Return to 10m and 6m

About 15 minutes ago I went QRT on 630m and returned to 10m and 6m.

WSPR

As we went to London for our grandson's 8th birthday party I have only just started up on 630m and 10m WSPR. I am probably too late to catch any 10m WSPR DX but the best DX on 472kHz WSPR RX so far (earth-electrode "antenna" and no preamp) is DK7FC (669km).

UPDATE 1758z:  Best DX on RX is now DH5RAE (995km).

UPDATE 1815z:  My best DX so far on 472kHz WSPR TX (5mW ERP) is a spot by PA3ABK (306km).

UPDATE 1825z:  As I seem to have missed the DX on 10m WSPR, I shall go QRT on 10m WSPR shortly and save the (small) electricity that the beacon takes. It will be back on tomorrow.

UPDATE 1835z:  Now QRT on 10m but will be on 630m (472kHz) WSPR this evening and overnight (5mW ERP TX 20%, 80% RX, earth-electrode "antenna", no preamp).

Grandson's birthday - NOT amateur radio

We have been to London today for our grandson's 8th birthday party, with his English cousins. The day went well. We drove there and back and managed to get back just before dark.

472kHz WSPR overnight

EA5DOM (1525km) was spotted 16 times overnight on 472kHz WSPR.  I think he must have a pretty good set-up there in Spain. When he is active on WSPR I seem to copy him on the earth-electrode "antenna".

Sunspots and 10m - Sun Nov 15th 2015

Sunspot numbers are rising and stand at 48 today (K=3). 10m propagation is again expected to remain "poor".

QRT on 10m and 6m WSPR, active on 630m WSPR

I have now swapped to 472kHz (630m) WSPR. The last 10m WSPR spot was just after 1600z. On 6m WSPR G8VDQ (93km) was copied several times until I QSYed.

UPDATE 2133z:  No-one has yet spotted my 5mW ERP on 472kHz and best DX so far on RX is a DL at 983km. The night is young though!

10m and 6m WSPR today

After single hop F2 reports from Eastern Europe including Russia, I got my first report on 10m from Brazil at 1200z. I think it is probable that I'll get USA spots on 10m this afternoon.

UPDATE 1322z:  The first spots from the USA were from N2NOM (5581km) at 1312z.

UPDATE 1455z:  Several USA stations now spotting my 10m WSPR.  On 6m WSPR I have again spotted G8VDQ (93km) a couple of times, but nothing further.

Sunspots and 10m - Sat Nov 14th 2015

Sunspot number has recovered to 50 (K=2) and the 10m propagation forecast remains "poor" today.

QSYed from 6m to 630m

At 1846z I QSYed from 6m to 630m for the evening and night. I am still also on 10m WSPR at present, but will probably go QRT on 10m in the next few hours. On 6m today a few spots of G8VDQ (93km) but nothing further.

UPDATE 2100z:  I see that G0KTN (210km) has spotted my 5mW ERP for the first time this autumn at 2028z on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2105z:  So far this evening just 6 unique stations spotted here on 472kHz WSPR.  I expect this number will increase overnight.

UPDATE 2300z: I find it hard to believe but there are only 6 TXing 472kHz WSPR stations in the whole of Europe shown on WSPRnet and I appear to be the only UK TXing station currently! Just copied OZ0IL (788km). This is the first OZ I have seen on 472kHz WSPR this autumn. I am still using the barefoot FT817 with no preamp and the earth-electrode "antenna". As EA5DOM appears not to be on tonight, my best this evening is DH5RAE (995km) on 472kHz WSPR RX.

10m WSPR spots today so far

So far today, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by 7 different USA stations as well as by one more American who is actually located in Brazil. Despite the "poor" 10m forecast, this seems quite a decent day on 10m WSPR with me. I often find this.

I expect there will be more unique stations spotting me from the USA as the day progresses. It is likely I'll remain on 10m until well after dark here. My 630m WSPR station will be active again this evening and overnight.

UPDATE 1540z:  On 6m I spotted G8VDQ (93km) but this was the only spot. No-one has spotted me on 6m today.

UPDATE 1748z: 11 unique stations spotting me from the USA so far today on 10m WSPR.

