16 Oct 2014
Sunspots
Today's sunspot number is 90 (still going up again in recent days) with 20-30MHz propagation "normal". Conditions on 10m should remain good again. USA stations should be audible very soon again as well as South Americans. In the last few days, lack of activity rather than conditions have been the issue on 10m WSPR to South America.
15 Oct 2014
160m WSPR
For a total change I have fired up the "strapped feeders" antenna on 160m WSPR. No spots yet given or received, but UK/Europe activity is very low so far this evening. If I manage to get out on 472kHz, it should work OK (but not brilliantly) on 160m.
Last night I meant to go on 70cms for the UKAC activity session, but I completely forgot about it!
UPDATE 1845z: Best DX report, of me, is from OZ7IT (853km) at -24dB S/N. My power out is 2W. My ERP (claimed as 1W) is more probably in the low mW region. I'll stay on 160m this evening, and probably overnight.
Last night I meant to go on 70cms for the UKAC activity session, but I completely forgot about it!
UPDATE 1845z: Best DX report, of me, is from OZ7IT (853km) at -24dB S/N. My power out is 2W. My ERP (claimed as 1W) is more probably in the low mW region. I'll stay on 160m this evening, and probably overnight.
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| Early evening unique WSPR spots on 160m |
Will try a new band later
Later today, or this evening, I shall try WSPR on a new band, probably 160m or 80m with the "strapped feeder" antenna via my ATU. Both 630m (472kHz) and 10m are getting rather predictable! 160m or 80m will make an interesting change I think. I may try 60m too as I hold an NoV.
Back on 10m for now
Yesterday and overnight I tried 472kHz using the 12m baseline earth-electrode antenna. No new reporters but the results are good.
For a while now I have been back on 10m WSPR. Plenty of Spanish, Austrian and Swedish activity and best DX so far Israel 4X1RF (3519km). No great DX as yet but the band should open to the USA shortly.
UPDATE 1255z: WG2Z (5600km) was the first USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR at 1200z.
UPDATE 1505z: 10m has been very good to the USA all afternoon. It really is too easy with plentiful spots in both directions. I have a visitor until about 1615z, but will then change bands, probably to 160m.#
UPDATE 1514z: The lack of S.Americans - only 51 stations active on 10m WSPR in the world at the moment - makes it look as if propagation is not there in that direction. I am sure if there were LU, CX or PY stations on 10m WSPR I would copy them pretty well right now. My visitor (speech therapist) has not turned up. She may be held up in traffic. She is normally very reliable.
For a while now I have been back on 10m WSPR. Plenty of Spanish, Austrian and Swedish activity and best DX so far Israel 4X1RF (3519km). No great DX as yet but the band should open to the USA shortly.
UPDATE 1255z: WG2Z (5600km) was the first USA station to spot me today on 10m WSPR at 1200z.
UPDATE 1505z: 10m has been very good to the USA all afternoon. It really is too easy with plentiful spots in both directions. I have a visitor until about 1615z, but will then change bands, probably to 160m.#
UPDATE 1514z: The lack of S.Americans - only 51 stations active on 10m WSPR in the world at the moment - makes it look as if propagation is not there in that direction. I am sure if there were LU, CX or PY stations on 10m WSPR I would copy them pretty well right now. My visitor (speech therapist) has not turned up. She may be held up in traffic. She is normally very reliable.
Sunspots
The sunspot count is climbing again to 70 (stable) - I assume a more active region has rotated to face the Earth - and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". I assume 10m will be good again today.
14 Oct 2014
472kHz - F1AFJ JN06ht
My map showing stations I copied on 472kHz WSPR left off F1AFJ (607km) who is quite a long way down France in JN06ht square. He is running a decent ERP and this may explain why I copy him so well, even on the earth-electrode "antenna" aiming the wrong way.
1 million visits
A significant milestone on this blog was passed today with over 1 million visits! I continue to be amazed that so many people read my blog and keep coming back.
