23 Mar 2015
Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 23rd 2015
Sunspot number has risen to 88 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair" today. The band did open to the USA after lunch with a couple of stations in the USA spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon. W1VR (6965km) at 1446z was the first. With just a couple of stations spotting me this hardly a big opening!
22 Mar 2015
China v. Japan
Up to now, the Japanese "big boys" such as Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu have pretty well dominated the amateur radio market, but the Chinese are on the march. Only last month I bought a 30W pep all mode rig for 10m: this was made in China. See also yesterday's post about 40m Pixie kits at ridiculously low prices.
Be in no doubt: within a few years we will see the amateur radio market flooded with quality products made in China with low prices. At this point, the traditional Japanese brands will die out or be made in China. By the next solar minimum in around 4-5 years time the dynamics of the commercial amateur radio market will be very different. The writing is already on the wall.
Up to now most Chinese amateur products have lacked the finesse of Japanese products but this is rapidly changing. We are fast approaching the time when Chinese made amateur products will be every bit as good as Japanese products, but at very much lower prices.
In the end competition is healthy but this is likely to result in the death nell for all manufacturers not in China. We could well see the death of Ten Tec and Elecraft unless they design in the USA and make in China. The volumes of loyal customers who would be willing to pay USA manufacturing prices would be far too low, sadly.
Of course, we have already seen this with most consumer products and white goods. In the end, China will become too expensive and we will look for slave labour rates elsewhere. Sadly we live in a very odd world. This cannot go on for ever, but we are all complicit. At the moment we are exporting most of our manufacture to China.
Life was, in a way, so much easier when things were made to last, they were made in the UK, we saved up to buy things we really needed, when things were altogether less consumption driven.
Be in no doubt: within a few years we will see the amateur radio market flooded with quality products made in China with low prices. At this point, the traditional Japanese brands will die out or be made in China. By the next solar minimum in around 4-5 years time the dynamics of the commercial amateur radio market will be very different. The writing is already on the wall.
Up to now most Chinese amateur products have lacked the finesse of Japanese products but this is rapidly changing. We are fast approaching the time when Chinese made amateur products will be every bit as good as Japanese products, but at very much lower prices.
In the end competition is healthy but this is likely to result in the death nell for all manufacturers not in China. We could well see the death of Ten Tec and Elecraft unless they design in the USA and make in China. The volumes of loyal customers who would be willing to pay USA manufacturing prices would be far too low, sadly.
Of course, we have already seen this with most consumer products and white goods. In the end, China will become too expensive and we will look for slave labour rates elsewhere. Sadly we live in a very odd world. This cannot go on for ever, but we are all complicit. At the moment we are exporting most of our manufacture to China.
Life was, in a way, so much easier when things were made to last, they were made in the UK, we saved up to buy things we really needed, when things were altogether less consumption driven.
10m WSPR - no USA again today?
It looks like a today will be another day with absolutely no 10m WSPR spots from the USA. As previously when the 10m propagation was "poor" I still seem to be copied (using my 500mW WSPR beacon) by active stations who are a single F2 hop away. It seems the E-W path to the USA suffers when propagation is poor.
UPDATE 1944z: No USA spots all day. Will go QRT on 10m WSPR soon.
UPDATE 1944z: No USA spots all day. Will go QRT on 10m WSPR soon.
Grandchildren and ducks - NOT amateur radio
Sunspots and 10m - Sunday March 22nd 2015
Sunspot number is 40 today but all HF looks disturbed. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor".
So far this morning, my 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by RK3ABW, LZ1OI, EA8/LA3JJ and G4IKZ. Apart from the local, these all look like single hop F2 propagation. No reports from 4X1RF.
So far this morning, my 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by RK3ABW, LZ1OI, EA8/LA3JJ and G4IKZ. Apart from the local, these all look like single hop F2 propagation. No reports from 4X1RF.
21 Mar 2015
40m Pixie kit at INCREDIBLE price
I bought my 40m Pixie kit for $10 and thought this was a bargain. Then Andy Cutland sent me this link.
At £3.19 with free shipping there is no way you could make this cheaper in my view. Remember this price includes a crystal, PCB and all the board mounted parts. This looks identical to mine which works very well. This is a refined Pixie and performance has exceeded expectations. Netting is excellent TX to RX and AM breakthrough very modest. My power out is about 400mW and a 1uV signal level very good on RX. A totally usable 40m CW rig for not much more than a cup of coffee.
Even with the after-effects of my cerebellum brain bleed I was able to build the kit without any issues.