UK weather - NOT amateur radio

The UK weather is fickle. We had rain this morning, despite a forecast a few hours earlier that it would be dry, and now there is blue sky and bright sunshine. The only reliable forecast is looking out of the window!

Rally

Sunday 15 NOVEMBER : PLYMOUTH RADIO CLUB RALLY
Harewood House, The Ridgeway, Plympton, Plymouth PL7 2AS. CP, TI, OT 10am, £2, TS, C. Sheila Hart, 2E0YSH, 07815 542 477, sheo@fsmail.net.

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

Wind and leaves - NOT amateur radio

At this time of the year here in the UK, sweeping up fallen leaves from the lawns is an almost endless task! We have quite gusty winds (although nothing like those in Scotland), so I expect the remaining leaves to fall soon. I spent some time this morning raking up leaves, but the rear lawn will be covered again by tomorrow.

We have an ornamental cherry that lost its leaves a few weeks ago. The silver birch was next and a copper maple (?) on our boundary is losing leaves now. The lilac next door is dropping leaves as well. Oh the joy of seasons.

It won't be too long before the nights start to get shorter again and a new cycle of life is evident. It is good to think that the fallen leaves help to produce the strength in the new season.

I like our seasons. In each there is something good. We have had rich colours this autumn and there is something lovely about a crisp winter day with a low sun and no leaves on the trees. There is also something good about drawing the curtains early and just watching the telly.

Then, before you know it, it is spring again, with breakfast sun and lighter evenings and mowing those lawns! England - still lovely.

Sunspots and 10m - Friday Nov 13th 2015

Although solar flux is still just above 100, sunspot number has fallen to 29 (K=1) and the forecast for 10m propagation remains "poor". I am not expecting great things on 10m today.

UPDATE 1040z:  First spots of my 10m WSPR beacon today are from EA8BFK (2880km). This is single hop F2. Maybe Brazil later? KD0VWO (7412km), monitoring in Brazil, spotted me first at 1204z.

UPDATE 1045z:  On 6m G8VDQ (93km) was spotted at good strength (-19dB S/N) earlier. I assume this is tropo and aircraft. He is nearly always there but only some 2 minute bursts decode, suggesting aircraft Doppler is affecting decodes.

UPDATE 1130z:   LZ1UBO (2039km) has been spotting me for the last half an hour on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 1355z:   The first USA 10m WSPR spot was KC1AWS (5308km) at 1302z.

East Anglian Churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

Today we visited Moulton Church near Newmarket. The church blog has been updated to include this.

10m WSPR USA spots again

Spots from the USA returned today. First to spot me N2NOM (5581km) at 1250z. Since then K9AN (6505km) has spotted me a couple of times. I expect there will be more stations and more USA spots on 10m WSPR today.

Sunspots and 10m - Thurs Nov 12th 2015

Sunspot number is 64 (K=2) and the propagation forecast for 10m is "poor" still.  Despite this, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has already been spotted in N. Brazil. Just a single G spotted on 6m WSPR so far today.

6m and 10m WSPR

G8VDQ (93km) has been spotted on 6m WSPR but all quiet, so far, on 10m with no spots yet today.

UPDATE 1050z:  Guess what? The very first 10m WSPR spot today was a few minutes ago from KD0VWO (7412km) who is monitoring in Northern Brazil.

IC7300

The latest RadCom and PW came this week and I see that the ICOM IC7300 is being "presold" asking for £50 deposits to secure. The price is being advertised as "less than £1000".  I think it will end up around £799 later in 2016. I am sure the dealers will milk the high prices (and high profits) from early adopters before dropping the price. I wish they would sell the 10W version in the UK.

472kHz WSPR

I have just QSYed to 630m (472kHz) from 6m. ERP is around 5mW (20% TX, 80% RX without preamp) using my homebrew transverter. I really ought get a better 472kHz antenna up for the winter. The earth-electrode "antenna" radiates, but I reckon a loop would be at least 6dB better. I not sure about a low Marconi.

UPDATE 1906z:  F5WK (436km) was the first MF spot this evening.

UPDATE 2025z:  PA0A (417km) has been spotted and has spotted me on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2315z:  I find it hard to believe, but according to WSPRnet I am the only G station transmitting on 472kHz WSPR. G3XKR (347km) in North Devon has just spotted me.

