VA3STL weblog
Amateur radio station VA3STL's weblog: QRP, historical radios, and operational insights.
Description
Documents the operational experiences and technical insights of amateur radio station VA3STL, offering a firsthand account of various on-air activities and equipment. The blog features a detailed narrative of a QRP transatlantic QSO on 12m SSB, achieving a 55 report with 10W to a mobile station in Italy using a homebrew 90ft doublet antenna. It also introduces the Ten-Tec 539 QRP HF transceiver, a 10W output rig covering 80m through 10m, designed for portable operations and featuring DSP and dual VFOs.
The resource also delves into historical radio technology, specifically the "Gibson Girl" survival radio, an emergency transmitter operating on 500kHz (and later 8280/8364 kHz) with a hand-cranked generator and kite-deployed antenna. This section explores its origins from German designs and its use during World War II, including its distinctive curved shape for ergonomic hand-cranking.
Further historical content includes a visit to Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland, commemorating Marconi's reception of the first transatlantic radio signal in 1901. The post describes the Cabot Tower exhibit and the VO1AA station, highlighting the site's significance despite the thick fog during the visit. It also showcases a homebrewed Marconi-style straight key by WB9LPU, crafted to celebrate the centenary of Marconi's achievement.