Kenpro overhaul and another final test

The Kenpro KR600 rotor that was originally mounted in my antennatower is much more complicated as the Create RC5 I previously had on the bench. I remember from 10 years ago I had a problem with the potmeter so had to check that out. Besides that all the lubrication hardened in 9 years without movement. So, everything is going to be cleaned and it will get some new lubrication. I measured the potmeter and electrically it is ok. Though mechanically it is broken, it doesn't stop at 0 and 500 Ohm but turns continuously. Searching for a new pot was not giving me satisfying results on google. The pot I ordered for the Create came from UKWberichte in Germany. So I checked that shop as well, and incredibly they still store some parts for the KR600 and have the 500 Ohm potmeter in stock.

PSKreporter 12 UTC

The previous test with my magnetic loop went well, I made one QSO. That was great. This friday evening I will do a presentation about the JT and FT digimodes at our local radioamateur club and want to do at least a receive demonstration. For this last test I built the portable station again in my shack and let it receive in the 40m band FT8 frequency. It is incredible what the magloop receives in one day! If you need a fast signal comparisation by the way, FT8 is a great "tool" as alternative for WSPR were reports are given much much slower. And these days I think there are more stations active with FT8 compared to WSPR.

PSKreporter 19:30UTC

Strange enough PSKreporter has a limit I guess. I checked this evening again and saw many spots erased although I checked reports for 24hours. When I look into the log it will only give you a limited amount of spots. This picture is from about 15 UTC till 19 UTC. You see, there are just too many on FT8. PSKreporter has a limit. So, if you want to use PSKreporter for propagation research you should check every 3-4 hours! I noticed interesting propagation paths. Like long path propagation to west-coast USA at about 14-15UTC (still light here). I saw Japan in the morning at 10UTC but also in the afternoon at 14UTC. I checked now and then on my phone but forgot the make a printscreen. Don't forget these are all received with my magnetic loop in the shack. This would be a interesting thing for SWL stations as well. Imagine if I connected my inverted-V or vertical!

I think the demonstration station will do well, however there is one thing I have a issue with and that is the WiFi connection with my telephone to update the computer's time. Still try to solve that....