Why I like WSPR

 These are some of the reasons I like WSPR mode:

• About 100 stations (or more) can co-habit in a 200Hz wide WSPR sub-band on each band, time and frequency sharing. In reality, usually far fewer stations on worldwide per band.
• Low power is all you need 1mW to 5W is quite fine. I tend to use 1-2W, but have been spotted at DX distances with a few mW. Some even use uW power levels!
• If there is an opening everyone has a fair chance (anyone can be spotted at great ranges)
• Simple antennas work. No need for beams on HF.
• Can monitor activity (your own and that of others) in the lounge by visiting website www.WSPRnet.org on any PC or tablet.
• Speaking not needed (saves my stroke damaged voice).
• Highly sensitive (12-14dB better than 12wpm CW?).
• Can do other things whilst WSPRing.
• Automatic - requires no manual intervention once running.
• Ideal for accurate comparative measurements (e.g antennas, rigs).
• Ideal for propagation experiments.  
• About QRSS10 equivalent.
• Works from VLF to UHF (watch stability on higher bands).
• A QRP man's dream mode.
• For 2-way QSOs use JT9-1 (about 2dB worse than WSPR).

Disadvantages:

• Needs accurate timing (usually sync'd to internet time).
• Need good frequency accuracy.
• Usually needs a PC (not always e.g Hans Summers Ultimate 3 and similar kits).
• Needs careful interfacing to rig to avoid loops and 50, 100Hz sidebands.

Download WSPR software at http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wspr.html .

First 6m Es today

Just exchanged WSPR spots around 1144z on 6m with CT1GVN (1798km) This is the first 6m Es seen here in a couple of days. Signals are strong both ways.

UPDATE 1251z:  Exchanging strong (Es) 6m WSPR spots with DL4MFC (916km). 9 spots exchanged so far by 1320z.

UPDATE 1304z:  Currently 44 WSPR stations active on 6m worldwide (same as active on 10m). 6m is a good band at this time of the year - Magic Band!

UPDATE 1422z:   No more 6m Es here since 1354z.  Probably will have to wait until teatime for more?

UPDATE 1655z:  Still no more 6m Es here since 1354z. 

VHF/UHF beacons

In the next few days I must continue my search to find out which beacons will be good propagation indicators. I am surprised how well some (long way away) beacons can be copied nearly all of the time.

Access to the shack will be more limited these next few days as I have to walk through the guest bedroom to get there and we have visitors staying. I have still to hear the GB3MCB 2m beacon in Cornwall and I am wondering if it is operational? By ow I would have expected the odd MS ping, at least.

I am looking forward to a more complete 70cm beacon network again. At the moment there are very few operational 70cm beacons in the UK. GB3UHF at Fairmile in Kent should be very useful when it becomes operational as I can peak the beams using the 2m GB3VHF beacon first.

During the last solar peak I remember copying a 6m beacon in NW Canada on just a whip antenna!

Sunspots and HF conditions

Today the sunspot count is 155 (good) but 20-30MHz conditions are expected to be poor. Mind you they were meant to be poor yesterday yet CX2ABP was a decent signal on 10m WSPR last evening.

So far this morning 6m has been disappointing with just locals spotting me and no Es seen, as yet.  It was quiet on 6m yesterday , which was why I spent most of the day on 10m.

We are now in basically summertime conditions so we can expect F-layer DX to be mainly N-S with fewer E-W openings on 15, 12 and 10m. Of course Es livens the summer months and some quite exceptional DX is possible on rare days. This is one of the pleasures of summertime DXing, you can never be sure, even on 6m or even 4m. The latter is band I've rarely used.

Late return to 6m tonight

After 10m, I have returned to 6m hoping for some GDX or even very late Es. However, it looks like I am the only G station transmitting WSPR so I am unlikely to copy any GDX unless a few more G stations come on. I shall leave the kit running so we'll see who copies me. In some evenings I have copied Gs to around 200km away by a mix of tropo and aircraft reflection when Doppler is favourable.

UPDATE  2214z: G4IKZ copying me still, but no-one else so far.

UPDATE 1135z (next day): G4IKZ(18km) and G4KPX (14km) only spotting me this morning. No GDX, No Es.

