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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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2m FT8 QRP (Friday)

Posted: 04 Mar 2022 03:18 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/2m-ft8-qrp-friday.html


At the moment I am on 2m FT8. After a brief TX period (2.5W and the
big-wheel) with 1 120km QSO, I am now RX only. On RX 8 stations have been spotted and 6 stations spotted me on QRP TX.
UPDATE 2040z: 16 stations in 6 countries spotted so far on 2m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 2315z: Now QRT. 24 stations spotted this evening.

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OFCOM updates

Posted: 04 Mar 2022 09:49 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/ofcom-updates.html


OFCOM has updated it website with the latest data it holds. See the OFCOM website.

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VHF Contest this weekend

Posted: 04 Mar 2022 01:46 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/vhf-contest-this-weekendur.html


This weekend is the RSGB's 2m/70cm contest. If I remember, I intend to pop
on occasionally with my 10W and omni, but I doubt I shall put an entry in.
It runs for up to 24 hours from 1400z Saturday, although there is a 6 hour section in which you choose which 6 hours you want. The 6 hours can be
split up.
See
https://www.rsgbcc.org/cgi-bin/contest_rules.pl?year=2022&contest=mar144432 .
A popular 2m70cm/23cm transceiver is the ICOM IC-9700.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/vhfuhfmicrowaves/vhfuhf-commercial-rigs/ic-9700 .

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10m FT8 RX

Posted: 04 Mar 2022 11:25 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-rx_4.html


At about 0920z, I turned on my 10m FT8 system. 12 spots so far with the furthermost VK6OZ (14461km).
UPDATE 1000z: 66 stations spotted on RX with the furthermost VK2AAH
(16916km).
UPDATE 1714z: 663 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX.
UPDATE 1920z: QRT. There were still South Americans coming through.

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Sunspots - Friday March 4th 2022

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 10:52 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-friday-march-4th-2022.html


Solar flux is 111 and the SSN 66. A=5 and K=2.

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10m FT8 RX

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 11:52 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-rx_3.html


Since getting back from a walk around the city of Ely, I have been on 10m
FT8 RX. So far today 109 stations have been spotted.
UPDATE 1700z: 329 stations spotted.
UPDATE 1950z: 445 stations spotted. QRT soon.

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Rallies

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 06:16 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/ralles.html


As far as I know, the following rallies are on, but always check with organisers first.
Sat March 5th - Lagen Valley ARS Rally. See www.lvars.uk .
Sun March 6th (or is it Sat 5th?) - Exeter Radio and Electronics Rally.
Contact Peter g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk .
Sun March 6th - Hack Green Radio Surplus Hangar SaleSecret Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich www.hackgreen.co.uk .



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ZS6WAB 8m beacon copied in Europe and QSL received

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 12:18 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/zs6wab-8m-beacon-copied-in-europe-and.html



The South African 8m beacon has been widely copied across Europe and Borat
in Central Europe has a QSL card as shown.


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G3XIZ sub 10kHz

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 01:36 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/g3xiz-sub-10khz.html



This photo was taken some years ago and shows the signal from G3XIZ on VLF
at 45km. Notice the timescales - hours!!


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Hot Iron archive

Posted: 03 Mar 2022 01:48 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/hot-iron-archive.html


Some may like the archive of W4NPN to "Hot Iron", which many builders will find very useful. Hot Iron is an online magazine for constructors.
See https://www.w4npn.net/hot-iron-directory/

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Online calculators

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 11:06 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/online-calculators.html


Every now and again, you need to work out something "radio" and a
calculator can come in very handy. This site has some very useful
calculators.
See https://www.66pacific.com/calculators/default.aspx .

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Sunspots - Thursday March 3rd 2022

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 11:04 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-thursday-march-3rd-2022.html


Solar flux is 110 and the SSN 66. A=4 and K=1.

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2m FT8 activity contest

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 01:28 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/2m-ft8-activity-contest.html


Starting at 1900z is the RSGB organised 2m FT8 activity contest. At the
moment I am RX only, although I might try TX with 2.5W FT8 with the
big-wheel omni later. So far, 35 stations in 6 countries spotted after 7 minutes!
UPDATE 1940z: 74 stations in 7 countries spotted. 1 QSO just now. RX only
again as it is too crowded!
UPDATE 2110z: 96 stations in 9 countries spotted on 2m FT8 RX this
evening and 3 QSOs. My signal was spotted by F1FPL (345km). Now QRT. Quite pleased with just 2.5W and the omni antenna.

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10m FT8 RX

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 10:49 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-rx_2.html


A few moments ago (0955z), I turned on my 10m FT8 RX. As I had just turned
the electricity off whilst I changed a bulb in the bathroom, there was no internet, so no spots were appearing on PSKreporter. Locally, I was
spotting several stations.
UPDATE 1024z: 37 stations spotted and on PSKreporter. Most are single hop
F2.
UPDATE 1411z: 172 stations spotted.
Stations spotted todayUPDATE 1744z: 476 stations spotted. QRT soon.




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E-Field probe RX antenna

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 02:30 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/e-field-probe-rx-antenna.html


This tiny antenna is very effective on VLF, LF and MF. Versions are
available which can be bought ready made or as kits.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/e-field-probe-efp .
See also https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/antennas/137khz-efp-rx-antenna .

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160m FT8 RX overnight

Posted: 02 Mar 2022 01:24 AM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/160m-ft8-rx-overnight.html





Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX. In all, 303 stations were spotted as the
map shows. This was with the untuned 10m antenna.


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Sunspots - Wednesday March 2nd 2022

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 10:53 PM PST http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-wednesday-march-2nd-2022.html


Solar flux is 99 and the SSN 65. A=9 and K=2.

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