Sunspot count today is a respectable 128 and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". Already been swapping 10m WSPR spots with 4X1RF (3519km) several times since around 0700z and at 0948z VK7AB (17342km) near Hobart in Tasmania was coming through weakly. No other Australians seen yet on 10m but the band is clearly open by F2 to some very distant places.
Nearer to home G0LRD (25km) is running 100mW and being copied OK here. I have just dropped down to 500mW from the FT817.
4 Oct 2014
3 Oct 2014
South America on 10m WSPR
PT2WWV (8873km) was spotting me this evening at -21dB S/N at 1810z. So far, this is my first report today from South America. If I stick around on 10m, I doubt this will be the last report. PT2WWV seems to copy me well and I often copy him on 10m.
UPDATE 1855z: So far, PT2WWV has spotted me 3 times tonight.]
UPDATE 2230z: Last overseas spot of me was HB9ADJ (816km) at 1932z. Just locals since then. Staying on 10m through the night now to see which Europeans appear during the night.
UPDATE 1855z: So far, PT2WWV has spotted me 3 times tonight.]
UPDATE 2230z: Last overseas spot of me was HB9ADJ (816km) at 1932z. Just locals since then. Staying on 10m through the night now to see which Europeans appear during the night.
Should I try a new band?
As 10m is getting quite predictable these days and I think I just about know how far my 5mW ERP will get on 630m (472kHz), I am tempted to try a new band tonight, maybe 80m or 160m WSPR although activity levels are low.
Sunspots and 10m WSPR activity
Sunspot count today is 105 (decent) and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "excellent". This should mean some good long distances on 10m F2. So far, I am only being spotted by the locals.
UPDATE 1105z: A few spots exchanged with 4X1RF (3519km) on 10m and EA5WO (1428km) spotted here. DK6UG (633km) has also spotted me. As yet no really long distance F2 DX copied, but I expect that to soon change.
UPDATE 1120z: Seeing the above 10m WSPR spots you do wonder how often this band is open very briefly by Es or F2. For a WSPR decode you need the band to be open for nearly 2 minutes only. I suspect we will find it briefly opens far more frequently than was thought. After all, the MUF has just to creep above 28.1246MHz very briefly for WSPR to catch it. On CW or SSB you'd have to be very very patient. WSPR is some 12-14dB better than CW.G0MGM
UPDATE 1144z: G0MGM (101km) and M6NNB (127km) have been spotting me. These are interesting GDX distances. I assume these are pure tropo or plane enhanced, although there was little or no Doppler on my signal.
UPDATE 1434z: Have been exchanging 10m WSPR spots with USA stations since 1252z: 10m is well open to the USA yet again. It has been open daily to the USA for weeks now. This must be F2.
UPDATE 1615z: My 1550z TX transmission resulted in 14 spots of which 11 were from the USA and one of the remaining was even further afield from FR1GZ.
UPDATE 1105z: A few spots exchanged with 4X1RF (3519km) on 10m and EA5WO (1428km) spotted here. DK6UG (633km) has also spotted me. As yet no really long distance F2 DX copied, but I expect that to soon change.
UPDATE 1120z: Seeing the above 10m WSPR spots you do wonder how often this band is open very briefly by Es or F2. For a WSPR decode you need the band to be open for nearly 2 minutes only. I suspect we will find it briefly opens far more frequently than was thought. After all, the MUF has just to creep above 28.1246MHz very briefly for WSPR to catch it. On CW or SSB you'd have to be very very patient. WSPR is some 12-14dB better than CW.G0MGM
UPDATE 1144z: G0MGM (101km) and M6NNB (127km) have been spotting me. These are interesting GDX distances. I assume these are pure tropo or plane enhanced, although there was little or no Doppler on my signal.
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| Recent 10m WSPR spots |
UPDATE 1615z: My 1550z TX transmission resulted in 14 spots of which 11 were from the USA and one of the remaining was even further afield from FR1GZ.
Overnight success on 472kHz
Need to check if any new stations were spotting me overnight, but good results here on RX with 2 Italians spotted on 472kHz WSPR.
IW4DXW (1190km) was spotted 4 times around 0230z. IZ7PDX (1815km) was spotted here 2 times around 0200z. He is a new DX record on RX from this QTH.
This morning, in daytime, G8HUH (250km), G3WCB (101km) and G0LRD (25km) were spotting me. I have now moved to 28MHz (10m).
IW4DXW (1190km) was spotted 4 times around 0230z. IZ7PDX (1815km) was spotted here 2 times around 0200z. He is a new DX record on RX from this QTH.
