4 Oct 2014

472kHz WSPR this afternoon

It has been interesting to see who spots me in the daytime on 472kHz WSPR. Only 3 stations spotted me (2 quite locals - G0LRD (25km) and G3XIZ (46km), plus G8HUH at 250km, who receives people well).

On RX, I copied 3 stations - G4KPX (14km), G8HUH (250km) and PA3ABK/2 (306km). I shall stick with 472kHz WSPR this evening. No doubt range will increase at night.

UPDATE 1636z:  29 stations currently active on 472kHz WSPR of which G4KPX, G3ZJO and myself are in the UK and transmitting.  I think we are all 3 of us are very QRP ERP stations. I know Richard G4KPX was running 1mW ERP (or less) to an indoor TX loop in a spare bedroom on 472kHz. He gets out very well.

UPDATE 1820z:  DH5RAE (995km) and DJ0ABR (983km) now being spotted here on 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2000z:   G8LCO (58km) situated between Stevenage and Welwyn has copied me 6 times so far this evening. No great DX, but nice to be seen by someone relatively new (I think?) on the band.

UPDATE 2200z: G8LCO has now spotted me 12 times tonight so far. My best DX report so far is from PA0A (417km).

Now QSYed to 472kHz WSPR

Even with 500mW out on 10m I was being spotted in Cameroon by TJ3TS (5478km), so I have QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR (5mW ERP) to see what daytime propagation is like. Initially just a spot from local G0LRD (25km) but I am hopeful of others too. Activity is not yet high (27 stations, many RX only) on MF.

The rain is just arriving here and not expected to clear through until 1600z.

Sunspots 128 and 10m conditions

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.

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.

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.
Recent 10m WSPR spots
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.

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).

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.
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.

One 2W 10m WSPR burst - 10 reports

My 1432z 10m WSPR transmission got 8 reports (spots) as follows:
One 2W WSPR transmission today on 10m
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.

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.

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.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot count today is 164 (pretty good still and "stable") and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal". We should expect some 10m F2 propagation today.

10m has opened from the UK to the USA every day in recent weeks although it was "touch and go" yesterday with just a brief opening in which K3NAL was spotted here in the afternoon.

Yet again I see there are plentiful openings across Europe with G4HZW being spotted in Germany and OZ7IT spotting a Japanese station.

I am about to turn on 10m WSPR.

1 Oct 2014

New WSJT-X software

WSJT-X is now available as a new public release V1.4.0 from Oct 1st 2014.  At the moment this will still be a beta version and further improvements are likely in future releases.

See http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/ for more details.
Important changes in version 1.4 relative to v1.3, r3673 include the following:

1. CAT control for most radios is much improved, including expanded support for Commander, Ham Radio Deluxe, and OmniRig.  One-way CAT control is no longer generally supported.  Users may choose no CAT control, or may have working two-way communication so that WSJT-X can verify that commands sent to the rig have been executed.  "Split" mode  operation is supported via HRD for radios where HRD provides the  necessary control functions.  WSJT-X can now simulate Split mode for rigs that do not provide it.

2. Many options previously found on the Setup menu now appear on a far more flexible "Settings" screen.  You can define multiple spot operating  frequencies per band.  All recognized amateur bands are supported, and  frequency offsets can be configured for transverters.

3. There has been considerable polishing and extension of the user  interface, including optional user-defined waterfall palettes and fonts for the main screen, decoded text areas, and Astronomical Data screen.

4. The JT65 decoder now accepts negative values of DT down to -3.2 s, eliminating most of the occasional "garbage decodes" produced by poorly time-synchronized transmissions.

5. Better (glitch-free) behavior of audio streams.

6. Better handling of messages that include compound callsigns.

7. Support for standard "localization" conventions.

8. Writable files now appear in platform-dependent standard locations, allowing for more efficient installation on all supported platforms and  user settings to be seamlessly carried forward during program upgrades.

9. A new WSJT-X User Guide is available at
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjtx-doc/wsjtx-main.html .  Additions and changes will continue to be made, as needed: please send us your suggestions for improvements!

