G11 DIY #7 assembled - congrats to Mark, N5MF, UPDATE : G11 #8: VK2EZF G11#9 OK8EYJ

G11 DIY #7 assembled - congrats to Mark Flavin, N5MF! Well done mate.
So here is the list of all G11 DIY radios assembled so far:
[Builder's callsign, date and first-QSO call]
-------------------------------
G11 #1 K9GQ 20 AUG 2015 KB0PPQ
G11 #2 VK2AMS 20 SEPT 2015 VK4WI
G11 #3 VK2DX 31 DEC 2015 CT1FBK
G11 #4 KF5KOG 5 JAN 2016 KD7H
G11 #5 AB4GS 24 JAN 2016 KB0PPQ
G11 #6 G8YOX 26 FEB 2016 IW3FRF
G11 #7 N5MF 25 APR 2016 KE7II

Update: Jun 6, 2016:

G11 DIY #8 and #9 assembled and on air - congrats to Andrew VK2EZF and Dragan, OK8EYJ.

---------------------------------------------------------
G11 #1 K9GQ 20 AUG 2015 KB0PPQ
G11 #2 VK2AMS 20 SEPT 2015 VK4WI
G11 #3 VK2DX 31 DEC 2015 CT1FBK
G11 #4 KF5KOG 5 JAN 2016 KD7H
G11 #5 AB4GS 24 JAN 2016 KB0PPQ
G11 #6 G8YOX 26 FEB 2016 IW3FRF
G11 #7 N5MF 25 APR 2016 KE7II
G11 #8 VK2EZF 3 JUNE 2016 K4DS
G11 #9 OK8EYJ 6 JUNE 2016 F6GSI

G40 QRP 5W: made it to Reunion Island FR4OO 40m band

I almost felt of the chair when FR4OO answered my CQ call on 40m last night. African contacts are always very special, and even more so with 5W QRP and my baby Genesis G40.

Another curiosity: despite the A index being 26 and K=7 (A and K indices show the fluctuations in the geo-magnetic field) the 40m band was in a fantastic shape.

G11 DIY : T/R switching

WAS with G40: chasing the last 6

A quick update on chasing all US states with baby G40 running 5 Watts:

down to last 6!

The last state from the east is RI. MI form central and WY, SD, NE and MT form the Wild West.

I've started the chase exactly a month ago and the total of US contacts is well over 400. Keep in mind that each contact is over the distance of 14,000-16,000 km. Unfortunately with days getting shorter and spring time in US, the activity on 40m is somehow on down side. Nevertheless, it is just a matter of time and patience before working them all.

My point is this: it does not take much power on JT65 / JT9 mode to work the world. If you only enjoy building your radios but don't really spend time playing with it then you are missing a great deal of action. Build it and then put it in a good use!

Of course some days are better than others, and timing is everything but persistence does pay off. Set your goal: to work all 50 states or to work 50 DXCC (why not 100?).

Knowing that you've achieved what you've planned with a piece of home-made equipment is priceless and you can proudly call yourself an amateur radio OPERATOR.

73 Nick VK2DX

G11 DIY : more component placement images

LO + RX components

JTAlertX : how can you live without it? WSPR-x voice alert.... and much more!

I can't believe it took me so long to discover one of the grates alerting tools for digi modes: the JT Alert ! I can now play with the radio, answer emails, blog- and not miss a thing: the friendly female voice tells me when someone is calling , when a wanted state appears on the band ("New state- Nebraska!") on the band and once the QSO is completed, she even quietly updates HRD log database (HRD does not need to be open!). Use it for just a day and you'll be hooked.

No matter what you chase - DXCC, WAS or WAZ - JT Alert is your best friend on JT65/JT9 mode.

QRP: VK0EK Heard Island DXpedition

...worked QRP!

It has been 20 years since Hear was son the air - and it won't be any time soon before someone mounts another DXpedition to this remote island.

Managed to squeeze in between many JA callers, 20m CW.

Thanks G11 :]