Much on telly tonight ?

I have been trying some television broadcast today, well actually slow scan television on 15m, as that band has been open across the Atlantic most afternoons.

Here is the result of the only contact I managed, using the SSTV program that comes with DM780, which is part of Ham Radio Deluxe, this software is used also to control the CAT functions on the radio.

The first picture is a cheesy one of the Good lady, with myself trying to smile..

VE3RNG first transmission back to me.

I had the auto slant options enabled, but didn't quite sync properly, you can just see in the bottom left my transmission that he received.

This is by far my farthest SSTV transmission at 3650 miles, using 85 watts, into the ZS6BKW.

http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow-scan_television

More than one way to skin a rabbit..

Or bag a new DXCC, one of the many that I have never heard, but have wanted to work.

I am talking about Paraguay, now Brazil and Argentina I hear quite a lot, especially now that 10m is opening up, also Chile and Venezuela, Paraguay however I have never heard, so when I chanced upon ZP5DBC at 5/7 with QSB on 10, well it has to be worth a shout.

After a few calls and getting nowhere, I heard my pal, G0VQY get through on his second call, I was even more determined to get through, I wont however shout and shout, instead timing single and full calls when he called QRZ, still no luck though.

Sometimes you just now it's not going to happen, so I decided that maybe the data modes would offer an opportunity, so down to 28120 and PSK31, I think it was fate as the cursor on the waterfall was exactly on the trace of ZP8AE, he was a little outside the AF passband at 2700 Hz, so I adjusted the vfo up 1 Khz to bring him in at 1700 Hz.

Of course it wasn't easy, it took 5 calls, with him calling back other stations, and finally I saw him call M0PCZ !

Two new DXCC close to home.

Last night was Radio Club night, and what better way to start the evening than by working some new DXCC on 2m.

I heard a station on 145.500 FM, G0VHS, Terry in Weymouth, Dorset which is about 45 miles from my qth, this got me thinking, is there a lift on, anyway before I had a chance to call back, my local pal, Alan, G2DXU has done so, and I follow up to listen.

As soon as I heard Mike, GU3WHN, from Guernsey (distance 84 miles) break in I knew we were onto something, so Alan brought me in and we worked them both, with reports of 5/3 both ways.

As we said 73 to go off to the club I heard Ian, GJ7DNJ from Jersey, (distance 106 miles) so I decided to call him from the mobile, so I switched the amp on which gives 100 watts out, and gave him a call, and was delighted to receive a 5/9 +60dB report !

From our club location, I switched the amp off and wound the power down to a watt. and still received a 5/3 report, I suspect we had some very nice tropo ducting !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-meter_band

Remote radio operation.

I have dabbled with using my station remotely, using a remote desktop application, this allows you to control the 'base' or shack computer, as my TS-480 is connected to a laptop and can be used fully via Ham Radio Deluxe.


Sound duties are taken care of by using the existing hardware set-up used for data modes, the software used is Skype, freely available, and free to use between skype to skype accounts, one set up on each laptop, base and remote.


This does work, though I find that the connection is quite laggy, and the desktop image shown is not the clearest, also the audio on receive can be somewhat choppy at times.

Earlier this week I had a long and interesting qso with NZ5E, Terry, in Arkansas, he is using the same radio as me, but remotely, we talked a lot about a beach buggy he and his son have restored, it wasn't until after we said 73, that I realised that I hadn't asked him exactly how he was running his remote station.


Well today I happened across two local friends of mine on the air, G0VQY, Penn, in Brixham, and my radio club pal, G2DXU, Alan, in Torquay, they had been working some Stateside on 17m, and so I joined them, well by chance Terry, NZ5E returned Penn's CQ, and I was fortunate to get to ask Terry exactly what he was using to remotely control his station.

He was using the Microbit RRC-1258 system.

No computer connection is required, I think the next picture explains..

I am hoping as there is no 'video' connection, only audio and radio command that the bandwidth demand on the internet connection will less.

Also my thoughts are you could then use your home station when truly on the move, for example in the car ?!


http://www.hamradio.co.uk/rrc-1258.shtml

HRD LOG.net

I have always used Ham Radio Deluxe - http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/HRDv5.aspx to control the TS-480 , along with DM780 for the data modes, and finally the integrated log book, which also allows you to automatically upload to eQSL.cc and finally to HRDlog.net.


