XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio
Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog
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Changing times
Posted: 10 May 2021 01:48 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/changing-times.html
When I was in my 20s I wanted an Eddystone EC10 receiver. In the end I got
one via a friend whose dad worked there.
Mechanically, they were lovely with a great case and a dial with silky
smooth tuning.
Electrically, they were dreadful. As I recall, the whole 10m band occupied about 1.5cm of dial. With a low IF the image rejection on 10m was
appalling. It used OC171 germanium transistors.
By comparison with modern receivers it was bad, really bad. It is some time since I looked, but at one time the second hand price was about twice the retail price when they were first launched, which was £48. I have no idea
why I wanted one looking back.
There is a page about these receivers on my website. See
https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/ec10 . Please be aware this
will change when the "new" site is released. If in doubt use
www.g3xbm.co.uk as this will always point to the right pages.
The photo shows the Mk II version with an S meter. I had the Mk I version. UPDATE 0845z: A quick look on eBay showed a Mk II at £78. No doubt the transistors would have become leaky and in need of replacement, unless this
has been done. I suspect most are bought as collectors items these days.
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10m FT8 RX with the tiny indoor loop antenna
Posted: 10 May 2021 09:57 AM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/10m-ft8-rx-with-tiny-indoor-loop-antenna.html
Since before breakfast I have been on 10m FT8 RX with the IC-705 and the
tiny indoor loop on the shack windowsill. It is now 0815z. No spots yet.
UPDATE 1540z: No spots so far today. On the local WSJT-X screen there are
a few stations showing, but these were not loaded to PSKreporter maps. This could be problem at their end or the internet was off here. I have
restarted WSJT-X "just in case".
UPDATE 1630z: 2 stations spotted. I am suspicious that when I restarted
WSJT-X I started to see my spots on PSKreporter. G0LRD has had 155 spots
today on his dipole. Even assuming my loop is several dB poorer than
David's dipole, I would still have expected better here.
UPDATE 1655z: Now 9 stations spotted, most in the last hour. Odd. Must try
to get my dipole up this week!
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IC-705 goals this week
Posted: 09 May 2021 11:26 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/ic-705-goals-this-week.html
This week, I have 2 main aims:
To get D-star (DV) working; To get WiFi working.Well, that is the aim!
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Sunspots - Monday May 10th 2021
Posted: 09 May 2021 11:26 PM PDT
http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunspots-monday-may-10th-2021.html
Solar flux is 76 and the SSN 18. A=4 and K=2.
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