I only try 10m WSPR TX as this uses a different rig, no PC and a separate antenna, although it is
days since anyone spotted me on 10m! It is a different story on 6m MSK144 RX where I have already spotted 18 stations in 6 countries so far on by this mode. Best 6m DX so far is
IK0XBX (1355km) in Umbria, Italy. This mode and band never fail me. Conditions can be poor, but with this mode I still copy all over the place.
UPDATE 1225z: 23 stations in 11 countries on 6m MSK144 RX so far today. Best DX (also a new country) is
EA6VQ (1424km) in the Balearic Is.
UPDATE 1508z: now 30 stations in 8 countries spotted on 6m MSK144 RX today so far. This is more stations than I can ever remember.
UPDATE 1822z: The score on 6m MSK144 RX is currently 31 stations in 12 countries.
We are in the middle of the Lyrid meteor shower. Not a big one, but certainly responsible for the increased activity you see on 6m right now.
ReplyDeleteI have been WSPRing more or less continuously on 10 since New Year, and hardly 2 or 3 days have passed without me seeing stations at 300km+ distances. Whether tropo, Es or other propagation I do not know.
The TX ratio is 10% with 1W power when I am home, and I do not get many spots myself, mostly due to my low hanging (4m) multi-dipole for HF.
I have, however, noticed an increase in local (OZ) WSPR activity since I started monitoring continuously.
A next step will be trying out MSK144 on 6m. I think I have the necessary cables for the IC-706 I intend to use with my V2000 3-band antenna, and the computer has to be found in my pile of stuff from my removal. I should be ready for the Es season and will try to do some TXing in MSK144 mode, too.
Vy 73 de Jan, OZ9QV
Good luck with 6m MSK144. It certainly works.
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