Sunspots - Monday Dec 8th

Sunspot number has declined a little further to 58. 10m daytime propagation is forecast to be "fair" only. We'll see what the day brings. I am currently on 10m WSPR (20% TX) running 500mW.

Android WSPR apps

Thanks (again) to Steve G1KQH, these are Android apps for WSPR. I see they now include a TX beacon.

Two new WSPR Apps for Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glandorf1.joe.wsprnetviewer.app&hl=en

WSPR Beacon

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.iu4apc.wsprbeacon&hl=en_GB

and another I have just found:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xxx.wspr.g4swy&hl=en_GB

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

Kanga UK Site

See http://www.kanga-products.co.uk/ .

This website has some good products on it. They also sell crystals for QRP frequencies at sensibly low prices and stock Si5351A boards to allow low cost generation of frequencies from less than 8kHz to over 150MHz, useful when crystals for specific frequencies can be very expensive. See also http://m0xpd.blogspot.co.uk/ .

They are also the UK dealer for the OpenQRP transceivers.

10m WSPR Stateside

My 1634z 500mW 10m WSPR transmission was spotted by 9 different stations. Most of these were in the USA. When the band is open to North America, as it has been every day for weeks and weeks now in the afternoons, 500mW seems quite enough to be copied very well over there. Increasing power to 5W makes very little difference.

Once the path closes, more power does not help. One may get a better report and the band may remain open for a few more minutes, but that is all.

1634z 500mW 10m WSPR TX transmission

UPDATE 1940z:   K3GEN (5883km) at 1744z seems to be the last USA station spotted here on 10m WSPR this evening. The last spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR was by N2BJW (5262km) a few minutes earlier at 1738z.

UPDATE 2218z:   Spotting G0LRD (25km) running 50mW and G4IKZ (18km) spotting me. Now going QRT.

G8YQN (217km) on 10m WSPR

Just spotted G8YQN (217km).  This is the best GDX I have seen and, judging by the trace on the screen, this was tropo with some aircraft reflections, At -22dB S/N, not a bad signal for 5W.

GM4WJA on 10m WSPR - a real puzzle

GM4WJA (624km) has been spotting my 500mW a few times  on 10m WSPR of late.  This is too far for tropo and aircraft reflections, and far too close for F2 propagation. I assume propagation in either F-layer back-scatter or possibly Es.

10m wakes up

Since 1142z, the 10m WSPR slot seems to haven amnwoken up with a mix of European stations both near and far. Some are GDX, possibly off aircraft, some are probably F2 propagation and some are at a difficult distance that could be E-layer or back-scatter. If the band is opening by winter Es I would expect  more widespread EUs to be copied lunchtime.  If true to recent form, the 10m band should open to the USA after lunch. With slightly lower sunspots, maybe the transatlantic path will be more marginal today?

UPDATE 1245z:   W3CSW (5886km) was spotting my 500mW WSPR a few minutes ago at a respectable -20dB S/N.

UPDATE 1320z:   KU4QI (6406km) is spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR at -18dB S/N.

UPDATE 1358z:  Although several USA stations have now spotted my 500mW on 10m WSPR, I have yet to spot even a single USA station here! Not sure why this should be as most are using 5W (10dB more than me. I am seeing LZ1OI OK though.

UPDATE 1412z:  My FT817 was set to "narrow" and the pass band tuning was set too high, so only allowing the strongest signals to be decoded.   Since switching to normal passband I am copying plenty of transatlantic signals. There had to be answer, and there was.

Sunspot number - "only" 73

I say this with a degree of sarcasm, knowing that we'd be thrilled with a SN of 73 in a year or two's time. 10m conditions are expected to be "fair". So far, my 500mW WSPR beacon is getting no spots since switch-on just after 1100z.

UPDATE 1240z:   The 10m WSPR sub-band seems to have "woken up" around 1142z, with plenty of EU activity since that time.

QSYed to 472kHz

At around 1515z, I QSYed down to MF (472kHz) WSPR and immediately spotted PA3ABK/2 (306km) when using my short baseline earth-electrode "antenna".

