On 474.2kHz WSPR RX again (Monday)

630m ATU

After the success last evening I am again on 474.2kHz WSPR RX with my ad hoc antenna and ground. 

UPDATE 2203z:   Already spotting 8 stations with the furthermost 8 spots of OH1LSQ (1733km).

472 kHz

 

This photo was many years ago testing my 472 kHz transverter that later featured in QST. 

With my earth- electrode "antenna" in the ground it has got as far as Finland. 

Apart from the last few years I have been on the band every year.

11 years ago

 Looking back I came across this photo from 2014 showing my loading coil for use at 472kHz.

472kHz transverter breadboard

This photo from many years ago shows me breadboarding my 472kHz transverter.

UPDATE 0812z:  In the early autumn, I shall try again on 472kHz WSPR. Last season was very successful despite the low ERP.

Fixing my 630m transverter

My very old transverter used a 28.060 MHz local oscillator. I obviously went to 3.2 MHz in my newer design to reduce start-up drift. 

My antenna current meter is still missing. It is somewhere in the shack, probably in a drawer somewhere.

My first step is to see if I can detect my 3.2 MHz oscillator on the newer transverter.

By some means, I want to be on 630m WSPR TX this evening!

630m WSPR yesterday

Sunday evening 6 stations were spotted as the chart shows.

I must get back on TX soon! Thinking about my transverter, I guess the first thing to try is see if I can receive the 3.2 MHz oscillator on another RX. If this is not going, it would give me a very good clue where to start looking. My problem these days is it is like fault finding in a brain fog! Somewhere I have my very old transverter which I used on 500 kHz years ago.

472 kHz RX last evening

Once again I was on 472 kHz WSPR RX last evening using the coax to my 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod ATU as the antenna. 5 unique stations spotted including Norway and Germany. 

630m WSPR RX

 This evening I am on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX. So far, at 2125z, 2 unique stations spotted.

472kHz (630m)

This winter I have been on 472kHz less often and only RX. 

With my homebrew transverter (measured ERP 10mW) it was regularly copied in Norway on WSPR. It has been copied in Finland several times. 

In every case the antenna was the earth-electrode in the ground. The transverter was in QST some years ago and produces about 10W into 50 ohms. It was designed by me. Several people have made copies.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/homebrew/630m-472khz-transverter .

The last 12 hours on 472kHz WSPR RX

 Last evening and overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU. 8 unique stations were spotted with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km).

472kHz WSPR RX last evening and overnight

In all, 12 unique stations were spotted. Furthermost was OH1LSQ (1733km). 

472kHz WSPR RX (Saturday)

As my transverter is broken on TX, I am on 472kHz WSPR RX with the coax to the 144MHz big-wheel tuned via the ferrite rod ATU for a change. 

The RX was turned on at about 1900z.  So far, no spots.

UPDATE 2024z:  7 spots so far with the furthermost LA8AV/1 (1035km).

472kHz ATU

When running a long wire (actually a short wire, HI) on 472kHz TX with my 12W output transverter, I used a simple ferrite rod ATU on the shack table.

As long as ferrites don't saturate, they are perfectly fine in this application. With 10mW ERP, I have been spotted in Finland  with this arrangement many times on 472kHz WSPR.

472kHz WSPR RX with the Wellgood active loop

My Wellgood loop is tiny and no attempt has yet been made to optimise the size, position or orientation of the loop, which is just attached to the shack window with Blutak. 

Last night, 4 unique stations were spotted on 472kHz WSPR RX.  My impression is this is a few dBs down on the coax to my big wheel. Now, this could be activity, conditions, orientation, local noise, position etc. .

On 1840kHz (160m) FT8 it works well and is every bit as good.

472kHz WSPR RX with the Wellgood Loop active antenna

As an experiment I am on 472kHz WSPR RX using the Wellgood Loop. It will be interesting to see how this compares with the coax up to the big-wheel.

472kHz WSPR RX last evening and overnight

18 stations spotted, which is the best yet this season. Furthermost was again OH1LSQ (1733km). Antenna is still the coax to my 2m big-wheel tuned with the ferrite rod ATU on the bench. Earth was just the mains. May try again tonight with the Wellgood active loop.

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

After dark, I switched to 472kHz WSPR RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and mains earth. It is now 1841z and, so far, 5 unique stations spotted with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km). It may be a stupid antenna, but it works!

472kHz (630m) WSPR RX

Once it got dark yesterday evening I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR RX using the coax to my 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod ATU. In all 16 stations were spotted with the furthermost being EA4GHB (1300km).

472kHz WSPR RX (Saturday)

Using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and the mains earth, I am monitoring 472kHz WSPR this evening. So far,  5 unique stations already spotted with the furthermost DB8BG (498km).

UPDATE 2137z:  9 unique stations spotted this evening on 472Hz WSPR.

472kHz WSPR RX last evening

Last evening, I was on 472kHz WSPR RX. In all, 17 stations were spotted. I was using the coax to my 2m big-wheel as the antenna with a mains earth.