SSTV

MMSSTV is developed by Makoto Mori, JE3HHT. I downloaded the software to see if it works. A lot of the software on the internet is not compatible with Windows 7. MMSSTV does. I tuned at 14230 KHz, and yes... I saw the pictures of N1YMM. I never worked with SSTV before and it is completely new for me. I’ll have to find out how it works and what I can do with it. Other activities today: I worked with SSB on 20 meter YU1TR and 9A7V. With RTTY EC8ADW Canary Islands.

I can't come out on 160 meter, only receive. I heard the following stations between 20.00 and 20.30 UTC with CW: G4ZCM, DL6WT, TF4M, SP8BSC, SV3RF and GW3KDB.

WSPR on 80 meter

Last night I did some WSPR on 80 meter. Best result R3BT Moscow. This morning I worked UA1CEX Vic from St Petersburg, a two way QRP QSO on 14060 KHz with CW. Also worked E77CFG from Bosnia Herzegovina.

Today a new DXCC: EX2F from Kyrgyzstan. DXCC no. 80 with CW on 17 meter. Later this afternoon I worked another new DXCC on 17 meter: UK8AR Uzbekistan with CW, number 81. Also worked 4Z5AD and K8CW.

Radio Player

I came across this Radio Player with World Folk Music. Except Ham Radio audio, there is more to enjoy what is audible. (To activate the player click on the photo)

My JT65-HF software failed this morning. When UT4QU replied on my CQ call, the software was not reacting. I must de-install JT65-HF and made a new installation. With PSK31 reports this morning on 20 meter I had 360 km/watt, and with JT65A 1563 km/watt. I was reported by YV6BFE. And so did I. Nevertheless we didn't make a qso.

Quote

There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.

No contest after all

After all no RTTY contest. I made only 2 QSO´s. Too crowded, too many east Europe. Sorry guys, no hard feelings. I was testing the end fed antenna with the FT817 SSB. I know that I always been successful with the FT817 when using 5 watt SSB. The modulation must be very good. I made several qso´s with it on 20 meter. ISØXRN, Antonio from Sardinia Island, 9A1CPB (see photo) Pucisca, Island of Brac, Croatia. And IQ8BB from Italy. With PSK31 on 15 meter I worked UA9WUS. This afternoon WSPR on 17 meter all reports from the USA, average 6000 km. Enough for today.

Andorra

Indeed a lot of RTTY stations. I worked a few, but it was too crowded for me. ;-) With SSB I worked C31VM on 20 meter, hopefully no pirate station as before. Also worked a lighthouse station EA1HNP/P and EA2DNY.

RTTY contest

Conditions are poor this morning due to a K index of 3/25nt, though I was heard in the USA and Venezuela with PSK31 on 40 meter this morning, no one answered my CQ call. I also received Australia with JT65. I was reported by 3A2MW Monaco, who is for 2,5 years on my wish list to work. I must remember there are always ham’s who hear more and work more… it shouldn’t feel like a competition. Tomorrow I can forget PSK31 and JT65 because of the 2010 CQ WW DX Contest for RTTY. They will be all over the place. So if we can’t fight them, we join them. So I think I will make some RTTY contacts this weekend.

Autumn

Today the start of autumn. Falling leaves, rain and wind are expected here. My background has autumn leaves also. I had a nice qso with Jos EA5/ON4CAU/P from Alcoy, Spain (see photo taken from qrz.com). I was using 10 watt SSB. His antenna a GP and 50 watt. Other qso's: GØUOO Rob on 40 meter SSB, G4XEX Peter with PSK31 on 40 meter and IK5FKB Adelio on 17 meter with PSK31.

I do not get QSL's like this in my mailbox everyday. So I am happy with this one from LU1WI. Today I worked S51GL Miro from Maribor, Slovenia with 5 watt SSB on 20 meter. With CW I worked TK/F5MCC.