Thank you all for your continuing support. I hope the mix of content meets with your approval and continues to do so in the months ahead.
My poor health has prevented me doing what I most enjoy, which is building simple circuits and carrying out experiments "in the field" locally. With time, I hope I get much fitter so these things can start again. In the meantime, I experiment as best I can at home.
Thank you all for your continuing support. I hope the mix of content meets with your approval and continues to do so in the months ahead.
My poor health has prevented me doing what I most enjoy, which is building simple circuits and carrying out experiments "in the field" locally. With time, I hope I get much fitter so these things can start again. In the meantime, I experiment as best I can at home.
10m WSPR - not on today
As I was out for much of the morning, I decided not to go on 10m WSPR today. Checking WSPRnet logs the band was well open (again) from Europe to the USA, although I missed this.
Currently I am operating with 5mW ERP on 472kHz using the 12m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" across the garden.
Currently I am operating with 5mW ERP on 472kHz using the 12m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" across the garden.
472kHz - directionality of earth-electrode "antenna"
Last night and today, my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR from the 12m baseline earth-electrode "antenna" was copied by 9 unique stations with best DX being F6GEX (590km) in IN97 square. In a crude attempt to plot the directionality of the "antenna" I have shown the QTH squares in which I was received as purple coloured squares marked with a cross. Other purple squares shows where I received stations from too.
This is crude, but the directionality is roughly E-W I think, which makes sense. The reception by F6GEX (590km) in IN97 is south of west, but not orthogonal to the loop. DK7FC is very strong and I would expect to copy Stefan off the side of the loop.
I shall leave 472kHz running with the earth-electrode antenna again tonight.
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| 5mW ERP 472kHz - crossed + coloured squares shows where spotted |
I shall leave 472kHz running with the earth-electrode antenna again tonight.
Sunspots
Sunspot count has increased to 41 and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". Today should be a good day on 10m.
13 Oct 2014
472kHz WSPR using earth-electrode antenna
As an experiment this afternoon and evening I am using the (short baseline) earth-electrode antenna. I am being copied by G0LRD (25km) and G3ZJO (79km) so far. It is now 1620z. Initial results suggest G0LRD is getting me very slightly better on the earth electrodes, whereas G3ZJO is getting me slightly weaker. This is comparing the earth-electrode "antenna" with the HF /VHF antennas with strapped feeders tuned against mains earth. In the latter case I resonate the antenna with a 110mm diameter coil with many taps.
One end of the earth-electrode is tied to mains earth. The "far" earth is a 1m long earth rod driven into the soil. The connection to the far electrode is 32 x 0.16mm PVC covered wire running along the fence at a height of about 2m. This wire dog-legs and is about 15m long. The spacing between the "far" electrode and mains ground in the shack is about 12m max. At the old QTH the baseline was more like 20m.
I think the earth-electrode antenna acts a bit like a loop so best results tend to be in the line of the loop. It also means there is not a huge difference between the two systems. You could say they are both equally bad, but the earth-electrode system needs no matching coil. I have optimised the resistive match using a 3C90 toroid (step up) between the transverter and earth-electrode antenna. At the old QTH it looked close to 50 ohms so the toroid was not needed.
When fitter, I'd like to try an earth-electrode system with a much bigger baseline.
There is no doubt that my 472kHz antennas can be much improved. The question is, "how seriously do I want to try?"
One end of the earth-electrode is tied to mains earth. The "far" earth is a 1m long earth rod driven into the soil. The connection to the far electrode is 32 x 0.16mm PVC covered wire running along the fence at a height of about 2m. This wire dog-legs and is about 15m long. The spacing between the "far" electrode and mains ground in the shack is about 12m max. At the old QTH the baseline was more like 20m.
I think the earth-electrode antenna acts a bit like a loop so best results tend to be in the line of the loop. It also means there is not a huge difference between the two systems. You could say they are both equally bad, but the earth-electrode system needs no matching coil. I have optimised the resistive match using a 3C90 toroid (step up) between the transverter and earth-electrode antenna. At the old QTH it looked close to 50 ohms so the toroid was not needed.
