USA WSPR spots on 10m today

The last spot from the USA of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was WG2Z (5600km) at 1836z. There was an isolated spot by EA6ZL (1485km) at 1944z. This may have been Es.  The first USA spot today was also WG2Z (5600km) at 1220z.

UPDATE 2012z:   I am still active on 10m and MF.

UPDATE 2105z:  On 10m just being spotted by local G4IKZ (18km) since 1944z. I am still active on 10m and MF. 

Another blog to follow - NOT amateur radio

Today we went out to Eye and Thornham Parva in east Suffolk.  We ate at Beard's Deli Cafe in Eye. We have a blog to record our East Anglian Church visits. Although mainly for our own records (otherwise we'll forget!) it is a public blog, so you are invited to join my wife and I "virtually" and add comments if you wish.  We hope to visit several churches each week.

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/  .

Some of the loveliest and oldest churches in the world are in our part of England (Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire). Even if you have no religious interest they are of historic interest. I find it amazing that so many were built so long ago when the population was 2-3 million only in the whole country. These churches were very important in medieval times.

More useful modules

Yet again, I am indebted to Steve G1KQH for the following:

Low cost AM modules yesterday, now the Dorji today.. Its just never ending what next comes along, I can’t keep up any longer going to have a funny turn! 

https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/make-your-own-transceiver-with-a-dorji-dra818u-or-dra818v/#comment-10498

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Sunspot number and 10m propagation - Feb 4th 2015

Sunspot number today is 112 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". No great 10m DX this morning (Europeans and near Asia only) but the band did again open to the USA after lunch.

472kHz WSPR

No new stations spotting me or being spotted, today.  My best report was from G3WCB (101km) and my best DX on RX is again DK7FC (669km).  I am still using the earth-electrodes and 5mW ERP.

2m UKAC tonight

If I have my dates right, tonight is the February 2m leg of the RSGB's UK Activity Contest.  My 3 el beam is still not rotatable - it is fixed aiming SW, so I may use this and my halo instead for about 1 hour. The feeder to the halo is only RG58 so the loss is much greater than when on the beam which has fairly low loss coax.

Stations worked with  less than 5W to a halo on 2m

UPDATE 2135z:  I stayed on 2m for 1 hour before I had to stop because of my poor voice. 5 stations were worked with best DX  G3MEH (84km). I used just the halo antenna with the high cable loss. Best DX heard was in IN99 and JO33 squares. As I was running real QRP and a halo for an hour only,  it was not a bad effort. I wonder if I should replace the halo and feeder with a better cable and better omni antenna such as a big wheel? Gain would be a little down on the small beam, but better than the halo. Many stations are worked in contests off the main beam.  Only one station worked this evening was /P. Several more stations would have been workable such as G2XV and G4CLA.

10m USA WSPR spots

WG2Z (5600km) spotted me first today at 1250z. There are lots of USA stations spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon this afternoon.

UPDATE 1812z:   For now, it looks like K9AN (6505km) was the last USA spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. As this was over an hour ago I suspect this was the last, but I'll have to wait another hour or so to be sure.

UPDATE 1900z:  K9AN (6505km) was the last station in the USA to spot me today at 1704z.

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number has dropped to 117 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair".  I restarted WSPR on 630m and 10m a few minutes ago but only local G4IKZ spotting me on 10m so far.

70cm AM test with low cost modules

This evening I listened for G6ALB on 70cm. Andrew is 3km from me. We both have V2000 vertical co-linear antennas. He was using a very low cost SAW locked TX module, which produced as much FM as AM when modulated with an electret mic. The biggest problem was Andrew's low power and low level of modulation.  He needs more mic gain, more TX power (10dB more?) and some pre-emphasis on the audio. TX power today was very low milliwatts. From 433.925MHz up to at least 433.990MHz a lot of squeaks and whistles could be heard, presumably from more local ISM devices. I was receiving G6ALB using an FT817 at about RS41 on FM and weaker on AM. This very initial test produced results that were expected. To use a super-regen module on RX (the intention is a very simple AM voice transceiver) will require G6ALB to be considerably stronger than on these first tests.

10m USA spots

10m has been open across the Atlantic since lunchtime. First USA station to copy my 500mW WSPR today was K4RCG (5995km) at 1316z.

