3B7C

After trying yesterday to work 3B7C on 17m for over an hour I got them first shout on that band this morning! No linear was used as I no longer have it in line. I shall spend the rest of today trying to pick them up on other bands. Now, when I work DXpeditions, I always leave it to the last few days as it allows the smaller stations more of a chance. Our friend Ivan G3IZD is one of the operators out there but he wasn't on the mike this morning.

Nokia N800

Finally have taken delivery of the N800 Internet Tablet, first reports are superb! I have dxcluster access, logging and email all on something the size of a mobile phone! I can browse the internet and use Skype, MSN and various chat clients. There are several Linux amateur radio applications that I have still to import but they look just the thing for somebody that does not want to be tied to a bulky laptop or main PC. Have a look at the specifications

Noise Floor

For the past 2 weeks I have been plagued with noise on every HF band and I thought I had tracked it down to next door! However nothing has changed, no new TV or any new electrical equipment. This morning the noise has gone, so I can only assume it was band conditions or something fairly local which has now been switched off. Some wonderful signals on the Coast to Coast Net this morning. G4EOB only runs 1 watt from a homebrew double sideband transmitter and normally I struggle with him, but today he was 55 with me. Also today I am going to start looking for a new part for my Yaesu rotator which has been playing up for the last year!

New Toy on Order!

I have today ordered a Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. As well as browsing the net, sending emails and storing media I hope to use it also for mobile logging and DXCluster access. The price and the reviews are brilliant and it is something i have wanted for a long time. It is NOT a mobile phone of which i have no need. It runs under the Linux OS and has the excellent Opera Browser. Skype and Gaim are included as standard and the Hard Drive can be increased to at least 8 GB It will connect to any home network via WiFi and can even connect to a mobile phone using Bluetooth! The possibilities are endless and i would be interested in any comments from anybody using one of these!