Non line of sight (NLOS) 481THz light

My attention is turning back to 481THz (red light) and slightly lower frequency (IR) light communications over the visible horizon (NLOS). From the new QTH there is a good local marker (roof top chimneys on a house in the High Street) for a 6.18km NLOS path to the place I used to go to check VLF earth-mode at limit range. If I can set things on the right beam heading from home,  I then have to persuade my wife to drive me out there after dark where the roads are VERY bumpy and rough - it is way out in the fens - to see if I can pick up QRSS3 signals using Spectran software. This is where I really miss not being allowed to drive (because of my stroke) myself.

10m WSPR

Not as many stations being copied as in the last few months and only G3JKV (123km) copying me so far today. 4X1RF who always seems to copy me seems not to be on right now on 10m. We'll see how things develop later in the day, but is this the start of the very slow slide down to the minimum? Must just go and move frequency about 10Hz in case I am sitting under a big station.

Recent 10m WSPR spots

UPDATE 1130z:  Just exchanged 10m WSPR spots with FR1GZ (9724km) on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. He is using 5W and me 2W.  Conditions must still be reasonable. No stateside signals seen yet.

UPDATE 1300z:   G7FYO (162km) is being copied  but with -3Hz shift, suggesting aircraft reflection. This is a new direction too (IO82), nowhere near London's busy airports. These inter-G spots will be our 10m "bread and butter" in a few years' time when the long DX wanes.

UPDATE 1425z:  Interesting that not one stateside station copied yet here today so far. A few Europeans are reaching the USA, but not me. It looks as if transatlantic DX will not be seen here today now.

Later 10m spots - note absence of stateside stations

Disappointment on 474.2kHz last night

After a promising start, last night was a damp squib on 474.2kHz WSPR with just 3 unique reports of my signal and all of these from people who have spotted my 5mW ERP before.

474.2kHz WSPR spots overnight with5mW ERP - disappointing

I have now returned, again, to 10m WSPR with 2W ERP. Until I extend my baseline on 474.2kHz, I think there is little new to explore on MF.

Return to MF

As of about 30 minutes ago I have returned yet again to 474.2kHz WSPR with my 15m spaced eartb-electrodes and about 5mW ERP. 

UPDATE 2100z: Already this evening I have been spotted several times by G3WCB (101km) and PA3ABK/2 (306km). A promising start to the evening and night but would like lots more UK reports!

VE3GEN - colossal 10m signal, and G7JVN

Running 2W RF,  VE3GEN is a huge WSPR signal today at +4dB S/N, implying he would be copyable with low milliwatts. LZ1OI is 10dB stronger still.  Even my own 2W is +1dB S/N right now at 1542z with KB9AMG at 6300km. Just goes to prove how good 10m can be on a good day.

Intrigued by me copying G7JVN (JO00) who is 154km south of me. Just what 10m mode is this? -23dB is not too bad a signal.  I'd be surprised if aircraft scatter was involved, so could it be tropo?  Drift on his signal was large at 2Hz, but the actual received signal showed a near continuous, but frequency varying signal, no sign of Doppler or  multiple signal returns as commonly seen with aircraft reflections. Similarly, G3WKW at 134km copid earlier in the day, but we believe this WAS an aircraft crossing the path (no Doppler). I suppose G7JVN could have been an aircraft crossing the path too?

Anytone 5555N and 6666 10m rigs

I am still on the lookout for a decent dedicated 10m multi-mode to use on my favorite band on SSB and CW mainly. There are a couple of new Anytone rigs at around £159 and £199 depending on power output. I need to watch for reviews of these, but both look neat units.

See http://simonthewizard.com/2014/03/14/anytone-at-6666-at-5555n-more-videos-online/ for a few videos.

Both are sold by Nevada, who also sell the President Lincoln II for around £259. The latter seems to have more features but is considerably more expensive.

474.2kHz WSPR overnight

A slightly better session on MF last evening and overnight with a few more UK stations in the log, but still way down on earlier attempts. I am trying again tonight with 5mW ERP from the 15m earth-electrode antenna on 630m, but for now have gone back to 2W on 28.1246MHz WSPR - much easier going!

Unique MF WSPR results overnight 5mW ERP

Wikipedia on QRP

Wonder what Wikipedia has to say about QRP operation?

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QRP_operation .

I find Wikipedia a great resource and have, in the past, contributed a few entries.

Back on 474.2kHz - yet again

I am having another go with the 15m earth-electrode antenna and 5mW ERP on 474.2kHz WSPR this evening. Unless UK and near continent activity picks up, it could be another fairly fruitless evening.

Certainly it is a lot easier getting DX spots on 10m.

UPDATE 1810z: Not long ago M0PPP was a reasonable signal at -23dB S/N on 474.2kHz WSPR. He is in the Barnsley, Yorks area (IO93gm) and should be "off the side" of my earth-loop. Midway through his TX burst there was a slight break and frequency shift too.

UPDATE 1940z: My only reports so far are from G6AVK (78km) again. I am copying F5WK (364km).

10m WSPRing again

This afternoon I have returned to 10m WSPR. There are lots of transatlantic reports of my signal, as well as reports of my 2W signal from Russia and Brazil.  Not sure if it is a Win 8.1 issue or just the V2 WSPR program playing up but I seem to be NOT uploading spots I see at my end. Perhaps the internet service is very weak in my shack?

UPDATE 1545z:  Restarting the program and re syncing the clock fixed it. Anyone know how to change how often the PC clock is sync'ed to internet time in Win 8.1? I need to increase the frequency I think. I don't even know how to find the control panel in Win 8.1 !

Unique 10m WSPR spots received so far this afternoon