Sunspots and 10m - Wed Nov 11th 2015

With decent solar flux levels, a sunspot number of 65 (K=4) and 10m propagation again expected to be "poor", it is hard to know how 10m WSPR will be today. Yesterday was yet another day without USA spots.

So far today, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by single hop F2 in Russia and Eastern Europe, with no spots from further afield.

On 6m WSPR nothing at all so far today.

70cm UKAC

This evening was the 70cm leg of the UKAC, a cumulative contest held every Tuesday evening on a different VHF/UHF band on a rotating monthly cycle. Activity levels are usually good in these. I worked just 4 stations tonight before I went QRT. This was partly because my voice was poor and partly as my antenna (a 2m big wheel) was not the best. If you want activity, these sessions are a good way to find it.

10m WSPR

At the moment it looks like this is going to be another day without USA 10m WSPR spots. KD0VWO, who copied me yesterday, was actually monitoring in Brazil. I had completely forgotten that he was not actually in the USA!

At the moment, just spots from LZ1UBO on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1854z:  Right now this looks like one of the worst days in a long time on 10m WSPR here.

Contentment with radios

After considering buying a new transceiver, I have decided to stick with the rigs I have. At present, my poor voice makes all speech QSOs an effort. I enjoy WSPR as this is really a true QRP mode and it tells me a lot about propagation, without shouting!

I'll still "window shop" and might consider a new radio transceiver next year. I get by far the most fun from my $49 10m WSPR rig and my home-brew 472kHz transverter, proving that you do not need to break the bank to have fun. I am not against those who think differently - each to his/her own.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Nov 10th 2015

Solar flux has dropped a bit (107) and sunspot number has dropped to 67 (K=5). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". I am not expecting great things on 10m today, but I am frequently surprised!

On 6m WSPR I have spotted G8VDQ (93km) only so far. He was a decent -19 dB S/N. No reports yet on 10m.

UPDATE 1122z:  Several 10m WSPR spots from LZ1UBO (2039km) which I assume are single hop F2 propagation.

472kHz preamp - a good idea?

The FT817 is a bit low in sensitivity on 472kHz so I was expecting a decent improvement with a preamp. To my surprise I am copying no more stations. In fact I am hearing just as many without as with! The result has surprised me. The rig sensitivity is definitely better with the preamp and stations are stronger but it is far from clear cut whether it is worth using it in reality. At the moment my 472kHz transverter does not have the preamp.

Maybe the FT817 sensitivity is good enough. In marginal cases (and these seem few) it probably helps, but most of the time it seems fine without.

472kHz WSPR RX

472kHz WSPR RX this evening without preamp

All evening (since about 2000z) I have been active on 472kHz (20% TX 5mW ERP, 80% RX) using the earth-electrodes without a preamp. All the usual suspects were copied. Since 2240z I have gone onto 100% RX with the preamp in circuit to see if I am able to detect  weaker signals and give better reports. On previous nights it was hard to draw conclusions.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Trees at Anglesey Abbey earlier

This afternoon we visited nearby Anglesey Abbey. There are clear signs of autumn all around. Rather surprisingly the dahlia border was still looking good and this is Nov 9th. Many of the trees are shedding leaves.

10m WSPR USA

Despite the disturbed 10m conditions KD0VWO (7412km) has spotted me several times starting at 1208z. So far, he is the only USA station spotting me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 10.11.15 1720z: KD0VWO is actually watching 10m WSPR in Brazil, not the USA. I'd forgotten!

6m Es?

DK8NE (755km) was spotted on 6m WSPR at 1109z. He was incredibly strong (+9 dB S/N) so I wonder if this was Es?  As I have had to use the PC for something else, I am not on 6m WSPR presently, but hope to return to the band later. There were lots of Germans on 10m WSPR earlier too.