When fitter, I'd like to try an earth-electrode system with a much bigger baseline.
There is no doubt that my 472kHz antennas can be much improved. The question is, "how seriously do I want to try?"
Para-saki all diode QRP transceiver
This looks like a design by Michael Rainey AA1TJ, but this one was on a German blog site of Peter DL3PB. I was very annoyed by the Facebook pop-up that kept appearing. I kept closing the pop-up but it is really annoying. Website owner - PLEASE get rid of it!
See http://streampowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/para-saki-qrp-transceiver-fact-diodes.html .
The design makes extensive use of tunnel diodes, a Michael Rainey favourite.
See http://streampowers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/para-saki-qrp-transceiver-fact-diodes.html .
The design makes extensive use of tunnel diodes, a Michael Rainey favourite.
Real 10m WSPR DX appears
TJ3TS (5478km) in Cameroon has just been spotted here on 10m WSPR. This is the first "real" DX that has been seen so far. I suspect greater distances will be logged soon as the band "warms up". Pretty sure this is F2 propagation.
UPDATE 1100z: CX2ABP (11127km) has just been spotted for the first time today on 10m. 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me a few times already.#
UPDATE 1330z: My first USA spot was at 1200z. Plenty of stateside stations since then. The 10m band is well open to the USA.
UPDATE 1100z: CX2ABP (11127km) has just been spotted for the first time today on 10m. 4X1RF (3519km) has spotted me a few times already.#
UPDATE 1330z: My first USA spot was at 1200z. Plenty of stateside stations since then. The 10m band is well open to the USA.
Overnight on 472kHz WSPR
Another disappointing night on 472kHz. Spots exchanged with stations already logged. I really need to improve my system if I am to spot, and be spotted by, a lot more stations. My 5mW ERP is fun but I need a lot more to increase my coverage.
G4KPX who claims to use 1mW ERP is achieving far better results than me. I suspect he is using his meager power efficiently whereas I suspect my very poor antenna system warms up birds instead!
At the moment, all antenna work has to be on hold because of my poor health.
G4KPX who claims to use 1mW ERP is achieving far better results than me. I suspect he is using his meager power efficiently whereas I suspect my very poor antenna system warms up birds instead!
At the moment, all antenna work has to be on hold because of my poor health.
Lots on 10m WSPR
10m WSPR is off to a decent start this morning with plenty of European and Russian activity despite the falling sunspots. This is the WSPR log in recent minutes. As you can see, stations from from all over the place, although no "real" DX yet - just Europe and Russia so far.
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| Recent 10m WSPR spots this early morning |
Sunspots today
Sunspot count has fallen even more today to 28 and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to remain "normal".
Already, I an getting 10m WSPR spots from several Russians.
Karen, RA3APW is in the UK this week so his Moscow based 100mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be active whilst he is in the UK he tells me.
Already, I an getting 10m WSPR spots from several Russians.
Karen, RA3APW is in the UK this week so his Moscow based 100mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be active whilst he is in the UK he tells me.
12 Oct 2014
QSYed to 472kHz WSPR
Tonight, at the moment, there are no less than 60 stations active on 472kHz WSPR. This is more than I can ever recall.
Since QSYing to 472kHz about an hour ago I am spotting, and being spotted by, the same stations as previously. I guess I need to "up" my ERP to at least 100mW to start to reach new stations. That means antenna work, which is currently out of the question because of my health.
DK7FC (669km) is currently the best DX here on RX. Stefan puts out a potent signal on 472kHz and 137kHz WSPR. My best report (on TX with 5mW ERP) is G3WCB (101km).
Since QSYing to 472kHz about an hour ago I am spotting, and being spotted by, the same stations as previously. I guess I need to "up" my ERP to at least 100mW to start to reach new stations. That means antenna work, which is currently out of the question because of my health.
