24 Sept 2022
Where I come from - NOT amateur radio
This is where I come from in South Devon. It is still very beautiful. I try to get there every year. My brother still lives there.
23 Sept 2022
Slovenia - NOT amateur radio
It is hard to believe that we went to Slovenia 10 years ago. It is a beautiful country.
Different challenges
Next year, assuming I am still around (!), I should have some new QRP challenges. I hope to be active on 23cm and on 4m. Both are quite different, but should be fun.
4m next Es season?
I know 4m is unlikely to be "open" as much as 10m, 8m or 6m, but there should be several Es openings into Europe. Using my transverter, this should allow me some 4m Es QSOs, especially with FT8.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/homebrew/4m-transverter .
23cm antenna
The transverter manufacturer has confirmed it will supply a small test antenna. This means I am probably OK for very local contacts initially.
Many thanks for the offers to build me a 23cm antenna. People in our community are very kind and I am really touched by the kindness. As I have said before, there are far more kind people around than bad ones, but these unsung heros are not newsworthy!
OFCOM updates this week
Their email said:
"Weekly publications update 23 October 2022"
Of course, they meant September!!! See the OFCOM website for details of what they hold about us.
10m QRP FT8 (Friday)
This morning, I am on 10m FT8. Initially I was on TX and spotted in the Canary Is, but I am now RX only. No QSOs.
UPDATE 0935z: So far, I have spotted 25 stations on 10m FT8 RX.
Sunspots - Friday September 23rd 2022
Solar flux is 137 and the SSN 99. A=6 and K=3.
22 Sept 2022
23cm antennas?
As regular readers will know, I am buying a 23cm 2W transverter from SG-Labs in Bulgaria. I think at one time they supplied a small 23cm PCB antenna with it. I have to check if this is still the case.
Looking around, 23cm commercial antennas look very expensive. As the majority of QSOs would be local(ish), I am wondering what you would recommend? As my fine motor skills are not good these days, I don't think I could make one. In the past, I would have made one! Is there one that would be ideal for me?