630m WSPR overnight

 

Last evening and night were quite successful on 630m WSPR RX considering my poor setup (see table). In all, some respectable DX on multiple occasions.

The overarching message is that even very poor setups work on 630m WSPR RX.

630m WSPR RX (Friday)

My gear was turned on at about 1825z (coax to 2m big-wheel via ATU and a mains earth).

UPDATE 2010z:  So far, 5 stations have been spotted with the best OH6OHX (1736km).

UPDATE 2044z:  So far, 6 stations have been spotted with OH6OHX spotted 5 times.

630m WSPR RX overnight

At last I managed to set up my 630m WSPR RX correctly! In all, 7 different stations were copied with the best OH6OHX (1736km) in Finland multiple times (see table). 

I used the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains earth.

630m WSPR RX (Monday)

 This evening I am monitoring 630m WSPR. Hopefully this evening I have the settings right!

UPDATE 1900z:  3 spots by DC0DX (467km).  It works!

UPDATE 2136z:    Spotted 5 stations with the best LA8AV (1038km).

Something wrong?

 Last night I tried monitoring 630m WSPR. Not a single station copied that suggests something was wrong.

UPDATE 0853z:  Yes, wrong audio source selected. I may try again tonight.

630m WSPR RX last night

 Last evening and overnight I was on 630m WSPR using my coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna via an ATU and a mains earth.

In all, 5 stations were spotted with the best Norway. See table, and map by Phil VK7JJ.

UPDATE 1036z:  My darn Windows PC wanted me to "finish setting up my PC" and turned off WSPRnet and WSPR-X so was probably off through much of the night.

630m WSPR with a different antenna

Last evening and overnight I tried 630m WSPR RX using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. 

There were fewer stations received and the reports were weaker than the night before when I was using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU.

It is hard to be categorical as conditions might have been different, the antennas better in some directions, etc..

My overall conclusion, with these caveats, is that the earth electrode was, at worse, about 1 S point inferior to the antenna used on the night before. I would expect this to be somewhat down on an antenna optimised for the band. So, maybe just 2 S points down. Considering the total lack of hassle, it is far from bad.

630m WSPR RX - with a different antenna

 This evening and overnight I am on 630m WSPR RX with the Zachtek RX using instead my earth electrode "antenna" in the ground to see how this compares with the coax to my 2m big-wheel via an ATU

630m WSPR RX overnight

Last evening and night I was monitoring 630m WSPR with my Zachtek WSPR RX using the outer of the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains plug ground. 7 different stations were copied. The RX certainly works with DX over 1000km with this poor setup.

Although more expensive, I preferred to buy from Zachtek in Sweden although I know there is a Chinese copy of the Zachtek TX and probably the RX now.

630m WSPR RX overnight

Overnight I monitored 630m WSPR. Again, 5 stations were spotted with the best OH1LSQ (1733km) and an LA.

630m WSPR RX overnight

 Overnight I stayed on 630m WSPR RX.  

UPDATE  0940z:  Overnight 5 stations spotted. See table.

630m WSPR RX (Tuesday)

The impression I am getting is the IC705 is a few dB more sensitive than my Zachtek WSPR RX. At the moment I am monitoring 630m WSPR RX using my IC-705.

UPDATE 1909z: 3 stations spotted with the best F6CWA (950 km). Using the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna (via an ATU) and a mains earth.

630m WSPR RX

Overnight I left my IC705 on 474.2kHz WSPR RX again using just the outer of the coax to my 2m big-wheel antenna and mains earth. In all, 11 stations spotted.

630m WSPR RX (Sunday evening)

It is ages since I tried 630m WSPR RX. I connected my coax up to my 2m big-wheel via a ferrite rod ATU as the antenna and a mains plug ground. All this is very far from ideal! Judging by results, it certainly works.

630m (474.2kHz) WSPR RX

For a total change, I am on 474.2kHz WSPR RX using the coax up to my 2m big-wheel antenna tuned via a ferrite rod ATU and a mains plug earth.

UPDATE 1826z:  DC0DX (467km) spotted. This rubbish set-up works!

UPDATE 1916z:  Back on 472kHz WSPR RX. DC0DX copied 5dB stronger.

11 years ago

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

630m (472 kHz) QRP WSPR

For a few years I have not been on 472 kHz. This video was made some years ago and shows the results using just my earth-electrode "antenna" in the garden.

630m WSPR RX last evening

5 stations were spotted with the furthermost LA3EQ (769km) in Norway. No further stations were spotted overnight. 

630m WSPR RX overnight?

Once again I may try 630m WSPR RX overnight. It will be interesting to see if any new stations are spotted.

UPDATE 1808z:  My 630m WSPR RX was turned on.  G1GKN (54km) spotted.

630m WSPR RX overnight

My 630m "ad hoc" antenna (coax to my 2m big-wheel via ferrite rod ATU) was left on overnight. In all, 5 stations were spotted with the furthermost OH1LSQ (1733km) who was spotted 12 times! It may be "ad hoc", but it very definitely works.

This was originally shown as FT8 spots. Keith (thank you!) pointed out my mistake that I have now corrected!