472kHz - improvements?

Using the strapped feeder to my Par 10/20/40m as my 472kHz antenna rather than my 2m/70cm feeder, the antenna current has nearly doubled with the antenna current meter now showing 30-33uA whereas it was 18uA before. This suggests ERP has increased by around 4-5dB (ERP proportional to I^^2), but we'll see later. The Par antenna itself is lower than the 2m/70cm antenna and runs horizontally to a tree. Average height is around 3-4m AGL. The losses may be greater.

The picture shows the 472kHz coil used (a ferrite rod would be fine but since moving it is "lost"), the 472kHz homebrew transverter (left) and the 3C90 matching coil between transverter and antenna (towards centre, LHS of coil). The small meter measures antenna current and registered 18uA last night and 30-33uA now with the Par antenna with strapped feeders.

UPDATE 1420z: G8HUH (250km) is copying in daylight a full 8dB S/N better than last night. Encouraging.

UPDATE 1448z:  M0PPP (182km) seems to be coming in stronger than last night too and in broad daylight.

UPDATE 1700z:  M0PPP  is now spotting me at 1456z, 1538z and 1620z i.e. in daylight.   He was not copying me at all last night, so I think my signal IS stronger.

Shetland on 472kHz WSPR - both ways

Using the very indifferent 2m/70cm feeder antenna (some of this is on the ground) last night I was pleased to exchange WSPR spots with GM4SLV (896km) up in the Shetland Isles as well as being spotted  by M0EMM (192km) and G8HUH (250km) in Somerset.

This was my first outing in MF for many months. In coming evenings I'll try different antennas: none are dedicated 472kHz antennas - all are compromise antennas, usually strapped feeders with a base loading coil.

GM4SLV must have a very quiet RX location as he misses very little and my signal would have been very weak.

472kHz WSPR

For the last hour or so I've been on 472kHz WSPR using just the feeder up to my VHF/UHF beam. Part of the run is along the ground and the antenna is only about 6m AGL. So far, no-one has yet spotted me but I have spotted DK7FC (669km) 7 times so far and M0PPP (182km) 3 times. As usual, I am using my homebrew tranverter. ERP is very low milliwatts with this inefficient antenna.

I may leave WSPR running on 472kHz overnight to see what happens. Tomorrow I will try another "feeder" antenna. This is my first MF "outing" for many months.

UPDATE 2210: DK7FC and M0PPP spotted more times and now F1AFJ (607km) has just been seen.

No 10m F2 this evening?

Only 12 stations in the world currently on 10m WSPR and just LU7YW in South America. I''ll give it another hour or so then may QSY to 472kHz for the first time in months.

Have your passwords been stolen?

Again Steve G1KQH has kept his ear to the ground:

Have your passwords been sold on?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/08/05/russians_amass_1_2bn_stolen_passwords/

Can we trust the Web any longer?

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

It may be a good time to update your passwords and make sure your security is solid. Touch wood, I have been using free Microsoft Security Essentials to protect my PC. It appears to do a good job even though I use Firefox.

Storms gone away. Possible F2 DX?

The storms that were threatening us now appear to have moved east and are now over the Norfolk Broads and North Sea.  It looks like we'll miss the storms so I can stay on 10m way into the evening (for the first time in several days), just in case the band suddenly opens up to South America by F2.

CT1JTQ has not been spotting me since 1548z but I think he has gone QRT on 10m WSPR.  There are a few South Americans on that I should copy if 10m is open that way.

10m Es and F2

Es and F2 today seems to have been good on 10m with V53ARC (Namibia) spotted by many in Europe. I may go back to 10m WSPR later unless 6m WSPR improves.

UPDATE 1530z:  Returned to 10m WSPR (from 6m) about 45 minutes ago. Spotted 3 times so far by CT1JTQ (1843km).

