472kHz WSPR tonight

I have been on 472kHz this evening with 5mW ERP from the "strapped feeders" antenna. So far, no new reporters or new stations spotted but some good DX received nonetheless. Best DX so far is LA4ANA (1042km). Maybe overnight the DX will be even greater?

Stations spotted on 472kHz WSPR this evening so far.

TI3/AB4AW - 10m WSPR

This station TI3/AB4AW (8752km) in Costa Rica, Central America  was spotted on 10m WSPR several times this afternoon running 5W.   It remains to be seen if he copies my 500mW too.

10m WSPR - power dropped

In the last 30 minutes I have dropped my power on 10m WSPR to 500mW. I am still being spotted in the USA. At 2W it was far too easy.

10m is in excellent shape yet again

Yet again, 10m is excellent with plenty of DX about. Lots of USA stations being spotted and spotting me. Also spotting and being spotted on Reunion Is and in South America. Another good F2 day on the band with plenty of Europeans too.

Busy on 10m WSPR this afternoon

Sunspots today

The sunspot count today is 120 (very good, but with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation "excellent". 10m is certainly in good shape yet again.

472kHz ERPs

Something seems wrong to me in that the difference between reports I give and I get on 472kHz WSPR suggests either my ERP is higher than I think or the ERPs stated by some others is lower than they think.  I am pretty sure my ERP is about right give or take a few dB "experimental error".  I am able to measure antenna current, I know the actual antenna height and can calculate the effective height. If anything, I believe my ERP is over-stated as my losses are pretty high.  I suppose my reports of others may be a few dB down because of the poor-ish sensitivity of my FT817 at 472-479kHz?

UPDATE 1740z:  I have been on 472kHz WSPR for just over 1 hour now. Just the usual early evening reporters with some very decent reports from G3WCB (101km) and G8LCO (58km) amongst others.   As always, PA3ABK/2 (306km) is putting in a big signal again this evening from across the North Sea. 

UPDATE 1752z:  Just been spotted in Wales by GW0EZY (251km) at -25dB S/N.

Genesis Q5 1W QRP kit from Australia

http://genesisradio.com.au/Q5/q5_1.jpg

A trawl of the internet earlier found this kit, a 1W QRP transmitter for any band from 3.5MHz to 14MHz. It is available for S19.95 (US Dollars) + S9 (US Dollars) shipped anywhere worldwide. That seems pretty good value. Also on the website are SDR transceivers.

I last showed this particular kit on my blog 5 years ago.

See http://www.genesisradio.com.au/Q5/ for more details including how to order the various kits. Details on the page include parts lists, schematics and building details.

The are some pretty good SDR transceivers on this site.

Day off amateur radio operating

As I had my U3AC course on Human Evolution in Cambridge , I have decided not to be active on amateur radio today.  I may go on 472kHz WSPR this evening. 10m WSPR, even at 500mW, is becoming quite easy of late with good DX to be had with no real effort.  Even on 472kHz my genuine 5mW ERP has spanned over 1000km already.

I am beginning to feel like I need a whole new challenge,  but I just wish I felt better inside: my remaining stroke systems are getting me down.

Tuesday Sunspots

Sunspot count has climbed further to 93 (with blackouts) and 20-30MHz propagation is forecast to be "normal".  We should expect some decent F2 propagation on 10m today. Already, well before noon, Europeans were being spotted in the USA. FR4OZ was being spotted in GM before 0900z by F2.

10m 500mW success

Running 500mW to my end-fed PAR tri-band antenna, I have so far been spotted by 4 stations on 10m WSPR. Best DX is UA3ARC (2436km) and 4X1RF (3529km). The band has not yet opened to the USA yet at the time of writing. Yet again I am spotting Karen RA3APW's 100mW Moscow WSPR beacon strongly (-14dB S/N) at 2443km.

UPDATE 1345z:  USA stations are now spotting my 500mW and also being spotted by PY3FF (10440km) at a decent -19dB S/N.  500mW seems quite enough to be noticed around the world on 10m WSPR even with my less than ideal antenna.

UPDATE 1610z:  Dropping power to 500mW really seems to have made very little difference to the stations spotting me. I may be less strong, but that is all. Apart from quite a few stateside spots (best DX in that direction is KD6RF (7547km), my best DX spot is from PY3FF at 1250z.

UPDATE 1630z:  These are the unique stations reporting my 500mW so far today on 10m WSPR. Quite a decent selection.

10m WSPR unique reports today with 500mW TX

HF conditions and sunspots

Although the sunspot count is up to 86 (with blackouts), the 20-30MHz propagation forecast is only "fair".  Conditions on 10m are therefore hard to predict. With such a high sunspot count I would hope we'd see some decent F2 openings, but 10m is a fickle band and it can be hard to tell. As yet, I have not started up on 10m.

UPDATE 1012z:   Both PY3FF (10440km) and CX2ABP (11127km), plus several Europeans, coming through on 10m WSPR already.  Conditions on 10m are good!  So much for 10m propagation being just "fair".  Today I am running 500mW on 10m WSPR. So far just locals spotting me.

UPDATE 1036z:  No more South Americans seen since the earlier spots.

Over 1000km on 5mW ERP on 472kHz!

Last night, for the first time, my 5mW ERP WSPR signal broke the 1000km barrier with 2 spots of my signal from Norway by LA4ANA (1042km). He was spotted here 9 times too. Conditions must have been good. I need to recheck how many stations have received my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR as I was also copied by GW0EZY (251km) at 2252z last night. Several (nearer) stations should be able to copy me too, but they need to be active!

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.