EA6GF - why 50W?

For some reason EA6GF is using 10m WSPR and running 50W. This is FAR too much power for this beaconing mode.  I hope he soon realises that WSPR stand for "Weak Signal Propagation Reporting" and just a few watts is more than enough.

It rather goes against the grain to run such high power. As an example FR1GZ was good copy earlier running 5W. People frequently run just uWs.

Turn the power down please OM EA6GF!! Nothing is proved using such high power in this mode - save your power bill and have more fun!

Best man coming to stay

Every year our best man (Pete) comes down from The Wirral to stay with us for a few days. He enjoys the bookshops in Cambridge. My wife and I will have been married 43 years on July 24th having got married in 1971. Pete is a perfect guest: he mucks in and helps. Like all good friends, we just pick up where we left off and it seems like a few days since he was last with us. He last came in November when I was still in hospital. I was so ill then I cannot remember him visiting me.

Pete was a deputy headmaster and a historian. He is very good company.

10m - WSPR Es and F2 this morning

After another night with just GDX on 6m WSPR I QSYed down to 10m this morning. There is widespread Es (both  ways) on 10m (I , SM, EA6, LB9 etc. but also FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted by F2 propagation at 0952z,1128z and 1144z..

Sunspot count is a high 179 with blackouts with "normal" 20-30MHz propagation forecast. It is clearly good enough for N-S F2 propagation - I expect S.America will be within reach later.

6m - CN8LI pipe again

CN8LI (2113km) WSPR spots of my 1W ERP today

The 6m "pipe" to Morocco seems to be open again this evening with plenty of good propagation both ways.  Above are just the spots of my 1W ERP signal in Morocco to 1922z.  Plenty in the other direction too.

UPDATE 2030z:  Now 8 reports this evening from CN8LI.

UPDATE 2040z:  In addition to the Es today, there is plenty of GDX around.

Spots by me of CN8LI this evening (so far) - 10 spots!

6m - 4X1RF - even more WSPR spots!

So far today, up to 1718z, 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted my 1W ERP no less than 8 times today. He has spotted me on many other days already - this is no "sporadic" reception: it happens time and time again.  I find it quite remarkable that my QRP is so well, and consistently, being reported on a VHF band from such a distance. The experts tell me it is Es, but how many hops?

 

4X1RF 6m spots today to 1718z.

6m - good Es day

On and off today there has been Es to/from many parts of Europe on 6m. This morning (apart from 4X1RF - Asia, assumed to be Es?) the band was widely open to Scandinavia and Italy. Since lunch, German and Russian stations have also spotted my 1W ERP.  In all, a good day on 6m Es so far. I am still waiting for some "super DX" on WSPR i.e.transatlantic.

6m F2 this autumn?

Speculating about the chances of any F2 openings on 6m this autumn. I guess the chances are slim as the solar activity is now on a downwards path, although those lucky enough to be nearer to equator could catch some TEP.  I think it will be very unlikely that we in the UK will catch any. CN8 to FR, VK to JA etc maybe.

Sunspot count today is 180 (high) with 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal".

See http://www.dxmaps.com/spots/map.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=EU&DXC=N&HF=N&GL=N .

6m - WSPR spots from 4X1RF (3519km) yet again

My 6m 1W ERP WSPR signals are yet again being spotted in Israel.

I think this is now 5 days this season he has spotted me at this incredible distance. In all I must have had around 20 spots if not more from him?  The considered wisdom is this is Es, but I do sometimes wonder what the propagation mechanism is. The lack of stations at intermediate distances may be because few are active on WSPR, but it "feels" like a single long hop, not unlike F2. My station and antenna are basic.

People who know better than me tell me it is not F2. Whatever, I am very pleased to have my QRP station being spotted so often in Israel.

 Today, starting at 0704z,  he has spotted me 6 times already by 0846z.

6m spots by 4X1RF (1W ERP here) to 0830z today

Most Es spots seem to be from Scandinavia currently, just 1 from Italy.

UPDATE 0942z:   Just Scandinavian Es for the last hour here.

UPDATE 1530z:  Another spot from Israel of my QRP 6m signal at 1314z. That makes it 7 just today!

6m - CN8LI still spotting me on WSPR

CN8LI (2113km) regularly spots my 1W ERP on 6m WSPR and is still copying me at 2028z.  I have the feeling this will not be the last spot today. Yet again my report from him was excellent at -13dB S/N. I continue to be surprised how regular these spots are and how strong. Usual strengths suggest much lower power would still be copyable.

In totally the other direction OH7AI (2000km) is also spotting my 1W ERP signal at a much weaker -23dB S/N.

UPDATE 2055z:   CN8LI is still spotting me at 2052z.  G0OQK (98km) is also spotting me at -24dB S/N at the same time.

6m - afternoon Es

All afternoon, OH7AI and OH5MD have been consistent signals on 6m WSPR. I have the sense that, if 6m is to open for "super-DX" at all on WSPR, we are going to see it in the next few days. The band has already opened across the Atlantic on SSB/CW several times but, as far as I know, the only WSPR transatlantic was a report by CN8LI of KC1AWS (5607km) on May 30th at 1700z. PE4BAS worked Puerto Rico the other evening with 5W and a V2000 on 6m with JT65 mode proving that high power is not a prerequisite. WSPR should be better than JT65.