WSPR and band hopping?

As we approach declining sunspot numbers, many just give up on the higher HF bands. 

Often, these bands are "open" (just listen to the CB band next door to 10m!) whereas a lack of activity is the real cause. Especially on N-S paths the bands are open far more often than we think. 

With WSPR we can check how good our higher HF bands really are. WSPR is widely monitored so we could send WSPR on several bands in sequence into an antenna that covers these bands (like an EFHW) and watch who spots us around the world on various bands using WSPRnet.

FT7 Yaesu transceiver

My very first HF commercial transceiver was the 10W Yaesu FT-7 bought second hand in the late 1970s. 

It was a great rig and allowed me to work 10m QRP DXCC with 10W SSB back in the 1980s. This was with low wire dipoles and a CB  half wave antenna. 

By comparison with modern rigs it was big but it was very quiet on RX. If I had to rate it I would give it 11/10. In all my years it was the best transceiver I have ever owned. No synthesisers, no memories, fully analogue …just great.

Sunspots - Monday October 13th

 Solar flux is 143 and the SSN 127. A=29 and K=4.

Times Radio

Quite often, I watch Times Radio on YouTube. They interview some interesting characters on the world stage and often, their views are full of incite, even if you may not agree. 

In my view it is worth getting world news from several sources as often one source  may be biased.

10m 500mW WSPR (Sunday)

My beacon has been on since about 0910z.

UPDATE 0935z:  Spotted in the Canary Is. by 2 stations.

6m 5W FT8 (Sunday)

My gear was turned on at about 0910z.

UPDATE  2010z:  29 spots of me so far today.  See map.

The current station

Mostly I am active on 6m QRP FT8 and 10m QRP WSPR with my beacon (which is out of shot). The photo shows my current setup.

Sunspot predictions

We are now on the downward slope of the solar cycle. NOAA has a graph showing their predictions.

See https://www.noaa.gov/

Rooster transceiver

Kanga UK make a range of simple QRP transceiver kits for either 40, 30 or 20m CW. All the SMD parts are already fitted leaving about 20 parts to be added. They are very reasonably priced. I have no idea how they perform.

Sunspots - Sunday October 12th

 Solar flux is 131 and the SSN 108. A=17 and K=4.

Farm shop and cafe

This is about 10km from us. It was very busy this morning. I guess it is the weekend.  It is very expensive, but the quality is good. 

We haven't been there since January.

10m 500mW WSPR (Saturday)

 My beacon was turned on at about 1030z.

UPDATE 1625z:  So far spotted by 29 stations, most in the USA.

UPDATE 1748z:  Yet again I was spotted in Antarctica. 

6m 5W FT8 (Saturday)

My gear was turned on at 1034z.

UPDATE 1800z:  25 spots mostly GW and G. See map.

Saturday plans

 Later I expect to go on 6m 5W FT8 and 500mW 10m WSPR. 

Fenland pub and the restaurant

This has been a pub since 1620!! These days it’s mainly a restaurant.

Sunspots - Saturday October 11th

 Solar flux is 121 and the SSN 87. A=9 and K=3.

USA call areas

Maybe I am just too old, but I remember when W7 or W6 was on the west coast and W4 was on the east coast. These days it could be anywhere! In many ways we have gone backwards not forwards.

Sinclair portable

This dates from the 1960s I think and was a medium wave AM radio in kit form.

10m 500mW WSPR (Friday)

 When on 6m FT8 I can go on 10m WSPR with my beacon.

UPDATE 1415z:  11 spots mainly from the USA and Canada.

6m 5W FT8 (Friday)

I have now gone QRT on 10m FT8 and am now on 6m 5W FT8.

UPDATE 1540z:  33 stations have spotted me.