Sunspot count today is 64 (moderate) and 20-30MHz conditions "normal". Not seen F2 DX yet, and may not today?
 | ||
| 10m WSPR results so far today. 2W ERP from me. |
11 Aug 2014
10m Es
Since early morning (0940z) I have been on 10m WSPR, where Es is still there. Not as frequently open, but opening most days at some time. The PA/PD stations are very short skip for Es: it would be interesting to see the traces these stations received: it is just possible these were tropo/aircraft assisted and not Es.
Sunspot count today is 64 (moderate) and 20-30MHz conditions "normal". Not seen F2 DX yet, and may not today?
Sunspot count today is 64 (moderate) and 20-30MHz conditions "normal". Not seen F2 DX yet, and may not today?
Overnight on 472kHz
After all the stormy weather had passed, I returned to 472kHz WSPR overnight. My reward was 1 new reporter PA3ABK/2 in the middle of the night. This brings the unique reporters this season up to 10 now, the same as the number of stations I have spotted on 472kHz WSPR. Results are still disappointing as I know that many more reports are possible in both directions. I think I am spotting and being spotted by most active stations in range. The issue is too few active stations on 472kHz WSPR.
 |
| 472kHz WSPR spots of my QRP signal this season so far |
10 Aug 2014
472kHz WSPRing tonight
As all the storms appear to be well away now, I shall remain on 472kHz WSPR overnight. I am both TXing and Rxing. TX duty cycle is about 18%.
Apart from M0LMH (223km) near Harrogate, no other new reporters, or stations spotted, today here since I came back on 472kHz WSPR after the storms. Maybe I''ll be lucky overnight?
GM4SLV (896km) in Shetland has only spotted me once tonight so far. The storms are heading John's way.
I have just re-synced the PC clock to internet time. I am hopeful of some new reporters for this new season. If you get a chance, give 472kHz a go, if only on RX.
Apart from M0LMH (223km) near Harrogate, no other new reporters, or stations spotted, today here since I came back on 472kHz WSPR after the storms. Maybe I''ll be lucky overnight?
GM4SLV (896km) in Shetland has only spotted me once tonight so far. The storms are heading John's way.
I have just re-synced the PC clock to internet time. I am hopeful of some new reporters for this new season. If you get a chance, give 472kHz a go, if only on RX.
A close call (storm) and 472kHz WSPRing again
The thunder and lightning just missed us today. We had heavy rain, hail and thunder but the lightning missed us by a few miles. It is now out over the North Sea.
About to reconnect rigs, antennas and PC. Think I'll give 472kHz WSPR another try.
UPDATE 1644z: Now back on 472kHz WSPR and rewarded with spotting G3WCB immediately and being spotted by 3 stations on first transmission including M0LMH (223km) as a new reporter this season. Will stick on 472kHz until morning unless more storms stop play.
UPDATE 1730z: Currently reading "The Everything Store - Jeff Bazos and the age of Amazon" by Brad Stone, lent to me be a neighbour/friend. Fascinating read about the history of Amazon. Bazos sounds like the boss you would NOT want - a real taskmaster - a very "driven" man with real conviction.
About to reconnect rigs, antennas and PC. Think I'll give 472kHz WSPR another try.
UPDATE 1644z: Now back on 472kHz WSPR and rewarded with spotting G3WCB immediately and being spotted by 3 stations on first transmission including M0LMH (223km) as a new reporter this season. Will stick on 472kHz until morning unless more storms stop play.
 |
| Initial WSPR spots this evening on 472kHz |
5 miles and closing - QRT time!
With that storm just 5 miles away and hailstones now falling, I have decided to go QRT for now and disconnect everything radiowise. The storm may yet miss us though, but it is too close to be sure.
Only Es from Spain since FR1GZ at 1204z.
The storm epicentre does seem to be missing us. I may not be QRT for too long. Can hear distant thunder, but skies are clearing. Burwell is between Cambridge and Newmarket.
Only Es from Spain since FR1GZ at 1204z.
The storm epicentre does seem to be missing us. I may not be QRT for too long. Can hear distant thunder, but skies are clearing. Burwell is between Cambridge and Newmarket.
 |
| See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en |
FR1GZ (F2 DX) and a storm coming?
1204z saw FR1GZ (9724km) in the log for my first F2 DX on 10m today. I hope he spots me too although I am running less power (2W ERP) than his 5W. He was only -25dB S/N, not too strong.
Looking at the lightning map, there is a nasty storm currently coming our way. It is over Bedford as I write and moving ominously closer. Much closer and I shall have to disconnect everything and go QRT until it has passed. Another 20 minutes should tell me if it is coming this way or will just miss us. There are other storms further south too. Today looks like our unlucky day. It is raining hard - not looking promising! Latest flash over St Neots. The storm coming our way from the Cotswolds may be tracking just NW of us and may miss us, again.
Looking at the lightning map, there is a nasty storm currently coming our way. It is over Bedford as I write and moving ominously closer. Much closer and I shall have to disconnect everything and go QRT until it has passed. Another 20 minutes should tell me if it is coming this way or will just miss us. There are other storms further south too. Today looks like our unlucky day. It is raining hard - not looking promising! Latest flash over St Neots. The storm coming our way from the Cotswolds may be tracking just NW of us and may miss us, again.
