All QSOs are in manual telegraphy (CW) unless otherwise noted

• The general format of a QSO record →
• CALL - Name - QTH - Key used - RubberStamp/RagChew - Additional info - comments

abbreviations

• This is morphing into a Radio Blog…

• SFI = 189 A = 5 K = 1
• IC-M710 - set up serial control and my own Python control panel - modelled somewhat loosely on the Skanti TRP series control panel

The IC-M710 is a marine HF radio - SSB/CW/FSK - up to 150W. It's tuned by selecting pre-programmed channels, with separate RX & TX frequencies. There is no VFO tuning as we'd use it on the amateur bands - and this makes it awkward to use.

(There's a MIC plugged in mainly because the RX audio loops via 2 pins in the mic, so unless it's plugged in, or the link is made in another way, there's no RX audio!)

I wrote a few different control programs in Python to make things a bit easier. This one seems to work ok. There's also a user-programmable bank of presets - presets can be added from the main control panel by pressing the Store button.

• if I offset the RX tuning by +200Hz I can get a more pleasant 800Hz resolved CW tone.
• I'll do something in the code to do this automatically when CW mode is selected.
• 30m
  • Heard CQ from SM5OMP and replied - with 60W from the IC-M710 & BVp
  • QSO with SM5OMP - Georgios - Skaerblacka - BVp - RSt
• Using the M710 isn't going to be a frequent operation, but it's fun to do something different. There's no narrow CW filter - so it's 3kHz wide. The QSK works nicely though.

The desktop with both M710 windows open:

• Period 2 : 2015z
• IC-M710 @ 60W
• 30m : CQ call 10123kHz
  • Answered by ON4KCD - Claude - Liege - BVp/BVc - RSt+ - Age 63, ham 40 years, Begali key
• Discovered major drawback with IC-M710 - not “single signal” CW reception due to SSB filter and the position of the BFO - during QSO on 10123kHz heard strong signal from 2E0ISD on 10121kHz. Not good in crowded bands - I think using IC-M710 for CW is a bit of a dead loss, really. I've come to this conclusion every time I try it. Time to accept it, and move on.
• Back to the IC-7200…..
• CQ
  • Called by EA1ARW - Luis - nr Burgos - BVc - RCh - Nice long chat about keys, cooties, paddles, homemade keys, noise, QTHs, Summer & Winter in Shetland etc. Luis is on vacation away from his home QTH's urban noise and enjoying the bands noise-free.

• SFI = 219 A = 16 K = 1
• Period 1 : 0700z
• 30m
  • Heard G4XRV working N1GKE - bug/bug - N1GKE only 339 here, so no point trying to call him
  • CQ @ 10123kHz - BVc
    • Called by G4XRV - Rupert - nr London - B.U.G member - BVc - RCh - nice catch-up and chat about bug group & our bugs - Rupert using McElroy 1937 - had to cut QSO short to get ready for work - will have more QSOs (last one in 2021)
• Period 2 1700z
  • 30m
    • Had an idea to try using the IC-M710 marine transceiver on CW - it's not a nice CW radio for the crowded HF bands but might be okay on 60m?
    • Wired up the rear-panel DIN plug with the switched key select line (allows me to switch the bugs/keys between different rigs) for “rig #2”
    • and sent a few RBN TEST DE GM4SLV GM4SLV calls to see how it fared
      • Called by OS5Z - Marc - nr Tournai
    • I don't think I'll be using the IC-M710 much on CW - perhaps with my Python Control panel it'll make a “fun alternative” rig - like an old Skanti marine radio - but not for most HF operations - the fixed BFO offset of 1kHz is not pleasant, either.
• Period 3 : 2215z
• IC-7200
  • 40m
    • Band very quiet - not much activity heard…..
    • Heard a CQ from DL2FCN and replied - Bo - nr Darmstadt - BVc - RSt
  • 30m
    • Sent a few CQ calls on 10.123 - no replies
    • Heard a CQ on 10.108 from SA0BFW which sounded manual/bug sending - I replied and…
    • QSO with SM0BFW - Wittich - Stockholm - BVc/BVp (& SKh briefly) - RCh - he was using Vibroplex Original Standard from 2022 “bought it direct from Vibroplex in USA” - had a nice >30min chat about bugs etc. Will look for him again - always good to have a Bug-Bug 2-way QSO

