500kHz - USA reception this evening

The 5W ERP beacon of W17XSH (the "WSPR shortened" call of WD2XSH/17) was copied here very well just after midnight. This is my first transatlantic WSPR reception and only my second 500kHz station heard from N.America.

Overnight my 500kHz WSPR beacon was running but no new stations reporting me when I checked at 0700z.

8th country on 500kHz WSPR

Just got my first report from Wales tonight with a huge (for me) -6dB S/N report from GW3UCJ in IO81 at 286kms away.  Also a new reporter from Belgium ON6EO. Reports are very good tonight so the WSPR beacon will run overnight.

136kHz WSPR tests (soon)

Very encouraged by my results at 500kHz, I'd like to try some "low ERP" WSPR tests on 136kHz using the same small antenna and transverter (slightly modified).  Ideally I'd need stations like M0BMU, M0FMT, G7NKS and others not too far away from JO02dg to TX and to listen out for me, as these stations get a good signal from me on 500kHz.

Please would you let me know if you'd be able to listen and upload 136kHz WSPR spots sometime in the next week or so? As yet I am not quite ready to start, but I'll let you know when I am.

Presentation on CW and other weak signal modes

Andy Talbot G4JNT has put an interesting presentation about weak signal modes onto his website. He gave this talk at a recent Microwave Round Table. See http://g4jnt.com/MartleSham.htm. It is exploring how we can push the boundaries further when working with very weak signals.

My first 2-way CW QSOs on 500kHz

This afternoon, just after midday, I worked Mal, G3KEV, in Scarborough for my first 2-way CW QSO on 500kHz. I gave him 569 and he gave me 529. Then at 4pm I was called by Chris G3XIZ who gave me 579. ERP at my end around 2mW.

Report from 7th country on 500kHz

This evening I got my first report from Germany on 500kHz WSPR - DK6NI in JN59ln at 805kms. This brings my countries total to 7 now.

FT817 successor coming?

Has anyone heard any intelligence/news on what is happening at Yaesu regarding new hand-held all-band, all-mode, successor to the FT817 with new features such as internal auto-ATU, speech processor, maybe 70MHz included on EU version, LiIon battery pack, etc...

Transatlantic 500kHz reception - VX9MRC

This evening at around 2200z I heard my first ever North American ham station on 500kHz. VX9MRC, the beacon operated by VO1NA was coming through on CW (about 10wpm) on 507.77kHz in and out of the noise at about RST339 at best. On WSPR he would have been solid copy.

A 30th reporter on 500kHz

Lots of trouble getting my 500kHz antenna to match tonight, so late getting on to WSPR tonight. To my surprise (as the antenna current was lower as a result of the rain I think) I got a new report from France - F6CNI in JN19qb which is 418kms away.

Back home - on 500kHz tonight

Just been to Paris, by Eurostar, for our elder grandson's 2nd birthday. At home, the 500kHz antenna is being battered by the very stormy weather at the moment, but I hope to be on the band again tonight ..... if the antenna and roof are still there at teatime.