QRP SSB also fine

It was rather quiet on 20 meter, then I heard 7V2PI working in a pile up. I tried to call him with 5 watt SSB, and he came back for me after one call. My antenna was the HyEndFed antenna. The same with EW1MM Gary from Minks, Belarus. He was running 100 W, but turned down his power to 5 watt and we made a 2 way QRP SSB QSO. A nice, special contact was PH9HB/AM (Aeronautical Mobile) Jerry from a aeroplane in Italy near Roma. From Malta I worked 9HØVRZ a Dutch DX station of the VRZA. I worked all stations with 5 watt SSB. The HyEndFed antenna reminds me of the Miracle Whip plus 10 m wire extension outside. The last one worked also very fine for me then (see my old postings in 2008) No problem in pile ups. Many stations were calling above stations, but I had no problem. Most of the time one call was enough. Isn't that remarkable? The DSP of the FT-450 works great with SSB. On 20 meter is a very high noise level for several days up to S5.

This afternoon I worked DU1GM George from Manila, Philippines for the third time but now with only 5 watt JT65A on 14076 KHz (10.479 km)

Controversy in ham radio

Everywhere in life you find duality, also in ham radio. When I first had contact with radio amateurs I found two categories: the technicians and the communicators. The first is busy with technique and the second with making contacts with other amateurs on air. (some do both) So we have home brewers and buyers of commercial products. Some of the home brewers look down on the ham’s who buy their equipment in the ham shop. The home brewers find their selves more superior. They think you should build your own equipment. I think that is nonsense. For me technique is to understand the principles why things are working as they do. But when someone like to build his own equipment instead of buying is fine to me. In the early days I build some radios, but soon I found out that Yaesu can do that much better for me. All I want was to be on air, make contacts with other amateurs. Then I found out the next duality: rag chewers versus DX-ers. Oh boy, and QRO versus QRP. CW versus phone, big antennas versus low profilers. Cheap versus expensive. Commercial antennas versus home-made antennas. Digi modes versus standard modes. Contesters versus non-contesters. HF versus VHF/UHF, straight keyers versus electronic keyers. Echolink versus D-star, believers and non-believers. Old versus young. Internet & computers versus the old fashions, conservative ham's and progressive ham's. I think I’ll go crazy. But finally I found out that we are all radio amateurs, sharing the same thing: ham radio, whatever that may be. We should respect each other specialities, not condemning others, not to judge our differences, but see where we can find each other in this unique multiform community. Where people with different languages, religion, politics, can be as one and share this wonderful hobby of ours. Isn’t that nice? Everyone have core qualities, and we can learn from each other. But above all respect is the main thing we should keep in mind.

QRP CW 20 meter

Though there is a contest going on, still there are ham's who stick to the qrp frequencies. I worked with 5 watt CW on 14060 KHz, EA5VK and EA4TX/P (photo from qrz.com) also both 5 watt.

These are WSPR observations (30) between 13.00 and 14.00 UTC on 20 meter with 5 watt into the HyEndFed antenna. I think propagations are poor. The only exception are reports from Japan. I do not exceed the 2000 km.

What's that noise?

A nice video from K2NCC. On 20 meter I worked E77A with SSB, and on 17 meter I worked with BPSK31 RK6AX and RW6MDV.

Tonight I worked with 5 watt SSB OE5ØAMRS on 20 meter. The Austrian Military Radio Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the event, special event call signs has been issued OE50AMRS - OE50XAM - OE50XCL - OE50XCW - OE50XLC - OE50XMA - OE50XRM The call signs will be used from various locations in Austria during the period of 01 September until the 31 of December 2010. Also worked with 5 watt SSB: E71A
With 5 watt JT65A on 20 meter: SP3IY
With 5 watt BPSK31 on 40 meter: M6SUS/A Susan from the island of Wight.

Again

For the second time I worked DU1GM George from the Philippines. But now my power output was 10 watt. Received report was -12 db and yesterday with 35 watt my report was -14 db. With JT65A you get a nice, reliable report, because the software shows the signal strength. While with PSK everyone get a 599 report. hardly accurate. It's in the macro, so...

I also worked RWØAA Yuri from Nazarovo, Russia (5200 km) and UT4QU Eugene from the Ukraine.

