10m - late finish last night and early start today

Transatlantic spots were being exchanged here with the USA at 2W as late as 2252z last night and with Israel at 0610z (very early) this morning. I have the feeling that today will be good on 10m WSPR. Sunspot count is extremely high (245) but conditions on higher HF are said to be disturbed with blackouts and "poor" .

Recent 10m WSPR spots

Interesting that since 0612z 10m seems to have gone very quiet. Maybe blackouts? Only G7FYO copyable here now this morning (162km) at -19 to-24dB S/N.

I am periodically checking the WSPR software is still running and the clock spot on internet time. Usually there are several Europeans visible as well as FR1GZ if active.

VHF/UHF antenna arrives

A large package arrived today: my 3el/5el VHF/UHF beam, brackets and feeder cable. I must now await Andrew G6ALB to help me erect it.

We have grandchildren here over Easter, so I am hoping Andrew can help next week or the week after in time for UKAC Tuesday evening contest sessions. I am quite looking forward to having some modest gain on 2m and 70cms SSB/CW/digital. I gather there are also Sunday and Wednesday activity sessions on 70cms.

10m update - 2200z

Well, the PC is still running and there are still lots of WSPR spots from both North and South America. I shall reset the PC clock and WSPR software (DONE) before going to bed so I  hope to catch any very late openings on 10m tonight and early in the morning. A few days ago 10m was open until past midnight local time and conditions this evening look good.

UPDATE 2154z:  8 spots as a result of my 2W WSPR burst at 2154z and 7 of these were from the USA.

PC turned off WSPR - again

Yet again, the afternoon appeared very quiet on WSPR until I realised my main shack PC had decided to close the WSPR program yet again.  I have only just turned it back on again and am seeing W4 and PY in the logs. I thought it very odd not to be seeing any USA transatlantic reports: it helps if the program is actually running!

The turning off seems to be a bi-product of Windows 8.1 as this never occurred with my old XP machine. It is not a major issue.

Station seen since restarting the software:

1602 -16 -1.4  28.126026  0 WB4KLJ FM18 33
1602  -5 -0.8  28.126066  0 PY5EJ GG54 40
1604  -3 -0.8  28.126096  0 WA9JWL EN70 37
1606 -11  0.5  28.126161  1 K3NAL FM18 37
1610 -18 -0.8  28.126080  0 CX2ABP GF15 37
1614  -3 -0.8  28.126065  0 PY5EJ GG54 40
1624 -17 -0.5  28.126079  0 CX2ABP GF15 37
1624 -21 -0.7  28.126089  0 KZ8C EM88 37
1628 -26 -0.5  28.126003  0 PY2RN GG66 30

PY2RN WSPR analysis

Bert PA1B has analysed my recent reception on WSPR by PY2RN to see just how little power could have been used and still be successfully decoded in Brazil - the answer is very little for a lot of the time! Most times even 1mW should have been enough. This of course assumes local noise levels allow decoding to the lowest levels for WSPR at around -30dB S/N. In some cases this may not be possible because of local QRN/QRM.

Late evening reports on 10m

Before my program stopped running, 10m WSPR was in good shape up to (at least) 2200z last night. TI3/AB4AW (Costa Rica, Central America) was last reported (by me) at 2200z.

10m 2W WSPR spots last evening until very late

It may well have been open later still, but my WSPR program decided to close! This morning, I have re-opened the WSPR software and reset the clock to internet time. This morning, sunspot count is 149 with "stable/good" propagation forecast. 10m should be good today.

Some building in the shack!

For the first time since my stroke last year I decided to build and test something in the shack (other than a loading coil). For my very wobbly self, this is a major step.  I decided to have a go at the Petitico 10 parts rig from PY2OHH shown a few posts back.

Somewhere I have a 7MHz crystal, but I could not locate it, so I built a bench version, for 3.560MHz instead. I still haven't managed to optimise values yet.

On RX the sensitivity with 600 ohm headphones was, at best -70dBm, so a strong signal is needed to hear anything. It was less sensitive with a crystal earpiece. It is possible that further optimisation might yield a few dB more, but this level I expected. The RX-TX offset seems ideal. The only real operating technique, with this sort of sensitivity, is LISTEN (for a good, strong signal) and then POUNCE. I have yet to check TX output power.

 I'd like to try it on 7MHz really and may buy some 7.030MHz crystals from GQRP club sales. On 7MHz I have an antenna and can listen for my signal on the Twente SDR RX in Holland.