Already, G0LRD (25km) and G8HUH (250km) have spotted me on 472kHz WSPR. The earth-electrode antenna does really work pretty well both on RX and TX despite my very low ERP (5mW) on the band.

UPDATE 1624z:  PA0O (440km) also spotted on RX.

UPDATE 1832z:  G7NKS (46km) has now come on and is spotting me.

UPDATE 1800z: G8LCO (58km) now spotting me.

UPDATE 2100z:   Best DX on RX so far this evening is F1AFJ (607km) at -29dB S/N at 1946z.

UPDATE 2318z:   My 472kHz 5mW ERP WSPR will remain on overnight using the earth-electrode "antenna".

6m WSPR - I am giving up soon!

Well, I did think that today I'd have more success on 6m, but I think it was wishful thinking: I've now been on the band for nearly 6 hours and it is DEAD.  I'll give it a little longer then QSY to 10m or 472kHz.

Looks like there was a little Es in Australia otherwise very quiet on 6m. GDX requires stations to be active and I guess outside the Es season, people don't use the band much outside of the occasional contest.

Sunspots

Sunspot number today has declined to 97 today. 10m propagation is forecast to be "fair". Today looks like an average day on 10m. As said in my previous post I am trying 6m, but so far no success!

6m WSPR - what a waste of effort, so far

Since around 0915z, I have been using about 30dBm (1W) ERP vertical on 6m WSPR on 20% TX, with the remainder of the time on RX. In all that time I have seen NOTHING and been seen by NOBODY at all. I was hoping to catch a little GDX or wintertime Es, but no luck so far.

I shall stick with 6m for a few more hours, but think it now unlikely I'll spot anyone or anyone will spot me on 6m now. Not quite sure why I bother as I always draw a blank on 6m. The summer Es season was very productive and I am disappointed by the "out of season" 6m activity.

Stateside on 10m today

This afternoon has, again, been good with lots of spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR from North America. These are just some of the spots this afternoon, showing in time order.  As you see, most spots are from North America.

UPDATE 1745z:  K4COD (6826km) is still spotting me.

UPDATE 1906z:  KB1TLC (4983km) spotted by 500mW WSPR on 10m at 1812z. At the moment, this looks like the last spot today from North America, although I shall be on for a while yet.

UPDATE 1922z:  Currently,WSPRnet is showing 61 stations active on 10m WSPR. However, if the propagation is not there, stations cannot be copied.

UPDATE 2000z:  Just G0LRD (25km)  running 50mW now being copied on 10m WSPR. UPDATE 2003z:  I may try 6m WSPR tomorrow to see if there is any wintertime Es. UPDATE 2230z:  Now QRT.

10m winter Es?

DL6YCU (522km) is now spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR. I am seeing lots of closer EU stations on the 10m band. I am wondering if this is the start of the winter Es season? It usually occurs December and January. I should return to 6m WSPR soon!

OFCOM statement: Updating the Amateur Radio Licence

OFCOM here in the UK have decided to make 470kHz and the 5MHz slots available to full licence holders without the need for an NoV. There are some other changes too, mainly affecting microwave bands in the UK.

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/amateur-radio-licence/statement?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amateur-statement-dec14 .

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today is 137 yet 10m propagation is only forecast to be "fair". This is the day I spot New Zealand on 10m WSPR!   On previous days when 10m propagation was "good"  I did not.  

Moral - on 10m the forecasts are a guide. Do not always take them as gospel.

UPDATE 1020z:  Still just Europeans copying my 500mW on 10m WSPR . No more "super DX" seen yet today.

ZL on 10m WSPR today

ZL2IT (18569km) running 5W was spotted here on 10m WSPR this morning at 0946z, not long after turning the rig on.  He was not strong at -25dB S/N.  As yet, no reports of my 500mW from Australia or New Zealand today.

Just Europeans spotting me so far this morning. Distances seem to suggest F-layer propagation, although I am unsure about some of the closer stations e.g. Italy which could be back-scatter or even Es. Every day now my 500mW is copied right across Europe.

UPDATE 1105z:   Just spotted LX and DL on 10m WSPR. This far too short for F2 propagation. I suspect this is Es as there are now lots of closer EU stations being copied. No Doppler evident on these signals.

