Ten-tec Argonaut VI

http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server1500/ooh0w/products/358/images/724/539_web_photo__37987.1373600182.1280.1280.jpg?c=1

Although outside my price range at £995 in the UK, the Ten-Tec Argonaut VI gets rave reviews from its fans. On www.eham.net it usually scores very well apart from those who hate the lack of 60m and 12m coverage.  I cannot see me ever buying one but if you want a QRP rig (10W) mainly for home use, this could be for you, if you can afford one. RX performance is certainly very good.

40m WSPR - using 500mW

Since last evening I QSYed from 6m down to 40m using just 500mW to my low Par 10/20/40m end-fed antenna. I am pleased to report that my signal was copied by K9AN at a distance of 6505km during the late evening. I copied a PY (Brazil) at -10dB S/N (9550km) but he was running a ridiculous (for WSPR) power of 50W.   5W would easily have been copied.  Perhaps he is new to WSPR does not realise just how effective WSPR is yet?

Some of the reports below show 2W before I reduced power to 500mW, but best DX reprts were at the 500mW level I am pleased to say.

40m unique WSPR spots - last 24hrs

6m WSPR summary

After several days on 6m this is the total summary of WSPR reports (none of me!). All attempts to reach TEP "ends" failed, on this occasion, as there was no Es about. I did see some weak MS bursts of very short duration but these are not suitable for WSPR. The drift on G3XGS's signal suggests aircraft Doppler too. Now I shall turn my attention to another band. No 6m TEP I am afraid.  

6m WSPR spots

CN8LI seems to have been in the right place with plenty of TEP WSPR spots exchanged with FR1GZ at 8981km.

One more day on 6m

For the last few days I have been patiently trying to find some TEP-Es on 6m WSPR, to no avail. Although 6m TEP (trans-equatorial propagation) is being reported in Israel, Italy, the Balearics and Morocco, here in the UK all remains quiet. I have only spotted a couple of G stations at around 70km - absolutely nothing else!

Although I shall try again tomorrow, that will probably be my last day. A pity as I was quite hoping we might get an Es opening to link up to some TEP, but it looks unlikely now that I shall be in luck.

Later this week I may return to VLF earth-mode if I can optimise my TX earth-electrode match at 8.97kHz and re set-up my RX loop. My wife will have to drive me to my usual test sites as I am not allowed to drive yet.

6m Trans-equatorial propagation (TEP) - update

Again today, Israel, Morocco and Italy have been enjoying TEP propagation deep into the Southern Hemisphere on 6m. In vain, I've been on 6m too hoping that some early Es might link me into the 6m TEP propagation areas. Up to now I have had no luck at all, copying just G6AVK and G3XGS only on 6m WSPR at around 70km.

Here is another TEP article: http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/tep.html . This states that TEP can occur up to at least 432MHz.  I'd settle for a little at 50MHz!

146-147MHz: an extended 2m amateur band in the UK?

It looks highly likely that amateurs in the UK will get access to this additional slice of the 2m band later this summer. When it comes I shall no doubt use it, but feel spectrum elsewhere would have been much more useful for self-training in radio science.

Silly boy! I forgot - we only use ready-made black boxes on 2m and very few amateurs have the least idea how they work. Self training is a nonsense these days.  Oh and of course the revised UK 2m band plan will still have no space for AM people trying to self-train. Sorry, but I fail to see how another 1MHz at 2m will really benefit any real radio amateurs, just even more space for black box operators?

I know I should be grateful for another whole 1MHz to use, but I really cannot get excited about this at all when the current 2m band is vastly under-used. Even in contests there is still plenty of space for all.

Personally I'd like easy access below 8.3kHz, access again around 73kHz and a new 100kHz slot around 40MHz. Sadly all unlikely. WRC-2015 may grant us a contiguous international 60m band and that could be useful.

UPDATE 24.3.14 1845z: looks like the allocation may be temporary and only available by NOV. See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/vhf-143-169mhz/summary

6m Trans-equatorial propagation (TEP)

4X1DA and 4X1RF have been copying FR1GZ (over 6200km) away on Reunion Is, Indian Ocean, on and off today on 6m. Signals can be very strong. CN8LI has done even better at over 8000km 2-way. Here in the UK we are normally too far north to catch these TEP openings so we need some Es as well to link up with such openings. I keep trying in vain on WSPR. Best so far is 78km, hardly in the same league!

http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/images/8/89/Vk4yeh_TEP_1.jpg

HF forecasts are pretty good with stable conditions and a high sunspot count. Of course Es (needed to reach the TEP propagation areas) is not that predicatable.

See http://www.amateur-radio-wiki.net/index.php?title=Trans-Equatorial_Propagation

Normality

When unwell, you almost forget what "being normal" is.  Last night,  I was given a lift to my wife's Brahms concert and most people were totally unaware of my current disabilities.  I am gradually on the mend,  but my biggest issue is wobbliness on walking or doing any activity.  Most people are totally unaware of this. I hope my brain rewires so this goes with time. 

It means normal radio tasks , especially building, are all but impossible for me still.  Using WSPR is one thing I can still do, but actually TALKING on the radio is still hard work.

Brahms' German Requiem - Cambridge
March 22nd 2014

Our good old friends Peter and Chris Branson, came to stay over the weekend and it was them who gave me the lift to the concert. Peter kindly cut our hedges and front lawn and did a pile of weeding (without being asked) - such GOOD kind and generous friends. It was Peter who helped with some VLF tests a few years ago. There is a photo of him on my main Sub-9kHz website https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/earthmode .

See  https://sites.google.com/site/cambschoral/  for details of the Cambridgeshire Choral Society (CCS) including how to join and details of other concerts you might enjoy.

My wife is 7th in on the LHS . She is a short lady, 2nd row back, with short greyish hair - now I shall be in trouble!

6m update

No TEP sadly but I did spot G6AVK at 78km on 6m last evening at -25dB S/N. This is a strange distance on 6m.  The -2 drift is almost certainly aircraft scatter, quite a common issue with inter-G paths on both 6m and 2m. It often makes decent signals not decode-able.

I do have a 0.5ppm TCXO fitted (it belongs to G3WKW) to the FT817 which helps minimise drift especially at VHF.  I plan to stay on 6m for more tries with TEP/Es today.

6m TEP

I notice from WSPRnet that there is some TEP (trans-equatorial) propagation in Africa on 6m. I have now switched to 6m (2W) to see if there is any chance of this reaching the UK.  It is a long shot I know,  but worth a try. On 6m I only have a V2000 vertical with little 6m gain. I assume Es and TEP will twist polarisation.