FTDX-10 and the rig a little smaller. What I cannot understand is why Yaesu has done this.
Was the FTDX-10 not quite right? Where is a proper FT817 replacement? It still seems to me that Yaesu is in a muddle and trying to find its way.
EI1KNH/B Irish 8m beacon on 40.013 MHz WSPR
Tim, the beacon keeper, has recommended I try 8m WSPR RX.
The WSPR sessions are several times an hour and WSPR works with very weak signals. I am on 8m WSPR now, but a bit uncertain about the 2 minute cycles. This may only work with tropo and certainly not work with MS or aircraft. I may try from now and over the weekend.
The beacon is only active from 0600-2400, but I am not sure if this is local time or GMT. With tropo, I would have suspected my best chance would be early in the morning?
If this fails (I have low expectations) I may try MSK144 in an MS shower.
8m MSK144 RX
After a period on 40.680 MHz FT8 QRP TX, I have switched to 40.013 MHz MSK144 RX hoping to spot the Irish beacon EI1KNH/B. My best chance (I think) is early morning.
8m QRP FT8 TX (Friday)
All being well, I hope to be on 8m QRP FT8 TX on 40.680 MHz at about 0900z. If the other Irish 8m beacon has FT8, I may try for that overnight.
UPDATE 1020z: 8m FT8 TX gear turned on at 0907z. No spots.
10m QRP WSPR (Friday)
As the 10m antenna should be available, I hope to be on 10m WSPR with my 500mW W5OLF WSPR beacon at 0900z.
UPDATE 0918z: Gear was on overnight. Just 1 spot from local G3KPX (14km) this morning.
23cm portable
I have sent an email about price and delivery to the UK. If promising, I may get one ready for next year, assuming it is still available!
See https://www.sg-lab.com/TR1300/tr1300.html .
UPDATE 1256z: Just got this email. I think I am going to get one.
"The price of 23cm band transverter V3 is 156 Euro.
The price for shipping is 8 Euro by BG Post .
Payment can be made by Paypal (our account is : info@sg-lab.com ) or by bank transfer.
Now lead time for 23 cm units is 2-3 weeks"
UPDATE 1422z: I shall place an order. All being well, I shall try some local 23cm SSB tests when the transverter arrives and I have a suitable antenna. Next year, I shall try some 23cm activity sessions from a local highspot. Yes, there are a few in East Anglia!!
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