In addition these listed improvements there are many internal changes aimed at cleaning up the code, establishing a standard set of  compile-and-build tools, and making the whole package more readily maintained by an active development group.


KNOWN PROBLEMS
--------------
WSJT-X v1.4 cooperates with Ham Radio Deluxe much more reliably than v1.3.  However, the good behavior can break down when HRD Logbook or DM780 are also running in parallel.  You may see delays up to 20 seconds or so in frequency changes or other radio commands, due to a bug in HRD.  HRD folks are aware of the problem, and are working to resolve it.

It has not been possible to initially provide support for all radios via  HRD. We have built-in diagnostics that allow quick identification of the extra support needed to support untested rigs via HRD. We urge HRD users to try this new version and report back results. We will then add any missing support based on feedback from users as soon as possible.

About 25 amateurs, including all of the most active members of the Development Team, have been regular users of WSJT-X built from recent code revisions.  In addition to those mentioned explicitly in the  program documentation, we thank CT1EKD, DK6OV, G3PQA, G4YKQ, K2LYV
KF5OIM, N9JCA, NA7KR, PA0TBR, and N0URE for their essential help -- especially help with debugging rig control for specific radios.

Particular thanks are also due to Bill, G4WJS and Greg, KI7MT, who  recently have done much of the heavy lifting on the WSJT development front.

REMINDER: this is a beta release -- a candidate for official release as WSJT-X Version 1.4.  The program is stable, highly capable, and a pleasure to use.  However, almost certainly it has bugs that have not yet come to light.  One of your responsibilities is to report any anomalous behavior.  The most useful bug reports include any relevant
details on your setup and (if possible) instructions on how to reproduce the problem.  Please read the WSJT-X User Guide first!

We look forward to your feedback on this release candidate for WSJT-X 1.4.

    -- 73, Joe, K1JT (for the WSJT Development Team)

Quiet start on 10m WSPR this afternoon, so far.

This afternoon has been very quiet, so far, on 10m WSPR. Yes, it could rapidly change but this afternoon so far it is just G0LRD,  G0VQH,  G4IKZ (all locals) plus G8JNJ/A (184km). So far, no DX this afternoon seen here.

After the last week or so, you get to expect W's to be pounding through.  Guess you can never take 10m for granted. Maybe this is a blackout and normal 10m propagation will return soon?

UPDATE 1415z:  OZ7IT (853km) spotted at 1354z.  Some life about on 10m WSPR  this afternoon, but no DX to the USA in evidence as yet, here.

UPDATE 1520z:  Firstly DK6UG (633km) was spotting me and now I am spotting K3NAL (5930km).  If it was a blackout it has ended as 10m is now waking up. 4X1RF (3519km) is a massive -2dB S/N signal with 5W.

UPDATE 1550z: Now being spotted weakly by French listener F59706 (560km). This probably Es but could be F2 backscatter.

UPDATE 1630z:   Looking at WSPRnet, I don't think there is a massive difference in results between G0LRD and me. He is doing better with his antenna, but tends to spot, and be spotted, by similar stations. G4IKZ on the other hand seems to get better results. He is using 5W and a Moxon antenna which has gain in some directions. This may give him an edge whenthe beam is pointing the right way. Nick's ERP will be nearly 20W in the best directions. He also has a gain on RX of 4-5dB in the best direction and probably a lower noise floor, because of his directionality.

UPDATE 1718z: 4X1RF has spotted me 14 times today so far. No further USA stations spotted or spotting me, so far, today.

UPDATE 1722z:  The brief appearance of K3NAL earlier underlines the usefulness of WSPR in "sniffing out" short lived openings on bands like 10m. This will prove even more useful in the quieter solar years ahead.

UPDATE 2035z:  Nothing from the USA for hours and hours. Just locals. 10m has been disappointing today.

UPDATE 2100z:   Now QRT on all bands.

