| Date | User | Challenge | Status | Toot summary & link |
|---|
| 2025-01-01 15:32:32 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 1 | Success! | This is perhaps a bit of a cheat for but I thought I'd use it to explain it a bit.Idea pinched from Peter Saville who designed the Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures album cover (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unknown_Pleasures). Which featured a recording of a pulsar. We now have 'joy plots' which can be used for maps...or QSL cards. There are lots of online tools to create these.So I have actually sent this design to be printed and I'll have to start using them. Design, print and use is ok?HC01S |
| 2025-01-07 13:04:47 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 2 | Progress update... | Currently monitoring NCDXF beacons using Faros (https://www.dxatlas.com/Faros/) on mrs g7kse's computer whilst she's at work.OH2B, CS3B, 4U1UN, RR90 all clear with rubbish antenna at home.Going to try later with er novel setup 😉 @hamchallengeHC02 |
| 2025-01-08 15:33:28 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 2 | Progress update... | The NCDXF beacon thing continues. Some beacons heard where I've never heard signals before at my QTH HC02 |
| 2025-01-11 11:13:32 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 2 | Success! | I'm going to say that NCDXF week has been a success. Seems that I'm going to the rig at the wrong time. Lots of areas I'd not thought of as open, are actually open. Tomorrow and Sunday will be hit and miss but all in all #hamchallange has been ace so far. Next week is going to be tricky though HC02S |
| 2025-01-13 18:06:49 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | Struggling with HC03 this week. Strong winds mean antennas are down. Going to have to see if I can get on 80m or 160m some other way |
| 2025-01-15 22:44:19 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 3 | Success! | I'm going to count this as a success. 1285 miles on 80m RW1F. Would have preferred to get a few extra but club shack was extra busy and I only got a few minutes with the rig.I'll be doing SWL'ing on 160m to complete the 2 bands. I'll have to use the club shack a bit more. The location and antennas are way better than mine.HC03S@hamchallenge |
| 2025-01-20 18:08:26 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 4 | Success! | Ok, so here's the dullest bit of callsign research. G7KSE has only ever been mine....issued in 1992 as a class B (VHF & up only). When ham radio was even snootier.I didn't fancy CW, so no access to HF. I don't think I missed much.The only interesting thing is that there are fewer G7's than you might think, but there's some who toot....classy folk if you ask me@hamchallengeHC04S |
| 2025-01-27 18:35:24 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 5 | Success! | My QRZ page is pretty much up to date so no big deal in this weeks, but I have started to move a load of notes from bits of paper onto http://g7kse.co.uk .So...HC05S@hamchallenge |
| 2025-02-04 21:13:45 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 6 | Progress update... | This weeks ham challenge was always going to be a challenge if I stuck to the plan. Which was a UKAC VHF contest from home. I can do it /p but home has always been hard work.I am currently listening to white noise 😁May have to default to CWT tomorrow HC06 @hamchallenge |
| 2025-02-05 20:58:30 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 6 | Success! | HC06SCWT is a fast (a bit too fast for me) CW contest that I dip in and out of every now and again. 10 contacts is enough for me as it's easy pickings from the QTH.I did however add a bit in, I had some free time and created a little lookup helper for membership numbers (I struggle with numbers at 30wpm a lot). Type in callsign in CLI and it confirms the membership number. Massive cheat but no different to lookups in N1MM or other software. Still wanted to do the UKAC tho |
| 2025-02-10 22:05:22 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 7 | Success! | HC07S used the usual sources. I don't think I've ever been successful with a proper DXpedition. This happens because of the QTH and QRP. A unified contest and DXpedition calendar would probably be helpful. Might even exist.I'll see if I can find some this week. Even its its WebSDR@hamchallenge |
| 2025-02-19 22:25:33 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 8 | Progress update... | Struggling a bit with this weeks ham challenge. So going to mark it down as work in progress.Whilst I've done it in the past, I'm not claiming it for this round. I'll have to pick a different 'volunteer' for 2025.#HC08 |
| 2025-02-25 15:25:33 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 9 | Success! | I've not been on a 10m repeater for a looooong time. VE3MMX was very loud with me this afternoon so after a quick QSO I put it in the memory and will go back to it I'm sure.Took a bit to work out how to set the split properly on the rig mind you 🙂 HC09S |
| 2025-03-09 15:23:12 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 10 | Progress update... | HC10 is a work in progress.Can't seem to RX Oscar 100 beacon with my dish and LNB. Took it to a friend's place and proved it works with their dish and LNB but no luck here.Going to have to check everything again. Hoping that my QTH isn't the problem. It usually is.LEO sats are not a problem I might have inadvertently helped with a previous challenge by explaining to the local street urchins what was happening. We listened to the aircraft overhead @hamchallenge |
| 2025-03-10 10:58:17 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 11 | Progress update... | HC11 tipSatNOGS is a network of distributed satellite receivers. The APT satellites can be scheduled to receive weather sat data in various locations The network has been running for a while and is a really good way to explore not just the ham sats. Telemetry is plonked on dashboardshttps://satnogs.org/ |
