630m WSPR RX overnight

Last night, I spotted 11 uniques on 630m WSPR RX. Nothing from the USA.

QSY to 630m WSPR RX

At about 1940z I left 10m FT8 to move to 630m WSPR RX. So far, just G0MRF and PA0SLT (456km) spotted.

630m WSPR RX last night

On 630m WSPR RX it was an average night. In all, 13 uniques were spotted, but all within Europe.

No 472kHz TX - the mystery deepens

Last evening I tried the same antenna as used at 472kHz using the FT817 via the Z-817 ATU, but on a different band. No antenna current was detected. I'll check that power is coming from the FT817.

UPDATE 0950z: Well there is definitely power from the FT817. Checked with a power meter and power was OK. So, it is either leads or the PA device in the transverter probably.

630m WSPR RX overnight

15 uniques spotted last night with one spot of N1BUG (4940km). Another new one for me was EA7HPM (1726km).

Transatlantic on 472kHz

Last night, with the shack PC on battery power I copied 20 uniques, which is a record with my unbelievably bad antenna and ground. Honestly, you would be hard pushed to make you antenna any worse! The FT817 is also starting to get deaf at 472kHz (630m).

So, I was very pleased to spot N1BUG (4940km) twice last night in the early hours. This is the first time I have spotted any North Americans here at this QTH on WSPR on MF. Believe me, if I can spot across the Atlantic with my setup so can you!

630m WSPR RX last night

Turning off the mains to my shack laptop definitely helps reduce my 630m noise floor. Last night 16 unique stations were spotted, which is a record for me.

630m WSPR RX

Up to now I have used the shack PC on mains power with the internal PC battery charging. In a few minutes I shall run the PC on its internal battery hoping for a lower noise floor.

UPDATE 2054z: Shack PC now running on its internal battery.

UPDATE 2132z: From the evidence of the last 1.5 hours the S/N of signals received on 630m WSPR improves by at least 10dB when the shack PC is on internal batteries. Previous tests were rather inconclusive, but results this evening are very clear.

Overnight on 630m WSPR RX

Last night I was on 630m WSPR RX overnight, but with the shack PC still on mains power.

No further spots overnight compared with those spotted in a couple of hours last night. 11 spots of unique stations in 7 countries (see table).

With the PC just on its internal battery, the reports might have been a little better, but it is not certain more stations would have been spotted.

630m WSPR RX again

Since returning from a meal with friends, I have been on 630m WSPR RX with the shack PC on mains power with the battery charging. When I go to bed I may run the shack PC off its internal battery. 9 unique stations spotted in the last hour.

UPDATE 2300z:  Now 10 unique stations spotted in the last hour.

630m WSPR RX last night - good

As you may recall, I still have to find out why I am unable to TX on MF. I think I am doing something stupid but my head is too foggy to work out what I am doing wrong.

So, overnight I tried an experiment: running the shack PC off its internal battery power to reduce the noise floor, so I was able to copy weaker signals. It seems to have worked!

Last night I spotted 12 unique stations, which is far more than usual.  I am pretty sure this includes a few stations not seen before on this antenna. I am sure there are other steps to try as well. All these need to be addressed before the autumn.

QSYed to 630m WSPR RX

As I was unable to find out why I have no power on 630m (yet), I am on 630m WSPR RX only. At some point I shall turn off my PC battery charger in the hope of reducing my noise floor on that band.

UPDATE 1955z:  I have been on PC battery power for some while now (about 40 minutes) and already 7 unique stations spotted. The RX noise floor must be lower as more stations are being copied. Still using the coax to my 2m antenna as the antenna on RX via a ferrite rod ATU on the bench (see picture).

UPDATE 2010z: PC charger back on, so that I can run the PC on battery power overnight. So S/N of received signals should degrade whist the charger is on if this noise is limiting what I can spot.

UPDATE 2125z: Still using the PC on mains with the battery charger. On battery power (on the PC) spots of LA8AV are between -12 and -19dB S/N. With the PC on mains power with the charger running it is about 10dB worse, although with QSB it is hard to be precise.

UPDATE 2135z: Just started the PC on its battery power again. If the noise floor has dropped again LA8AV S/N should improve again.  Indeed his S/N is about 10dB better!

UPDATE 2206z: PC back on mains and PC battery is charging. In about an hour I shall be switching the PC to its battery power. This should last for several hours. Battery is currently 94% charged. Well I am on mains power and the PC battery is charging. LA8AV is still in the teens S/N. Ah, there goes another theory then.....

472kHz - the mystery continues

You may recall I had no power (at all) on 472kHz. Well, my hopes were raised when I noticed the shack PC wanted yet another Windows update. It only did one a day ago!

Well, although mod and power are OK from the FT817, there is still absolutely nothing from the transverter at 474kHz. If the PA MOSFET had blown I still would have expected a very weak 472kHz signal, so I still think it is something stupidly simple.

My problem is that since my stroke I have been living in a kind of fog, so even simple tasks are now hard. I need to look again when my mind is clear and I am not tired.

Return to 472kHz WSPR, but zero power?

For a last try, I returned to 472kHz WSPR. Although I am copying stations I seem to have no power. Perhaps I am doing something silly? This is probably true!

UPDATE 2150z: I still cannot see what is wrong. I shall have to check things out tomorrow.

Disappointment on 630m WSPR

There is a distinct lack of TXing stations on this band on WSPR in Europe. Last night there were hardly any active TXing Europeans on 630m WSPR. My own 10mW ERP WSPR was copied by just 3 unique stations. I spotted just 4 uniques. I am seriously thinking of abandoning the band. OK my noise floor (S7) does not help, but there are fewer stations.  It is some time since new stations were spotted and the band is losing its appeal to me.

Return to 630m WSPR

At about 2008z I returned to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far I have been spotted by 3 G stations, but no others yet spotted here above my S7 noise floor.

630m WSPR overnight

Average. 10 uniques spotted my 10mW ERP and I spotted 6. Those that spotted me were all Gs.

Return to 630m WSPR

As is my normal pattern, I have returned to 630m WSPR for this evening and overnight (10mW ERP, 20% TX). So far my best TX DX is M0NKA (154km). Although drift is reducing, the crystal in my transverter is still settling. It usually settles within 20 minutes.

UPDATE 1815z:  G0LUJ (266km) is currently the best TX DX.

630m WSPR overnight

As usual, I went on 630m WSPR last night with my 10mW ERP. In all, I was spotted by 9 unique stations and I spotted 6. Unusually, all the stations that spotted me were Gs.

Best DX on RX was (again) LA8AV (1035km) up in Norway. He must have a good set-up as he always beats my S7 noise floor.

630m WSPR

Rather later than usual (2145z) I have QSYed to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP, 20%) from 6m MSK144. I have spotted a couple of stations, although no-one has yet spotted me.

UPDATE 2220z: So far 7 unique stations have spotted me with the best DX being G0LUJ (266km).