6m WSPR

Plenty of 6m WSPR spots of G8VDQ (93km), but nothing else. It definitely looks as this path is affected by aircraft as several bursts were received with lots of Doppler but no decodes.

No 10m USA WSPR spots today?

It looks like today will be another day with no WSPR spots from the USA on 10m. There have been no spots since this morning and these were all single hop F2 from Eastern Europe/Russia. I shall go and do a resync just in case for some reason something is amiss. I think it is conditions.

I shall QSY from 6m to 630m WSPR but stay on 10m WSPR for a few more hours.

Sunspots and 10m - Wed Nov 11th 2015

With decent solar flux levels, a sunspot number of 65 (K=4) and 10m propagation again expected to be "poor", it is hard to know how 10m WSPR will be today. Yesterday was yet another day without USA spots.

So far today, my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by single hop F2 in Russia and Eastern Europe, with no spots from further afield.

On 6m WSPR nothing at all so far today.

70cm UKAC

This evening was the 70cm leg of the UKAC, a cumulative contest held every Tuesday evening on a different VHF/UHF band on a rotating monthly cycle. Activity levels are usually good in these. I worked just 4 stations tonight before I went QRT. This was partly because my voice was poor and partly as my antenna (a 2m big wheel) was not the best. If you want activity, these sessions are a good way to find it.

10m WSPR

At the moment it looks like this is going to be another day without USA 10m WSPR spots. KD0VWO, who copied me yesterday, was actually monitoring in Brazil. I had completely forgotten that he was not actually in the USA!

At the moment, just spots from LZ1UBO on 10m WSPR today.

UPDATE 1854z:  Right now this looks like one of the worst days in a long time on 10m WSPR here.

Contentment with radios

After considering buying a new transceiver, I have decided to stick with the rigs I have. At present, my poor voice makes all speech QSOs an effort. I enjoy WSPR as this is really a true QRP mode and it tells me a lot about propagation, without shouting!

I'll still "window shop" and might consider a new radio transceiver next year. I get by far the most fun from my $49 10m WSPR rig and my home-brew 472kHz transverter, proving that you do not need to break the bank to have fun. I am not against those who think differently - each to his/her own.

Sunspots and 10m - Tues Nov 10th 2015

Solar flux has dropped a bit (107) and sunspot number has dropped to 67 (K=5). 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". I am not expecting great things on 10m today, but I am frequently surprised!

On 6m WSPR I have spotted G8VDQ (93km) only so far. He was a decent -19 dB S/N. No reports yet on 10m.

UPDATE 1122z:  Several 10m WSPR spots from LZ1UBO (2039km) which I assume are single hop F2 propagation.

472kHz preamp - a good idea?

The FT817 is a bit low in sensitivity on 472kHz so I was expecting a decent improvement with a preamp. To my surprise I am copying no more stations. In fact I am hearing just as many without as with! The result has surprised me. The rig sensitivity is definitely better with the preamp and stations are stronger but it is far from clear cut whether it is worth using it in reality. At the moment my 472kHz transverter does not have the preamp.

Maybe the FT817 sensitivity is good enough. In marginal cases (and these seem few) it probably helps, but most of the time it seems fine without.

472kHz WSPR RX

472kHz WSPR RX this evening without preamp

All evening (since about 2000z) I have been active on 472kHz (20% TX 5mW ERP, 80% RX) using the earth-electrodes without a preamp. All the usual suspects were copied. Since 2240z I have gone onto 100% RX with the preamp in circuit to see if I am able to detect  weaker signals and give better reports. On previous nights it was hard to draw conclusions.

Autumn - NOT amateur radio

Trees at Anglesey Abbey earlier

This afternoon we visited nearby Anglesey Abbey. There are clear signs of autumn all around. Rather surprisingly the dahlia border was still looking good and this is Nov 9th. Many of the trees are shedding leaves.

10m WSPR USA

Despite the disturbed 10m conditions KD0VWO (7412km) has spotted me several times starting at 1208z. So far, he is the only USA station spotting me on 10m WSPR.

UPDATE 10.11.15 1720z: KD0VWO is actually watching 10m WSPR in Brazil, not the USA. I'd forgotten!

6m Es?

