Radio Constructor

When I was much younger, we seemed to have lots of radio magazines. This was before the age of video games and the internet when radio still seemed like magic. Sadly, there are far fewer magazines on sale. In the future we could expect even fewer.

One of my favourites was a UK magazine called Radio Constructor. Before my time it was, I believe, an A5 sized publication, but it was always A4 when I got it. Sir Douglas Hall often featured articles for some very clever circuits. He was not a radio professional. I think he was a diplomat. Nonetheless, he was a very clever man. One of my school friends knew him and said he was a very nice man.

Radio Constructor ceased publications a long time ago, but is still available as PDFs online.

See https://worldradiohistory.com/Radio_Constructor_Magazine.htm .

Kind visitors - NOT amateur radio

 

A few weeks ago, we had a visit from old friends. They kindly brought us this house plant as a gift. It is doing well.

Hidden disabilities (yet again) - NOT amateur radio

Sorry to post about this yet again, but it is a matter close to my heart. 

A good proportion of disabled people have "hidden" disabilities. At first sight, many would say "they are faking it" and there is nothing wrong. They look perfectly normal.

Speaking from personal experience. I get exhausted very easily and my voice is very poor. In shops, and even to my own wife, I have to repeat myself several times to be understood. When others around me are chatting, I want to join in, but know I shall have to repeat myself, so I remain silent. Life is very frustrating at times. Compared with many, I am lucky. Others have it far worse than me.

All I am advocating is do not judge others. They may have a hidden disability either physical or mental. Also, it is very easy to patronise. Whatever our state is, we want to do what we can. There is nothing worse than being treated as an idiot when not. Many with hidden disabilities have very high IQs.

10m QRP WSPR TX (Thursday)

I remembered! Whilst on 6m, I can use my 500mW 10m WSPR TX beacon. So far, just G4KPX (14km) spotting me.

UPDATE 1610z:   19 unique stations spotting me today (see table).

UPDATE 2047z:  Now QRT.  28 stations spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR today with the furthermost F61695 (9729km).

6m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

At about 1000z, I decided to try 6m QRP FT8 with my 2.5W and V2000 vertical omni. There is already some Es on RX and my QRP has been spotted by just 2 Gs so far.

Stations spotting my 2.5W
6m FT8 today to 1613z

UPDATE 1628z:  67 stations have spotted my 2.5W QRP and 79 stations have been spotted today on 6m FT8. Still plenty of Es on 6m FT8.

UPDATE 2055z:  Now QRT. 84 spots of my QRP. 98 stations spotted.

Rallies this weekend

 The following have been notified. I do not know where the BATC convention is! Always advisable to contact organisers first.

  Sunday August 6th - BATC Amateur TV convention CAT23. No contact or location given.

  Sunday August 6th - Kings Lynn ARC Club 33 (presumably a rally). PE30 4EL. Contact rally.klarc@gmail.com .

FT817 and successors

For over 40 years, I have been a great fan of Yaesu. In the past they were at the forefront of innovation in amateur radio.  Like many, I have been waiting for a real replacement to the FT817/818 family. The FT818 was a bitter disappointment as it still lacked most of the features people had hoped for. They still make some good products like the FT-710 which is SDR based.

My own view is that Yaesu has lost direction in the amateur radio market. Against many competitors they now look second best reacting to the market rather than being out front. Arguably the FT-991A and the FT-710 were reactions to the ICOM IC-7300. This is so sad as Yaesu definitely could lead the market. 

After many years, they seem to have lost the battle for the QRP market. ICOM introduced the IC-705 and the Chinese are appearing with some serious kit.

It is my view, hopefully wrong, that Yaesu will leave the amateur radio market before 2027. They will realise they can no longer make profits and go.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commhercial-rigs/yaesu-ft817nd

In 2010 (yes 2010!!) I produced a wish list and Photoshop mock-up of what I was expecting for a possible replacement. Instead we got the real FT818, which was a total letdown.  What I was expecting in 2010 still largely holds, plus an SDR RX architecture. 

Sadly, I cannot see this ever coming.  Who would launch a new QRP portable after a sunspot maximum? We shall call this now the FT819, although I suspect this is now pipe-dreaming! 

Yaesu - very last chance!

These are the features expected:

• All mode 472 kHz to 1296 MHz with 5 MHz, 40 MHz, and 70 MHz.
• 5W RF (2W 1296 MHz).
• 3.5AHr LiPo battery (fast charging).
• Random wire auto ATU.
• SDR RX architecture.
• Full colour OLED display.
• RF speech processor.
• Digital ready.
• DSP noise reduction.

10m QRP FT8 (Thursday)

My gear was turned on shortly before 0800z. So far, my 2.5W to the Par end-fed has been copied in Finland. On RX 3 stations around Europe have been spotted. I suspect this is all Es.

UPDATE 0940z: 27 stations have been spotted and my 10m QRP has been spotted by 12 stations.

Sunspots - Thursday August 3rd 2023

Solar flux is 173 and the SSN 135. A=12 and K=2.

QDX QRP digital transceiver

 This tiny 5W digital transceiver is available from QRP labs. I was amazed how small it is. It is available in 2 versions covering the lower HF bands or the higher ones. Mine is the higher one. With WSJT-X and FT8, it has got me all over the world despite a low Par end-fed antenna. If you only want digital modes like FT8 and WSPR this really is all you need.