Stateside DXing on 10m WSPR

10m really is getting too easy this autumn. These are the most recent recent spots on 10m WSPR this evening.

10m WSPR spots this early evening

Oh, G8LCO told me in an email that I missed a great opening to the USA on 472kHz last night  - of course it was the night I had everything turned OFF because of storms - Sod's Law! In earlier years I have copied the USA from my old QTH, on 500kHz,  but not yet on 472kHz and at the new QTH.

From Southgate News - very low cost 70cm handhelds

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/october/price_of_70cm_handhelds_falls.htm#.VDP48MnTCSo  .
This is incredible: a 5W handheld for less than £8.

Looking on eBay, just £6.99 will buy a 70cms unit with charger from Singapore. Tell  me, how can ANYONE make money on these?

Thanks to G1KQH, a link to a review:
http://hamgear.wordpress.com/2012/08/11/review-baofeng-bf-666s-bf-777s-bf-888s-and-look-alikes/

Sunspots

Today's sunspot count has slipped back to 86 but the 20-30MHz forecast is "good".   Already 10m WSPR is producing yet more F2 DX. Long may it continue. If there are USA stations looking, I might even try 6m WSPR in case there is any transatlantic F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1427z: Sadly 6m WSPR activity is very very low. I'll stick with 10m for now.

Late 10m WSPR start today

Last night I went QRT quite early because of nearby storm risks: the lightning map showed flashes quite close last evening. Until a few minutes ago I ventured (on the bus) into Cambridge for a U3AC course. This was my first excursion on my own for over a year! The course is good on Human Evolution.

10m WSPR was turned on a few minutes ago. As well as lots of USA stations, I see my 2W was spotted in Australia by VK5MR (16144km) at 1358z today. The 10m band is in good shape again.

Great to log a HUGE signal from Karen RA3APW (2443km) in Moscow. He runs a genuine 100mW from an Ultimate 3 kit.

UPDATE 1440z:  RV3DQC (2523km) is a collosal +7dB S/N  signal on 10m WSPR. This is either single hop F2 (most likely) or Es.  I think the former is more likely.

Giant solar filament

More data c/o G1KQH again, this time something that appeared in The Register.

See

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/05/gigantic_solar_filament_snakes_around_the_sun/

10m WSPR results today

I have just been comparing my 10m WSPR results today with fellow local G0LRD (25km away). He is copying FAR more than I am this morning - stations across Europe, Russia and Australia whereas I have apparently copied NOTHING and I've only been spotted by the locals.  It could be antennas, WSPR-X playing up, or something else. I have just restarted WSPR-X in case this is the reason. Over the weekend I was getting spots from distant places with just 500mW.   It  is odd as G0LND was spotting RA3APW (2466km) running a genuine 100mW very well indeed. I used to work with RA3APW (Karen) years ago. I certainly should have copied this station. Odd.

UPDATE 1318z:  Well, I don't understand this at all. Nothing had changed (i.e all WSPR-X settings were as before which worked previously), but I had to switch WSPR-X  to Direct-X input before decodes were successful and were being uploaded. Now all seems to be well again after a wasted morning. I think I have to note which settings (i.e. PC assignment of audio settings) work, then make sure these are selected next time WSPR-X is opened, rather than assume the same PC settings are assigned when the software is opened. I think this was my problem earlier. Darn it.

Sunspots today

The sunspot count has dropped to 106 (stable) but 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". We should expect decent F2 DX today again on 10m. Yesterday was very good.

UPDATE 1535z:  The 20-30MHz propagation forecast has been upgraded to "good" from "normal". Since sorting out my issue (soundcard settings) with WSPR-X I am seeing lots of USA stations decoding now.  My best DX spot from the USA currently is WA7HL (8508km) in DM51ck square which is Arizona.   In"the old days" WA7 would have been Washington state or nearby.  No longer!

Time to QSY to 472kHz WSPR

Having been spotted in ZL this morning on 10m WSPR, I think it is time to QSY dowm to MF for the evening. At the moment, there are 56 stations active on 472kHz WSPR, which is a lot. It gives my 5mW ERP a chance of being copied by some new stations.

In the last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 14 unique stations as follows:

Unique WSPR spots of my 5mW ERP in last 2 weeks on 472kHz

I don't know how to check 472kHz spots received for the whole of this year as WSPRnet only allows me to look back for a maximum of 2 weeks. I can do it manually but would prefer an automatic way if one exists. Anyone know how to do this please?

UPDATE 1820z:   DH5RAE (995km) already spotted very early evening.  G4XRV (87km) is an all time new reporter (I think) since the table above was created, making 15 unique reporters of my 5mW ERP in the last 2 weeks on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1940z:  G8ALS (126km) is the 16th unique reporter of my 5mW ERP 472kHz WSPR in the last 2 weeks. 

UPDATE 2135z: Most of my 472kHz WSPR transmissions this evening are receiving 4-6 spots per 2 minute TX burst, which is not bad for a genuine 5mW ERP

10m WSPR - locals compared

G4KPX (14km away) seems to be using the same power as me (I suspect another FT817?) but I am not sure what antenna he is using. I know Richard is very keen on magnetic loops. Looking at his spots sent and received he seems to be getting quite a few more than me.

I know my antenna could be better, but in my present poor health think it unlikely it will be changed.  It seems clear to me that I am missing some stations because of my antenna on 10m.

G0LRD (25km) seems to get fewer spots than Richard, but usually gets better results than me.

UPDATE 1325z: The first USA spot with me was at 1226z whereas with G4KPX was 3 hours sooner than me!  Antennas matter if you want first class results on 10m. Presumably whatever antenna G4KPX is using has a lower take-off angle and is more efficient.

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!