10m USA WSPR spots

The first USA spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR was K9AN (6505km) at 1352z. The last USA spot was W3CSW (5886km) at 1804z. It is still possible later USA spots may happen, but it is now over an hour, so unlikely.

UPDATE 2056z:   Only local spots since W3CSW at 1804z on 10m WSPR.  Now going QRT on 10m WSPR.

29MHz AM

The 29-29.1MHz sub-band continues to be the best place to find HF AM. This is the HF band with most space, although there are AM enthusiasts on 160m and other bands. When these bands are not busy AM has its place.

When 10m goes "off the boil" 29MHz AM will be ideal for local nets with very simple gear. Ranges are fine for local nets. Also there is a ready supply of ex-CB kit around, although making a wholly homebrew QRP rig for 29MHz AM is a nice group project. There are some ideas for starters on my main website.

As an example of how effective 10m AM can be see http://www.macnaughtonart.com/10metlog-ss24.htm .

Sunspots and 10m - Jan 28th 2015

Sunspot number continues to climb and is 119 at present. For the first time in some while, 10m propagation is forecast to be "good". LZ1OI (2153km) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 10 times this morning already. As I write this it is 1046z.

Today could be a good 10m day.

UPDATE 2215z:   Now QRT on 10m WSPR  Although the band did open to the USA after lunch, it was a rather disappointing day on 10m WSPR for me.

50MHz UKAC session this evening

Tuesday nights are the nights for the RSGB's UKAC sessions. Tonight it is the 50MHz (6m) leg. As I only have a vertical omni-directional antenna (a V2000) it is very unlikely I'll work very much.  Add to that my poor voice and it is not a great recipe for too much success! I'll give it a brief try. The contest starts at 2000z and officially ends at 2230z. If I last 1 hour I shall be doing well.

UPDATE 2135z:   3 QSOs managed before I had to go QRT because of my poor voice - all locals. Best DX heard was G3MEH (IO91QS). Of course my antenna was the wrong polarisation.

6m QRP rigs

In many ways, 6m (50MHz) is an ideal band for experiments. Short RF leads are always good, but 6m is a forgiving band and you can get away with HF constructional techniques. It is 2MHz wide here in the UK and this means all speech modes can be fitted and used. The page below shows a number of links to 50MHz projects.

See http://www.pg1n.nl/articles.php?lng=en&pg=145 .

See also my Sixbox 6m AM transceiver .

10m WSPR - USA spots today

Although the band did not open to the USA until very late (1454z), plenty of different USA stations have been copying my 500mW WSPR beacon all afternoon. This is much better than yesterday.

The first spot of me was KZ8C (6290km). At the moment (it is 1805z) I am still being spotted by several stations in the USA.

UPDATE 1945z: The last USA spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was by K9AN (6505km) at 1902z.

Sunspots and 10m

After a miserable 10m day yesterday sunspot number today is 110 but 10m propagation is still only forecast to be "fair".

472kHz WSPR

This last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 15 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR. I am still using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna". Several stations who have not been on WSPR so often have reappeared today.

472kHz unique reports of my 5mW ERP to earth-electrodes in last 2 weeks

70cms AM using data modules

That font of all knowledge Steve G1KQH has found a useful YouTube video:

"They are all at it now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4leNjynR0DM

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

10m WSPR USA spots

It is now 1232z and, as yet, no USA stations have spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon. 4X1RF (3519m) and UR/SWL56 (2283km) have spotted me many times this morning. I think the band will open to the USA and I may be a little early.

UPDATE 1336z:  Still no spots from USA stations as yet.

UPDATE 1421z:  Still no spots from USA stations as yet. I have my doubts 10m is going to open to the USA at all today.

UPDATE 1445z:  First stateside spot of my 500mW WSPR was AB4QS (7087km) at 1426z - very late indeed today.  Conditions to the USA seem poor today.

UPDATE 1545z:  Today the only USA station to have spotted me on 10m WSPR is AB4QS and he has only spotted me twice. This is definitely a very poor day on 10m compared with recent months. Usually by now I have been spotted by loads of USA stations, despite running just 500mW on WSPR.

UPDATED 1858z:  AB4QS was the last station in the USA who spotted me at a very very early 1500z. This makes today one of the worst days on 10m in months.