DK7FC (669km) is currently the best DX here on RX. Stefan puts out a potent signal on 472kHz and 137kHz WSPR. My best report (on TX with 5mW ERP) is G3WCB (101km).
Solar Cycle 25 Predictions
It has been notoriously hard to predict future solar cycles, but the science is improving all the time. Right now, the experts are predicting that solar cycle 25 will be very small indeed. Some think we are moving towards another Maunder Minimum when solar sunspots all but vanish for around 50 years. If so, most of us alive now will never experience "good" HF conditions ever again in our lifetimes. Experts can be wrong!
See http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/01/25/first-estimate-of-solar-cycle-25-amplitudesmallest-in-over-300-years/ .
On a positive note, poor solar activity often means the lower frequency bands are better. With some luck, we may have a new international contiguous band at 60m in a few years' time. This depends on WRC2015.
Regarding cycle 24, it looks like the peak was Feb 2014.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
See http://wattsupwiththat.com/2012/01/25/first-estimate-of-solar-cycle-25-amplitudesmallest-in-over-300-years/ .
On a positive note, poor solar activity often means the lower frequency bands are better. With some luck, we may have a new international contiguous band at 60m in a few years' time. This depends on WRC2015.
Regarding cycle 24, it looks like the peak was Feb 2014.
See http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
Simple 10m rigs
As 10m slides to the "quieter years" of the solar cycle it will soon be time to look again at using this band for local communications. It makes an ideal band to natter across town and I still think a 10m Fredbox is worth a go. The receiver, a simple super-regen is extremely simple, very sensitive with a simple RF amplifier, but lacking in selectivity so would NOT be useful when the band is busy. At night time in the quieter years it would be perfectly fine. The alternative is a simple 10m DSB rig, which would be compatible with SSB transceivers.
At the moment, my poor health is stopping me doing both of these projects.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_op?pli=1 .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10msimple_sb .
At the moment, my poor health is stopping me doing both of these projects.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10m_op?pli=1 .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/tenbox .
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/hf/10msimple_sb .
10m from N.Ireland
An interesting spot this afternoon on 10m WSPR in the form of GI4BTG (498km). This unlikely to be Es (skip too short) and the most probable mode is F2 backscatter. As far as I am aware, this is the first time GI has been spotted here on 10m WSPR.
Good 10m conditions
Several different 10m WSPR stations in the USA being spotted this afternoon. CX2ABP has been spotted 4 times already from South America. With Japan this morning, 10m has been good today already by F2.
UPDATE 1740z: Good 10m propagation to the USA. These are recent spots on 10m WSPR. Some VERY strong reports!
UPDATE 1740z: Good 10m propagation to the USA. These are recent spots on 10m WSPR. Some VERY strong reports!
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| 10m WSPR recent spots here. |
Fredbox schematic
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| Fredbox 2m AM transceiver |
Even 2m 10mW AM was enough to work across the English Channel handheld on 2m and the 2m Fredbox made several 60 mile handheld QSOs . For quite a while it was used to natter across town in Cambridge. The Fredbox was named in honour of local Fred G8BWI back in the 1970s.
The Fredbox and Sixbox have appeared in G-QRP SPRAT and in Practical Wireless mags. The schematics also appeared in several foreign language magazines too. The circuits are basic and certainly capable of being improved.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/fredbox.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/sixbox .
Declining sunspots
Sunspot count today was down still further to 38 yet 20-30MHz propagation remains "normal", With 10m open to the east (Japan) and west (USA) F2 conditions on 10m seem pretty good so far today.
First 10m WSPR spots from Japan and USA here today
JH1GYE (9380km) was spotting me at 0834z this morning and I have spotted him too. JH6LAV was also spotted this morning
WB4CSD (6025km) spotted my 2W 10m WSPR signal today at 1224z. This was the first (for me) in the USA today. Since then, WSPR spots have been exchanged with several stations in the USA. Since before breakfast Europeans have been spotted here and this has continued all day.
