10m with simple antennas

There is little doubt that when 10m is in the doldrums a beam and QRO would probably be helpful. Every bit of power would help.  An HF beam is unlikely to add more than 5-6dB gain (1 S point) so when the band is in good shape this is very little., but when the band is dead QRO and a beam might help winkle out DX.

Tenner QRP 10m CW rig described on my website

But what about right now? In my experience, even a simple omni-directional antenna is fine, coupled with QRP.  You might use a CB vertical or a Cushcraft AR10 vertical (both noisy on RX being vertical?) or the 10m halo on my website.

Even during solar minimums I have worked LUs with 10W SSB to simple indoor antennas. There are very few times when QRO really matters. It may help, but it is much more fun with QRP (rig and antenna). QRP CW can be great fun, especially with simple homemade gear.

No 6m Es today?

Well, it is now 2010z and, so far today, not a single station copied here via Es today on 6m. Today must be a quiet day.

Luckily, GDX has been very good, making up for the lack of Es DX.

In my experience, if there are stations active on the band, either GDX or Es they will be heard, even with my indifferent V2000 vertical omni vertical antenna. As far as I know I am not missing much that is active.  Even my 1W ERP is being widely reported - Israel best so far this year with 8 WSPR reports of my 1W ERP signal.

6m - more GDX today

6m GDX has again been good today. M0EMM (192km), G4TZX (146km), G8ECI (122km),  G3XGS (65km),  G6AVK (78km) and G4VXE (136km) copied today. In all, quite a number of GDX stations either copying my 1W ERP or being copied here over the last few days.  Some of these are helped by aircraft but almost certainly copyable by plain tropo. I wonder if there has been a small lift on 6m tropo or if this is range under normal conditions?

Sunspot count is 56 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal".

6m GDX and Es on WSPR today

Several examples of 6m GDX today so far: G8JNJ/A (184km) spotted my 1W ERP at -25dB S/N with no Doppler evident at 0850z and G3WKW (134km) was spotted with 4Hz Doppler at 1006z, presumably with the aid of aircraft reflection.  At 1032z G4VXE (136km) spotted me at -23dB S/N without apparent Doppler. So far, no Es noticed here, but it is early yet.

Sunspot count is "only" 55 ( this will be considered marvelous in 1 years' time!) and 20-30MHz propagation "normal", so F-layer DX is questionable on 10m.  Of course, on 6m and 10m Es does not really get impacted by sunspots (I think) so both 10m and 6m could open Europe-wide later, possibly much further by multi-hop Es.

UPDATE 1256z:   6m spots also received from G4BRK (134km) and M0ZRQ (102km) around 1200-1248z. Still no Es yet today here. It has been a significant day for 6m GDX today with 5 different stations in the range 100-184km either spotting my 1W ERP or being spotted by me. Wonderful stuff this WSPR!

UPDATE 1725z:   CN8LI (2113km) just spotted my 1W ERP for first 6m Es here today at 1722z.

UPDATE 1935z:   A spot of CN8LI at 1748z and M0EMM (192km) for the best GDX spot of the day at 1908z. Today has been excellent for GDX. Doppler on M0EMM was 2Hz so probably helped by aircraft reflection.

UPDATE 2100z:   A late Es opening to France  at 2048z. F6HTL(831km) spotted me at -22dB S/N.

6m uniques today on WSPR

Antennas for 6m Es

One of the amazing things about the Magic Band (6m) is that for Es (sporadic-E) propagation, and I suspect for F-layer, almost any antenna will work. For years I have used just a V2000 VHF triband vertical with excellent results including the USA, Azores, North Africa, Ukraine and Israel worked with low power SSB/CW or spotted on  WSPR.  Polarisation often gets twisted so a beam is NOT needed.Yes, for tropo DXing a horizontal beam might well help but many GDX paths involve aircraft reflection where polarisation is also twisted.

A simple half wave vertical for 6m is at http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/schemas/on6mu_6meter_verticalantenna.htm .

6m - May 29th

Later starting on 6m WSPR today - first transmission 1044z - although so far just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me at +9dB S/N, but I don't  think I've missed any Es. Es usually peaks lunchtime and teatime.

Sunspot count is lower than of late at 72 with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal" whatever than means. I suspect that 10m will not be great for F-layer DX today, although with luck both 6m and 10m will be livened with Es propagation. I am also looking for GDX on 6m.

UPDATE 1107z: G4FFC (45km) spotted at -10dB S/N, a very decent consistent signal, when running 2W. There is just the smallest hint of Doppler (aircraft reflection) so I think this signal is pure tropo.