• SFI = 180 A = 24 K = 3
• Membership of Bug Users Group confirmed : #318
• Period 1 1015z
• 40m
  • Heard end of a QSO of GM4OAS - Gordon - Mallaig - so I tail-ended and had nice catch-up chat - BVc - RCh
• Period 2 2015z
• 20m - thought I'd try 20m for a change…
  • CQ - called by LZ2UG - Angel - Tirnovo - BVp - RSt - + Age = 79
  • Called by RU9UX - Geo, Belovo (Siberia) - BVp - RSt - + Age = 73
  • Called by 4O6DN (Montenegro) - Don, Podgorica - SKh - RSt
  • Called by SP3DGV - Genek - Przeclaw - BVp/SKh - RSt
  • Called by IZ1NQY - Enzo - Camburzano - BVp - RSt + Born 1942/ham 1977
  • Called by HB9DAX/qrp - Fred - BVp - lost him when I tried to QRP to match his 5W…. QSB?
  • A strange sort of evening - all the people calling me were on the slow side which is fine, but it tends to make me switch to a straight key in case my slowest bug speed (~18wpm) is either to fast or too buggy for someone who's only sending at 16-18wpm themselves.
• 30m CQ…. no replies…..
• Just before leaving shack heard CQ DE PH2CV on 30m…
  • Worked PH2CV - Okko - Rotterdam - BVp - RSt

• SFI = 184 A = 10 K = 4
• * Period 1 : 1400z
• CQ 30m 100w - BVp / BVc
  • RBN Spots
    • 10124.3 : OH6BG SE5E TF3Y TF4M ES2RR G4HSO DC8YZ DF1DN DL8LAS ON6ZQ G0KTN OK1FCJ DL1HWS OE9GHV DL0PF DF2CK G4ZFE
  • No replies…
• Bug sending practice at ≥ 25wpm - BVc - for 30+ minutes
• Period 2 : 2050z
• SFI = 184 A = 10 K = 2
• CQ 60m - BVp - no reply….
• 40m
  • Heard EA3PP calling CQ - distinctive bug sound - have QSOd already on 30m and 17m, so 40m is a new one…. I called him and had QSO - BVp - RSt
• 30m
  • Heard CQ from IZ0FBJ - not strong but workable -BVp - RCh - nice QSO - Alex - nr Rome - Age 50 (someone younger than me!) Xiegu G90/20W - been 40C during day! Then QSB and rising QRN made it too difficult to continue

• Period 1 2000z
• SFI = 179 A = 8 K = 1
• 60m
  • Heard G3XIZ call CQ on 5262kHz (QRP freq) & replied using 5W QRP too
  • Chris heard me with difficulty under his high local noise floor and I decided to make things more even by increasing to 100W
  • This is probably a fair levelling of the playing field!
  • BVp - RCh - discussed rigs/keys/keyer/MF and local noise levels. Makes me consider a return to “500kHz” MF in the winter - only on CW of course!
  • Is this going to be possible? Some thought needed. Last time I was on MF I had to give up HF operation - only space for one “big” antenna and its ATU
• 40m
  • Heard G3XBI call CQ and called him amid lots of close-in QRM.
  • 599 report both ways and nice QSO - BVp - ~RCh

• SFI = 181 A = 20 K = 2
• Flare : M2.9 @ 0741z - will condx be poor today?
• Period 1 : 2000z
• 30m Beacon : IZ3DVW/B 10129.5 - peaking S3 on meter. Strong signal : 2020z
• Replied to a CQ call sent by DL4YHF - “CQ TESTING INDOOR ANTENNA PSE K” - Wolf - nr. Bieldefeld - “we have worked before from club DF0WD a long time ago” - BVc - ~RCh
• CQ 30m
  • RBN Spots
    • 10115.5: SE5E OH6BG TF3Y SM7IUN ES2RR DM6EE DL0PF G4HSO OE9GHV G4IRN S53WW DL8LAS DC8YZ CT7ANO G4ZFE DJ2BC TF4M HB9DCO IK4VET DR4W EA5WU RN4WA DF2CK DO4DXA ON6ZQ DM5GG HB9BXE (+ 20 more)
  • Called by UB3B - Alex - Moscow - BVp / BVc - RSt
  • Replied to a CQ call sent by M7NDB - SKh - was strong, S9, and he came back to me and then faded away to NIL during his first over. Copied “op John qth Man….” and gone, nil, nada!
• Listened on 40m and heard a lot of CQ TEST from (mainly?) Spanish stations (2120z) - what contest? There's nothing listed on the WA7BNM Contest Calendar - where do all these contests come from?
• QSY to 60m
• CQ 60m 5260kHz
  • called by G0GZN - Lindy - Poole - BVp - RCh - discussed the heavy rain today, I apologized in case my Bug sounded like “a bag of spanners” and was told it didn't (phew!), her holiday in Cornwall and the Shetland TV Detective series.
  • I get worried using a bug with people who aren't “bug people” - they can be an acquired taste and when the “swing” is exaggerated can be very difficult to read unless “it's your thing”. I try to make my sending as “neutral” as possible, without hiding the fact that it's not from an electronic keyer - bland and homogenous. It's a fine line between “a fist with personality” and “speech impediment”!
• QSY 30m
• 30m heard Bug-Bug QSO between IK4EWX and OH2EA - for FOC “Bug Day”
• IK4EWX called CQ BUG DAY and was answered by a Russian station….. I waited and then called him myself
  • QSO IK4EWX (FOC?)- Ian - nr Ferrara - BVc/BVp - RCh - would love a longer chat when more time/less QSB & QRN - lots of Rain Static during QSO. Bug CW was “Music to my ears” - You Tube video potential….
  • https://youtu.be/Yko8YRwc4O8