WB4CSD (6025km) spotted my 2W 10m WSPR signal today at 1224z. This was the first (for me) in the USA today. Since then, WSPR spots have been exchanged with several stations in the USA. Since before breakfast Europeans have been spotted here and this has continued all day.
11 Oct 2014
CX2ABP (11127km) - South America
CX2ABP (11127km) in Montevideo has been spotted here 27 times so far today on 10m WSPR until 1856z. He has been coming in most of the day and evening Although the band was open to North America too, I think conditions have been better. CX2ABP was peaking at -15dB S/N here. Since 1900z only locals have been spotted.
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| Spots of CX2ABP today on 10m WSPR |
WSPR-X woes again
With exactly the correct settings, my WSPR-X running on a Win 7 machine refused to upload spots to the WSPRnet.org database today. When I realised it was not working I did 2 things: (a) I closed the program and restarted it, and (b) reset the PC clock to internet time.
Since doing these things, my "lost" spots successfully uploaded to the database. I have no idea why WSPR-X seems to be so temperamental.Otherwise I like it, especially the realtime,scrolling waterfall and support for WSPR-15, although I have only tried this slower mode once, on LF. Stability needs to be pretty good (over a 15 minute period) for WSPR15.
Since doing these things, my "lost" spots successfully uploaded to the database. I have no idea why WSPR-X seems to be so temperamental.Otherwise I like it, especially the realtime,scrolling waterfall and support for WSPR-15, although I have only tried this slower mode once, on LF. Stability needs to be pretty good (over a 15 minute period) for WSPR15.
QRP kits search on eBay
See http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=qrp+kit .
Occasionally I look on eBay to see what is on offer. Searching for "QRP kits" throws up quite an interesting selection of stuff, much of it only available by eBay and not otherwise advertised. Some of these items are good bargains.
Touch wood, I have never yet had a bad experience on eBay when buying or selling. Mind you, I would be very careful and not spend too much. Some dealers are good (the vast majority) but there are always a few "bad eggs".
Caveat emptor.
Occasionally I look on eBay to see what is on offer. Searching for "QRP kits" throws up quite an interesting selection of stuff, much of it only available by eBay and not otherwise advertised. Some of these items are good bargains.
Touch wood, I have never yet had a bad experience on eBay when buying or selling. Mind you, I would be very careful and not spend too much. Some dealers are good (the vast majority) but there are always a few "bad eggs".
Caveat emptor.
No 10m USA here yet
Although 10m WSPR is open here to South America with CX2ABP (11127km) spotted at -28dB S/N (weakly) at 1216z, there have been no North Americas seen here yet. This suggests conditions are not as good as they have been in recent weeks. To be fair, there are hours yet for the USA and Canada to appear. Even on bad days, the USA has appeared very briefly.
UPDATE 1252z: KZ8C (6290km) has just spotted my 2W 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1330z: The 10m band does seem to be waking up to the USA now after a slow start.
See post about WSPR-X woes above.
UPDATE 1252z: KZ8C (6290km) has just spotted my 2W 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1330z: The 10m band does seem to be waking up to the USA now after a slow start.
See post about WSPR-X woes above.
RA3APW's 100mW 10m WSPR pounding in again
Karen RA3APW's 100mW 10m WSPR to an indoor whip in Moscow (2443km) has been detected 10 times already this morning. He seems to put out a very decent signal. I assume this is single hop F2 propagation. Best DX on 10m WSPR RX today, so far, is South Africa.
Sunspots today
The sunspot count has slipped further to 54 (stable) yet 20-30MHz propagation remains "normal". Already on 10m WSPR I am seeing Europeans (SM and EA5) either on F2 backscatter or Es.
Later in the sunspot cycle, i.e when sunspot count is very low, it will be interesting to see how frequently Europeans are copied on 10m WSPR outside of the peak Es months. If stations stick with 10m, I suspect there will be Eu's copied most days, albeit just fleeting openings, ideally found using WSPR.
