G0VQH and 472kHz RX

Jenny tells me she uses orthogonal loops and an active antenna on 472kHz located at the far end of her garden, which must be quiet electrically.  It certainly works very well as she decodes far more than I do on 472kHz RX. If my health permits, I must try an active RX antenna on the band.

10m Es

There was wintertime Es about today on 10m WSPR with spots (lots) of my 500mW WSPR beacon from Germany and Hungary. At the time of writing, 1540z, there have been no DX spots and nothing at all on 6m.

UPDATE 1556z:  I think there are definitely fewer stations on 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR, so the value of going on this mode diminishes. It needs a decent number updating to WSPRnet to get the real value from the mode. It is a pity there are not more people on WSPR. JT65 and JT9-1 really are 2-way modes and need me to be actually in the shack.  SSB is hard work for me at present and even CW requires my brain to work overtime! As I said before, I propose to use 2-way digital modes far more this year.

UPDATE 1756z:  HA4ULB (1456km) is still spotting me on 10m. I have also been spotted in Italy: classic wintertime Es.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Jan 11th 2016

Solar flux is 108 and sunspot number 73 (K=3). 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor". Currently I am active on 10m and 6m WSPR.

QRP

More from Oleg..

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
thanks all visitor of this week QRP Rendez-Vous:
UA1CEX,  IK2ECC,  DF2OU,  DF5SF, UR0ET, RV3GM, OH6NPV, UA1ASB, DK7LX,
OH5LP, TF/RA1M/mm, R1OA, SM5MEK, UA1ADF, IW2CEC, EA3BDE, OM6TC, ON7FR,
GU3TUX,  UR0MM, RV3UV, RC4A, UA1CEG, UA1AFT, RV3DSA/0, UR7VT, PA0WDW,
UA4NE,  G3VBS,  UA3DLD,  UI8CM,  RA7RA,  DL4EPM, Z35M, SM7RYR, EW1CY,
RU3NJC,  OM2GM,  R4NX,  F6DIZ,  S51NP,  RX3AFQ, ER5AX, OK1TPI, RU3XR,
SA7BOA, EA1AOQ, ON6KZ, F6FAI
Congrafts OH5LP, RV3DSA, EW1CY - they became Frequenters!
See the full Frequenters and Visitors list -
www.club72.su (72 Net in menu)
Thanks to all for comments, see soapbox here - http://qrp-club72.blogspot.ru/
Welcome  all  QRP  operators  to  round  tables  "QRP Rendez-Vous" in
Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  Saturdays  at 9 UTC on 14060 +/- QRM, QRL, VXO
(use RIT to find out XTAL stn's) Alternative 10116 kc if big contest.

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"



"Dear Club 72 members and friends,
keep this week QRP Rendez-Vous schedule:
Tuesday,  Thursday,  Saturday at 9 UTC on 14060 (alternative 10116 if
contest) +/- QRM, QRL, VXO. Use RIT to give a chance XTAL operators.
Theme of this week - WEATHER in your location. Add WX info in reports,
please.
All comments, reports, pictures appreciate to my e-mail "mr72".
All details here - www.club72.su
72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

472kHz compromise antennas

Looking at nearby G0VQH's list of WSPR stations successfully decoded on 472kHz WSPR it is clear Jenny is copying far more stations than me. Even with my preamp in circuit and maximum sensitivity I am simply not copying, at all, some stations. I think it is time I tried an E-field probe on this band on RX. It is a combination of antenna (in)efficiency and directivity I think that is stopping me copying more on MF now.  I'm not sure what Jenny is using on MF but it clearly works well.

No JT9-1 TX today

We got home late after lunch so I did not get a chance to go on 20m JT9-1 TX. Tomorrow I am out much of the day on my U3AC course, so it may be Tuesday before I get another chance. For now, I have gone back to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

East Anglian Churches - NOT amateur radio

Today we visited a couple of Suffolk churches and I have updated the East Anglian Churches Blog with one of them - Denston in Suffolk. Although small, it is a gem.

More JT9-1 on 20m TX later

At the moment I am on RX only on 20m JT9-1 but I hope to get back on TX later today.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Jan 10th 2016

Solar flux is 106, sunspot number 84 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m remains "poor" today.  I am not expecting great things of 10m today.

Back on MF

As I don't have to be in the shack for WSPR (I can monitor in the lounge, or even in bed!) I have returned to 472kHz (630m) WSPR.  It takes a few seconds to pop in the shack if anything is amiss.  I am able to use a different PC in the lounge and my iPod Touch in bed.

UPDATE 1846z:  Nice no see I was spotted by a new reporter this evening M0TAZ (79km). DK7FC (669km) has been spotted as usual.