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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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10m WSPR TX beacon

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 10:37 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/10m-wspr-tx-beacon.html


Assuming that I remember, I shall be on 10m WSPR TX later with 500mW from
the W5OLF beacon. I keep forgetting that when the 10m antenna is available
I can use it to go on 10m WSPR TX. Yesterday was good with plenty of Es
about.

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8m FT8 QRP TX

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 10:30 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/8m-ft8-qrp-tx.html


Later today I hope to be on 8m FT8 TX again with my FT817ND and low wire
dipole on 40.680 MHz USB dial. Yesterday was my best day yet on the band
with my first spot outside Europe by EA8BFK (2881km) in the Canary Islands.

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Amateur radio stamps?

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 10:19 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/amateur-radio-stamps.html


Back in the 1960s there were stamps issued in the USA with an amateur radio theme. This got me thinking - I wonder which other countries issued
similar? Googling would probably tell me the answer, but perhaps you
already know.


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It will never catch on

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 10:06 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/it-will-never-catch-on.html


This photo appeared as a Facebook memory from several years ago.
I have no idea where it originated.


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Sunspots - Saturday June 4th 2022

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 09:53 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/sunspots-saturday-june-4th-2022.html


Solar flux is 101 and the SSN 52. A=4 and K=1.

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ICOM IC-705

Posted: 03 Jun 2022 04:49 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/06/icom-ic-705.html


For about a year now, I have owned an IC-705. As I only ever run QRP, this
was a good choice for me as it is multi-band and 10W. It is mostly used on
VHF and UHF FM nets and SSB. Until recently I had not used it for FT8 as it picked up lots of noise from the PC when the USB cable was connected. I continued to use my FT817ND and SignaLink interface for FT8.

I was recommended a screened, choked, cable by Jason M0NYW, and this seems
to have done the trick. I am being spotted from across the world on 10m FT8 using the IC-705 at 5W and on RX I am spotting plenty. Thank you Jason for
the good suggestion. My FT817ND is now almost exclusively used for 8m FT8
TX now.
The IC-705 is still far too expensive. As I rarely buy gear, I looked at it
as an investment. The only thing that disappoints is the lack of 4m, which
all were expecting.
See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/icom-ic-705 .

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