Later in the sunspot cycle, i.e when sunspot count is very low, it will be interesting to see how frequently Europeans are copied on 10m WSPR outside of the peak Es months. If stations stick with 10m, I suspect there will be Eu's copied most days, albeit just fleeting openings, ideally found using WSPR.
10 Oct 2014
G1KQH blog
See http://g1kqh.blogspot.co.uk/ .
Steve, G1KQH has just started his own blog. Steve has frequently supplied useful information to me. I usually post these gems to my blog. I wish him well with his new venture. Personally I find blogging compliments what I do in amateur radio, compliments my main website http://www.g3xbm.co.uk and acts as a diary for future reference. I find it fun to share my exploits with others. I hope my readers enjoy it too.
Steve, best of luck with your blog.
Steve, G1KQH has just started his own blog. Steve has frequently supplied useful information to me. I usually post these gems to my blog. I wish him well with his new venture. Personally I find blogging compliments what I do in amateur radio, compliments my main website http://www.g3xbm.co.uk and acts as a diary for future reference. I find it fun to share my exploits with others. I hope my readers enjoy it too.
Steve, best of luck with your blog.
10m JT65 and JT9-1
As my wife was having "girly" friends around I was banished to the shack. Usually, since my illness, I turn on WSPR in the shack and monitor progress in the lounge on another PC. WSPR beaconing usually suits my health as it requires minimal intervention.
As I was actually in the shack today, I took the opportunity to try JT65 and JT9-1 modes on 10m. On JT65 I worked the USA, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia and on JT9-1 I worked the USA. Time was limited and I am sure lots more could have been worked.
Since the guests went I QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. As before, the same stations are being spotted and are spotting me, which is disappointing.
As I was actually in the shack today, I took the opportunity to try JT65 and JT9-1 modes on 10m. On JT65 I worked the USA, Georgia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia and on JT9-1 I worked the USA. Time was limited and I am sure lots more could have been worked.
Since the guests went I QSYed down to 472kHz WSPR. As before, the same stations are being spotted and are spotting me, which is disappointing.
Driving again after 13 months
For 13 months I have not been allowed to drive because of my brain bleed. I have had to rely on my wife totally.
Today, I drove to and from the local garden centres at Fordham. This is a round trip of nearly 10 miles. Both the neurosurgeon and my doctor said "yes" and DVLA agreed I could drive again. I informed the insurer too just in case. I would probably not want to drive too far for a while, but at least I can drive again locally. This is a major step for me. Just a little more independence.
With luck, I hope to be able to resume some amateur radio field experiments quite soon. I am still wobbly on my feet though. It would be good to try some earth-mode tests from this QTH.
Today, I drove to and from the local garden centres at Fordham. This is a round trip of nearly 10 miles. Both the neurosurgeon and my doctor said "yes" and DVLA agreed I could drive again. I informed the insurer too just in case. I would probably not want to drive too far for a while, but at least I can drive again locally. This is a major step for me. Just a little more independence.
With luck, I hope to be able to resume some amateur radio field experiments quite soon. I am still wobbly on my feet though. It would be good to try some earth-mode tests from this QTH.
10m to North and South America
10m is again wide open, with lots of stateside stations spotting my 2W or I am spotting them. In addition, CX2ABP (11127km) in Montevideo has already been spotted here 5 times so far.
RA3APW's 100mW to an indoor whip from Moscow is again blasting in here and Karen has been a good signal a lot of the day so far. In all, another good day on 10m WSPR.
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| 10m WSPR spots from a single 2 minute TX burst today |
146-147MHz to full UK radio amateurs soon
Today, OFCOM announced that 146-147MHz will be temporarily released to full UK licencees from Oct 31st this year, by NoV. Personally, I would have preferred other parts of the spectrum to have been released instead as 2m is never that busy, at least it is very quiet usually around here. If you plan to operate 146-147MHz in the UK you will need to get an NoV via the RSGB. Note that this is temporary.
I wrote to OFCOM suggesting officially allowing UK amateurs access legally to sub 8.3kHz, re-releasing the 73kHz band and a new allocation around 40MHz (ideal for Es experiments). In OFCOM's release they say I asked for a new band at 400MHz. I did not.