The actual results are almost academic. What mattered was that I actually built something with my soldering iron, didn't burn holes in the carpet and, sort of managed, despite my severe balance problems.

I am wondering if I should open the Ultimate 3 Beacon kit box and build it or wait a few more weeks. At the moment I think I should wait. My confidence levels are still low.

The 481THz NLOS test I had planned will have to wait until I feel less giddy I have decided. Everything for now will be shack based.

Slow start on 10m this morning

Time now is 1030z and so far only DK3SML (733km) at 0854z has been spotted on 10m WSPR.  Sunspot count is 105 with "normal" HF conditions, so hopeful of improvements as the day progresses, but signs are not encouraging: it was better at this time yesterday and yesterday was not a very good day.

UPDATE 1148z: spots exchanged with PY2RN,  also CX2ABP (11127km) spotted here. The band is livening up on N-S paths only so far here. No transatlantic stations yet copied.

UPDATE 1950z: transatlantic spots, 2-way spots by exchanged with CX2ABP (11127km) into S.America with 2W, and a TJ3 - in all a good day on 10m, despite the slow start.

UPDATE 2042z: still being spotted by K1OF (5500km).

Unique 10m WSPR spots of my 2W signal today

481THz RX issue - now fixed

As mentioned in an earlier post, my sensitive non line-of-sight NLOS optical (red LED at about 481THz) RX packed up when I clumsily dropped it yesterday when out in the field at the test site. An investigation this morning revealed a wire had dropped off the battery feed and this was easily fixed. The  RX now works as before.
 
I shall have to try the NLOS test again when my wife can drive me out there. I shall have to do it soon as tree leaves will soon obscure the path at the home QTH end. Just wish I was not so clumsy still following the stroke last year. In the field I feel so much less able than last year. I feel really disabled and hate being so useless and clumsy.

UPDATE 2050z: for now, all my tests will be shack-based because of my poor health, so no immediate plans to repeat NLOS tests until I feel a lot less wobbly.

10m - mixed fortunes

Today was an odd day on 10m WSPR - some good propagation N-S but very marginal indeed transatlantic.  The band did open up but hardly any transatlantic spots.

I think we are now moving towards summertime conditions and are gradually starting the slide down towards the next minimum. We will have a very long journey downwards and some days conditions will be excellent. On many days, the band will be closed. On some days propagation will be mainly N-S only.

With luck, Es will help to liven up the band in summertime. Just occasionally, mutli-hop Es will support transatlantic 10m and 6m propagation as well as propagation into the Middle East. Also, sometimes the first hop is Es then linking up with F layer propagation further to the south.  Even in the quiet years, 10m has surprises.

At 2142z NA4U (6533km) was spotting my 2W still. Surprise!

Aborted 481THz NLOS test

I am beginning to think that ALL tests outside the house should stop until I am a lot better (stroke). The best description is I feel, all the time when on my feet, as if I have drunk 8 pints of beer and am very drunk and clumsy.

This evening, my wife drove me out to an NLOS test site where I managed to drop the RX head hard on the ground. The head immediately stopped working even before I started hunting for my signal! I could hear no hiss at all. There was no sign of the very visible moon noise in the RX.

The test would have been marginal anyway, especially with a bright full moon, but to be unable to carry out the test at all was a great shame.  It is just that everything is SO hard for me at present and setting up optical kit is stretching the limits of my current abilities. Feeling clumsy nearly all the time is tiring too.

Even getting my VHF/UHF beam up at home will require help. Andrew G6ALB has kindly offered to erect it for me. This should be an easy task for me - normally it would be - but not at present. At least, when erected, VHF and UHF activity should be straightforward at home in UKAC sessions on Tuesday evenings. Sitting down my balance is fine. I just hope this soon improves. Walking is getting better but balance/giddiness are still big issues.

Simple audio filter designs

The PY2OHH pages contain a useful link to a TI paper on active filters. In my experience, virtually any audio or RF transistor (e.g. 2N3904 NPN) can replace the op-amps with little effect. Some prefer "perfect" op-amps whereas I find transistors easier to work with and place. The performance difference is very very small.

2N3906 is a ubiquitous PNP equivalent.  The 2N3904 and 2N3906 devices are available from a range of suppliers for just a few pence each only. A few 2N3904s in parallel with small emitter resistors make a good HF/LF QRP PA replacement for a 2N3866 too. My recommendation is buy 100 of each (2N3904 and 2N3906) and stock your junk-box. Less than £10 and it will be a long time before you run short! Think of all those projects.
 
