Either conditions were poor or people are QSYing as only 13 spots of my 10mW ERP WSPR overnight.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
My WSPR beacon without the PA is on again with 500uW on 10m. Once again, I was spotted in the Canary Islands yesterday.
My article on these 500uW tests was in the April 2024 RadCom by the RSGB.
At 500uW (0.5mW) is far harder at the RX end than with 500mW. (30dB weaker) I was surprised to get spots at all as many people have a high local noise levels which masks weak signals.
UPDATE 0905z: No spots.
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on again.
UPDATE 1050z: Yet again my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR has been spotted in the Canary Is.. A reminder that even though my beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W it is actually 0.5mW (30dB less) with the PA off in these tests. The station(s) at the RX end must have low noise floors!Although I think spots are very unlikely today, I am again on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). No spots at 1001z.
UPDATE 1421z: It pays to set expectations low. Two spots of my 500uW (0.5mW) when I was not expecting any! I shall remain at 500uW on 10m WSPR all day.
As is my usual pattern, I have QSYed to 630m WSPR with my 10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground.
UPDATE 1935z: 4 stations in England have spotted me.
UPDATE 2030z: 6 stations have spotted me so far this evening (see table).
My PL259 plugs have arrived. The 50 ohm coax and everything needed to replace my 8m dipole is at hand. Erection should really be trivial, but ladder work is far harder these days.
Until my TX permit expires early next month I hope to use 2.5W. After that I may try 10mW ERP 8m WSPR which does not require an 8m TX permit in the UK. As long as people are monitoring, much of Europe should be possible. Tests at similar powers have reached the USA on 10m WSPR. One of the issues on 8m is there are far fewer monitors than on 10m.
This would be an interesting test. Sadly, the attenuator would also be in circuit on RX too making the RX deafer.
I guess some local tests would be useful to ensure all is well. At the moment I am unsure what callsign to use for these 10mW 8m tests.
Amazingly, my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR was spotted once in the Canary Is. yesterday. I honestly was not expecting this. I left my beacon running more in hope than any real expectation.
It is on now and just been resynced to internet time, so I am again on 10m WSPR with just 500uW (0.5mW).
UPDATE 1425z: No spots today with QRPP WSPR!
As 500mW 10m WSPR yesterday was so easy, I returned to 500uW (0.5mW) today. Judging by yesterday, I might have got one spot at 500uW. SSN is slightly better today, so we will see!
This morning, I am again running (for me!!) QRO i.e. 500mW WSPR. After just a few minutes, DX spots of me received.
UPDATE 1650z: So far today 16 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR.
My 10mW ERP WSPR from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground has been spotted by 6 stations with the furthermost EI0CF (602km).
As solar conditions seem to be on the wane (although still quite good), I think it unlikely that my 500uW WSPR be spotted, so I shall return to 500mW today.
Funny how this seems really high power now!
UPDATE 0736z: Changed to 500mW 10m WSPR and already spotted locally.
UPDATED 1040z: At 500mW WSPR it is far easier! Plenty of spots from across the world.My 630m QRP WSPR (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground) was turned on at about 1730z. So far, 4 stations have spotted me.
My QRPP 10m WSPR signal is on again.
UPDATE 1706z: No spots all day. I have definitely concluded that 500uW 10m WSPR only works when (a) conditions are very good, and (b) the RX noise floor is low.
This morning, I am again on 6m FT8 with my 2.5W to the vertical V2000 omni antenna, Mostly UK with some Scandinavian spots on 6m FT8 yeste...