NOAA Antenna move and Bongo APRS

Posted on April 6, 2025 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

Whilst I’ve been getting on air from home with the IC-705, even calling CQ on 17 and 80 meters a couple times and getting a few contacts, I’ve also been getting prepared for the changing climate.

NOAA Antenna move

It was easy to spot that my NOAA and METEOR reception had taken a turn for the worse.

Looking at the postion of the antenna, it was surrounded by trees which are now beginning to grow their spring time leafs and flowers. Having checked the rest of the RPI/Amp/Filter setup, I thought it likely the signal quality was most likely due to those trees blocking the signal.

Moving the antenna was easy enough, I basically untethered it and moved the whole tilt base, whilst cumbersome, it wasnt heavy and I could get it to the front of the garden away from the trees and a better line of sight to the horzion to the south, east, west and improved to the north, although the trees are still there, i think they are further from the 30 degree LOS that NOAA and METEOR are picked up from.

Having run the antenna in its new location for several days now, its proven much better, if anything all the signals are coming in much better now, there is the odd occasion, but as the above picture shows, I’m getting all the scanns in from the operational weather satellites when they pass over. I’m also seeing that whilst I set my RPI to pick up from 30 degrees, the reception now is lasting longer to sometimes around 20 or 15 degrees above the horizion. Not bad for an antenna thats barely 3/4 meters high !

We can see from this great night-fly over of NOAA-18 and the thermal output its starting to get warmer now, with the WX topping out at over 22 celsius !

Bongo and APRS

So its near time for my nearly 30 year old Mazda Bongos annual check (MoT as it is known in the UK). It has been running a bit rough of late, but the warm weather has brought the bongo back to life ! I rejoined the Bongo Fury forum, very affordable and great fact sheets, I have no doubt my problem is caused by glow plugs, however as long as it starts for now, i’ll get it thru its MoT and then see about fixing it before it gets cold again!

The good news is that I topped up the coolant, recharged all the batteries (lesiure and starter) and was able to enjoy a good local drive out with the Kenwood radio beaconing APRS positions on 2M really well. I’ve noticed a few more APRS digipeaters in the area and am getting better coverage than when I first started this back many years ago !

I’ve still yet to deicde to do with my 2M/70cm antenna here at the QTH, its up but currently not connected to anything. I’m tempted to setup the THD7 with one of the SSTV cams so it runs independent of any computer, and a CTCSS tone will force it take a picture. Which I think could be fun, even if it ends up with me only using it !

I ended the afternoon with a lovely BBQ, pre-cooking a steak for dinner and some sasuages which i’ll put into a toad-in-the-hole for eating this week 🙂 I also tried cooking fish and prawns for the first time on the BBQ for XYL Monica, and the fish was very well received !

I’m confident I’ll be able to get the Bongo thu the MoT and again start getting out with the Bongo and doing more POTA, I’ve spotted a few more new parks pop up nearby as well !!

Until then, its back to studys+work… 73 ! 2E0FWE

SSTV on QRP ? Of course !

Posted on March 5, 2025 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

So I have been running on the IC-705 and 10W power from home for a little while now, but it always impresses me that when the conditions are right and there is someone there to have a QSO with, how well the setup performs.

Example in which was an excellent SSTV QSO with IK3SSG based in Polverara, Italy – some 700 miles away from the QTH here in Bournemouth. Checkout the quality of received and sent pictures, all on 10W of power from me.

It just goes to show what can be done on modest power and a good antenna setup.

With the weather getting warmer, the IC-705 will soon see a return to PoTA – i’m looking forward to getting out and seeing how the propergation is in 2025 – so far things are looking great !

ISS SSTV + SONATE SSTV + PACKET

Posted on November 23, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

I am big fan of the youtube channel ‘save it for parts’ – Gabe is a really interesting person who is honest and clear in his approach to what ever comes into his hands – I mention his channel as it was a single comment on on one of his videos that made me aware that the ISS was doing SSTV ! Something I had always wanted to do but never had the chance / setup to make it happen.

