Time to go QRT

I am still active on both 6m and 10m WSPR but I shall close down on both bands very soon. On 6m I have seen no activity since G0LRD (25km) at 1922z, and on 10m only G4IKZ (18km) is spotting me since the band closed to the USA. I shall be back on again after breakfast.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has climbed to 125 and 10m was forecast to be "good" today.

The first 10m USA WSPR spot of my 500mW beacon today was by K3ZV (5692km) at 1242z.

UPDATE 1804z:  At the moment KB1VXY (5308km) looks like being the last USA station to spot my 500mW this evening. He was still spotting me a few minutes ago. There could still be others though.

UPDATE 1912z:   KB1VXY was the last station in the USA to spot me on 10m WSPR. Since 1748z just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.  Early this morning OZ1IT (853km) was spotting me at 0518z and I see CX2ABP/D (11080km) was the best DX spot of me today (mid-afternoon).

Some 6m results (1W ERP)

After resetting my PC clock (it was set this morning so not sure why it was off so badly) I have been exchanging WSPR spots with G0LRD (25km). Apart from G6AVK a week or so back, I'd had no spots at all on 6m in recent months. I am still hopeful I might catch some winter Es. I think any TEP or F2 DX is pretty unlikely.

GQRP Club

See http://www.gqrp.com/ .

Many times before I have said that SPRAT is the last magazine I would give up if I had to. GQRP Club membership is very reasonable indeed and I highly commend it to you. They now sell a DVD which has the first 160 copies of SPRAT on it.   If you join the club,the DVD is very inexpensive plus you get the next 4 SPRATs with the subscription. SPRAT is always filled with good stuff and always plenty of projects to build.

Go on, join!

6m - magic band, really?

Why do I bother on 6m WSPR? Apart from G6AVK (78km) with whom I exchanged spots more than a week ago I have had no success at all on 6m WSPR out of the Es season.  I get plenty of success on 10m with less power.  I go on 6m WSPR because I can do so at the same time as being on 10m. I get far more success on 630m with an ERP of just 5mW. I think I am going to give up on the "magic band" until April or May. Maybe I really do need 100W and a big yagi up high in the sky to make the band "magic" at this time of the year. My 1W ERP from a V2000 vertical omni antenna just isn't enough or maybe all the activity is on other modes?

USA 10m WSPR spots today

The first USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW beacon today was KC1AWS (5308km) at 1220z.

At the moment WG2Z (5600km) was the last to spot me this evening from the USA at1722z.

UPDATE 2122z:  WG2Z was the last USA station to spot me on 10m today.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today was 101 and 10m propagation was described as "good". Best 10m DX spot with my 500mW WSPR beacon was by CX2ABP/D (11080km). There were several spots by 4X1RF (3519km) this morning on 10m. After lunch, plenty of spots from the USA.

10m WSPR analysis by Bert PA1B

Bert, PA1B, has analysed my 500mW 10m WSPR spots over 1600km today. It makes interesting viewing. It shows the number of spots each hour from different stations.  The best times for most DX spots was around 1000-1100z and 1400-1500z. Best DX was 1400-1500z to CX2ABP/D.

Thanks again Bert.

My shack

Shack - operating position Jan 8th 2015

As many of you know, I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 which was operated on. I am steadily recovering, but my voice is still poor so I much restrict operations using voice modes for now.  The picture shows the operating position in my shack. As shown, I am using 500mW on 10m WSPR (WSPR-AXE-CW beacon) and 5mW ERP on MF WSPR via a homebrew transverter (just below the clock) and the earth-electrodes in the garden.  MF uses the PC and FT817 whereas the 10m beacon is tiny and needs no PC. The loading coil (above the power meter) is not used with the earth-electrodes. It is used when on MF when loading up miscellaneous other antennas. It is not in use at all currently.

When fit again, I intend to resume field experiments.

Not shown are any of the optical, 136kHz or VLF kit or the bench used for building. The latter is currently awaiting better health again.

Stroke Update

Many of you know I had a cerebellum brain bleed in Sept 2013 (16 months ago) and was in hospital for 3.5  months. Slowly I am recovering, but it is taking much longer than I expected. 

Amateur radio field experiments and building work are on hold.  This is frustrating but I hope this will come right again in time.

Main issues are I get tired quickly,  I feel drunk when I walk, my speech is poor and drinking thin liquids is not easy. Most foods are OK now. All limbs, eyes, ears and intellect are fine.  I still feel unwell and not my old self yet.