See http://py2ohh.w2c.com.br/trx/filtroativo/filter%20design%20in%20thirty%20seconds.pdf for the active AF filter paper.

Good start on 10m this morning

EA8/LA3JJ has already spotted my 2W WSPR 3 times and it is only just after 0800z. Sunspot count is 95 and the forecast is for "stable/normal" HF conditions. Perhaps this will be a good day on 10m?

10m WSPR spots with 2W to 1130z today (basically N-S)

PY2OHH's Pititico 10 parts transceiver for 40m

Andy Cutland has sent me this link. It is from, Miguel,  PY2OHH's excellent site which is full of ideas for QRP and QRPp enthusiasts. I can thoroughly recommend it for ideas.  I would expect this RX to hear signals, but be quite deaf as there is no audio gain apart from that in Q1.

Apparently the headphones were around 500 ohms impedance. I guess a crystal earpiece might work as audio is derived across R2. Maybe then C5 could be deleted?

Q1 must act as a (crystal controlled) regenerative detector on RX with the level of oscillation set by R2. Not sure of RX-TX shift as this will depend on RX and TX current. There is no low pass filter either, as shown. This means harmonics will also be detected and emitted. Still, this is meant to be VERY simple. I must try it.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TlNqb0N-7V0/U0SFVljBTjI/AAAAAAAAUkY/xbyhirCu7AU/s1600/pititico.gif

VHF/UHF antenna ordered

Just ordered  a 5 ele for 70cms and 3 el for 2m which are fed with a single feeder coax and form a single antenna from Moonraker.  This antenna is reduced in price by 30% this weekend.

I intend to mount this dual band antenna on my 50mm diameter pole and hand rotate it by turning the pole out of a window next to the shack. It should mean a couple of S-points extra on 2m (compared with a halo fed with RG58 coax) and on 70cms I have no horizontal antenna.

UKAC sessions on a Tuesday night , GDX and beacon hunting should be a great deal more fun.

Simple 3 transistor DSB transceiver for 28MHz

Stephen Walters G7VFY has reminded me of a simple 28MHz DSB transceiver from Japan . I think I have mentioned this before, but it is so simple and elegant that a second outing is called for.

3 transistor DSB transceiver

See: http://www.cqpub.co.jp/hanbai/books/15/15061/15061_p.180-181.pdf .

Windows Updates and (late start) 10m WSPR

This morning , I assumed I was on 10m WSPR but instead I discovered the (new Windows 8.1) PC was doing a Windows update and was quietly waiting for me to restart the computer! This I did at around 1300z after which I was back on 10m WSPR.  Sunspot count is down to 83 with "disturbed conditions" today so I would expect 10m conditions at 2W to be more difficult.

PY2RN 10m WSPR spots early afternoon today

My first spot today at 1318z is of PY2RN (9550km) running 5W.  Excellent reports both given and received.

Interesting that even at 1822z, not a single spot exchanged with North America, well here at least. All 10m propagation, for me, is in the N-S direction so far today. More like quieter years. Others with better low angle antennas may have done better.

Non line-of-sight (NLOS) 481THz paths from home QTH

Before venturing out, I have been trying to plot possible NLOS paths with the optical TX at home (inside) and the RX at a convenient roadside spot at a moderate (local) distance. One possible path is VERY remote down very uneven fenland roads which would have to be navigated in the dark with my wife driving the car. I am thinking about her driving the car. I am not allowed to drive as a result of my stroke.  Many of the NLOS paths are blocked by nearby houses and trees. It is a surprisingly hard task.

 Back to Google Earth to see where might be worth trying. From previous tests it is necessary to aim very carefully.

Southern Brazil PU3RRW 10m WSPR

PU3RRW (10652km) was spotted 3 times (so far) this evening. This station in GF38tf  is about as far south as one can get in Brazil and was a massive +9dB S/N for 5W on WSPR at times.

I wonder if TEP  propagation was helping to give signals this strong on 10m.

More transatlantic 10m

Atlantic

10m is still (mainly) open to the USA and Canada from just before lunchtime, local time. The sunspot number continues to decline, but 10m propagation remains in great shape. Even 6m should be good for TEP from southern latitudes. The MUF near Brazil was 47MHz yesterday, so only a bit short of that needed for 6m TEP.   

PY2RN (9550km) has been spotted on 10m WSPR several times already today. Southern Brazil is a long way from the UK but it is mostly a sea path.