UPDATE 1608z:  CT1JTQ has now spotted me 6 times in the last hour, but no-on else has on 10m WSPR. What would be very nice is some F2 further south (i.e. F2 + Es propagation) so I get spotted in South America too this evening.

There are storms to the north of us which may come our way. See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en .  Mostly they are moving into N.Norfolk but there was a strike just now further west near Crowland Abbey. If they get close I'll have to close down.

UPDATE 1810z:  Storms over the Norfolk Broads and North Sea now. Danger here has passed.

6m WSPR - this morning

6m was very quiet this morning with just reports from local G4IKZ (18km).   Let's hope things improve  after lunch.

Just spots from G4IKZ on 6m WSPR this morning - very quiet.

UPDATE 1240z:   Still just G4IKZ spotting me on 6m WSPR. All very quiet today.

Sunspots

Sunspot count today is 93 and 20-30MHz propagation just "normal". Although 10m Es is still likely, we will be lucky to see F2 propagation on 10m, but N-S F2 is possible. Yesterday was very good on 10m with VK5 spotted here mid-morning.

I definitely think we are on the slide now.

6m WSPR - but so little activity

At 1044z, I returned to 6m WSPR but when I turned it on there were just 4 stations on TX in the entire world transmitting on 6m: this is pathetically few.  I hope more people join me soon. So far just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me. There needs to be a scattering of stations to spot any Es.

As I write this, there are now 7 TX stations plus 3 on RX on 6m.

On the WSPR RX screen there are no wispy traces suggesting weak Es or GDX - nothing currently,

Logbook (found by G1KQH)

Steve G1KQH has been finding things again.

Found this excellent Logbook:  http://www.ngenlog.com/

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNrI_sENS7o

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

Early close again tonight on 10m WSPR

Tonight is the last night my shack is being used as a bedroom. Hopefully I shall be able to operate beyond 1745z tomorrow if I want to. I am also unable to come on for the UKAC session on 2m this evening for the same reason: my shack is  a bedroom for the third night.

10m WSPR unique spots until QRT at teatime

These last few days have been exceedingly fatiguing (stroke).  Not sure if this just a bad week or whether it is extra tiring having the little ones around: although I enjoy having them it is at least twice as tiring for me: I worry about them but am too feeble to sort out things. This makes me feel SO tired.  We'll see if I feel less tired when they go home.

10m in good shape today - Aug 5th 14

10m has been in good shape since I first switched on around 0844z this morning with Eu wide Es and even a spot of VK5MR (16144km) at 0920z this morning. Mind you, the VK was running 20W, which is a lot on WSPR. The VK5 was near Adelaide.

10m unique WSPR spots so far today

Sunspot count today is 111 (quite reasonable) and 20-30MHz propagation supposed to be "good". We have already seen F2 propagation.

Kent Electronics Antennas

Sam Jewell G4DDK's blog recently mentioned http://www.wa5vjb.com/index.html which has some excellent PCB antennas mainly for microwave bands. If I was serious about microwaves I think I'd be buying some antennas from Texas!

MRI scan results

A week ago I had another MRI scan to see how my brain bleed is repairing.  Today I had to go back to get the results. I was extremely relieved to hear all is repaired, my boys will not inherit the problem and all is well.

My relief was visible. This had been a real worry to my wife and I.  I dreaded further brain surgery, fearing some long-term damage might be done.   I have now been "signed off" by the neurosurgeons and should not need to see them in their clinic again.

My main problems remaining are swallow of some liquids, giddiness when walking, some stomach discomfort and profound fatigue: most days the least physical exertion totally exhausts me. I find it hard to describe just how tired I feel most of my waking day.  All these remaining issues should improve, but this could be a long time. Apparently the neurosurgeon told the DLVA in June that I am fit to drive, although their OK could take months to reach me.  A few months ago there was no way I could have driven, but now I feel ready to do so. It will be good to drive the car again.

Today has been an emotional day. I am profoundly grateful it is drawing to a close.