| 2025-03-30 20:37:14 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 13 | Success! | So my HC13S is probably not a win. Because there's no real photo..I started a new OTA. It's called Livestock pens on the air. The downside is that your feet smell a bit rural as a minimum.I got permission from a local farmer to go to the top of a local high spot. So, cycled up there and did my thing.The closest thing I have for evidence is this....my windswept bonse and an APRS digipeater wedged in some fencing before I did some testing.@hamchallenge |
| 2025-04-06 09:00:10 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 14 | Success! | Hmm ham radio log back up. Well this might be controversial..I don't routinely back up my QSO's. I think the logging programme I use does back stuff up but I have so few QSO's at home that it's probably not worth it.Most of my QSO's are xOTA ones. I can't remember ever going back to them and those programmes hold the logs I use for points. But I'm also not bothered about the points. So I'm not that fussed, maybe I should be.HC14S |
| 2025-04-14 17:02:03 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 15 | Success! | This one is a bit tardy but I am now regularly monitoring BBC R4 Long wave. Mainly because at some point it's going to go. Despite its signal strength being 59+ forever.Whilst the programming won't go entirely, I'll miss 198 kHz sounding great on my Lowe HF-225. long live the pipsHC15S |
| 2025-04-15 14:43:32 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 16 | Success! | Currently attempting to contact an xOTA using FT8 for but not having much luck. It's not a mode I usually use but it's try something different day today. I'll give it a bit more time before I go back to other modes just in case. My log is filled with SOTA chases but very few POTA or WWFF, so I'm still going to say it's a success, even if I can't get the common types in the log todayI will no doubt be out activating at the weekend anyway HC16S |
| 2025-04-21 16:46:50 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 17 | Success! | Its been raining here in IO84 so no #sota for me today. So I looked at week 17, which is all about repeaters. My closest is 4 miles away, which is only possible to access via a hotspot because of the geography. We are on the opposite sides of the same hill.My strongest repeater is GB3GD on the Isle of Man, 40 miles away across the Irish sea. Always 59+.The last repeater is actually a LoRa APRS digipeater on 70cm that is on a nearby summit. Perfect position for Wasdale.HC17S |
| 2025-05-04 18:02:53 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 18 | Success! | This week's ham challenge was all about making a QSO in a voice digital mode. I was quite keen to do something with FreeDV (https://freedv.org/) instead of C4FM, which is quite common for me.Ran out of time to do the digital thing on HF this week, but will press on and keep going with the HF side.HC18S |
| 2025-05-16 13:18:17 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 20 | Success! | More ham challenge stiff. Today is DWD on 30m. Always strong with me and even with everything dialled down it is still there.Still waiting for an actual WX transmission mind youHC20S |
| 2025-06-09 19:53:35 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 24 | Success! | Time to catch up on some ham challenge stuff.Contribute to an open source ham radio software package. I don't really know how to code stuff, so I contributed some words to the SatNOGS database. Just searched for some missing fields and filled them in for them. Does that count? I reckon so because it improves documentation.HC24S |
| 2025-06-09 20:37:41 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 21 | Success! | On a roll...Followed a tutorial for GNU flowcharts and after a little error in one of the blocks managed to tune and RTL-SDR to a local FM radio station. This is brilliant, I must do more with this. HC21S |
| 2025-07-28 18:12:09 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 31 | Success! | I've got a lot of catching up to do with but managed a QSO or 2 with FT8 for HC31SA couple of these were POTA stations which was kind of nice. I'd prefer to do some proper wonky mode like Hellschreiber but I'll need a bit of a run to that. I should have a bit more time now though, so no excuses |
| 2025-07-28 20:52:25 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 29 | Success! | Ok so HC29S is an easy one for me. I regularly do SOTA and a local variation for Wainwright Fells called WOTA (https://www.wota.org.uk/). WOTA is far less popular but much easier to squeeze something in with mrs g7kse. Even if a lot of the WOTA summits are a bit dire.Last weeks attempt at Sauna's on the air didn't go well because I forgot to take the coax |
| 2025-07-28 20:58:26 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 25 | Success! | HC25S can also be ticked off. Can I recommend Ian, GM3SEK's 'Clean Up Your Shack' advice.Noise creeps in and I have a broadband noise belch that is on 30m at home but most other bands are thankfully pretty quite. But then again HF is pretty quiet all the time where I live at the bottom of a valley.The post on Ian's site is mainly to do with the mains filter (https://gm3sek.com/2019/10/11/clean-up-your-shack-2019/) but the video is the thing to watch reallyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSL1h6MJ |
| 2025-08-06 09:57:11 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 32 | Success! | Going through my stuff and have the same result as @dd1mat with the Midwinter broadcast. Ascension Island was the weakest for me. I've missed this broadcast so many times. Such a nice thing to do, send a message to those over wintering in Antarctica HC32S |
