WSPRnet - still broken?

Several times I have tried to enter the WSPRnet database, but without success. It looks like it is broken again. Without WSPRnet WSPR is no good, in my view.

EU referendum - NOT amateur radio

There is a poor quality debate on this matter. We vote on whether or not to remain in the EU in less than 10 weeks but the quality of the arguments is very poor.

The UK has looked towards the EU as a common market and never with a view to a political union. Many in Europe see it as a way to keep peace in Europe. At the moment I am still inclined to vote "IN" but the politicians here are certainly not winning hearts and minds on either side.

The debate needs to be more positive! All I hear are fear and uncertainty.

Late spring? - NOT amateur radio

A few months ago everything seemed to be early. We have seen daffodils in flower right through from late November. Some places have loads of daffodils in flower and even some snowdrops still. Yet, if anything, spring is late here. It is now way in to April but I have yet to see a swallow in this area. My laurel hedge is hardly growing. The grass has only been cut a few times. Odd. Yes there buds coming out, but spring is definitely not early here.

Sunspots and 10m - Sun April 17th 2016

Solar flux has dropped back a bit to 108. Sunspot number has fallen a bit to 51 (K=4). The forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor".

Conditions are not as good as yesterday when I managed to copy an LU briefly.

On the face of it, I should not expect much on 10m today. Of course, this assumes WSPRnet works today! Without it I cannot see where I am being spotted and others will not be able to see me spotting them.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

As the storm risk seems to have passed, I have resumed 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP 20% TX, 80% RX, earth-electrode "antenna") using the FT817 and homebrew transverter.

UPDATE 1922z:  So far only M0LMH (223km) has spotted me twice. He regularly spots me.

UPDATE 2000z:  Not for the first time, I find myself, yet again, the only UK station transmitting 472kHz WSPR.  I just don't understand why this is when transverters are easy and big antennas are not needed for WSPR.

UPDATE 2220z:  Now WSPRnet is playing up and won't load the database with me!  "Problem loading page". Wonderful. I'll stay on 472kHz overnight but without WSPRnet WSPR is not good. WSPR benefits from the internet feedback/reports that WSPRnet provides. One cannot be sure if reports up to WSPRnet are getting through. As many users have said, we'd be happy to pay towards a reliable service. Clearly the database and its maintainers are struggling currently

QRT - hail!

As there is a hailstorm currently, I decided to go QRT on all bands and disconnect antennas and PSUs. I am probably being over-cautious, but I can go on 10m WSPR another day. In the last few hours it has just been locals and no DX on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1700z: See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en. At the moment the maps show thunderstorms to the north of here. I may go on MF later.

UPDATE 1848z:  As the nearest storm is in the Leicester area, I think it is safe to resume MF WSPR transmissions.

10m WSPR DX

LU8EX (11208km) was spotted here on 10m WSPR this afternoon. Apart from this, spots were local apart from G8VDQ (93km). 

As I have said many times before, WSPR is the ideal mode to spot these brief 10m openings. On SSB it is unlikely anyone would have even realised the path to Argentina was open today. And don't forget, the Argentine station was only running 5W QRP.  With WSPR, only QRP is needed.

There is still a chance of further DX on 10m WSPR, so I shall remain on until after dark.

SteppIR antennas

The designer of the SteppeIR yagi is at W&S next week according to Southgate News.

I am not a great fan of big amateur antennas, but I understand they will appeal to some. As you know, my "thing" is QRP and small wire antennas, but each to their own. What appeals to me is different to what others judge important. There is room in our hobby for many different interests.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/april/steppir_at_w_and_s.htm

Broadband - NOT amateur radio

73.72Mbps download speed tested over wifi by Ookla on the cheapest Virgin Media package. Can't complain.

10m WSPR - just a local so far

G4KPX (14km) is the only station to spot me so far on 10m WSPR. This is disappointing as I was expecting more by now. I shall be on 10m WSPR until dark and hope to spot, and be spotted, by more stations including some DX.

UPDATE 1306z:  Still just the single local spot on 10m WSPR today.