Sunday 6 June 2010

Do I'm a square hunter?

This day began sunny, although the sky was overcast.
Readers of my blog will sometimes wonder if I'm square hunter on 6 meters. No, not really. This is something left over from the days when I was a DX'er on 2 meters. I am not specifically looking for new squares but it's always nice when a new square can be worked.

Today I worked around 10:30 UTC with IK5ZWU in JN53VB, a new square. Then it was quiet again for a while and on 12:00 UTC I was able to work with EI2JD in IO63VS. Not only a new square, Ireland is also a new country for me on 6 meters.

The rest of the afternoon I visited family and did some homebrew. The 2 meters fox transmitter has another crystal obtained. The transmit frequency is now 144.930 (AM) Mhz. From my 30 meters transmitter kit, I wanted to try move the frequency closer to 10.116 Mhz. The transmitter was first OK and suddenly nothing. Perhaps somewhere in the circuit a short circuit. I have yet to find out where. The stabilizer for 5V works well in any case, I have this measure.

At 17:41 UTC suddenly I heard the signal from OH4KA in KP31WN. It was easy to work him. Furthermore, I heard some beacons but no other stations.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Saturday 5 June 2010

6M and my own fieldday.

This morning I was out of bed early and first listened to 6M. The band was quiet but around 7:30 UTC I could work with IK4AUY in JN54QM (SSB), a new square.
The rest of the morning remained rather quiet here on 6M and have other things in the house. On the balcony with a cup of coffee and magazine I enjoyed the sunshine.

By 15:00 UTC I went into the field, the same location as on May 23 Today the conditions were not so good as that day and it was this time not so successful. I worked with II0CC who was working in a contest and later with IQ8MO/3 who was active from Punta Tagliamento lighthouse with reference ITA-148. A nice qso because lighthouses are another hobby of mine.
The rest of the time I had the idea that I was returned to my SWL period. While listening I heard Mongolia, Japan and Taiwan on 20M.
I started this hobby as a listening amateur with number NL-9514.
6 meters was completely silent, I almost had the idea that the antenna was not working. I've heard no beeps and whistles on 6 meters in that area.

By 2:30 p.m. UTC I went home. At 5:00 p.m. UTC there was a revival of 6M and worked with 2 station from Sweden. JO88 is another new square for me.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Friday 4 June 2010

Small signals on 6M & Q5 transmitter

All day there were Es clouds over Europe but not so good for the Netherlands.
In the evening I often listened and heard weak signals. Around 7:15 p.m. UTC the signals were louder and I could work via cw with YO7LCB in KN15OA and YU7AU in KN04HU. The qso with YO7LCB gave me a new square.

With good Es propegatie the last days it seemed a good idea to try WSPR on this band.
Through the WSPR site I saw a few station was QRV but despite this I wanted to try. Result: I have no station heard at times that I transmit no one heard my my signal.
I was active with WSPR from Thursday evening till Friday afternoon.

Kees PA3DEB, wrote me this afternoon in response to my earlier post about the Genesis Q5 transmitter.

The oscillator is not on 10.116 MHz, which wele desirable. Kees advised me to change the value of C7 in order to be more close to this frequency.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Active on 6M with QRP.

Today there are again conditions on 6 meters. My goal for today is to make qso's with QRP (5 watts maximum).


I made 3 qso's with a power of 5 watts.
2 stations from Latvia and one from Estonia. 2 of the 3 qso's made with cw the other with ssb. It was more difficult then yesterday and on the moments that I listen there where not so many signals like yesterday.
I listen also in the beacon part of the band and heard a few signals. I put the different frequenties into the memories.

I previously wrote about this project. During the construction there were two parts in the package down. I've emailed the supplier from the USA but has so far not responded.
Fortunately, there is a Dutch amateur that I could offer a helping hand. Today I received by mail the two missing parts. Thanks Frans.
I can go on with this project.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Tuesday 1 June 2010

A day with strong signals on 6 meter.

It seems that the signals are getting stronger each day on 6 meter this Es season. Today there were a lot of strong signals heard on SSB / CW.
In about one hour time I worked the following stations.
SM7FJE - JO65ML, ssb (new square).
LY2X/P - KO15ID, cw
SF4J - JO79NC, with 10 watts cw.

I wonder what tomorrow brings us on 6 meters, I have a day off.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