UPDATE 2200z:  The day ended with reports of my 500mW WSPR from no further than the USA. In 2 years time I'd be thrilled to bits with this! Today, the USA and Canada are easy even with 500mW.

Last transatlantic spot of my 500mW on 10m WSPR?

WG2Z (5600km) was spotting me well at 1842z but no-one else from the other side of the Atlantic has since then. Only time will tell if this was the last one tonight. I shall stay on 10m WSPR for a few more hours yet. G0LRD (25km) running 50mW s now the only station being copied currently. UPDATE 2004z:  WG2Z at 1842z does appear to be the last USA station spotting me today. The last USA station that I copied was also WG2Z in the immediately preceding time slot. The 10dB difference in power seems to make no difference: once the path closes, that is the end of it. UPDATE 2042z:  Still just G0LRD (25km) running 50mW being copied now on 10m WSPR. I shall probably go QRT at around 2100. UPDATE 2155z:  Now QRT until after breakfast time tomorrow.

Our varied hobby

One of the great things about amateur radio is the number of different ways in which the hobby can be enjoyed.

For over a year now my health has been poor because a brain bleed in September 2013. Before then, I enjoyed QRP QSOs (mainly SSB), construction and field experiments from VLF to optical. Since my stroke I have been clumsy and (until recently) not allowed to drive. Very very slowly, normality is returning but I think it will be way into 2015 before I can call myself well.

In the meantime, I still manage WSPR and other digital modes from home. I can even, albeit briefly, manage our local 2m FM net and the occasional VHF/UHF contest. Some people enjoy satellites, MS or moonbounce. Others just like to ragchew on 80m.

We must rejoice that there are so many different, yet equally valid, ways of enjoying ourselves. We have a great hobby.

10m WSPR - too easy right now?

Conditions on 10m really are good right now and in a few years time it will be hard to believe how good they  really were. Enjoy the good times - it may be a very long time, if ever in some of our lifetimes, before we see such F2 conditions on 10m again. Yes 10m is ALWAYS fun in the spring and summer months when Es is good but right now F2 propagation on 10m in the daytime is very good and worldwide DX is possible.

Unique 500mW 10m WSPR reports so far today (at 1700z)

VLF amateur radio

Being involved in VLF amateur radio is a very specialised activity requiring special (but low cost) kit to be successful. Casual listening is highly unlikely to be successful. Long distance reception of amateur VLF signals usually involves looking for signals using Spectrum Laboratory software locked to a VLF MSK signal so that very narrow bandwidths can be looked at for hours or days on end.

Most amateur VLF tests are done on 8.27kHz as this is unallocated spectrum in many countries.

News about amateur VLF activity can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/ . There has been very little amateur VLF work done this year but amateur VLF signals have crossed the Atlantic.

Tests using utilities assisted earth-mode do not involve big loading coils. Just under 6km has been achieved with just 5W using this mode, before I had my stroke! The kit was simple too. See https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/earthmode .

One of the things I am really looking forward to, when fit again, is some more field work with VLF using earth-mode.

Reaching Reunion Is on 10m WSPR

Reunion Is.. (Image from Wikipedia)

FR1GZ (9724km) on Reunion Island in the South Indian Ocean was copying my 500mW 10m WSPR signal at 1300z today at -26dB S/N and again a little later.  We have exchanged 10m WSPR reports many times before but in the past I was usually using 2W.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9union .

Sunspot number - Dec 4th 2014

Sunspot number today currently is 124 and 10m daytime propagation remains good. 10m is again open across the Atlantic, and my 500mW 10m WSPR is reaching further afield too.

VK5MR

I may have missed being spotted on 10m WSPR this morning by VK5MR (South Australia) as he was spotting G stations well this morning, but well before I came on air at around 1000z. Looks like I need to have everything on and working an hour earlier to be spotted.

UPDATE 2105z:   Time to go QRT on 10m.

UPDATE 2215z:    Finally went QRT on 10m WSPR at 2210z.