Australian 472kHz transverter

See http://www.vk3xdk.net46.net/89_31_600M-472Khz-479Khz-Transverter-V2.html . This is a 472kHz, mostly SMA parts, tranverter which is available from Australia for 180 Oz dollars ready built and tested. That is around £90, but this does not include shipping or duty. The transverter uses a 28MHz packaged oscillator. My own design (see www.g3xbm.co.uk website) is built "dead bug" style. Both the VK3XDK and G3XBM designs put out about 12W into a 50 ohm load. 472kHz is a fascinating band and even very compromised antennas work.  I have nothing special WRT antennas. I tune up the feeders to my V2000 vertical and Par end-fed and use a mains earth. This far from ideal arrangement gets out ( best DX is 896km with 5mW ERP and best RX DX is 1190km so far this season).

Recommendation: give 472kHz a go.

Nick G4IKZ monitoring 10m WSPR now

Local G4IKZ has been monitoring 6m most of the summer, but I notice he is looking on 10m today but so far is seeing just G0LRD and me.

I was wondering how efficient my antenna is on 10m compared with others. It is pleasing to see that Nick is not copying that much either. I think he uses a 10m Moxon beam, but no idea which way it is aiming today. He is getting me much weaker on 10m than on 6m. I believe my Par 3-band end-fed is somewhat down on an optimised 10m antenna, but not too badly.  Certainly not enough to worry about. I seem to be spotted quite widely if I run 2W.

I suppose a more efficient 10m antenna would (maybe) allow me to use 200mW instead, although in RX I copy most stations in all directions, quite well on 10m. The Par also does a decent job on 20m and even 40m, even though quite low and just strung to a tree in the garden.

For several weeks now 10m has been open to Europe at some time in the day. It was open to Spain and Israel this morning. Most days it has opened for F2 DX to places much further away.  So far, this afternoon is exceptionally quiet on 10m WSPR.

10m WSPR this morning

Luckily local G0LRD (25km) pointed out that I was showing the wrong ERP on 10m on WSPRnet. Although ERP is 5mW on 472kHz it is 2W on 10m. For some reason WSPRX did not save the 33dBm setting when I changed bands earlier.

4X1RF (3519km) as spotted me 4 times already and EB5DQ (1405km) has been seen here 3 times so far.

Sunspot count today is 166 (with blackouts) and 20-30Hz forecast is "fair".

472kHz overnight

Last night was a good one on 472kHz with some decent distances copied including IW4DXW (1190km) on a couple of occasions, albeit very weakly.
Unique 472kHz WSPR stations seen overnight
In the other direction, my 5mW ERP was copied by 7 unique stations.  I think G8LCO is an all-time new reporter, but I need to check. Unfortunately WSPRnet only goes back 2 weeks.
Unique 472kHz WSPR reports using 5mW ERP


30 Sept 2014

472kHz activity

This evening, I am sticking on 10m in the hope of the band reopening for real DX or opening very early tomorrow morning.

By now, I usually QSY down to 472kHz, where there is a lot of activity this evening with 49 stations listed on WSPRnet a few minutes ago.

UPDATE 2230z:  Late change of plan. I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR after all.

10m WSPR - is that it?

The last USA station was K4RCG (5995km) at 1932z. Unless the band opens again, I suspect that the worldwide openings may have ended for the day. With Australia, Reunion, Uruguay, Israel, the USA and great swathes of Europe in the log, it has been a good day on 10m WSPR.

FR1GZ WSPR

Just took a look at http://wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/spots for FR1GZ spots both given and received. It is amazing that he has so many real DX reports in the log. I guess this is partly because Reunion Is is very remote. Already he has been spotted here 14 times and he has spotted me 3 times so far today.  Many of his reports are greater than 16000km .

RSGB president request

Today I was asked if I could provide a photo of my 8.97kHz TX so the RSGB president could use it at a convention in Northern Ireland. I was happy to oblige.

If anyone else needs to use photos from my website at www.g3xbm.co.uk or this blog I am usually happy to say "yes" but it is polite to ask first.

"Poor" 20-30MHz conditions?

Sunspot count has fallen to 160 today and 20-30MHz conditions are supposed to be "poor" yet on 10m VK3KCX (16883km) has been spotted 6 times on 10m WSPR today, spots have been exchanged with FR1GZ (9724km) multiple times, CX2ABP (11127km) has spotted my 2W WSPR more than once and 4X1RF (3519m) has been spotting me multiple times and 10m is wide open to the USA! 10m really is a truly fascinating band.

