10m WSPR this morning and sunspots

I have been active for over an hour on 10m but so far no stations spotting me or being spotted. Things may liven up later.

Sunspot count today is 164 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is "poor". Things seem very slow on 10m so far. 164 is a high sunspot number but conditions are disturbed. Let us hope things improve later and even that there is a little Es about. 

UPDATE 0935z:  FR1GZ, G4KPX and G0LRD have all been copied this morning, but spots were not uploaded to the WSPRnet database, sorry. WSPRX did not upload my spots - no idea why! I have now restarted the software.

UPDATE 0942z:  That's better! Since restarting WSPRX I see I am being spotted well by G4KPX and G0LRD.  Clearly WSPRX was NOT working for the first hour or so. My apologies. With FR1GZ being spotted we are seeing N-S F2 propagation.

UPDATE 1018z:   I am still unconvinced WSPRX is uploading my spots on RX.  As an example, EA7IHT was copied at -19dB S/N at 0940z yet this did not appear in the WSPRnet database.Neither did G4KPX. There is still Es about. I may download the V2 version (without scrolling waterfall and WSPR15) onto this Win 7 PC, which I swapped with my wife as she needed the 1TB memory for Picasa pics.

UPDATE 1032z:  My WSPRX upload issue was "finger trouble": I had left the reported band as 630m by mistake. Now corrected. I think this muddled thinking is a result of my stroke.

UPDATE 1214z:  FR1GZ (9724km) was copied at -22dB S/N. N-S F2 propagation. He was copied much earlier in the day too, but the spots failed to upload as mentioned above.

472kHz overnight

I ran WSPR on 472kHz overnight. It ran until about 0320am when the Win 7 PC decided to do updates and closed the PC. No new reports or reporters overnight, just stations that I had seen before or who had spotted me before. All rather disappointing. I feel that radically improving the antenna (and hence ERP) won't make a huge difference. On RX the system works very well and hears most active stations. To be honest, I am losing interest a bit in MF as there are far too few stations active especially here in  the UK.

Over 1000km on 472kHz WSPR RX

This evening LA4ANA (1042km) running 50mW ERP has been spotted 3 times so far. Not strong, but there. Several DLs also in the log too out to 995km.

UPDATE 2220z:  LA4ANA has been spotted 5 times so far.

10m operation

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_op .

The above link (on my main website) is my "take" on 10m operation. Although I have never applied for a DXCC certificate I have worked well over 100 countries on 10m with QRP and small wire antennas. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best amateur band we have. Low cost CB type all mode rigs means it can be accessed at low cost, even buying new. A small dipole is effective and need not be too high.

472kHz this evening and 10m tomorrow

Yet again, 472kHz is proving a real disappointment. Not long ago I found a list of all the stations that had copied me on 500kHz WSPR with very similar ERP to my present 472kHz ERP. The list was about 5 times longer, showing the level of WSPR activity on 500kHz a few years ago. Although I'll leave 472kHz WSPR running through the night I very much doubt I'll see new reporters by the morning.

Tomorrow, I shall try 10m WSPR instead.

Back on 472kHz WSPR

We arrived back from Cheshire about an hour ago. Having checked the post, I decided to come on 472kHz WSPR. Spots so far from G0LRD (25km) and M0LMH (223km). No totally new reporters yet this evening.

G3WCB (101km) has been spotted well.

My old friend G3WKW (Bob) kindly sent a book through the post about one of my stroke problems. Bob has been so kind. Thank you Bob.

Sunspots and HF

Sunspots count today is 161 (blackouts) with 20-30MHz propagation "poor". Today could be another disturbed day.

Returning home

After 3 nights staying in Goostrey, Cheshire with my brother in law and his wife we return home later. Back to WSPR later today. After the blackouts on HF yesterday propagation looks more promising.

FT991 - late 2014?

According to the Yaesu website this new radio is due to be released later this year.

10m transatlantic again

Although away from home and not able to operate on 10m, I see from WSPRnet that 10m was open from the USA to Germany today.

Sunspots

Count today is a good 158 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal"

FT991

The FT991 is unlikely to be available in UK until next year says the MLS website according to G1KQH.  Price likely to be just under £1000. That would be a LOT more than the FT450D.

