160m TX results so far with earth-electrode "antenna"

It is only 1805z but the results on TX with the earth-electrode "antenna" are encouraging so far.

Unique 160m WSPR TX results with 2W from 
FT817 into 12m spaced earth-electrodes in garden.

First 160m spots on earth-electrode "antenna"

PA3MET (325km) was the first station received on 160m today.  It is still daylight (will be for hours yet) so I assume this is normal daytime propagation.   S/N varied from -17dB at best to -28dB at worse. PA3MET was running 20W, which is high for WSPR. As it is obviously working, I'll start 160m WSPR TX with 2.5W from the FT817 very shortly. UPDATE 1405z:  GW0OAJ (240km) has just been spotted here on 160m WSPR RX at -28dB S/N. He is using 5W. UPDATE 1430z:  G4FKK (106km) spotted.   He is running 100mW but not sure if this is ERP.  Have now turned on the 160m TX (20%). UPDATE 1500z:   No spots yet of my 2.5W from the FT817 on 160m WSPR so far today. UPDATE 1604z:  Apparently  G8LCO copied me at -28dB S/N but the WSPRnet database was down, so did not receive the report.  My best DX on RX so far is DF2JP (448km). UPDATE 1612z:    Best DX on 160m WSPR RX today is now OZ7IT (853km). It is still daylight for another 2 hours here. UPDATE 1712z:  I see that GW0OAJ (240km) and G8LCO (58km) both spotted me at 1650z, so the earth-electrodes work on 160m WSPR TX. UPDATE 1750z:  I see now that  ON7KO (295km) is spotting me at -23dB S/N.   And it is only now getting dark!  So far, results on 160m with the earth-electrode "antenna" are encouraging. UPDATE 1900z:   Best DX on 160m WSPR RX so far with the earth-electrode "antenna" is RX3DHR (2533km).

Mostly quiet so far on 10m

K3ZV (5600km) was the first USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon this afternoon at 1258z. Since then, a few other stateside spots have been received. This morning it was 10m locals apart from UR/SWL56  and one Italian. 10m seems to be "going off the boil" a bit.

 K9AN (6505km) appears to be the last USA station to spot me on 10m WSPR at 1736z.

160m WSPR with earth-electrode"antenna"

I have managed to match my earth-electrode "antenna" on 160m but the RX noise floor is S8 on the meter, which is much higher than on 630m. For now I am just on 160m RX. Nothing yet received.

Last 24hrs on 472kHz with earth-electrodes and 5mW ERP

In total, 11 different stations have received my 5mW ERP WSPR signals from my earth-electrode "antenna" in the last 24 hours with the best report being from F1AFJ (607km) at 2202z last night at -29dB S/N. In the same period I received 12 unique stations.

472kHz - unique spots in last 24 hours

If I can match the earth-electrode "antenna" I shall be trying 160m for a change this evening and overnight. G8LCO has suggested this. If the earth-electrode "antenna" acts as a loop in the ground, I'd predict poorer results at 160m as the loop would be smaller. On the other hand, the FT817 would be better on RX (greater sensitivity) and my ERP higher (I think). Not sure of the noise floor here on 160m, but it could be poorer on 160m than 630m. Proof will be in the results - that is the fun.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Feb 19th

Sunspot number has climbed to 95 today and 10m propagation has changed from "poor" to "fair". So far today just locals spotting my 10m 500mW  WSPR beacon but during last evening and overnight G4CUI was copying me I think via tropo and aircraft reflection on 10m WSPR at 172km.

UPDATE 1800z:   So far today 7 unique 10m spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon from the USA.  13 unique stations altogether on 10m today.

Lincoln President (MK11 v3) down in price

Steve G1KQH has seen thst Nevada has reduced its price for the latest Lincoln President rig for 10m (and CB illegally). It was £249 but now £199, a saving of £50.

See http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/amateur-radio/transceivers/mobile-transceivers/president-lincoln-ii .

472kHz

I have been on 472kHz WSPR all day. No new stations spotting me or being spotted but some decent DX with 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna".

Unique 472kHz WSPR spots today

No USA spots today

For the first time in a long time my 10m 500mW beacon was not copied at all in the USA today. The low power may not have helped and others may have been more successful. However, it may be a sign of things to come? The danger is falling conditions will see more people give up on 10m WSPR which would be a great pity. The next few years will be very interesting on 10m, especially outside the Es season.

AM on 28MHz and up

Much to my surprise, the RSGB actually published my recent letter to their "The Last Word" column in RadCom, together with a (pathetic) reply from their Spectrum Chair. At least my letter was printed.

The response did nothing to address my concerns. Although the RSGB claims not to be anti-AM, you'd find this hard to believe with a look at the most recent band plans. AM has its place on all bands from 28MHz upwards. I just wish the RSGB and other national organisations would simply acknowledge that this mode has its place. It may be a minority interest mode, but in my experience it is the simplest mode from a building viewpoint.