Hi Roger, this is the cheapest i've seen yet. What fantastic value !Check out this item I found on eBay:End time: 15 Apr 2015 10:33:10(Sent from eBay Mobile for Android)
Even with the after-effects of my cerebellum brain bleed I was able to build the kit without any issues.
Legal local AM broadcasting in the USA
On http://www.amateurradio.com/ there is a link today to the SSTRAN ANT3000 MW AM transmitter kit. This is legal in the USA for broadcasts around the home or with an FCC Part 15 compliant base loaded vertical for greater ranges.
Very many years ago my very first ever TX was an AM transmitter for MW using a crystal earpiece a microphone. This was one of the circuits in my Heathkit Electronics Workshop which I got for Christmas 1961. It only got around the house. Another circuit was a MW receiver and I recall DXing with it that same holiday.
This kicked off my interest in radio and amateur radio that has remained with me ever since. I am not sure this TX was strictly legal in the UK. Years later I have reached the other side of the planet with less power!
Very many years ago my very first ever TX was an AM transmitter for MW using a crystal earpiece a microphone. This was one of the circuits in my Heathkit Electronics Workshop which I got for Christmas 1961. It only got around the house. Another circuit was a MW receiver and I recall DXing with it that same holiday.
This kicked off my interest in radio and amateur radio that has remained with me ever since. I am not sure this TX was strictly legal in the UK. Years later I have reached the other side of the planet with less power!
N-S DX on 10m, but again no USA
Despite the lowish sunspot number and a forecast of "poor" 10m conditions I see that FR1GZ (9724km) spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon late lunchtime. 4X1RF (3519km), EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) and G4IKZ (18km) have all been spotting me but, yet again, absolutely no spots from the USA yet again.
It seems we are moving more towards spring/summer conditions with N-S paths still holding up but far less frequent E-W openings on 10m.
It seems we are moving more towards spring/summer conditions with N-S paths still holding up but far less frequent E-W openings on 10m.
Sunspots and 10m propagation - March 21st 2015
Sunspot number has fallen to 27 and 10m propagation is expected to remain "poor". Best 10m DX with the 500mW WSPR beacon this morning is 4X1RF (3519km) but no other DX at all as yet.
20 Mar 2015
FT817 replacement?
I have mentioned this before, but I am truly amazed that Yaesu has not updated the FT817. OK, I have heard the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" argument but on simple commercial arguments I think they must be stupid. There is a worldwide market (500000?) ready to upgrade yet I think they have now missed the window of opportunity as sunspot numbers are falling.
I wonder if any sharp eyed, sharp eared readers have heard any rumours of an imminent replacement?
I wonder if any sharp eyed, sharp eared readers have heard any rumours of an imminent replacement?
Alibaba
Some weeks ago I bought a small 40m Pixie CW transceiver kit via www.alibaba.com for $10. This arrived by air very quickly and I was very impressed with the kit and the excellent service. Apparently you can buy these even cheaper on eBay. I built mine in a few hours and it works well.
A quick search in Alibaba for other amateur radio products shows a wide range of units are available. Of course, I have no idea if VAT or duty is included. My little 40m Pixie kit just dropped in my mailbox and cost me just over £7 total including shipping. Buying the individual parts would probably have cost me more!
See http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=amateur+radio .
A quick search in Alibaba for other amateur radio products shows a wide range of units are available. Of course, I have no idea if VAT or duty is included. My little 40m Pixie kit just dropped in my mailbox and cost me just over £7 total including shipping. Buying the individual parts would probably have cost me more!
See http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=amateur+radio .
10m WSPR - no USA again, well not so far today
EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) and 4X1RF (3519km) and a few Europeans, but no stateside stations today yet on 10m WSPR spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon. With 10m conditions expected tp be "poor", it would not surprise me if the band does not open to the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1528z: Still no sign at all of any spots from stations in the USA. 4X1RF has been spotting me several times.
UPDATE 1825z: No spots from the USA again today. I'll leave the beacon on for a few more hours just in case the band opens, but I fear this is just another bad day on 10m.
UPDATE 2057z: With just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me now for ages, it is time to go QRT for today on 10m WSPR. Now QRT on 10m. PC clock reset to internet time on 630m (472kHz): after almost 12 hours it is probably in need of being reset. On 10m the WSPR-AXE-CW beacon from W5OLF seems to need resetting far less often, although I reset this each morning to internet time to be sure. I think it would be accurate enough for weeks without doing this.