I wrote to OFCOM suggesting officially allowing UK amateurs access legally to sub 8.3kHz, re-releasing the 73kHz band and a new allocation around 40MHz (ideal for Es experiments). In OFCOM's release they say I asked for a new band at 400MHz. I did not.
Japan on 10m WSPR
JO3VSR (9403km) using 5W was copied on 10m WSPR at 0854z this morning at a strong -16dB S/N. In addition, lots of stations across Europe have been spotted. Conditions on 10m are still pretty good.
UPDATE 0924z: 4X1RF (3519km) just spotted on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 0924z: 4X1RF (3519km) just spotted on 10m WSPR.
Sunspot activity
The sunspot count today is 65 (slipping lower gradually) and 20-30MHz propagation forecast to be "normal". F2 long distance 10m propagation is probable.
I think we are seeing the slow post-peak decline now. It will be some years before conditions on 10m hit rock bottom though. This autumn and winter should still be very good on the higher HF bands.
I think we are seeing the slow post-peak decline now. It will be some years before conditions on 10m hit rock bottom though. This autumn and winter should still be very good on the higher HF bands.
9 Oct 2014
472kHz WSPR - instant success
Since QSYing back to 472kHz (630m) I have met with instant success: up to 5 reports per 2 minute WSPR TX transmission. No new reporters as yet, but lots of support on 472kHz this evening. Last time I looked there were 59 stations active, a new record. G3ZJO seems to be receiving better and putting out a stronger signal recently.
6m WSPR today so far - a non-event?
Well, I am trying! Despite the low level, apparently, of activity on 6m WSPR, I have been active most of the day on RX and TX. So far - it is now 1510z - I have spotted and been spotted by precisely nobody at all! No locals, no GDX, no surprise Europeans, nothing at all. I have checked and double checked that all is working and antennas are connected. All are. Today was just a bad day with nothing, so far at least, to show for my efforts. I even advertised my presence twice on the "chat" facility on WSPRnet. A station on the south coast of the UK said he was also trying 6m. I'll keep trying for a few more hours. Things just might change.
Even on 472kHz last night I was frequently getting 4 reports a call with just 5mW ERP. On 6m I am using an ERP of around 1W (30dBm) but it is doing me no good it seems!
There are just 16 spots for 6m in the worldwide WSPRnet database today. Not the best of days clearly!
UPDATE 1615z: Just looked at the 10m database on WSPRnet. Although there is some transatlantic activity, it is not exactly great. Looks like today has been quite poor generally.
UPDATE 1922z: Still no reports in/out on 6m.Will be QSYing to 472kHz WSPR shortly.
UPDATE 1924z: Well, that was a waste of time on 6m today. Not a single report given or received all day on 6m, and others seemed to be having a bad time too. QSYing now to 472kHz WSPR.
Even on 472kHz last night I was frequently getting 4 reports a call with just 5mW ERP. On 6m I am using an ERP of around 1W (30dBm) but it is doing me no good it seems!
There are just 16 spots for 6m in the worldwide WSPRnet database today. Not the best of days clearly!
UPDATE 1615z: Just looked at the 10m database on WSPRnet. Although there is some transatlantic activity, it is not exactly great. Looks like today has been quite poor generally.
UPDATE 1922z: Still no reports in/out on 6m.Will be QSYing to 472kHz WSPR shortly.
UPDATE 1924z: Well, that was a waste of time on 6m today. Not a single report given or received all day on 6m, and others seemed to be having a bad time too. QSYing now to 472kHz WSPR.
Simple,but good,DC transceiver kits
At under $30 the Hendricks Kits DCxx series of direct conversion transceivers look good value. See http://www.qrpkits.com/. With a decent mixer, these rigs should do better than many. The image below is actually on the Hendricks Kits site. Link to image will be removed if this is a problem.
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| http://www.qrpkits.com/images/DXxxB5.jpg |
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