6m WSPR - one last try today

I was going to give up on 6m until next spring, but, having had early success on 10m, I've decided to give 6m one more chance today.  I am using 30dBm ERP from my V2000  tri-band vertical.  Nothing at all yet!

UPDATE 1720z:  After 4 days of trying, I have now given up on 6m, at least for now. In 4 days not a single spot given or received! Not even a hint of GDX.

10m - very early USA spot on WSPR

WG2Z (5600km) was spotting my 2W WSPR signal on 10m at 1110z today. This bodes well for North and South America later on 10m.  In addition, there is no shortage of Europeans on 10m.  This could be Es or more probably F2 backscatter.  Also spotting me on 10m WSPR this morning was VK5MR (16144km).

Sunspots

Sunspot number today is 157  but 10m conditions (daytime) expected to be "fair". Already 10m looks in good shape here.

QSYed from 6m to 630m (472kHz) WSPR

After 3 days of trying on 6m with not a single spot given or received I have decided to stop trying on 6m until next year. I have now QSYed down to MF and met with immediate reports both received and given, despite just 5mW ERP from my highly compromised antenna not at all designed or optimised for 472kHz use.  All I have done is resonate the strapped feeders to my existing V2000 vertical and HF end-fed PAR antennas.

Early WSPR results on 472kHz this evening.

6m WSPR - still trying

So, I have been on 6m WSPR most days in the last 3 days running 30dBm (1W) ERP from my V2000 vertical.  So far, I have neither received anyone and nor has anyone spotted me. I shall keep trying, but watching paint dry is more exciting!  I am very disappointed with 6m and will soon give up on the band, unless things look up, until the next Es season starting in April.

Portable SDR project

From Pedro:

Good morning Roger look at this fantastic project from Michael KE7HIA  I believe it will be fantastic for some digitals because of the low power.

hackaday.io/project/1538-PortableSDR
 
73 and fast recover

Pedro Almeida
CT5JZX

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 115 (not bad) and 10-12m conditions are described as "fair". It remains to be seen how much F2 propagation there is on 10m today. I am currently ploughing a very lonely furrow on 6m WSPR - so far no spots given or received on 6m.

You will notice my "propagation" sidebar is now from a new source. I'm not sure how much longer the feed from SK G4ILO will continue to work. I suspect Olga (Julian's XYL) will close his sites soon.

Looking at the WSPRnet database I see both North and South America are being spotted in Europe.

G4SMX in JO01pc looks my best hope on 6m. Not copied him yet.

Microvert antenna

Quite a few people who use WSPR use the tiny Microvert Antenna whose design seems to have originated in Germany. For example, this diminutive antenna is only about 30cms long on 28MHz. It uses the coax intentionally as a counterpoise with an RF choke the right distance down the coax. Performance is several S points down on a full sized antenna like a 1/2 wave dipole. With small antennas there is always a compromise! Versions have been made for most HF bands. The  antenna looks ideal for portable or balcony use, being small and easy to erect. Perhaps I should test my (currently poor) build skills by making one for 10m or 20m WSPR use?

I wonder who reading this post has used a Microvert Antenna and how they found it?

See http://download.antennex.com/preview/archive4/Apr601/microvert.pdf .

Julian G4ILO has died, sadly

From Julian's blog:

Julian died yesterday on 24 October in the presence of his wife Olga and two Hospice nurses at home at 19-45 peacefully and painlessly. He will be always loved and always remembered.

See  http://onefootingrave.blogspot.co.uk/ .

We all knew this was likely but it saddens me greatly to report this here.

RIP Julian - you brightened our lives and we will all miss you. Olga, our sympathies to you in your great loss. Julian inspired a great many people. He will be remembered for a long time.

I have no details of memorials (flowers, donations, etc.) or funeral arrangements.

Glutton for punishment? 6m WSPR again

I must have a masochistic streak in me! After seeing that I could exchange spots with Australia on 10m WSPR, I have again moved up to 6m WSPR. Yesterdays 6m trip resulted in absolutely no spots either given or received.

As there are a few more people on 6m than yesterday I am hopeful of some GDX and there is a (remote) chance of some F2 or TEP.  Sunspot count is good today, so I guess today will be one of the better chances for the latter, if very unlikely this far north. Yet again I see there has been TEP between VK and JA on 6m.

If I spot just one GDX station on 6m then the outing on the band will have been worth it. I am running 30dBm ERP from a vertical.  In the summer I could exchange spots by tropo/plane reflection out to around 200km on 6m with this set-up.

