G40 closeup photo of the PCB with RX components installed. Click to enlarge.

G40 closeup photo of PCB with RX components installed.

Click HERE to enlarge.

G3020 has done it again: Sydney to Guadeloupe Island via long path

I was chasing 9J2HN on 30m this morning. No luck - the European pileup is just impossible to break. The opening to Africa is short- the signal peaked in just a few minutes... there is always next time... Slightly disappointed I've moved up and called CQ. And WOW my call was answered by no other but TO6D from Guadeloupe Island, via long path! This has to be at least 20,000 Km.

G3020, vertical antenna, 4Watts. Hey -not bad for a bunch of old fashioned through hole components!

73 Nick VK2DX

One MASSIVE signal ! 30m WSPR band

Just turned on my G3020 on 30m band, 7am local time.

The 20 KHz of amateur band segmnet (plus more above 10.150 KHz) were completely wiped out by one massive signal. Could this be over-the-horizon radar, and if it is, which one? Regardless, for years of playing with radios, I have never seen/heard such a powerful signal, on any band!

And right there, in the middle of OTHR was one single WSPR signal, wiggling it's way to my receiver. G3020 you've done it again. Amazingly cool stuff !

UPDATE: 3 hours later, with no sky-wave propagation, the OTHR was still loud and clear. A local radar perhaps?

G11 DIY #6 completed: Congrats to Adrian, G8YOX

A new G11 DIY has been completed! This is the unit #6 and the proud builder is Adrian, G8YOX. His first QSO was with IW8 . Well done mate and thanks for sharing your excitiement with fellow Genesis members.

So here is the list of all G11 DIY radios assembeld 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 JAN 2016 IW3FRF

Super easy way to calibrate your Genesis G3020 on 30m band with the help of Asian carrier on 10.140 MHz.

Super easy way to calibrate your Genesis G3020 on 30m band with the help of Asian carrier on 10.140 MHz.

As said before, this Asian carrier is visible in VK from 10 UTC (9pm local time) to after midnight. Perfect time to play radios! The carrier is present every night and it is spot-on on 10.140 which makes the calibration piece of cake.

1. Turn on G3020, set mode to USB, filter bandwidth to 2.7KHz and main dial frequency to 10.138 KHz

2. start WSJT-X, set mode to JT65 and set frequency to 10.138. [I assume here that WSJT and G3020 audio are 'connected' via VAC]

3. Under Setup-Hardware-Genesis Configuration set local oscillator [LO] frequency to 10.125000.

Let the WSJT receive for a few minutes. You should be able to see a 'line' which is your Asian carrier somewhere around 2000 Hz point. In my case the yellow carrier line was just above 1800 Hz point.

To calibrate G3020 I want to 'shift' carrier up. To do so, I need to add 200Hz to local oscillator frequency: 10.125000 + 200 = 10.125200. (you will enter the difference you see on your WSJT spectrum. If carrier is above 2000 mark then deduct the difference)

4. click Apply and let the WSJT run for another minute or so. The yellow carrier is now almost spot on on 2000 Hz mark. Actually it is bit too high so I've deducted 5Hz. My new LO value is 10.125195. Apply and Save.

5. Done! Your G3020 is now calibrated. As you can see, all the WSPR signals are now also within WSPR band 200Hz window.

Of course you can use WSJT and know time/frequency signal to calibrate any Genesis hardware. I just prefer to use Asian carrier because it is neither too strong nor too weak and with the help of calibrated WSJT waterfall it is easy to work out the LO frequency +/- 1Hz.

Again, my apology if this is too trivial, but until you calibrate your hardware you won't be able to receive weak WSPR signals. Of course you can use your 'big radio' as signal source assuming the radio itself is calibrated.

USB to serial adapter and Win7: FTDI is the way to go!

The long-awaited FTDI chip USB-to-Serial adapter has finally arrived! And before I go any further: special 'thank you' to group member who recommended the FTDI as as a solution. What a joy!

Unlike all previously tested adapters, this one even came with the box! And the instruction manual, pin layout schematic, disc with drivers. There was even manufacturer's label: IOCrest, RS-232. And as added bonus: 3 status LEDs" active, txd and rxd. Plus 1 year Australian guarantee!

The device got recognized by Win7 straight away. I wanted to halt the automatic driver search process but wasn't fast enough. Nevertheless, the drivers were loaded and device was 'ready to use'. And it was- from the moment it was set as COM port in GSDR, it worked flawlessly. No hang-ups, no 'muffled TX' no fake PTT attempts. Exactly as you want it, on each transmission, every time. Driver date: 22 Jan 2016!

