Sunspots

Today's sunspot number is 90 (still going up again in recent days) with 20-30MHz propagation "normal". Conditions on 10m should remain good again. USA stations should be audible very soon again as well as South Americans.  In the last few days, lack of activity rather than conditions have been the issue on 10m WSPR to South America.

160m WSPR

For a total change I have fired up the "strapped feeders" antenna on 160m WSPR.  No spots yet given or received,  but UK/Europe activity is very low so far this evening.   If I manage to get out on 472kHz, it should work OK (but not brilliantly) on 160m.

Last night I meant to go on 70cms for the UKAC activity session, but I completely forgot about it!

UPDATE 1845z:  Best DX report, of me, is from OZ7IT (853km) at -24dB S/N.   My power out is 2W.  My ERP  (claimed as 1W) is more probably in the low mW region. I'll stay on 160m this evening, and probably overnight.

Early evening unique WSPR spots on 160m

Will try a new band later

Later today, or this evening,  I shall try WSPR on a new band, probably 160m or 80m with the "strapped feeder" antenna via my ATU.  Both 630m (472kHz) and 10m are getting rather predictable! 160m or 80m will make an interesting change I think. I may try 60m too as I hold an NoV.

Back on 10m for now

Yesterday and overnight I tried 472kHz using the 12m baseline earth-electrode antenna. No new reporters but the results are good.

For a while now I have been back on 10m WSPR.   Plenty of Spanish,  Austrian and Swedish activity and best DX so far Israel 4X1RF (3519km). No great DX as yet but the band should open to the USA shortly.

UPDATE 1255z:  WG2Z (5600km) was the first USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR at 1200z.

UPDATE 1505z: 10m has been very good to the USA all afternoon. It really is too easy with plentiful spots in both directions.  I have a visitor until about 1615z, but will then change bands, probably to 160m.#

UPDATE 1514z:  The lack of S.Americans  - only 51 stations active on 10m WSPR in the world at the moment - makes it look as if propagation is not there in that direction. I am sure if there were LU, CX or PY stations on 10m WSPR I would copy them pretty well right now. My visitor (speech therapist) has not turned up. She may be held up in traffic. She is normally very reliable.

Sunspots

The sunspot count is climbing again to  70 (stable) - I assume a more active region has rotated to face the Earth - and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". I assume 10m will be good again today.

472kHz - F1AFJ JN06ht

My map showing stations I copied on 472kHz WSPR left off F1AFJ (607km) who is quite a long way down France in JN06ht square. He is running a decent ERP and this may explain why I copy him so well, even on the earth-electrode "antenna" aiming the wrong way.

1 million visits

A significant milestone on this blog was passed today with over 1 million visits!  I continue to be amazed that so many people read my blog and keep coming back.

Thank you all for your continuing support. I hope the mix of content meets with your approval and continues to do so in the months ahead.

My poor health has prevented me doing what I most enjoy, which is building simple circuits and carrying out experiments "in the field" locally. With time, I hope I get much fitter so these things can start again.  In the meantime, I experiment as best I can at home.

10m WSPR - not on today

As I was out for much of the morning, I decided not to go on 10m WSPR today. Checking WSPRnet logs the band was well open (again) from Europe to the USA, although I missed this.

Currently I am operating with 5mW ERP on 472kHz using the 12m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" across the garden.

472kHz - directionality of earth-electrode "antenna"

Last night and today, my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR from the 12m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" was copied by 9 unique stations with best DX being F6GEX (590km) in IN97 square. In a crude attempt to plot the directionality of the "antenna" I have shown the QTH squares in which I was received as purple coloured squares marked with a cross. Other purple squares shows where I received stations from too.

5mW ERP 472kHz - crossed + coloured squares shows where spotted

This is crude, but the directionality is roughly E-W I think, which makes sense. The reception by F6GEX (590km) in IN97 is south of west, but not orthogonal to the loop. DK7FC is very strong and I would expect to copy Stefan off the side of the loop.

I shall leave 472kHz running with the earth-electrode antenna again tonight.

Sunspots

Sunspot count has increased to 41 and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". Today should be a good day on 10m.