Sunspots

Sunspot count today is 154 (with blackouts) with 20-30MHz propagation described as "normal". This means some N-S 10m F2 propagation is quite probable.

Yesterday was quite a productive day on 10m with GDX, Es amd F2 all in evidence.  Best DX was CX2ABP in Montevideo at 11127km.

10m Es and F2 - this evening

It was worth waiting for. Since 1834z OH5XO (1943km) has been spotted 4 times already. This is the second station on Es seen here today. I am glad I did not QSY to 472kHz too early.

      OE6PWD 
      OH5XO

Yet again, 10m Es is still with us.

UPDATE 1946z:  Now DK6UG (633km) has spotted me a couple of times. Es a May, June, July phenomenon?  No - with WSPR it is longer.

UPDATE 1958z:   CX2ABP (11127km) in Uruguay is now spotting me via F2. This was a long time coming, but come it did.

UPDATE 2130z:  No DX (Es and F2) for the last hour and a half. Is that it for the day?  Time to go QRT now.

10m Es and F2 today

Es is still there today on 10m in the form of OE6PWD (1232km) spotted strongly (-13dB S/N) at 1238z. ZS1ANF was again being copied at 1240z, 1252z and 1300z. It appears I was using 500mW and not 2W on 10m this morning - wrong settings on FT817 - as I forgot to change from the FT817 settings used on 630m (472kHz) into the transverter on that band.

UPDATE 1342z:  The solar forecast has improved with 20-30MHz propagation now "good" (was fair). Is solar forecasting like weather? Hang up better seaweed or look out the window?

UPDATE 1347z:  There are currently 41 active 10m WSPR stations, but a total absence of stations in S.America at the moment. Great pity as that is where the N-S F2 will be next.
UPDATE 1550z:   There are now 44 active stations on 10m WSPR but still no South Americans on. V53ARC in Namibia (Africa) is the nearest active station. Such a pity. Not copied V53ARC here today though. ZS1ANF seems to be QRT now.

UPDATE 1835z:  No DX seen here since 1300z.  Thinking about QSYing to 472kHz but may wait another hour or so in case some 10m surprises appear. CX2ABP is monitoring 10m WSPR: if the band opens he may copy me. 38 active 10m WSPR stations listed currently - far too few.

10m F2 this morning on WSPR

This morning has started promisingly on 10m WSPR with ZS1ANF (9720km) logged at 1034z by F2 and a few GDX stations out to 184km. All stations were using 5W or less.

Sunspot count today is 170 (good) but 20-30MHz propagation described as only "fair".

UPDATE 1326z:  ZS1ANF has already been spotted 5 times today. F2 seems pretty good N-S on 10m today.

2m contest this weekend

Using my voice in an SSB contest is very hard work, so I tend to have short bursts of operation. It really does EXHAUST me!

Stations worked (from home, 5W 3 el) include:

F6KCZ/P  IN99pi (332km)
ON4KHG  JO10xo
PA6NL   JO21bx

Stations nearly worked (call got wrong or lost) included:
GD8EXI  IO74pc (got "BM" but missed the rest)

Several new UK squares worked too. In the end, I had to give in: my voice cannot yet cope.

10m Es - good yesterday

Yesterday was pretty good for Es with the following stations in the log spotted:
HB4SL
HB9FGQ
SI9AM
OH5XO
OK2SAM

Spotting me was:.
GM4WJA

OK, there were long gaps in between sometimes but it goes to show how WSPR is able to seek out weak, fleeting openings on 10m.  Did someone tell you Es is a May, June, July phenomenon? It is September 6th and I am still seeing Es every day on 10m.

10m and sunspots

Returned to 10m WSPR this morning around 1020z, but so far very quiet with just G0LRD and I exchanging WSPR spots.

Sunspot count is 124 (with blackouts) and the forecast for 20-30MHz is "fair". I'll be lucky to catch any F2 propagation on 10m today but Es remains a possibility around lunch and tea times.

UPDATE 1120z:  Still very quiet on 10m here.

UPDATE 1200z:   Such is Es - out of the blue pops OH5XO (1943km) three times so far. Nothing since, but 10m is still producing daily Es propagation.

