Last night and overnight more stations copied me than I copied. Since 1030z today I have copied lots of WSPR stations on 472kHz but no-one has copied me!
About 20 minutes ago I re-set the clock to internet time and changed frequency about 20Hz lower. I also closed and re-opened the WSPR software. Still I am copying plenty but no-one has so far copied me still since 1030z.
The 5mW ERP TX to the earth-electrodes will remain on overnight.
I checked frequencies and power into the ground loop. All looks the same as yesterday. Odd.
UPDATE 2237z: Panic over: G6AVK (78km) is copying me at -20dB S/N.
8 Feb 2015
Wellbrook RX loop review
See http://medxr.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/review-wellbrook-ala1530s-loop-antenna.html .
Some stations have splashed out on this RX only loop in an attempt to overcome man made noise sources. This is a review of one person's results with this 1m diameter loop. Like many, this Australian was well satisfied. In Australia it is even more expensive as the shipping costs from the UK are high.
I have wondered about the LF loop as a possible RX only antenna for 136 and 472kHz. I believe the loop is balanced and being a loop, it has directivity. It has to be positioned some distance for any TX antenna and ideally rotated.
Some stations have splashed out on this RX only loop in an attempt to overcome man made noise sources. This is a review of one person's results with this 1m diameter loop. Like many, this Australian was well satisfied. In Australia it is even more expensive as the shipping costs from the UK are high.
I have wondered about the LF loop as a possible RX only antenna for 136 and 472kHz. I believe the loop is balanced and being a loop, it has directivity. It has to be positioned some distance for any TX antenna and ideally rotated.
Digital repeaters
As I have mentioned before, I am a rare repeater user, partly because my voice is so poor currently and I don't find operating through repeaters that satisfying. Each to his/her own and if this helps you enjoy the hobby go ahead!
At the moment it is far from clear which form of digital repeater will win: there are several competing digital standards and all have their advocates. For now I shall sit back and wait. A bit like the video standards war in the 1980s, the best system may not win. Let's see. Up to now I have only used FM repeaters.
When I do use voice I use SSB, FM and AM. All modes have their places on our bands. SSB is good on the crowded HF bands, FM useful for nets on VHF, and AM rigs simple to build and there is space on all bands from 10m upwards for all analogue voice modes. A well designed AM rig should occupy less than 6kHz, far less most FM transmissions on our bands. 10m AM, just above 29MHz, is a great mode. I have worked quite a few stateside stations on 10m AM. And I have only used QRP AM. Let no-one tell you AM is a dead mode!
At the moment it is far from clear which form of digital repeater will win: there are several competing digital standards and all have their advocates. For now I shall sit back and wait. A bit like the video standards war in the 1980s, the best system may not win. Let's see. Up to now I have only used FM repeaters.
When I do use voice I use SSB, FM and AM. All modes have their places on our bands. SSB is good on the crowded HF bands, FM useful for nets on VHF, and AM rigs simple to build and there is space on all bands from 10m upwards for all analogue voice modes. A well designed AM rig should occupy less than 6kHz, far less most FM transmissions on our bands. 10m AM, just above 29MHz, is a great mode. I have worked quite a few stateside stations on 10m AM. And I have only used QRP AM. Let no-one tell you AM is a dead mode!
USA 10m WSPR spots and MF today
The first USA station to copy my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR beacon on 10m today was K3ZV (5692km) at 1214z. I have been spotted by lots of USA stations all afternoon on 10m.
UPDATE 2015z: The last 10m USA WSPR spot today was K3EA (5657km) at 1846z
Whilst on 100% TX on 10m (500mW) I am still active on 472kHz (630m) WSPR (5mW ERP) and the earth-electrodes on both RX and TX. Unlike yesterday, I have mainly been spotting others today. These are some of the MF spots today.
UPDATE 2015z: The last 10m USA WSPR spot today was K3EA (5657km) at 1846z
Whilst on 100% TX on 10m (500mW) I am still active on 472kHz (630m) WSPR (5mW ERP) and the earth-electrodes on both RX and TX. Unlike yesterday, I have mainly been spotting others today. These are some of the MF spots today.
Sunspots and 10m - Sunday Feb 8th 2015
Sunspot number is much the same as yesterday at 80 today although 10m is expected to be "good", which is better than yesterday when the forecast was only "fair".
UPDATE 1050z: Best 10m DX report (this morning so far) of my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW beacon by Jay W5OLF is 4X1RF (3519km) although I have had quite a few spots from European and Russian stations this morning on 10m.