If you wonder why am I so excited about such a trivial device like com port adapter then you are either smart and already have an FTDI unit, or you are yet to discover that 230x and CH340 chips with Windows 7 are pain in the bum. A $1 Chinese clone may sound like a great deal but you will regret it.

I am awaiting delivery of couple more units so stay tuned for more reviews. So far, IOCrest and COM1 from mb (as per Stew's suggestion) are clear winners. Price: AUD $32, free postage, Australian vendor. 1 year guarantee.
ebay auction: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331650027323

[note: COM port is required for G40 and G3020 units only, G59 and G11 are connected via USB)

73 Nick VK2DX

Running 5 Watts: G11 in ARRL Contest: SOAB QRP [part 2.]

On Monday morning, just before leaving for work, I've decided to check 15 one more time. Parked on 21.060 KHz called CQ once, got spotted straight away and then logged 90 QSOs in less then an hour! What a blast! At the moments I even had 3 or 4 callers - a mini pile-up! The highlight: being called by VA1CHP from NS and VY2OX from PEI! East Coast Canadians are hard to work even with HO let alone with QRP. A truly amazing experience. Total: 168 contacts in 5 hours, running just 5 Watts. The spectrum shot of 40m band an hour after the strom. Wow! Hardly any background noise!

G11 in ARRL contest QRP 5W

Having fun working US stations, ARRL contest. 15m band is not in great shape, no signals north-east of Texas. Managed 2 qsos on 10m! My goal is 50 QSOs with 5 Watts. N1MM CAT setting.

G3020 and G40 settings: VAC, com0com, WSJT-x and GSDR

1. Virtual audio cables: I am using VAC from Eugene V. Muzychenko. However there is a free software which does the same job called VB Cables. 2. For virtual port I suggest free application called com0com . 3. WSJT-x is freeware. 4. G3020 is connected to PC via serial port COM1. This port is located directly on motherboard. Alternatively use serial to usb adapter.

GSDR tip: set the audio / headphone balance!

This is something that could make you scratch your head: upon the first install of GSDR default speaker balance is "slider to left". Of course you need to place the slider in mid position. Obvious? Not really... and very annoying if this is your first attempt to check newly built hardware. Now that you know... easy!

G3020 GenesisRadio 5W duobander on 20m JT65 working Japanese

G3020 assembled. Running less than 5 Watts.

5W0RR : a new one on QRP [worked with G11]

5W0RR Frm Samoa is fairly regular on 20m on JT65 mode. Saw him tonight - fairly weak- until I've realized that my antenna is pointing in opposite direction. Called him again, while flicking the 180 degree SetppIR switch (yes you can do that while running QRP :-) and WOW he was booming in. Easy exchange, and a new DXCC logged. Love my QRP DXing and love my DIY G11. Nothing beats working a rare one with home-made radio!

G40 build notes

GenesisRadio G4 is a 40m single band SDR transceiver. Easy to assemble: all through-hole components! It's been few years since I've assembled one so this is bit of a nostalgia project. My G40 has been on WSPR for past few days generating almost 2000 decodes from 160 unique stations, mainly form US and Europe. If you happen to have G40 PCB then you may find this useful: Band pass filters AF amp jumpers COM port settings How to connect +V for RX

GenesisRadio G11 vs. EuropeanZZ

I can't resist but to share this one with you: yesterday, late afternoon, 20m band - and dozens and dozens of European stations on RTTY coming via the long path. The antenna is pointed over Pacific, practically no noise. Some signals are strong, other weak but perfect decode. With SDR there is no tuning- it is just a matter of clicking on the signal as it appears, and you call before anyone else. Also if you wish to call you see exactly where to park your signal on a crowded band. Almost too easy!

How many G11 DIY are on the air?

My G11 is the third assembled "do-it-yourself" transceiver. Here is the list of builders who successfully completed the project:

[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 2015 KD7H
G11 #5 AB4GS 24 JAN 2015 KB0PPQ

My first contact with G11 #3 was on JT65 mode with CT1FBK from Portugal. Easy!

In the GBOX

Couple of images of the finished unit, inside GBOX. This very robust enclosure comes from another project, will talk about it in detail later on. You can find more about GBOX here.

GBOX is an aluminium die-casting enclosure with dimensions 240 x 240 x 90mm. There is plenty of room to accommodate a 100W amplifier as well.