Vuurtoren op de Maasvlakte

Sinds 1974 staat er op de Maasvlakte een vuurtoren. Deze vuurtoren is de modernste in Nederland en bij het aanschouwen van dit bouwwerk krijg ik niet het "Vuurtoren gevoel".
In oktober 2008 is het licht gedoofd. De vuurtoren heeft, i.v.m. Maasvlakte 2, geen nautische betekenis meer.

Gisteren was het een zonnige koude dag. Ideaal om de reis, met de auto, naar deze vuurtoren te maken. Rond Rotterdam veel verkeer, op de Maasvlakte zelf een enkele auto.
Via een groep op Facebook had ik een adres gekregen voor mijn navigatie. Dit klopte niet helemaal maar toch kon ik de vuurtoren niet voorbij rijden.

Op enkele vuurtorens op de Wadden na heb ik ze in Nederland gefotografeerd.

AO-73 (FUNcube 1) telemetrie ontvangst.

Dit artikel is een bewerking van mijn bijdrage in Electron november 2015

Rond 1990 heb ik (toen nog PE1MDM) kennisgemaakt met satellieten voor radio-zendamateurs. Via RS-10 maakte ik regelmatig ssb qso’s in mode A, uplink 2M downlink 10M.
Vervolgens jaren niets meer aan satellietcommunicatie gedaan, mede door ruimte gebrek en andere interessante facetten binnen deze hobby.

Begin dit jaar kocht ik 2dehands een FUNCube Pro dongle met de intentie weer signalen uit de ruimte te kunnen ontvangen. Op een balkon (inmiddels verhuisd) van ruim 6 meter breed en bovenste verdieping moet toch wat mogelijk zijn met een 2M antenne.
In april van dit jaar ontvang ik de eerste telemetrie van de AO-73 satelliet. Deze wordt uitgezonden rond 145.935 MHz. +/- dopplershift. Dit ging in combinatie met een Moxon beam redelijk succesvol en kon regelmatig telemetrie meeschrijven en uploaden naar het warehouse.
Steeds probeerde ik de instellingen van de dongle te verfijnen zodat ik van een omloop zoveel mogelijk gegevens binnen kon krijgen.
Het satelliet virus was weer toegeslagen en wilde meer. In juli vond ik een Yaesu FT-847 die voor full-duplex satelliet werken geschikt is.

Ontvangst AO-73 telemetrie 16-9-2015 14:05 lokale tijd. Moxon antenne binnen opgesteld.

De ontvanger van deze set is een stuk gevoeliger en in combinatie met de Moxon beam ontvang ik nog meer van een omloop.
De Yaesu FT-847 bestuur ik vanuit de pc met het programma SATpc32. Wanneer de satelliet in daglicht is kan ik deze volgen zonder de frequentie handmatig te corrigeren. Wanneer de satelliet in de schaduw van de aarde is verloopt de frequentie en is handmatig corrigeren noodzakelijk.
Bij het gebruik van de FUNcube dongle kies ik een grotere doorlaat en is corrigeren niet nodig.

Inmiddels ontvang ik telemetrie van DO-64, UKUBE1, EO-79 en HO-68. Deze laatste op 70cm. Nu volgende stap is het uitbreiden met een 70cm antenne. Ik heb een 11 elm. Yagi te leen .
Met deze Moxon/Yagi combinatie heb ik mijn eigen CW signaal inmiddels via AO-73 (mode B) en
FO-29 (mode J) gehoord.

De transponder van de "nieuwe" AO-85 heb ik de afgelopen weken ook enkele malen gehoord. Dit op een mobiele spriet, in huis op de radiator.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

JT65 digitale mode HF

Enkele weken geleden heb ik kennis gemaakt met een digitale mode die op de HF banden gebruikt wordt. Lang heb ik digitale modes geweerd uit de shack. In beperkte mate ben ik over stag gegaan.

Over het gebruik van digitale modes heb ik een bepaalde mening, na de start met JT65 is dit niet veranderd. Digitale modes zijn in mijn ogen modes die tot stand komen door een paar knoppen (macro's) op je pc in te drukken.
Zo heeft JT65 een bepaalde format wat als compleet qso wordt beschouwd.

Het bovenstaande qso was met een station op Malta. Je wisselt een rapport uit en bevestigd dit met een R (roger). Heel af en toe wordt er via vrije tekst nog vermeld wat het vermogen en antenne is.