JT65 and JT9-1

These 2-way digital modes which require me to be in the shack, are on hold until I get my shack back properly which will not be before Wednesday PM. With grandchildren around, they take priority. At least I can set WSPR going in the shack in the daytime and check progress on WSPRnet.org in the lounge from time to time.

10m - Es very quiet today

Since returning from Addenbrooke's hospital mid morning where I went to get the results of a recent MRI scan (all was fine), I have been on 10m WSPR.  Apart from a single weakish spot from CT1JTQ (1843km) at 1136z, it has been very quiet with no Es, no F2 and no GDX evident here on 10m WSPR.

Sunspot count today is 156 and 20-30MHz propagation only "fair". 10m F2 is doubtful today.

UPDATE 1612z: CT1JTQ  has been the only station copying me all day. So far he has copied me 7 times.  I copied absolutely no-one all day (so far): no GDX, no locals, No Es and no F2 propagation. It seems a very poor day on 10m. Before too long I shall have to go QRT because of my granddaughter sleeping in the shack. On again in the morning.

UPDATE 1820z:  EA5CYA (1376km) was spotted at around 1804z on 10m WSPR running 200mW.

SM7UCZ QRP projects

Dom M1KTA's blog mentioned a simple 160m AM transmitter on SM7UCZ's website. Looking at SM7UCZ's website I see there are lots of ideas there. Be sure to use Google to translate into English.

Interferer to 10m WSPR

David G0LRD is seeing the same interferer that I am. Looks like it is coming in from some distance perhaps by Es.

Hi Roger,
The interferer in the 10m WSPR segment came back again this evening. It's rather odd. It is a very stable carrier modulated at about 0.0875Hz (7 tones every 80 seconds). It exhibits signs of long-distance propagation (fading, no doppler). The frequency of the pulsed carrier is precisely 28.126031 Hz.

It is rather annoying - I hope it doesn't persist.

David G0LRD

Enforced QRT

As my younger granddaughter (2) is now occupying a cot in my shack, I have been forced to go QRT for the night. This is much earlier than I would normally close down, but I have no choice. They are staying 3 nights, so it will be the same situation until Wednesday night. I should still be able operate WSPR during the daytime.

Before going QRT on 10m WSPR, most stations copied were locals with a smattering of Eu Es.  I may be missing South Americans this evening by N-S F2. I shall have to check WSPRnet.org to see what I'm missing on 10m and 6m.

There are storms currently over Belgium that may reach the UK later.  I think we will miss them here in Burwell though. See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en .

My last 10m WSPR report was from G4KPX (14km) at 1750z at -14dB S/N.

6m seems to be open with Es from across the continent, according to WSPRnet.org, but I don't seem to be missing any intercontinental DX. On 10m HS1 was being copied in EA on WSPR and LU in W2.

No F2 today (yet)

Today has surprised me: not a single F2 signal yet copied on 10m so far. It is now around 1650z.  Sunspot count is quite good and 20-30MHz conditions suggested that N-S F2 would be possible. It may just be there were no stations active on WSPR in the right areas today.

There are now more USA stations (east coast) on 10m WSPR, which is encouraging.

Yet more 10m Es transatlantic!

This morning around 1100z KZ8C (6290km) in EM88 square was spotted for the 8th time (I think) this Es season. I think this is the earliest time in the day I have copied 10m Es transatlantic. It means the USA station was on very early local time.

UPDATE 1611z:  CT1PT (1685km) was spotted on 10m WSPR at 1604z.

UPDATE 1613z:  PD0OHW (459km) was copied mid afternoon. I think this was by Es. All storms seem to be well away from the UK currently. See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en . Sadly I must go QRT early this evening because of guests, not because of storms.