UPDATE 1255z:   At 1214z GM4JWA (634km) was spotting my 2W at -24dB S/N on WSPR.

UPDATE 1430z:  SI9AM (1503km) in Northern Sweden copied at 1352z.

UPDATE 1620z:  Since SI9AM at 1352z it has been very quiet here. Even G0LRD seems to have gone QRT on 10m.

UPDATE 1850z: At 1842z OK3SAM (1283km) was coming in here weakly at -26dB S/N on 10m WSPR.   No F2 seen here all day

Yaesu FT991 prices?

Has anyone any idea of the likely UK price of this new radio?

It would be excellent if they released one of the low powered versions (normally available in Japan) for UK and Europe too. I think the lower powers are for some Japanese licence classes? It is a lower powered version I quite fancy. 10W or 30W max.

My FT817 units have been excellent buys as have the VX1 and VX2 handhelds. You could call me a Yaesu fan.

I want to concentrate on operating for the next few years. My stroke currently gives me little choice as building and real field experimentation are out of the question, sadly, for a while.

Evening off radio

This evening I closed down quite early.

My usual pattern, at present, is to go on 10m during the day and then switch to 630m (472kHz) during the evenings and sometimes overnight. Tonight, as 472kHz WSPR has failed to turn up any new stations lately, I watched some recorded TV instead. All being well I shall be back on 10m tomorrow. If 10m is very quiet, I may try JT65 and JT9-1 on 20m.
 
With the ENT examination (see earlier post) today has been quite stressful, although the outcome was far better than I could have hoped for.

Stroke update

Today I had an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) exam by camera of my vocal chords. Thankfully, like my MRI scan last month, the outcome was good.  My vocal chords are working fine and it is the communication between my brain and vocal chords that is not working correctly.  I can speak if I pronounce words carefully and slowly. With time, this should improve.

My other remaining symptoms are giddiness (when moving), sick feeling and extreme fatigue. I am still very clumsy, making amateur radio building and antenna work all but impossible at the moment. With time, all should improve. Recovery is taking a LONG time!

10m - very quiet early and afternoon, but lunchtime Es.

Sunspot count is 136 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is described as "normal" yet 10m is very quiet with just G0LRD (25km) spotting me this morning. Let us hope things improve soon. 

UPDATE 1156z:  HB4FL (835km) just spotted by 10m Es at 1154z. I just had to be a little patient.

UPDATE 1735z:  Apart from HB4FL at lunchtime, it has remained quiet on 10m all afternoon with just G0LRD copying me. I will stick on the band a while longer to see if things improve. To be honest, I was expecting better on 10m today.

Back on 472kHz this evening

For the last hour or thereabouts I QSYed down to MF (472kHz). I have been trying my various compromise (strapped feeder) antennas and the earth-electrode antenna. Interestingly G0LRD was copying me only 1dB weaker on the earth-electrode antenna than the best of the "wire in the air" antennas. He is probably off the end of the "loop in the ground" (in the line of the wire,  as for a true loop). For a very short while I was reporting the wrong band as I accidentally clicked the wrong button in WSPRX.

Antenna current measures less on the PAR end-fed with strapped feeders yet this seems the most effective of these antennas. ERP is less than 5mW.

472kHz WSPR unique reports Sept 4th 2014 to 2028z

DH5RAE (995km) is my best DX spot so far this evening. I received him. On TX my best spot so far is from M0MLH (223km).

UPDATE 2100z:  Best spot of my 472kHz WSPR signal this evening is now from  PE1RKT (285km).

UPDATE 2140z: DK7FC continues to put out a huge WSPR signal on 472kHz. He was audible by ear at -3dB S/N a little while ago. He runs 1W ERP.

UPDATE 2200z:  Each TX transmission period gets me 4-5 reports,  which goes to show how effective less than 5mW ERP on 472kHz can be.

10m F2 good this afternoon

FR1GZ http://files.qrz.com/z/fr1gz/FR1GZsat.JPG

FR1GZ (9724km) has been copied several times this early afternoon on 10m WSPR by F2 propagation.  

