New HAM First QSO

Lads going to give QSO tonight a miss, going to sit on my ass in the sitting room and make some digital contacts. Too tired for going to the shack tonight.

Sorry Lads, won't be available tonight for QSO, I'll be helping someone get their Kiwi SDR on the air, another one for Ireland :-)

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Hi Mad Lad, I see sdr.hu is now finished. Is there a direct link to your online sdr now?

Here's another site that links to Kiwi SDRs.

http://kiwisdr.com/public/

Greenman wrote: »

Hello ML having a nice time reading your thread.

73's JD.

Greenman wrote: »

Thankfully there are more there. Thanks M. :-)

No bother, unfortunately my Kiwi is offline again due to issues with the reverse proxy. Dam those ISPs for blocking ports.

Story lads are ye up for an O'l rag Chew tonight on 80m ?

So still available if anyone is up for a qso ?

Just on Olivia on 20m tonight, had QSO with lads in Texas and Argentina so far, haven't used digital on HF in a few months now, really cool mode.

Just 20 watts into the Chameleon MPAS 2.0, still love this Antenna !

orm0nd wrote: »

think I saw your call on 20m ft8 a little while ago

I was chasing a 9J2** , got him in the end

Haha, no hiding, yeah I saw an EI call didn't pay much attention. Nice catch.

I find it hard to get replies on FT8 even though I'm being heard, then a while ago I read that a lot of people have filters set and only respond to those registered with LOTW, that's really bad.

I'm not used to ft8 so haven't much experience with it but just god fed up with it.

Olivia and psk31 are much more fun to me.

orm0nd wrote: »

when I'm chasing DX, I run filters when on auto sel on jtdx, usually to stop answering an eu stn. calling cq ,

however if I'm called by any station I will reply , no matter where they're located.

I was on the other night and found the lack of replies frustrating because PSK Reporter clearly shows I'm being heard. So I mostly just use it to see how far I get out on PSK reporter, it's handy for testing antennas.

JS8 Call is fine but there's not a lot of People on it and most that are are just using it like FT8 just to click HB and send acks.

I must admit I really like PSK31 and Olivia.

Popoutman wrote: »

It can be utterly amazing how far and how different contacts can be made on the various modes.

A few nights ago I got to Dorchester South Carolina on FT4 with reports of -12 for me and -3 for them, we decided to try phone, and I was 22 he was 44 for reports, I was just barely poking above the noise floor, and that was with 200-300W for me into the 1/4wave vertical of the DX Commander.

As for WSPR, I've been heard pretty much worldwide on <200mW.

I have not yet tried psk31 or Olivia or the other digital modes

Yes, radio is amazing!

I tried FT4 the other night, there was almost no activity compared to FT8.

PSK31 and Olivia are great for keyboard to keyboard chat, Olivia is slower but works down to very low signal levels, if conditions allow you can change to contestia which is almost the same but twice as fast but Olivia works better at lower signal levels.

I use fldigi, pretty cool software, I use it on linux on a little Chromebook I wiped and installed GalliumOS.

Digital modes are cool when the XYL is watching tv, I have the FT-891 hooked up to the MPAS 2.0 in the sitting room with the cable through the window, I have a EFHW cabled up there too, handy when I don't want to go to the shack or just listen around or do some SW listening.

If you get on PSK31 or Olivia you will need to set up macros. A lot of the qso's are just using macros which you will use a lot and it's handy. Sometimes you'll get People who want to chat and then you can use normal keyboard chat, it can take a little bit to figure it out if you haven't done it before.

Anyone interested in a good O'l Ragchew on 80M Saturday Night around the usual 9 pm ?

ei9go wrote: »

It's a bit of a mystery to me how sometimes PSK reporter puts an L on me to show that I have LOTW and sometimes not. I think the lack of replies sometimes on FT8 is that there is no one there, the radio and computer is just left on.

Yeah could be. I was on FT8 last night for a while on 40m didn't seem to be the usual mad activity maybe conditions. Might try again tonight.

orm0nd wrote: »

Hadn't much time to chase 7q7ru over the last few days

Saw them spotted yesterday and checked 17 loads stations calling but no sign of the expedition.

Just as i was leaving their signals came through, after about 10 minutes came back to me with +02. Answered him and he missed his report. Missed it second time as well. After 2 attempts he moved on to working us stations.
Checked the online log and he didn't log me.
Was fairly pissed off cos some stations they gave 9 or 10 calls to.

That is a pity alright. Keep an eye out for me tonight on 40 and 10m if it's open. I'll be using the MAPAS 2.0 so probably not great for our short distance.

On a more positive note I got VK5SFA on 15 meters at around 11:20 am with the help of the Acom 1000, I have got to VK before with just the 100 watts all the way to Sidney on 40m I think it was.

Other DX on 15 was PY4BZ ln 3rd May 100w It's nice to be able to get some DX during the day when not in work and the Boys are in School.