10m unique WSPR spots so far today

Current set-up for WSPR, JT65 and JT9-1

This is a photo of the kit currently used. The top FT817ND is used mainly for 2m and 70cms (local FM net, SSB and CW, beacon hunting) and the lower FT817 for WSPR, JT65 and JT9-1 mainly on 6m and 10m. The lower rig is set at 2.5W, but the cable run to the V2000 vertical is lossy on 6m. I use a SignaLink USB audio interface to the PC.  This works well. For all digital modes I use the FT817 on DIG setting via the rear connector.   Sometimes I use the Z817 ATU, which I find very good. With this, I can get onto 5MHz and some other bands.

Best DX (on WSPR) is Australia at 1W out on 40, 20 and 10m and Israel on 6m WSPR (1W ERP).

Not shown (on shelf above) is the 472kHz homebrew transverter, the 15m MFJ Cub and the Mizuho 200mW 2m SSB rig. Also out of sight are a 136kHz beacon, the 2m Fredbox, the 6m Sixbox, the VLF 8-9kHz beacon, and optical rigs. I am waiting for better health to be able to use these again. Currently my operating is all from home and mainly modes not requiring me to talk, although I have ventured onto our Monday night FM net and the odd 2m and 70cm contest.

10m WSPR - early Sunday

10m WSPR was turned on quite early today and the band is already lively with EU Es signals (LB, I and EA). I shall stay on 10m all day all being well, but may have to close early this evening if the shack is being used as a bedroom for our granddaughter.

There is a local (?) interferer low down in the WSPR sub-band pulsing on and off every 5 seconds or so - any idea what this is? It does not seem to be doing anything bad to decodes,which is a relief. It was there last night too I noticed.

Sunspot count today is 178 (good) with blackouts. 20-30MHz forecast is "normal". I'd expect N-S F2 today on 10m.

UPDATE 1045z:  No 10m F2 propagation seen yet.

6m - QRT soon

After over 4 hours now with just reports from local G4IKZ, I think I shall go QRT soon.  I'll leave the kit running WSPR until bedtime, then disconnect and switch everything off. Knowing my luck, 6m WSPR will then open strongly to the USA!

UPDATE 2110z:  Eventually, after 5 hours G6AVK (78km) spots my 1W ERP on 6m as well as G4IKZ (18km).

UPDATE 2220z:  Now going QRT.

Nevada deal on Alinco DR-135UK 28MHz transceiver

Steve G1KQH has found a good deal!

This 28MHz transceiver is available for £159.95 from Nevada. It looks like a useful rig at a good price. No doubt a few wire cuts will allow full CB coverage (illegally) for those who desire this.

http://images.nevadaradio.co.uk/large/alinco2/DR135UK-Banner3.jpg

Back on 6m WSPR at 1604z

Now gone back to 6m WSPR. So far, just being seen strongly by local G4IKZ (18km). No GDX or Es seen yet.

There is a storm coming this way from the Gloucester area but it will be a few hours yet and might miss us? See http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en . Currently it is over the Milton Keynes area. and seems to be tracking E/SE-wards.

UPDATE 1710z: The storm is moving NE. It may get us after all. Currently it is in Northamptonshire. We'll see soon where it goes next.

UPDATE  1727z: Still just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.  No Es, no GDX seen here on 6m WSPR (yet). Will abort proceedings if the storm gets dangerously close.

UPDATE 1807z:  The storm appears to be fading away before it gets here. Good. This means I can stay on 6m WSPR for longer. So far, there is distinct lack of Es DX being seen by any reporters.

The ONLY 6m WSPR spots here in the last 2 hours - local G4IKZ

UPDATE 1820z:  Still no DX on 6m. Storm HAS died out.

UPDATE 1922z:   Still no 6m DX. The storm over the North Sea is now moving south and there is lightning at Cromer. Watching this carefully in case it comes our way tonight.

6m/10m WSPR - or not?

I was about to switch back to 6m WSPR but the lightning map shows deteriorating weather with possible storms approaching from Lincolnshire and the North Sea.  Maybe I'll stay on 10m a while longer and then decide what to do. If the storms get close I shall go QRT.

