RSGB's Bennett Prize

This morning I received a total surprise in the form of a letter from Graham Coomber G0NBI, RSGB General Manager, to tell me they have awarded me the Bennett Prize, G8PF, to "recognise any significant contribution which furthers the art of radio communications" for my article last  year in RadCom on 472kHz earth-electrode antennas.  Sadly, my health will prevent me from picking up the award at the RSGB's AGM in Manchester next month. I was quite amazed and very humbled.

2nd FT817 and a Z817 tuner

Today I placed an order with Martin Lynch for the above. I was able to negotiate a decent deal both with MLS and with W+S, but decided on the former. Delivery should be this week. This should allow me to WSPR on one band and operate with other modes on different bands including 5MHz. My original FT817 has served me well and the FT817ND should serve me for years to come.

I have separately ordered a 250Hz CW filter for the new rig.

Hoping for more unique spots on 474.2kHz WSPR

474.2kHz shack set-up currently

At the moment (2215z) I have received 21 unique spots so far of my 474.2kHz QRP ERP WSPR signal from my resonated and matched 15m baseline earth-electrode "antenna". I shall leave things running overnight in the hope that other new stations will also spot me.  The system has been running only a few days at good efficiency.


UPDATE 1015z Thurs Feb 20th: no new spotters overnight, just the same ones as yesterday, so the total of UNIQUE spotters remains at 21 over the last week almost.  Will be leaving it running all day and overnight to see if anyone else spots me. May then try 160m.

21 unique spots so far on 15m baseline earth electrode on 474.2kHz

Incidentally, as you see, only a fraction of the coil is needed and this could have been on a ferrite rod, but I was unable to find one. The 3C90 matching coil is very small and runs cool, as does the transverter.

OFCOM - sub-8.3kHz and around 73kHz in the UK

You may recall that several weeks ago I contacted OFCOM to clarify (1)  the legality of no-licence operation in the UK below 8.3kHz (band is unallocated) and (2) operation around 73kHz with limited ERP (licence exempt). 3 emails later, I have STILL to receive a response. I wrote again today hoping for a reply this time.

The same issues are to be raised by the RSGB on March 13th at their OFCOM liaison meeting.

It now looks like the address I was given was a DEAD email address  Today I contacted Spectrum.Licensing@ofcom.org.uk  and hope, this time, to get an answer.

First Ultimate 3 kit package arrives

Yesterday, the first of my 2 orders from Hans Summers arrived from Japan.  I'll wait until they both come before opening and, depending on my health, may wait a while before building. I am still pretty clumsy, so it may be advisable to wait a while.

The kit, with GPS timing, is good value for money. It came well packed in a small cardboard box as you can see.

20 unique spots with15m baseline earth-electrodes on 474.2kHz WSPR

Since improving the match on the 15m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" on 474.2kHz WSPR, the number of UNIQUE spots of my transmissions has jumped to 20 from 9.  No further DX (yet) but my signals that were once below the noise threshold for some are now above it, so copyable. Signals are about 3-4dB stronger  generally.

UNIQUE WSPR SPOTS of my 474.2kHz signal using 15m earth-electrodes

So far,  I have been seen in 5 different European countries. Best DX remains DL-SWL at 701km. I expect the number of spots of my signal to increase further in the coming days. The earth-electrode "antenna" is now performing credibly now well matched.

I am beginning to wonder how the system will perform on 160m and 80m, and even 2200m  (137kHz).

Never let it be said you have no antenna for 474.2kHz - I think I have PROVED that a most basic system works!  As long as above -30dB S/N your signal should be copied, although you may have to be patient. The results above were mostly one evening only.

One of the advantages of the longer baseline earth-electrode "antenna" will be its new direction. It will be almost 90 degrees around from the current antenna so quite a different polar pattern.

Transformer success on 474.2kHz

This afternoon I inserted a small 3C90 cored transformer between the transverter and loading coil on the 15m earth-electrode antenna. Much to my surprise the best performance (25% increase in antenna current was with a step-up from 4t to 14t implying the earth electrodes look  like several hundred ohms. Success was immediate with a first spot from M0JXM (93km) and report from G3WCB (101km) some 3dB stronger at -18dB S/N. The loading coil today (soil less damp outside?) is around 50-100uH only. The transverter runs cool implying a good match.

More 474.2kHz WSPR success

Overnight my transmissions with the 15m baseline earth-electrode antenna continued. A couple of  reports from Holland were added to the list of spots bringing the total UNIQUE station reports to eight. The only change has been to resonate the loop with a small series inductor. This increased the loop current by about 20%.  Next to try will be to see if the 50 ohm match can be bettered with a small auto-transformer. I suspect not, but we'll see.

UNIQUE reports received on 15m baseline earth-electrode antenna on 474.2kHz WSPR

Easily tired - stroke

One effect of my recent stroke is I get exhausted very quickly.

Sitting on the PC is OK, apart from having to correct all my typos,but anything involving physical work, or talking, rapidly tires me. As an example, today is a beautiful sunny day (8-10deg C),  so a good chance to prune some roses in the garden, except that after doing a couple I was exhausted and just had to rest! This is not the real me at all!

Even talking on our local 2m net on Monday's tires me: it is speaking that tires me the most. At least with WSPR, once set up, operating does not tire me. It runs itself and all I have to do is check all is OK and observe results on WSPRnet.

The other day I wound a 400uH coil,with taps, on a 110mm drainpipe for 472kHz ,but the effort needed was so tiring. At the moment, major build projects are out of the question until my strength and stamina return.

I do so want to get better and be back to my normal healthy self.

474.2kHz WSPR results - 15m earth-electrode baseline

I left 474.2kHz WSPR running overnight using the 15m baseline earth-electrode running vaguely E-W. Results were encouraging. Don't anyone say they can't erect an antenna for 474.2kHz! If even THIS works, almost anything is possible.

474.2kHz UNIQUE WSPR spots in last 24 hrs on
15m baseline earth-electrode "antenna"

Some stations are actually stronger on the earth-electrodes than on the conventional "wire in the air". Best DX 701km with an ERP around 5mW MAX and no conventional antenna is not at all bad. I am sure a proper Marconi antenna would be better but the earth-electrode ground "antenna" is a good compromise system when options are limited. It is totally invisible too - VERY neighbour friendly.

On the receive side, 10 unique stations copied in 4 countries. Not bad for a less than 24 hr period.

474.2kHz UNIQUE WSPR spots in last 24 hrs on 
15m earth-electrode baseline on receive