UPDATE 2120z: Looking at WSPRnet, I see many USA WSPR stations being spotted in Australia and New Zealand at around 13000-15000km. Maybe we'll see better conditions tomorrow on 10m?
UPDATE 1528z: Still no sign at all of any spots from stations in the USA. 4X1RF has been spotting me several times.
UPDATE 1825z: No spots from the USA again today. I'll leave the beacon on for a few more hours just in case the band opens, but I fear this is just another bad day on 10m.
UPDATE 2057z: With just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me now for ages, it is time to go QRT for today on 10m WSPR. Now QRT on 10m. PC clock reset to internet time on 630m (472kHz): after almost 12 hours it is probably in need of being reset. On 10m the WSPR-AXE-CW beacon from W5OLF seems to need resetting far less often, although I reset this each morning to internet time to be sure. I think it would be accurate enough for weeks without doing this.
UPDATE 2120z: Looking at WSPRnet, I see many USA WSPR stations being spotted in Australia and New Zealand at around 13000-15000km. Maybe we'll see better conditions tomorrow on 10m?
Will hydrogen be the future fuel?
No-one can really argue that carbon based fuels like petrol, diesel and gas are not good for the environment and a good proportion come from politically sensitive regions like the Middle East. Electric vehicles use expensive batteries and have poor ranges. Possibly efficient hydrogen fuel cells may be the future? Korean car manufacturers think they have now reached the point at which hydrogen fuel celled powered cars are commercially viable. Of course we need the infrastructure such as refueling stations. They claim ranges of 300-400 miles, which are fine. They claim refueling will only take a few minutes.
I remember fuel-cell makers trying to convince me that fuel cells were better than Li-Ion batteries for our TETRA radios. At the time it was hype. Things have moved on quite a lot since then. Of course, the oil industry needs to evolve. They should be heavily investing in technologies for the future.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31926995 .
I remember fuel-cell makers trying to convince me that fuel cells were better than Li-Ion batteries for our TETRA radios. At the time it was hype. Things have moved on quite a lot since then. Of course, the oil industry needs to evolve. They should be heavily investing in technologies for the future.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31926995 .
472kHz WSPR
In the last 2 weeks I have been spotted by 27 unique stations on this band. G3YXM (148km) is, I think, a new reporter earlier today. I shall leave 472kHz running, but don't expect any real DX until this evening. Still, it was good to get a report from G3YXM. I think my 5mW ERP from the earth-electrodes is a good test for stations listening on the band. Generally, if you can copy me at any decent distance, it proves your receive system is probably good enough. I know my RX system is capable of further improvement. On RX my FT817 is a bit deaf on 472kHz and I really should add a decent, high dynamic range preamp. Another 3-4dB sensitivity is possible I think.
Solar eclipse non-event here
As there was quite thick cloud here, the partial solar eclipse was a bit of a non-event here, although it was better elsewhere in the UK. I did a walk at the best time. Although the clouds were dark and it looked like it was about to rain, the sun was not visible here sadly. This was a partial eclipse but at 95-98% in the UK still pretty full. I remember the full eclipse in 1999 as we were on holiday in Gloucestershire and got good views. The next chance is in 2026.
I have no idea of the impact of this on propagation, but I imagine the effect is marginal.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31965456 .
I have no idea of the impact of this on propagation, but I imagine the effect is marginal.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31965456 .
Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 20th 2015
Sunspot number has gone up to 71 today, but 10m conditions are still expected to remain "poor".
My 10m beacon is still stabilising: it takes about 20 minutes for the PA to warm up and the box to reach equilibrium and only local G4IKZ (18km) is spotting me currently. I re-synced both the 10m beacon and the 472kHz kit to internet time shortly after breakfast.
UPDATE 1116z: G4IKZ (18km) has been the only station spotting me so far today.
My 10m beacon is still stabilising: it takes about 20 minutes for the PA to warm up and the box to reach equilibrium and only local G4IKZ (18km) is spotting me currently. I re-synced both the 10m beacon and the 472kHz kit to internet time shortly after breakfast.
UPDATE 1116z: G4IKZ (18km) has been the only station spotting me so far today.
19 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR this evening
G8LCO tipped me off that my PC clock looked out of sync with internet time, so I reset it. It was last synced before 0700z and it had clearly drifted. I have just done another sync and will check again at bedtime before leaving things running overnight.
Best DX reception of my 5mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR this evening is a spot by F1AFJ (607km) at 2014z. I have been received much further (over 1000km) but not this evening so far.