Withat that I setup MMSSTV to use the IC9700 audio source and tuned HRD to the ISS SSTV radio frequency.

It was really exciting to wait for the ISS to come over and hear SSTV coming down, the quality of my images varied greatly, but I was nethertheless happy to receive pictures direct as the ISS flew over the QTH in IO90BS. On a good run I could get one good picture and then one not so good picture, but the main thing was to take part.

The ARISS organisation had setup an excellent page where images could be submitted and a reward received. The main page here showed the excellent pictures received around the world, the quality is quite amazing – whilst mine didnt make the main page, I was happy that it was possible to see my submissions searching on the call sign.

And sure enough I was soon awarded the ISS SSTV which I’ve already put on my QRZ page.

At the same time I noticed on the AMSAT Oscar Sat status page another SSTV satellite (and packet) – SONATE-2. I setup HRD for the satellite and amazingly i was able to get an image as it flew over !

I was really pleased that my ‘generic’ egg-beater setup was able to pull in such weak signals and for them to be decoded. SONATE-2 also does APRS – its not far off the frequency for the ISS, so with checking hte fly-by schedules, I setup my packet radio application to receive, sure enough I received a packet from SONATE-2 !

I had a fantastic time, thanks to the save it for parts channel mentioning the ISS was doing SSTV and getting so many great images. This is my favourite !

I hope I can get more SSTV from both the ISS and SONATE-2 – its really inspired me to do something with SSTV myself, given now that intermediate license holders can setup a low-power SSTV repeater, it just might be something I do ! 🙂

Until the next blog posting – lets hope the weather gets better – and more amateur radio shenanigans ! 🙂

POTA – GB-0112 – New Forest Boulderwood

Posted on October 1, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

It was a bright sunny day down in IO90, so wanting to make full use I headed off to one of my favourite locations in the New Forest (GB-0112) Boulderwood. Its lovely there as it has excellent benches which my radio can be setup on quite easily, and the surrounding trees are really beautiful.

I was setup in no time at all with the mag loop and started out with FT4 on 20M, then FT8. I was amazed at how good the propagation was today, with brilliant signal reports and a very steady stream of QSO’s – in no less than 20 minutes, I had made the 10 contacts required to activate the park!

FT8 propagation on 10W into the mag-loop was brilliant

Having had so much success on digital modes, I gave SSB a try on 20m, I was not to be disappointed ! A quick self spot on the POTA app (also a benefit of this part of the New Forest, it has mobile phone coverage!) and I made excellent contacts in Switzerland with HB9HZC and HB9BWR with very good signal reports both ways (59 from me, 57 received) With no more than a few minutes wait, I was having a QSO with Jose, EA1BUL in Spain, with a brilliant signal report.

I’m not usually one for swapping bands, but I’d thought I’d give 40m a try as conditions seemed so favorable. I returned to the QRP CoA (7.090) on SSB and sure enough a contact with G0QRL, Don in Devon was to be had ! It was harder work and the SWR was slighter higher at 2:1, but nevertheless a great receive signal report and I got 55 on my 10W of power.

POTA Log for today – if you see yourself there *big thanks*

This was a brilliant activation, and I had a thoroughly good time. With the WX turning slightly inclement I headed back home, thoroughly excited and really impressed with the IC705 and Alexloop antenna – I really love QRP and am amazed at just how much can be done with a good antenna and limited power.

An excited 2E0FWE/P out at Boulderwood

Storm damage at the QTH

Posted on September 30, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

Wow, what WX (weather) we have been having lately – thankfully thunderstorms/lightining have missed me, but the wind and rain had a rather adverse effect on EFHW setup.

