including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as previously reported on these pages, and the traditional public kiss, updated this time to TWO kisses (the first having been too brief to satisfy)...
...-.- de mr0xpd
Friday, 29 April 2011
The Balcony Kiss(es)
The final staged events of this unusual day played out at Buck House, climaxing with a fly-past from the Royal Air Force ...
including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as previously reported on these pages, and the traditional public kiss, updated this time to TWO kisses (the first having been too brief to satisfy)...
Perhaps life can return to normal now!
...-.- de mr0xpd
including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, as previously reported on these pages, and the traditional public kiss, updated this time to TWO kisses (the first having been too brief to satisfy)...
...-.- de mr0xpd
The Bells Ring Out!
As the Happy Couple emerge...
... propagation to on5ex's QRSS grabber in Zevergem, Belgium JO10ux, droops somewhat (though fellow Warrington royalist, gr4vss, is still ringing out his peals of celebration as far as Belgium).
...-.- de mr0xpd
... propagation to on5ex's QRSS grabber in Zevergem, Belgium JO10ux, droops somewhat (though fellow Warrington royalist, gr4vss, is still ringing out his peals of celebration as far as Belgium).
...-.- de mr0xpd
Let no man put asunder...
The solemnization of matrimony is under way, with Rowan at the helm...
Simultaneously, the multi-mode beacon is being received, including by Luc, on7kb, who reports reception of the WSPR emissions at the moment of solemnization.
...-.- de mr0xpd
Simultaneously, the multi-mode beacon is being received, including by Luc, on7kb, who reports reception of the WSPR emissions at the moment of solemnization.
...-.- de mr0xpd
Beacon by Royal Appointment
Today, the multi-mode beacon (Blogs passim) is proudly waving the "mr0xpd" flag on 40m - all reception reports gratefully received.
Latest News from Westminster:- Her Madge and Phil the Greek have bolted down their Shredded Wheat(s) and are ready for the ceremony...
...-.- de mr0xpd
Latest News from Westminster:- Her Madge and Phil the Greek have bolted down their Shredded Wheat(s) and are ready for the ceremony...
...-.- de mr0xpd
mr0xpd and THAT Dress
British Hams have been given the opportunity (WHY ?!?!) to apply for a "Notice of Variation" to their license, allowing the secondary locator "R" (for Royal) to be used, in "celebration" of The Royal Wedding. So, today and for the next few days I am become mr0xpd - deep joy!
Just for the record, I am mildly pro-monarchy (although by nature I am more comfortable in Roundhead garb than the lacy, foppish excess of the Cavaliers and The Oxford Movement).
In addition to the exciting news of the call sign, I am able to bring you a special scoop from the paparazzi - pictures of THAT Dress, fully two hours before the rest of the world's media.
Just for the record, I am mildly pro-monarchy (although by nature I am more comfortable in Roundhead garb than the lacy, foppish excess of the Cavaliers and The Oxford Movement).
In addition to the exciting news of the call sign, I am able to bring you a special scoop from the paparazzi - pictures of THAT Dress, fully two hours before the rest of the world's media.
Here's Kate...
Doesn't she look radiant!
More news to follow throughout the day,
...-.- de mR0xpd HI HI
Doesn't she look radiant!
More news to follow throughout the day,
...-.- de mR0xpd HI HI
Saturday, 23 April 2011
H/B WSPR Rx
I found an ABS box in "stores" and put the pa0klt VFO kit into it...
Stores didn't have a dc socket in stock, so power currently passes through a hole in the case. I opted to leave out the LCD backlight as my contribution to measures to slow down climate change!
I decided to try out the new VFO by using it to drive my WSPR receiver module, seen here on the bench with a bandpass filter (which previously featured in the multi-mode beacon until it was rendered obsolete by the arrival of the multi-band bandpass) in the antenna path. This allowed me to run the receiver on 30m whilst the multi-mode beacon was transmitting on 40m (without it, the "open" front end of the direct conversion receiver was swamped by the transmitter output).
It was nice to do some WSPR receiving again - something of a payback for all those times I've been just transmitting! Here's the decode screen doing its stuff...
But the real beauty was running a h/b WSPR receiver whilst simultaneously working mu h/b multi-mode beacon. Here's a map showing a snapshot of both Rx on 30m and Tx on 40...
Great fun - I think I'll make some kind of box for the receiver system next.
...-.- de m0xpd
Stores didn't have a dc socket in stock, so power currently passes through a hole in the case. I opted to leave out the LCD backlight as my contribution to measures to slow down climate change!
I decided to try out the new VFO by using it to drive my WSPR receiver module, seen here on the bench with a bandpass filter (which previously featured in the multi-mode beacon until it was rendered obsolete by the arrival of the multi-band bandpass) in the antenna path. This allowed me to run the receiver on 30m whilst the multi-mode beacon was transmitting on 40m (without it, the "open" front end of the direct conversion receiver was swamped by the transmitter output).
It was nice to do some WSPR receiving again - something of a payback for all those times I've been just transmitting! Here's the decode screen doing its stuff...
But the real beauty was running a h/b WSPR receiver whilst simultaneously working mu h/b multi-mode beacon. Here's a map showing a snapshot of both Rx on 30m and Tx on 40...
Great fun - I think I'll make some kind of box for the receiver system next.
...-.- de m0xpd
Friday, 22 April 2011
pa0klt VFO Synth
Last year at the G-QRP Mini-Convention I purchased a VFO synth kit from fellow sailing enthusiast Jan, g0bbl at SDR-Kits. The system was designed by Ton, pa0klt and uses the same Si570 used in my beacon's DDS to make a very nice, flexible, fully-featured synthesizer. Today I decided it was about time to make up the kit...
Like all Jan's kits, the quality, presentation and instructions are exemplary and it didn't take more than a couple of hours to assemble.
Here's the completed board, showing the Si570 (lower right), the controlling ATMEGA88 and the conspicuous connectors which interface to the display, the switch array and the all-important rotary encoder...
There are a number of surface-mount capacitors in the kit which, together with the Si570, will be a challenge for anybody used only to leaded, through-hole components. However - as I've said before, if I can do it (with my imperfect vision, intention tremor and general cack-handedness) anybody can. Don't be put off - give it a go.
Here's the underside of the board, on which some of the SM capacitors are visible...
I knocked up a temporary set of switches, connected the rotary encoder and plugged it all together on the desk for a test flight - worked perfectly...
This is a great kit and an elegantly designed and executed system - thanks to both Jan and Ton.
Now all I need is to put it in an enclosure - a perfect Bank Holiday Weekend project!
...-.- de m0xpd
Like all Jan's kits, the quality, presentation and instructions are exemplary and it didn't take more than a couple of hours to assemble.
Here's the completed board, showing the Si570 (lower right), the controlling ATMEGA88 and the conspicuous connectors which interface to the display, the switch array and the all-important rotary encoder...
There are a number of surface-mount capacitors in the kit which, together with the Si570, will be a challenge for anybody used only to leaded, through-hole components. However - as I've said before, if I can do it (with my imperfect vision, intention tremor and general cack-handedness) anybody can. Don't be put off - give it a go.
Here's the underside of the board, on which some of the SM capacitors are visible...
I knocked up a temporary set of switches, connected the rotary encoder and plugged it all together on the desk for a test flight - worked perfectly...
This is a great kit and an elegantly designed and executed system - thanks to both Jan and Ton.
Now all I need is to put it in an enclosure - a perfect Bank Holiday Weekend project!
...-.- de m0xpd
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