• SFI = 203 A = 7 K = 3
• Flare : C5.8 @ 0031z

• Period 1 : 2030z
• SFI = 203 A = 7 K = 3
• CQ 30m 5W / BVp / 7200
  • RBN Spots:
    • 10123.0 : EA1URA G0KTN DM6EE DR4W DL0PF DL8LAS G4ZFE DL9GTB OE9GHV OH6BG DF2CK
• QRO → 50W
  • Called by DJ6AU - Hans - Blomburg - BVc - RCh ⇒ ex-MM0XAU (Eshaness) - nice catch-up chat - He hopes to QSO wid GB2TS (Tall Ships SES)
  • Called by R1AL - Al - St Petersburg - BVp - RSt
  • Called by DL2NAI - Israel - ?? - SKh - RSt
  • Called by UT3NT - Slava - ?? - SKh - RSt
  • Called by DL2HWI - Dieter - Wittenberg - BVp - RSt
• DXPedition again on 30m.
• Moved to 40m and found most G-stations audible had some Auroral flutteriness
• K-Index rising…. now 4.3

You Tube Video at : https://youtu.be/DpgNW4ZuS6I

• SFI = 193 A = 6 K = 3
• Flare : M2.1 @ 1920z
• Period 1 : 1955z → 2300z
• OBSERVATION : 30m:
  • DXPedition 9Q1AA active 10.115MHz : “UP”… the mob spreading up to 10.120MHz … 5kHz for one poxy DX station!
  • and they extend further and further UP UP UP….
  • up to 10.125…. 10kHz of screaming kids!
• CQ 60m / 100W / BVp / 7200
  • RBN spots
    • 5260.1 : DL0PF
• CQ 30m / 100w / BVp / 7200
  • RBN Spots
    • 10123.3 : SE5E SM7IUN TF3Y TF4M OE9GHV DC8YZ G4HSO DR4W OK1FCJ G4ZFE DO4DXA G0KTN HB9BXE IK4VET DL8LAS DL9GTB DM6EE ON6ZQ DF7GB DF2CK OZ4ADX S53WW EA1URA RN4WA DM5GG DL1HWS EY8ZE (+ 4 more)
  • Called by RM2Z : 579/579/73 RSt.
• Replied to CW 30m IS0HFE - Simon - Quartu - BVc - RSt
• Moved to 40m
  • Tail ended QSO between GM4FOC and G3SES to call GM4FOC - operated by Will GM0HKS - torn between calling Phil or Will, but Phil only 539, Will was 599+
    • BVc - RCh+
    • Nice chat with Will - he's still got my old Elecraft K1 (called KITTY)
    • Made far too many mistakes on the Champion bug for some reason - the physical equivalent of being tongue-tied?
    • Still had a good QSO - and Will very complimentary about my bug sending (being kind?) “.. characters are well formed and easy to read ..”
    • MUST DO EVEN MORE OFF-AIR PRACTICE
    • Caller @ end M0RZE joined in just to say “good listening guys” - never had anything like that before!
  • Replied to CQ : F8GNV - Ric - nr. Melun - BVp - RSt

