Last night LA4ANA (1047km) copied my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR. This is my best DX yet on the non-antenna, nearly 300km further than my best previous TX record. I was also spotted by DL4YHF (556km) for the first time on the earth-electrode "antenna". My PC decided to crash some time after midnight last night, so I missed any DX overnight. These spots were during the evening period.
In the last 2 weeks alone I have been spotted by 28 different stations when I've been using 5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR. Let no-one say 472kHz is out because they cannot fit an antenna! If my signal can span over 1000km with WSPR then you can surely do better. I make no claims for the earth-electrode "antenna" but if you are unable to erect a proper antenna give it a go.
I have still to try it at this QTH on 136kHz but at my old QTH I managed to be spotted at 250km with very low ERP.
7 Mar 2015
10m WSPR - North American spots Sat March 7th 2015
| KB4SC (6560km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR signal at 1222z (quite early). Quite a few others have been spotting me since. TJ1TS (5478km) in Yaounde,Cameroon was spotting me very early, at breakfast time1 UPDATE 1848z: Best USA DX is a spot from AE7YQ (8533km) in DM41kx, which puts him in southern Arizona.'' UPDATE 2012z: At the moment the Canadians are still copying me. VA3XCD (5496km) is not the last I am sure from North America tonight. UPDATE 2138z: N2NOM (5581km) was the last North American to spot me today at 2016z. |
6 Mar 2015
Stroke
My brain is still exhibiting some bizarre effects. I still have problems with drinking thin liquids, speaking, getting tired and feeling drunk when walking, but it is not seeing obvious errors with words on my blogs that is fascinating. My problem, back in Sept 2013, was a cerebellum brain bleed, that was operated on.
For example, in my last post on this blog I wrote "as" instead of "has" but it took a long time to realise this was wrong. It is as if my brain does not process words quite correctly, or at least not quickly. It is not a serious issue and I correct the errors as soon as I do spot them. It happens quite a bit so I think it is real and not just me being paranoid.
I am finding it harder to get absorbed in TV dramas too. It is as if my memory has been affected in some way. My basic intellect is still sharp, but recalling some things can be a problem. Maybe this is just age? I am desperate to get my "old self" back, but know it could be a long road. Knowing now how bad I was I guess I was pretty lucky and I could have ended up a terrible mess.
Richard G3TFX told my XYL to get me into hospital fast in Sept 2013. Looking back, this probably saved my life.
See http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/cerebellum.
 |
| http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/cerebellum |
I am finding it harder to get absorbed in TV dramas too. It is as if my memory has been affected in some way. My basic intellect is still sharp, but recalling some things can be a problem. Maybe this is just age? I am desperate to get my "old self" back, but know it could be a long road. Knowing now how bad I was I guess I was pretty lucky and I could have ended up a terrible mess.
Richard G3TFX told my XYL to get me into hospital fast in Sept 2013. Looking back, this probably saved my life.
See http://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/cerebellum.
472kHz WSPR today
G3WCB (101km) has been spotting me all day. Although he runs a higher ERP than me, I seem to always give him poorer reports. I think this is because my FT817 is a bit deaf on 472kHz. When I feel fitter, I should try to improve my MF RX system as I may be missing a few stations.
Plenty of USA 10m WSPR spots today
KB4SC (6560km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR today, at 1316z. Since then, a lot of USA stations have been spotting me. It has been a good day on 10m today, despite the lowish sunspot number and the "fair" forecast.
UPDATE 1836z: Still lots of spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon by stations in the USA today. I have the feeling that the 10m band will be open to the USA for some while yet?
UPDATE 1926z: Still wide open to the USA on 10m.
UPDATE 2012z: At the moment it looks like KC1AWS (5308km) was the last USA station to spot me today at 1928z. Only local G4IKZ (18km) since then. Will soon be going QRT on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2024z: The opening to the USA is not yet over! K9AN (6505km) and others were just spotting me strongly! I'll stick around a bit longer, HI. Perhaps this is the "last gasp" as the F2 MUF falls?