QSYed to 10m
Well, 472kHz WSPR ran overnight with absolutely no new reporters, just the same faithful few, so I am giving up on that band for now. I shall return in a while.
In the meantime, I QSYed to 10m where I was greeted with immediate success. Even before changing the settings on the FT817 to 2W I was being spotted in Portugal even when running 500mW out. Since then, I have switched to 2W ERP and am being spotted by DK6UG (633km), CT1JTQ (1843km) and I am spotting EA5CYA and SI9AM. Plenty of Es about.
Sunspot count today is 111 (decent and stable) and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal" so there is a decent chance of F2 DX as long as I don't have to go QRT because of storms. We are getting highish winds and driving miserable rain, which are the left-overs from Hurricane Bertha, having crossed the Atlantic. I don't think we are seeing the worst of the weather in the UK; other parts are getting hit far harder. At he moment, the worst of the storms are tracking well to the east of us. See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en.
Today our son is driving from Dunkirk to Brittany. I hope the weather over there is a little better! His forecast is rain, but not as bad as here.
UPDATE 1122z: I think I need a new challenge on WSPR - perhaps I should try a totally new band? 10m is fun but again I am seeing just the same stations.
In the meantime, I QSYed to 10m where I was greeted with immediate success. Even before changing the settings on the FT817 to 2W I was being spotted in Portugal even when running 500mW out. Since then, I have switched to 2W ERP and am being spotted by DK6UG (633km), CT1JTQ (1843km) and I am spotting EA5CYA and SI9AM. Plenty of Es about.
Sunspot count today is 111 (decent and stable) and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal" so there is a decent chance of F2 DX as long as I don't have to go QRT because of storms. We are getting highish winds and driving miserable rain, which are the left-overs from Hurricane Bertha, having crossed the Atlantic. I don't think we are seeing the worst of the weather in the UK; other parts are getting hit far harder. At he moment, the worst of the storms are tracking well to the east of us. See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en.
Today our son is driving from Dunkirk to Brittany. I hope the weather over there is a little better! His forecast is rain, but not as bad as here.
UPDATE 1122z: I think I need a new challenge on WSPR - perhaps I should try a totally new band? 10m is fun but again I am seeing just the same stations.
 |
| 10m WSPR this morning - plenty of Es |
9 Aug 2014
WSPR disappointment (so far) on 472kHz
Results to date suggest my ERP is at least as good as in previous seasons yet (up to now at least) very few stations have spotted me. I think there are fewer WSPR stations active? My best DX so far, and my daylight range on TX, suggest many more reports should be possible. Where is everyone?
I hope 472kHz isn't going to disappoint as 6m WSPR did. On 6m WSPR there was a real lack of transatlantic stations. On 472kHz WSPR there seem to be fewer WSPR stations full stop.
I shall leave the kit running again tonight and hope I get some nice surprises. Of course, it could be the local noise floor is higher than it was for many stations and they've just given up on the band? At the moment I'm lucky: my sensitivity is rather low, but my noise floor is very low too. This may not last.
UPDATE 2110z: Since returning to 472kHz WSPR I have spotted just 10 unique stations and been spotted by 8 unique stations. Some years ago on 500kHz I was spotted by nearly 100 unique stations. My setup is not that different. OK this was over several months and in the autumn/winter seasons, but there do seem to be fewer different stations active. I'll certainly stick with 472kHz WSPR to give it a fair chance though.
UPDATE 2134z: Currently there are 32 stations shown as being active on 472kHz WSPR. 24 of these are European. This is a good number.
I hope 472kHz isn't going to disappoint as 6m WSPR did. On 6m WSPR there was a real lack of transatlantic stations. On 472kHz WSPR there seem to be fewer WSPR stations full stop.
I shall leave the kit running again tonight and hope I get some nice surprises. Of course, it could be the local noise floor is higher than it was for many stations and they've just given up on the band? At the moment I'm lucky: my sensitivity is rather low, but my noise floor is very low too. This may not last.
UPDATE 2110z: Since returning to 472kHz WSPR I have spotted just 10 unique stations and been spotted by 8 unique stations. Some years ago on 500kHz I was spotted by nearly 100 unique stations. My setup is not that different. OK this was over several months and in the autumn/winter seasons, but there do seem to be fewer different stations active. I'll certainly stick with 472kHz WSPR to give it a fair chance though.
UPDATE 2134z: Currently there are 32 stations shown as being active on 472kHz WSPR. 24 of these are European. This is a good number.
 | |
| 472kHz WSPR stations active in last 10 minutes |
Obsolete, unsupported software
Steve G1KQH has been at it again, noticing that, as well as no longer supporting XP, Microsoft is also stopping support for older versions of it web browser, IE.
73
Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Incidentally, I am told Microsoft Security Essentials got a good review in a recent "Which". I still use MSE on some machines and have never, yet, had any security issues, although I tend to be careful with dodgy attachments.
Update
your Web browser. I got rid of IE years ago and moved to Firefox. some still run
IE6???
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/
Incidentally, I am told Microsoft Security Essentials got a good review in a recent "Which". I still use MSE on some machines and have never, yet, had any security issues, although I tend to be careful with dodgy attachments.
Back on 472kHz
 |
| Meadow at Ickworth |
 |
| WSPR reports on 472kHz QRPp today |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
