East Anglian Churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited Cavendish in Suffolk and I have added this fine place to the church blog.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

6m disappointment

Despite being on 6m WSPR for most of the day, it was useless, with not a single spot given or received. Outside the Es season the band can be very quiet. I had to double-check all was working and that the PC had not crashed.No,everything was fine. As I write this at 1845z there are just 14 active stations in the entire world on 6m WSPR, so my chances are slim!

USA 10m WSPR spots today

Well, 10m did open to the USA, but quite late with KD6RF (7547km) spotting my 500mW WSPR at 1730z. Since then, there have been a few others too.

UPDATE 2132z:   The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR was KZ8C (6290km) at 1902z. This turned out to be a short-lived affair. Signal report was not bad at -19dB S/N but the opening just died to the USA. G4IKZ, CT1JTQ and EA8BVP have all spotted me since.

Sunspots and 10m propagation - Tuesday April 14th 2015

Sunspot number is 68 today (K=1) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". Not quite sure how 10m will be today.

UPDATE 1003z:  G4IKZ (18km) and EA8BVP (2986km) are the only stations spotting me on 10m this morning. I am still using my 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW 10m beacon. I have just switched from 630m to 6m on the FT817 and PC, running 10m and 6m together but on different rigs.

QSYed to 472kHz for the evening/night

As of about a minute ago, I have moved from 6m to 630m.  6m was very quiet today.  I am still using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrodes on TX (and RX) on 630m (472kHz) WSPR. As yet no spots on MF but the night is young.

UPDATE 2008z:   Starting to give and receive 472kHz WSPR spots.

472kHz WSPR so far - only been active about 25 mins

UPDATE 2036z:   Plenty of 472kHz WSPR spots now.

472kHz WSPR - first hour

UPDATE 2130z:   Even more spots.

472kHz WSPR - this evening so far.

6m - a total blank

I have been on 6m WSPR all day (V2000 vertical, 1W ERP 20% TX, 80% RX). As of now (1720z) I have spotted no-one and no-one has spotted me either. I shall be on 6m WSPR most of the evening, although I suspect that if there are any spots these will be locals.

UPDATE 1942z:   As I am drawing a blank today on 6m, I think I am going to go back on 630m shortly.

10m - no USA (yet) again but more Europeans by Es?

On 10m WSPR EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted me a few times.  In addition, spots from SA5 and OZ suggest more Es.  Still no sign of spots from the USA, well not as yet. I have doubts the 10m band will open to the USA at all today.

UPDATE 1926z:    Although the better stations in Europe are spotting USA stations on 10m, no-one has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today in the USA. Time is running out.

6m - all quiet so far

It is about a day now since I was last spotted by anyone on 6m. I am still active (vertical omni V2000 and 1W ERP) but the level of activity is very low and Es has still to really get going this season on 6m. I am on 6m TX 20% and RX 80%.  I will be on 6m all day and this evening.  So far, a few days ago, I was still only being spotted by G stations by tropo and aircraft reflection.

Stroke - small steps

Recovery progress is painfully slow these days.  For the last week I have had more energy in the mornings after breakfast. Until about a week ago I'd have breakfast  and then be totally exhausted. For about a week now I have managed to do a few household tasks before resting. The progress is small, but this is progress and I am grateful for it. I still get exhausted but not quite as badly. I seem to require rest, but I am not totally "done in".

All I want is my old self back. Energy to do things I always enjoyed!  To be able to drink a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of water without choking most times - life's simple pleasures you don't realise until they are no longer possible.

Sunspots and 10m propagation - Mon April 13th 2015

Sunspot number today is a respectable 64 (K=2) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". So far this morning on 10m WSPR, my 500mW beacon has been spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) only, although it is still early. 

If the 10m band is in "fair" condition, I'd expect a few real DX spots, as long as there are active stations! At the moment (0934z) there are only 29 stations active on 10m WSPR in the whole world according to WSPRnet.  I really do hope people stick with 10m when the going gets tough. On 6m lack of WSPR activity has been a real killer. I am sure WSPR will be an excellent tool for finding short 10m openings.

As I have said before, even at the depths of the solar minimum I have worked South Americans (greater than 11000km away) with real QRP SSB. If there are to be 10m openings then WSPR will find them.

UPDATE 1114z:  Still only local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m WSPR this morning. I think we are seeing the effects of fewer active stations on 10m now and the end of springtime conditions. I have serious doubts we'll see any USA spots today on 10m WSPR. However this is 10m and anything is possible!