Loop antenna on 500kHz

My vertical loop antenna (about 80sq m area) made with 1mm diameter wire (tuned with a capacitance decade box) performs quite well on 500kHz judging by reports. Yesterday I lowered the bottom wire to run along the ground, increasing the loop area from about 70 to 80sq m.  Reports from M0LMH (223km) and M0BMU (69km) are pretty good with my 1mW ERP signal at M0BMU up to -5dB S/N on WSPR, which is as good as I've ever had and he's not in the best direction for the loop. Also, PA3EGO was up to -2dB S/N on receive. Results on 500kHz are much easier to obtain than on 137kHz although this is explainable by the much lower ERP (probably 20dB less than on 500kHz).

Increasing interest in 137kHz WSPR

WSPR LF activity lunchtime Sept 19th

In the last week there seems to have been an increase in 137kHz WSPR activity. The attached image shows the stations active on 137 and 500kHz this lunchtime.  G8IMR was the call being used by Andy G4JNT for his WSPR beacon before it died.

Why NOT to use QRO on 136kHz

Andy G4JNT was testing a 600W RF WSPR beacon on 137kHz today when he noticed burning from the plastic shed used to house the ATU. When he opened the door he saw the plastic shed and shelf melting and flames everywhere which he quickly extinguished.  LF at high power can be dangerous stuff and one reason why I've restricted my activity to QRP.

New all-band SDR from Funk Amateur

SDR transceiver PCB assembly

http://www.dh1tw.de/first-pictures-of-allband-software-defined-radio-fa-sdr-trx

The German magazine Funk Amateur has a new all-band 1W SDR transceiver kit in the October edition. This will sell for around $170 US and looks a very interesting project. More details from the link above.

137.5kHz WSPR - best DX now 61km with less than 20uW ERP

137.5kHz WSPR reports so far today - with <20uW ERP!

Just got a -27dB S/N report on 137.5kHz WSPR from G3XVL near Ipswich at 61km. This is particularly good as this is more or less in the null of my TX loop antenna: in the better direction the signal could be some 6-10dB stronger!

From Michael Rainey's blog

http://aa1tj.blogspot.com/2010/09/verweile-doch-du-bist-so-schon.html

Michael Rainey AA1TJ has an excellent blog in which he covers a range of subjects. This post (see link) is about a tiny pocket watch made almost entirely from wood and other organic materials that Michael came across in a museum in Vienna.

WSPR success on 137.5kHz

G3XIZ's 137.5kHz WSPR reports today

Chris G3XIZ has successfully received my QRPp WSPR beacon this morning on 137.5kHz. ERP is around 10-20uW from the class-E PA producing around 4-5W. This brings my total number of WSPR reports on the band to two with the best DX now 46km.

Shortwave America blog

If you want to look at the quirkier side of SW radio activity check out http://www.shortwaveamerica.blogspot.com which is written by Dan KC9NCF. Most recently he's talking about pirate activity just below the 40m band.

137.5kHz WSPR 7-11pm UK time Friday

137.5kHz WSPR TX transverter

My WSPR beacon will be on-air from 7-11pm UK time Friday and any reports would be appreciated.

137.675kHz QRSS3 beacon report

The <20uW ERP 137.675kHz beacon was copied again by G3XIZ 48km to the west of me last night. I'm pleased with this report as the power from the PA was less than it was a week or so ago, yet he still managed to copy me. Work is now progressing on the class-E PA based WSPR beacon which should run about 10W from the PA (ERP around 20-50uW).