In het begin maakte ik gebruik van 25 watt. Al vrij gauw ben ik overgestapt naar 5 watt, en heel af en toe 10 watt.
Joe Taylor (K1JT) heeft deze mode bedoeld als weak signal mode.

De combinatie QRP met de antenne experimenten maakt deze mode voor mij af en toe leuk om mee te werken. Daarnaast is het een uitstekende mode als mijn YL in het andere deel van de huiskamer TV kijkt of een boek leest.

Is het automatisch maken van een qso door de pc de volgende stap? In mijn ogen is er dan geen sprake meer van een hobby.:-)

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Pictures from space...

From time to time the astronauts from ISS do some amateur radio experiments. In the period February 22-24 there was the possibility to receive SSTV images from the ISS. All this in the 2M amateur band.

In the past I had been active via the RS10 and RS10 satellites and therefore it seemed nice to do again this experiment, despite my modest antenna for 2m.

First of all I downloaded and installed the MMSTV program and viewed to the most actual Keppler data. In this 3 days I have had a several SSTV images seen coming live on my pc. Basically you do not need to be by your PC. Is it still a hobby?

The last picture I have received via the RX-SSTV program. This program was created specially for SSTV images from space.

My station:
Yaesu FT-7800
Mobile whip on the radiator.
SignaLink modem
Software: MMSTV and RX SSTV.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Iler20 project

It's a long time since I've published an article on my blog. There were several reasons but special because I was not so busy with the radio hobby.

Now I have picked up the Iler20 project. On the main board there more and more parts but sadly lacking a few. I've written about this to Javier and now the missing parts have gone with mail to me. Good service from Javier.

Last weekend I soldered all the components on the AGC board. A real challenge for me because the print is quite small. With patience and perseverance I succeeded.

I'm continue with the main board

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QSL OA1F

The information for QSL on the internet is very negative. That's the reason I write on my Blog.

On qrz.com you can see an address in Spain. I have send my QSL to this address and after only waiting a week this is the result.

Good quick service and ignore the negative posts on the Internet.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

The resistors are mounted, Iler20 project

Last weekend I started, after reading the manual several times, with soldering the resistors on the PCB.

All 51 resistors are mounted, except P3, the AF control.
The next step are the capacitors. I'm lucky that I didn't continue directly with it.
Today I got a email from Javier,EA3GCY, the developer of this kit. In this email he write that it's better to use 12 pF for the capacitors C15 to C19, instead of 22pF. With the value of 22pF the IF bandwidth is below 2KHz. Properly to small for SSB.

Thanks for this advice Javier!


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Preparing Iler20 transceiver project.

Last weekend, 9 and 10 February, I participated in the PACC contest.
For many years I'm operator by PA6W, in Tiel. Under this call we participate in the MOST class. This time with 5 operators, normal 7. Given the number of QSO's for us it has been a very successful contest.
I'm also busy with the preparations for the Iler20 project.

I have found in the "junk box" a nice new box.

For tuning, I search for a "Ventier Dial", such a knob I have also on my 20 Howes transceiver. On Ebay I found a supplier in the USA. Saturday the knob was delivered by postmen.

Last week I had the opportunity to buy an EndFed 10/20/40 for a reasonable price. This EndFed made ​​by PAR Electronics in the USA.
The first results are promising. Nice reception at 40M. On 20M it need some help from the internal tuner, my 5 watts CW signal heard by a skimmer station in the USA and Canada. At 10M it was quite good and I could, with a output of 20 watts, work 3 stations, with CW, from the USA.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Iler20 transceiver kit building

Yesterday afternoon, the postman delivered the long-awaited package from Spain.
A large envelope containing the components for the Iler20 20M ssb transceiver to build.

I start with the description carefully and try next week to start with soldering. Check my blog frequently to follow this Iler20 project.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QRV on 2M

It's a few months ago I wrote an article on my blog. I'm still busy with my work, read books and do some household chores. Gradually there will be more time for the hobby and hopefully the weather will be better to do something with antennas on the balcony.

In December 2012, I have the Yaesu FT7800 put on the shack table and after some problems to connect my PC, the new repeaters on 1 January 2013 programmed in my set. Installing a virtual com-port remains a painstaking task.
Late last year I received a Moxon beam for 2M as a gift from a good friend. This antenna is build from scrap and the he gave it with the message "try this one". I searching for my photo tripod. Unfortunately, I didn't found. I'm afraid that it ends in the wrong container during my move to here.

