Message-ID: <3B1A5014.138FAA12@alg.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 15:56:20 +0100
From: "Steve Rawlings" <steve@alg.demon.co.uk>
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Subject: Re: LF: e-QSL
References: <4Q3QYGAnxeG7EwjD@telemetry.demon.co.uk>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Sender: <majordom@post.thorcom.com>

Tom G3OLB wrote:

> Confirming our contact today as follows:
> [ . . . . .] 
> Comments: Congratulations Steve on an excellent 5 watt QRP signal and
> your first LF/QRP QSO!

Tom, many thanks for QSO and for the e-QSL!  I was very excited
to make the contact - so I'm sorry that my morse was a bit
shaky!  

I had been constructing the new QRP TX during the past week, and
decided to give it a try during the 136 Activity Period this
morning (Sunday).  The TX uses: a FET VFO (2 x 2N3819 FETs in a
source-coupled oscillator, using a 4.7 mH RF choke in the tuned
circuit); FET buffer; 2N2222 amplifier + BC212 keying transistor;
2SC2166 driver; 2 x 2SC2166 PA (the two transistors connected in
parallel, with individual one ohm emitter resistors, each
decoupled by 22 uF).  As my breadboarded circuit is still without
a heatsink on the PA transistors, I have to keep the overs short!

A picture of the TX can be seen at:
http://www.alg.demon.co.uk/radio/136/pictures/qrptx_1.jpg

After my QSO with Tom (97 km), I later had more QRP QSOs with
G3YXM (105 km) and G8IK (101 km) - all using 5 watts RF to my
simple 12 m vertical (no top loading).

I believe that a simple low power transmitter for 136 kHz would
make an excellent club project, with the very real prospect of
not just making LF QSOs across town - but with other countries
too! 

Regards to all,
Steve GW4ALG