A new R1CBU firmware is available for the X6100.

I wrote the image to the micro SD card:

$ sudo dd if=x6100_r1cbu_v0.20.0_sdcard.img bs=1M of=/dev/sdb status=progress

It’s working fine. Auto levels for waterfall and spectrum seems useful, but it still shows the min/max level settings that do nothing while in auto. I had to set up all preferences again, since it comes with a new database on the image.

I did the CQ WPX RTTY contest over the weekend. RTTY is fun and more interactive than FT digital modes.

My Week in Ham Radio

• Chuck’s repairs sound fascinating
  • enough basic electronics from childhood to get to general
• HF radio
  • QRP X6100 with 3rd party firmware - R1CBU
  • Maintainer is flaming out
    • ungrateful complaints
    • unhelpful bug reports
  • Source code is available, so some of us may pick it up
  • UI is an app running on a small embedded linux computer
• Flashed new firmware onto my Quansheng UV-K5 HT
• Restrung a random wire
  • From a steep sloper into a tree in front yard to flat horizontal to the shed in the backyard.
  • Patterns in FT8 contacts look a little different
• Learning CW
  • Morse machine
  • All 40 characters they quiz: Koch method
  • Try the feel with a 3d-printed iambic key
  • Next try a different character set: cwops
  • Next more traditional copying exercises

Question

• Often rebuilding and testing antennas
  • On HF, I can test with FT8 and pskreporter
  • See effect of my changes and maybe more propagation conditions
  • For VHF, how variable are the conditions?
  • On the fringe of accessing 985.
  • Slight repositions with unintuitive results
  • What conditions affect propagation to a repeater like this one?
  • What can I measure?
• Requirements for the Scout badge in radio?

ARRL/FCC/ARCC in Harrisburg

KA3TKW and the 21 repeater group hosted a lunch with representatives from the ARRL, the FCC, and the ARCC.

POTA

I stopped at State Game Land 246 near Middletown to activate on 10m FT8/FT4.

I used 2 different antennas: - initially used Grabil whip fully extended, shorted coil, w/ tuner - 12.5m EFRW thrown into a tree Both antennas seemed to perform similarly. I was skipping far: lots of contacts came from Oregon, Washington, and I even got Alaska.

Clipperton DX

Later that day, I also contacted the Clipperton DX station, TX5S, on 40m via FT8

My week in ham radio:

• Discovered the 985 nerds podcast
• Watching Clipperton split operation
• Lunch in Harrisburg with ARRL & FCC
• ISS repeater broke squelch @ 2am
• Looking for a Winter Field Day
  • 985 is doing one
  • Will probably check out a more local one, like W3RRR’s event

• ARRL/FCC meeting
  • setup at 10:30
  • lunch at 11:00
  • meeting at 11:00
• ka3tkw - tom
  • ft8 on 10m on quansheng
• kc3wry
• kc3den
• kc3wwc
  • there for the meeting
  • rehabilitated project j-pole
    • 450 ohm ladder line
    • tuned it with the nanovna
    • resoldered it
    • west to harrisburg
    • east to parkesburg
    • Quansheng uvk5
  • had uvk5 randomly pick up ISS repeater at 2am or so
  • xlr mic cable, untested, available for ARRL meeting
  • always repacking and organizing my bags for optimal carry
• k3ea
  • DX opportunities
    • good propagation for 10m/12m
    • Clipperton / fox and hound
    • Saint Helena
• winter field day
  • Harrisburg people are hitting some parks
  • 97 repeater in York

I bought a project J-Pole made of 450-ohm ladder line at the Hamfest for a couple dollars. I rebuilt the connections, firmed up broken parts with some wood splints and tape, and tuned it with the NanoVNA.

It seems to be working pretty nicely for 2m and 70cm. I’m pulling in stronger signals, and still able to transmit.

I bought a few things:

• a handful of connectors for audio and antennas
• a project j-pole made of 450 ladder line