Best DX reception of my 5mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna" on 472kHz WSPR this evening is a spot by F1AFJ (607km) at 2014z. I have been received much further (over 1000km) but not this evening so far.
Cameroon and Canaries - but no USA on 10m today
EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) and TJ3TS (5478km) have both been spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, the former many times, but, no USA spots so far again today. TJ3TS is Cameroon (Africa). The band is obviously quite reasonable for N-S paths, but E-W paths don't seem to be as good. Maybe it will open to the USA later?
As the solar conditions decline on the higher HF bands, this sort of pattern will become more common on 10m. Of course, well into Africa and the Americas is possible via Es propagation on some occasions. Best months are June/July. In June we sometimes get weak openings on 6m from western Europe to Japan. Some theories put this down to noctilucent clouds. I think we really don't know, but this is very consistent. Signals are usually weak and best times are in the mornings in Europe.
UPDATE 1718z: Still no USA stations spotting me today. I shall be on 10m for a few more hours, but I think there will be no spots from the USA today. Since 0916z EA8/LA3JJ has spotted me 115 times.
UPDATE 2040z: No USA spots at all today again on 10m WSPR, so now going QRT on that band. EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me 130 times since breakfast time.
As the solar conditions decline on the higher HF bands, this sort of pattern will become more common on 10m. Of course, well into Africa and the Americas is possible via Es propagation on some occasions. Best months are June/July. In June we sometimes get weak openings on 6m from western Europe to Japan. Some theories put this down to noctilucent clouds. I think we really don't know, but this is very consistent. Signals are usually weak and best times are in the mornings in Europe.
UPDATE 1718z: Still no USA stations spotting me today. I shall be on 10m for a few more hours, but I think there will be no spots from the USA today. Since 0916z EA8/LA3JJ has spotted me 115 times.
UPDATE 2040z: No USA spots at all today again on 10m WSPR, so now going QRT on that band. EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me 130 times since breakfast time.
472kHz WSPR
Just the "usual suspects" being spotted and spotting my 5mW ERP this morning and overnight. Best spot of me in the last 12 hours was from PA3ABK/2 (306km) before breakfast time today. I hope being active will encourage others to come on to this wonderful band.
Sunspots and 10m - Thursday March 19th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back to 44 today. 10m propagation is again expected to be "poor".
UPDATE 0833z: So far just G4IKZ (18km) and G4CUI (172km) spotting me on 10m WSPR .
UPDATE 1003z: EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me several times now.
UPDATE 0833z: So far just G4IKZ (18km) and G4CUI (172km) spotting me on 10m WSPR .
UPDATE 1003z: EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me several times now.
18 Mar 2015
Return to 472kHz WSPR
After an abortive couple of days (and overnight) on 6m WSPR I have abandoned 6m WSPR as a right off and returned to 472kHz WSPR this evening.
Within the first few minutes I have been spotted by 5 unique stations despite running only 5mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna". Certainly, 630m (472kHz) is far more productive than 6m at this time of year. No great DX, as yet, this evening, but at least there is activity!
Within the first few minutes I have been spotted by 5 unique stations despite running only 5mW ERP from my earth-electrode "antenna". Certainly, 630m (472kHz) is far more productive than 6m at this time of year. No great DX, as yet, this evening, but at least there is activity!
 |
| Initial 472kHz WSPR results this evening |
Another total blank on 6m WSPR
After another whole day on 6m WSPR not a single spot was given or received. This is the last time I try until the Es season. Really, I am wasting effort on 6m.
No 10m USA spots again today
Although several spots were received by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) and 4X1RF (3519km) on 10m WSPR today of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon, not a single spot was received again from the USA.
Conditions have been disturbed but they are also on the change. I shall continue to WSPR beacon on 10m in the weeks and months ahead.
Conditions have been disturbed but they are also on the change. I shall continue to WSPR beacon on 10m in the weeks and months ahead.
The finest church in England? - NOT amateur radio
Alec Clifton-Taylor once called Walpole St Peter the finest church in England. Today, for the 4th time, we visited it and I have updated our East Anglia Churches blog accordingly. It is a real gem.
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
Sunspots and 10m - Wed March 18th 2015
Sunspot number is 60 today but conditions remain disturbed with 10m propagation expected to remain "poor".
So far this morning on 10m WSPR, apart from local G4IKZ (18km), I see my 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by 4X1RF (3819km) at 0722z and by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) several times. It is now 1045z.
