472kHz WSPR last night

A mixed bag. LA8AV(1035km) was spotted 39 times last night.  LA3EQ (769km) spotted my 472kHz 5mW ERP WSPR 7 times. In all, 9 unique spots in 3 countries last night. Still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

472kHz WSPR

LA8AV (1035km) has already been spotted 17 times so far this evening and DH5RAE (995km) several times. Promising.

UPDATE 2245z: LA3EQ (769km) spotted me at -25dB S/N at 2118z. I'd like to break the 1000km barrier this season, but I think LA8AV has gone QRT!

Sunspots and 10m - Monday January 23rd 2017

Solar flux is 86 today. Sunspot number is 61. A=9 and K=0.

This looks quite promising, but I left 10m JT65 this morning (late) for 630m WSPR as I detected no activity!

Trident - NOT amateur radio

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38714047

Sorry, but irrespective of whether or not this nuclear missile went off course and PM Mrs May not answering Andrew Marr's questions on TV on Sunday, I think renewing Trident is a HUGE waste of money. At the time of the Commons debate this was put at £40 billion. Yes, forty billion pounds!

Years ago, for work, I visited Faslane, where these nuclear submarines are based - a very creepy place.

Just why does the UK need an "independent" nuclear weapons system? Most countries don't have one and use their money for other things. We buy the warheads from the USA anyway!

Early return to 472kHz WSPR

As 10m JT65 was going nowhere, I returned instead to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna"). I am on battery power so my noise floor is low on RX. So far just a spot by G0LRD (25km).

UPDATE 1400z: Another 2 spots by G0LRD shows that he is just copying me! With JT9-1 this would probably not have been possible.

On 10m JT65 again

Following on from my poor JT9-1 outing last night on 630m, I have now returned to 10m JT65 (2W) but no spots as yet here.

Apparently I was last spotted 15 hours ago, presumably on 630m JT9-1, although I haven't been able to trace this spot.

As my as source of solar data is still showing old data, I have no idea of the current solar conditions.

Wicken Fen - NOT amateur radio

As I said yesterday, we went for a walk at Wicken Fen in beautiful January weather. It is dull and cloudy here today! The photo shows the windmill used to pump water and the frozen lode. Yes, it was cold.

QRP amd QRP Club

More from Oleg:

Dear Club 72 members and friends,
Weekly QRP Rendez-Vous report (January 22, 2017)
Visitors  of  the  week:  OK2BMA, UR7VT, UA0SBQ, R1CAF, RW3AA, UR0ET,
UA1ADF,  RA1M,  US7IB,  R6TQ,  SM2FIJ,  IK2RGV, DF1HK, RV3GM, UA1CEX,
HB9FAB,  Z35M,  G3XJS,  HB9DAX,  OK1DNZ,  US5ERQ, RW3DF, RD2A, DH0DK,
RX3DIT, OH8UL, RA6AJ, ON6KZ, UA1CEG, OH5LP, EA6BB, OH6NPV, DK3WX
Congrats!
OK2BMA became Honor Frequenter (regular visitor)
See full Visitors and Frequenters lists on the Club 72 web page - www.club72.su
Comments...
See full version of the WQR Report on the club's page (blog in menu)

72! Oleg RV3GM / KH6OB "Mr. 72"

This is a periodic Newsletter of the Club 72. Don't reply to Newsletter address! Send any requests or news to mr72@club72.su please.

472kHz (630m) JT9-1 overnight

Well, I stayed on this band and mode overnight but not a single spot! On the waterfall I saw several WSPR signals. I will check settings again, but it looks like WSPR is the better mode for me on this band. Maybe my low ERP and just being buried in the noise on JT9-1 is working against me, whereas with WSPR I am just detected. WSPR on 472kHz tonight!

UPDATE 1040z: All the settings were OK. I think there are fewer stations on this mode on this band, and I need to get my ERP up so my signal is not buried in the crud.

JT9-1 on 472kHz

For a change, I am trying JT9-1 on 472kHz. I have been active for about 10 minutes so far.

At the moment I am beaconing, although I tried a few CQ calls earlier. Someone was just ending a QSO with someone called Gerd but he did not send his call, so I have no idea who this was.

If you should spot me please send to PSK Reporter Maps.

UPDATE 2038z: No JT spots on 472kHz so far. There seem to be fewer stations on the band using JT modes than WSPR.

UPDATE 2240z: Still no JT spots on 472kHz. I shall remain JT9-1 beaconing overnight in the hope that someone will spot me and upload to PSK Reporter Maps.