Airlink Express

I came across this software for digimodes, I never heard of it before. I like to try new software. It's a bit the same as Digipan, the same codes for the macros. Only the interface looks much more better than Digipan. It can handle PSK, QPSK, MFSK and RTTY. Just like MMVARI. There are plenty of digimodes, but a lot isn't much in use. So Airlink is restricted to the most popular digimodes. I do miss JT65, but JT65-HF is still a very fine program. Now I must change software if I want to work with JT65. It would be nice to have software who can do all popular digimodes. Very nice is the narrow bandpass filters on board of Airlink Express, you can even make your own filter. You can manage the squelch level with your mouse. Anyway, I will test this software to see if it can beat Fldigi.

With WSPR I was reported by HR2P from Honduras on 40 meter. It's a new DXCC for me. Best DX this morning was ZL3PX (18663 km)

10 and 12 meter are open, I do hear Japan on 12 meter. So keep an eye on those bands today. Just worked KP4ED from Puerto Rico on 12 meter.

Surprise on 10 meter

This is the shack of Horatio CX8AF from Montevideo, Uruguay. Yesterday, I was playing with Multipsk software and was listening to JT65 stations on 10 meter. Suddenly I saw that CX8AF was calling me... of course I replied and made a qso with him. Other stations who reported me: KE4TG, AA5AT, PY3OL and W5NZ. Surprise on 10 meter.

Social Media

I was happy to work DO7DU on 80 meter. I was running 5 watt PSK31. My antenna is not really suitable for 80 meter or lower. But I try to tune the end fed wire for the lower bands. It always does. The SWR is perfect when I tune the wire with my MFJ-925 tuner. The effectiveness of the radiation part... I don't know.

I removed the Social Media widget from my blog. I think about to disable my Twitter account also. Some of the accounts are hacked, so I get messages from others which is spam or a virus. Problem is I get this messages also on my smartphone and that's something I don't want. I do have a virus protection on my smartphone, but I don't want spam on my smartphone. Do you recognize this problem also?

Suddenly my JT65-HF 1.0.7 software wasn't working. RB wasn't working and when I want to make a CQ the software was freezing. So I removed JT65-HF from my computer and installed the latest version 1.0.9.3 and now it is running again.

QRP Phone

I was trying to work Z6ØK with CW, but to many callers and difficult to make it through the pile up with qrp. (listen to sound file Z6ØK on 20m)

I moved to SSB for a change. And of course QRP. A lot of QRP-ers choose for CW or digimodes. I can understand why. But sometimes I like SSB as well. I worked on 20 meter HBØ/ON6NB Liechtenstein, a very small country in the north of Switzerland. (see photo) and on 40 meter I had a very pleasant qso with Johan PH9K from Groningen. We have (had) the same profession. He worked with a mono band antenna made of 2 whip antennas. Very good signal here. Enough radio for today. Have a nice weekend to you all.

The Es season is almost over

The Es season is almost over. Today I worked ES5EVO from Estonia on 10 meter with bpsk31. It was the only station I could hear. I tried DXPSK and installed the software, but I didn't like it, so I removed the software. Now all my audio devices (input and output) were mixed up. JT65-HF, FLdigi, CW Skimmer, MMVARI, and Digipan. And my computer sounds, Media Player etc. I use three separated audio cards. OK, now all is up and running again. On 17 meter I worked K8CW for the third time with CW. Last time was in 2010. On 20 meter I worked Z32LM with CW.

Kosovo

Will Kosovo soon be on air as a new DXCC for us? Or will it be the same as Cyprus 1B call sign? Read the article and more discussion >>>

Yes, I am still alive. It is a bit quite here, and when I checked the ham bands, I found less activity. On 40 meter this morning I heard PY7DJ with BPSK31, but he didn't hear me.

I made some BPSK31 qso’s and today with WSPR my signal was heard in Australia and Antarctica on 20 meter band.

I can't say there is no propagation

Murphy's law

I came across this saved document:

Murphy’s law

* When I pull the plug from the rig, unexpected propagation appears.

* Best propagation is always on the other band.