There is no shortage of Europeans on 10m WSPR either. Not sure if they are being copied by F2 backscatter or Es.

29 Sept 2014

VLF receivers

To detect VLF amateur signals it is pretty essential to use a good receiver (with frequency locking so extremely narrow bandwidths can be received for hours or days on end) and Spectrum Laboratory software. Spectrum Lab has options to lock to one of the powerful MSK signals near 20kHz and this transforms stability.

For reception of natural VLF emissions it is somewhat different as signals tend to be stronger and of much shorter duration. There are several VLF natural receivers on the net. See http://www.vlf.it/romero2/explorer-e202.html for a typical example.

10m WSPR - recent results

Good conditions continue on 10m with WSPR. These are recent results around teatime. There are plenty of USA spots both ways. Currently I use 2W ERP and a Par 3-band end-fed antenna. In recent days 10m has been open to the USA every day.
Recent 10m WSPR results at teatime today.
UPDATE 2000z:  Maybe  this is like last night and the USA have only disappeared for now to return later, but in the last hour G0LRD (25km), G0VQH (15km) and M0MJH (5km) are the only stations spotting me. It is as if "the big DX switch" has been turned off.

UPDATE 2140z:  Still no further DX this evening.I have just noted that 20-30MHz conditions are now described as "poor". Again, I'll leave WSPR running overnight to see what happens WRT Europeans in the early (before breakfast) hours.

6m TEP WSPR

Looking at wsprnet I see VK4TVL and JH1GYE have been spotting each other at a range of 6243km on 6m WSPR earlier today. This is clearly 6m TEP. None noticed on WSPR between the Med and southern Africa or USA to South America. No transatlantic F2 on 6m WSPR seen.

10m - USA today

The first station in the USA, K4RCG (5995km) was spotted at 1218z.  Since that time, there have been lots of USA stations spotted and spotting me. 4X1RF (3519km) has also been spotting me from the other direction.

10m WSPR - excellent start

HB4FL spotted me many times before breakfast starting at 0430z. I was also being spotted in Italy before breakfast. Writing this at 0922z, I see EA is now being spotted. I assume this is Es?

VK3KCZ (16883km) has been spotted a couple of times, so far, although he is running 10W (high power for WSPR).

Sunspot count today is 200 (good, but expect blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation "normal". Some decent F2 openings are likely on 10m.

28 Sept 2014

Quiet evening on 10m?

At the moment it looks like 10m is now quiet with just locals and the odd European. There seems to be a total lack of North Americans now on the band. I'll be monitoring for a few hours more and things may yet change. 10m has a habit of throwing surprises.

UPDATE 2045z:  Yep, surprises!  Just been spotted on 10m WSPR by three north eastern USA stations. As I half expected, just when the band seems "closed" it opens again to the USA. 10m is indeed a band of surprises!

Long sunny days no more? Until next year.

As the nights get longer and the days get shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is useful to know when the sun rises and sets. A useful UK reference is http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/nao/miscellanea/UK_SRSS/. 

It amazes me that we are half way already to the shortest day! I don't want to wish my life away, but I always welcome the time when the days start to lengthen again. Even more, I welcome the return of migrant birds from Africa in April such as Swallows, House Martins and Swifts.

10m WSPR active stations

Active 10m WSPR stations
10m WSPR looks very busy right now.

Note the total absence of stations from South America! This make it look like the band is closed in that direction, which I am sure is not the case.

10m WSPR - plenty of DX about

10m has (again) been good today with plenty of USA station spotted and spotting me. Also, as of 1633z FR1GZ has now spotted me 7 times so far.

UPDATE 1840z: WG2Z (5600km) was still being spotted here at 1826z, but at present there is a shortage of South Americans on 10m WSPR.  This, I think, is  a lack of active 10m WSPR stations rather than poor conditions.  No doubt other modes like PSK31 and JT65 may be "humming" with South Americans! Europeans seem plentiful with several 10m WSPR stations logged presumably Es or F2 backscatter.

