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Roger G3XBM's (Mainly) Amateur Radio Blog

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Yaesu FT-747

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 02:25 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/yaesu-ft-747.html


This was an HF 100W transceiver that dates from the early 1990s. I owned
one for a few years, but never warmed to it. It had a metallised plastic
case which was Yaesu's attempt to save money. It was sold a few years
later, although I cannot remember to whom.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/commercial-rigs/yaesu-ft747 .
Looking back, it was one of the HF rigs I liked the least.



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10m FT8 QRP (Friday)

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 02:04 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-qrp-friday.html


Starting at about 0645z, I have been on 10m FT8 with 2.5W TX initially (no spots), but now RX only (just 1 G spotted). PSKreporter seems to be working
at the moment.
UPDATE 0707z: 5 stations spotted with stations in the Far East coming
through.
UPDATE 0758z: 40 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX. UPDATE 2055z: 845
stations spotted.


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Sunspots - Friday March 18th 2022

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 11:39 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-friday-march-18th-2022.html


Solar flux is 103 and the SSN 53. A=6 and K=1.

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DX maps

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 07:35 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/dx-maps.html


With PSKreporter not apparently working, I am looking for alternatives. At
the minute, I am on DXmaps. I am still exploring and have not yet worked
out how to search for FT8 stations and only on 10m.
See https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E .

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8m TX permit - still waiting

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 07:03 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/8m-tx-permit-still-waiting.html


OFCOM got their money last week. I am still waiting for the actual licence
to come through.
In the meantime, with a dummy load, I checked the widebanded FT817ND
definitely produces output on 8m - it does, as I thought I had already
checked. Early April was my start date.
If I don't hear before the weekend I may give them a gentle reminder!

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160m FT8 RX overnight

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 01:40 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/160m-ft8-rx-overnight_17.html


Overnight I was on 160m FT8 RX with the untuned 10m antenna. Plenty of
European stations spotted. I shall see if there were any from the USA if PSKreporter returns to normal later.
UPDATE 2040z: Nothing from "across the pond" last night. 112 stations
spotted.

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10m FT8 RX (Thursday)

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 01:38 PM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/10m-ft8-rx_17.html


Currently, I am on 10m FT8 RX. So far, after about 10 minutes, several
stations have been spotted locally, but there seems to be a problem with PSKreporter as I am seeing no spots from anyone.
UPDATE 1315z: Still nothing on PSKreporter. I think the issue is at their
end. I did not realise just how important PSKreporter was to my monitoring.
I presume others are also seeing this?
UPDATE 2035z: PSKreporter is back, but the band is dead and all stations spotted on 10m FT8 are not there of course!

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Sunspots - Thursday March 17th 2022

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 12:15 AM PDT http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.com/2022/03/sunspots-thursday-march-17th-2022.html


Solar flux is 107 and the SSN 41. A=4 and K=1.

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