Sunspot number has risen to a very respectable 92 (K=2), but 10m propagation remains "fair" only. I have the feeling I could get spots from the USA later this afternoon. So far this morning, lots of spots from locals G4IKZ (18km) and G4KPX (14km) and a few spots from UA4UK (2814km). No other DX yet spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1256z: This morning it was mainly locals spotting me, but RA6WF (3628km) spotting me a few time was, like UA4UK (2814km), most probably single hop F2 propagation. I am still expecting a brief 10m USA opening later. No earth shattering 10m DX this morning on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1500z: 16 spots (so far) on 10m WSPR spots this afternoon by EA8BVP (2986km) and at lunchtime by EA1FAQ (1249km). The EA1 is almost certainly Es judging by the time and distance, although I suspect the EA8 is single hop F2 propagation. I am still hopeful of a few USA spots later.
18 Apr 2015
17 Apr 2015
Sporadic-E (Es)
We are now on the verge of the summer Es season in Europe and the USA, so 50MHz should be good out to about 2000km. Occasionally much further is possible, allowing Asian, South American, Caribbean and North American stations to work Europe.
There is a good explanation of sporadic-E on the UKSMG website. See http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm . If you are not familiar with this mode then I suggest you read it.
Es is great fun and just 1W ERP of SSB is enough to work most of Europe, and even beyond, from the UK. Openings on 70MHz are less common and even less so on 144MHz. There are even more Es openings on 28MHz. If you have a big, high beam and high power it will help, but Es signals are often strong and I have not found QRP is much of a handicap on 50MHz Es. Yes, if you are after tropo or MS DX then I am sure the bigger ERP would be useful, but far less so with Es.
Personally I hope there is far more use made of WSPR this Es season. WSPR allows short openings to be seen: it requires plenty of active stations though. The temptation is to abandon the quieter bands and move downwards. Before leaving 50MHz, think just how much your presence on WSPR could mean. By staying around and sending or looking for WSPR signals you would be really contributing to radio research.
There is a good explanation of sporadic-E on the UKSMG website. See http://www.uksmg.org/content/sporade.htm . If you are not familiar with this mode then I suggest you read it.
Es is great fun and just 1W ERP of SSB is enough to work most of Europe, and even beyond, from the UK. Openings on 70MHz are less common and even less so on 144MHz. There are even more Es openings on 28MHz. If you have a big, high beam and high power it will help, but Es signals are often strong and I have not found QRP is much of a handicap on 50MHz Es. Yes, if you are after tropo or MS DX then I am sure the bigger ERP would be useful, but far less so with Es.
Personally I hope there is far more use made of WSPR this Es season. WSPR allows short openings to be seen: it requires plenty of active stations though. The temptation is to abandon the quieter bands and move downwards. Before leaving 50MHz, think just how much your presence on WSPR could mean. By staying around and sending or looking for WSPR signals you would be really contributing to radio research.
Field work?
My tiredness is still a problem but I am getting closer to restarting field work at VLF. I bought a new soldering iron and have found a replacement bit for my old Weller iron (it needs a plug removing before I can use it though) so I should be able to match my 5W earth-mode VLF beacon to the earth-electrodes at this QTH. This will then allow me to do a trip to my first location to see if I can copy the signal. I hope to do all this in the next few days. It may need my XYL to help, but I am sure she will not mind! You may recall, I tested the RX side with Spectran in the lounge a few weeks ago and could copy the earth-electrode VLF beacon (running QRSS3 into a dummy load) using an E-field probe.
10m USA spots
Only local spots by G4IKZ (18km) all day, apart from one spot by 4X4TAU (3564km) at 1018z. No sign at all of spots from the USA, and I feel this is unlikely to happen.
UPDATE 1556z: Still no sign of USA spots here on 10m. Still transmitting, ever hopeful. Only 39 stations are shown on WSPRnet as being active in the world. We need a few more!
UPDATE 1955z: This is another day without any spots from stations in the USA. No USA spots at all and only one station other than locals all day. Will be going QRT on 10m WSPR quite soon.
UPDATE 1556z: Still no sign of USA spots here on 10m. Still transmitting, ever hopeful. Only 39 stations are shown on WSPRnet as being active in the world. We need a few more!
UPDATE 1955z: This is another day without any spots from stations in the USA. No USA spots at all and only one station other than locals all day. Will be going QRT on 10m WSPR quite soon.