At a local hardware store they had a tripod with construction lamp in offer, I bought this one and put together. The construction lamp neatly packed behind. Then I mounted the Moxon in top and put it in the living room with an unobstructed view through the balcony. It was too cold to go to the balcony. The SWR is on the high side. Probably because the antenna is inside and not in "free" space. In spite of this I was able to make some QSO. The "new" repeater PI3UTR is no problem, the antenna is horizontally polarized.

The snow is gone, now a higher temperature, then I can go out on the balcony for experiments.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Op stap met de Nederlandse Vuurtoren Vereniging (NVV).

Al weer ruim 10 jaar ben ik lid van deze vereniging. Een vereniging van mensen die vuurtorens en/of lichtschepen als hun passie hebben. Voor mij is deze passie ontstaan tijdens de meerdere vakanties, die ik in mijn kindertijd, op Vlieland heb gehad.
De vereniging bestaat dit jaar 20 jaar. In dit jaar zijn er meerdere jubileumactiviteiten geweest, o.a. een reis naar noord Duitsland. De boottocht van 29 september j.l. was de afsluiting van het jubileumjaar.

Zaterdagochtend, 29 september, meerde we rond de klok van 10:00 af bij het muziekgebouw achter het centraal station van Amsterdam. De tocht ging als eerste naar het Vuurtoreneiland. Dit eiland voor de kust van Durgerdam heeft in het verleden deel uitgemaakt van de “Stelling van Amsterdam”. Op dit eilandje staat een lichtopstand en een huisje. Uit de begin tijd zijn de nog half ondergrondse bunkers. De gids van Staatsbosbeheer vertelde o.a. dat deze nooit in de praktijk zijn gebruikt. Nu wonen er een paar mensen die het eilandje onderhouden en worden er theatervoorstellingen in de open lucht gegeven. Via een lange dam is het eiland met de vaste wal verbonden. Een groot hek blokkeert de toegang vanaf het vaste land.

Het eiland is voor € 1,00 te koop.
De nieuwe eigenaar moet vervolgens voor miljoenen restaureren. Weer terug op de boot waren ging we richting Marken waar we dicht bij de vuurtoren zouden gaan liggen om van alle hoeken foto’s te kunnen nemen. Dit gebeurde ook inderdaad en door de zon die zich veelvuldig liet zien, in combinatie met mooie wolkpartijen, konden er mooie foto’s worden gemaakt. Op een bepaald moment ging de boot dichter naar de wal toe om als verassing aan te meren. We kregen de gelegenheid om aan wal te gaan en de vuurtoren rondom te fotograferen. Een gelegenheid die niet zo vaak wordt geboden om deze vuurtoren van zo dichtbij te bezoeken. 10 leden werden, door de bewoners, gelukkig gemaakt met een korte kijk aan de binnenkant van deze vuurtoren.

Tijdens de boottocht kwam ik erachter dat er meerdere collega’s met mij deze passie delen. Een ontmoeting met een collega buiten kantoor. Een mooie tocht met prachtig (foto) weer en mooie luchten. Voor een zaterdag was het vroeg opstaan voor mij, het was het waard!
Vriendelijke groet, Tjeerd G. Gaasbeek

First qso's from my new desk.

Last Monday the desks for the radio corner and home brew corner are assembled and put on the right place in my apartment.

Yesterday I thought that there would be a Dutch contest on 6M and had therefore set-up my rig + antenna. After a few minutes I heard Es signals and made over a period of 1.5 hours 5 qso's. This qso's made with ssb/cw and only 5 watts output into a 1/4 wave antenna on the balcony, approximately 13 meters above street level.
I worked:
Spain 2 times, Baleares 1 time, Italy 1 time and Portugal. This last country is a new one for me.

Regarding the Dutch contest I have been mistaken. This is next week on Tuesday, August 14.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

First 6M qso's from JO22NB

Last Saturday I built up my 6 meter station for the first time. This means the mobile 1/4 whip on the balcony, put on a metal table and the coax connected to my FT817nd.
The balcony is about 13 meters above street level

With 5 watts SSB I worked with YL2IP & IS0BSR/P. 2 qso's about 1400 km away from JO22NB.