New DXCC

I didn't notice that a DX was present. I thought it was a German station, but when I checked QRZ.com I saw it was The Philippines. I called DU1GM with 10 watt (JT65A) without results, then I tried 35 watts, and yes, we made a QSO on 20 meter. A distance of 10.391 km. It is my 78th DXCC. Yeah, I know that QRO guys work 150 DXCC in one weekend. But with QRP and low power less then 40 watt the count is 78 after 2 years of being QRV. I was reported by VK4RV on 20 meter. Tonight I worked on 20 meter with JT65A LU1WI Geo from Puerto Madryn, Argentina. Distance: 12.526 km. Also a new DXCC no. 79.

I think the Hy End Fed Antenna works great! While condx are poor. What when propagation is good? Oh boy...

Almost

I put the Hy End Fed Antenna on a higher point. Now 28 feet high and the lowest point about 7 feet, so it hangs like a sloper antenna. The SWR now is 1:1 over the entire 20 meter band without a tuner. But when I was almost finished, my ladder slipped away and I almost fell to the ground. I must have an guardian angel. But I am still here in one piece. Conditions are still poor on 20 meter. At 22 o'clock local time I heard only one SSB station. A few PSK and CW. At 10 o'clock UTC I heard EA6FG/QRP (see photo) on 14060 KHz. He had a qso with GB2NFM, which I didn't hear. I called him and we made a nice QRP QSO. He was only running 500 milliwatt into a 3 elements yagi. I was running 5 watt into the Hy End Fed Antenna. By the way, I can work with the Hy End Fed Antenna also on 15, 12 and 10 meter with a tuner. On 15 meter I worked UA6CET with BPSK31, and RZ6AUJ on 20 meter with JT65A.

Hy End Fed Antenna

I ordered by PA3EKE the Hy End Fed Antenna for 20 meter. It is similar like the PAR end fed antenna. It is an end fed dipole but this one can be used up to 300 watt. It is a nice piece of work. It is a half wavelength long (10 meter) I put up the antenna between the rain showers and it looks like I had no antenna for 20 meter before. Signals were 4 to 5 S-points louder then my inverted V trapped dipole for 40 and 80 meter with tuner. Unbelievable. I tried with JT65A and worked Asiatic Russia with 25 watt. And in a half hour I was reported in the USA, Japan, South Korea, Venezuela and Argentina. So the first impression is very good. The SWR of the antenna is from 14.000 to 14.300 1:1 and to 14.300-14.350 1:1,2 so very good. Maybe I will replace my inverted V dipole for a Hy End Fed for 40 meter. 40 and 20 meter are my favourite bands. I will test the antenna the coming weeks, and hope propagation will go up.

Web Site of PA3EKE Hy End Fed Antenna.

Early

I heard Eric KA2BSK calling CQ on 7076 KHz with JT65A. We made a QSO at 5.24 UTC. I was reported by KN3A and F1MSV.

I am out of bed at 4.00 UTC. 6 o'clock local time. Still we have summer time, and the last weekend of October the clock will go back 1 hour.

I also worked G8MIA Andy from Thatcham UK on 40 meter. I was running 25 watts into the inverted V dipole. Today it's rainy here. I hope to get up the mono band 20 meter end fed dipole this afternoon, when it's dry.

Vanmorgen ben ik QRV op de repeater van Zaandam, 145.662.5 Mhz.

HF interference

I was checking 7076 KHz for JT65A State Side. I was calling CQ, meanwhile I was lay the table for breakfast and put on the transistor radio for latest news. But, I had severe interference from my rig. Now I understand what my neighbor have to go through. With SSB on 40 meter I have also RFI on his radio. Now with JT65A also. A few minutes later I tried 20 meter, but no problem at all. I do have the problem only on 40 meter. Meanwhile I was reported by K3UK and KC8V on 40 meter. Propagation to the USA is reasonable good with JT65A around 5.00 o'clock UTC on 40 meter.

