472kHz WSPR - the last 24 hours

In the last 24 hours (I stayed on overnight) the best report of my 5mW ERP WSPR signal from my earth-electrode "antenna" was by F59706 (560km) yesterday evening. 9 unique station reports received in the last 24 hours.

Unique spots of my 5mW ERP WSPR on 472kHz in last 24 hours

10m early F2

Despite the "fair" propagation forecast 4X1RF (3519km) was spotting me as early as 0824z this morning on 10m WSPR. It will be interesting to see who else spots my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today.

UPDATE 0845z:   Just after 0830z and 4X1RF has spotted me 4 times already on 10m.

UPDATE 1010z:    So far, 8 spots of my 500mW beacon from 4X1RF (3519km) but no reports from any other DX station so far today on 10m.

UPDATE 1032z:  I see LZ1OI (2153km) and  RK3ABW (2429km) have spotted me a few times now. No 10m DX, as yet, from outside Europe or near Asia.

UPDATE 1354z:  So far today I have been spotted 29 times by 4X1RF.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat March 14th 2015

Today should be interesting on 10m as propagation is expected to be "fair" despite sunspot number being up to 87. I am sure the earlier forecasts were poorer.

472kHz WSPR this evening

I shall probably go QRT on 28MHz (10m) in the next 20 minutes as I think the USA 10m opening has now ended for the day.

On 472kHz WSPR my best spot this evening is from PE1RKT (285km) although I have received from further afield. My intention is to stay on 472kHz WSPR overnight, as long as the PC does not decide to install updates at around 0300z as it did this morning when I was on 20m!

40m Pixie now on 7.030MHz

Thanks to Andy Cutland, my 40m Pixie is now on 7.030MHz, the QRP frequency. Although I have not seriously tried for other than local QSOs, I shall do so. When fitter, my intention is to switch between two crystal frequencies to increase my chances of QSOs. As the TX and RX netting is perfect and BC breakthrough quite reasonable, sensitivity not bad,  QSOs at decent ranges are entirely possible.

USA 10m WSPR spots today

The first USA 10m WSPR spot today was from WB8ELK/01 (6872km) at 1342z.

UPDATE 1830z:   The 10m opening to North America is still in full swing.

UPDATE 1930z:  W8QYT (5798km) at the moment is the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1912z. We'll see if any others spot me later. Somehow I doubt it.

UPDATE 2002z:  As if just to prove me wrong KB9AMG (6300km) has just spotted me at 1930z and again at 1932z!  K1OF (5500km) has now spotted me too as had WG2Z (5600km). This 10m stateside opening ihas not ended yet.

UPDATE 2056z:   K4BYN (6231km) has just spotted me. Opening still going strong.

UPDATE 2100z:  WB8ELK/01 (6872km) has just spotted me. I wonder if the end of the opening is near?

UPDATE 2115z:  Since 2056z all spots have been from G4IKZ (18km). I think the USA opening on 10m WSPR is now over.

UPDATE 2150z:   Just locals on 10m now for nearly an hour. QRT now on 10m WSPR.  A good day though.

500mW 10m WSPR spotted in VK today

The image below is on VK6XT's website and not on this blog. If copyright or any other issues exist it will be immediately removed.

http://vk6xt.com/communities/7/004/011/576/907//images/4586656359.jpg

VK6XT (14719km) in Western Australia has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon twice already this morning.  

4X1RF (3519km) and other "usual suspects" on the fringes of Europe are spotting me too on 10m WSPR.

At the moment, despite predictions of just "fair" 10m conditions, this is shaping up to be a very good day on 10m WSPR.  It surprises me how good 10m often is when the forecasts are "fair".

UPDATE 1630z:  It looks like VK6XT spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 6 times today.This was pretty impressive considering my antenna is nothing special at all.

10m VK WSPR spots of my 500mW today

14MHz WSPR

Overnight, for a change, I decided to give 14MHz WSPR a go, although the PC decided to install updates at 0300z and turned off the computer! At breakfast I restarted everything. Stateside late at night and Europeans now.   Will go back on 10m shortly.

UPDATE 0951z:   Now back on 10m and 630m (472kHz)

Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 13th

Sunspot number has risen a bit to 56. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" yet again.

UPDATE 0958z:  Only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon on 10m so far.   Best DX on 472kHz (earth-electrode "antenna" and 5mW ERP) is a spot from G8HUH (250km).

RadCom Plus

This morning I received a request to write for RadCom Plus, the on-line RadCom supplement for members only. I shall have to think about this. My health is still not too brilliant but I do enjoy writing, so may try to give this a go. Need to think what to write about first, HI.