So far this morning on 10m WSPR, apart from local G4IKZ (18km), I see my 500mW WSPR beacon has been spotted by 4X1RF (3819km) at 0722z and by EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) several times. It is now 1045z.
17 Mar 2015
Auroras and WSPR?
I have never (before) now used WSPR on 10m and 6m during an auroral opening. Certainly on 2m the Doppler is likely to make it impossible, I would think. On 10m ,and maybe 6m, I think the mode might have some promise.
I have decided to leave both my 10m and 6m WSPR systems running overnight just in case.
Anyone know what happens to WSPR in a typical auroral opening?
UPDATE 2128z: Well 10m and 6m WSPR are dead currently, with just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m. No-one at all on 6m WSPR.
UPDATE 2140z: Just checked outside for signs of visible aurora but street lights and poor weather make it impossible. I saw a visible aurora once at the old QTH years ago and once out of a plane window at night when returning from the west coast of the USA near the North Pole.
I have decided to leave both my 10m and 6m WSPR systems running overnight just in case.
Anyone know what happens to WSPR in a typical auroral opening?
UPDATE 2128z: Well 10m and 6m WSPR are dead currently, with just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me on 10m. No-one at all on 6m WSPR.
UPDATE 2140z: Just checked outside for signs of visible aurora but street lights and poor weather make it impossible. I saw a visible aurora once at the old QTH years ago and once out of a plane window at night when returning from the west coast of the USA near the North Pole.
Severe solar storm
We are currently experiencing the most severe solar storm in very many years with HF very badly disturbed. There are auroras expected far further south than normal. This is a result of a CME event on the Sun interacting with the magnetic field of our planet.
If the weather is clear, check for a visual aurora!
It is also worth keeping eyes and ears alert for auroral propagation on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. I have in the past worked stations via aurora using QRP SSB and CW with very simple wire antennas on 10m and 6m. As frequency goes down SSB becomes more possible. What may be a very rough hissy CW note on 2m maybe a fairly decent SSB signal on 10m. The 10m and 6m bands are very worth a try when there is an aurora about.
See http://spaceweather.com/ .
If the weather is clear, check for a visual aurora!
It is also worth keeping eyes and ears alert for auroral propagation on 10m, 6m, 4m and 2m. I have in the past worked stations via aurora using QRP SSB and CW with very simple wire antennas on 10m and 6m. As frequency goes down SSB becomes more possible. What may be a very rough hissy CW note on 2m maybe a fairly decent SSB signal on 10m. The 10m and 6m bands are very worth a try when there is an aurora about.
See http://spaceweather.com/ .
Israeli Elections - NOT amateur radio
So exit polls suggest no clear winners, so no surprises then.
Coalition governments are a way of life in Israel and there will no
doubt be some tough bargaining in the coming weeks.
All I hope is that whatever coalition is formed that it takes the peace process very seriously. The Middle East has too many conflicts and a good, solid peace deal with Israel's neighbours is way overdue.
I am always amazed that the Israeli's seem to choose conflict and violence to settle old scores. Let peace blossom. Israel, you know it makes sense.
Yes, I know it takes at least 2 to forge peace, but frankly Israel has not even been trying for as long as I can remember. I was born in 1948. Peace, as a result of quiet talks, has worked in Northern Ireland (Ulster) and in South Africa. 30 years ago these would been thought impossible. Peace works.
Israel, sit down with your enemies and really negotiate a peace deal that is fair to you and to your historic enemies. Give peace a real chance, please.
.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel .
Did you realise that about one fifth of the population of Israel is composed of non-Jewish people? Neither did
UPDATE 18 March 2015: Peace has NO chance as the existing PM is likely to form the next government.
All I hope is that whatever coalition is formed that it takes the peace process very seriously. The Middle East has too many conflicts and a good, solid peace deal with Israel's neighbours is way overdue.
I am always amazed that the Israeli's seem to choose conflict and violence to settle old scores. Let peace blossom. Israel, you know it makes sense.
Yes, I know it takes at least 2 to forge peace, but frankly Israel has not even been trying for as long as I can remember. I was born in 1948. Peace, as a result of quiet talks, has worked in Northern Ireland (Ulster) and in South Africa. 30 years ago these would been thought impossible. Peace works.
Israel, sit down with your enemies and really negotiate a peace deal that is fair to you and to your historic enemies. Give peace a real chance, please.
.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel .
Did you realise that about one fifth of the population of Israel is composed of non-Jewish people? Neither did
UPDATE 18 March 2015: Peace has NO chance as the existing PM is likely to form the next government.
