Sunspots and 10m - Sun Nov 8th 2015

With a decent solar flux, sunspot number of 79 (K=2) we could be in for some decent propagation on 10m WSPR today despite a "poor" 10m forecast.

I decided to stop on 472kHz (630m) WSPR today and give 6m a miss. Of course, Sod's Law will ensure there are some excellent 6m conditions today as I am not on!

472kHz WSPR RX and TX

 For the last hour or so I have been on 472kHz RX (no preamp) and TX (5mW ERP) with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. I went QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR at the same time. So far this evening best DX with 5mW ERP is 223km and 995km on RX. It be interesting to see if I can spot EA5DOM without the preamp.

UPDATE 2024z: Best DX on TX with 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground is PA3ABK (306km). At the moment, most stations are only just copying my weak 5mW ERP signal. I think copying this weak signal is quite challenging for most MF people.

Leaves - NOT amateur radio

The back garden looks more autumnal by the day. In the last few days our silver birch has lost most of its leaves. With heavy winds and rain, I think the remaining deciduous trees will lose theirs in the next few days.

Portuguese AM Day

Southgate Amater Radio News reports that the Portuguese national society is promoting AM on HF and VHF bands on Sunday Nov 8th. The link shows where to look for others on AM. There is plenty of space for AM on 10m where the frequency recommended is 29.075MHz. On other HF bands there is less space for AM normally, although AM is popular on 160m and 80m.

See www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/november/portuguese_national_am_day.htm#.Vj3oyGtEd80

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Nov 7th 2015

This could be another bad day on 10m. So far, just early spots on 10m WSPR from G4KPX (14km). Sunspot number is 75 (K=6) and the forecast for 10m propagation is "poor". So far today, no spots given or received on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1335z:   So far only those early spots and one at 1222z from G4KPX on 10m. I think we are going to have a quiet day on 10m based on the results so far.

472kHz WSPR RX

I have just gone QRT on 10m and 6m and am now active on 630m (472kHz) WSPR RX with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground and with a preamp in circuit.

UPDATE 1952z:  G8VDQ (93km) was spotted a couple of times on 6m WSPR before I went QRT on that band. On 472kHz (630m) I have already spotted several DX stations including EA5DOM (1525km).

Another UK rally

Sunday 8 NOVEMBER : WEST LONDON RADIO & ELECTRONICS SHOW (Kempton Rally)
Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury on Thames, TW16 5AQ. TI, free CP, OT 9.50/10am. TS, FM, B&B, SIG, C, DF, WIN, LEC. Paul, M0CJX, 08451 650 351, info@radiofairs.co.uk. www.radiofairs.co.uk.

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

OFCOM consulting on white space devices

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/wireless_telegraphy_white_space_devices_exemption_regulations/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Proposed-regulations-allowing-white-space-devices-access-to-unused-frequencies-in-the-UHF-TV-band&utm_term=TV%2C%20white%20space%2C%20Devices%2C%20Licence%20exemption%2C%20UHF

OFCOM are consulting on the regulations relating to so called "white space" devices.

10m WSPR - USA spots

KC1AWS (5308km) spotted me first at 1346z. It is good to see USA spots again although conditions seem "subdued".

UPDATE 1802z:  After a slow start on 10m WSPR there been spots from lots of different USA stations.

UPDATE 1825z:  All is very quiet on 6m WSPR.

UPDATE 1938z:   The last spot by a USA station seems to have been WB2TQE (7097km) at 1722z. No further spots from the USA after this time.

No real DX DX on 10m WSPR

4L1QX (3299km) is the best DX spot on 10m WSPR so far today. One Russian spotted me early on and quite a few nearer Europeans, but nothing further afield, as yet. I hope to be spotted in the USA today, but only  time will tell. When 10m is open it is usual to get WSPR spots about now from the USA.

UPDATE 1314z:  SP9LJE (1261km) is the most common spotter of my little W5OLF "stand alone" 10m 500mW WSPR beacon.  As yet, no 10m WSPR spots from stations in the USA.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday Nov 6th 2015

Solar flux is still good at 110. Sunspot number has dropped a bit to 75 (K=2) and 10m propagation is again expected to remain "poor". Despite the poor 10m forecast, I have already had some decent 10m WSPR spots from Russia and nearer Europeans.

