Sunspots - blimey!

Just seen the sunspot count for today - 29 - which is pretty good for where we are in the new cycle. It is very clear that sunspot cycle 24 has got into gear and next year should show considerable improvement on bands like 10m.

Birthdays

It was my elder grandson's 2nd birthday last week. We went to Paris to enjoy it with his French grandparents and had a good time. This is a picture of both grandchildren when they came to stay a few weeks ago. It is my wife's birthday next week, so I'd better get thinking. Mine, just before Christmas, is easy as I tell my XYL what I want - usually some radio books.

500kHz PA blown - my fault

My IRF510 500kHz PA just died on me as I TXed for a full WSPR slot into an open circuit (the wrong coax connected!). It won't take 5 minutes to fix tomorrow, but this evening I'll WSPR on some HF frequencies for a change.

500kHz - USA reception this evening

The 5W ERP beacon of W17XSH (the "WSPR shortened" call of WD2XSH/17) was copied here very well just after midnight. This is my first transatlantic WSPR reception and only my second 500kHz station heard from N.America.

Overnight my 500kHz WSPR beacon was running but no new stations reporting me when I checked at 0700z.

8th country on 500kHz WSPR

Just got my first report from Wales tonight with a huge (for me) -6dB S/N report from GW3UCJ in IO81 at 286kms away.  Also a new reporter from Belgium ON6EO. Reports are very good tonight so the WSPR beacon will run overnight.

136kHz WSPR tests (soon)

Very encouraged by my results at 500kHz, I'd like to try some "low ERP" WSPR tests on 136kHz using the same small antenna and transverter (slightly modified).  Ideally I'd need stations like M0BMU, M0FMT, G7NKS and others not too far away from JO02dg to TX and to listen out for me, as these stations get a good signal from me on 500kHz.

Please would you let me know if you'd be able to listen and upload 136kHz WSPR spots sometime in the next week or so? As yet I am not quite ready to start, but I'll let you know when I am.

Presentation on CW and other weak signal modes

Andy Talbot G4JNT has put an interesting presentation about weak signal modes onto his website. He gave this talk at a recent Microwave Round Table. See http://g4jnt.com/MartleSham.htm. It is exploring how we can push the boundaries further when working with very weak signals.

My first 2-way CW QSOs on 500kHz

This afternoon, just after midday, I worked Mal, G3KEV, in Scarborough for my first 2-way CW QSO on 500kHz. I gave him 569 and he gave me 529. Then at 4pm I was called by Chris G3XIZ who gave me 579. ERP at my end around 2mW.

Report from 7th country on 500kHz

This evening I got my first report from Germany on 500kHz WSPR - DK6NI in JN59ln at 805kms. This brings my countries total to 7 now.

FT817 successor coming?

Has anyone heard any intelligence/news on what is happening at Yaesu regarding new hand-held all-band, all-mode, successor to the FT817 with new features such as internal auto-ATU, speech processor, maybe 70MHz included on EU version, LiIon battery pack, etc...