USA (again) on 10m WSPR

Right on time, the USA is coming through yet again on 10m WSPR.  K3GEN (5883km) was copied at 1514z and again at 1524z. So far (at 1534z) he has spotted me once.   FR1GZ has been copied 4 times so far this afternoon. KZ8C was copied at 1528z.

The band is opening by F2 to the USA.

UPDATE 1833z:  WG2Z (5600km) is still being spotted here at 1826z at a fairly weak -26dB S/N. The surprise (here at least) is the total absence of any stations from South America so far. I would have expected to spot a few by now.

Sunspots and a return to 10m

Sunspot count today is a respectable 159 (but with blackouts) and 20-30MHz conditions are described as "normal". Having been excluded from my shack for the last 2days (nearly -  granddaughter's cot), I have just returned to 10m WSPR to see how conditions are.

Already EA5WO (1428km) and FR1GZ (9724km) have been spotted here and local G0LRD (25km) has spotted me. Conditions on 10m look normal for late September not long after a weak solar peak. Next year is likely to be harder going.

On current form, South and North America will appear soon on 10m.

27 Sept 2014

Early QRT this evening

As I have a very young granddaughter in a cot in the shack, I have now gone QRT and no doubt missed some choice DX on 10m WSPR! It is always the case that best conditions occur just after I close down, irrespective of the band.

This afternoon, PT2WWV (8873km) was spotted here 20 times. He spotted my 2W WSPR 6 times before I went QRT.  Another new station and country was TA2AEG (Turkey) who was a huge signal but he was using 50W. I don't think he knows that WSPR only needs a few watts. He'll soon realise he can save on his fuel bills!

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot count today is 203 (high, but with blackouts), yet 20-30MHz conditions are only forecast to be "fair". It remains to be seen how 10m performs today, but already we have seen a wide geographical spread of Europeans on 10m WSPR,  presumably Es, but just possibly F2 backscatter.

Last night the last USA station spotted here was WG2Z (5600km) at 2222z, very late indeed.  SI9AM (1503km) was being spotted early this morning at 0512z here (before breakfast). I only noticed this station as I'd been running WSPR overnight, during which time only locals and GDX copied.

I have the feeling today will be a good 10m day.

UPDATE 1020z: FR1GZ (9724km) copied for the first time today at 1008z.

UPDATE 1342z:   Already PT2WWV (8873km) has been spotted 7 times this lunchtime on 10m WSPR.   He has also spotted my 2W a few times too.

26 Sept 2014

10m WSPR - overnight

As 10m is still wide open I shall leave 10m WSPR running overnight to find out when the opening to the USA/Canada ends.  If it follows the pattern of previous evenings it will draw to a close soon but this is 10m, a band full of surprises.

It will be interesting to see if any Europeans are copied during the night.

I shall check the PC clock sync before I go to bed.

UPDATE 2144z:  KC1AWS is still spotting my 2W on 10m WSPR.

Evening on 10m WSPR

The last USA station spotted here on 10m this evening was at 1902z and that was KZ8C. There may be others later, but at the moment that looks like it for the day.  

EA7KZ is still coming in (Es?) at 2000z and I suspect will be coming through for a while yet.

UPDATE 2040z: Well I was wrong as K9AN was spotted at -24dB S/N at 2038z. A few minutes later quite a few North Americans were spotting me. The opening to the USA and Canada is far from over. The band may have been late coming to life, but it is good now. 10m - another magic band.

Sunspots and 10m WSPR

Sunspot count today is a decent 139 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is "good". And yet, 10m has been disappointing.

I started on 10m WSPR quite early but FR1GZ (9724km) has only been spotted 3 times so far and USA stations only started coming through quite late this afternoon.  There have been some Europeans spotted and spotting me as there has been many times in recent weeks. 10m has been rather disappointing today really. Yes,there is DX about, but it is not  what I would call "wide open" as the forecasts might suggest.

10m is another "magic band". It rarely behaves quite as one might expect.