10m oddity

10m WSPR early morning April 11th 2014

WA2YUN has just been spotted by lots of us in Europe, including me, at around 0908z. His reported locator is RK39hh which is near Wake Is in the Pacific. I suppose this is JUST possible at 11946km (especially early mornings) but it is more probable he is reporting the wrong locator. It is too early for transatlantic propagation - very odd.

KH9/WA2YUN is shown as Wake Is, so this is probably genuine.
See: http://www.dxcoffee.com/eng/2012/03/07/kh9wa2yun-wake-island/ 

WA2YUN/KH9 QSL card

A glutton for punishment? 474.2kHz WSPR

I have just gone back on to 474.2kHz USB dial WSPR with 5mW ERP from the 15m spaced earth-electrode antenna. I must be a glutton for punishment!

So far this evening I have seen a couple of different Dutch stations and I have been seen a couple of times by PA3ABK/2 (306km) and once by F1AFJ (607km). The kit will be left on overnight to see if any new stations turn up.

 

WWV at 25MHz

The Southgate Amateur Radio News Page reports that WWV (Fort Collins) is experimenting at 25MHz for the first time since 1977 for a limited time.

See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/april/wwv_now_conducting_experimental_broadcasts_on_25_mhz.htm#.U0bjPygvk2A .

6m TEP in the Far East and 10m propagation today

Looking at the 6m spots on WSPRnet.com I note the many trans-equatorial spots of VK4TVL by JF1PSS (6176km) with some being of incredible strength (+11dB S/N ) and no drift at all. The VK is running 20W, but even 2W would be enough. Local time looks like early evening.

Over here, I can see no South African or other African WSPR stations active making 6m TEP attempts here a waste of time.

Later unique 10m WSPR spots of my 2W until 1744z.

No great DX here this morning on 10m with EA8/DL9XJ best DX at 2981km  (single hop F layer). There are also a couple of GDX stations at 162 and 184km.

The first transatlantic spot was at 1108z when W4HFZ was copyable at 6819km. He was using 5W. There are other 4 area stations being copied too. The pattern this afternoon is similar to previous days on 10m.

My best DX today is FR1GZ (9724km) at 1550z. Just now I was spotted by VE6ODQ (6640km) in DO34ir (Athabasca).

XP3A - Nook, Greenland on 10m WSPR

For some reason (Win 8.1?) I have had issues today uploading my WSPR spots (that is of others) to the database. I have restarted the software and reset the clock and now all seems to be OK.  Among the first uploads was a strong signal from XP3A in Nook, Greenland at 1932z.. Although strong (+4dB S/N) there was -4Hz Doppler on the signal, perhaps because the signal was coming through the Auroral Oval?

XP3A's QSL card

This was the first time I have seen/heard Greenland on 10m WSPR but I was lucky enough to work Greenland on 15m SSB handheld with my FT817 in my back garden some years ago on just a base loaded whip with  a counterpoise!   I think the mode then was double hop Es. It was an easy QSO. Being able to move the antenna for best signal helps.

Interestingly, a VE4 was suffering -4Hz Doppler just now (signal again passing through auroral oval?). I often see large Doppler shifts on signals crossing the Equator (e.g. on FR1GZ) and I assumes this is due to moving F layers (spread F) as signals cross the magnetic Equator. I would expect TEP signals to have considerable Doppler too.

Phlatlights

When I have repeated my over-the-horizon NLOS optical (red LED) tests at 481THz using LEDs bought from Hong Kong, I must remember to try my Phlatlights which are about 10dB stronger.  I bought these nearly 2 years ago and have not yet fired these up! The ones I have already have heatsinks so it should be quite easy to use these for QRSS3 tests. In theory it should mean aiming a little less critical or greater range when "on-beam".

At 8.7km over the horizon with a clear sky, QRSS3 signals were about 10dB S/N with the 10mm HK LEDs, so with Phlatights and the same optics (100mm lenses) signals should be much stronger. More tests for when I am fitter.

10m today - still good

http://www.hanssummers.com/images/stories/ultimate3/1/5.jpg

All afternoon I have been receiving WSPR spots for my 2W WSPR transmissions.  Up to now ALL spots have been from transatlantic stations in the USA. The band is still in good shape.   The sunspot count is drifting gradually downwards (94 today) but, for now at least, HF conditions on the higher bands like 10m remain generally good.

This weekend I may make a start on my Ultimate 3 WSPR beacon kit (see image above on Hans Summers' site).  This is a complete (no PC needed) beacon kit for modes like WSPR and QRSS3 and very reasonably priced even if buying the GPS timing kit too. Mine cost £37 including postage from Japan with GPS.

