Sunspots and 10m - Mon Dec 21st 2015

Solar flux is 117 and sunspot number is 33 (K=4) although 10m propagation is forecast to be "poor" today. It is anyone's guess how 10m WSPR will be today.

20m JT9-1 QSOs

As WSPRnet has been "flaky" of late I gave 20m JT9-1 a go, looking for some 2-way QSOs. It seems busier on this mode than I recall, but this may just be conditions. Anyway, I managed 2 QSOs (HA and YO) and according to PSK Reporter my signal was reaching Canada and the USA. Not bad considering my 2.5W and low 20m antenna. A good change. I must use this mode more in 2016.

UPDATE 1622z:  I have returned to 472kHz WSPR for the evening and night with 5mW ERP (20%) TX and RX without a preamp (80%). I still use the earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz. F6GEX (590km) was the first station spotted on 472kHz WSPR this evening. Others include DK7FC (669km) and G8HUH (250km) and PA0A (417km).

Anglesey Abbey (NT) Daffodils - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey Daffodils

There are daffodils, snowdrops, hellebores and more out at Anglesey Abbey (National Trust) which is just a few miles away from us. Some trees are in blossom. Everything is 4-6 weeks ahead of normal. The weather is crazy.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Dec 20th 2015

Solar flux is 120 today, which is quite respectable. Sunspot number is 44 (K=5) yet 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" today. Early indications on 10m are promising.

Overnight on 630m (472kHz) WSPR

Overnight I was on 472kHz WSPR RX only, with the preamp in circuit. Sadly, no new stations copied. Just the usual stations copied yet again. I am now on 10m and 6m WSPR and I'll return to 630m WSPR at teatime without the preamp, but with TX enabled for 20% of the time (5mW ERP).

10m WSPR this morning

Local G4KPX (14km) and RZ6AOJ (2780km) have both spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR signal already. This early activity gives me some hope that 10m WSPR will be good later too.

UPDATE 1402z:   Sadly, no further 10m WSPR spots this morning and afternoon, so far.  G8VDQ has been spotted several times on 6m WSPR but no-one else.

6m WSPR this morning

G8VDQ (93km) has again been spotted on 6m WSPR, although many of his bursts did not decode as the Doppler was too great. The multi-path nature of these signals again seems to confirm aircraft reflections. It seems decodes occur with little or no Doppler, so either the direct tropo path or aircraft flying in the right directions at the right spots.

One USA spot on 10m WSPR yesterday

Looking back at my logs I see that WY1R (5504km) spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR yesterday at 1412z. This was the only USA spot on the band. I this was F2 although  there is a possibility it was multi-hop Es. F2 is more probable. Conditions must have been very marginal with just a fleeting opportunity of my little beacon being briefly copied.

Very good 472kHz WSPR conditions

EA5DOM (1525km) was coming in at -16dB S/N just now without the preamp! If I am going to copy anyone at greater range then tonight will be a good chance. I keep hoping to copy some USA 472kHz stations, but no luck so far. I may go and add the preamp overnight.

UPDATE 2352z: I have just switched to 472kHz WSPR RX only with the preamp. As tonight is my best chance this season so far, I am giving the RX the best chance too!

UPDATE Dec 20th  0014: Sod's Law says tonight WSPRnet will fall over. I need to check the overnight local logs carefully. t breakfast time tomorrow.

Reminder: Christmas Eve (Dec 24th) SAQ VLF test

See http://alexander.n.se/?lang=en .

The next SAQ transmission (17.2kHz CW) from Sweden will be on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 8:00 UTC (9:00 CET). It will also be broadcast live on their webpage (see link above).

Albert Einstein visited the New Jersey HF alternator TX. This is not SAQ of course!

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