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.

Off to the opera? - NOT amateur radio

Seen outside Helsinki's Opera House last night. 

As it was a public holiday, it was closed.  They also do ballet there. I hope they weren't hoping to see Swan Lake! 😪

These are Barnacle Geese. In the UK we see these in winter. In Helsinki they are everywhere (with young) in summer.

See https://oopperabaletti.fi/en/calendar/

136kHz RX

As 10m and 6m were quiet, I have QSYed to 136kHz RX on WSPR and OPERA.

136kHz WSPR RX and OPERA RX

At about 1920z I QSYed to 136kHz RX from 50.280MHz (6m) MSK144 RX.  As yet, no spots.

136kHz last night

There is no doubt that I have to improve my RX system on LF and MF.

Last night I spotted the same few stations on 136kHz WSPR and OPERA, giving reports way down on others spotting the same stations.

Next season I shall definitely have to try a mini-whip E-field probe which, although tiny, work really well on 136kHz and 472kHz RX as long as they are positioned to minimise noise pick-up. Usually this means as far away as possible from houses and in the clear. I know I can do better.

Up to now, I have just been using my earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It works, but is directional and probably 10-20dB down on an optimised E-field probe.

Now on 136kHz RX

For about 45 minutes now I have been on 136kHz WSPR RX and 136kHz OPERA RX. G4FTC (123km) has just started to be spotted on WSPR. I have to check OPERA on a different machine.

UPDATE 2222z: I am about to switch everything off. Best DX on 136kHz WSPR was G8HUH (250km). No new stations spotted this evening.

UPDATE 2247z: Now QRT.

136kHz RX yesterday evening

Yesterday evening I was on 136kHz RX again. On WSPR RX  2E0ILY, G4FTC and G8HUH (250km) were spotted. On OPERA RX the only station spotted was G3XDV (61km).

Return to 136kHz RX

About an hour ago, I QSYed to 136kHz RX. Both WSPR and OPERA are being monitored. As yet, no spots on WSPR. I need to look on a different PC to check OPERA.

UPDATE 1936z: So far G4FTC (123km) spotted on WSPR and G3XDV (61km) spotted on OPERA.

136kHz RX last evening

As is my norm, I QSYed from 6m (sometimes 10m) to LF (sometimes MF). The shack PC was on battery power to keep the SMPSU noise to a minimum. I did not stay on overnight instead I was monitoring OPERA and WSPR RX during the evening hours. Best DX spotted on WSPR was 2E0ILY (209km) and G3XDV (61km) on OPERA.

QSYed to LF RX

Rather early, I have QSYed to 136kHz WSPR RX and 136kHz OPERA RX. I hope I catch some stations this evening.

UPDATE 2055z:  G3XIZ, 2E0ILY and G4FTC spotted on 136kHz WSPR and G3XDV spotted on 136kHz OPERA. All these are using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground as the RX antenna.

630m and 2190m RX

Last night I did not go on LF or MF as my shack PC was playing up. I intend to go on 136kHz WSPR RX and 136kHz OPERA RX tonight. I  need my shack PC on battery power otherwise noise is chronic.

630m last night

In the end I just remained on until the shack PC's battery went flat. This was just after 0300z. The batteries last a long time! 

On WSPR G3XIZ, G8HUH and 2E0ILY were copied and G3XDV copied on OPERA. If I am honest, I was disappointed.

LF RX

At the moment I am monitoring 136kHz WSPR RX and OPERA RX. As yet, nothing copied.

UPDATE 2006z: G3XIZ copied on 136kHz WSPR.

630m OPERA RX last night

LA3EQ (769km) was the best DX on 630m OPERA RX last night. No transatlantic DX copied here. I have now QSYed to 6m FT8 RX.

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.

136kHz noise

As an experiment I used my earth-electrode "antenna" on 136kHz RX last night. My attempts were hindered by very few active stations within range until 2E0ILY (209km) came on. There was a strong station on OPERA early, but I was unable to ID this station as I caught it way through the transmission. I suspect this was G3XDY.

One interesting thing was the noise floor and S/N of 2E0ILY through until now. If anything he was stronger on the earth-electrode "antenna". Noise seemed to peak around breakfast time, perhaps as locals turned on their appliances before setting off to work?

Nothing was IDed on OPERA on 136kHz last night.

I suppose tonight I shall try 472kHz WSPR with the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.

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.

630m OPERA RX

OK, I may give this a try tonight. The software needs downloading and I  have to find the right frequencies, but it is more sensitive than WSPR, so seems worth a try. My noise floor (S7) may limit what I can decode.

UPDATE 2040z: So I downloaded OPERA software, set the AGC to "off", set the frequency to 477kHz DIG (i.e. USB), set the RX to "wide", but so far nothing received!

UPDATE 2220z: 3 stations copied on 630m OPERA with best DX so far being LA3EQ (768km). I might give OPERA TX a try tomorrow evening. Others with a lower noise floor might be able to spot me on OPERA but not on WSPR?