The mighty DX Commander classic mast that I used as far end of my 80m UK Antenna EFHW took the full brunt of the winds over the weekend, my weather recorder stating upto 16 knots – and that is at ground level surrounded by bushes/trees!

I looked around for spares and was glad to see I had a spare base-pipe for the mast, but that would mean stripping it down and then feeding the pipe through, so I’d though id see if I can just move the mast a little bit, lose a little height but still clear the bungalows roof.

I was really happy that the mast would continue to function, i rigged it back up with 4 ropes to ensure it should stay up right, no further storms are forecast currently!

I went back to the shack and tested out SSTV on 20M – 1:1 SWR with 100W and my pic using Robot 72 was well received across Europe !

My other antennas and the bullet proof 6BTV was totally uneffected by the weather, but the 2m/70cm mast needs a bit of a push up, but I’m getting older and that antenna is getting heavier… 😉

I was very happy to have a QSO via the ISS Digipeater and received an excellent QSO card from EA2BW.

Until the next post, take care, stay safe & 73’s

2E0FWE

POTA in the Sun

Posted on August 12, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

With another gorgeous sunny day it was an opportunity to get out the shack and on the air, but before heading out, I had a nice walk/exercise to Hengistbury Head, whilst I had no radio with me today, I did notice these small microwave dishes at the end of my walk on the cafe. I wonder what they are ?

Maybe they are some kind of digital voice repeater, they look very ‘directed’ so not the kind of antenna I’d expect something like the ‘land train’ to use, maybe its to the other cafe near mudeford sandback ? Still Sweety and I had a great walk !

Once back home I quickly assembled my radio and headed off to the New Forest, I did a quick check of the 17m band before heading out and everything look good on the bands, despite the reports of poor conditions.

Once setup, I was able to get onto FT8 on 17m in the park and my reports on PSK Reporter was really good ! I’m quite amazed how well this little whip and radials works.

I had to do some band and mode changing to get the 10 contacts to activate the park, but sure enough today it was in less than an hour, which was great, maybe coming in the afternoon when more Europeans are awake/about for radio helped as well.

After about 90 minutes on digital modes I noticed my IC-705 has got really hot, as in hot to touch and the temp meter on the front was getting high as well ! I gave the radio about 15 minutes of break and the temp got back down to below the red zone. I think the combination of hot weather (was about 28c air temp at this point, the breeze kept me somewhat cool) and the radio being in the bag restricted its ventilation.

I found that taking the radio out the bag and letting the breeze pass over it considerabley reduced the temperature. As I already had enough contacts I’d though I give 2M FM a try on the RH770 Whip antenna.

To my amazement, i was able to make a contact with 2E1KJB on the Isle of White in Cowes ! Given I was in the New Forest so this was well over the horizion on a whip antenna, i was really pleased to make the QSO and add a FM contact to my list – I notice the temperature of the radio had once again increased, so I thought it was a good way to finish off and pack up.

IC 705 back home and cooled down, working great

I felt it prudent to check the IC-705 once back home as it had time to cool down on the short journey back and borrowing the 6btv antenna from the WSPR station was able to confirm that all was good with the transmit, so no damage done to the finals due to the hot weather.

I was really happy to get out with the radio 2 days in a row and make enough contacts to add to my new forest activations – having now reached 10 activations in the New Forest, i’m half way there on completing the award, and with still plenty of time for radio between now and getting back into alot more studying, I’m confident I will get the 20 activations in no time at all !

With the issue of heat and the radio being in the Icom back-pack I may revert to the magloop again and try to work out a way I can use it portable, as I tend to either bungee it to a table or use my ‘bike stand’ mast which under the rear wheel of the bongo as shown above.

