Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Nov 12th 2015

Sunspot number is 64 (K=2) and the propagation forecast for 10m is "poor" still.  Despite this, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has already been spotted in N. Brazil. Just a single G spotted on 6m WSPR so far today.

6m and 10m WSPR

G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted on 6m WSPR but all quiet, so far, on 10m with no spots yet today.

UPDATE 1050z:  Guess what? The very first 10m WSPR spot today was a few minutes ago from KD0VWO (7412km) who is monitoring in Northern Brazil.

IC7300

The latest RadCom and PW came this week and I see that the ICOM IC7300 is being "presold" asking for £50 deposits to secure. The price is being advertised as "less than £1000".  I think it will end up around £799 later in 2016. I am sure the dealers will milk the high prices (and high profits) from early adopters before dropping the price. I wish they would sell the 10W version in the UK.

472kHz WSPR

I have just QSYed to 630m (472kHz) from 6m. ERP is around 5mW (20% TX, 80% RX without preamp) using my homebrew transverter. I really ought get a better 472kHz antenna up for the winter. The earth-electrode "antenna" radiates, but I reckon a loop would be at least 6dB better. I not sure about a low Marconi.

UPDATE 1906z:  F5WK (436km) was the first MF spot this evening.

UPDATE 2025z:  PA0A (417km) has been spotted and has spotted me on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2315z:  I find it hard to believe, but according to WSPRnet I am the only G station transmitting on 472kHz WSPR. G3XKR (347km) in North Devon has just spotted me.

6m WSPR

Plenty of 6m WSPR spots of G8VDQ (93km), but nothing else. It definitely looks as this path is affected by aircraft as several bursts were received with lots of Doppler but no decodes.

No 10m USA WSPR spots today?

It looks like today will be another day with no WSPR spots from the USA on 10m. There have been no spots since this morning and these were all single hop F2 from Eastern Europe/Russia. I shall go and do a resync just in case for some reason something is amiss. I think it is conditions.

I shall QSY from 6m to 630m WSPR but stay on 10m WSPR for a few more hours.

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.