Is
the new Sky Q box just about to spoil our hobby?
Sky
Q PLT interference maker?
23 Nov 2015
Sunspots and 10m - Mon Nov 23rd 2015
Sunspot number has climbed again to 76. K=1. The daytime forecast for 10m propagation remains "fair", so reasonable 10m conditions can be expected today. Solar flux is a respectable 122.
UPDATE 1022z: So far, the 10m WSPR spots have been from RX3DHR (2533km). All quiet on 6m WSPR so far.
UPDATE 1024z: As the above indicates, I am again active on both 10m and 6m WSPR and QRT on MF until after dark this evening.
UPDATE 1135z: 3 spots of G8VDQ (93km) so far on 6m WSPR, but no further spots yet on 10m WSPR. Despite higher sunspot numbers, good solar flux levels, and undisturbed conditions, 10m WSPR is quiet this morning. 10m is definitely a band of surprises: when you expect it to be good it is not and vice versa.
UPDATE 1022z: So far, the 10m WSPR spots have been from RX3DHR (2533km). All quiet on 6m WSPR so far.
UPDATE 1024z: As the above indicates, I am again active on both 10m and 6m WSPR and QRT on MF until after dark this evening.
UPDATE 1135z: 3 spots of G8VDQ (93km) so far on 6m WSPR, but no further spots yet on 10m WSPR. Despite higher sunspot numbers, good solar flux levels, and undisturbed conditions, 10m WSPR is quiet this morning. 10m is definitely a band of surprises: when you expect it to be good it is not and vice versa.
22 Nov 2015
QRT on 6m, return to 630m (472kHz) WSPR
At 1710z approximately I closed down the 6m WSPR station and returned to 630m WSPR (TX 5mW ERP 20% and RX 80%, using the earth-electrode "antenna").
UPDATE 1722z: No spots exchanged yet on MF.
UPDATE 1730z: At the moment I am still on 10m WSPR too.
UPDATE 1908: GW0EZY (251km) has spotted my 5mW ERP 472kHz WSPR several times this evening. Signals are clearly "marginal", so I guess he has a quiet location. Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX, so far this evening, is DH5RAE (995km). EA5DOM has not put in an appearance yet.
UPDATE 1946z: PA3ABK (306km) is my best DX on my 5mW ERP so far tonight.
UPDATE 2120z: I went QRT on 10m WSPR a little while ago.
UPDATE 1722z: No spots exchanged yet on MF.
UPDATE 1730z: At the moment I am still on 10m WSPR too.
UPDATE 1908: GW0EZY (251km) has spotted my 5mW ERP 472kHz WSPR several times this evening. Signals are clearly "marginal", so I guess he has a quiet location. Best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX, so far this evening, is DH5RAE (995km). EA5DOM has not put in an appearance yet.
UPDATE 1946z: PA3ABK (306km) is my best DX on my 5mW ERP so far tonight.
UPDATE 2120z: I went QRT on 10m WSPR a little while ago.
10m WSPR TX beacon
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| WISPY 10m TX |
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/wispytx.
Although I also built a simple WSPR RX for 10m, I never got around to combining both the TX and RX into a single unit. Sadly, my stroke got in the way.
Tiny APRS transceiver for PC
See http://unsigned.io/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2
6m WSPR so far today
As well as spotting G8VDQ (93km) several times, I have been spotted by G4APB (88km). No DX outside the UK on 6m WSPR, well so far at least.
UPDATE 1705z: More spots of G8VDQ but no-one else today.
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| 6m WSPR so far today |
First USA 10m WSPR spot today
KK1D (5455km) was the first USA station to spot my 10m WSPR today at 1258z. There will be plenty more today! FR1GZ has spotted me 4 times already. K9AN (6505km) was the next USA station to spot me on 10m WSPR. Today, 10m is in very good shape.
UPDATE 1605z: VE3GEN (5593km) has been spotted several times.
UPDATE 1605z: VE3GEN (5593km) has been spotted several times.