Still I’m sure I’ll find a way, i do enjoy getting out of the house and out of the Bongo when the weather is this nice ! Until the next time and thanks for all those who responded to my CQ’s ! 2E0FWE 🙂

POTA QRP in poor radio conditions

Posted on August 10, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

HF Band conditions have not been at their greatest this week (10/8/24) with intemittent SSTV pics on 20m and visibly varying conditions on other bands, courtesy of the WSPR transmitter I run here. Not to be defeated, I still headed out to The New Forest see if any contacts could be made…

Band conditions are not good on the HF bandscurrently

I setup in the same place as last week, with the same antenna. I did unfurl the counterpoises 2 times just to get a better placement and spread and even without the tuner, was getting good SWR of 1.5:1 on the Toybox antenna on 17m. Setup was really easy and no tangled radials.

I started with FT8 on 17M, it was taking some time to get out, but PSK Reporter and self-spotting on the POTA app meant I could see myself via the reverse beacon network as well, so it was just a question of being patient to make a contact.

17M FT8 – despite the poor conditions, my signal was getting out nicely on 10W

Sure enough with 10 minutes, I had my first contacts and QSO’s into Europe. It was certianly taking longer than last week, but nethertheless the QSO’s where coming in. I continued on 17M and it was really evident of just how fluctuating the band conditions where, one minute I was hearing/getting into Australia and New Zeeland, the next the whole band seemingly ‘collapsed’ with only the very strongest of signals getting thru. I had made 6 contacts and I wasnt in a big rush, so peristed with FT8 on 17m. I was pleased to be getting into Denmark and a good report back from OZ9FF was good to get in the logs. Having got my 10 QSO’s in the log after about 90 minutes, I tried different modes and bands.On FT4 on 17m I was pleased to get another POTA user, IK2QEB, who had hunted me from the POTA app.

I bounced to 20m – this was really easy with the Toybox antenna, just changing the ground-wire onto the coil and re-tune the antenna with the ATU, and I was on a 1.3:1 SWR. I managed one contact and with a total of 14 contacts, started to play around the bands and see what else the toybox antenna could do.

I adjusted the ground wire to 10M, no adjustment in the antenna itself was required, and was pleased to see so many signals getting in. Looking at PSK report my signals where getting out albeit with a predominate ‘skip’ to the East, but it was cool to try out a different band in poor conditions, despite not managing a QSO today.

10m FT8 provided signal reports getting into Easten Europe and very far into Russia !

At this point I thought why not give the 2m/70cm whip antenna a try before packing up, just for the fun of it. Whilst I didnt make any QSO’s, it was great that my signal was at least getting out on this little whip antenna !

All in all, despite the bad conditions, i had fun experimenting with the different configurations of the toybox antenna and even tryign out the 2m/70cm whip antenna. I had a nice relaxing time and felt great for getting out with my radio and enjoying the lovely new forest.

I’ve still got a 11 more activations to complete before my repeat award, but am confident with my current setup that figure will steadily decline and hopefully I’ll make more POTA contacts along the way, no matter what the conditions !

POTA – A digital mode bonaza at the New Forest (GB-0112)

Posted on August 4, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

Having had some recent setbacks with not making any (i.e. ZERO) contacts and then NINE and not activating the park (I had a double, so counted 10 contacts, but it was only 9…), I was determined to get out and actually add to my activations of the New Forest. Prior today I’m two away from the award for visiting the park and activating it multiple times (20 needed).

Having tested at the QTH with a quick test then a QRT I could see that I could use APSPOT to self-spot to POTA. Some areas of the new forest have limited phone signal, where as today I could reach the internet on my phone, it was great to see RF->Web via APRS DigiPeaters – Many thanks to the people still keeping APRS alive ! I am truly thankful for the digipeaters !

APRS Beacon received en-route and back from POTA activation – thanks to the many APRS Digipeaters!

