Did not get the shelving put up but knocked out a couple other projects so I am calling it a productive day.
Heading into town tomorrow - parts for the big antenna and a couple things for some other projects. Groceries too - lunch meat, etc...
Amazon Santa delivered some parts for a Weak Signal Propagation Reporter beacon today. WSPR is a very cool mode originally developed by Joe Taylor - the guy who did the radio telemetry for the V'ger (sorry) Voyager interstellar probe and it is designed to deliver reliable (albeit slow) communications using weak signals over long distances. WSPR is good for about one character every ten seconds or so but it comes in error free and uses amazingly modest equipment. With 100 watts of power and a tuned antenna, I can reliably work Canada, Mexico, East Coast, Hawaii and have had contacts in Japan. With WSPR, people have had contacts all over the planet using under five watts and a length of zip cord for an antenna. This is something where you pre-program your message (name, call sign, location and a greeting) and just let the beacon run. You will get emails from stations that receive your signal. Planning to become a receiving station as well.
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