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.