UPDATE 1318z:  Well, the Lincolnshire storm is moving north. That means it is getting further away from here.  I'll QSY up to 6m WSPR later this afternoon, unless another storm rears its ugly head.

UPDATE 1410z:  GM4FVM (428km - very short 10m Es skip) copied strongly at -10dB S/N on 10m WSPR at 1340z. Suggests decent Es on higher bands.

UPDATE 1442z: First GDX today G8VDQ (93km) spotted on 10m WSPR at 1424z but quite weakly.

Missed 6m transatlantic openings

I missed at least 2 transatlantic 6m openings.

KB2MEN spotted G4JVF on July 29th in the middle of the night (in the UK) and KU4QI spotted ON7KO on the evening of June 21st.  I was probably on 10m, or I simply missed these openings. The season has not yet ended for real long distance 6m DX. I may go back on to 6m later.

10m WSPR - resumed at 0914z today

So far, all quiet on 10m WSPR with no recent GDX, Es or F2 DX seen here today so far.

Sunspot count  is 165 with blackouts and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". We should see F2 DX today. It was there yesterday on 10m.

The nearest storms are over the North Sea, but I shall continue to keep a watchful eye and disconnect everything if things start to look at all dodgy.

UPDATE 1047z:   FR1GZ (9724km) was spotted (F2) just a few minutes ago, LB9YE (1533km) is now coming through by Es. The 10m band is waking up. FR1GZ is also spotting me I see.

UPDATE 1247z:  TF3HZ (1837km) now being spotted via Es.

10m WSPR - F2 this afternoon

FR1GZ (9724km) running 5W was spotted on 10m WSPR today at 1352z at -21dB S/N.   No other DX  - Es, F2 or GDX - has been seen since (yet).  The band did, at least, open deep into the Indian Ocean (Reunion Is). Maybe we'll see South America later?

UPDATE 1812z: G8JNJ/A (184km) was spotted after a very quiet afternoon at 1708z, but nothing since then.

UPDATE 1923z:  CX2ABP (11127km) copied at -22dB S/N at 1844z (and earlier) from Montevideo. Yet moretdecent F2 propagation. LB9YE was spotted at  1858z. No Es seen since then.

UPDATE 2145z: With a (distant) threat of storms, WSPR has been closed down, antennas disconnected and rigs and PC unplugged from the mains. Think the risk is greater tomorrow, but better safe than sorry. Will resume on either 6m or 10m tomorrow if weather safe.   According to http://www.lightningmaps.org/realtime?lang=en there are storms moving up from France. By tomorrow morning they could be here?

10m - results this morning

These are the unique WSPR spots so far today on 10m. All these are via Es.  Repeat spots are not shown.

10m WSPR - immediate Es success

As well as early spots by OK2RO (1282km) both ways, I am now being spotted by EA1KV (1304km). 10m Es is hotting up again.

UPDATE 1025z: I have also been spotted by LB9YE (1533km) in the last 40 minutes and am spotting him.

6m overnight - disappointing

Leaving 6m WSPR on overnight was a waste: apart from local G4IKZ (18km) only 1 spot of me by G8JNJ/A (184km) and no Es seen here on 6m WSPR at all.

At 0856z I QSYed back to 10m where I was immediately spotted by OK2RO (1282km) several times at good strength. I have also spotted him. 10m is definitely a more productive band for Es.

Sunspot count today is 139 and 20-30MHz is forecast to be "good", so some 10m F2 propagation should be expected later.

QSYed to 6m WSPR at 1642z

As 10m Es is so good, I have now QSYed up to 6m in the hope of catching some Es on this higher band. As yet, just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 6m, but I'll stay on 6m for some hours to give the higher band a fair chance.

On 10m, DK0SC was spotting me just before I changed bands up to 6m.

