472kHz WSPR - LA4ANA copied already

LA4ANA (1042km) has already been spotted here this evening at 1812z right on the limits of copy (-31dB S/N) with his 50mW ERP.  This is a new station I believe on the band from this QTH.

33 unique WSPR spots (of others) in last 2 weeks on 472kHz WSPR

I am still hopeful of some new reporters of my 5mW ERP overnight.

UPDATE Oct 20th 2014 0908z: LA4ANA was spotted here 9 times last night. A couple of new reporters of my pipsqueak 472kHz signal too. A good night on MF for me.

10m WSPR in good shape again

Although I have remained on MF all day, I have been checking WSPRnet to see how 10m WSPR has been shaping up. Well it appears, with USA stations exchanging spots with Europeans and LU8WAG exchanging spots over 13000km. Good F2 propagation on 10m again today.

Sunspots

The sunspot count today is 60 with a risk of blackouts. 20-30MHz propagation is "normal" so I'd expect (on 10m) USA stations and more distant stations by F2.

As mentioned earlier, I am not on 10m WSPR today, instead concentrating on 472kHz WSPR.

Recent 472kHz spots of my 5mW ERP signal.

472kHz - PA3ABK/2

PA3ABK/2 (306km) is always an excellent signal on 472kHz WSPR. Today I stuck with 472kHz WSPR during the day and PA3ABK/2 running 500mW ERP is still around the -10/-11dB S/N level - a very good strong signal all the time here.

Sadly, overnight my 5mW ERP 472kHz WSPR signal was again reported by stations in the UK and The Netherlands who have reported me already. No new overnight reports. Briefly OR7T was active (I spotted him) but he was not on overnight on RX. I think Rik should be able to copy my pipsqueak signal.

W5OLF WSPR kit?

My soldering skills are rather "challenged" since my brain bleed 13 months ago. I have an un-built Ultimate 3 kit waiting for my better health. Several kind people have offered me help to build and test it: you know who you are and thank you!  The kindness of fellow QRPers knows no bounds. It is so lovely to find how many really kind people there are around. There are far more good people in the world than bad ones.

Some years ago W5OLF sold a very simple, single board, few parts, WSPR TX which I think I could manage to build. I could not find it advertised. Anyone know if it is it still available?

UPDATE Oct 19th 2014 1208z:  Good news - Jay tells me (by email) that kits are still available.

Extra SAQ 17.2kHz VLF CW transmission on Oct 24th?

Message from SAQ (sic). There appears to be some confusion over the time. If I get clarification I'll let you know later.   The transmissions are CW from the World Heritage transmitter that dates from about 90 years ago. It is run up on special occasions only.

There will hopefully be a transmission with the Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz on “United Nations Day” October 24, 2014 at 10:00 UTC. Start up and tuning from about 11:30 UTC.

There will be a message written by students in Denmark.

We are not hundred percent sure we have access to the antenna this day because of other organization using it.

Returned to 10m WSPR

Having returned to 10m WSPR my first spot from the USA was at 1244z from KK4ZUU (5933km) near Washington DC. First of many I expect today. At the moment there are fewer USA stations on 10m than I was expecting, but it is early days still.

UPDATE 1255z:  More USA stations coming through no.

UPDATE 1257z:   FR1GZ and PY3FF (10440km) also audible. My old work colleague Karen RA3APW must be back in Moscow: his 100mW 10m WSPR beacon is really booming in here at -6dB S/N.

WSPR - V4.0 r4171

For the last few days I have been using this latest beta version of WSPR software. It appears to work stably but I miss the real-time scrolling waterfall that was on WSPR-X, which I gather is no longer being developed.  The version V4.0 r4171 I have is the best available, or so I am told.

At the moment I am trying this software on 12, 15 and 17m with the "strapped feeder" antenna via the ATU.

UPDATE 1632z:  Have now gone back to 472kHz WSPR.

UPDATE 2150z:  29 unique stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR in last 2 weeks. I need to check the all time number, which is higher. Right across Europe! The 2 USA stations are band reporting errors and were NOT on 472kHz!

Blogging errors

Please pardon my blogging errors. On most posts I make at least one spelling or grammar error, but I try to correct the mistakes as soon as I notice. Maybe it is an after-effect of my brain bleed that I react too slowly? Sometimes it is the next day (or later) before I notice the error. Although a lot better than I was, I still feel giddy walking and I tire easily. Slowly, oh so slowly, things are getting a little easier, but this is far longer than I ever expected. Patience!