472kHz WSPR
Very quiet since breakfast time. PA0RDT (243km) has spotted me several times, but nothing since breakfast.
Sunspots and 10m - Friday April 17th 2015
Sunspot number is 85 (K=4) today and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". Based on yesterday, I am not expecting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon to be spotted by USA stations today. But, as always, 10m may surprise us!
So far this morning local G4IKZ (18km) and just one spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon from 4X4TAU (3564km) not long ago. No further DX spots reported.
So far this morning local G4IKZ (18km) and just one spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon from 4X4TAU (3564km) not long ago. No further DX spots reported.
16 Apr 2015
472kHz (630m) WSPR rather than 6m
Overnight and today I have stayed on MF rather than QSY to 6m. Another few weeks and I shall definitely turn my attention to 6m. I think I was rather too early (time of year) to catch any 6m Es.
On 472kHz, the best spot of me was by G3XKR (347km) in North Devon several times overnight. My best spot was of DK7FC (669km) several times last evening. His report would have been much better with an optimised RX. I know my 472kHz RX system is deaf. It has been very quiet all morning on MF.
UPDATE 2000z: G4JVF (151km) has spotted me several times this evening on 472kHz WSPR.
On 472kHz, the best spot of me was by G3XKR (347km) in North Devon several times overnight. My best spot was of DK7FC (669km) several times last evening. His report would have been much better with an optimised RX. I know my 472kHz RX system is deaf. It has been very quiet all morning on MF.
UPDATE 2000z: G4JVF (151km) has spotted me several times this evening on 472kHz WSPR.
10m WSPR - quiet
EA8BVP (2986km) has just spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, but apart from this only local G4IKZ (18km) copying me this morning. In summary, 10m WSPR has been very quiet with no sign of what I'd call real DX. I think EA8BVP was F2 single-hop, but this could have been Es
UPDATE 1300z: a few spots from EA8BVP, quite a lot from G4IKZ and nothing else, well so afra at least.
UPDATE 1532z: A few Italians spotting me on 10m WSPR this afternoon. I think these were by Es. It is early in the season but 10m is probably the band with a good chance of catching early openings - 6m, 4m and 2m would be progressively later I think. 2m Es openings tend to be rare, whereas they are much more common on the lower frequencies.
UPDATE 1700z: Still no sign of spots from stations in the USA on 10m WSPR. Somehow I think I shall not be copied in the USA today. If it does open, it will be a very short opening on 10m today. It looks like the good times of daily USA F2 10m openings have ended at least this spring. I am still hopeful of 10m USA openings in the autumn. This year I must not forget the CQWW SSB contest in late October!
UPDATE 1300z: a few spots from EA8BVP, quite a lot from G4IKZ and nothing else, well so afra at least.
UPDATE 1532z: A few Italians spotting me on 10m WSPR this afternoon. I think these were by Es. It is early in the season but 10m is probably the band with a good chance of catching early openings - 6m, 4m and 2m would be progressively later I think. 2m Es openings tend to be rare, whereas they are much more common on the lower frequencies.
UPDATE 1700z: Still no sign of spots from stations in the USA on 10m WSPR. Somehow I think I shall not be copied in the USA today. If it does open, it will be a very short opening on 10m today. It looks like the good times of daily USA F2 10m openings have ended at least this spring. I am still hopeful of 10m USA openings in the autumn. This year I must not forget the CQWW SSB contest in late October!
Loop motors
Magnetic loop antennas can be very effective, small, antennas. They work well and are ideal for modes like WSPR, JT65, JT9-1 and PSK31 where frequencies don't have to be moved much. Their main disadvantage is they are narrow-band so require retuning if moving very far in frequency and they are directional.
As ever, Steve G1KQH has been tracking down bargains - in this case motors that could be used to either tune or rotate loops.
As ever, Steve G1KQH has been tracking down bargains - in this case motors that could be used to either tune or rotate loops.
Tune
up your loop remotely, only needs a coupler and a bit of ingenuity which I know
your not short of?
They
also have 6 volt too
Just
needs a simple adjustable Voltage regulator.
20RPM
model on eBay
Sunspots and 10m propagation - Thursday April 16th 2015
Sunspot count has dropped back to 85 (K=5) and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" today. So far, just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting my 500mW WSPR on 10m. Things feel subdued on 10m. I am not expecting to be spotted in the USA on 10 today.
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