10m WSPR, sunspots and storms

Just turned on 10m WSPR about 12 minutes ago. Already being spotted by CT1JTQ (1843km) several times and I am spotting  IK1WVQ (1084km). I would have thought Portugal and N.Italy would have been much the same distance. Not so. Portugal is much further.  I assume this is Es?  G0LRD (25km) and I are exchanging WSPR spots at around -14 to -16dB S/N.

Sunspot count today is 91 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". We should expect some F2 DX later.

The thunder storms are, currently, well south of here. I am still watching the lightning map though. Last night I went QRT but heard no storms overnight.

UPDATE 0942z: Now  EA5CYA is being spotted. Still plenty of EUs around on 10m either Es or F2 backscatter. A great pity I am spotting the same stations . Where is everyone else?

UPDATE 0954z: 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me for the first time today.  I think this is F layer propagation.

Storms and lightning

Although dry here at present, a look at the lightning map shows there are nasty storms not that far east of this QTH.  I shall have to watch the maps carefully and disconnect antennas, PSUs and PC if it gets close.  Currently, these are configured for 472kHz use.

UPDATE 2200z:  Storms are too close for comfort, so going QRT on 472kHz WSPR overnight and unplugging antennas and PSUs. Although I have spotted, and been spotted, by a wide variety of stations, not one is new.

Back on 472kHz

After messing about on 10m and 20m earlier, I have now QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. So far M0MLH (223km) and G0LRD (25km) have spotted me and G3WCB (101km) spotted here. As before, I am seeing the same old stations.

Recent 472kHz WSPR spots

Using the PAR triband end-fed (strapped feeders) as a compromise MF antenna with very low ERP.

UPDATE 1812z:   DK7FC (669km) copied on 472kHz WSPR. Stefan is always a good signal with his 1W ERP station. This is considerably higher ERP than I use.

UPDATE 1850z:  F5WK (436km) copied at 1842z.

JT65, JT9-1 and WSPR

After brief outings on 10m and 20m JT65 and JT9-1 (nothing worked but W and LU seen on 20m JT65) I returned to 10m WSPR. I changed power to 500mW on 10m WSPR and was spotted by local G0LRD and 4X1RF. For now I have settled on 1W WSPR and 4X1RF,  G0LRD,  DK6UG and DK8FT are all copying this level just fine so far.  I think the DKs were by Es, although I think the 4X is F2 propagation. So  far today, 4X1RF has spotted me 8 times at output powers between 2W and 500mW.

10m WSPR wakes up

Just when I was about to write off 10m WSPR, it springs into life with spots from CT1JTQ (1843km) and 4X1RF (3519km) - the latter 4 times already by 1008z.  10m continues to be a band filled with surprises, quite unlike other HF bands.

By the way, outside the sun is trying to shine too.

Dinky Toys Club

A blast from the past...

Dinky Toys Club.

My brother sent me this certificate of mine in the post.  To be honest I don't remember joining! I was more into Matchbox Toys. These used to be 1s 6d  and came in packets like large matchboxes.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinky_Toys .

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matchbox_%28brand%29 .

Stroke frustrations

Although I can manage digital modes like WSPR, JT65 and JT9-1 OK, I find speech modes very hard work at present: my voice is hard to understand and tires easily. I make errors writing the blogs (usually corrected)  and am clumsy with almost all electronics building work, so the experimental field and bench work I enjoy are, for now, on hold.

By the end of August I was hoping to feel almost no giddiness, but a twice daily 366m walk makes me feel wobbly still. I am told this will eventually go. It can't happen soon enough. Improvements are happening but all too slowly.

To be honest, my stroke, a year on now, is getting me down.  There is so much I want to do but cannot.  It is hard on my wife, children and grandchildren.

10m WSPR - a different day ahead?

Having turned on 10m WSPR about 15 minutes ago, it looks like conditions today are quite different. No DX at all coming through yet, just G0LRD (25km) away spotting me.

Sunspot count is 75 (disturbed) and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to be "poor". It feels poor although a look on WSPRnet shows some impressive DX into Europe. Maybe it is just a blip?

 Even the weather has changed! Outside it looks wet and autumnal for the first time.  Summer is ended.

Maybe I should try JT65 or JT9-1 on 10m or 20m today?

10m still WIDE open to the USA at 2100z

At 2104z I am still spotting loads of USA stations on 10m WSPR. It is likely the opening will go on for a while yet. This is F layer propagation and not Es. Today has been another excellent day on 10m.hrs

UPDATE 2230z:  No DX on 10m for almost 1.5hrs. Time to go to QRT and to bed - early start tomorrow to see how Scotland voted.

Low cost earth-mode beacons?

G1KQH has found some very low cost TDA2003 ICs.  I use one of these in my VLF beacon shown in my RSGB RadCom article and on my website. Best range is just short of 6km by "utilities assisted" earth-mode.  When fitter again (currently I am not allowed to drive and I am still too clumsy when on my feet and moving because of my brain bleed last year) I intend to continue my VLF experiments. I have used these ICs at 8.97kHz, twice, and sub-multiples of that frequency.  Beyond 20kHz would be outside their spec limits, but they may still work?

G3XBM 5W VLFearth-mode CW/QRSS beacon

Evening Roger,

Used in your LF PA 10p each nuts!

http://www.banggood.com/100pcs-TDA2003-10W-IC-Car-Radio-Audio-Amplifier-Integrated-Circuit-p-944202.html

Or you can buy in 10s @ 16p each inc delivery!

http://www.banggood.com/10pcs-TDA2003-10W-IC-Car-Radio-Audio-Amplifier-Integrated-Circuit-p-922620.html

Banggood sounds Chinese. I have no idea if these are genuine parts or not. They are advertised as 10W car radio audio parts.