10m and 6m - both hopeless this afternoon?
Since getting lots of WSPR spots from around the borders of Europe this morning, I have only been getting spots from local G4IKZ (18km) all afternoon. No signs of USA spots on 10m today.
I have been on 6m most of the day but not a single spot given or received - totally hopeless.
I shall stick around on both 10m and 6m for several more hours yet, ever hopeful.
UPDATE 1950z: I think today is only the second day since last September when I was spotted by not a single USA station on 10m WSPR. On the vast majority of days someone over there has spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon, but not today. I know conditions are badly disturbed today (a visual aurora is forecast down here, which is very rare) and conditions are starting to change. Only EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me late this afternoon apart from local G4IKZ. EA8/LA3JJ is probably single hop F2 although the time of day and distance could possibly suggest Es? On 6m I have had no success at all on TX or RX. I shall now abandon 6m until the Es season starts.
I have been on 6m most of the day but not a single spot given or received - totally hopeless.
I shall stick around on both 10m and 6m for several more hours yet, ever hopeful.
UPDATE 1950z: I think today is only the second day since last September when I was spotted by not a single USA station on 10m WSPR. On the vast majority of days someone over there has spotted my 500mW WSPR beacon, but not today. I know conditions are badly disturbed today (a visual aurora is forecast down here, which is very rare) and conditions are starting to change. Only EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has spotted me late this afternoon apart from local G4IKZ. EA8/LA3JJ is probably single hop F2 although the time of day and distance could possibly suggest Es? On 6m I have had no success at all on TX or RX. I shall now abandon 6m until the Es season starts.
6m WSPR
Not quite sure why I bother as I usually get no spots (TX or RX) but I am again WSPRing on 6m. TX 20% 30dBm ERP vertical and 80% RX on 50.293MHz USB dial setting.
At this time of the year, outside the Es season, the most likely propagation is tropo and aircraft assistance up to about 200km. I am not expecting Es or F2 propagation on 6m.
UPDATE 1654z: So far, not a single spot given or received all day on 6m. Outside the Es season 6m has proved useless here with 1W ERP from my V2000 vertical. I shall stick around longer today (ever hopeful!) but I probably won't bother with 6m again for several weeks.
At this time of the year, outside the Es season, the most likely propagation is tropo and aircraft assistance up to about 200km. I am not expecting Es or F2 propagation on 6m.
UPDATE 1654z: So far, not a single spot given or received all day on 6m. Outside the Es season 6m has proved useless here with 1W ERP from my V2000 vertical. I shall stick around longer today (ever hopeful!) but I probably won't bother with 6m again for several weeks.
Sunspots and 10m - Tues March 17th 2015
Sunspot number today is 57. 10m propagation is expected to be "poor" according to the forecasts I have just seen. So far 10m spots have only been received from local G4IKZ (18km), but it is still very early.
UPDATE 0925z: 4X1RF (3519km) has already spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon twice.
UPDATE 1052z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 17 times already today. So far, my 6m WSPR attempts (TX and RX) have again drawn a total blank so far.
UPDATE 1155z: Now being spotted in UR, CT, G, LZ, and 4X1. Nothing outside Europe and near Asia yet today. I think the non-G spots are F2 propagation?
UPDATE 1225z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 45 times so far today.
UPDATE 1700z: No USA spots received all day, well not so far. Yesterday, 10m did open to the USA very very late in the afternoon and my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was copied only by 3 unique stations. Today, so far, looks dire on 10m to the USA. All HF bands have "poor" predictions so maybe it is a bad day, full stop.
UPDATE 0925z: 4X1RF (3519km) has already spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon twice.
UPDATE 1052z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 17 times already today. So far, my 6m WSPR attempts (TX and RX) have again drawn a total blank so far.
UPDATE 1155z: Now being spotted in UR, CT, G, LZ, and 4X1. Nothing outside Europe and near Asia yet today. I think the non-G spots are F2 propagation?
UPDATE 1225z: 4X1RF has spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 45 times so far today.
UPDATE 1700z: No USA spots received all day, well not so far. Yesterday, 10m did open to the USA very very late in the afternoon and my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon was copied only by 3 unique stations. Today, so far, looks dire on 10m to the USA. All HF bands have "poor" predictions so maybe it is a bad day, full stop.
16 Mar 2015
10m USA spots - at last!!
KD6RF (7522km) has just spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 1738z. This is very very late indeed for a first USA spot. It will be interesting to see if any other stateside stations copy me today.
