Stations worked here 2-way on 136kHz normal-speed CW this weekend:
Friday 20/8:
EI0CF (09.27UT: gave him 589, gave me 569)(14.48: 559 @1.5A ant crnt, 569),
G0VSJ (15.04: 569, 539), G0VXG (15.28: 569, 599).
Saturday 21/8:
DJ5DI (06.52: 559, 539), DF2BC/P (07.06: 579, 449QRN), PA0SE (07.24: 579,
579), G3KAU (08.14: 599, 579), G3YXM (08.50: 59+9, 59+9), G0UPU (09.31:
569, 599), G3XDV (09.47: 579, 599), GW4ALG (09.58: 589, 589).
Sunday 22/8:
G3YMC (07.20: 559, 599), G3XDV (08.03: 57/89, 599), DJ5BV (08.53: 559,
339),
G6NB (14.39: 579, 59+9), G8RW (14.54: 56/79, 58/99).
Well, it's good to be back on the band again! For those who have been
wondering where I've been, I had a second blow up in the TX, but this time
things really went up in smoke. I hadn't realised the 'interlock' IC had
expired after the first incident and keyed the TX with no drive. It's taken
a couple of weeks to repair the damage and get some new FETs (now using
60N10 types - slightly smaller, but cheaper!). I've also modified the drive
configuration to AC-couple into the FET gates now, so it should be safer
(thanks to Dave 'YXM for help and ideas). It was really frustrating hearing
new signals like DK8KW (449) and DL3FDO (559) but not being able to call.
Finbar kindly waited around to give me my first QSO and report on Friday
and we had a second contact later when he was experimenting with low power.
Saturday morning was very busy with lots of activity from Europe, especially
from the German expedition to Campen lighthouse. I worked DF2BC but not
the other operator (DL9BDM) and they had a really excellent signal using
their 75m vertical, although they had some problems on receive due to QRN.
With all the activity, the limitations of single frequency transmitters are
now beginning to show up. The 'Ropex' frequency around 136.53kHz is getting
fairly chaotic at times. I was called at 17.43UT by a new station, G8IK,
who was very weak on that frequency. We started a QSO, but he was completely
obliterated by all the other stations co-channel (my CQ was on 136.85)
- we never completed the QSO as I didn't get my report. Let's hope people
find a simple way of changing frequency on these rigs soon.......
Sunday was noticibly quieter, although there were still plenty of stations
around. Mike G3XDV had completed his work on a new synth and was generating
a very clean and commanding signal. Static levels are now starting to reduce
at last, so it's much more pleasant operating later in the day again.
Regards John G4GVC near Leicester, IO92JP
** TX: Synth + 400W RF from modified 'G3YXM' Mosfet PA **
** RX: TS-850S with 3 x CW filters and 0.5ppm TCXO **
** Ant: Inv-L 60m long, 6m high at feed end, 12m high at far end **
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