UPDATE 1520z:  As yet, still very quiet here on 6m WSPR. No stations received here, not even wispy Doppler shifted, non-decoding, signals. I shall stick around for at least a few more hours - ever hopeful.

UPDATE 1634z:   Still absolutely nothing spotted and no-one spotting me on 6m, for the second day. This is very disappointing , although not unexpected.

UPDATE 1705z:  Still drawing a total blank on 6m. Another hour and I'll switch to 472kHz.

10m to the USA on WSPR

The first stateside station K3GEN was spotted, at 1206z on 10m WSPR today, at -15dB S/N. I was first spotted in the USA at 1146z by KJ4SPG (6328km) in FM05dm square. The band has been open to the USA on 10m WSPR every day now for at least a month, presumably via F2.

I suspect next autumn things "across the pond" will be considerably tougher on 10m WSPR, but not a complete no-no.

High sunspots

Sunspot count today is high at 147 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is "excellent". Earlier this morning I was copying a VK portable on 10m WSPR and I was being spotted early by Souty 1310zh Americas on 10m WSPR. F2 conditions seem very good on the 10m band.

UPDATE 1312z:  VK3KCX (16883km) was spotting my 2W at 1250z on 10m WSPR at a decent -17dB S/N.  VK5MR (16144km) was spotting me. This morning, PU3WSF (10416km), PY3FF (10440km) were spotted and ET/G8DYK (5931km) in KJ98ix square was spotting my 2W on 10m WSPR. VK5MR has spotted me 7 times on 10m WSPR today and ET/G8DYK (5931km) was spotting me in Ethiopia.

No luck on 6m WSPR this afternoon, so far

I have been on 6m WSPR since 1424z but I have spotted not a single station. Not a single station has received me either. Perhaps this was to be expected.

I'll stick on 6m WSPR for a few more hours just in case things improve. As well as poor DX conditions, 6m WSPR is not helped by the very low level of activity. GDX to around 200km should be possible, but this needs active stations!

If I see just a single station on 6m I shall be pleased.

UPDATE 1742z:  Still nothing here on 6m WSPR. Will keep trying for a few more hours.

UPDATE 1842z:  Still nothing, but sticking around for another hour or so on 6m WSPR.  Ever hopeful!

UPDATE 2030z:  Not even a hint of a Doppler shifted signal on the WSPR 4.0 interface. I'll stay on the band until bedtime, but it looks if 6m is going to be a dead loss today. Nothing, zlich. You can't say I've not tried! I even published my activity on WSPRnet but still minimal 6m activity worldwide.

No SAQ transmission today after all

The famous SAQ 17.2kHz VLF transmitter was NOT in action today, October 24th 2014.  There was always some doubt whether today's transmission was to happen or not.

See http://alexander.n.se/evenemang/extra-transmission/ .

RA3APW - 100mW 10m WSPR beacon

Karen RA3APW's 100mW, GPS controlled, Ultimate 3, Moscow WSPR beacon (2443km) that uses just a short whip antenna in his shack is coming in well again today. He is getting plenty of WSPR spots over 2000km right across Europe today. I am seeing an 8dB variation in his S/N (-14dB best, -22dB worst) and I think I tend to get him worse than some others in the UK who may have better receivers and antennas. Karen carefully measured his power so his 100mW is genuine. -14dB S/N suggests that at times just 5mW would be enough.

RA3APW on 100mW 10m WSPR today - 9 spots already.

UPDATE 1532z:  RA3APW has now been spotted 13 times at up to a very strong -5dB S/N. This level suggests 1mW would have been copied, possibly 250uW. Amazing.

10m WSPR - busy!

10m WSPR has been very busy this morning. This is a recent shot of the WSPR V4.0 screen showing stations being received here.

10m WSPR screen a few minutes ago showing stations being copied here.

UPDATE 1220z:   My first 10m WSPR spot from a USA station was at 1110z today by WG2Z (5600km). The earliest times are getting earlier and earlier as the season progresses.

Sunspots

Sunspot count today is 126 and 20-30MHz propagation "excellent". Earlier in the day it was "good".  Expect decent 10m conditions. Yesterday conditions on the band were good .

UPDATE 1100z:  CX2ABP is already being spotted on 10m WSPR by F2.  Lots of Europeans being spotted and spotting me on 10m WSPR this morning.

UPDATE 1112z:  13 spots of my 1110z 2W transmission on 10m WSPR.

OR7T on 472kHz

Last night OR7T copied me several times overnight on 472kHz WSPR. This was the 22nd unique spot on the band of my 5mW ERP signal in the last 2 weeks. I need to calculate the total number of stations that have spotted me on the band this year from this QTH.

