West coast Canada to New Zealand on 6m

I heard recently of a 6m 2-way CW QSO between New Zealand (ZL3RC) and a station in Western Canada (VE7DAY). This was probably a combination of Es and transequatorial propagation. At over 12000km it is some QSO. For those prepared to invest in big antennas and high power and lots of patience, this magic band does produce some very long distance contacts, even when there is a lack of F2 propagation. My own more modest attempts on 6m WSPR have been almost a total failure but I was just using a V2000 vertical and 1W ERP. I wonder if I would have had a lot more success with 10W and a beam?

See www.amateurradio.com  .

Sunspots and declining 10m conditions

Sunspot number today is 124 (respectable) but 10m conditions are expected to be just "fair" again. I have had my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon on for about 30 minutes but so far no sign of any USA spots.  Just a few weeks ago I could just about guarantee a USA opening on 10m by now. No doubt 10m will open to the USA, but a little later and close a little earlier. Hopefully conditions will improve as the days lengthen again.

Digital systems and amateur radio?

At the moment there seem to be several competing digital modulation schemes First there was ICOM's D-star system, then C4FM from Yaesu, and of course DMR, which is gaining ground in the commercial PMR world.  There are even a few experimenting with TETRA, as used by the public services. Like Betamax and VHS, the best system may not win in the end.

At the moment, I am just not interested. I'll wait to see who wins in the end. My bet is DMR will win in the end as there will be a plentiful second hand market from PMR. This will never be so with any proprietary system. DMR is an open standard, so there will be plentiful radios around and at decent prices before too long.

10m WSPR analysis by Bert PA1B

Bert has kindly analysed 10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon as received by K9AN on several days in the last few days. Clearly mid-afternoon (1400-1500z) has been his best time with most spots.

A day NOT on 10m

2 of our grandchildren enjoying dad's cooking

Today, we went on the train to see our younger son and family who live near Canterbury. The train  ride is about 2.25 hours each way and we get about 5 hours in Canterbury, which in my current condition, is just long enough.

As I was out most of the day, I was NOT active on 10m during the day as usual.  Sunspot number was 122 today (going up) but 10m conditions were only "fair".

Since about 2000z I have been on 472kHz WSPR and spots have been exchanged with the usual suspects!

472kHz WSPR

The best DX reception here on 472kHz last night (using the earth-electrode "antenna") was LA4ANA (1042km). The most recent 472kHz spots with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrodes are shown below.

10m USA WSPR spots today

The 10m USA openings in the afternoon are definitely getting shorter.

First USA station to spot me on 10m WSPR was K9AN (6505km) at 1426z. He was also the last station in the USA to spot me at 1632z.

This morning, we were at our neighbours for coffee and this afternoon with other friends in the close for drinks and mince pies.  Both were nice occasions. Not being able to speak easily as a result of my brain bleed is a real handicap. I do hope this recovers during 2015.

Still no USA spots on 10m WSPR

It is now 1345z and, as yet, no-one in the USA has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.  A range of Europeans copying me. It may be just too early for the USA at this time of the 10m.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 113 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". Having only just turned on the 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, I have still to find out for myself.

472kHz again

In the end I gave up on 6m and returned to MF (472kHz) shortly before tea. G8HUH (250km) and PA0O (440km)  have both spotted my 5mW ERP already.

Unique 472kHz spots of my 5mW ERP from earth-electrodes today.