| 2025-08-06 10:00:12 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 33 | Success! | HC33S Almost all my antennas are home made. The only exception is the VHF/UHF white stick. My portable antennas are either end fed or verticals and my home antenna is a W3EDP (end fed).Making my own antennas is a thing I've enjoyed doing since I started with ham radio. Most of them work 🙂 |
| 2025-08-06 10:05:12 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 43 | Success! | Last catch up for me whilst its in my head. HC43SLinked to no.33. I use a flower pot antenna for xOTA VHF contacts that uses RG174 and some fibreglass as well as the 3d printed parts. Its cheap, simple and robust. The base fits over a carbon fibre pole I use on top of an old, broken walking pole. It extends the base to around 2m AGL. This set up serves me well.https://www.printables.com/model/312517-flowerpot-antennaThere are a few other prints there that I've found useful |
| 2025-08-06 10:10:13 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 35 | Success! | HC35S I don't think its right to say that I listen to WeFax but have a go every now and again. Here's one of my better receives using JWX (https://arachnoid.com/JWX/) and an Airpsy HF+ Discovery. |
| 2025-08-07 11:14:06 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 42 | Success! | OK not exactly stellar and really struggled with QSSTV using IC7300 USB audio... Ended up using a Win10 VM and MMSSTV. Mega faff!HC42S |
| 2025-08-09 14:15:26 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 28 | Success! | A bit more for me today. I've not managed to have an SSB QSO on 6m other than UKAC for a while. With Sporadic E timing is key. If you're not at your rig then tough. Other modes like FT8 are a bit easier but the map from DXMaps shouts Sporadic E to me. A concentrated blob of activity. FT* is like shooting fish sometimes and a CT station was very loud with me, then gone...just like EsHF is dead, other bands are available HC28S |
| 2025-08-09 14:51:29 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 28 | Success! | A bit more for me today. I've not managed to have an SSB QSO on 6m other than UKAC for a while. With Sporadic E timing is key. If you're not at your rig then tough. Other modes like FT8 are a bit easier but the map from DXMaps shouts Sporadic E to me. A concentrated blob of activity. FT* is like shooting fish sometimes and a CT station was very loud with me, then gone...just like EsHF is dead, other bands are available HC28SDeffo Es...all gone now and CW not hitting RBN |
| 2025-08-09 15:57:36 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 19 | Success! | One more for today. Simulate an antenna. I bought one of those cheapo 5.65m telescopic antennas from AliExpress and looked at if it would be usable on 14Mhz.The modelled says close. same as measured. If 10 radials were 30, then what?Well, modelling doesn't quite match reality with MMANA-GAL basic. It puts resonance at 12.5Mhz when measurement puts is nearer 14Mhz. My experience with modelling professionally is that its 60% accurate at best...always test 🙂 HC19S |
| 2025-08-17 15:31:04 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 36 | Success! | Week 36 of is about operating from a battery. In my case it was 2x18650 batteries for one rig and a 1000mAh LiPo battery for 2 others. I powered the Mountain Topper MTR5B, (tr)uSDX from the LiPo and the zBitx from the 18650's for about 3 hours. Chased a few lighthouses and POTA stations. So I'm calling it a win HC36S.Today, the bands aren't working for me. So I don't think I'll manage anymore today |
| 2025-08-21 21:01:47 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 45 | Success! | Sweet...I've fixed something that was broken and managed to complete HC45S into the bargain.My QCX mini was all of a sudden really quiet. Even on full volume. After checking all the Op Amps and inspecting all the joints, I went through the alignment process again and after tweaking coils and generally poking around I have managed to get the volume back with the AGC off. It's still a bit lower than it should be with it on. But I now have a usable rig back. |
| 2025-09-07 13:28:13 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 46 | Success! | Its raining here and I've got domestic jobs I don't want to do, so thought I'd lose several hours trying to write a basic programme for I thought the easiest thing was to try and display the HF data in a terminal window with python. Writing code isn't that easy for me and I needed a lot of help & I mean a lot . Still , its done and HC46S is my reward.So to celebrate I bought a RPi Pico and an ePaper display but that'll lose the colour.see here - https://codeberg.org/g7kse/TerminalDash |
| 2025-09-07 17:43:38 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 39 | Success! | Both HC39S and HC50S done. 50 is about a 100mW QSO and 39 is about APRS.My LoRa APRS tracker uses a Heltec tracker module. It's 100mW output & has made it an impressive 85 miles from Seatallan summit before it was gated. This is on the 433MHz band.I also use a similar module for Meshtastic. Which gets used quite regularly for text chit chat. Mostly across the Irish sea to the IoM. This one is 868 MHz.I think I need to try a CW contact as well. Just need an attenuator. |
| 2025-09-08 20:28:34 | g7kse@mastodon.radio | 37 | Success! | just counted mine up and mega smashed it with 12. I have had 13 FT8 QSO's now but 2 were the same DXCC. 3 of the were 6M QSO's and one of those was transatlantic!It is a very effective mode and I can see the appeal, i hear stations I would never normally hear from my QTH and even made a couple from summits. I'll use it again, despite saying it wasn't for me before trying it really. HC37S |