I am glad the weekend is over

The terror of contests. Strong Russian and Ukraine stations calling CQ Contest outside Europe. OK, I think: shut the f*** up. Strong Russian PSK stations in the JT65A part of the 20 meter band. Impossible to work with JT65A. Then I think: shut... you know what I mean. Then I am glad with the Monday mornings. When the contest fools are back to work or in bed working out their score. Now I know why I have been stopped 25 years ago. I was fed up with this kind of mentality. The week days are for me the best days on the amateur bands. The weekend I give attention to my lovely wife and wonderful kids. Today the weather was fine here, and we took a walk into the dunes this afternoon. Sitting on top of a dune, then life is wonderful without QRM.

What is wrong with Blogger?

It is hard to upload a photo, or place comments, sometimes. All 503 errors.

Problems with comments

When I will answer a comment I get this: Service Unavailable Error 503 

Something wrong with Blogger, I presume. 

JT65A 40 meter

I was early this morning. I must wake up my daughter because she have to go to school. But first the morning ritual: showering, make-up (oh yes, 12 years old) make breakfast, prepared lunch for school, check timetable on the internet for school. etc. mean while I was checking the amateur bands. First WSPR 40 meter: nothing. Then WSPR 20 meter: nothing. JT65A 20 meter: nothing. Then I decided to check 40 meter for JT65A on 7.076 KHz. Never did before. I gave CQ and WA3OXM came back for me. Alan from Blounts Creek NC, USA. 6431 km. (3996 miles) and I was heard in Kansas by WH6IO. Not bad. I think I will check JT65A on 40 meter more often at night and early morning.

A little chat

Today I was listing to SSB on 20 meter. With 5 watt SSB from my FT817 I worked EA2KB Enrique from Spain. In the peak 57. Also worked IZ4DLR Ivan from Longara, Italy, 54 report. My antenna the Falcon 250B.

In the side bar on top you can find WSPR links and my recent activities with Whisper. On my blog I mention only WSPR DX or rare stations with the Whisper mode.

You think there is no QRP activity on 14.060 KHz? You bet. Between 12.00 and 13.00 UTC I heard the following stations: EA2IA, PA1AT, LZ1PJ, I4UD, EA5ET and OH1UP.

Monitoring 14.060 KHz

I was monitoring 14.060 KHz for a short while around 20.45 UTC. In the early evening we had severe thunderstorms and lightning, so I had disconnected my antennas. When it was over I heard several stations on 14.060 KHz. Very strong was K1FVP sometimes 599 but also strong QSB and no copy at all. But 50% of the QSO was OK. He was in QSO with SQ8MZW. I wrote him a e-mail and he answered:

"Thank you very much for the report. I was just running 18 watts with my Ten-Tec Argonaut V into a Hy-Gain AV-620 vertical antenna up about 10 meters off the ground. Perhaps we will QSO sometime soon."

A few minutes before this QSO I was calling CQ, but I think he didn't hear me. I also heard IT9QAU/QRP and two Dutch stations. 20 minutes later the band was silent again.

QRP digi mode

My country list for the last 4 days with JT65A. With 0,5 watt on 30 meter WSPR best reported results are: UA3ARC 2146 km, EA6CA 1464 km and OH3MHA 1581 km. 1 watt on 20 meter: K1JT 5907 km and 4X1RF 3270 km. 2 watt on 40 meter: best result is I2HFS 798 km. Best propagations are on 20 meter. For 30 meter and higher I use my vertical, and for 40 or lower I use my inverted V dipole. Today it's raining again. I must do some shopping, but I don't feel like to go out in the rain. Maybe you think, why don't you take your car, but I do not have a drivers license. Never had the urge to get one. So when I go out I take my bike. But I'll wait and go out when it stops raining. Below my postings you see some weather widgets of the Netherlands.

JT65A Day

It is a very rainy day today. It's all grey outside. Today I keep myself busy with JT65A. Not cruising from one mode to another mode or from one band to another. Just stick to one. Yesterday I made some CW QSO's on 20 meter. Now I call CQ with JT65A, but most of the time I listen and function like a reverse beacon station. My first contact was RA6HMS Alexander from Stavronpolsky, Russia. Distance 2837 km. So far he was the only station on 20 meter. I am using 5 watt and my DIPOLE antenna. Second QSO was SP1ERP Edward from Lebork, Poland. Most of the JT65A users do have a power between 10 watt and 50 watt. More is by all means not necessary. The band is too small for QRO.

