News
- Details
- Written by: Chris G4ZCS
- Category: News
- Hits: 165
First a quick note to those who do not have access to RadCom. The May edition has an obituary for Peter Rhodes. His design for an auto ATU became a club project, mine served me well for many years especially as I did some mods during the building phase. Can you remember the PicaTune?
As mentioned last month I have been experimenting with datamodes.
Because I have difficulties speaking for more than half an hour and my wrist is too tight to operate a Morse key at any sensible speed, I have been using FT8 as my main mode. It is ideal for DXing as the exchange is call plus grid reference and signal strength.
A while back, a new version was released, FT4. This runs at twice the speed of FT8 and the programs in use are stable and relatively bug free. In mid February another version was released for testing, FT2. This Italian program runs at twice the speed of FT4 and 4 times that of FT8. At the time of writing there are two programs to chose from; Decodium Ver 3 and WSJT-X v3.1.0. Both perform in a similar fashion so anyone trying this out can take their pick.
As an aside, the Dinosaurs among us will say that CW is just as fast so why bother? Having tried FT2 I would say the two are very similar, so watch this space for further improvements and possibly an increase in take-up to a 'mainstream' mode.
Over Easter weekend I tried running FT2 in 'auto CQ' mode. It works well but sitting staring at the screen as calls are automatically logged doesn't seem right.
The May edition of RadCom has a descriptive article on the operation of FT8. I found that it answered several questions such as how does it decode so many signals in such a short time? I think that Joe Taylor, the author of this mode, needs a vote of thanks.
Now on to my activity. The month started with 155 DXCCs in the log. Tea time on the first saw 1A4F in the log. Scam? Possibly, but there is a confirmation on EQSL. Also on the 1st I worked TJ1GD/P on AF-095 - one of the rare islands off Cameroon. And I got S21WD for IOTA AS-140.
On the 2nd I was called by VK2WN from OC-001. On the 6th I had a surprise as I had a voice contact with D60DX on Comoros Isl's. Africa is still giving up its secrets with 7Q9BK from Malawi and 3X3A from Roume Is'l in Guinea for AF-051
As I write this I have just worked the following on 20m FT8; C5D The Gambia, JA7DXX Japan, 7P8WR Lesotho, JA1PPW, and JH7CVM, both on AS-007. Not bad for a bit of blue wire & 200W!
And all in 15 minutes.
The QSL card is from Palau and came with a confirmation of Taiwan.
Cheers
Chris G4ZCS
- Details
- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 139
Bring a project, a story, a packet of biscuits, a friend. It doesn't matter.
I'll be bringing my laptop and doing a brief demo of my latest build - a software development.
I'm writing a suite of programs to manage my radio activities, so on-air operations both in the field and back in the shack. It's a simple concept, designed to make managing my activations, QSO's and associated notes easy to capture, organise, view and share, and it works like nothing else that I know of.
The first part is a lightweight field-logging component which is easy to use and fault-tolerant. It's at the working prototype phase, and just needs a few minor changes but is fully working and field-tested.
I'll do a short presentation, and if there is any interest, I'll maybe do a proper talk on it later in the year. Here's a sneak-peek of the main operating screen:
Maybe see some of you on Friday evening.
73
Berni M0XYF
- Details
- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 300
I spend too much time wandering around YouTube watching various technical channels to learn more about the topics which interest me.
I thought that a few members may also be interested in this particular video, as it combines several strands of geekery, crossing-over between similar hobbies and niches. I promise that it specifically includes a segment on amateur radio! I don't think Mark sold it to the public particularly well, but we'll all get it.
Some of you may have come across Dominic Chinea who appears on the TV show 'The Repair Shop', as does Mark Stuckey. Dom's YouTube channel often covers engaging projects (mainly restoration), but this week's episode takes a visit to Mark Stuckey's own house and workshop. The tour starts in a shed and moves onwards and upwards from there...
- Details
- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 141
Bob has sent a message to let us know that he has hit a significant milestone in his Parks On The Air hunting activities.
It's quite a feat when you actually stop and think about it. Three and a half thousand UNIQUE parks contacted around the world.
Well done Bob. As we get a bit older and maybe a little less mobile, we can all continue to talk to our friends and enjoy a technically challenging hobby on a global playing field.
Below are a few of the stats:
POTA STATS 04/18/2026
Hunter Standing: 667
Parks Hunted: 3503
Awards: 48
Badges: 39
Endorsements: 127
Early Shift QSOs: 3199
Late Shift QSOs: 268
DX Entities Hunted: 32
States (Need AK HI): 48
Total POTA QSOs: 13683
CW: 11437
MFSK (FT8 FT4): 385
SSB: 1861
Congratulations Bob. More than that, I'm glad your're still enjoying your radio and breaking new ground.
Bob passes on his best wishes to all at MSARS.
Berni M0XYF
- Details
- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
- Hits: 137
Ken G3WYN has decided to move the Sunday morning net back to 80m on the original frequency of 3.740 MHz plus or minus QRM.
I think several of the regular participants have been finding it increasingly difficult to both hear and be heard on 40m of late, as band conditions have become pretty disappointing.
Please call-in to the net if you get a chance. It's a good excuse to get out in the garden and create yourself a new 80m antenna at least.
Regards,
Berni M0XYF.