Here http://www.hrdlog.net/Default2.aspx you can view your log, edit any incorrect entries you may have made in HRD logbook, you can also do the usual things, search for callsigns, view DXCC worked etc, but more interestingly perhaps, you can view a qso map in google maps.


Just click on 'qso map' from there you will see 'open with google maps', this brings up another page, which is in Italian, if you don't 'parlare italiano', then you can have the page translated.



Visualizzazione ingrandita della mappa

Facebook HAM friends.

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few years, you will have undoubtedly have heard of Facebook, well I'm not going to and start a debate on it's pros and cons, however I will say that is works for me personally.

For example I have a friend Adriano, IZ3SVI, from Venice, Italy who likes to work portable of a weekend, so he'll put a post up on an Amateur Radio page advertising his event, then assuming there is enough signal for his phone, post updates as to what frequency he is working.

However today he had no signal up on Pizzock Mountain, but luckily I managed to find him on 20m, not easy when he is in qso with his pal in Venice, and I barely speak tourist Italian !

As we have only become friends through Facebook and have never actually spoken to each other, it was a real pleasure to finally be able to, Ady was a 5/7 though faded badly with the qsb, and finally recovered back to a 5/3 or so, with the 100 watts and vertical fishing pole antenna !

Here is a pic of Adriano, doing what he loves best !

And here is my facebook page link - go on poke me !

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=633535950

Many hands make light work..

Yes, so they may, but when it comes to radio, 'many ears make light work...of the DX'.

This week I have been off work, but instead of lying in I have been up around 0800 and on the radio, and with the help of fellow club Ham, M0PAW, Keith, who also lives in Torquay, we have been working together to work the DX, and I would like to say, we haven't done too bad.

Using 145.5375 FM as a contact frequency, we scanned the bands, 40m and 20m, and also using the DX cluster, would tell each other of any good dx, and so far this week have bagged the following.

I worked -
31/1/11 - 08:14 VK7GK, Gerry, in Tasmania on 40m.
03/02/11 - 08.10 ZL4IV, Rex on South island, New Zealand, on 40m.

With Keith and I working together -

03/02/11 - 09:10 PY6RT, Rob in Brazil on 20m
03/02/11 - 09:40 C5YK, Andre, in The Gambia, on 20m.
 and today.. VK2GHK, Henk, just north of Sydney, also on 20m.

All the contacts were SSB with 100 watts into the ZS6BKW, with Keith using a rotatable dipole by Comet.

I have now worked VK on 2 bands with a bit of wire, which due to the high winds here last night now has a thick telephone cable resting on it, will call British Telecom later to report.

Lastly, Henk (VK2GHK) has a website whereby if you have worked him, you can print out your QSL card, and here it is !

VK7GK worked on 40m.

Worked Gerry, VK7GK on 7134 LSB around 0900 GMT this morning, with solid 5/5 signals both ways !

I have never even heard VK on 40m, let alone worked, and yes this was my first VK contact since becoming an Amateur, Gerry was using 300 watts into a 2 element quad, with myself using the ZS6BKW and 100 watts.

Propogation is such a fickle thing, I was trying to work a contest station over the weekend on 40m in Romania, he was a 5/5, could I work him, no chance, and he was calling back UK stations, then I work Gerry after just one call, and we spoke for around 10 mins, good signals with very little fading.

G4ILO Echolink node.

I expect that most of my blog followers also follow the blog of Julian, G4ILO - http://blog.g4ilo.com/ - However publicity usually is always good, so when I read about Julian getting his application for an echolink node approved, I thought I would see if I could access his node via my iPod with the echolink app I downloaded.


At first it said the node was busy, so I left it, I tried again later, even though it was still saying busy, anyway it connected and Julian answered !


Julian's audio was very good, with no distortion, I have to admit that I am an 'RF man', however it was good fun and has now encouraged me to try the echolink on the iphone a little more often, as I don't have a radio on me all the time !


G4ILO-L is EchoLink node number 3098.

http://www.echolink.org/
http://itunes.apple.com/app/echolink/id350688562?mt=8

License to ragchew..

Since I have put up the ZS6BKW antenna I have found that I am actually putting out a half decent signal on 40 and 80m, so the types of QSO have been changing, now instead of the 5/9 73, I am spending perhaps 30 mins talking to just one station, and you know what I love it !

