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I just worked Iraq for the first time. YI1RZ on 20m using JT9-1 mode.

YI1RZ

What was remarkable about this QSO is that I worked YI1RZ despite the presence of heavy RTTY QRM. My Elecraft K3 has great filtering but it can do nothing about a RTTY signal that is straddling the QSO frequency.

Why, in this age of DSP, do people persist in using this antiquated mode? Dating from the 1930s and the age of mechanical teleprinters and analog modems, RTTY is by any definition an outmoded mode. It requires far too much power and occupies far too much bandwidth for the data transmission rate (45 baud.) PSK31 has existed for more than a decade and is a far more efficient mode. If PSK31 is too slow then there is PSK63 which is faster than RTTY and yet still manages to occupy less bandwidth. Not to mention the plethora of other modes such as MFSK and Olivia that have been invented in the last 10 years offering far greater reliability than RTTY and, like PSK, the ability to use the entire character set not just capital letters, numbers and a few punctuation symbols. And which don’t print up garbage because a shift character wasn’t decoded.

It feels good to get that off my chest! I’d better put my asbestos suit on! It is interesting to note that as I have been typing this WSJT-X has been pulling JT9-1 out of the air in the teeth of RTTY interference so great that you cannot even see the JT9-1 signal traces. JT9 rocks! I doubt if the RTTY operators even know the JT9-1 signals are there.

JT9 just got even better. Thanks to Laurie, VK3AMA, JT9 has a new page to show current activity or general chat at hamspots.net.

As far as I can tell, the spots are generated from the spots to PSK Reporter, which the latest WSJT-X program does automatically if you tick the appropriate box. So you don’t have to do anything extra for your spots to show up on this page. This is a great facility that I am sure will increase the growing popularity of the JT9 mode.

Martin Harrison, G3USF has provided another 6 and 10 report. Its a bit shorter than usual but we’re all blaming the conditions. It can be downloaded here

A hat tip to the AWT blog for this one!

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

I wasn’t going to post about this; but I’m sitting here and have a few moments while I wait for my daughter to call. She’s on a Girl Scout field trip to the NJ State Police Training Academy.  The girls should be back at the troop leader’s house in about an hour to 90 minutes, so I have some time to kill before going to pick her up. And I’m too tired to go downstairs and turn the rig on. Just got back from our Church’s Friday Lenten Fish Fry. I’m part of the clean up crew and there were only four of us this week, to clean up after 400 fish dinners were served. To say I am beat is an understatement.

X1M QRP SSB/CW Transceiver Kit

I’ve been watching this little thing for a few weeks.  They showed up on the Kight Radio Store web page and after a few days, when I decided to pull the trigger, they had sold out.  Today they are back in stock, and one of them is on its way to me (hopefully).  Construction is described as easy assembly which I gather makes it similar to the KX3 kit.  Here are the features and specs from Kight Radio:

Transceiver: X1M [v2.01] 
Frequency range: 0.1 ~ 30mhz transceiver;
Modes: ssb / cw
Power output: 5 Watts (max);
Operating voltage: minimum 9.6v (dc), max 14.5v (dc);
Operating current: 0.35a (min), 1.2a (max);
Preamplifier;
Memory 100 channels ;
RIT function;
Automatic internal CW keyer
Back-light  on/off
Keyboard can be locked;
Dimensions: 97 * 40 * 155 (mm)
Weight: 0.65
Receiving sensitivity: better than 0.45uV
Frequency stability: better than 0.5ppm
Frequency accuracy: better than 0.5ppm (boot 5 minutes)

An interesting additional feature says this equipment can be connected to HAM RADIO DELUXE software.  The user can choose any ICOM equipment, but the IC-718 is recommended.

The text also states that the version they are shipping to the USA is set up to transmit only on the Amateur bands.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

Yes – you’ve read it correctly. I am speaking of scorching your hind quarters off even as we haven’t officially made it through Winter yet.

Scorch Your Butt Off is the Summer time answer to Freeze Your Butt Off, a brandy new for 2013 outdoor QRP operating event.  The concept is the brain child of Rem K6BBQ, of QRP portable recumbent tricycle fame.  You’ve seen Rem’s videos, you know how dedicated he is.

Rem was concerned that the BUBBA contest had gone by the wayside. Being the courteous Ham that he is, Rem contacted the Arizona ScQRPions and asked if they’d mind if he organized and ran something to take its place.  He didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.  So when he got the “knock yourself out” e-mail, SYBO was born.

It will take place on Saturday July 20th.  Rules can be found here.

So now, all you rabid outdoor QRPers have three great “under the sun” fun events to look forward to this Summer (as if you needed an excuse to get oudoors!)- Scorch Your Butt Off, the Flight of the Bumblebees, and the NJQRP Skeeter Hunt.  Three perfect opportunities to put into action all the great gear you’ve built over the Winter!

It’s a good thing Spring is coming – I can hardly wait for these!

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