Beaconing and sending a message for POTA is different, on my Kenwood it is very similar to how shown in the excellent video from Ben Soper, obviously the Frequency changes to the UK APRS of 144.800, i also kept all the text in the message *lower case*

excellent demo of how to self-spot POTA via APRS fom Ben Soper

Ironically, whilst I could spot, I wasn’t able to make any telephony contacts on 17m. Maybe I was asking too much of my QRP setup and compromise antenna. I have made phone contacts on it before, but HF conditions vary and maybe that was the reason why. Propergation on 17M was very come-and-go today, but ranging all over Europe on 10W, I wasnt complaining

I spent the first set of data communictions on FT8, and there was very much a steady stream of contacts coming in. The whip antenna, tuner and radials where doing a great job, as least as good as my mag loop, but I’d say it was far more portable and easier to setup.

Looking at the waterfall on the IC705 I could see some activity on the FT4 section of the band, switching to FT4 SDR-Mobile is very easy, just a quick click, the tuner put the SWR down to <1.5:1 and I was off. It was a very steady flow of QSO’s !

It was lovely to meet people out walking their dogs, with a great conversation with a TV Repairman about the old days of broadcast transmission and interference from France. Its great to show people where I have reached with my radio, they are amazed with how far it has gone, also I really liked their little badger-dog who was playing fetch with a ball 🙂 The amount of horses in the new forest is lovely, there is a real mix of animals, this time of the year we see horses and cows roaming around the roads – much care is needed as the youngsters are just starting to get used to the roads, but its amazing to see the parents have such protective instincts for their young. In the Autumn I look forward to seeing the little red pigs which are usually seen around Burley 🙂

It was one of those days that I really appreciated living near this beautiful location and also having my Mazda Bongo, it has more lives than a cat, but I seem to keep it on the road each year, days like today it makes it all worth it being able to drive out with my equipment, set it. up easily then get back home without issue. Having the 2M/70cm Kenwood transceiver with APRS in the Bongo is great for tracking and now with the ability to self-spot, its really useful!

Having made a personal best of 32 Data mode contacts, I tried telephony on 17 and 20 meters, but to no avail, but I was far from disappointed, I really felt like I had an excellent time out today doing PoTA, and I cant thank the people that pull out my signal from the noise to make and complete a QSO! See if you spot your call sign in the credits 🙂

POTA GB-0112 New Forest

Really looking forward to the next time I can get out and get on the air 🙂

73, 2E0FWE

IC705 Fixed, but a P***ED off POTA

Posted on July 28, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

Having ordered the replacement USB C board from the US of A it arrived in no time at all via FED-EX and folllowing the video it was pretty straight forward.

replace USB board on IC705

Getting the screws out from the IC-705 was pretty straight forward. I took care with the screen handling and used enough pressure but no more to get the long body screws out.

The next step was to remove the original IC-705 USB board. These screws where *very* tight and gave a distinct *lock-tite* screw thread lock when pressure was applied. So much so one of the screws was very stubbon to remove. Using a mixture of a torx screw head and flat-bladed with a couple of hard knocks budged the obstant screw!

With the board free it was time to flip off the micro connector, i used my finger nail which worked pretty well.

Withthe original D-Type IC705 USB board free, it was time to fit the replacement. Making sure to get the aligment of the board in relation to the sockets correct, it was easy enough, but again taking care with the lock, to fit.

I setup WSJTX and ‘borrowed’ the WSPR 6btv antenna for some testing. All was good ! With plenty of reports and 2 contacts, i was happy the board worked perfectly and could head out to go PoTA !

A P***ED OFF POTA

On a glorious sunny day down here in Dorset, I headed to the new forest. I setup my Alexloop and Macbook for FT8, but was getting loads of noise. As ever these thigns always happen out in the field ! Not to be detered I went back to the iphone app just to see if i could get some POTA hits. I did learn a nice feature of chaning the DX code so it can be CQ POTA from the iphone app. After 20 minutes of calling I had not a single response ! I checked with PSK Reporter and for sure I was getting out and the RBN on POTA page, i was there, but no contacts !

