QRPSPOTS

The Four State QRP Group is hosting a web service called qrpspots.com. This is a web cluster for QRP spots.


WAØITP writes:

Thank you for using and checking it often. It is ideal for home or portable use, self spotting is encouraged, as are Sprints, Nets, and other announcements. This is your QRP bulletin board on the web.

Thank you for using Four States' QRP spotting page.

More 10m contacts

Last night I also worked one F station and one MJ station on 10m. The QSOs were made from the shack of our local radio club where I am a board member and QSL manager. I used a Kenwood TS-570D turned down to 5 watts and a W3DZZ trapped dipole antenna.

10m contacts

Today I made 7 10m QSOs during my activation of SOTA LA/TM-018 Hørsfjell. The equipment I used was a Yaesu FT-817ND at 5 watts, Elecraft T1 ATU and a 20m Extended Double Zepp antenna (2*13,4m) inverted V style supported by a 6m telescopic pole. I also did some listening on 12m but could not hear any other stations.

DXCCs: OM, DL, HB9, S5, 9A, YU

Nordic Portable Contest

May 17th is the Norwegian Constitution Day (hence the flag...) but I managed to work a few stations in the Nordic Portable Contest. LA1KHA/P was also QRV and I hope he was able to work a lot more stations than I did.


This contest favours QRP stations by giving a multiplier based on output power:

• Mult. 01: More than 64 W
• Mult. 02: 16 - 64 W
• Mult. 03: 4 - 16 W
• Mult. 04: 1 - 4 W
• Mult. 05: Less than 1 W

I experienced a lot of QSB and lost a lot of QSOs due to this. I'm hoping for better conditions in August in the autumn part of the contest!


http://www.sk3bg.se/contest/smp.htm

Parts from Hong Kong

Today I received two packets from Hong Kong by mail. One was containing a no-name FNB-80Li clone (battery) and the other one was containing an Yaesu CD-15A table charger. Both were for my Yaesu VX-6 handheld transceiver. This is the first time ever that I've bought anything from E bay.

The fancy thing I was not aware of is that you don't actually need the radio to charge the battery with this charger. This way you can charge one battery while you are using the other one!

It took 10 days from ordering to delivery from two different companies. Both items were well bellow the Nok 200 limit that make them tax free.

QRP spots on DX Summit

DX Summit is a web based DX cluster and has the possibility to filter on QRP spots only. Watching this might help you when looking for 2-way QRP QSOs. DX Summit is operated by Radio Arcala, OH8X.

DX Summit - Last QRP DX spots

New Cycle 24 sunspot!

Tonight a small new cycle 24 sunspot appeared! It has received number 1017. Todays solar flux reached 74 and that's the highest solar flux we have seen in a year! Hopefully this is the real start of solar cycle 24!

http://solarcycle24.com/

Magnetic Loop problems

I received the MFJ-1788X Magnetic Loop antenna today. When first trying to tune the antenna I noticed that the UP buttons worked OK but not the DOWN buttons. Now none of the buttons are working! The back-light in the power meter on the control head is working so I guess the power supply is OK. I have sent MFJ support an e-mail and I'm waiting for their answer.

Updating the Elecraft K3

Here the other day I updated my Elecraft K3 to MCU 3.11 / DSP 2.15. When testing the NR function I noticed that the sound was very distorted, even on NR setting 1-1. I Googled the problem and found out I'm not the only one experiencing this. I've kept the out of the box ALC settings but will try to find some better settings to solve the problem.

NR distortion with 3.11

Update: I was updating from MCU 02.78 / DSP 01.98 / FPF 00.02

E-openings

No traces of Sporadic-E last night so I decided to work 20m and 40m for the SOTA activation. You can read more on my SOTA blog.

Magnetic Loop - an update

Last night I received an e-mail from MFJ to notify me that my loop antenna has been handed over to UPS for shipment. That is even sooner than stated by MFJ in their last e-mail where they said I had to wait for 2 - 4 weeks.

Sporadic E

I have read reports of Sporadic E openings for the last days and I will try to join the NAC28 (NRAU Activity Contest on 10m) tomorrow Thursday May 7th. I will be active on a hilltop nearby with my Yaesu FT-817ND at 5W. I've not yet decided what antenna to bring.

I will work the SSB (28,500 ± 50 khz) and FM (29,600 ± 80 khz) periods.

Periods:
CW: 17.00 - 18.00 UTC
SSB: 18.00 - 19.00 UTC
FM: 19.00 - 20.00 UTC
MGM/Digital: 20.00 - 21.00 UTC

Contest rules in Norwegian

QRP Countries award

Today I received the QRP Countries Award by mail from Colin G3VTT.

MFJ Magnetic Loop - part II

I'm still waiting for the MFJ-1788 Mag Loop I have ordered.

One of the reasons that I decided to choose this antenna was all the good reviews I found on different websites. I'm living in a row house and has no opportunity to put up any outside antennas. I will try the Mag Loop inside the guest room I also use as my shack.

Here's an article by Julian Moss, G4ILO: MFJ Magnetic Loop

QRP Countries award

I have posted my application for the G-QRP clubs "QRP Countries" Award. I applied for both the basic award (25 countries) and endorsement for 25 more countries.

I got help from Åge LA1ENA and Hans-Petter LA6GOA to check the qsl cards and sign the list of cards. Thanks to both of you.