4X1RF (3519km) has copied me 17 times so far on 10m WSPR today.

If there are South Americans active, I expect to see these later in the day. Long distance propagation seems better on 10m today than yesterday.

Currently there are just 22 active stations in the world on 10m WSPR. It is a real pity it isn't 4 or 5 times this number. I am sure openings are being missed due to the low WSPR activity.  Let us hope activity picks up soon on this special band.

UPDATE 1640z: Since FR1GZ earlier, it has been quiet on 10m with just M0EMM (192km) and local G0LRD (25km).

UPDATE 1645z: There is an absence of South Americans on 10m WSPR, but quite a few USA stations. I hope some South Americans come on soon, as I think 10m will be open in that direction soon.

G4NUA visit

Ted G4NUA

Since my stroke last September, it has been harder to get out, so I always appreciate visits especially from fellow radio amateurs. G3TFX pops in regularly. Today Ted G4NUA called. Ted is usually a regular on our Monday 8pm 2m FM net.

It is always best to make sure it is convenient to visit in case we are out - I have twice weekly gym sessions and we try to get out for walks quite often.

Ted and I chatted for about an hour about amateur radio and his XYL who has been unwell recently. Ted is very fit and looks about 10 years below his age. Years ago we worked together.

10m Es? - this morning

This morning 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me (strongly) 12 times already on WSPR. This could be F2 or multi-hop Es. The latter is more probable.  CT1JTQ (1843km) is definitely Es. In addition, local G0LRD (25km) was strong and M0EMM (192km) was copied pretty well by tropo and aircraft reflection.

I see VKs were coming into N.Europe by F2 on 10m around breakfast time, but there was no copy here sadly on 10m.Others with better antennas may have done better than me?

Sunspot count today is 92 (stable) and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". I was expecting F2 on 10m here yesterday, but copied none. Maybe better luck today?

Resistors

From our old friend Steve:

You want some Resis? These seem Good VFM! Paypal ordering too!

 

http://www.banggood.com/Wholesale-New-Best-selling-2500-PCS-50-Values-1-Or-4W-0_25W-1-Pencent-Metal-Film-Resistor-Kit-p-40424.html

 

73 Steve G1KQH

http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

10m WSPR - a quiet afternoon

Since the Es this morning it has been very quiet on 10m with just G0LRD and M0EMM copied here. I am still hopeful of some more Es (and F2) propagation before the day is over. It has been very quiet this afternoon - quieter than I was expecting.

UPDATE 1953z:  Still just local G0LRD (25km) and no sign of more 10m Es propagation or any 10m F2.

10m WSPR - Es all morning

CT1JTQ (1843m) has been spotting my 10m 2W WSPR almost all morning. 10m Es has been good again today and I suspect that (with WSPR which allows very weak signals to be decoded) there will be Es seen right through the month and beyond. Yes, I expect the frequency of Es openings to decrease as we move into autumn, but I think there will be some openings every week to somewhere in Europe by Es. The moral is never give up on 10m WSPR: in the years ahead we'll learn a lot about fleeting openings thanks to WSPR. This applies to tropo, aircraft reflection, Es and F2. Magic bands 10m and 6m.

Sunspots today

Sunspot count today is 105 and 20-30MHz propagation "fair", so a decent chance of some 10m N-S F2 propagation at some times during the day and evening.  Es is still good on 10m. Plenty of life on the band still.

UPDATE 0930z:  HB4FL (835km) last seen by Es at 0854z.

10m WSPR - breakfast time Es

10m was open early again this morning by Es with DC8SE copied at 0820z and HB4FL copied at 0814z.   M0EMM (192km) has been coming in on tropo several times.

2m UKAC contest this evening

At the moment I am 114th out of 182 stations in the AL (low power) section (annual) of the 2m UKAC contests that take place on the first Tuesday of the month.

Operating SSB is very hard work with my poor voice (because of my brain bleed last September), so I usually stop after about 1 hour. Even that 1 hour is hard work. I am quite pleased with these results considering I have only entered 2 contests so far this year, for well below half the operating time allowed and with just 5W SSB and a 3 el hand-rotated beam up not very high.

All being well, I shall be on 2m SSB for the contest this evening.