It's not doing my DXCC score a lot of good though !

Still the odd foray onto 17m for the DX though, I cant help myself.

Having said that, 17m is a relaxed band, and I am finding that the improved antenna and the ability to use some more RF is helping me to make some longer trans-atlantic contacts.

HAM life is good.

G2DXU - A brief history.

When I joined the Watcombe Amateur Radio Club around 1 year ago my basic intention was to take all three exams required to gain the full license, here in the UK, this means you would then receive an M0xxx callsign.


Another new member also joined around the same time as myself looking to take the exams, his name is Alan, our backgrounds are very different, but it mattered not as having the same goal and interests meant that we helped and encouraged each other, so we went from SWL to full callsigns in under 10 months.


Alan had a relative, a silent key, Robert lever, who sadly passed away in 2007, Bob had served in the RAF during WW2. Bob’s callsign was G2DXU. The G2DXU had originally been issued as 2DXU, an Artificial Aerial Licence, sometime between 1920 and 1939. In 1946 these licences were re-issued as Full Licences with the G prefix. 


Alan spoke with Robert's wife and she kindly agreed to let Alan use the G2 call, all Alan had to do then was pass all three exams and apply to the RSGB, which he did, and now the paperwork has come through, he is the proud owner of G2DXU !


As the G2xxx call pre-dates the 2nd World War, it certainly is a rare callsign, I have only ever heard one other G2 on the air.


Good luck to you Al with the G2, that is one pile-up generating call if I ever heard one..

http://www.qrz.com/db/g2dxu

West Coast surfin' USA with NB7PX..

Been a bit poorly the last few days with the old 'man flu' bug that's doing the rounds, anyway managed to get some cover at work and slipped away home early today and straight to bed.

Woke up a few hours later, around 1500 GMT and span around 20m only to hear a couple of West Coast, Stateside stations ragchewing, I have not managed to work this area, and it's not for the want of trying.

Whenever I am in the shack I have 3 pages on the PC screen, QRZ.com, DX Cluster and DX sherlock, which gives propogation path maps for each band, so I had a look on the cluster to see what DX is about and noticed a DX net on 14244 with NB7PX, Jerry, in Oregan, this caught my eye as these nets I have found to be the easiest way to work some DX.

He was calling for stations, only the last two letters, it took two calls and 'Charlie Zulu' was on the list !

Jerry gave me two reports over the hour I was on, initially a 5/8 and then a 5/6 as the band was starting to close.

Thanks a lot to Jerry, I feel a lot better now, nothing like a bit 'surfing USA' to banish the winter bugs !

ZS6BKW is this the multiband answer ?

Firstly I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2011 !

This afternoon I felt the need for some air, so what better thing to do than get out in the garden and do some antennas', I like to experiment and build my own antenna's, I have been using a homebrew fan dipole with some good success, I really like the idea of balanced multi-band antennas, my next project is likely to be a cobbwebb type design, anyway for now ebay brought me for Christmas a pre-built ZS6BKW antenna.

This antenna is about 91' long with 40' of 450 ohm twin feeder, which you then attach your 50 ohm coax, the design is a computer modelled variation on the G5RV, and it gives a nice matching impedance on 5 HF bands, 40,20,17,12 and 10m, mine also tunes on 15m (it shouldn't, but does work) and also the 6m band.

With some internal ATU help it tunes on 80m, I have managed a psk contact into France, and have been reported around the UK.

On 15m earlier today (the designs non-resonant band) I managed a psk contact into east coast USA, so this band appears to be a bonus, not sure why it works though !

Interestingly I put some psk calls out on 14070, and was reported all over Northern Europe, with only one report into East coast USA, on my fan dipole it was normally all USA and no Europe.

Here is a link on what I think is a little known and so far interesting antenna.

http://www.tdars.org/library/TechTopics/tech9.html

We cant all have large beams..

Maybe you don't have enough 'estate', the funds wont allow, or more likely the Station Manager has spoken, perhaps you don't actually want a large antenna, either way what does it matter as long as you are enjoying your radio.

I have a HAM friend local to me who uses a SteppIR 3 element yagi antenna, we quite often hook up on 20m to work Stateside, Penn, G0VQY puts out a fabulous signal, rare is his report anything less than 5/9, mine however is often 4/0 to 5/5 on my homebrew 40/20/15m dipole and 100 watts, but do I care, no not one bit, it just spurs me on to improve my station !