Returned to 472kHz WSPR

Since 2024z I have been back on 472kHz WSPR and am already spotting DLs and F stations and being spotted by the local and semi-locals and G3WCB (101km).  Still hopeful that more new spotters will be on this evening and overnight. The number of unique reporters of my QRP signal is gradually increasing. Still a long way to go to match results on 500kHz from the old QTH.

Last 28MHz WSPR USA DX was at 1942z here this evening. Since then, only locals and semi-locals on 10m.

10m GDX

In along side the "real" DX on 10m WSPR today I notice G3ZTY (232km) and I were exchanging WSPR spots (-22dB S/N for my 2W signal) by what looks like tropo late lunchtime. I guess it could be F2 backscatter. There were also lots of Europeans as well as EI and GI stations too.

Genesis Q5 1W QRP TX - not available?

I have been told that this 1W QRP TX from Australia, mentioned on the blog a few days ago, may no longer be available to order. I suggest you email the address on the Genesis website to see if it can be ordered. Certainly some of the SDR transceiver kits are only available in limited numbers. I am sorry if I got some hopes up only to be dashed.

See http://www.genesisradio.com.au/Q5/ . The website gives detailed schematics so you could always "roll your own".

First USA 10m WSPR spot at 1150z

WG2Z (5600km) was spotting me at 1150z. This is pretty early, confirming good 10m conditions. Others in the USA have been spotting me too.

FR1GZ (9724km) and I are also exchanging 10m WSPR spots (F2 propagation).

Sunspots

Sunspot count today is 123 and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to be "excellent". 10m seems in good shape (plenty of Europeans already) but no F2 DX seen here as yet.

472kHz WSPR - spots of me in the last 2 weeks

Over the last 2 weeks, I have been spotted now by 21 different stations with best DX LA4ANA (1042km). The latest station to spot me is F5WK (436km). These are the unique stations spots of my 5mW ERP.  Duplicate spots are not shown. Spots are arranged by distance.

Unique WSPR spots of my 5mW ERP in the last 2 weeks.

472kHz WSPR tonight

I have been on 472kHz this evening with 5mW ERP from the "strapped feeders" antenna. So far, no new reporters or new stations spotted but some good DX received nonetheless. Best DX so far is LA4ANA (1042km). Maybe overnight the DX will be even greater?

Stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR this evening so far.

TI3/AB4AW - 10m WSPR

This station TI3/AB4AW (8752km) in Costa Rica, Central America  was spotted on 10m WSPR several times this afternoon running 5W.   It remains to be seen if he copies my 500mW too.

10m WSPR - power dropped

In the last 30 minutes I have dropped my power on 10m WSPR to 500mW. I am still being spotted in the USA. At 2W it was far too easy.

10m is in excellent shape yet again

Yet again, 10m is excellent with plenty of DX about. Lots of USA stations being spotted and spotting me. Also spotting and being spotted on Reunion Is and in South America. Another good F2 day on the band with plenty of Europeans too.

Busy on 10m WSPR this afternoon

Sunspots today

The sunspot count today is 120 (very good, but with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation "excellent". 10m is certainly in good shape yet again.

472kHz ERPs

Something seems wrong to me in that the difference between reports I give and I get on 472kHz WSPR suggests either my ERP is higher than I think or the ERPs stated by some others is lower than they think.  I am pretty sure my ERP is about right give or take a few dB "experimental error".  I am able to measure antenna current, I know the actual antenna height and can calculate the effective height. If anything, I believe my ERP is over-stated as my losses are pretty high.  I suppose my reports of others may be a few dB down because of the poor-ish sensitivity of my FT817 at 472-479kHz?

UPDATE 1740z:  I have been on 472kHz WSPR for just over 1 hour now. Just the usual early evening reporters with some very decent reports from G3WCB (101km) and G8LCO (58km) amongst others.   As always, PA3ABK/2 (306km) is putting in a big signal again this evening from across the North Sea. 

UPDATE 1752z:  Just been spotted in Wales by GW0EZY (251km) at -25dB S/N.

Genesis Q5 1W QRP kit from Australia

http://genesisradio.com.au/Q5/q5_1.jpg

A trawl of the internet earlier found this kit, a 1W QRP transmitter for any band from 3.5MHz to 14MHz. It is available for S19.95 (US Dollars) + S9 (US Dollars) shipped anywhere worldwide. That seems pretty good value. Also on the website are SDR transceivers.

I last showed this particular kit on my blog 5 years ago.

See http://www.genesisradio.com.au/Q5/ for more details including how to order the various kits. Details on the page include parts lists, schematics and building details.

The are some pretty good SDR transceivers on this site.