Over 1500km on 472kHz RX last night

There were several 472kHz WSPR spots of EA5DOM (1525km) here last night, with 17 unique MF stations logged on 472kHz RX. Some of the spots of EA5DOM would not have been  possible without the preamp. FR5ZX in Reunion copied several Europeans, so conditions on 472kHz were good.  As before, I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

QSYed from 6m to 630m (472kHz)

I have turned off the 6m WSPR station until the morning after breakfast and turned on 472kHz (630m) WSPR RX only with the preamp.  I am using the "earth-electrode "antenna".  I have left the 10m QRP WSPR beacon running and resync'd it to internet time, although I don't think this was really needed. I'll probably turn off the 10m beacon later tonight.

Initial WSPR spots on 472kHz RX this evening

UPDATE 2014z:  So far this evening spots given to just 7 different stations on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2100z:   472kHz RX, even with the preamp, is disappointing with not a single station over 1000km spotted again so far. I shall leave the RX running overnight just in case, although I am not too hopeful.

More OFCOM

See http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/amendment-regulations-2015/?utm_source=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=amendment-regulations-2015

I had better watch what I say about OFCOM as they are involved in WRC-15 negotiations which include a possible new 5MHz allocation!

In the above link they are consulting on changes to the Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2015.

Back pain - NOT amateur radio

Well, I have enough to contend with as a result of the after-effects of my stroke, but now I have a re-occurrence of lower back pain. Usually this goes within a few weeks. I am taking pain killers and I am OK if I am flat on my back. Walking is painful. My wife has given me a hot-water bottle for my back.

More 6m WSPR spots

G8VDQ (93km) seems to be regularly spotted here on 6m WSPR. The last spot was at 1332z. I suspect this is tropo with the influence of aircraft. I suspect it needs aircraft moving in the right positions and directions for the path to "work". The pure tropo path does not seem to be there, otherwise I'd spot him most of the time when he is active on the band.

Still no 10m WSPR spots from the USA today

It is now 1446z and there are no 10m spots from the USA today as yet. I had no spots at all from the USA yesterday and from only one station from the USA the day before. Today there are plenty of spots from FR1GZ (14 spots by 1530z) but it is very quiet E-W. Nothing from the Caribbean, nothing from S.America and nothing from N.America.

UPDATE 1530z:   Still no 10m WSPR spots from the USA. I have the feeling there will be few, or zero, 10m spots from the USA today again. I hope I am proved wrong.

UPDATE 1614z:  No, I think this will be another day without USA 10m spots. It is getting very late in the day and still no USA spots.

UPDATE 1735z:  Unless a miracle happens now, there is almost no chance of 10m WSPR spots from the USA. It is dark outside already, so we have the lamps on and the curtains drawn.

UPDATE 2225z:  The last 10m spot was at 1538z from FR1GZ. Again there were no USA spots today.

10m F2 DX

Already I see that, as well as Russian, Spanish, Greek and Italian 10m WSPR spots, I am being spotted by FR1GZ (9724km), so there is decent multi-hop F2 propagation about on 10m. With all the nearer Europeans I wonder if this is F-layer backscatter or Es?

UPDATE 1154z:  On 6m WSPR  quite a few spots of G8VDQ (93km) but no signs of any Europeans, well not as yet.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Nov 5th 2015

Sunspot number is 93 today (K=4), with solar flux 111 although 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor" again. Conditions are still quite disturbed, so it will be interesting to see what 10m WSPR spots I get today from the USA.

No USA today on 10m WSPR?

There were no USA stations spotting my 10m WSPR today.   As I was a bit suspicious of this, I have just reset and resync'd the 10m beacon. All spots were single hop F2 and either F-layer backscatter or "out of season" Es (DK6UG). Even after the resync there were no new 10m spots.

UPDATE 1905z:   I see that G8VDQ (93km) was spotted on 6m again at 1602z.

UPDATE 2210z:   No 10m spots at all since late lunchtime. The 10m WSPR beacon and 6m WSPR are still on and will remain on overnight. This is the first time in many weeks without a single 10m WSPR spot from the USA. Indeed, the only spots were single hop.

