AmateurRadio.com

This evening I went on 20m JT65 again and managed a couple of European QSOs in reply to the CQs of others. I am using JT65-HF software that is very simple to use. So far I have used the FT817 at either 2.5 or 5W.

JT65-HF screenshot

If you see a station calling CQ (shows up in green) you just click on it to start a QSO with that station. If he copies you and replies then the started QSO shows up in red – all very simple. Wonder if there is a similar (easy) package for JT9-1 on HF?

Looking on PSK Reporter I see plenty of USA stations were copying me too, so it should not be too hard to work DX with just a little effort even with my compromise antenna. When 10m and 6m are open, DX should be easier still.

With JT65-HF and JT9-1,  I have to be in the shack, but at least there is no speaking, saving my poor voice.

The pride and joy in my shack is a Weller WECP-COD3 soldering iron. It is the only professional piece of equipment I have.

Weller soldering iron

So now I wonder: how old is the soldering iron in your shack? Do you go for quality or buy low price and throw it out after a while? Leave a comment if you please. It will surely be fun to read.

Episode 4 from the TX Factor team is a Ham Radio special, filmed entirely on location at this year’s convention in Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance.

Bob and Mike report on ham radio technology old and new, including a look at the new System Fusion DR-1 144/430 Dual Band C4FM/FM Digital Repeater from Yaesu, and an amazing transceiver from Hilberling.

There’s also a chance to win a Yaesu FT-60E dual-band handie in our first free-to-enter competition.

Visit the website to see the latest episode.

www.txfactor.co.uk

Happy viewing!

WG2Z (5600km) copied me just once at lunchtime – he may have copied me more times if I was operating on the correct frequency initially – but this afternoon 10m has been in excellent Es shape today with stations from across the continent copyable after lunch with a few G stations copied out to 184km by tropo or plane reflection.

10m WSPR unique reports since lunch today (repeats not shown)

I wonder if this is what Rich KI6SN had in mind as a high tech Bumble Bee when he started this contest years ago? (Looks a bit on the QRO side to me – grin!)  

Just a gentle reminder that the Flight of the Bumble Bees is this coming Sunday!  When I last checked the roster, only about 100 folks have signed up for Bee numbers.  That number seems low to me as compared to years past.  This is an excellent sprint and is so much fun – it’s almost illegal in this day and age to be able to have this much fun!

So sign up to be a Bee – lets give Rich some work these last few days and get that Bee number up there! And then get out on Sunday with your favorite QRP rig and get some fresh air and get your fun tanks topped off!

Bumble Bee Roster – http://bit.ly/15aGgN1

Da Bee Rulz – http://arsqrp.blogspot.com/2014/07/announcing-ars-2014-fobb.html

72 de Larry W2LJ – Bumblebee #17
QRP – When you care to send the very least!

There was a man dangling from a rope painting the cap of our local windmill. I felt like telling him there are easier ways of seeing the windmill! Rather him than me.

Someone suggested I string a long wire to the top of the mill from my bungalow next door. But what happens when the cap turns and the sails go around?

[gview file=”https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15763538/Bennett_Kobb_HOPE2014.pdf”]

Is a new “CB” allocation of 100-200 MHz in the 3.5 GHz microwave band just around the corner? Possibly, according to Bennett Kobb, AK4AV. Not “Citizens Band” but “Citizens Broadband Radio Service.” Scroll through the embedded presentation above. Quite interesting.

Source: Hackaday