Last stateside spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR tonight

Canadian VE2MLS (5422km) and W3CSW (5886km) spotted me at 1728z. At the moment these look like the last spots from across the Atlantic.

UPDATE 1920z:   No further reports from across the Atlantic since VE2MLS and W3CSW at 1728z, so these were almost certainly my last transatlantic reports this evening.

27 unique WSPR spots so far today on 10m with 500mW

So far today (it is 1530z as I write this) 27 different stations have reported my 500mW on 10m WSPR. Most are stateside stations in the USA and Canada. This has been the pattern for weeks and weeks now.

Every day, the 10m band opens across the Atlantic around lunchtime and usually closes to the USA and Canada just after teatime. 10m is a wonderful band to be enjoyed by all at its best.  It is still fun at other parts of the cycle too, but FAR more quiet.

10m WSPR unique reports of my 500mW so far today.

UPDATE 1600z:   Best DX is now N6RY (8756km) just south of Los Angeles on the west coast of the USA.

UPDATE 1930z:  32 unique 10m WSPR spots received in the last 12 hours with 500mW - not a bad day, but no "super" DX spots today.

QRPme website

See www.qrpme.com .

http://www.qrpme.com/images/MeSquares.jpg

Always on the look out for interesting QRP projects, the QRPme website has lots of interesting and low cost projects. They also sell crystals for QRP frequencies and MePads and MeSquares, which are very useful. In all, a useful resource for keen QRP enthusiasts.

10m F2? WSPR

WG2Z (5600km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW on 10m WSPR today at 1200z. In the other direcction, I spotted N1MGO (5293km) just minutes earlier. CX2ABP (11127km) was spotted here at 1158z.

Apart from the USA and the one South American, all stations have been in Europe or near Asia. I assume this is F-layer or F-layer back-scatter, but guess some nearer EU stations could have been Es?

UPDATE 1450z:  My 1444z 10m 500mW WSPR transmission was spotted by 11 stations, all of whom, apart from 1, were in the USA and Canada.

Sunspots - Dec 3rd 2014

Today's sunspot number has dropped quite a bit to 104. The forecast for 10m conditions remain "good" however.

UPDATE 1034z:  10m spots of my 500mW WSPR are being received around Europe only, but it is still very early.

UPDATE 2032z:   Sunspot number is increasing again and is currently 146.

10m WSPR - last USA spots today

W4HFZ (6819km) was the last to spot my 500mW WSPR in the USA today at 1756z. The last USA station I spotted on 10m WSPR was K3GEN (5883km) a few minutes later. Since then, earlier than yesterday, the 10m band has been closed here to the USA and Canada.

UPDATE 2130z:   G0LRD (25km) running 50mW has been copied 5 times since teatime and 48 times in the last 24 hours.

10m WSPR spots today

There have been 35 unique spots of my 500mW WSPR on 10m today, mostly USA stations, with best DX 8508km from WA7HL at -22dB S/N. These are just some of the reports today so far.  Note, no DX beyond the USA,well so far anyway.

 

ITU Plenipotentiary Meeting - Busan Korea 2014

I have not had a chance to wade through the report(s) from this ITU meeting in Korea ahead of WRC2015 to see if a contiguous 60m band amateur allocation is any more probable. The few bits I did read were talking about budgets! We certainly will need a contiguous 60m band in the quiet years ahead. A nice new worldwide amateur band there would be very welcome.

See http://www.itu.int/en/plenipotentiary/2014/Pages/default.aspx .

Sunspots and 10m conditions - Dec 2nd 2014

Sunspot number today is a respectable 160 and 10m daytime conditions are forecast to remain"good". Yet again, 10m is wide open to the USA. No DX reports from further afield (as yet) with my 500mW WSPR.

FT-991 from MLS - would you believe the PRICE??

Thanks to Steve G1KQH, I see that Martin Lynch is advertising the new FT-991 from Yaesu at an incredibly high price of £1299.95.  When first shown, a price of £999 was talked about and I thought that was high. £1299.95 is surely a joke MLS?

http://www.hamradio.co.uk/sysimages/origimages/FT991-1_pr5621_1.jpg

The image above resides on the MLS website and NOT on this blog. The image and link will be removed if a problem.

