GW4VXE's Station Diary

Every now and again, the dash paddle won't send on the FTDX-10. Until this morning, I assumed it was something to do with the paddle - a bit of dirt got in the contacts or something. It happened mid QSO this morning leaving me sounding like I couldn't send! Played around a bit and couldn't see any dirt in the contacts. But it was odd, it felt like I was getting a bit of a dash and then it was stopping. Decided to switch off the radio and switch it on and - sure enough, back to normal. So it seems like a software glitch. I can see some reference to similar issues on the web.

There's a similar issue on the receiver of the FTDX-10. Once in a while, signals on the receiver suddenly sound all raspy. When it first happened, I thought oh no, what's happened. Turned the radio off and back on again and it was fine. Subsequently, I've found that all you have to do is to go to transmit and back again and signals will sound normal again.

I'm still very fond of the FTDX-10 - these issues only happen once every few weeks and as soon as you recognise them, it's easy to deal with.

Conditions didn't seem great today. Really enjoyed a 17m CW QSO with Cap W0CCA in southwestern Colorado. It seems we share an interest in the old Kenwood hybrids such as the TS-530 and TS-830. Cap's also interested in SOTA operating and I have worked him on a couple of European trips that he's made.

Just after 2000z I could hear Steve N6TT on 17m CW talking to one of his locals on the west coast. Tried a call after they signed, but no luck, but I did have a nice chat with Bruce N6NT instead - Bruce being in North Carolina.