UPDATE 1746z: AA1UI (5256km) is now spotting me too on 10m WSPR. Very late.
UPDATE 1850z: AA1UI has now spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 4 times this evening, with the latest at 1836z.
UPDATE 1945z: 3 unique USA stations spotting me, with the last at 1922z. I guess there is still a chance of later USA stations spotting me.
UPDATE 2034z: No more USA spots now for over an hour, so I think the USA opening has ended. Will go QRT on 10m soon.
EI0CF (602km) is spotting my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR. I'll stay on MF overnight again.
UPDATE 1746z: AA1UI (5256km) is now spotting me too on 10m WSPR. Very late.
UPDATE 1850z: AA1UI has now spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon 4 times this evening, with the latest at 1836z.
UPDATE 1945z: 3 unique USA stations spotting me, with the last at 1922z. I guess there is still a chance of later USA stations spotting me.
UPDATE 2034z: No more USA spots now for over an hour, so I think the USA opening has ended. Will go QRT on 10m soon.
EI0CF (602km) is spotting my 5mW ERP on 472kHz WSPR. I'll stay on MF overnight again.
Changing propagation
If proof were needed that we are now on the way down to the next minimum then take a look at the sunspot number graphs at http://www.solen.info/solar/ .
Although conditions are sliding, do not abandon the higher HF bands like 10m. There is (usually) quite a lot of good DX around still. In the last solar minimum I was still able to work well into southern South America on 10m with QRP SSB. WSPR should be even more reliable when conditions are edgy.
I really do hope a strong core of WSPR operators stick with 10m as, in many ways, in the poorer times are when WSPR will be most valuable as a tool. I am hoping that when not on traditional modes like SSB or CW people will still WSPR so we can catch fleeting openings, which are probably far more common than people expect on 10m. Remember, the F2 or transequatorial propagation has only to go above 28.126MHz for 120 seconds and someone on WSPR may spot it!
Although conditions are sliding, do not abandon the higher HF bands like 10m. There is (usually) quite a lot of good DX around still. In the last solar minimum I was still able to work well into southern South America on 10m with QRP SSB. WSPR should be even more reliable when conditions are edgy.
I really do hope a strong core of WSPR operators stick with 10m as, in many ways, in the poorer times are when WSPR will be most valuable as a tool. I am hoping that when not on traditional modes like SSB or CW people will still WSPR so we can catch fleeting openings, which are probably far more common than people expect on 10m. Remember, the F2 or transequatorial propagation has only to go above 28.126MHz for 120 seconds and someone on WSPR may spot it!
10m - single hop F2 only? Es season coming.
At the moment, it looks like all my 10m reports are from 1-hop F2 propagation e.g. 4X1RF and EA8/LA3JJ. Next month onwards we should see the start of the Es season with plentiful short skip on 10m and 6m into Europe, and occasionally much further. In previous years I have heard (and even rarely worked) some really choice DX with real QRP on 6m. My best 6m DX ever was a W on 6m CW when my ERP was about 1W. This was back in 2007.
This spring and summer I intend to run WSPR on 6m whenever I cannot be on SSB or CW. Last summer, the 6m WSPR activity was low, so I hope this season will be better. JT65 and JT9 are more popular but really need me to be in the shack. With WSPR I can monitor on another PC in a different room, or even when in the garden.
This spring and summer I intend to run WSPR on 6m whenever I cannot be on SSB or CW. Last summer, the 6m WSPR activity was low, so I hope this season will be better. JT65 and JT9 are more popular but really need me to be in the shack. With WSPR I can monitor on another PC in a different room, or even when in the garden.
Local 2m FM net
Most Mondays, a group of us in Cambridge and East Cambridgeshire meet for a net on 144.575MHz FM. We started as an AM net on 144.55MHz but had to QSY as one net member had no AM.
Although my voice is still very poor, I try to come on most Mondays but I prefer to listen more than talk. The net is open and we welcome newcomers. Some Mondays there is no-one around, but that is the exception. Usually there are about 3-5 of us on. Note 144.575MHz FM, not 145.575MHz. 8pm local time Mondays.
UPDATE 2035z: Only 2 of us this evening G3KKD and G3XBM.
Although my voice is still very poor, I try to come on most Mondays but I prefer to listen more than talk. The net is open and we welcome newcomers. Some Mondays there is no-one around, but that is the exception. Usually there are about 3-5 of us on. Note 144.575MHz FM, not 145.575MHz. 8pm local time Mondays.