Maybe MLS is trying to pay the rent on their new premises or they want to look generous when discounting? Sorry, but you have just LOST one potential customer who is NOT prepared to be ripped off. A fairer price would be £799. When I bought my FT817ND from them earlier in the year I was impressed with them. Sorry, but this is exploitation.Why rip us off? What margins are you getting,especially with the excellent exchange rates to the Yen? Come on, we are NOT all stupid! It looks a nice radio at the right price.

See http://www.hamradio.co.uk/amateur-radio-main-equipment-base-station-radio-yaesu-base-station-radio/yaesu/yaesu-ft-991-hf-50mhz-vhf-uhf-base-station-transceiver-pd-5621.php.

The latest exchange rate was 186.373 Yen to £1 which is WAY better than 2 years ago when it was about 130 Yen to £1.   Dealers - PLEASE NOTE!!!!! Don't rip us off!!! Your customers ARE aware of the greatly improved exchange rates.Funny how prices don't seem to follow.

My poor voice (stroke)

For reasons I don't understand, my brain is unable (at present) to communicate properly to my (fully working) voice box. My voice box was checked with a camera (down my nose) a few months ago.

Although my speech sounds OK to me (clarity and loudness) apparently it is a whisper and hard to understand. All the time I feel breathless.I am told this is all a result of my brain bleed and it will, in the end, recover. I have to be patient! 

Although I can manage short speech periods on the air (VHF/UHF UKAC sessions, for 30-60 minutes and on our Monday 2m net for similar times) I find voice QSOs effortful, hence why I use WSPR and other digital modes a lot right now. Hopefully thing will improve in 2015.

10m WSPR 500mW, last USA spot

WG2Z (5600km) appears to be the last station to spot my 500mW on 10m WSPR today, at 1706z. At the moment I am still spotting USA stations as many are running 5W or more. The band will soon close to the USA and these stations will soon disappear too.

UPDATE 1755z:   W4BZW (using 10W) was last spotted at 1734z. The 10m band seems to have closed to the USA and Canada. So, going from 500mW (to an indifferent antenna) to 10W gained just under 30 minutes.

UPDATE 1850z:   I spoke too soon. W7CNK (7458km) running 5W was still being copied here at 1846z on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1920z:  KD4YDD (6717km) was still being spotted at 1918z. No-one is copying my 500mW apart from local G4IKZ (18km)!

UPDATE 2030z:  Well I was surprised.  W4HFZ (6819km) on the Florida/Georgia border spotted my 500mW WSPR at 1934z and I spotted him immediately before this time. 10m stayed open much later to the USA than I expected today.  I think the band is now closed but will continue to monitor and transmit.

UPDATE 2230z:  No other stateside spots since W4HFZ above.

OE8APR and Socialhams

Andreas OE8APR has asked me to introduce you to Socialhams. I have no personal experience:

"Introduction to socialhams
Socialhams is a community for ham radio operators. It combines features known from typical social networks with ham radio related ones. To join socialhams all you need is a valid email address and obviously a ham radio callsign. It’s as simple as that!

As registered member of socialhams you can freely meet like-minded people as well as join the Chat, write Blog and Forum posts, start Polls, create Groups and Events. Photos, Videos and Files can be embedded or uploaded to your profile and many other sections too.

The iPhone App, allows you to browse profiles, watch photos and videos, upload photos, send mail, and lots more. All from your iPhone! And if you have an Android-powered device, our Android App lets you use socialhams while on the go, right from your own handset.

You can meet people; chat online; check our top rated, featured items; read about popular topics; wish someone special on his/her birthday; match your interests; and even take advantage of our elaborate people search option.

You will also find unique ham radio related modules:

DX ClusterUse the DX Cluster feature to make that contact or Spot one for the rest of the community! The DXCluster tool allows users to locate and spot other Amateur Radio operators transmitting on specific frequencies to make those rare contacts or find that missing location you’ve been searching for.
This is the world first HTML5 web socket based DXCluster client

Logbook
The socialhams logbook allows you to record those important Amateur Radio contacts. This tool gives members the ability to add, edit, organize and sort their contacts all in one convenient location.

