472kHz WSPR RX overnight

As you may remember, the PA in my transverter has been damaged, so I am on 472kHz RX only. Last night was very disappointing with just LA8AV and F1AFJ spotted here.

Return to 472kHz WSPR TX (less than 10mW ERP)

Using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground I have returned to 472kHz WSPR TX.

As the ground is very wet following the storms, it is very likely the ERP is below 10mW and the size of the loop in the ground is smaller than usual. The antenna current measures lower. If the soil conductivity is higher the signal cannot spread out so much as the effective loop area is smaller.

So far, just 4 spots by G0VQH (15km).

UPDATE 1815z: Still just spots from Jenny G0VQH. May later I may get more spots?

UPDATE 1935z:  QRT. Is the earth-electrode "antenna" damaged?

Return to 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

After an absence of several weeks, I have returned to 472kHz WSPR TX. My measured ERP is less than 10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.  The output of the transverter is about 12W into 50 ohms, but the "antenna" is pretty inefficient, although better than expected.

Even in daylight I was quite surprised to see 3 unique stations spotting me with best DX spots by G0MRF (139km).

All being well, I hope to stay on overnight.

UPDATE 1206z: So far today, 4 different stations have spotted my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR signal.

UPDATE 1835z: 17 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP so far (see table below).

Promising evening on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Already 12 spots from Norway this evening and spots by 17 different stations!  This is looking very promising.

UPDATE 2235z: 19 stations have spotted my QRPP 472kHz WSPR TX so far this evening. I shall run until well light tomorrow.

Stations spotting me this evening

472kHz WSPR TX overnight

Overnight, I was again on 472kHz WSPR with the 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode  "antenna" in the ground (see post on this "antenna" a few days ago). 18 stations spotted me including 24 by Jan in Norway.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP 

on 472kHz in the last 24 hours

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

A few minutes ago I returned to 472kHz WSPR TX using 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far, 4 stations have spotted me as the table shows.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP
on 472kHz WSPR to 1655 today

UPDATE 2016z:  Now spotted by 9 stations with best DX PA0LSB (326km).

UPDATE 2233z: 15 stations have spotted me this evening.

Stations spotting me this evening

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP) - more success

Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR TX using my usual 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It is still on now. In all, spots from 19 stations including 30 from Norway. Best DX was a single spot by LA8AV (1035km). 29 spots by Jan!

Stations spotting me in the last 

12 hours on 472kHz WSPR TX

Back on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

This evening I went on 472kHz WSPR again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Already a couple of stations spotting me.

UPDATE 2200z: 12 stations spotting me and already 3 spots by Jan LA3EQ (769km).

472kHz WSPR overnight

In terms of the number of people spotting me this was the best night ever on 472kHz WSPR TX. In all, 32 stations spotted my 10mW ERP in the last 24 hours including 2 from Norway and 1 from Poland. The fact that so many people were able to spot me is remarkable considering the "antenna" and QRPP.  It is a credit to these stations and the WSPR software.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP 

472kHz WSPR in the last 24 hours

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

As usual, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX for the evening and night. Within the last hour 10 stations have spotted me with best DX F6GEX (590km). Once again using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

At about 2000z, I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX using my usual 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. So far 10 stations have spotted me including LA8AV (1035km) at 2012 (early).

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

After a day on 2m (144MHz) I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). So far, 6 stations spotted me with best DX G4MEM (230km).

UPDATE  2044z: Now 12 unique spots so far with best DX PA3FNY (330km).

Another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Overnight was another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). 28 stations have spotted me in the last day on the band with quite a few spots from Norway and Poland.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP
472kHz WSPR TX in the last day

Best night this season on 472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

Spotted in Norway 33 times and Poland twice! Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and my homebrew transverter.

Stations spotting me on 472kHz
WSPR (10mW ERP) in the last day

QSY to 472kHz WSPR TX

At about 1950z I went QRT on 2m FT8 and a now on 472kHz WSPR TX with my usual 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Already 3 stations spotting me.

Average session on 472kHz WSPR TX

Last night there were no spots from Norway of my 10mW ERP 472kHz WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. This may have been conditions or nobody active who could detect my signal. At the moment, I am still on 472kHz WSPR TX, but may QSY to another band later.

Stations spotting my 10mW ERP
472kHz WSPR overnight

UPDATE 1304z:  There was another explanation: after 12 hours without 472kHz WSPR spots I noticed that Windose had closed the program, probably do an update. This really annoys me. Having re-opened the program, I am, again, getting 472kHz WSPR spots. Darn Windows!

UPDATE 1606z: I see my shack PC is telling me the PC needs to "restart after active hours". Does this mean it will turn off things overnight again? Maybe I should turn it off soon before the evening starts?

UPDATE 1736z: At about 1630z, I restarted the PC. It successfully installed and configured Windows updates, so hopefully it will run WSJT-X overnight without interruption. In the last hour 13 different stations spotted my 10mW ERP with best DX on 472kHz WSPR TX PA3FNY (330km).


UPDATE 2019z: So far today 16 stations have spotted my 10mW ERP with the  best DX being  DL/PA0EHG (493km).

Another good session on 472kHz WSPR TX

In all, my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground was spotted by 23 stations including 2 in Norway last evening and overnight. There were fewer spots from Norway than the last time I was on the band. I still do not understand why I am getting so many more spots this season when nothing has changed.

Stations spotting me overnight on
472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

UPDATE 1508z: I decided to stick on 472kHz WSPR today.

472kHz WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

At about 1850z I QSYed to 472kHz WSPR TX. So far, a couple of G spots.

UPDATE 1917z:  Already I have received 9 unique spots with PA0EBC (433km) as best DX.

UPDATE 2130z: 15 stations so far spotted with best DX SWLJO43 (660km). The map shows the stations that have spotted me so far tonight (to 2140z).

UPDATE 2125z: 19 stations have spotted me this evening. For reasons I do not understand (unless it is simply conditions) I seem to be doing better this winter than last despite making absolutely no changes to my system! I am running the same transverter, the same ERP, the same earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. If anything, with root growth I would have expected worse results.

472kHz TX QRPP success

Last night my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground reached Norway 39 times on 472kHz WSPR.  This is my best session this season. The table shows the spots last night and overnight.

472kHz (630m) WSPR TX (10mW ERP)

For a change I am on 472kHz WSPR TX with 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. Already 9 unique reports with best DX being a spot by PA3FNY (330km). It seems only a few moments since I connected up things! I hope there are some stations in Norway active on RX tonight.