Not bad for the first qso's from this new location.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

APRS and DXCC with QRP

Since I have a TNC, see earlier post, I am QRV with APRS. Mainly on 144,800 as a digipeater for a part of the Betuwe. Despite this I notice a black hole on the A15 highway along Tiel. This by altitude.

Meanwhile I have also some rides with APRS in the car. First I had the interval of the beacon at 3 minutes, which I have now been reduced to 2 minutes. This is pretty close, depending on the available digipeaters.

Last week I received the QSL of my contact with JY5HX. With this card I have confirmed 54 countries with QRP power.

The next time I will do almost nothing to the hobby.
About 2 months well I leave this house, I'm looking for another.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

APRS from my car

A few weeks ago I was thinking about an old wish to do anything with APRS from the mobile. I have this working from home and in my opinion it’s static

Searching on the internet for a tracker, I came through ebay on the following APRS tracker + GPS receiver inside.

I ordered and within a week it was neatly delivered. The idea was to use it in combination with the ICOM IC-228H. I bought a serial 1:1 cable and cut one plug. On this side I soldered a 8-pin microphone plug, what a hassle.
From the beginning it worked almost equal. Reception is not yet fully functional, with a C of 4.7nF in the audio line it would also be good to go.

Today I planned a trip. First to Hillegom. Then via Leiden to The Hague. From there, via Rotterdam to Tiel.
My trip.
On my way to Hillegom I used only 5 watts, more was not possible from the cigarette lighter. In Hillegom I received a battery that is ideally suited for this purpose. The full power of the set can be use without problems.

I will not be qrv with APRS every time I drive my care. This will be incidental.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

New DXCC with QRP

Last week I was qrv, for a few days, from the village of Zuidlaren. My set-up was the Yaesu FT817nd and a ZEPP for 30M.
This antenna is on the top floor and when I'm there I span the last few meters via the window on the top floor to the end of the garden behind the house.

Conditions where reasonable and I work different station on 30, 17 and 10M.
On this last band I made a nice qso with JY5HX. I heard him calling in cw with the remarks that he listening 2 up. After a few tries he came back for my qrp signal, it was easy to work him. I worked Jordan several times but until now not with qrp. Today I send a qsl direct a hope to receive his confirmation. Via email he told me that I'm in his log.

On the photo you see the Norcal keyer. It works fine for a automatic CQ from the memory.


I toke this photo with my mobile phone.

I also tried to contact PE4BAS on 70cm via a repeater but this was not really success full.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

New DXCC via buro

This is my first publication for this year. Reason? I'm busy with work and with my hobbies happens not to much.

In early December I received a large envelope from the institute where I had followed the course "medical terminology". The exam for this was in October, I successfully completed and received the diploma.
The exam was multiple choices. Despite this I had to wait almost 2 months for the results.

Last Wednesday I was at the local club meeting and received some qsl's.
The qsl of UK/JI2MED confirmed the country Uzbekistan for me.
This country was already confirmed via LOTW. But I prefer a paper card.






73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Contest

On September 5th of this year I wrote about the fieldday contest. During this contest, I made in about 3 hours 31 QSOs with QRP. In the QRP section, I was unfortunately the only participant. It was inevitable that they sent me the certificate belonging to the first place.Next year I expect more competition.

Last weekend was the CQWW CW contest. The condition in recent weeks are a lot better, especially on 10M.
Yesterday I setup my FT817nd on the dinner table with on the rear the ATX-1080 antenna. There were plenty of signals and have the preamp turned off.
I made 2 QSOs with European Russia and one with N3RS in the USA. Unfortunately I managed not to work W3LPL, the station where PB2T was a guest operator.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

PA Beker contest 2011, QRP.

This article goes about a Dutch contest. Therefor written in Dutch.

Afgelopen zaterdag heb ik in de QRP sectie meegedaan aan de PA Beker contest. Thuis heb ik geen antennes voor 80 en 40 en kon beschikken over de shack van een bevriende amateur hier in Tiel, ik had mijn Yaesu FT817nd mee genomen.
Deze set beschikt niet over een memory keyer en had een zelfbouw keyer meegenomen, deze werkte helaas niet. Gevolg was dat ik zelf CQ moest geven, dit heb ik bijna de volle 2,5 uur gedaan. Uit reacties van andere begreep ik dat je dit als QRP niet moet doen. Mijn ervaring is anders en volgens mij ook succesvol geweest.
Dat de memory keyer niet werkte is geen technische fout geweest, ik had het verkeerd ingesteld.