Surprise 6m spot

Well, I'm pleased and surprised to have spotted G8VDQ (93km) on 6m WSPR at 1114z today. The drift on his signals suggest the involvement of moving aircraft.

5MHz and WRC-15

The latest World Radio Conference (WRC-15) has now opened in Geneva with amateurs looking for a new contiguous (i.e a continuous, no gaps) amateur allocation at 5MHz. This is being looked at as a proper agenda item, so at the moment we must remain hopeful. This 5MHz allocation is by no means a done deal! A lot of hard negotiating is ahead. The RSGB website is keeping us updated.

See http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/special-focus/wrc-15/2015/11/03/wrc-15-day-12-colin-sets-the-scene/

Return to 10m and 6m WSPR and QRT on MF

At around 1030z, I turned on the 6m and 10m WSPR stations, did a resync and went QRT (for the daytime) on 630m WSPR. It will take a few minutes for things to settle before any spots are likely. I am not sure why I bother with 6m WSPR as to give or get WSPR spots is rare outside of the main Es season. I guess I go on 6m as it is easy to do so alongside the stand-alone 10m WSPR beacon. I live in hope!

UPDATE 1055z:  First spots on 10m WSPR are from 4L1QX (3299km) in LN01tp. I now need to see where this is! OK, I should know! Found it - Georgia. F2 propagation. It is interesting (to me) that this is nearer than Israel. I would have expected this to be further. There you go - you learn something new every day.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Nov 4th 2015

Sunspot number 95 (K=5) although the solar flux level is good.  10m propagation is expected to be "poor" today. I have still to go QRT on MF and fire up my little 10m WSPR beacon.

472kHz RX overnight

Well, I was surprised. The preamp improves 472kHz sensitivity, but I was able to copy no more stations than without the preamp! I was rather surprised as I expected the preamp to really help on MF. In truth, it may help drag in the very weak ones, but the benefit is questionable based on these tests. Odd.

A cricket on our window? - NOT amateur radio

On the bedroom window

This afternoon we had this visitor on the outside of our bedroom window. I think it is a kind of cricket although I am not sure. I am sorry the picture is not better. Body was about 2cms long but the antennae were much longer, I'd guess about 5cms.

Now RX only (with preamp) on 472kHz WSPR

Since about 2008z I have gone on to RX only (with the preamp) on 472kHz WSPR. I have gone QRT on 10m. It will be interesting to compare results with and without the preamp on MF. I suspect I'll copy the same stations but give them better reports. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna". I'll do the comparisons in the morning. So far tonight, before going RX only, I was getting similar results on TX and RX as the night before. At one point I got really excited as I thought I'd been copied in Greece, then I realised this was on 10m!

UPDATE 2202z:  At the moment I am not spotting any new stations with the higher sensitivity on RX. This could change overnight, or it says that the FT817 has adequate sensitivity and external noise is limiting what I can copy.

UPDATE 2300z:  Based on the reports given to DK7FC and LA3EQ I am surprised that the preamp, although making the sensitivity better, does not allow me to give them definitely better reports. To be honest, I am a little surprised. I will see if I get clearer results overnight. My electrical environment on MF is fairly quiet, so I expected to get a really useful improvement with the preamp.

Quieter on 10m WSPR

Although there was some good DX around on 10m WSPR including VK and FR1, I was only spotted by a single station in the USA - KC1AWS (5308km). So far, today has seen fewer USA stations on the band. There was also a closer European,  DK6UG (633km), which could have been F-layer backscatter or out of season Es. Yet again, spots from the USA and the fourth day with spots from VK this autumn.  A $49 "stand alone" 10m WSPR beacon and plenty of fun.

More from our lovely quango

OFCOM's latest http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/ .

As I have said before, they are really interested in ventures that make money, like the auction of parts of the microwave spectrum. The amateur service is very low on the agenda I believe. Do they add value?

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Nov 3rd 2015

With a decent solar flux level, sunspot number of 94 and a 10m propagation forecast of "fair" we could be in for decent 10m results, although K=5 so conditions are quite disturbed.

UPDATE 1044z:  I see that  VK2KRR (16789km) spotted me at 0830z on 10m WSPR this morning.