This morning, in daytime, G8HUH (250km), G3WCB (101km) and G0LRD (25km) were spotting me. I have now moved to 28MHz (10m).
2 Oct 2014
FT991 multi-mode, 160m-70cm all mode transceiver
The first UK price looks like around £999 from Nevada who expect stocks spring/summer 2015. This is more than I was expecting.
This image is the best I could find. The image is located on the Universal Radio site in Ohio and the link to the image will be removed if this is a problem.
I would consider investing in this transceiver, but would be looking for a better price. The FT450D is currently £699 in the UK (even less at MLS £619.95 according to G1KQH) I wonder if they will spin out an FT817 replacement based on the FT991 design? I am sure there would be a good market for a 5-10W version here in the UK.
This image is the best I could find. The image is located on the Universal Radio site in Ohio and the link to the image will be removed if this is a problem.
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| http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/3991lrg.jpg |
Click the image for a bigger, clearer picture.
I would consider investing in this transceiver, but would be looking for a better price. The FT450D is currently £699 in the UK (even less at MLS £619.95 according to G1KQH) I wonder if they will spin out an FT817 replacement based on the FT991 design? I am sure there would be a good market for a 5-10W version here in the UK.
10m WSPR - now spotting Canada
At 1550z VE3KCL (5696km), running 200mW WSPR, is being spotted here (just) at -29dB S/N.
UPDATE 1735z: 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me 10 times so far today.
UPDATE 1910z: For well over an hour now I have been spotting, and been spotted by, just locals. It is too soon to call it a night and there might yet be more DX on 10m WSPR. For now, I shall stick with 10m to see what happens. Later I might QSY to MF.
UPDATE 1958z: No DX on 10m WSPR for 2 hours, so soon time to QSY to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.
UPDATE 2200z: Been on 472kHz since about 2020z.
UPDATE 1735z: 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me 10 times so far today.
UPDATE 1910z: For well over an hour now I have been spotting, and been spotted by, just locals. It is too soon to call it a night and there might yet be more DX on 10m WSPR. For now, I shall stick with 10m to see what happens. Later I might QSY to MF.
UPDATE 1958z: No DX on 10m WSPR for 2 hours, so soon time to QSY to 630m (472kHz) WSPR.
UPDATE 2200z: Been on 472kHz since about 2020z.
One 2W 10m WSPR burst - 10 reports
My 1432z 10m WSPR transmission got 8 reports (spots) as follows:
5 were from stations in the USA (up to -9dB S/N), 1 from Israel and 2 locals.
UPDATE 1456z: My last 10m 2W transmission got no less than 10 spots of which 70% were from the USA. 10m is wide open to the USA today.
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| One 2W WSPR transmission today on 10m |
UPDATE 1456z: My last 10m 2W transmission got no less than 10 spots of which 70% were from the USA. 10m is wide open to the USA today.
First USA spot today
My first USA 10m WSPR spot today was of WG2Z (5600km) at -24dB S/N at 1220z. I hope this will be the first of many spots given and received today to/from North and South America.
UPDATE 1320z: WB8ELK/01 (6872km) spotted me at 1316z at -23dB S/N.
UPDATE 1422z: Plenty of USA stations spotting me, and being spotted, on 10m WSPR this afternoon. No South Americans seen so far in the logs.
UPDATE 1432z: So far, FR1GZ (9724km), on Reunion Is in the Indian Ocean, has only been spotted twice here on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1320z: WB8ELK/01 (6872km) spotted me at 1316z at -23dB S/N.
UPDATE 1422z: Plenty of USA stations spotting me, and being spotted, on 10m WSPR this afternoon. No South Americans seen so far in the logs.
UPDATE 1432z: So far, FR1GZ (9724km), on Reunion Is in the Indian Ocean, has only been spotted twice here on 10m WSPR.
10m WSPR - 4 immediate spots
Turning on 10m WSPR at just before 0942z, I received 4 spots of my first transmission with best DX being R0AU at 5546km way over in Siberia. The other spots were by locals. Not a bad start today.
UPDATE 1100z: OH5MD recently spotted here as well as EA5WO. Seems Europeans are still about on 10m WSPR, but apart from R0AU no real DX yet seen on the band which is a bit surprising.
UPDATE 1210z: F2 in evidence, RN6LLV (2878km) has been spotted 3 times so far. This is classic single hop F2 propagation.
UPDATE 1100z: OH5MD recently spotted here as well as EA5WO. Seems Europeans are still about on 10m WSPR, but apart from R0AU no real DX yet seen on the band which is a bit surprising.
UPDATE 1210z: F2 in evidence, RN6LLV (2878km) has been spotted 3 times so far. This is classic single hop F2 propagation.
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