6m WSPR - what a waste of effort, so far

Since around 0915z, I have been using about 30dBm (1W) ERP vertical on 6m WSPR on 20% TX, with the remainder of the time on RX. In all that time I have seen NOTHING and been seen by NOBODY at all. I was hoping to catch a little GDX or wintertime Es, but no luck so far.

I shall stick with 6m for a few more hours, but think it now unlikely I'll spot anyone or anyone will spot me on 6m now. Not quite sure why I bother as I always draw a blank on 6m. The summer Es season was very productive and I am disappointed by the "out of season" 6m activity.

Stateside on 10m today

This afternoon has, again, been good with lots of spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR from North America. These are just some of the spots this afternoon, showing in time order.  As you see, most spots are from North America.

UPDATE 1745z:  K4COD (6826km) is still spotting me.

UPDATE 1906z:  KB1TLC (4983km) spotted by 500mW WSPR on 10m at 1812z. At the moment, this looks like the last spot today from North America, although I shall be on for a while yet.

UPDATE 1922z:  Currently,WSPRnet is showing 61 stations active on 10m WSPR. However, if the propagation is not there, stations cannot be copied.

UPDATE 2000z:  Just G0LRD (25km)  running 50mW now being copied on 10m WSPR. UPDATE 2003z:  I may try 6m WSPR tomorrow to see if there is any wintertime Es. UPDATE 2230z:  Now QRT.

10m winter Es?

DL6YCU (522km) is now spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am seeing lots of closer EU stations on the 10m band. I am wondering if this is the start of the winter Es season? It usually occurs December and January. I should return to 6m WSPR soon!

OFCOM statement: Updating the Amateur Radio Licence

OFCOM here in the UK have decided to make 470kHz and the 5MHz slots available to full licence holders without the need for an NoV. There are some other changes too, mainly affecting microwave bands in the UK.

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/amateur-radio-licence/statement?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amateur-statement-dec14 .

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 137 yet 10m propagation is only forecast to be "fair". This is the day I spot New Zealand on 10m WSPR!   On previous days when 10m propagation was "good"  I did not.  

Moral - on 10m the forecasts are a guide. Do not always take them as gospel.

UPDATE 1020z:  Still just Europeans copying my 500mW on 10m WSPR . No more "super DX" seen yet today.

ZL on 10m WSPR today

ZL2IT (18569km) running 5W was spotted here on 10m WSPR this morning at 0946z, not long after turning the rig on.  He was not strong at -25dB S/N.  As yet, no reports of my 500mW from Australia or New Zealand today.

Just Europeans spotting me so far this morning. Distances seem to suggest F-layer propagation, although I am unsure about some of the closer stations e.g. Italy which could be back-scatter or even Es. Every day now my 500mW is copied right across Europe.

UPDATE 1105z:   Just spotted LX and DL on 10m WSPR. This far too short for F2 propagation. I suspect this is Es as there are now lots of closer EU stations being copied. No Doppler evident on these signals.

UPDATE 2200z:  The day ended with reports of my 500mW WSPR from no further than the USA. In 2 years time I'd be thrilled to bits with this! Today, the USA and Canada are easy even with 500mW.

Last transatlantic spot of my 500mW on 10m WSPR?

WG2Z (5600km) was spotting me well at 1842z but no-one else from the other side of the Atlantic has since then. Only time will tell if this was the last one tonight. I shall stay on 10m WSPR for a few more hours yet. G0LRD (25km) running 50mW s now the only station being copied currently. UPDATE 2004z:  WG2Z at 1842z does appear to be the last USA station spotting me today. The last USA station that I copied was also WG2Z in the immediately preceding time slot. The 10dB difference in power seems to make no difference: once the path closes, that is the end of it. UPDATE 2042z:  Still just G0LRD (25km) running 50mW being copied now on 10m WSPR. I shall probably go QRT at around 2100. UPDATE 2155z:  Now QRT until after breakfast time tomorrow.

Our varied hobby

One of the great things about amateur radio is the number of different ways in which the hobby can be enjoyed.

For over a year now my health has been poor because a brain bleed in September 2013. Before then, I enjoyed QRP QSOs (mainly SSB), construction and field experiments from VLF to optical. Since my stroke I have been clumsy and (until recently) not allowed to drive. Very very slowly, normality is returning but I think it will be way into 2015 before I can call myself well.

In the meantime, I still manage WSPR and other digital modes from home. I can even, albeit briefly, manage our local 2m FM net and the occasional VHF/UHF contest. Some people enjoy satellites, MS or moonbounce. Others just like to ragchew on 80m.

We must rejoice that there are so many different, yet equally valid, ways of enjoying ourselves. We have a great hobby.

10m WSPR - too easy right now?

Conditions on 10m really are good right now and in a few years time it will be hard to believe how good they  really were. Enjoy the good times - it may be a very long time, if ever in some of our lifetimes, before we see such F2 conditions on 10m again. Yes 10m is ALWAYS fun in the spring and summer months when Es is good but right now F2 propagation on 10m in the daytime is very good and worldwide DX is possible.

Unique 500mW 10m WSPR reports so far today (at 1700z)

VLF amateur radio

Being involved in VLF amateur radio is a very specialised activity requiring special (but low cost) kit to be successful. Casual listening is highly unlikely to be successful. Long distance reception of amateur VLF signals usually involves looking for signals using Spectrum Laboratory software locked to a VLF MSK signal so that very narrow bandwidths can be looked at for hours or days on end.

Most amateur VLF tests are done on 8.27kHz as this is unallocated spectrum in many countries.

News about amateur VLF activity can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/ . There has been very little amateur VLF work done this year but amateur VLF signals have crossed the Atlantic.

Tests using utilities assisted earth-mode do not involve big loading coils. Just under 6km has been achieved with just 5W using this mode, before I had my stroke! The kit was simple too. See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/earthmode .

One of the things I am really looking forward to, when fit again, is some more field work with VLF using earth-mode.