I feel a bit better than I did and less clumsy. We'll see.

10m yesterday - a remarkable day

10m yesterday was quite remarkable here.

Nothing at all was seen until mid-afternoon and then the band just opened wide!  K9AN (6505km) last spotted my 2W signal at 2308z, which is after midnight local time and HOURS after the band has normally died out. It had been dark for hours. One wonders if this was F2 or even multi-hop Es? I wonder what was happening on 6m transatlantic?  I must check.

Even this morning conditions are encouraging with US7ISA (2634km) spotting my 2W as early as 0750z - very early and much earlier than stations were coming through yesterday. This is eastern Ukraine. Probably F layer but could, I guess, be early Es propagation.

5MHz band - RSGB notice

See http://rsgb.org/main/blog/uncategorized/2014/04/08/important-update-5-mhz-band/ .

The primary user is carrying out some exercises in the next few days and amateurs (secondary users) are asked to use the channels we have carefully to avoid interference to the primary users.

So far, I have only used the band for WSPR on a couple of occasions. It was fun.

Successful 481THz garden tests

Today I repeated my optical tests across the garden receiving signals on my RX with both 600 ohm phones and Spectran software with QRSS3. This time the tests were very successful with signals at least 40dB over noise when scattered off distant bushes (0.34Hz BW).   I think we are nearly ready for the NLOS tests again!

10m late starting today

10m WSPR this afternoon

10m was very slow to get going today and it was not until 1404z that OZ7IT was spotted on WSPR.  Then, there was some some choice DX such as TJ3TS (5478km) and PY2RN  (9550km), the latter who spotted my 2W first at 1446z and several times later in the afternoon.  A few hours later K9AN (6505km) was coming through. Most DX is N-S and transatlantic almost absent. There were some more US stations on later.  ZS6PCO (9100km) was spotted at 1712z. After 1834z most spots are of my 2W from stations in the USA.  It is almost as if someone turned the switch on late today!

Some of the early evening 10m WSPR spots by stateside stations

UPDATE 2130z:  10m is still wide open to the USA. This is quite remarkable after the appalling conditions in the morning.

Later in the cycle, when there are far fewer sunspots, the band will come to life only very briefly and sporadically. In many ways these will be MORE interesting times. This is as long as WSPR operators hold faith with the band even when days go by with not a signal to be heard. I have regularly heard S.Americans on SSB in the solar minimum years. WSPR should be a lot easier.

481THz QRSS3 beaconing across the garden

Last night I fired up my 481THz optical kit with poor results: I think the RX unit may have a flat PP3 battery? On the Spectran display the QRSS3 signal bounced off trees and bushes should be very easy to spot, but for an unknown reason, I was struggling.  I shall recheck all the kit today. The kit has to be well focused and working well to work DX non line of sight (NLOS), which is my plan soon.

My stroke symptoms (poor balance and clumsiness) are really not helping: tasks that were very easy last year are very hard this, well at present they are.  Before my wife and I venture out into the dark fens, I want there to be a good chance of success, which means good and thorough preparation.

All quiet on 10m so far today

Overnight I left my 10m WSPR kit running to see what happened overnight, The last logged station was EA8/LA3JJ at 2018z last evening, so no overnight openings and no GDX around. Perhaps people turn off 10m at night. I usually do and QSY to a lower frequency like 472kHz.

It is now 1247z with a sunspot count of 106 and the 10m band is still quiet with me: no WSPR spots of my 2W signal and no spots of other people yet either. If conditions were good I would have expected some activity from the East already. In southern Europe conditions look better.

See later post for what happened in the afternoon when the band came alive.

481THz QRSS3 beacon

This afternoon I dug out my optical QRSS3 beacon, PSU and optics. In the coming days I intend to test this locally from my shack by scatter off local walls and trees with the RX head, 100mm optics and Spectran software in a different room.

If all is working well, I shall ask my wife to drive me to an NLOS (over the horizon) location at 6.18km to see if the signal can be received. This is the first optical test in many months.

At the moment I am struggling with quite simple stuff because of my stroke. I am still so clumsy.

10m WSPR - April 7th 2014

After another disappointing session on 474.2kHz WSPR overnight with lots of spots from G6AVK and PA3ABK/2 but from no-one else, I have returned to 10m WSPR this morning.

