Best wishes for 2015

As I write this, it is still 2014 here in the UK but in most of Europe, Asia and Australasia it is already 2015. I wish all my blog readers the very best for 2015.

I really hope my health improves in 2015 so that I can resume field experiments!

QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

As I was getting no results (apart from G6AVK earlier) on 6m, I have decided to QSY down to MF for the rest of the evening and overnight. I am still using 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna".

Already, I have been spotted by G7NKS (46km), M1GEO (79km) and G8LCO (58km).

So far I have copied G3ZJO (79km), G7NKS (46km), G0LRD (25km), G4KPX (14km) and G8VDQ (93km).

I've only been on the band for about 15 minutes. It is currently 2211z.  There are currently 61 active stations on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2300z:  Also now copied DK7FC (669km),  G8HUH (250km), M0PPP (182km) and PA0A (417km) on 472kHz WSPR. All stations that I have copied before.

An observation on 472kHz operating: there are those who take 472kHz (and 137kHz) very seriously and who invest serious effort on rigs, antennas and ground systems and those, like me, who take MF and LF altogether less seriously and attempt to get results with the simplest systems. DK7FC is certainly one of the first type: he puts out excellent signals on MF and LF and is widely copied in the USA, something I could only dream about.

10m WSPR spots from the USA

First USA spot on 10m WSPR today was at 1312z by WG2Z (5600km). Last spot (as of 1736z) was by  KE6BID (5295km) at 1720z but there could yet be later spots from the USA.

UPDATE 2020z:   KE6BID did turn out to be the last USA spot.

UPDATE 2035z:  Went QRT on 10m WSPR at 2030z.  Still on 6m WSPR TX 20% and RX 80%.

Strong 6m WSPR spots

This morning I have received a couple of strong WSPR reports (-9dB and -14dB S/N) on 6m (1W ERP vertical here) from G6AVK (78km). I hope this means I copy, or am copied, by other 6m stations. There is a fair bit of UK activity for a change.

UPDATE 1740z:  Spots were exchanged on 6m with G6AVK at up to -4dB S/N which is very strong.  No spots given or received with anyone else on .

All time blog high

Yesterday saw the highest daily blog visit numbers ever.  I did post quite a few times, but I am still puzzled why there were so many visitors as I said nothing exceptional.  Perhaps more people are on holiday so they have more spare time? My other, more general, blog (see http://qss2.blogspot.co.uk/) did quite well for visits too.

Sunspots and 10m - Dec 31st 2014

Sunspot number today is 102 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".  My 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has only been spotted out to about 2400km so far (EU and near Russia).

I am also on 630m (472kHz) WSPR but will probably QSY to 6m soon.

"Jack Jones" - the answer is NO!!!

I have been repeatedly asked by a pirate called "Jack Jones" to add a permanent link to this website promoting his pirate TX below our 7MHz band. I am not a supporter of pirates and any such comments will be deleted at the earliest opportunity.

So the answer to your request is NO. I do NOT support pirates.

6m WSPR today

6m has been disappointing again today with spots exchanged only with G6AVK (78km). I am leaving things running on 6m for a few more hours, ever hopeful.   I could run the PA at 3dB more but don't fancy the almost 2 minutes TX slot with my MkI FT817 PAs.

6m WSPR exchanges today so far

UPDATE 1925z:  Time to go QRT on 6m and QSY to 630m (472kHz) WSPR. Went QRT at about 1930z. Now QRV on 472kHz WSPR with shot baseline earth-electrode "antenna".

LD-5 QRP rig

Steve G1KQH,  has found the price of the LNR Precision 5 band QRP radio and published this on his blog. Low cost TDA2003 audio/LF ICs recently found by Steve are now available from GQRP Club Sales.

For the LNR Precision rig data see http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/ld-5-price.html .

10m USA WSPR spots today - Dec 30th 2014

At 1254z, WG2Z (5600km) was the first station in the USA to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR signal today. He has spotted me several times since, as have others from the USA.

So far, 6m WSPR is very quiet here - no spots given or received.

UPDATE 1738z:  At 1714z WG2Z was the last USA spot of me today.

UPDATE 1845z:    Now QRT on 10m WSPR,  but continuing on 6m for a few more hours. Although I can still see G6AVK on 6m (I presume - same approximate frequency) coming through, the signal is too weak and frequency shifting to decode. The drift could be my end as well as at G6AVK'send?