Tijdens de contest heb ik schriftelijk gelogd, er stond geen pc aan. Thuis heb ik alles via het PA Beker programma van PA3AYQ verwerkt. Dit programma kan ook een ADI formaat genereren om het log in een andere programma in te lezen. Dit werkt niet zonder meer en heb de file aardig moeten verbouwen om het in Logger te kunnen importeren.

Om even een plaatje bij dit artikel te krijgen ben ik naar CW reverse beacon gegaan en heb een overzicht gegenereerd waar ik laatste half uur ben gehoord, buiten Nederland met 5 watts. Op 1 station na hoorde iedereen mij met een snelheid van 16wpm.
Klik op het plaatje voor een vergroting.













Een leuke contest waarbij ik ongeveer 65 qso's maakte en 42 mulipliers.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

DvRA 2011

A visit to a Dutch fair, so I write this article in Dutch.

Afgelopen zaterdag naar de DvRA in Apeldoorn geweest. Omdat ik erg vroeg was had ik geen parkeerproblemen en kon zelfs dichtbij de Americahal parkeren.
Het hoofddoel van deze dag was het bemannen van de CGR stand. Ondanks dit was er tussendoor de gelegenheid om over de beurs te lopen.

Mijn aankopen tijdens de DvRA.








Thuisgekomen met een Cuna SR9. Met deze ontvanger is in 1984 mijn hobby begonnen. Een 160GB externe hardddisk + het boek "Stealth Antennas". Het begrip "Stealth" in dit boek is ruim genomen. Zo worden er ook portabele antennes voor in de tuin besproken.

Weer een leuke dag, ondanks dat het na mijn mening een stuk minder druk was. Handelaren komen ook minder.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

6M Es season is over

A few week ago, during my holiday, I removed my 6M antenna from the balcony. On that moment I thought the Es season for 6M was over. Until this moment I'm right.This Es season I made the first qso on May 9, it was with HA8CE in KN06EN. On August 8, I made my last Es qso. In this period I worked 9 DXCC countries.
All qso made with 5 watts, SSB or CW, from the Yaesu FT817nd. Antenna: a 1/4 wave on a metal table on my balcony.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QRV on 70cm, from the field. PA3GNZ/P

Today between 11:00 and 15:00 local time I had to stay home to receive any visitors. This because my apartment is on sale.
The bad economic situation and possible also the nice weather played tricks. There was no visitor to watch my apartment.

Because the weather was fine I just want to go out. With my FT817nd and a HB9CV for 70cm I drove to my regular location in the field, JO21QW. Meanwhile I saw on the internet that there was a contest at 70cm, more activity.
Arrived on the location I putted my FT817nd on the wary shelf and connected the HB9CV, voltage from the internal battery. Antenna in one hand and and mike in the other one.
To my amazement, I worked between 15:30 and 16:00 UTC 4 stations. I had a clear view direction east and direction South / West looked the antenna against a dike.

I worked with:
PA6NL JO21BX
DF0MU JO32PC
PI4GN JO33II
PA1TK JO22IJ







My HB9CV for 70cm, photo on my balcony.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Holiday is over, saw 2 lighthouses.

After 2 weeks holiday it's, next Tuesday, time to work.

We stayed in the Netherlands and have visited different places. Wijk aan Zee, Amsterdam and Schoorl.
From Wijk aan Zee we drove to IJmuiden to take a picture of the lighthouse "high light". Nearly 10 years ago I was by this lighthouse, in that time I had no digital camera.

During the stay in Schoorl we drove to Den Oever for a picture of this this lighthouse.












Visit Flickr for more pictures of our holiday.

Regards, Tjeerd

DXCC in frame

Last week, in a second hand store, I found a new frame for my DXCC certificate.The frame is a little bit larger then the certificate, the small whit border is not a problem for me.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

My own fieldday, PA3GNZ/P

Last Saturday I had my own fieldday. My intention was to make more qso's then last year (8).

Between 13:00 and 15:30 UTC I made 31 qso's. This with only 2,5 watts from my Yaesu FT817nd with a small battery.
The additional support of the pole was now on 3 and 9 meters. The variant off the ZS6BKW/G5RV antenna was mounted in the middle about 10 meters high. I used the antenna as an inverted V.

Nice weather and a lot of fun.