FR4OZ (9733km) on Reunion Is was copying me a couple of times around lunch on 10m WSPR, as was ET/G8DYK (5931km). 10m certainly seems in pretty decent shape. In addition to other N.American stations, lots of Europeans have been spotting me today.   It certainly feels like 500mW on WSPR to a very modest antenna is like 100W plus on SSB!

UPDATE 2000z:  I am sorry for the SPAM comment, which has now been removed.  Similar SPAM posts will be removed, without exception, as soon as spotted.

UPDATE 2140z:  Now QRT on all bands. The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today was AB4QS (7087km) at 1736z.

10m to South America

YV5ESN (7294km) has been copying my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon a couple of times since lunch. This is the first time I've been seen in Venezuela I believe on this mode.

Sunspots and 10m - Feb 2nd 2015

Sunspot number today is 132 and 10m propagation expected to be "fair". So far today, conditions on 10m have seemed pretty reasonable.

Going QRT on 6m and 10m WSPR

After a totally useless afternoon and evening on 6m WSPR, I am going QRT. I am going QRT on 10m  as well. Plenty of activity on 10m, but 6m was yet again a total dead loss.

10m USA spots of my 500mW WSPR beacon

I  am being spotted by lots of USA stations on 10m today. Th first was K4RCG (5995km) at 1316z. Today looks like a typically good day on 10m WSPR at this time in the solar cycle. As I have said before, in a few years time we'll look back on these days with envy, hardly believing them possible! At the time of writing this (1452z) the 10m band is "humming" nicely with plentiful USA stations spotting me.

UPDATE 1815z:  The last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was WB1FIG (5304km) at 1734z. This was probably the last spot by a USA station on 10m today. Official sunset in Cambridge today was at 1646z. The days are lengthening again by more than 3minutes a day.

Australia again on 10m WSPR with 500mW

VK6XT (14719km) was spotting my 10m QRP WPR beacon this morning at 1138z. As well as this report, there were quite a few new reporters active this morning from Asia and Europe. Conditions do seem good on 10m. ET/G8DYK (5931km) is again spotting me on 10m WSPR in Africa.

I am slightly tempted to try 6m again in the hope of getting some winter Es-F2 or TEP. Probably will be a waste of time?

At the present time I am also RX and TX on 630m using the earth-electrodes, but only spotting, and being spotted, by the same old stations!

Sunspots Feb 1st 2015 and 10m

Sunspot number today is a respectable 153 and 10m propagation is expected to be "good".

Another G1KQH bargain

This came in from Steve, G1KQH, today. It is often cheaper to buy the completed, built modules from China than to buy the parts in the UK! What is the world coming to?

I bought 5 LM317s on PCB with heatsinks for a fiver:

 

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-LM317-Adjustable-Voltage-Regulator-Step-down-Power-Supply-Buck-Module-Board-/221577652687?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item33970ea9cf

 

Why bother building it any longer, that used to be half the fun! The heatsinks would of cost a Quid each over here, never mind the LM317 and the PCB with connectors..

 

Happy days 

 

73 Steve G1KQH

http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Not amateur radio - new blog

Today I started a new blog to keep a record of our visits to churches in East Anglia. We hope to visit quite a few through the year.Although the new blog is public it is primarily a record for our own use, so any inappropriate comments will be removed.

At one time we planned a full website on this subject when we retired but a blog seems more appropriate

See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .

10m USA WSPR spots

The first spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was by KC1AWS (5308km) at 1250z.

UPDATE 2225z:   The last USA spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was KC1AWS at 1836z. I went QRT on 10m WSPR a little later, so it is just possible there might have been others later, but unlikely.

Sunspots and 10m - Jan 31st 2015

Sunspot number today was 193 (high) and 10m propagation was forecast to be "good".

How do they make a profit?

On eBay I have just seen a complete LM386 amplifier kit on a PCB for $2 with free shipping.  G1KQH has spotted Pixie transceiver kits for £5 with free shipping.  How do they make any money?

472kHz - same stations again?

I am beginning to get tired of 472kHz WSPR as the same stations are being spotted and are spotting me. It is some time since new stations have been spotted or have been spotting me.

Starting tomorrow, I think I may try a totally new band for me on WSPR. Unsure which band to try as yet. I'll stay on 472kHz overnight in case some new stations appear.

On 10m WSPR it is a similar story, although I find watching the changing conditions of interest and the DX is real DX.  The little WSPR-AXE-CW WSPR 10m beacon is also so tiny. I find it amazing that something so small and just 500mW can be heard all over the world.

