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