73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

New DXCC certificate

Last week I wrote about the certificate I received. It was folded in the envelope.
Yesterday the post ring the bell with the announcement that there was an envelope to big for my mailbox. So, she gave it personal to me. This time the certificate was between 2 pieces of cardboard. A very good & quick service from the ARRL.
The only thing I have to do is put it into a frame. Until now I did find a frame from size 28 x 35 cm. It's 11 x 14 inch.

Yesterday evening I finished with the upload of my PB0ALS log to LOTW. All HF qso's I made are manual uploaded to the LOTW server.
Today (August 25) there are 5851 qso's in LOTW and 651 are confirmed by qsl.Write me if you worked me in the past but there is no qsl match on LOTW.

Callssign in LOTW:
PA3GNZ, PA3GNZ/P, PA3GNZ/LH, PA53GNZ and PB0ALS.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

DXCC certificate

Last week, via the LOTW site, I made a request for the DXCC mixed certificate. Yesterday I received the certificate in the mailbox.
Unfortunately, the envelope is so large that it was folded into the mailbox. Despite the board, there was a big crease in the certificate
After an email exchange with the ARRL helpdesk, they promised me a new certificate. This time it is shipped in a tube at no additional cost.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

You can find me on LOTW

Last week I import the certificate I received from the LOTW administration and upload my log to the LOTW website. I separate the qso's made as: PA3GNZ, PA3GNZ/P and PA3GNZ/LH. The summary on the LOTW page tell me that I made 4337 qso's until yesterday. 556 of them are confirmed by LOTW.

When I request for the DXCC results I saw this summary.
2011-08-14







I have more countries confirmed via paper cards. I use logger16 and switched to Logger 32. In this version I can import the lotw file and make a merge of the paper and LOTW cards. Will be continued.

Maybe you know that the last few days we had the peak of the Perseids meteor shower. Yesterday I build up my 6M station and connect my laptop to receive JT6M signals on 50.230. Yesterday and this morning I received signals from all over Europe. OY6FRA is one of the stations I saw.
Communication via the computer is not my way of this hobby. So, this was a very short experiment and for me closed.
In spite of this I was surprised that I can pick up MS signals with my GP for 6M.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

SOTA activation PA-005 PA7ZEE/P & PA3GNZ/P

A few weeks ago there was the plan, together with Geert, PA7ZEE who had been here before, to activate SOTA PA-005 "The Galgenberg".
Last Saturday, August 6, we decided to go. According to the expectations it could remain dry until around noon. To protect us for some rain we had a fish-umbrella with us.

First we have to set-up the DX-wire pole for the delta loop, then my FT817nd connected. Currently, we discovered that the Elecraft T1 tuner did not work, so first I tried only 20 m. I made 5 qso’s in SSB with only 5 watts output.
Meanwhile, Geert set-up the 30 m long wire for the KX1, a tree throw, which succeeded already the second time! The counterpoise of 3 times 10 meters was disheveled and we accepted that as a fact.
Once called on 7032 kHz and Geert made within 6 minutes 5 qso's, a little pile up!





Our objective for a SOTA point, at least 4 qso's per person, had already met.

Around 8:45 UTC, we switched from place and I made 3 QSOs with the KX1. What an experience to work with this set!
Meanwhile Geert tried to solve the problem with the T1, and he succeed at the end. The procedure is first 'power' button and then follow the instructions on the box.
Then I could make a CW QSO on 40 m with my FT817nd.







Almost on the end of our activation, I switch to 30 m and made a QSO with LA9RY. Knut was on his holiday address on an island with IOTA reference EU-055.

The forecast for later in the day was thunderstorms and heavy showers and around 10 hours UTC we managed to get everything dry in the car.
After some food and a drink in the 'Termiekbel’, we drove to Tiel. Geert had very heavy rains on his way to Amstelveen. Just luck and a little weather knowledge, helped to look back on a successfull SOTA activation.

Thanks to Geert. With his support this expedition was physically possible for me.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Baofeng UV-3R

Since a few months I've the Baofeng UV-3R portable transceiver in use.
It works very well and is very handy to take anywhere. The shock was great when I heard that the second harmonic of the 2M signal is far below the allowable requirement. But what do you want for this money?

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to connect the portable transceiver to a spectrum analyzer. And what was wrote is true.

The second harmonic of the 2M signal is only 22 dB lower.






