10m WSPR USA spots today

Although I have been copied much further today, my first report from the USA was from KZ8C (6290km) at 1258z. This is quite a lot later than yesterday.

UPDATE 1356z:   Although I am being spotted in the USA, early indications are that there are fewer USA stations spotting me than yesterday.  Of course, it may be that some stations who were using WSPR yesterday have chosen other modes today.

UPDATE 2030z:  The last spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by WG2Z (5600km) at 1954z, which is quite late.

More VK (really long distance) reports on 10m WSPR today

My little 500mW 10m WSPR beacon has been copied in Australia 3 times today already, and conditions are meant to be just "fair"! VK6XT spotted me a couple of times this morning (again) but the best was VK5MR (16144km) at 1230z.

It never fails to amaze me that this tiny little stand-alone 500mW WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR mode beacon is copyable in a shack on the other side of the planet. I have now been copied at this range many times.

Reports from YV5ESN (7294km) in South America seem almost local, HI.  USA stations really do seem like locals now!

4X1RF on 10m

4X1RF (3519km) was spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon early today at 0854z.

UPDATE 1425z:   4X1RF has spotted by 500mW 10m WSPR beacon no less than 30 times so far today.

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 7th 2015

Sunspot number today is 71 and 10m propagation forecast to be "fair". It sounds quite similar to yesterday. So far only G4IKZ spotting me, and now 4X1RF.

UPDATE 1354z:  With the 10m band open (even for me using 500mW WSPR) to North and South America and Australia, it seems much better than a "fair" day. 

40m Pixie from AliExpress

From my bank statement I see my 40m Pixie kit from China, that has shipped, cost a little over £7. This includes all parts including crystal and PCB. At this price it would be hard to buy the individual parts. I very much want to build this as it will be the first amateur radio construction here in a very long time.   It is sufficiently simple and low cost that I should manage it, even if I am a little clumsy still with the soldering iron.

 No doubt Andrew G6ALB (3km) will help with a first test.

Not amateur radio again

Today we visited the next village, Swaffham Prior, 3km west of here, home to G6ALB where there are 2 churches and 2 windmills. Andrew G6ALB and I are testing low cost AM modules on 70cm. As yet these tests have only been partially successful. Tomorrow I need to check the sensitivity of my receivers.

After our visit, I have updated our blog http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ where you can follow our visits around East Anglia.

UK National Grid status link

Again, from Steve G1KQH, a link that may well be of interest to UK readers:

Did I send you this one Roger?

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Many times we hear that closing old and polluting power stations is putting us at risk of power blackouts. Check the electricity capacity yourself.

In the left hand corner you can also check for France.

USA 10m WSPR spots today

Lots of USA stations have spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today. The first USA station to spot me today was KC1AWS (5308km) at 1150z. The openings to the US A are starting earlier now.

UPDATE 1845z:  KD6RF (7547km) at 1834z is the last USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon currently. I think it is unlikely I'll be spotted by others in the USA tonight, but we'll see.

UPDATE 2040z:  The spot at 1834z by KD6RF did prove to be the last today from the USA. Still, at nearly 6 and 3/4 hours this was a decent opening.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today has fallen back to 86. 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".

So far this morning VK6XT (14719km) is my best DX report on 10m WSPR with my 500mW WSPR beacon at 1024z. Considering the "fair" 10m forecast, this is pretty good.

CB to ham

From Steve G7VFY:

Good use for old CB's.

There is a Yahoo group, CB to ham.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYoI2Q7O3zU

Stephen Walters

G7VFY