Rally

Thursday 5 NOVEMBER : BANGOR & DARS ANNUAL SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE
Groomsport Boat House, 19 Harbour Road, Groomsport BT19 6JP. Table spaces are free to sellers but must be reserved in advance, entry is £2 at the door. Doors open 7 to 10pm. Refreshments available. Harry, 02890 422 860, norman.newell@yahoo.com

A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

"London" grandchildren have gone home - NOT amateur radio

Riding bikes near the windmill

Our "London" grandchildren went home this afternoon. As with all our little grandchildren, we love having them. Sadly, my stroke of 2 years ago means I can do less with them than I would have done in the past. Nonetheless, they had a great time.  They enjoyed Halloween and played silly, simple, games.  Today they enjoyed riding bikes in our quiet close.

Best USA DX on 10m WSPR this evening

W4XWA (6947km) is, so far, the most distant spot of my 500mW WSPR beacon. Maybe as the evening goes on, and before the band closes, I will be spotted at even greater range.

UPDATE 1945z:  The last 10m USA spot of my little beacon was K9AN (6505km) at 1730z.  USA 10m WSPR spots have been daily in recent weeks.

Best night so far this autumn on 472kHz

Last night was the best so far this autumn on 472kHz with 15 unique WSPR stations spotted without the preamp.  Best DX was DH5RAE at 995km. I have resync'd both 10m and 630m and will stay on again this evening and overnight. My best 472kHz DX on TX (5mW ERP) were a few spots by PA0A (417km). Several others spotted me too on MF despite the low ERP.

UPDATE 1735z:  The best DX so far this evening on 472kHz RX is LA3EQ (769km). It has only just got dark here.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Nov 2nd 2015

With a decent solar flux and a sunspot number of 88 (K=3) and a 10m propagation forecast of "fair" today should be a decent day on 10m.

UPDATE 1650z:   The first 10m WSPR spot from the USA was WI3V (5902km) at 1340z. There were early Russians on 10m this morning as well as a spot from FR1GZ (9724km). Since the first WSPR spots from the USA there have been plenty of others.

10m conditions

Even though conditions on 10m WSPR today did not seem to have been as good as on recent days, I still got lots of spots from the USA again. We are definitely seeing autumn conditions and overall the DX is still there with Australians spotting my 500mW WSPR now on 3 different days in October. We are now in November so I expect there will be even more Australian spots this month.

10m is still a very good DX band. Enjoy it while you can - you only need low power and a very modest antenna, smaller than for any HF bands. It is still my favorite HF band, and probably my favorite band anywhere in the spectrum.

USA 10m WSPR

W4DEX (6390km) appears to be the last USA 10m station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon at 1806z this evening. I shall probably remain on 10m and 630m through the night but am not expecting much on 10m if I am honest. If anyone spots me on 10m WSPR that would be a bonus. On 630m (472kHz) I expect to spot, and be spotted, by several stations.

A full 4MHz at 6m in Region 1?

Southgate news reports that a full 4MHz wide amateur band in Region 1 may be on the agenda for the next WRC in 2019. If this happens it would be very useful, although this is 4 years away and may not even make the next agenda! A 4MHz wide band would harmonise the allocation across the world and possibly allow  satellites on this band. A 4MHz wide band would be wide enough for most modes and wider than any existing band below UHF.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2015/october/proposed_50_54_mhz_agenda_item_for_wrc_19.htm#.VjZIdStEd81 .

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Nov 1st 2015

Sunspot number is 73 (K=3) and 10m is expected to be "poor".

On 630m (472kHz) my 5mW ERP has been copied by PA0A (417km). Lots of spots end of PA3ABK/2 (306km) and one of F6GEX (590km).

UPDATE 1712z:  The first 10m USA spot was by W4DEX at 1220z. FR1GZ (9724km) remains the most distant station to spot me on 10m today.

UPDATE 1725z:  It looks like we are now seeing skywave DX coming through on MF with F5WK (436km) being spotted.

UPDATE 1805z:  DH5RAE (995km) is the best DX spot on MF so far this evening.

Return to 630m and 10m WSPR

At about 1030z, I returned to 10m WSPR (500mW) and 630m WSPR (5mW ERP). I shall give 6m a miss today as it has been days since I achieved any results on that band.