Day off amateur radio operating

As I had my U3AC course on Human Evolution in Cambridge , I have decided not to be active on amateur radio today.  I may go on 472kHz WSPR this evening. 10m WSPR, even at 500mW, is becoming quite easy of late with good DX to be had with no real effort.  Even on 472kHz my genuine 5mW ERP has spanned over 1000km already.

I am beginning to feel like I need a whole new challenge,  but I just wish I felt better inside: my remaining stroke systems are getting me down.

Tuesday Sunspots

Sunspot count has climbed further to 93 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to be "normal".  We should expect some decent F2 propagation on 10m today. Already, well before noon, Europeans were being spotted in the USA. FR4OZ was being spotted in GM before 0900z by F2.

10m 500mW success

Running 500mW to my end-fed PAR tri-band antenna, I have so far been spotted by 4 stations on 10m WSPR. Best DX is UA3ARC (2436km) and 4X1RF (3529km). The band has not yet opened to the USA yet at the time of writing. Yet again I am spotting Karen RA3APW's 100mW Moscow WSPR beacon strongly (-14dB S/N) at 2443km.

UPDATE 1345z:  USA stations are now spotting my 500mW and also being spotted by PY3FF (10440km) at a decent -19dB S/N.  500mW seems quite enough to be noticed around the world on 10m WSPR even with my less than ideal antenna.

UPDATE 1610z:  Dropping power to 500mW really seems to have made very little difference to the stations spotting me. I may be less strong, but that is all. Apart from quite a few stateside spots (best DX in that direction is KD6RF (7547km), my best DX spot is from PY3FF at 1250z.

UPDATE 1630z:  These are the unique stations reporting my 500mW so far today on 10m WSPR. Quite a decent selection.

10m WSPR unique reports today with 500mW TX

HF conditions and sunspots

Although the sunspot count is up to 86 (with blackouts), the 20-30MHz propagation forecast is only "fair".  Conditions on 10m are therefore hard to predict. With such a high sunspot count I would hope we'd see some decent F2 openings, but 10m is a fickle band and it can be hard to tell. As yet, I have not started up on 10m.

UPDATE 1012z:   Both PY3FF (10440km) and CX2ABP (11127km), plus several Europeans, coming through on 10m WSPR already.  Conditions on 10m are good!  So much for 10m propagation being just "fair".  Today I am running 500mW on 10m WSPR. So far just locals spotting me.

UPDATE 1036z:  No more South Americans seen since the earlier spots.

Over 1000km on 5mW ERP on 472kHz!

Last night, for the first time, my 5mW ERP WSPR signal broke the 1000km barrier with 2 spots of my signal from Norway by LA4ANA (1042km). He was spotted here 9 times too. Conditions must have been good. I need to recheck how many stations have received my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR as I was also copied by GW0EZY (251km) at 2252z last night. Several (nearer) stations should be able to copy me too, but they need to be active!

472kHz WSPR - LA4ANA copied already

LA4ANA (1042km) has already been spotted here this evening at 1812z right on the limits of copy (-31dB S/N) with his 50mW ERP.  This is a new station I believe on the band from this QTH.

33 unique WSPR spots (of others) in last 2 weeks on 472kHz WSPR

I am still hopeful of some new reporters of my 5mW ERP overnight.

UPDATE Oct 20th 2014 0908z: LA4ANA was spotted here 9 times last night. A couple of new reporters of my pipsqueak 472kHz signal too. A good night on MF for me.

10m WSPR in good shape again

Although I have remained on MF all day, I have been checking WSPRnet to see how 10m WSPR has been shaping up. Well it appears, with USA stations exchanging spots with Europeans and LU8WAG exchanging spots over 13000km. Good F2 propagation on 10m again today.

Sunspots

The sunspot count today is 60 with a risk of blackouts. 20-30MHz propagation is "normal" so I'd expect (on 10m) USA stations and more distant stations by F2.

As mentioned earlier, I am not on 10m WSPR today, instead concentrating on 472kHz WSPR.

Recent 472kHz spots of my 5mW ERP signal.

472kHz - PA3ABK/2

PA3ABK/2 (306km) is always an excellent signal on 472kHz WSPR. Today I stuck with 472kHz WSPR during the day and PA3ABK/2 running 500mW ERP is still around the -10/-11dB S/N level - a very good strong signal all the time here.

Sadly, overnight my 5mW ERP 472kHz WSPR signal was again reported by stations in the UK and The Netherlands who have reported me already. No new overnight reports. Briefly OR7T was active (I spotted him) but he was not on overnight on RX. I think Rik should be able to copy my pipsqueak signal.