• SFI = 214 A = 8 K = 1
• All stations seem to be quite weak on 40m, and 30m
• Period 1 10:10z
  • CQ 40m / 100W / BVp / 7200
    • RBN Spots
      • 7033.0 : MM0ZBH SE5E OH6BG DM6EE TF4M DF2CK G4HSO DL1HWS OE9GHV SM7IUN TF3Y MM3NDH DL8LAS G4ZFE PA0MBO DK9IP1
  • Bands seem to be almost dead now….
  • Solarham shows M6.9 Solar Flare at 08:55z…
  • DK0WCY : 10.144,0MHz is audible, no S-meter reading.
  • HB4FV/B : 10.133,5MHz is audible, no S-meter reading. https://www.qrz.com/db/HB4FV?aliasFrom=HB4FV/B
  • SA6RR : 10.131,0MHz is audible, no S-meter reading https://www.radiorud.se/fyren.php
  • CQ 30m / 100W / BVp / 7200
    • RBN Spots
      • 10119.4 : OH6BG TF4M TF3Y DM6EE SE5E DL1HWS DR4W OE9GHV OK1FCJ DF7GB DK9IP1 G4HSO
    • Called by DK7ZB - Mart - nr Kassel. BVp. ~RCh. “Age 77 QRV 55 YRS” - Very deep QSB down to zero signal towards the end - band unstable!

• started this Radio Diary area today, with a view to using it as a notebook for on-air activity, rather than of recording projects etc.
• Rig : 7200
• Period 1 10:00z
  • CQ on 30m / 100W / BVp / 18wpm:
  • RBN Spots:
  • 10123.3 : MM0ZBH OH6BG SE5E F8DGY TF4M TF3Y ON6ZQ DC8YZ DL9GTB G4IRN DM6EE DL0PF DR4W DL1HWS G4HSO DE1LON OE9GHV OK1FCJ DF2CK SM7IUN MM3NDH HB9BXE SQ5J GI4DOH
  • Called by MI0WWB - Will - QRP 5W - RST 549, and deep QSB to nil at times. Short QSO in difficult condx
  • Called by DK4AN - Wang - nr Bon - 76 yrs old - QRP 2W/5W. RCh. Nice chat…. sheep / cows / dogs / antenna fields / electric fences etc. QRP → 5W here too. BVc @ 22wpm
• Period 2 1130z
  • CQ on 20m / 100W / SKh / 14wpm “CQ FISTS”
  • RBN Spots :
  • 14058.0 : OH6BG ES2RR SE5E F8DGY G4IRN S53A TF3Y S53WW R1LB OK1FCJ OK4QRO DC8YZ DL0PF RU9CZD DF2CK HA1VHF DR4W OE9GHV IK4VET CT7ANO DL9GTB DM5GG SM7IUN G0KTN W1NT2 G4HSO RK3TD (+ 7 more)
  • Called by OK2BWB - Karel - nr Brno. RCh. “home made vacuum tubes trx at 50W see qrz.com for pictures”
    • Very deep QSB from S9 → 0 and back at times
  • Period 3
  • CQ on 30m / 100W / BVp / 18wpm
    • Called by SM4ASX - Len. RSt. Swapped to SKh, Started @ 579…. → he ended QSO due to QSB
• Period 3 2100z
  • Spent some time practising bug sending, BVp & BVc at 18/20/25/28wpm (28 is still rather too fast!)
  • CQ on 60m (5260kHz) 2100z… no reply
  • QRN Lightning crashes are fierce tonight!
  • CQ on 30m / 100W / BVp / 18wpm
    • Called by RW9FZ - Dima - Perm. ~RCh. 56 years old ⇒ Someone YOUNGER than me!

• A catch up from yesterday to begin.
• Two periods of activity today, early evening on 30m and 40m, and later on 60m and 30m.
• Rig : 7200
• Using full 100W today - condx. seem a bit variable, especially at this northern latitude.
• Some Auroral sounding CW.
• Not much activity on 30m, despite many RBN spots of my CQ calls.
• Period 1
  • 30m QSO : F5POJ : RSt
  • 40m QSO : DL6LV/P : Hry, nr Keil. BVp. Short ~RC. Should look for him again for a longer chat.
• Period 2
  • 60m QSO : G0IIK : Nigel, nr Heathrow, RCh. BVp me: “Vibroplex Presentation 1957”, him : “McElroy Bug 1940 same age as me, 82” Another nice chat w/ Nigel
  • 30m QSO : DL4ST : RSt
  • 30m QSO : IK2MMM/QRP : RSt “QSL only electronic” = LOTW confirmation
  • 30m QSP : M0RQD : Steve, Isle of Wight : SKh. RC. slow and pleasant “beginner” QSO - hope for many more and for Steve to find CW improves rapidly with use.

Finding many RBN reports from my CQ calls - as far as Australia and Hong Kong, but very often no replies. Will endeavour to reply to any/all CQ calls I hear.

— John Pumford-Green 11/07/23 08:00