UPDATE 1050z: Best 10m DX report (this morning so far) of my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW beacon by Jay W5OLF is 4X1RF (3519km) although I have had quite a few spots from European and Russian stations this morning on 10m.
7 Feb 2015
472kHz WSPR today
I am still active on 472kHz WSPR with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" My best DX reports today has been from PA0RDT (243km) and G8HUH (250km). On RX my best spot so far is of PA0A (417km).
Interestingly today more stations were copying me than I copied on MF. Although the FT817 is a little deaf on 472kHz, it has not stopped me copying most active stations. I do sometimes wonder if a few more dBs of front end gain (with good large signal handling) would allow me to receive any more MF stations?
UPDATE Feb 8th 1053z: My best 472kHz DX report overnight with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" was by PA00 at 440km. G8HUH (250km) has spotted me very many times today.
Interestingly today more stations were copying me than I copied on MF. Although the FT817 is a little deaf on 472kHz, it has not stopped me copying most active stations. I do sometimes wonder if a few more dBs of front end gain (with good large signal handling) would allow me to receive any more MF stations?
UPDATE Feb 8th 1053z: My best 472kHz DX report overnight with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" was by PA00 at 440km. G8HUH (250km) has spotted me very many times today.
FT817 sensitivity
Today I checked the sensitivities of my FT817 and FT817ND using a loaned signal generator. Although about 10dB deaf at 472kHz (expected) both were easily able to copy down to -127dBm on CW on all bands to 70cms. -127dBm is as low as the generator would go. I could have added a 10dB attenuator, but did not. I also managed easy access of GB3PY and GB3OV 70cms repeaters at the 500mW level into the V2000 vertical. My conclusion is things are OK at my end and I wonder if G6ALB has some additional cable loss at 70cms at his end (water in the feeder?). My antenna has been up for about 2 years whereas his has been up for around 20 years.
A pity we don't have an 8m (40MHz) band.
An amateur band at 40MHz would be really useful as I suspect the F2 MUF has been in this region several times in the last few years. There are a very few beacons around 40MHz (UK and Denmark only I believe) but wouldn't it be good to have even 100kHz around this frequency? Sadly it is very unlikely, but I would happily lose 100kHz at the top of 10m in exchange. It would also be a very useful Es band.
Somehow I can't see this happening, more is the pity. The world of radio science would really benefit. This would have been so much more useful than 146-147MHz recently released to UK amateurs by NoV. I know a handful of UK amateurs are trying narrowband DTV but the 2m band is mainly Japanese "black boxes" and is mostly white noise in most areas.
Somehow I can't see this happening, more is the pity. The world of radio science would really benefit. This would have been so much more useful than 146-147MHz recently released to UK amateurs by NoV. I know a handful of UK amateurs are trying narrowband DTV but the 2m band is mainly Japanese "black boxes" and is mostly white noise in most areas.
Radio Shack going?
Radio Shack is a familiar name in the USA, but maybe not for much longer? This news from Steve G1KQH yet again. I hope you can access the link as sometimes ARRL links can only be seen by ARRL members.
Looking at some of the range claims by Radio Shack for their handhelds I expect they get lots of returns from very disappointed customers. I am sure that these ranges are achievable from hill and clifftop, ideal, locations, but such ideal conditions are rare. In the UK and the rest of the EC such claimed ranges would be illegal. Much more realistic would be ranges of 0.5 to 2 miles at best, and often far less. Caveat emptor!
Is this the end of Tandy’s original owner?
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/73 Steve
Looking at some of the range claims by Radio Shack for their handhelds I expect they get lots of returns from very disappointed customers. I am sure that these ranges are achievable from hill and clifftop, ideal, locations, but such ideal conditions are rare. In the UK and the rest of the EC such claimed ranges would be illegal. Much more realistic would be ranges of 0.5 to 2 miles at best, and often far less. Caveat emptor!
10m WSPR USA spots today
Although I have been copied much further today, my first report from the USA was from KZ8C (6290km) at 1258z. This is quite a lot later than yesterday.
UPDATE 1356z: Although I am being spotted in the USA, early indications are that there are fewer USA stations spotting me than yesterday. Of course, it may be that some stations who were using WSPR yesterday have chosen other modes today.
UPDATE 2030z: The last spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by WG2Z (5600km) at 1954z, which is quite late.
UPDATE 1356z: Although I am being spotted in the USA, early indications are that there are fewer USA stations spotting me than yesterday. Of course, it may be that some stations who were using WSPR yesterday have chosen other modes today.
UPDATE 2030z: The last spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by WG2Z (5600km) at 1954z, which is quite late.
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