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.
7 Sept 2014
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.
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.
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.
6 Sept 2014
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
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
5 Sept 2014
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
4 Sept 2014
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.
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.
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.
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| 472kHz WSPR unique reports Sept 4th 2014 to 2028z |
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
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| FR1GZ http://files.qrz.com/z/fr1gz/FR1GZsat.JPG |
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.
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