Back on 10m again for an evening look

CX2ABP(11127km) in Montevideo (GF15wc) has just been spotted here at -25dB S/N on 10m WSPR even though propagation is supposed to be "poor" and he is using 5w.

10m really is my favorite band of all. Propagation supposed to be "poor" yet here is a South Anerican 11127km away on QRP! Now he is -21dB S/N and getting better!

UPDATE  2015z:  Weak highly Doppler shifted signals near the bottom of the WSPR band suggest there is some 10m GDX about too.  With luck, this may decode before too long? It needs a period with low Doppler.

UPDATE 2050z:  CX2ABP has now been spotted 4 times in the last 38 minutes and he is now -18dB S/N which is 7dB stronger than at first. Again, it may be just co-incidence but his best signal corresponds with when Doppler on his signal is lowest. It is as if ALL stations with any drift or Doppler are best when Doppler (or is it drift?) is lowest.

UPDATE 2111z::  Nothing seen since 2038z, so I suspect the band has died out for the day (or the software has ceased working again!).  Maybe I should go back on 6m looking for GDX again? I'll leave it on 10m for another 20 minutes just in case.

UPDATE 2132z:  Gone back to 6m GDX hunting.  All quiet here so far this evening. 

Back on 6m

After most of the day on 10m (lots of Es around Europe) it has been back on 6m since about 1708z. So far only G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.

6m early evening WSPR spots 1W ERP

Last night there were some new 6m GDX WSPR spots including G3ZJO (79km) so I am hopeful of some more GDX and maybe Es this evening on 6m.  Eddie G3ZJO is more often seen on 472kHz running 1mW ERP.  I have not tried 472kHz for some months now because of my health issues (stroke). Sticking to the higher HF bands and VHF (6m and 2m) have been easier. I need a better antenna for MF.

UPDATE 1950z: Been on 6m for over an hour and a half and not even the  briefest hint of a signal seen yet. Just the spots from G4IKZ proving the kit is on and working. Very disappointing so far this evening. No Es or GDX at all.

UPDATE 2000z:   Decided to go back to 10m even though 20-30MHz propagation is now forecast to be "poor".

President Lincoln V2 transceiver CW bugs

Potential buyers beware if you want to use the rig on 10m CW.  Hopefully, later versions/shipments will correct "early adopter" bugs. I can wait!

Doug says the Nevada ones are the most recent.  Some other suppliers are selling older versions (more bugs), hence lower unit prices.

Hi Roger,

You may be interested in my findings on the above radio. See http://gm0elp.blogspot.co.uk/

Cheers

Doug GM0ELP (fellow 10m enthusiast)

A Yaesu FT817 replacement coming?

From Steve G1KQH:

As its based around the 817, I guess rumour will be rife that it will soon be replaced?

Eligible FT-897D/DM/DS
June 2014 production end time

FT-897D series was popular for many years will be discontinued at last. (Successor model no immediate plans) will be limited stock. And as soon as possible please the person of your choice

FT-897D
http://www.cqcqde.com/shop/82_2230.html

73 Steve

http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Does this mean a replacement for the FT817 is coming?  We can only hope Yaesu will do the FT817 replacement as their next product.  For the life of me I cannot understand why they have not replaced it 2 years ago on the UP part of the solar cycle.  Here we are now on the slide to a probable quiet few cycles. Not the best time to launch a new all-mode transceiver unless they plan to add some VHF/UHF bands like 70 and 1296MHz?  That would be nice. Personally, I'd buy it if it covered 10m-23cms. That would be a CLASS selection of bands especially for Es (10, 6, 4 and 2m). 70cms and 1296MHz would be good for tropo. As a multi-mode mainly VHF/UHF transceiver with 10m thrown it, it would be a neat new radio with a good market worldwide.

A morning on 10m

For a change, this morning I went on 10m rather than 6m. I had to disconnect the antennas early on because of a passing thunderstorm, but these are the results up to now with 2W out.  Basically a fair scatter of 10m Es WSPR spots given and received from across Europe. No DX from outside Europe seen (yet).  Hopefully will see some South Americans later.

Sunspot count today is 132 (quite respectable) and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal".

10m unique WSPR spots (2W) this morning

Southern Europeans are exchanging WSPR spots with S.Africa (TEP?) at around 8400-8500km, but N.Europeans are missing out.