DXCC up to 80!

In the last month I've managed to add MACAO, LATVIA, QATAR, PORTUGAL and LUXEMBOURG  to the list of DXCC locations.  This brings the total to 80. All via FT-8, using the Mag-Loop from the balcony.

RS-BA1 v2 - Version 2.30

If you have undertaken the firmware upgrade on your IC-7300, to version 1.40 (released on 26 Feb 2021) and you also connect to it with the Icom Remote Control software, then I recommend you also update the RS-BA1 v2 software to version 2.30 (released 5 March 2021) .

To take advantage of the updates you will need to go into 'Connect Set' and change the Model to 'IC-7300 (Ver1.40 -)'.  

Changes from Version 2.21

•  Supports the improved Scope function of the following models.
• - IC-705 with firmware version 1.24
• - IC-7300 with firmware version 1.40
• - IC-9700 with firmware version 1.30
•  A popup screen that displays when SPAN or EDGE change is added.

 Both the update on the IC-7300 and to the RS-BA v2 are, in my opinion, worth doing!

Kakadu Scenic Flight

Chris and I received our third set of Territory Passes ($200 each) last week and decided to head east.  We drove to Kakadu (about 250km), booked in for two nights at Jabiru  and did a scenic flight this morning.  

This is the best way to see Jim Jim Falls, along with other waterfalls and spectacular scenery.  

 APRS via  the phone (ARPSdroid)

Remote Station

There are some projects that seem to need a lot of thinking time. Then you need the inclination, enthusiasm, and time to all line up. Then, if nothing else creeps in the way, the thought bubble becomes a reality, or at least it emerges from the corners of the mind and begins to take on a physical form. This is the case with my Remote Station. 

Originally, I was thinking of using my IC-7100, but these things evolve, and now I am going to use my IC-7300 (The IC-7300 was the main Home Base, but that was upgraded a few months back and the IC-7100 has been sold. My attempt at rationalization!) A second-hand i5 NUC was purchased over a year ago, and the Icom RS-BA1 Ver.2 Software along with some other software has been loaded and is ready to go.

Here is a progress report in picture. Power supplies (13.8v and 19v) need to be thought through, and installed, along with a fuse board of some sort.  I will mount some indicator lights on the front panel, so the status can be easily determined, by the uninitiated!

 

 

Let's see if we can bring it through to completion.

 

DXCC up to 75!

It's taken a while but we have managed to add another 5 DXCC countries to the list, Kaliningrad, Fiji Islands, Ireland, Bulgaria and Northern Ireland. The contact with Northern Island was on 17m this evening (and confirmed almost instantly).