Receiving the Russian ZEVS transmissions on 82Hz (yes Hertz!)

See http://www.vlf.it/zevs/zevs.htm .

Quite a few VLF/ELFers attempt to copy the Russian ZEVS transmissions to deeply submerged nuclear subs at around 82Hz, yes, you read right, Hertz. At these frequencies even a few watts ERP penetrate deeply in the sea. The Americans used a similar system called Project Sanguine at around 76Hz , but this has now gone QRT. I think they use green lasers now?

The ZEVS data rate is low and usually there are a couple of transmissions a day. Usually Spectrum Laboratory software is needed for long term stability. Several people have been successful, although I have still to try.

I hope the transmissions are just tests these days!

ZL - my best ever 10m WSPR spot on TX

This morning on 2W 10m WSPR at 1044z I was spotted in New Zealand by ZL1RS (18047km) at a relatively strong -17dB S/N. He was in RF64vs square, which is in/near Kirikiri on North Island. Years ago I worked ZL on 10m QRP SSB just before heading to work. The 10m band is in great shape today.

Today's ZL report suggests, if he has a quiet location with a low noise floor, he might  have copied me with 20 times less power i.e. around 100mW ERP.

UPDATE 1135z:  South America is putting in an early appearance with PU2UIB (9524km) spotting my 2W WSPR as early as 1052z this morning at -22dB S/N.

Unique 10m WSPR reports of my 2W this morning

Sunspots and 10m conditions like Saturday?

Sunspot count today remains at 128 (as yesterday) and 20-30MHz propagation is again "normal".  I guess it depends on how stable things are, but already 10m WSPR is open to LA1IC (1044km). No real DX outside Europe seen yet though on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 0930z:  Guess who spoke too soon?  VK7AB (17342km) near Hobart and FR5ZX (9740km) both spotted on 10m WSPR at 0918z.  LOTS of Europeans being copied from across the continent.

GB3MCB (144.469MHz)

You may recall I had not copied this 2m Cornish beacon, even on MS pings here in East Anglia and was wondering why.  Well, it turns out it is off air because it interferes with a local repeater.  I was actually quite pleased to read this - my kit was not deaf after all. On 2m I use the FT817ND with a 3el beam.The QTH is on an East Anglian "hill" i.e. a small bump. In UKAC Tuesday evening contests I can usually work 200km+ with 5W from home.  In the last UKAC 2m contest I worked a /P station in Scotland, which was much further.

UPDATE 5.10.14 0932z:   According to the beacon keeper, they plan to turn the 2m beacon back on at GB3MCB when coax has been replaced and antennas re-sited. It is a small group though and funds are tight.

472kHz WSPR this afternoon

It has been interesting to see who spots me in the daytime on 472kHz WSPR. Only 3 stations spotted me (2 quite locals - G0LRD (25km) and G3XIZ (46km), plus G8HUH at 250km, who receives people well).

On RX, I copied 3 stations - G4KPX (14km), G8HUH (250km) and PA3ABK/2 (306km). I shall stick with 472kHz WSPR this evening. No doubt range will increase at night.

UPDATE 1636z:  29 stations currently active on 472kHz WSPR of which G4KPX, G3ZJO and myself are in the UK and transmitting.  I think we are all 3 of us are very QRP ERP stations. I know Richard G4KPX was running 1mW ERP (or less) to an indoor TX loop in a spare bedroom on 472kHz. He gets out very well.

UPDATE 1820z:  DH5RAE (995km) and DJ0ABR (983km) now being spotted here on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2000z:   G8LCO (58km) situated between Stevenage and Welwyn has copied me 6 times so far this evening. No great DX, but nice to be seen by someone relatively new (I think?) on the band.

UPDATE 2200z: G8LCO has now spotted me 12 times tonight so far. My best DX report so far is from PA0A (417km).

Now QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

Even with 500mW out on 10m I was being spotted in Cameroon by TJ3TS (5478km), so I have QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP) to see what daytime propagation is like. Initially just a spot from local G0LRD (25km) but I am hopeful of others too. Activity is not yet high (27 stations, many RX only) on MF.

The rain is just arriving here and not expected to clear through until 1600z.

Sunspots 128 and 10m conditions

Sunspot count today is a respectable 128 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal".  Already been swapping 10m WSPR spots with 4X1RF (3519km) several times since around 0700z and at 0948z VK7AB (17342km) near Hobart in Tasmania was coming through weakly.  No other Australians seen yet on 10m but the band is clearly open by F2 to some very distant places.

Nearer to home G0LRD (25km) is running 100mW and being copied OK here. I have just dropped down to 500mW from the FT817.

South America on 10m WSPR

PT2WWV (8873km) was spotting me this evening at -21dB S/N at 1810z. So far, this is my first report today from South America. If I stick around on 10m, I doubt this will be the last report. PT2WWV seems to copy me well and I often copy him on 10m.

UPDATE 1855z:   So far, PT2WWV has spotted me 3 times tonight.]

UPDATE 2230z:  Last overseas spot of me was HB9ADJ (816km) at 1932z. Just locals since then. Staying on 10m through the night now to see which Europeans appear during the night.

Should I try a new band?

As 10m is getting quite predictable these days and I think I just about know how far my 5mW ERP will get on 630m (472kHz), I am tempted to try a new band tonight, maybe 80m or 160m WSPR although activity levels are low.

Sunspots and 10m WSPR activity

Sunspot count today is 105 (decent) and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "excellent". This should mean some good long distances on 10m F2. So far, I am only being spotted by the locals.
 
UPDATE 1105z:  A few spots exchanged with 4X1RF (3519km) on 10m and EA5WO (1428km) spotted here. DK6UG (633km) has also spotted me. As yet no really long distance F2 DX copied, but I expect that to soon change.

UPDATE 1120z:   Seeing the above 10m WSPR spots you do wonder how often this band is open very briefly by Es or F2. For a WSPR decode you need the band to be open for nearly 2 minutes only. I suspect we will find it briefly opens far more frequently than was thought. After all, the MUF has just to creep above 28.1246MHz very briefly for WSPR to catch it.  On CW or SSB you'd have to be very very patient. WSPR is some 12-14dB better than CW.G0MGM

UPDATE 1144z:   G0MGM (101km) and M6NNB (127km) have been spotting me. These are  interesting GDX distances. I assume these are pure tropo or plane enhanced, although there was little or no Doppler on my signal.

Recent 10m WSPR spots

UPDATE 1434z:  Have been exchanging 10m WSPR spots with USA stations since 1252z: 10m is well open to the USA yet again. It has been open daily to the USA for weeks now. This must be F2.

UPDATE 1615z:  My 1550z TX transmission resulted in 14 spots of which 11 were from the USA and one of the remaining was even further afield from FR1GZ.