Sunspots today

Sunspot count today is down again, this time to 39 but 20-30MHz propagation remains "normal" so some decent F2 propagation is likely. I expect the USA to be audible around lunchtime onwards. These days, it is the norm. South Americans are usually copyable on WSPR as long as there are active stations.

First Spanish station logged on 472kHz

At 2352z last night EA3NE (1198km) in JN11an square in Spain was copied at -30dB S/N on WSPR. He is NW of Barcelona.  This is with a totally unmodified FT817 (original version) and my "strapped feeders" compromise antenna.

On TX, sadly no new reporters yet again. I think on RX I have now received most of the active stations on 472kHz WSPR.

Unique 472kHz WSPR spots on RX overnight

Back on 472kHz WSPR

This evening I have returned to my 5mW ERP WSPRing on 472kHz.  As yet, just the same stations are spotting me and being spotted. All being well, I shall leave things running through the night. Hopefully the PC will not decide to close down at 3am as it did last night. G3ZJO is a better signal now and he seems to be receiving better. I am on the "strapped feeders" antenna tonight rather than the earth-electrode. Incidentally, SP5XSB has been very pleased with MF results with his low milliwatts ERP signal from his earth-electrode antenna.

UPDATE 1922z:  F1AFJ (607km) is already being spotted here at -30dB S/N (just) at 1922z.  He is some way down in France JN06ht square. Half an hour later he was 6dB stronger

UPDATE 2145z:  F5WK (436km) has been spotted here 21 times already this evening on 472kHz WSPR. His signal has averaged about -21dB S/N so far, peaking at -17dB S/N. He is located in the Pairs area and claims to use 500mW ERP.

Driving again

For the last few days I have been allowed to drive the car again. It had been 13 months without driving because of my brain bleed. Several (safe) journeys later I am, at last, starting to think again about doing some field experiments. Local driving/sitting in the car is fine, but doing any physical activity tires me totally and I still feel very wobbly when on my feet.  Doing the simplest of VLF or light beam field test is likely to exhaust me. Field work will be on the agenda soon, but I may need my wife to help set things up "in the field".

Predictable 10m WSPR

10m WSPR has been predictable again today with my first spot by a USA station W3CXW (5886km) at 1158z and several times since.  CX2ABP (11127km) has been spotted here 9 times this afternoon already by 1414z. Conditions to North and South America are good on 10m today.

80m WSPR overnight

Unfortunately my Windows 7 PC decided to try an update at around 0300z so the PC (and WSPR software) closed down about then and never restarted until I helped it at breakfast time!  All 80m WSPR results are before the (premature) close down or just after breakfast.

80m WSPR TX  unique spots overnight

Best spot of my signal was from OH8HTG (2002km) a couple of times. Even my "useless" 80m antenna can get spots across Europe it seems.

Sunspots

The sunspot count is almost unchanged at 66 and 20-30MHz propagation is expected to be "normal". Another decent 10m day is in prospect.

Now trying 80m WSPR since 1812z

After the successes on 160m WSPR last night, this evening I am having a go with the "strapped feeders" antenna on 80m WSPR. The first 2W (from FT817) burst resulted in 5 reports across the UK, Belgium and The Netherlands. Reports are generally good. My first receive burst netted 3 stations.

UPDATE 1900z:  A decent selection of Western Europeans spotting me and being spotted.

80m unique WSPR spots this early evening

UPDATE 2135z:  Best DX on 80m WSPR so far this evening is OH8GKP (1994km).

10m WSPR - busy today

10m WSPR is "humming" today with lots of stateside stations, Europeans and CX2ABP (11127km) coming through here or spotting my 2W. I have just downloaded beta release WSPR V4.0 r4171 which seems stable, but lacks the scrolling waterfall.

10m WSPR today

160m WSPR overnight

WSPR really is a very good mode. Overnight I left my 160m WSPR running, just using the strapped feeder to my V2000 and Par end-fed antenna tuned with an ATU against mains ground.

Even this most rubbish antenna seems to get me spots over 1000km on 160m WSPR when running 2W from the FT817. Although I claim 1W ERP, I suspect the real ERP is in the milliwatt region. Best DX spot was by SM7WZI (1007km) who copied me several times after midnight.  Tonight, I may try 80m for a change.

160m unique spots of my QRP last night

On 160m WSPR receive the best DX was OZ7IT at 853km:

160m unique WSPR spots on RX here

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

5mW ERP 472kHz - crossed + coloured squares shows where spotted

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.

Sunspots

Sunspot count has increased to 41 and 20-30MHz propagation is "normal". Today should be a good day on 10m.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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/  .

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 .

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!

10m WSPR recent spots here.