APRS Map
The APRS feature will display the location of any APRS station in the viewable area. This feature also provides each member with the ability to send a message from socialhams to any APRS device with messaging capability.

NCDXF Beacon
The Beacon Map displays the location, status and the current or future action of each NCDXF beacon in the network. By listening for each beacon on each band you can determine which bands are open and to what part of the world.

World clock
The World Clock allows each user to stay up to date with the time on any part of the globe. Users can also keep track of the Grey line as it moves to make use of this unique propagation condition.

Library
Collection of various documents like manuals, schematics, spreadsheets, etc

Elmer’s corner
The Elmer corner allows any socialhams member to create and publish a tutorial or guide for the entire community to use. Become an Elmer today!!

In our Feedback section, you can post your questions, comments, regards, etc. without any restrictions. Of course, you must strictly avoid obscenity, rude language, and abide by terms of socialhams. To cater for a wider ham radio community, all our features are offered in both English as well as German. Additional languages are in preparation.

We steadily improve existing functions as well as develop new interesting ham radio related modules. At the moment we are hardly work on a Geophysics and SOTA module. All our work in process modules can be previewed on our development site http://dev.socialhams.net, additionally all our developments are available as Git repository on http://gitlab.paan-systems.com. We would be happy to find developers that are interested in joining the project.

To enjoy the unique socialhams experience, all you need to do is sign up http://socialhams.net!

Short biography
Name:    Andreas Pachler
Callsign:    OE8APR
Licensed since:    2012
QTH:    Seelach, Carinthia, Austria
Maidenhead:    JN76go
Ham radio related interests:    Digital modes (PSK, WSPR, etc), HF, SOTA, QRP
Hobbies:    mountain hiking, listening to music, programming, electronics
Job:    Industrial automation programmer

Because my dad is an amateur radio operator since I can think of it, it is clear that my interest in ham radio is as old as I am. I always wanted to get a license. I used to work on CB because it was not possible for me to get the license, I was still too young. I have had the chance to get experience with Packet Radio on the user side as well as the sysop side of things.

Some time passed by and my interests changed in puberty. There were so many other interesting things like girls, music festivals, journeys all over the world for my job as industrial automation programmer. But amateur radio never unclasped me and so I decided to get the license in 2012.

After getting my license I have started to build socialhams, it was hard work but I have had really much fun. I am trying to get the project further day by day."

ARRL renewal - no thanks!

Today, I got this email from ARRL. I have no plans to renew my membership, although I am still an RSGB member. It took a week to help me renew access to QST. Their online help was useless and it took a week to get anyone to help me. I was left unimpressed. Sorry, but no thanks.

You asked us to remind you by e-mail when your membership was about to expire. That time is coming.

Our records indicate that your ARRL membership will expire on Feb 28, 2015.

In order to receive uninterrupted delivery of QST, your membership journal, you need to renew 45-50 days prior to your membership expiration date.  I wouldn’t want you to miss an issue, nor any of the other membership benefits and services, such as:

- access to the members-only features of the ARRL Web site
- participation in the ARRL e-mail Forwarding Service (arrl.net)
- answers to your questions on FCC rules and regs
- help with antenna, tower and zoning problems
- participation in DXCC and other ARRL contests and awards
- our outgoing QSL service
- low-cost equipment insurance
- preferred subscription rates for ARRL's technical magazine, QEX

and much more!

It's a snap to renew. Visit http://www.arrl.org/join/WE1A to renew at our Web-Site with a credit card or download a membership application to mail. You can also call us toll-free to join at: 1-888-277-5289 (US Only). International members call (860) 594-0338.  Please renew today.

73,
David Sumner, K1ZZ
Chief Executive Officer

Sunspots - Dec 1st 2014

Sunspot number today is 153 and 10m daytime conditions are "good". 10m should be in recent shape again today. What happened to October and November? Time is flying by.

No 10m WSPR GDX overnight

Although 10m WSPR was running through the night here, no GDX was copied suggesting F-layer back-scatter was probably the GDX mechanism yesterday. First real DX was at 0722z (LZ1OI).