The suppression of the second harmonic of the 70cm signal is within the requirements.A modification to the suppression of the second harmonic of the 2M signal improvement is in the planning.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Faces in my house

Last week I was busy with other activities and there was almost no time for the radio hobby.
Besides my work, I started repeating the course of "medical terminology". I registered for the exam in October.
Faces in my house.















2 weeks ago I started a little photo project. With my camera, I walked through my apartment and all the faces photographed. A gave this project the name "Faces in my house". The photos on my Flickr page.
Via Facebook and Twitter I met Ivan Wolffers, his photos are my inspiration.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Es on 6M.

Currently, it's bad weather in Tiel and it seems a good time to write on my blog.
Before I started this post I read on Twitter the sad news of G4ILO. At that moment I was without words.
I realize again that we have no influence on the duration of our lives.

Last weekend I tried something to do with WSPR on 6 meters. On my FT817nd I had the wrong antenna connector set and therefore no results. Sunday, after I have switched this to the right connector my signal was heard by PAØO. Yesterday I heard also some signals but not spectacular.

Meanwhile I saw that there was a large Es cloud hanging over Europe and there were many opportunities for qso's on 6M.
At 16:01 UTC I made my first qso with LZ1QI. Then I had some other activities to do.
At 18:57 UTC I discovered that there was still Es, now I toke te time to made a few qso's.
Between approximately 19:00 and 19:30 UTC I worked with 6 different stations. 2 from Estonia, Hungary, Romania and 2 from Ukraine.All qso's made ​​with SSB or CW. 5 watts from my FT817nd with 1/4 GP on the balcony.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QSL and Lighthouses.

Wednesday, June 8, was the monthly evening at the regional meeting of radio amateurs in Tricht to go.
In addition to (social) discussions there is the possibility to receive qsl's and submitting via the QSL bureau.

The number of cards for me was modest. Besides some squares on 6 meters confirmed there were also 2 QSL's of a liighthouse and lightship.
These were confirmations of QSO's made ​​in 2008 during my stay at the lighthouse of Vlieland.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

WSPR on 6 meter

Almost three weeks long I have been QRV with WSPR on 6 meters. Not the full 24 hours but still fairly frequent.
At the moments I was not at home my system was only listen. At home, I switched on the transmit mode.The overview shows which stations heard my signal and what I heard. To made the list not to long I used the "unique" tick on the website to generate this.

The greatest distance is CN8LI, he heard me once with 1 watts output, SNR -23.As antenna I still use the 1/4 wave on my balcony.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Certificate & new antenna

Last year I was a few hours QRV in the IARU Region 1 Field Day (SSB) contest. Despite the short time, I was in the QRP section finished at the first place (the only one in this section).
Through a misunderstanding, I received a certificate that I was finished at the second place.

Last week I received the certificate with the correct classi-fication.




Today, Ascension Day, there was a radio-market in Laag-Soeren (The Jutberg). It's been several years since I had been here. Earlier this week we came up with the idea to go here. This just only with good weather.

The weather was good, sunshine and good temperature ...
There was a lot of things not related to our hobby. In spite of this I found some nice items. For my this week purchased UV3-R I now have a real duoband antenna. Also found some adapters from female UHF to male BNC.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Baofeng UV3-R

Some weeks ago I came across an announcement on the internet about this 2 band pocketradio. Given the price and the possibilities it seems to me a nice gadget. Therefore I toke the step and place an order in Hong Kong.

Yesterday I picked up the package at a collection point of our national mail carrier. What I noticed was that the box is very small. At home, I found everything in the box to which this order belongs.

Meanwhile, the battery is charged and I programmed different frequencies. This is very simple.


More experiences of this gadget will follows.
An awkwardness I already mention. It's a radio for 2M and 70CM. For each band, a separate antenna included. So, no 1 antenna for 2 bands.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Legacy Boudewijn Büch

Last weekend we were in The Hague to visit the Tong Tong Fair at the Malieveld.
A successful trip with an overnight stay at the Parkhotel. On Sunday there was at "Lange Voorhout" a book-, antique- and curio-market.

Despite the baggage, we brought with us, we are just walking along. The weather was dry.
In one of the book stalls, I found this auction guide of the collection of Boudewijn Büch. A gadget that I wanted. This book includes a DVD with a little tour of his house. Boudewijn collected a lot of books about different countries, celebrities and (almost) extinct animals, like the Dodo.The picture is made by myself.