472kHz TX

Yesterday I wound a loading coil on a 110mm drainpipe for the 472kHz band which should allow me to transmit on the band using my homebrew transverter. The only thing stopping me is fatigue: I get SO tired doing the simplest of things because of my recent illness. With luck, I shall try this later this week.

Transatlantic reception on 474.2kHz WSPR last night - 5888km

It had to happen and did (eventually) last night. WG2XJM (EN91wn) at 5888km was copied 3 times during the night on MF just using the FT817 (no preamp) and the untuned Par 10/20/40 antenna. Signal levels were not great, but as to be expected, at around -30dB S/N. 

So far this season, this set-up has now copied 25 unique stations in 8 countries and 2 continents on 474.2kHz WSPR.

Unique MF WSPR spots over last 2 weeks

472-479kHz in Poland

See this email:

Hi All!

New band 630m in Poland, the official regulation:

http://download.pzk.org.pl/public/KTPC/Dz.U.03.02.2014_Poz.161_KTPC.pdf

472-479kHz, power 1W EIRP

73! Marcin SQ2BXI

The same document confirms the secondary allocation of part of the 4m band too. 

The 630m band is available in Poland from Feb 18th 2014.

Over 1000km on 474.2kHz

Reception this evening of LA4ANA at 1042km (JO59cu) is a new personal WSPR distance record on RX this season on the 472-479kHz band. I think LA4ANA is using a version of my little transverter too. This is the 21st unique station copied so far on the band with a far from ideal RX antenna (untuned Par 10/20/40 end-fed). This is the 7th country copied too. I am hopeful of copying SM6BHZ if he comes on and don't now rule out transatlantic reception one night if conditions are very good. There are also a few EA stations yet to be copied.

Unique 474.2kHz WSPR spots on RX this winter as of Feb 4th 2014

474.2kHz WSPR RX totals

The last few weeks have been very successful with respect to 474.2kHz USB WSPR receive.  I have been using just my untuned Par 10/20/40m antenna.  So far 20 unique station reports, which is close to all the active stations in Europe. The evening of Feb 3rd saw IQ2CJ in the log too at 989km - best RX DX yet this season.

20 unique WSPR RX spots on 474.2kHz in last few weeks

474.2kHz WSPR this evening

Although the 630m 200Hz wide WSPR sub-band is busy, most stations in range this evening seem to be listening. I am listening too as I have no TX antennas currently and cannot erect any until I am fitter (stroke). I am hearing a good number of the active TX stations and will leave the set-up running overnight.

630m WSPR stations copied 2.2.14

472kHz (630m) WSPR experiment results

Comparing the loop in the air against the simple earth electrode (EE) antenna across the garden these are the results. Remember the loop could be improved by making it larger, using thicker wire and mounting it more fully vertical.

G4KPX - about 6dB better on loop
G6AVK - little difference
PA3ABK/2 - 1-3dB better on loop
G8HUH - little difference
M0PPP - copied on loop, no copy on EE
G3WCB - just copied on EE, no copy on loop

Conclusions?  Well the loop, as it currently is arranged, is a bit better than the EE antenna by a few dB, in some directions, but not amazingly so. Will try a loop up in the air more in the coming weeks and we'll compare results again.

Another country on 472-479kHz

Lubos OK2BVG reports that he has been granted access to the new 630m MF band and is already working stations.  Gradually more countries are gaining access although I doubt UK amateurs will be allowed access to the band before January 2013.

A few years ago I was extremely excited when Lubos managed to copy my 2mW ERP 500kHz WSPR beacon at over 1000km for the first time. Since then the beacon has reached Finland at almost 1800km. 

It is good to hear that several German stations are now active in the new band with conventional CW QSOs being quite common.

Back home again and the 472kHz transverter

Icefield Parkway, Alberta

After nearly a couple of astounding weeks in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada my wife and I are now back home. The scenery and wildlife were just amazing, especially the bears like the one below seen just a few metres away from us.  Although I only managed about an hour of shallow sleep on the plane back from Calgary last night I decided it was better to fight the jet-lag and get on with some chores rather than crash out and wake at 2am tomorrow.

One of the 8 black bears we encountered - this one VERY closely

Once the lawns have been trimmed and the hedge cut, I've decided to crack on with the design of a new transverter for 472-479kHz as the next project. Already there is activity from Germany and there are a number of NDB beacons to allow the receiver part to be checked. Jan 1st 2013 (the likely date of release in the UK) will arrive far too soon.

I am trying to decide on the choice of IF as I want to use an unmodified FT817. 28MHz will allow 472-479kHz to appear "in-band", but at 28MHz the start-up drift as the LO settles will still be some tens of Hertz. This hasn't proved problematic with WSPR, so guess this is my choice. At least the dial will directly read the "right" frequency e.g. 28.477kHz will correspond to 477kHz.

In view of the picture above, I am not sure what power the transverter will use bear-foot (sorry, weak joke).