5MHz band - RSGB notice

See http://rsgb.org/main/blog/uncategorized/2014/04/08/important-update-5-mhz-band/ .

The primary user is carrying out some exercises in the next few days and amateurs (secondary users) are asked to use the channels we have carefully to avoid interference to the primary users.

So far, I have only used the band for WSPR on a couple of occasions. It was fun.

Successful 481THz garden tests

Today I repeated my optical tests across the garden receiving signals on my RX with both 600 ohm phones and Spectran software with QRSS3. This time the tests were very successful with signals at least 40dB over noise when scattered off distant bushes (0.34Hz BW).   I think we are nearly ready for the NLOS tests again!

10m late starting today

10m WSPR this afternoon

10m was very slow to get going today and it was not until 1404z that OZ7IT was spotted on WSPR.  Then, there was some some choice DX such as TJ3TS (5478km) and PY2RN  (9550km), the latter who spotted my 2W first at 1446z and several times later in the afternoon.  A few hours later K9AN (6505km) was coming through. Most DX is N-S and transatlantic almost absent. There were some more US stations on later.  ZS6PCO (9100km) was spotted at 1712z. After 1834z most spots are of my 2W from stations in the USA.  It is almost as if someone turned the switch on late today!

Some of the early evening 10m WSPR spots by stateside stations

UPDATE 2130z:  10m is still wide open to the USA. This is quite remarkable after the appalling conditions in the morning.

Later in the cycle, when there are far fewer sunspots, the band will come to life only very briefly and sporadically. In many ways these will be MORE interesting times. This is as long as WSPR operators hold faith with the band even when days go by with not a signal to be heard. I have regularly heard S.Americans on SSB in the solar minimum years. WSPR should be a lot easier.

481THz QRSS3 beaconing across the garden

Last night I fired up my 481THz optical kit with poor results: I think the RX unit may have a flat PP3 battery? On the Spectran display the QRSS3 signal bounced off trees and bushes should be very easy to spot, but for an unknown reason, I was struggling.  I shall recheck all the kit today. The kit has to be well focused and working well to work DX non line of sight (NLOS), which is my plan soon.

My stroke symptoms (poor balance and clumsiness) are really not helping: tasks that were very easy last year are very hard this, well at present they are.  Before my wife and I venture out into the dark fens, I want there to be a good chance of success, which means good and thorough preparation.

All quiet on 10m so far today

Overnight I left my 10m WSPR kit running to see what happened overnight, The last logged station was EA8/LA3JJ at 2018z last evening, so no overnight openings and no GDX around. Perhaps people turn off 10m at night. I usually do and QSY to a lower frequency like 472kHz.

It is now 1247z with a sunspot count of 106 and the 10m band is still quiet with me: no WSPR spots of my 2W signal and no spots of other people yet either. If conditions were good I would have expected some activity from the East already. In southern Europe conditions look better.

See later post for what happened in the afternoon when the band came alive.

481THz QRSS3 beacon

This afternoon I dug out my optical QRSS3 beacon, PSU and optics. In the coming days I intend to test this locally from my shack by scatter off local walls and trees with the RX head, 100mm optics and Spectran software in a different room.

If all is working well, I shall ask my wife to drive me to an NLOS (over the horizon) location at 6.18km to see if the signal can be received. This is the first optical test in many months.

At the moment I am struggling with quite simple stuff because of my stroke. I am still so clumsy.

10m WSPR - April 7th 2014

After another disappointing session on 474.2kHz WSPR overnight with lots of spots from G6AVK and PA3ABK/2 but from no-one else, I have returned to 10m WSPR this morning.

Like yesterday, things have started off very quietly, probably as solar activity is just beginning to go past the peak and we are moving towards summertime conditions (less E-W and more N-S plus EU Es activity). The solar forecast is for "normal" HF conditions with a sunspot count of 127. K=2. No doubt the usual suspects will be visible soon?

UPDATE 0906z: Just spotted my PC was not connected to the internet - now corrected.  FR1GZ (9724km) has been seen multiple times and has copied me too. This is N-S propagation. No signs yet of EX1UN who was a consistent signal on 10m yesterday.

UPDATE 1020z:  UA9OTW (5136km) is a decent signal with 1W.

UPDATE 1242z:  No sign of any stateside stations yet,  but a -2dB S/N report from  LZ1OI .

UPDATE 1346z:  At last USA stations are appearing on 10m. The transatlantic 10m path is open today.  N5CSC (8009km) has exchanged spots with me. There are others too. I am still using 2W.

UPDATE 1704z:  10m still well open to the USA.

UPDATE 1848z:   This was the last time I noted transatlantic signals here this eveing.

UPDATE 2020z:    Still good 10m signals from EA8/LA3JJ (500mW) coming through although a few minutes later the band seems to have closed for any DX.

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.