UPDATE 1802z:  OZ7IT (853km) in Denmark was spotted on 6m WSPR by Es at -12dB S/N (strong) at 1730z.

UPDATE 1844z:  DL4MFC (916km) spotted on 6m WSPR a few minutes ago at -8dB S/N. Es is good on 6m.

UPDATE 1852z:  HB9TJM (764km) now being spotted. 6m is good this evening.

6m unique spots to 1844z-1915z today

DB0ZDF spotted me on 6m Es (for 1W ERP) at a respectable -15dB S/N.

UPDATE 1954z:  F6HTL (831km) was spotted on 6m at 1944z.

UPDATE 2130z:  No more Es and GDX since 1944z. It may yet return, so I am leaving the WSPR kit running through the night in the hope and have reset the PC clock to internet time.

PS  Get Israel to make peace, not war.

10m WSPR - Es all over Europe

Currently there is Es coming through on 10m WSPR from all over Europe. Conditions on 10m Es seem wide open.

Sunspot count today is 146 (good) and 20-30MHz conditions are described as "good".  We should expect F2 propagation on 10m today. Yesterday we saw South Africa on the band. Today should be at least as good, or better, for F2 DX.

UPDATE 1535z:  GM4SFW (662km) and I are exchanging WSPR spots and still plenty of Es from across Europe on 10m.

UPDATE 1740z:  PD0OHW (459km) just spotted on 10m WSPR. Probably Es, but short skip. May QSY to 6m?


PS  Get Israel to make peace, not war.

USA yet again on 10m - multi-hop Es?

KZ8C (6290km) was spotted twice this evening from EM88pm around teatime. It seems WSPR is proving the summertime Es path to the USA on 10m is open far more than I previously thought.  I am losing count of how many times this season I have copied the USA on 10m, but it is a lot - on 6 days now I think.  I assume it is multi-hop Es but could be F2 backscatter? More WSPR stations would help. Remember, if this is Es the same may be possible any summer including right at the sunspot minimum in 5-6 summers from now. Now there's a thought.

UPDATE 1835z:  DK0SC (827km) copied me very strongly at +7/+8dB S/N at 1758z. Since then just wispy weak signals which are probably GDX stations not quite strong enough to decode. G8VDQ (93km) was decoded at 1730z.

UPDATE 1950z:  Worldwide just 13 stations on 10m WSPR and only 12 stations on 6m. This is pathetic. People are really missing out on an excellent mode for propagation studies and more. To be fair, the list does not show people on WSPR who have not spotted or been spotted in recent minutes, so there may be more people active than are shown on www.wsprnet.org .

UPDATE 2222z:  Three Es spots this evening of SI9AM (1503km) up in N.Sweden on 10m so far this evening. Will leave 10m WSPR kit running overnight.

More recent WSPR spots today


PS  Get Israel to makr peace, not war.

ZS on 10m F2

ZS5PMB (9563km) was just spotted on 10m WSPR. I am pretty sure this is N-S F2 propagation. It is a pity there are not more stations active this early evening on 10m WSPR. Currently there are just 14 stations active on 10m WSPR in the world.

Low WSPR activity levels

At the moment, in the entire world, there are just 20 active WSPR stations on 10m and just 16 on 6m.  These are very low levels of activity: Es and F2 openings are being missed as there are no stations active in the target areas.

UPDATE 1425z:  No new Es on 10m since switching down to 10m from 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1505z:  Now just 5 stations on 6m and 25 stations on 10m in the world on WSPR.  Pathetic levels of WSPR activity.

Back to 10m WSPR from 6m

With little Es on 6m, I am going to QSY back to 10m, hoping to catch some F2 propagation.  6m is a great band but 10m is more productive of DX.   Initially I'll use WSPR but hope to try JT65 and JT9-1 later after I've finished helping my XYL with the ironing.

UPDATE 1340z:  Now QSYed back to 10m WSPR.