Oh boy... yesterday there was a station from Ukraine with BPSK31 and was 10 times broader then a normal BPSK31 signal. I think the guy was using QRO, more then 100 watt and a too high ALC level. When he came in a QSO was not possible. So I went to another band.

Later this afternoon I lowered the audio output to a absolute minimum. VOX very high, and see where my signal is received with JT65A. I call CQ and see in PSK reporter where I have been reported. Well: RZ1OM 2450 km, YU1ZM 1525 km, and UR5EQF 2171 km. Propagation was not so good this afternoon. Best signals from Russia and East Europe. UA3GDX came back for me, but when I answered his call he was gone.

WSPR weekend

While doing other things, I let the rig running with WSPR on 30 meter with 5 watt this morning. My signal is heard all over Europe, and best results are: W3HH Florida, USA, YV4GJN Venezuela (7944 KM) K1JT New Jersey USA and W1XP Massachusetts USA. I used my inverted V dipole antenna.

Julian G4ILO wrote about interference on 20 meter. [link] Now I have interferences on 20 meter what just looks like interference on 30 meter (screen shot from 14.076 KHz JT65A freq.) Not all the time, but so now and then. I don't know what the source is. Some say it is from flat screen TV's, but I don't have the problem at night, but just at day time. Pretty annoying.

Alinco DX-SR8E

When checking vhfsx.info I believe the Es season is over. It’s always a summer event between early May and late August. Now we are moving slowly to the winter season and we are taking advantage of the increasing conditions on 40 and 80 meter. WSPR on 80 meter yesterday: maximum distance of 600 km. One exception was Norway with 1375 km. Today I saw the Alinco HF transceiver DX-SR8E. It seems like a nice transceiver for QRP enthusiast because it has a S-low power function to set the output between 0,5 watt and 2 watt. Also 10 watt and 100 watt. For QRP lovers a fine transceiver when you don’t like to homebrew yourself. Only one thing I miss is a VOX. I never saw a VOX before with Alinco transceivers. Why? I ordered a Alinco transceiver last year, but when I found out that there was no VOX, I cancelled the order. I think this transceiver can fill the gap of losing the IC-703 from the market, which is still a shame.

Tonight I had a few CW QSO's on 14.060 KHz. With 4X1DM/QRP Dani from Merom Hagalil, Israel distance 3403 km, R3DAU/QRP yar from Russia, and SM6PDS Leif from Brämhult, Sweden.

Google Chrome Browser

I was reluctant and suspicious about Google Chrome browser. I was not satisfied with Explorer 6 and 7. I used over the years Firefox as my standard browser. It was the best they told me. Since I have a new machine with OS Windows 7, Firefox wasn’t fast anymore. So I downloaded Google Chrome and installed it on my new computer. It was stunning how fast this browser is. Unbelievable. I wish I had it before. And an advantage is that you can translate any web site immediately in any language you want. What do we want more?

On HF at the moment is not much to hear. I check all bands with PSK31 to see if there is any activity. Only on 20 meter I see several stations. On 40 meter I worked with 5 watt only one station SP6ECQ Waclaw from Rakowice Wielkie, Poland.

This afternoon I worked with 5 watt CW on 14.060 KHz UA1AFT/QRP Vas from St. Petersburg, Russia.

Back

OK, Blogger wins. (read Google) My flirtation with Blog.com was short. It was difficult to get a Blog.com link into a Blogger Blogroll. It looks very weird. I tried several things to get a proper link, but it doesn't work. So I am back here. Sorry for all the troubles. If you delete me from your Blogroll forever, I can understand. I lost already 2 followers.

Yesterday I had a QSO with UA1TAN with PSK31 on 20 meter. A 2 way QRP QSO without knowing from each other. We both did not have the /QRP at the end of our call sign. But when I put it in the QRZ.com logbook I saw that he was using also 5 watt.

Tonight on 40 meter I worked Jan 9A/PA4JJ from Croatia with 5 watt PSK31.