DK8NE (755km) was spotted on 6m WSPR at 1109z. He was incredibly strong (+9 dB S/N) so I wonder if this was Es?  As I have had to use the PC for something else, I am not on 6m WSPR presently, but hope to return to the band later. There were lots of Germans on 10m WSPR earlier too.

Sunspots and 10m - Mon Nov 9th 2015

With a sunspot number of 70 (K=4) and a forecast of 10m propagation being "poor", I am not expecting great things today on 10m. So far just spots of my 10m 500mW beacon from Europeans. It will be interesting to see if there are any DX spots today. Conditions do not look promising.

On 6m WSPR just G8VDQ (93km) spotted.

Overnight on 472kHz WSPR

WSPRnet was playing up overnight and would not register my 472kHz RX spots, which included EA5DOM again. Overall, without the preamp, I copied at least 17 unique 472kHz WSPR stations in 8 countries including EA and I using the earth-electrode "antenna". My best DX on 472kHz WSPR this autumn (with 5mW ERP on TX) was DF2JP (448km).

More Pixie transceiver price madness

From Steve G1KQH:

"Continuation of the Pixie price saga, the more you buy the cheaper they are, £1.94p each if you buy 10

Its just impossible to even think how they do it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-DIY-PIXIE-Kit-CW-Short-Wave-Ham-Radio-Telegraph-Transceiver-DC-Buzzer-FH32-/171990462690?hash=item280b6e30e2:g:qR0AAOSwwbdWPG9Z

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

Stroke - NOT amateur radio

It is just over 2 years ago that I had my stroke. By now I was expecting to be back to normal, but I still have problems. The main issues are poor liquid drinking - I have to take small sips, I have a poor voice and I tire easily. 20-30 minutes of physical or mental activity and I am really done in. A short rest and I am OK again.

One unexpected impact is spelling: sometimes I find it hard to know if a word is spelt correctly, so I change the word to one I am more sure of. Another one is my short-term memory. My wife swears blind I told her something and I have no recollection of having done so! I am also unsure if I read something or it was something in a dream.

Overall, I am lucky but this stroke is still having a profound impact on my life and that of people close to me. I have changed and only time will tell what changes will always be there and which will eventually get better.

Daytime on 472kHz (630m)

M0LMH (223km) is spotting my 5mW ERP WSPR even now in broad daylight in IO93 square. I assume this is ground wave. Signal reports are "only just" at around -28 to -30dB S/N.  Earlier G3XIZ (46km) was a very good signal with me on RX without a preamp. I think the preamp may help with weaker signals, but I am able to copy most of the active stations without it in circuit.

UPDATE 1534z: PA0A (417km) is being copied well here on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 1920z: It is dark here.  EA5DOM (1525km) has already been spotted here a few times without the preamp.The antenna is still the earth-electrodes in the ground.

UPDATE 2120z:   The first spot this autumn of an Italian 472kHz WSPR  station this evening. I shall leave the 472kHz WSPR station running through the night.

Unique 472kHz WSPR stations received here this evening so far.

10m WSPR so far today

It seems that most of the spots of my little 500mW 10m beacon have been from nearer Europeans. This could be "out of season" Es or F-layer backscatter, but today there were far more than usual.

UPDATE 1600z:  No USA 10m WSPR spots today, well not so far. I am surprised as usually they would appear well before now.

UPDATE 1614:  Well, just to prove me wrong KK1D (5455km) has just spotted me on 10m WSPR. As they say, "one swallow does not make a summer", but at least I am being copied in the USA today on 10m.

UPDATE 1905z: KD0VWO (7412km) copied me at 1700z. Overall, this is has not been a good day for USA WSPR spots on 10m.

UK weather forecasts - NOT amateur radio

OK, this is yet another moan about UK weather forecasts.

I checked the BBC and the local Burwell weather just 1 hour ago. Both said dry until tonight so I planned a last cut of the grass. Stepped outside to, yes you guessed, rain.

Yes I know that the UK weather is complex, but surely they can get it right just 1 hour ahead? Apparently not.

472kHz WSPR overnight

With 18 unique stations spotted last night without a preamp this was the best night so far this autumn on MF.

EA5DOM (1525km) was spotted 30 times over night at up to -14dB S/N without the preamp.