Last night on 477kHz OPERA RX

Disappointing with just the 2 stations already spotted in the evening spotted overnight. This could mean several things. Perhaps my "antenna" is not brilliant. Perhaps conditions were not good. Perhaps there are fewer operators using OPERA. Maybe it is a combination of all of these or some of these.

Tonight, if I go on MF, I shall opt for WSPR again?

477kHz OPERA RX

For a complete change, I am on 477kHz OPERA RX. This is a mode I have not tried this autumn on MF or on any band for that matter. In deep search I believe it is even better than WSPR, but I am unsure how many people are on 477kHz OPERA TX. No doubt, I'll soon find out!

UPDATE 2135z: So far G6AVK and SO5AS (1392km) spotted on OPERA RX on MF.

477kHz OPERA RX

I decided to give 477kHz OPERA RX another go this evening and overnight. Nothing yet spotted. Because the FT817 is used in split mode I need to set up another memory which sets the TX frequency to 477kHz too via the transverter. With my brain as it is, this is less easy than it once was.

UPDATE 2110z: Just G6AVK (78km) spotted so far on 477kHz OPERA this evening. The best place to look for spots seems to be http://spots.microwavers.es/index.php .

UPDATE 2125z: Now G0NDB (259km) has been spotted twice.

630m OPERA TX

Something must be wrong.

I had a couple of goes on 630m OPERA TX in beacon mode, but got no reports. I switched to WSPR and immediately was spotted and spotted others. Not sure what I was doing wrong.

630m OPERA RX

Last evening and overnight, I tried 630m OPERA RX. It is supposed to spot weaker stations even than WSPR, which is pretty good. For the first time ever at this QTH I spotted "across the pond" on 630m: VO1NA was spotted twice on "deep search". Activity is lower than 630m WSPR, but LA3EQ was spotted and a few others.

Tonight, I may well try 630m OPERA TX, although I shall also try 630m WSPR as EA5DOM is reported back on the band and mode. He is usually a very good WSPR signal here.

WSPR on the new 472-479kHz band

For the first time I've been monitoring 477kHz USB dial for WSPR signals, hoping to copy some of the Germans now allocated the band. SM6BHZ is on too, but not yet seen.

At 2058z DF0WD was copied at -27dB S/N for my first German WSPR signal on 477kHz at a distance of 556km. I have also heard a couple of other stations from elsewhere in W.Europe who appear to be testing at very low power before the band is officially released in their countries.