UPDATE 2035z: Only 2 of us this evening G3KKD and G3XBM.
EA8/LA3JJ on 10m WSPR and no USA spots?
EA8/LA3JJ (2870km) has been spotting my 500mW 10m beacon nearly all morning. This counts as Africa, so my little WSPR beacon has been copied in 4 continents this morning.
UPDATE 1350z: No USA spots, as yet, on 10m. It does seem as if the big, long USA 10m openings can no longer be guaranteed. It may open later - we'll see.
UPDATE 1355z: EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon no less than 44 times today so far.
UPDATE 1500z: Still no sign of spots from the USA today on 10m. If there are going to be any, they will be very late, although I have the feeling that my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be spotted in the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1615z: Still no spots at all from the USA but EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 95 times so far today.
UPDATE 1719z: Still not a single spot from the USA, so it is now most unlikely I'll get any. EA8/LA3JJ has now spotted me 120 times today! Propagation is fine in his direction.
UPDATE 1752z: 132 spots, so far, today from EA8/LA3JJ and very recently a couple of USA spots. Odd conditions?
UPDATE 2045z: In the end 167 spots received from EA8/LA3JJ today.
UPDATE 1350z: No USA spots, as yet, on 10m. It does seem as if the big, long USA 10m openings can no longer be guaranteed. It may open later - we'll see.
UPDATE 1355z: EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon no less than 44 times today so far.
UPDATE 1500z: Still no sign of spots from the USA today on 10m. If there are going to be any, they will be very late, although I have the feeling that my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon will not be spotted in the USA today at all.
UPDATE 1615z: Still no spots at all from the USA but EA8/LA3JJ has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon 95 times so far today.
UPDATE 1719z: Still not a single spot from the USA, so it is now most unlikely I'll get any. EA8/LA3JJ has now spotted me 120 times today! Propagation is fine in his direction.
UPDATE 1752z: 132 spots, so far, today from EA8/LA3JJ and very recently a couple of USA spots. Odd conditions?
UPDATE 2045z: In the end 167 spots received from EA8/LA3JJ today.
Sunspots and 10m - Monday March 16th 2015
Sunspot number today is 54 and 10m propagation is expected to be "fair". Already I am having my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon spotted on the edges of Europe and near Asia, but conditions don't, as yet, look to be anything other than ordinary - certainly no superb DX on offer.
15 Mar 2015
Scarce 10m USA WSPR spots today
Although the 10m band has opened to the USA again today, the number of stations spotting me is very small. I think 10m conditions E-W across the Atlantic have been very poor today.
UPDATE 1700z: It is very noticeable just how few USA stations are spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. On better days, there is an almost continuous flow of reports all afternoon and evening. The last USA report today was at 1612z.
UPDATE 1948z: N1SQ (6251km) was the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1856z.
UPDATE 2034z: Now QRT on 10m.
UPDATE 1700z: It is very noticeable just how few USA stations are spotting my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. On better days, there is an almost continuous flow of reports all afternoon and evening. The last USA report today was at 1612z.
UPDATE 1948z: N1SQ (6251km) was the last USA station to spot my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon at 1856z.
UPDATE 2034z: Now QRT on 10m.
Concert in Cambridge - NOT amateur radio
This is advanced publicity for my wife's concert in Cambridge, UK in April. The West Road Concert Hall is an excellent venue with superb acoustics, good seating, warmth, comfort and local parking. If you can make it, it should be a good evening.
Sunspots and 10m propagation Sun Mar 15th 2015
Sunspot number is moderate at 56 but 10m is currently forecast to be "poor".
Despite the poor predictions for 10m, my tiny 500mW WSPR beacon has been widely spotted: 4X1RF, LZ1OI, 5B4AHL, 9H1US, G4IKZ and best DX this morning 3B8CW (9751km) at 1054z. Not a bad list for a morning with "poor" 10m conditions! Surprisingly often, days when 10m is supposed to be "fair" or "poor" I have my little 500mW WSPR beacon copied all over the place. Never ever take 10m for granted.
Despite the poor predictions for 10m, my tiny 500mW WSPR beacon has been widely spotted: 4X1RF, LZ1OI, 5B4AHL, 9H1US, G4IKZ and best DX this morning 3B8CW (9751km) at 1054z. Not a bad list for a morning with "poor" 10m conditions! Surprisingly often, days when 10m is supposed to be "fair" or "poor" I have my little 500mW WSPR beacon copied all over the place. Never ever take 10m for granted.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