UPDATE 1510z:  CN8LI (2113km) spotted my 1W ERP WSPR signal at 1328z for the first Es opening noted here today. 3 spots from him by 1428z.

UPDATE 2050z:  A couple of 6m WSPR spots of Italians around teatime, otherwise quiet Es, with just local G4IKZ for 3 hours.

6m Es: good today

WSPRing on 6m got off to a good start with a three spots of SQ9SIM (1325km) around 1012z. G4IKZ is also spotting me well as usual over our 18km local path.

Sunspot count is 96 with "normal" 20-30MHz conditions. I shall probably stick on 6m , looking mainly for Es and GDX, but may go back to 10m if 6m is very very quiet. This week I have been spotted twice in South America (Brazil and Uruguay) on 10m WSPR with 2W.

So far, SQ9SIM has spotted my 6m 1W ERP weakly just once on WSPR at -29dB S/N.

UPDATE 1040z: Very strong spot from DK8NE (755km) just now of my 1W ERP on 6m. Looks like a good day for 6m Es.

UPDATE 1050z: G4ENZ (176km) in IO81vv being spotted quite well on 6m GDX. Doppler (2Hz) suggests aircraft reflection, at least on some transmissions?

UPDATE 1100z: 4X1RF (3519km) spotted my 6m 1W ERP at 1058z at a respectable -22dB S/N. Also, even more spots by German stations. This is a VERY good 6m day!

UPDATE 1230z:  Es from SQ9, DL, F, I and 4X1 so far plus GDX. A good day so far on 6m QRP.

UPDATE 1620z:  All quiet here this afternoon on 6m apart from 20+ spots from G4IKZ.  Still amazed at spots from Israel -  that is SOME distance on 6m, especially with 1W ERP from a small V2000 vertical.

UPDATE 1717z:  At 1648z a surprise +3dB S/N spot from CN8LI (2113km) in Morocco of my 1W ERP 6m WSPR signal.

UPDATE 1945z:   Quite a lot of spots now being exchanged with CN8LI (1830-1918z ish). 6m open in that direction.

6m unique spots today

QSY to 10m WSPR

In the end I QSYed to 10m WSPR at 1424z and was rewarded immediately by Es WSPR spots from EA6URL in the Balearic Is (1439km). Several spots given and received from the Spanish area in the next 60 minutes. I'll stick on 10m for the rest of the day now to see if more distant stations (outside Europe) appear.

UPDATE 1700z:   So far, only European Es on 10m today. I shall keep looking, but chances of South America or further, are now reducing.

UPDATE 1745z:  Still just EU Es on 10m WSPR. Mainly, but not totally, in direction of Spain.

UPDATE 1830z:  Sometime between 1736z and a few minutes ago my WSPR program just stopped working. I have reset the internet clock and restarted the WSPR software. No idea what I have missed, but my Win 8.1 PC wants to do this from time to time, for no apparent reason. It also lost 10m settings. It is working now and I am still being spotted by EA6URL. Still no real DX.

UPDATE 1915z:    Still just EU Es on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2000z:  It was worth the wait: CX2ABP (11127km) in Montevideo spotted my 2W WSPR at 1946z.  Real DX at last. Signal report was weak at -31dB S/N and I wonder if it was Es (to Spain) + F2 layer for the rest of the path? I wonder if there will be other South Americans later? There seems to be a distinct lack of South American stations on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 2145z:   No more Es since 2004z. Going QRT shortly.

UPDATE 2215z:   QRT.

Unique 10m WSPR spots today (to 1840z)

472kHz transverter

It is always very satisfying to see when someone has taken one of my designs and taken it on to the next stage. In the case of M1GEO, he has made a PCB for a design based on my transverter. It looks so much better than my original! Dead bug build style is fine for "one offs" mind you.

See http://www.george-smart.co.uk/wiki/472_kHz_Transverter

It is quite a while since I was last on 472kHz. I really should try loading up  the feeder to my 2m/70cm antenna to see how this performs.

Good start on 6m Es today

IK1WVQ was spotted at 0924z and I was spotted by OE1MSB (1220km)  as early as 0824z on 6m WSPR. This is a promising start on 6m WSPR.

Sunspot count is 110 and 20-30MHz conditions described as "normal".  This is of no relevance to 6m Es propagation (at least not directly), but suggests half decent DX conditions on 10m. I may QSY to 10m later for a change.

UPDATE 1210z:   No more 6m Es here since 0928z. Got to be patient!

UPDATE 1420z:   Still no more 6m Es here, so will probably QSY to 10m shortly. G4IKZ spotting me lots (a local).