By this stage I was getting hot, bothered and felt like I was wasting my time. I decided to pack up and I’m going to re-think my POTA strategy. I need a better way of getting more contacts and on the air. I think I’m going to drop anything to do with computers/phones, only for use with the self spot on the POTA app. I think there is even a way with APRS to POTA Self Spot.. Anyhow, i packed up and headed home, then had a fantastic afternoon out with XYL 🙂 POTA can be tried another time !

Melcombe Horsey was so much more relaxing than POTA…….

Not quite a POTA activation and a poorly IC705!

Posted on July 22, 2024 by webmaster@hamradio.knipmeyer.co.uk

I headed out mid-morning to what is a nearby POTA activation site, Avon Heath, thinking I’ve found a nice place to park and activate from. I was some what bemused that when i got into the car park it was stated ‘permit holders only’. No wonder this place hasnt been activted more often ! I headed off to the New Forest, which was another 15 minute drive away, but with plenty of FREE parking!

Avon Heath Park – No free parking for you !

Haven driven to the New Forest, I took the first designated car park on the route in, it was a new one for me to do POTA from and wasnt disappointed. A nicely sized car park and plenty of nature / trees around, it was a great place to do radio from !

I think it has been the first titme I’ve been out in the Bongo for POTA in a while (at least since I had it fixed up) having previously been to Boudlerwood and using the table and chair their previously, it was nice to setup and operate from the Bongo as there was some light drizzle later on as well. The Alex loop on bike stand configuration worked really well and held in place by the rear wheel of the bongo.

Today I was going to stick to FT8/4 on my iphone, as I had used this app when I had an ipad and it worked well. On the phone obviously the screen was a little smaller, but still ok to have FT8 and FT4 QSO’s. The POTA Spotting really helped with POTA activators (hunters) looking me up. I was also pleased to make a park to park !

I had problems getting the log off via email (didnt arrive) and upload to icloud (out of space, not paying apple for more), so I used the excellent POTA manual logging page. It was then it became apparent that I had a duplicate QSO in the log, and I had only managed 9 contacts, not the 10 I needed for an activation ! How frustrating, it goes to show that my method of writing down QSO’s on good old fashioned paper would of caught this out.

I headed back home and to see if I could get my iMac thinkpad to hook up to the IC705, I was finding soundflower’s audio to be jittery via wfview so I headed to using the old fashioned USB port, when it became clear something was not well with the IC705’s USB port. I tried connecting the USB port and different cables to different computers and only with a ‘wiggle’ or a firm pressure applied would the USB port activated. Given the USB port had seen some action and was the horrendous old type, I looked for replacements, I was so glad that it was already available to market.

ihelpu.tech IC705 USB-C board

The ihelp.tech IC705 USB board looks an easy drop in replacement that gives me USB-C and unlikely as it may, protection from errant amplifiers. I’ve ordered one, but it has to come from the USA and I’m not keen on depending soley on the iPhone with SDR-Mobile for making QSO’s.

I spent Sunday morning re-configuring my official IC705 bag with the 705 and ATU in, I headed out to the garden and tested the whip antenna, I was able to make a couple of contacts ! So the whip antenna would work if I needed it to.

IC-705 and Whip antenna performance with FT8 on 17m was not bad, but I do have a spare EFHW for 40m. Whilst its quite ‘bulky’ it still a good antenna, I use the 80m varient as my main HF antenna at the QTH which operates really well in very RF noisey conditions.

So for my next POTA I want to try the EFHW and the IC705 in its back pack, I will probably operate from the Bongo for the first time in this configuration, but am looking forward to using this lovely location to try out EFHW and IC705 !

A new location and a nice tree to use !

Until the next time, which shouldnt be to long to wait, thanks again for all the POTA hunters and other ham radio portable enthusasits that get me out the shack and getting on the air.

73 2E0FWE

2E0FWE Site

HAM Radio activites of Alan K.

Category Archives: Digital

NOAA Antenna move and Bongo APRS