Like yesterday, things have started off very quietly, probably as solar activity is just beginning to go past the peak and we are moving towards summertime conditions (less E-W and more N-S plus EU Es activity). The solar forecast is for "normal" HF conditions with a sunspot count of 127. K=2. No doubt the usual suspects will be visible soon?

UPDATE 0906z: Just spotted my PC was not connected to the internet - now corrected.  FR1GZ (9724km) has been seen multiple times and has copied me too. This is N-S propagation. No signs yet of EX1UN who was a consistent signal on 10m yesterday.

UPDATE 1020z:  UA9OTW (5136km) is a decent signal with 1W.

UPDATE 1242z:  No sign of any stateside stations yet,  but a -2dB S/N report from  LZ1OI .

UPDATE 1346z:  At last USA stations are appearing on 10m. The transatlantic 10m path is open today.  N5CSC (8009km) has exchanged spots with me. There are others too. I am still using 2W.

UPDATE 1704z:  10m still well open to the USA.

UPDATE 1848z:   This was the last time I noted transatlantic signals here this eveing.

UPDATE 2020z:    Still good 10m signals from EA8/LA3JJ (500mW) coming through although a few minutes later the band seems to have closed for any DX.

Non line of sight (NLOS) 481THz light

My attention is turning back to 481THz (red light) and slightly lower frequency (IR) light communications over the visible horizon (NLOS). From the new QTH there is a good local marker (roof top chimneys on a house in the High Street) for a 6.18km NLOS path to the place I used to go to check VLF earth-mode at limit range. If I can set things on the right beam heading from home,  I then have to persuade my wife to drive me out there after dark where the roads are VERY bumpy and rough - it is way out in the fens - to see if I can pick up QRSS3 signals using Spectran software. This is where I really miss not being allowed to drive (because of my stroke) myself.

10m WSPR

Not as many stations being copied as in the last few months and only G3JKV (123km) copying me so far today. 4X1RF who always seems to copy me seems not to be on right now on 10m. We'll see how things develop later in the day, but is this the start of the very slow slide down to the minimum? Must just go and move frequency about 10Hz in case I am sitting under a big station.

Recent 10m WSPR spots

UPDATE 1130z:  Just exchanged 10m WSPR spots with FR1GZ (9724km) on Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. He is using 5W and me 2W.  Conditions must still be reasonable. No stateside signals seen yet.

UPDATE 1300z:   G7FYO (162km) is being copied  but with -3Hz shift, suggesting aircraft reflection. This is a new direction too (IO82), nowhere near London's busy airports. These inter-G spots will be our 10m "bread and butter" in a few years' time when the long DX wanes.

UPDATE 1425z:  Interesting that not one stateside station copied yet here today so far. A few Europeans are reaching the USA, but not me. It looks as if transatlantic DX will not be seen here today now.

Later 10m spots - note absence of stateside stations

Disappointment on 474.2kHz last night

After a promising start, last night was a damp squib on 474.2kHz WSPR with just 3 unique reports of my signal and all of these from people who have spotted my 5mW ERP before.

474.2kHz WSPR spots overnight with5mW ERP - disappointing

I have now returned, again, to 10m WSPR with 2W ERP. Until I extend my baseline on 474.2kHz, I think there is little new to explore on MF.

Return to MF

As of about 30 minutes ago I have returned yet again to 474.2kHz WSPR with my 15m spaced eartb-electrodes and about 5mW ERP. 

UPDATE 2100z: Already this evening I have been spotted several times by G3WCB (101km) and PA3ABK/2 (306km). A promising start to the evening and night but would like lots more UK reports!

VE3GEN - colossal 10m signal, and G7JVN

Running 2W RF,  VE3GEN is a huge WSPR signal today at +4dB S/N, implying he would be copyable with low milliwatts. LZ1OI is 10dB stronger still.  Even my own 2W is +1dB S/N right now at 1542z with KB9AMG at 6300km. Just goes to prove how good 10m can be on a good day.

Intrigued by me copying G7JVN (JO00) who is 154km south of me. Just what 10m mode is this? -23dB is not too bad a signal.  I'd be surprised if aircraft scatter was involved, so could it be tropo?  Drift on his signal was large at 2Hz, but the actual received signal showed a near continuous, but frequency varying signal, no sign of Doppler or  multiple signal returns as commonly seen with aircraft reflections. Similarly, G3WKW at 134km copid earlier in the day, but we believe this WAS an aircraft crossing the path (no Doppler). I suppose G7JVN could have been an aircraft crossing the path too?