UPDATE 2050z: USA stations are still spotting my 500mW WSPR. This is very late now. A total surprise.
UPDATE 2150z: The last spot from the USA was an hour ago. I think the opening to the USA is now, at last, over. It was a good and long one. Now going QRT on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2230z: Now QRT on 10m. Have reset my PC to internet time on MF.
UPDATE 1836z: Still lots of spots of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon by stations in the USA today. I have the feeling that the 10m band will be open to the USA for some while yet?
UPDATE 1926z: Still wide open to the USA on 10m.
UPDATE 2012z: At the moment it looks like KC1AWS (5308km) was the last USA station to spot me today at 1928z. Only local G4IKZ (18km) since then. Will soon be going QRT on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2024z: The opening to the USA is not yet over! K9AN (6505km) and others were just spotting me strongly! I'll stick around a bit longer, HI. Perhaps this is the "last gasp" as the F2 MUF falls?
UPDATE 2050z: USA stations are still spotting my 500mW WSPR. This is very late now. A total surprise.
UPDATE 2150z: The last spot from the USA was an hour ago. I think the opening to the USA is now, at last, over. It was a good and long one. Now going QRT on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2230z: Now QRT on 10m. Have reset my PC to internet time on MF.
10m Lincoln multi-mode rig
I am pretty sure it will get well used in the coming months though. A few dB extra power will make some difference when using SSB on 10m as the sunspots come "off the boil".
40m Pixie
I must have another go with this rig. As I mentioned before, a 7.030MHz crystal would be more useful than the 7.023MHz crystal it came with. The rig definitely works and the RX nets perfectly to the TX frequency. Sensitivity is better than I expected and BC breakthrough far less of an issue than I had expected. It is certainly a good little kit for the price. I need to check the Reverse Beacon Network in case I get out OK but don't hear any replies to my CQs.
Female models - why don't they smile?
Sorry, this is not amateur radio.....
Why do most female models look so unbelievably miserable? Almost without exception, the "look" seems to be to appear as miserable as possible and never smile. Surely, if you want dresses to sell then wear a smile at least! I am sure models used to look nice and smile. Back in the 1960s I never recall models being miserable. Perhaps this is how they are told to look in our politically correct times? Rubbish I say! Not that my XYL is ever likely buy designer dresses, but surely they'd sell more if you thought the models wearing them actually liked them?
Why do most female models look so unbelievably miserable? Almost without exception, the "look" seems to be to appear as miserable as possible and never smile. Surely, if you want dresses to sell then wear a smile at least! I am sure models used to look nice and smile. Back in the 1960s I never recall models being miserable. Perhaps this is how they are told to look in our politically correct times? Rubbish I say! Not that my XYL is ever likely buy designer dresses, but surely they'd sell more if you thought the models wearing them actually liked them?
Sunspots and 10m - March 6th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped to 33 today and 10m propagation is described as "fair". Despite this, 10m feels quite lively today with plenty of stations on the edge of Europe and Asia spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon.
The best 10m WSPR spot so far today was by RA0WKQ (5702km) in Siberia. Also good DX was/is from TJ3TS (5478km) in Cameroon, Central Africa. I suspect 10m will open to the USA after lunch as conditions on the 10m band seem to be better than "fair" to me.
UPDATE 1100z: So far today TJ3TS (Cameroon) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 17 times already. This station is DL8SEQ who is in the capital Yaounde until this summer and operating mainly on digital modes.
The best 10m WSPR spot so far today was by RA0WKQ (5702km) in Siberia. Also good DX was/is from TJ3TS (5478km) in Cameroon, Central Africa. I suspect 10m will open to the USA after lunch as conditions on the 10m band seem to be better than "fair" to me.
UPDATE 1100z: So far today TJ3TS (Cameroon) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 17 times already. This station is DL8SEQ who is in the capital Yaounde until this summer and operating mainly on digital modes.
5 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR last night
 |
| Unique 472kHz WSPR spots last night |
I am amazed just how many stations have now spotted my very low ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR. Never let it be said, "I've no space for MF antennas". If I can get out with my "antenna" then so can you, and probably much better!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
