Windows Updates and (late start) 10m WSPR

This morning , I assumed I was on 10m WSPR but instead I discovered the (new Windows 8.1) PC was doing a Windows update and was quietly waiting for me to restart the computer! This I did at around 1300z after which I was back on 10m WSPR.  Sunspot count is down to 83 with "disturbed conditions" today so I would expect 10m conditions at 2W to be more difficult.

PY2RN 10m WSPR spots early afternoon today

My first spot today at 1318z is of PY2RN (9550km) running 5W.  Excellent reports both given and received.

Interesting that even at 1822z, not a single spot exchanged with North America, well here at least. All 10m propagation, for me, is in the N-S direction so far today. More like quieter years. Others with better low angle antennas may have done better.

Non line-of-sight (NLOS) 481THz paths from home QTH

Before venturing out, I have been trying to plot possible NLOS paths with the optical TX at home (inside) and the RX at a convenient roadside spot at a moderate (local) distance. One possible path is VERY remote down very uneven fenland roads which would have to be navigated in the dark with my wife driving the car. I am thinking about her driving the car. I am not allowed to drive as a result of my stroke.  Many of the NLOS paths are blocked by nearby houses and trees. It is a surprisingly hard task.

 Back to Google Earth to see where might be worth trying. From previous tests it is necessary to aim very carefully.

Southern Brazil PU3RRW 10m WSPR

PU3RRW (10652km) was spotted 3 times (so far) this evening. This station in GF38tf  is about as far south as one can get in Brazil and was a massive +9dB S/N for 5W on WSPR at times.

I wonder if TEP  propagation was helping to give signals this strong on 10m.

More transatlantic 10m

Atlantic

10m is still (mainly) open to the USA and Canada from just before lunchtime, local time. The sunspot number continues to decline, but 10m propagation remains in great shape. Even 6m should be good for TEP from southern latitudes. The MUF near Brazil was 47MHz yesterday, so only a bit short of that needed for 6m TEP.   

PY2RN (9550km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR several times already today. Southern Brazil is a long way from the UK but it is mostly a sea path.

10m oddity

10m WSPR early morning April 11th 2014

WA2YUN has just been spotted by lots of us in Europe, including me, at around 0908z. His reported locator is RK39hh which is near Wake Is in the Pacific. I suppose this is JUST possible at 11946km (especially early mornings) but it is more probable he is reporting the wrong locator. It is too early for transatlantic propagation - very odd.

KH9/WA2YUN is shown as Wake Is, so this is probably genuine.
See: http://www.dxcoffee.com/eng/2012/03/07/kh9wa2yun-wake-island/ 

WA2YUN/KH9 QSL card

A glutton for punishment? 474.2kHz WSPR

I have just gone back on to 474.2kHz USB dial WSPR with 5mW ERP from the 15m spaced earth-electrode antenna. I must be a glutton for punishment!

So far this evening I have seen a couple of different Dutch stations and I have been seen a couple of times by PA3ABK/2 (306km) and once by F1AFJ (607km). The kit will be left on overnight to see if any new stations turn up.

 

WWV at 25MHz

The Southgate Amateur Radio News Page reports that WWV (Fort Collins) is experimenting at 25MHz for the first time since 1977 for a limited time.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/april/wwv_now_conducting_experimental_broadcasts_on_25_mhz.htm#.U0bjPygvk2A .

6m TEP in the Far East and 10m propagation today

Looking at the 6m spots on WSPRnet.com I note the many trans-equatorial spots of VK4TVL by JF1PSS (6176km) with some being of incredible strength (+11dB S/N ) and no drift at all. The VK is running 20W, but even 2W would be enough. Local time looks like early evening.

Over here, I can see no South African or other African WSPR stations active making 6m TEP attempts here a waste of time.

Later unique 10m WSPR spots of my 2W until 1744z.

No great DX here this morning on 10m with EA8/DL9XJ best DX at 2981km  (single hop F layer). There are also a couple of GDX stations at 162 and 184km.

The first transatlantic spot was at 1108z when W4HFZ was copyable at 6819km. He was using 5W. There are other 4 area stations being copied too. The pattern this afternoon is similar to previous days on 10m.

My best DX today is FR1GZ (9724km) at 1550z. Just now I was spotted by VE6ODQ (6640km) in DO34ir (Athabasca).

XP3A - Nook, Greenland on 10m WSPR

For some reason (Win 8.1?) I have had issues today uploading my WSPR spots (that is of others) to the database. I have restarted the software and reset the clock and now all seems to be OK.  Among the first uploads was a strong signal from XP3A in Nook, Greenland at 1932z.. Although strong (+4dB S/N) there was -4Hz Doppler on the signal, perhaps because the signal was coming through the Auroral Oval?

XP3A's QSL card

This was the first time I have seen/heard Greenland on 10m WSPR but I was lucky enough to work Greenland on 15m SSB handheld with my FT817 in my back garden some years ago on just a base loaded whip with  a counterpoise!   I think the mode then was double hop Es. It was an easy QSO. Being able to move the antenna for best signal helps.

Interestingly, a VE4 was suffering -4Hz Doppler just now (signal again passing through auroral oval?). I often see large Doppler shifts on signals crossing the Equator (e.g. on FR1GZ) and I assumes this is due to moving F layers (spread F) as signals cross the magnetic Equator. I would expect TEP signals to have considerable Doppler too.

Phlatlights

When I have repeated my over-the-horizon NLOS optical (red LED) tests at 481THz using LEDs bought from Hong Kong, I must remember to try my Phlatlights which are about 10dB stronger.  I bought these nearly 2 years ago and have not yet fired these up! The ones I have already have heatsinks so it should be quite easy to use these for QRSS3 tests. In theory it should mean aiming a little less critical or greater range when "on-beam".

At 8.7km over the horizon with a clear sky, QRSS3 signals were about 10dB S/N with the 10mm HK LEDs, so with Phlatights and the same optics (100mm lenses) signals should be much stronger. More tests for when I am fitter.