* When I think about creating a backup, my computer will crash.

* The moment someone gives his call after a string of CQ, strong QSB appears.

Maybe someone posted this before on his blog. But I like it, so I reblog again. I made some contacts, not that much, but it's something.

WAE-DX contest - monitoring 10 meter band

Just monitored a short while on 10 meter band. The WAE-DX Contest was going on. I heard strong signals from Brazil. I worked with ssb PW7T. I also worked 9K2HN, RC9O and UA9MA. On 2 meter there was strong tropo this morning. I heard many stations from the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Germany. On 80 meter I worked PI4VRZ on ssb.

The HyEndFed antenna, and how does it perform on other HF bands?

As most of my regular readers know, I use a HyEndFed antenna for HF. The multiband for 40, 20 and 10 meter (11,5 meter long) It does outperformed my 80/40 meter dipole (2 x 13,5 meter) How does the HyEndFed perform on other bands with an automatic antenna tuner? Not bad at all. On 80 meter: best DX 6565 km and 14 DXCC with 5 watt. 160 meter it does work alright. Results? Best DX 1412 km and 14 DXCC with 5 watt. What about 30 meter? Best DX 16.682 km and 36 DXCC with 5 watt. 17, 15 and 12 meter I don’t know, I haven’t been very active on those bands. But I can tune the antenna with an automatic antenna tuner (The MFJ 925) easily on those bands. So after all I am very happy with this antenna. It was worthwhile spending money for this great antenna. Best way to test an antenna is with WSPR. You get quick a report via the data base of wsprnet.org. More info about this antenna.

South Shetland Islands

Today sporadic E was great om 10 meter. I was reported with 5 watt WSPR by RI1ANF from the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. I received his 5 watt signal also. That's 13926 km. Also reported in Brazil, PY3FF.

Running Barefoot

Running barefoot is a nice saying. That means 100 watt straight from the rig. Yesterday I joined the Dutch net on 40 meter (7077 KHz) I noticed that the websdr (www.nachtuilen.net) from Weert was very good in reception. They use a Wellbrook Loop. So I was listening with the websdr and transmitted with my own rig the FT450. I could monitor my own transmitted signal with 1 second delay. The audio is very sharp, when tuned up the EQ or mic gain. So with the FT 450 I keep the gain in normal position with a flat EQ. The audio was better than my the audio from the FT817. I thought it was the other way round. I worked PA0LL, PD2LEO, ON4BT and F5FLM. I was 59 in France. On this frequency I heard this morning M3TUC Tucker from Carlisle UK, a nice chap, I worked him several times before. I compared the reception of the websdr from the University Eindhoven and Nachtuilen.net in Weert (with a Wellbrook Loop). The last one was 6 dB better in reception, the University Eindhoven had more qrm/qrn on the frequency. They use a multiband antenna. Conditions are poor today... see if there is some Es on 6 meter or 10 meter. The season is almost over for Es. Maybe I put up a 80-40 meter dipole. Just enough space for 27 meter wire.

eQSL a modern approach

Why all that paper stuff? QSL bureaus, clubnights, qsl managers, etc. I like the way eQSL does. It’s easy, fast and modern. Maybe the old generation is not really computer minded, so they prefer the old fashion way. But now I don’t have to go to the qsl manager of once a month a club night where I can get my latest incoming qsl cards. Most of the time I get my eQSL immediately. I check once a week eQSL for answering incoming qsl cards. eQSL is free, but when you pay a few euro’s /dollars a month you can do a lot more, for instance: making or uploading your own qsl card. Or use the propagation forecaster, or upload your ADIF log file and many things more. You can get a lot of awards at eQSL. For those who like to have an award on their wall. I do have worked 110 DXCC so far with QRP and low power and moderate compromise antennas. By now 62% is confirmed with eQSL’s. A think that is pretty good. Radio Amateurs and SWL’s can still sent qsl cards via the bureau to me. I am a member of VERON. But I will not send a card in return by the bureau. Because, I didn’t have paper cards and I won’t have them in the near future.

Read more about QSL-ing and logging by Jeff KE9V.

Nice incoming eQSL today.