UPDATE 2115z:  A good contest this evening with 13 QSOs in just under an hour before my voice gave in. It really was very very hard on my voice. Best DX MM0GPZ/P in IO85AK way up in Scotland. All QSOs were SSB at 5W.  My best contest yet with 5W from the new QTH with the hand rotated 3 el beam. Interestingly not a single QSO with stations in IO92 square . Last time I worked loads.

2m QSOs this evening. 5W and 3el from home

10m WSPR - GDX

With no Es on 10m this afternoon, GDX was the only excitement. M0EMM (192km) was copied by a mix of tropo and aircraft reflections. I spotted him and he spotted me. I am still hopeful of some Es and F2 propagation on 10m before the day is out.

UPDATE 1855z:  G8JNJ/A (184km) was spotted at 1848z on 10m WSPR.

No 10m Es here this afternoon

Since CT1JTQ (1843km) at lunchtime there has been no Es here on 10m, just exchanging spots with G0LRD (25km) who suffers from an intermittent high noise floor.  At this QTH, so far, I have been very lucky with local noise. I know this may not last.

Antennas

At the moment, I can cover 6m, 2m and 70cm vertical with the V2000, 2m omni-horizontal with the 2m halo, 2m and 70cms SSB/CW/digital with the small, hand rotated beam (3el/5ele) and 10m, 20m and 40m with the end-fed PAR wire antenna strung up to a tree. I can get on 630m by loading up the coax cables to various antennas or using the earth electrodes in the ground. I can get on other bands too by tuning various coax feeders.

V2000, 2m halo, and 2m/70cm beam (hand-rotated).
PAR end-fed is not visible but goes to a tree.

I will probably take down the V2000 and 2m halo later and replace them with a 10m halo (Homebase-10) for the months until next spring. I think the 10m halo will be a more effective antenna for 10m than the PAR. It will certainly be higher. Main problem at present is my mobility: climbing ladders is not a good idea in my present state, so antenna work is all but impossible.

Despite the low  power (5W or less) and lowish elevation, I am able to work out to around 200km on 2m and 70cm SSB in contests.

UPDATE WEDS: 449km best DX (Scotland) on 2m in the UKAC last evening with 5W and 3el.

10m WSPR - Sept 2nd 2014

Yet another good morning on 10m with lots of Spanish and Portuguese Es seen and local G0LRD (25km),

10m WSPR this morning

Best spot of my 2W WSPR so far today is by 4X1RF (3519km). I think this is multi-hop Es, but it could be F2.

20m - real DX at breakfast time!

20m WSPR was running overnight and lots of Ws seen last night. Breakfast time on 20m WSPR was excellent with ZL3DMH (18887km) in RE66im square (Christchurch,NZ) and several VKs spotting me. It was a very good start, especially as my 20m antenna is so low and so poor (PAR 10/20/40m end-fed at about 3-4m AGL).

Sunspot count today is 94 and 20-30MHz propagation "fair". A QSY to 10m is now called for to check for F2 and Es propagation.

I am still in awe of the pure magic of radio: 2W into a very indifferent antenna and this can be detected on the far side of the planet. I know others have done far better, but it still sends shivers down my spine!

20m activity

I called CQ on 20m in JT9-1 and then JT65 just before tea without success. Since switching to 20m WSPR I was met with immediate success.  VK5MR was copied and now there are plenty of Canadian and USA stations being spotted or spotting me.  WSPR really is a good mode.

UPDATE 1856z:  OX3XR (3206km) was a new country on 20m WSPR just now. 12 reports received in a single WSPR 2 minute transmission!

10m - still good Es and GDX , but no F2 seen here yet

PT2WWV stopped coming through late last evening but this morning Es has been good from southern Europe since before breakfast. Overnight  a couple of new G stations were seen G3ZTU (144km) and G7EOB (76km).

Sunspot count today is 90 and 20-30MHz propagation "fair". F2? Any ones guess.

UPDATE 1507z: Spanish stations have been coming in by 10m Es all day. So far,no F2 propagation has been seen here,

UPDATE 1525z:  QSYing to 20m for some JT9-1 2-way QSOs I hope,