10m USA WSPR spots

The first USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon today was KC1AWS (5308km) at 1404z. At least the band was open to the USA.

Recent 10m WSPR spots of my 500mW beacon

In a few years the best chance of copying the USA, or the USA copying me on 10m, will be on the rarer summer days with transatlantic Es.  F2 across the Atlantic will become very rare sadly, although WSPR should help to "winkle" out such openings as long as up to 2 minutes in length. The danger is people will desert the band as conditions dive. We've already seen this happen on 6m, which is a pity.

UPDATE 2024z:  The last spot of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon was K9AN (6505km) at 1746z.  Now going QRT on 10m. Went QRT on 10m at 2034z. Still active TX and RX on 630m (472kHz) WSPR.

ET/G8DYK on 10m WSPR

I have just seen that ET/G8DYK (5931km) was spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon this morning a few times. This my best DX so far today on the 10m band.

Low cost kits

See http://www.aliexpress.com/store/331885 .   This website has some very low cost rigs for sale. An example is a 40m Pixie at around $10 post free. You'd be hard pressed to buy the individual parts for less!

UPDATE 1430z:   I have just ordered a 40m Pixie kit from them.  Should be here in 2 to 3 weeks time. I hope I can manage to build it with my clumsy soldering currently.

UPDATE 2000z: G1KQH has found the same Pixie at an even better price:

Greetings Roger

 

I could of saved you a fiver out of your pension but you had to rush in:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DIY-KITS-PIXIE-HAM-RADIO-HF-40M-CW-QRP-TRANSCEIVER-7-023-7-026MHz-/121521131018?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4b394e0a

 

73 Steve
http://www.g1kqh.talktalk.net/

Sunspots and 10m

Sunspot number today has climbed to 181.  10m is forecast to be "good".

UPDATE 1125z:  So far this morning my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has been copied by UR/SWL56 (2283km), 4X1RF (3519km) and local G4IKZ (18km). The usual reporters! I expect the 10m band will open to the USA after lunch.

UPDATE 1447z:   The 10m band opened to the USA for me here after 1404z.

472kHz WSPR

I have been using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna" all day.  Best spots of me today have been from stations that have copied me before such as G3WCB (101km) and G8HUH (250km). It will soon be time to change antennas.

10m USA WSPR spots today

KE6BID (5295km) was the first USA station to spot my 500mW WSPR beacon today at 1300z. As I write this at 1624z, there are plenty of USA stations spotting me still. UPDATE 1920z:   It looks like W9ZOC (6259km) was the last USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 1818z. It is over an hour since the last USA 10m spot so it is unlikely that there will be others now.

Fredbox derivatives

Since my original Fredbox 2m AM design, a number of derivatives have been designed and built around the world. This is what our hobby is all about. Although the original Fredbox worked well and its results surprised me, it was always ripe for further developments, which is healthy. My Sixbox was a 6m version and at some point, when fitter, I'd like to make a simple 10m AM version for local natters.

See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/vuhf/fredbox for the original Fredbox. Click on the schematic to enlarge. Other derivative ideas are on my website www.g3xbm.co.uk.   By the way, it got its name from Fred G8BWI who was a disabled local in the Cambridge area back in the 1970s. Fred was a regular contact and he could talk for hours and hours and hours and hours zzzzzzzzzzz. RIP Fred.

Stroke update

Last year I was expecting to be fully back to my old self well before now. As it is, I am still some way from that position.

Overall, I think I am still improving, but the big leaps I was expecting don't seem to be happening. Perhaps I should be satisfied with slow, small, moderate steps?  

I still feel as if I am living in a bit of a dream world, I still feel drunk when walking (feel giddy), still tire easily, and drinking thin liquids is still not easy.

Overall, I am getting slowly better, but perhaps I should expect to be left with a level of disability and will be pleasantly surprised when I get fully fit again. Perhaps my expectations were unrealistic? Whatever, I am not giving up: I want my "old self" back again this year.

At the moment I still feel unable to do field work, climb ladders (for antenna work)  or use a soldering iron. With time, this will improve.

Sunspots up again

Sunspot number today has risen yet again. It is 140 today. 10m is expected to be "good".

4X1RF (3519km) was copying my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 0924z. I remain hopeful of greater DX this morning. 10m should certainly open to North America after lunch. This happens on most days.