However on 10m with the Sporadic E running, my vertical 5/8 does start to give him a run for his money !

Advanced RAE - Passed !

Thanks to Simon, M0TGT, who posted on the blog to say that the results were out, and to log onto the OFCOM website.

I did just this, after the usual problem with the password, why does that always happen when you are in a hurry, anyway once into my personal page, it let me register a new M0 callsign and print out the license requirements.

Hopefully a letter should be in the post to confirm.

73 de Paul, M0PCZ !

PS - I now have to change all my details, QRZ, Ham radio Deluxe, etc, at least I wont have to do it again.

A little update..

I have not been very busy at all on the blog, in fact I was quite shocked to see when I last 'penned' something on here.

Radio wise, nothing much new has been happening, well one event of note, I took my Advanced RAE exam a couple of weeks ago, and will have to wait a least another two weeks for the result, I didn't get the chance to do much revision, however I think it went well, so we'll have to wait and see.

73 Paul.

Backscatter ?

I have had two contacts in the last few days on 10m and 12m to stations in N.Wales and N.England, distances of 170 miles and 241 miles respectively.

Both of these stations, MW0ZZK, Steve, and G0SXC, Kevin, were using Yagi's pointing west and working Stateside, they both took a bit of working as my 5-2/3 signals were competing with 5/7+ Stateside.

These stations are too far way for it to be ground wave, and with no UK sporadic 'e' openings, both stations suggested it was 'backscatter'.

I have tried to google-ing 'backscatter' and have not found a lot of readable info, any thoughts or comments greatly appreciated !

73 Paul.

Better on 10m today.

Managed to crack the Atlantic on 10m just now (1630 local), Roland, K3RA in Baltimore but prior to that a new DXCC with Mexico and XE2AC, Luis with 5/5 exchanged, this makes 59 DXCC now worked.

Unusual contact on 10m.

10m was open yesterday afternoon into Europe and Stateside, however not for the want of trying, I could manage neither, well that's not strictly true as I did manage to contact G0SXC, Kevin in Clitheroe, Lancs.

Signal reports of 5/3-0 with qsb were exchanged and later as I did not get his full qth, I emailed Kevin as I was interested in his opinion as to what type of propogation occurred, it was too far for ground wave. 

Here is the email and the replies..

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

thx paul not sporadic e   its out of season and i was beaming usa  had quite a lot of backscatter that direction so im sure you was too  so your signal was going half way across the atlantic and then bouncing back to me  dont know what antenna you were using if directiona i bet you were also beaming usa

--- On Sat, 23/10/10, Paul  wrote:

From: Paul
Subject: Re: 10m contact
To: "Kevin
Date: Saturday, 23 October, 2010, 21:09

Hi Kevin, sorry, yes 2E0PCZ, located in Torquay, Devon, tell me do you think the contact was sporadic 'e', I would have thought so as I had qsb on your signal, but after reading your page, not so sure..?

 

 

From: 

Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2010 9:06 PM

To: 

Subject: Re: 10m contact

paul you havent given your call sign so i do dontknow where your are was you down in torbay?? yes i use the antenna in the picture and im in clitheroe lancs --- On Sat, 23/10/10, Paul Colyer <> wrote: From: Paul Colyer Subject: 10m contact To: Date: Saturday, 23 October, 2010, 14:23 Hi Kevin,   Thanks for the brief qso a few minutes ago, it was very difficult to hear you and I never heard where your QTH is..   Was you using the big yagi I have just read about ?   I was using a 5/8 vertical, Kenwood TS-480, Heil GM5 mic and the 50 watts.   73 and thanks, Paul.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have a look at Kevins QRZ.com page at G0SXC, and here is a picture of his monster 10m yagi.

Worked into Ireland on 2m FM, then VK and the North of England !

Crazy lift, heard some VK, EI and English stations talking on 145.675, so guessed it was an echolink node, then they started talking about the Cork, Ireland repeater, so a google search later revealed the repeater needed a -600 Hz offset, and no tone required.

The lift easily lasted the hour or so I was on, with signals between a 5/1 to 5/5, very steady with little QSB, I also managed to copy Paul, M6PEW who was accessing a repeater in the North of England, so not sure what was going on there !