No longer tell XYL about DX reports on 10m
As I get so many DX reports with my 500mW WSPR, I no longer tell my XYL. An Australian station was spotting my 10m WSPR again today. I think this is the 6th or 7th time this autumn. With WSPR and a very modest, low, wire antenna I find DX easy. With SSB or CW you are competing against the "big boys".
10m has been good now for about 4 years. This time next autumn things are likely to be much harder. Sunspots are still high but this time next year they are likely to have fallen a fair bit. Somewhere I read that a solar flux of over 100 equated to "good conditions". It is more likely solar flux will be in the 70-80 region next autumn.
The greatest danger is low activity on 10m as people leave the band for lower frequencies. Many times I have said this will be when 10m WSPR should be really useful winkling out those elusive DX openings. Please, still use 10m WSPR even when the band seems dead. I am convinced it will be "open" far more often than people realise. WSPR is so much better than SSB or CW. Using WSPRnet, you can instantly see who is copying your WSPR signal. Low power is all that is needed.
UPDATE 1254z: I see that FR1GZ (9724km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR. This is no longer remarkable! WSPR really is amazing - just 500mW to a low wire antenna. On SSB it is a battle against those using big beams and high power. On WSPR just a few milliwatts and you can find out how your signal gets around the world.
UPDATE 1530z: VE3GEN (5593km) was spotted several times today.
10m has been good now for about 4 years. This time next autumn things are likely to be much harder. Sunspots are still high but this time next year they are likely to have fallen a fair bit. Somewhere I read that a solar flux of over 100 equated to "good conditions". It is more likely solar flux will be in the 70-80 region next autumn.
The greatest danger is low activity on 10m as people leave the band for lower frequencies. Many times I have said this will be when 10m WSPR should be really useful winkling out those elusive DX openings. Please, still use 10m WSPR even when the band seems dead. I am convinced it will be "open" far more often than people realise. WSPR is so much better than SSB or CW. Using WSPRnet, you can instantly see who is copying your WSPR signal. Low power is all that is needed.
UPDATE 1254z: I see that FR1GZ (9724km) has spotted me on 10m WSPR. This is no longer remarkable! WSPR really is amazing - just 500mW to a low wire antenna. On SSB it is a battle against those using big beams and high power. On WSPR just a few milliwatts and you can find out how your signal gets around the world.
UPDATE 1530z: VE3GEN (5593km) was spotted several times today.
Loft trawl - lost amateur gear
It is now 22 months since I was discharged from hospital following my stroke. I have yet to get into the loft to properly explore the things I put there when we moved QTH over 2 years ago. My problem is ladders, although I am getting close to getting up there to have a good rummage around the boxes!
As I recall there were quite a few boxes with odd pieces of amateur gear, although these were mainly wires, SMPSUs and the like - nothing of value. You could well argue that if I have managed without these for over 2 years then they need a new home and certainly I don't need them. Maybe the next junk sale or rally?
As I recall there were quite a few boxes with odd pieces of amateur gear, although these were mainly wires, SMPSUs and the like - nothing of value. You could well argue that if I have managed without these for over 2 years then they need a new home and certainly I don't need them. Maybe the next junk sale or rally?
Sunspots and 10m - Sun Nov 22nd 2015
Sunspot number has risen a little to 59 (K=1) but solar propagation predictions for 10m have improved to "fair". Solar flux today is 121, which is not at all bad.
UPDATE 1000z: VK2KRR (16789km) has already spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon 3 times on 10m. Today is going to be a good day on 10m WSPR. I feel it in my bones!
UPDATE 1006z: All quiet so far on 6m WSPR here with no spots yet given or received.
UPDATE 1010z: As the above reports indicate, I went QRT on MF at breakfast time and am now active on 10m and 6m WSPR for the day.
UPDATE 1000z: VK2KRR (16789km) has already spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon 3 times on 10m. Today is going to be a good day on 10m WSPR. I feel it in my bones!
UPDATE 1006z: All quiet so far on 6m WSPR here with no spots yet given or received.
UPDATE 1010z: As the above reports indicate, I went QRT on MF at breakfast time and am now active on 10m and 6m WSPR for the day.
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