433MHz AM modules - G6ALB progress

G6ALB has reported some progress in his tests using 433MHz AM modules, although it looks like an external linear audio transistor stage may be necessary to get best AM (voice) sensitivity from the super-regen detector. On TX he is getting 10dBm from the TX module at 5V (more with higher supply voltages) although the mod seems to be a mix of AM and FM. Our first "DX" test will probably be from G6ALB to me using the voice modulated TX module. I'll receive Andrew on my FT817ND initially. When the super-regen RX is sensitive with speech I'll try to receive him with that. Super-regens should be sensitive on AM, but are usually poor NBFM detectors.  We are about 3km apart and both have V2000 verticals externally mounted. At 70cms these have gain.

Andrew has ordered 5  pairs of 433MHz AM modules (TX as well as RX) for not much more than £2 total from China. This makes each TX/RX pair very inexpensive. It amazes me that they can make these so inexpensively. I hope G6ALB succeeds in this venture. It would be good to be able to communicate with him using a really low cost 70cm transceiver. I expect Andrew will write up his results in an article for a UK magazine later.

It seems entirely possible that a complete 70cm AM transceiver can be made for just a few pounds based on these low cost 433MHz AM modules.

10m USA WSPR spots

The first USA spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR was K9AN (6505km) at 1352z. The last USA spot was W3CSW (5886km) at 1804z. It is still possible later USA spots may happen, but it is now over an hour, so unlikely.

UPDATE 2056z:   Only local spots since W3CSW at 1804z on 10m WSPR.  Now going QRT on 10m WSPR.

29MHz AM

The 29-29.1MHz sub-band continues to be the best place to find HF AM. This is the HF band with most space, although there are AM enthusiasts on 160m and other bands. When these bands are not busy AM has its place.

When 10m goes "off the boil" 29MHz AM will be ideal for local nets with very simple gear. Ranges are fine for local nets. Also there is a ready supply of ex-CB kit around, although making a wholly homebrew QRP rig for 29MHz AM is a nice group project. There are some ideas for starters on my main website.

As an example of how effective 10m AM can be see http://www.macnaughtonart.com/10metlog-ss24.htm .

Sunspots and 10m - Jan 28th 2015

Sunspot number continues to climb and is 119 at present. For the first time in some while, 10m propagation is forecast to be "good". LZ1OI (2153km) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 10 times this morning already. As I write this it is 1046z.

Today could be a good 10m day.

UPDATE 2215z:   Now QRT on 10m WSPR  Although the band did open to the USA after lunch, it was a rather disappointing day on 10m WSPR for me.

50MHz UKAC session this evening

Tuesday nights are the nights for the RSGB's UKAC sessions. Tonight it is the 50MHz (6m) leg. As I only have a vertical omni-directional antenna (a V2000) it is very unlikely I'll work very much.  Add to that my poor voice and it is not a great recipe for too much success! I'll give it a brief try. The contest starts at 2000z and officially ends at 2230z. If I last 1 hour I shall be doing well.

UPDATE 2135z:   3 QSOs managed before I had to go QRT because of my poor voice - all locals. Best DX heard was G3MEH (IO91QS). Of course my antenna was the wrong polarisation.

6m QRP rigs

In many ways, 6m (50MHz) is an ideal band for experiments. Short RF leads are always good, but 6m is a forgiving band and you can get away with HF constructional techniques. It is 2MHz wide here in the UK and this means all speech modes can be fitted and used. The page below shows a number of links to 50MHz projects.

See http://www.pg1n.nl/articles.php?lng=en&pg=145 .

See also my Sixbox 6m AM transceiver .

10m WSPR - USA spots today

Although the band did not open to the USA until very late (1454z), plenty of different USA stations have been copying my 500mW WSPR beacon all afternoon. This is much better than yesterday.

The first spot of me was KZ8C (6290km). At the moment (it is 1805z) I am still being spotted by several stations in the USA.

UPDATE 1945z: The last USA spot of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was by K9AN (6505km) at 1902z.

Sunspots and 10m

After a miserable 10m day yesterday sunspot number today is 110 but 10m propagation is still only forecast to be "fair".

472kHz WSPR

This last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 15 unique stations on 472kHz WSPR. I am still using 5mW ERP and the earth-electrode "antenna". Several stations who have not been on WSPR so often have reappeared today.

472kHz unique reports of my 5mW ERP to earth-electrodes in last 2 weeks