Today was a showery and blustery day. On the way home we saw a great rainbow, but it soon disappeared.
31 Mar 2015
Rainbow and churches blog - NOT amateur radio
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
Today we visited Wilburton St Peter church located some 10-12 miles north of Cambridge. Parts of this light and airy church date back to the 13th century.
Today was a showery and blustery day. On the way home we saw a great rainbow, but it soon disappeared.
Today was a showery and blustery day. On the way home we saw a great rainbow, but it soon disappeared.
10m USA WSPR spots of me today
Well yet again, I was totally wrong: 10m did open to the USA this afternoon and quite early too! AE7YQ (8533km) was the first to spot my 500mW WSPR at 1534z. Since then, WB2TQE (7097km) has spotted me a few times too.
UPDATE 1948z: WB2TQE (7097km) was currently the last USA station to spot me on 1806z. So far today just him and AE7YQ have spotted me in the USA. I suspect there will be no further USA posts today.
UPDATE 1948z: WB2TQE (7097km) was currently the last USA station to spot me on 1806z. So far today just him and AE7YQ have spotted me in the USA. I suspect there will be no further USA posts today.
472kHz WSPR and VLF earth-mode experiments
So I checked that I am regularly synced to internet time - I am - but 472kHz has been very quiet today since breakfast time. The last spot of me was from G3THQ (88km) at 0608z. Overnight WSPR spots were exchanged (both ways) with F1AFJ (607km) in JN06ht square. I should be getting him much better, suggesting my RX system is somewhat deaf! His ERP is much greater than mine. I am still using 5mW ERP and my earth-electrode "antenna".
My new soldering iron is on its way, so I hope to do some VLF earth-mode field tests soon. First job will be to alter the match to my earth-electrodes on my VLF 5W beacon. Initially, I may try the existing VLF beacon on a dummy load and receiving it in the lounge to test the RX set-up. This will test my preamp and Spectran settings. It is so long since I have done any VLF work I have almost forgotten what settings I used!
 |
| Unique WSPR spots overnight on 472kHz |
Sunspots and 10m - Tuesday March 31st 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back to 53 and 10m propagation is still "fair". K index is 2. Based on the last day or so, I do not expect to be spotted in the USA on 10m today. Of course, being 10m, I could be totally wrong! We'll find out later when the afternoon and evening are over. If 10m does open to the USA, which seems unlikely based on conditions on the band this morning, I doubt my 500mW WSPR would be copied over there much before our teatime, i.e. after 1600z at least, or even later.
10m WSPR - quiet morning
This morning on 10m WSPR has been very quiet with just local G4IKZ (18km) and EA8BVP (2986km) spotting my 500mW WSPR beacon. No "DX" DX as such at all. Not even spots from Eastern Europe or Israel. Conditions must be changing.
30 Mar 2015
472kHz - lack of WSPR spots?
I was beginning to wonder why I was not getting spots on 472kHz WSPR. At first, I thought it was just down to too few stations in range, until I noticed a "peer unreachable" message, so I was not synced to internet time, at least recently. Having changed my internet time server and re-synced, I am now being spotted weakly by G3THQ (88km). The band does seem quiet though with very few UK stations active on 472kHz this evening. Perhaps those stations who are active are using different weak signal modes like OPERA?
The future of HF broadcasters
Deutsche Welle (DW) is closing its last relay station, which is in Kigali, Rwanda. In recent years DW like many shortwave broadcasters, has been facing financial cutbacks. Also there are far fewer broadcasters using shortwaves these days.
As a youngster in the 1960s, I recall shortwaves crowded with AM broadcast stations, many from all over the world transmitting in English, with their distinctive interval signals. There was a magic about shortwave broadcasting back then. Quite a few could be copied with very simple receivers too. There is something quite nostalgic about listening again to those long-gone interval signals from behind the Iron Curtain. I remember getting some excellent freebees from China back in the early 1980s. Of course, it was all to spread the propaganda. All I really wanted was their QSL card!
These days, users are often reached using the internet. Of course, it begs the question, "who is now filling the empty, vacated channels?" In the long run amateur radio might gain some allocations, although the noise floor on HF is increasing too. SMPUs, cable TV and numerous other sources are mainly to blame.
See http://www.dw.de/deutsche-welle-closes-kigali-outpost/a-18340960.
As a youngster in the 1960s, I recall shortwaves crowded with AM broadcast stations, many from all over the world transmitting in English, with their distinctive interval signals. There was a magic about shortwave broadcasting back then. Quite a few could be copied with very simple receivers too. There is something quite nostalgic about listening again to those long-gone interval signals from behind the Iron Curtain. I remember getting some excellent freebees from China back in the early 1980s. Of course, it was all to spread the propaganda. All I really wanted was their QSL card!
These days, users are often reached using the internet. Of course, it begs the question, "who is now filling the empty, vacated channels?" In the long run amateur radio might gain some allocations, although the noise floor on HF is increasing too. SMPUs, cable TV and numerous other sources are mainly to blame.
See http://www.dw.de/deutsche-welle-closes-kigali-outpost/a-18340960.
Pixie Files
 |
| My assembled 40m Pixie |
Being simple, it has a number of limitations but it certainly works. A major issue can be AM broadcast breakthrough, although my 40m version is perfectly usable. I was very impressed with my little kit that came with all parts including a silk-screened PCB, all sockets and a crystal. It needed low-Z Walkman type headphones, a morse key and battery - that was all. On 40m the sensitivity is pretty good with 0.5uV clearly audible and my RF power out is around 400mW. A lack of both RF and AF RX selectivity is also noticeable.
Kits are available from several sources at prices that are hard to beat. I recently bought a kit for $10 with free airmail from China. It is available for less than half this price I subsequently found out. Unbelievable for a fully functional HF transceiver. Of course, being so simple you may prefer just to build it dead-bug fashion. I bought a kit as I wanted to see how my building skills were.
As a mature design, it has been through several iterations, some improve the basic design, but most do so at the expense of increased complexity. You'd be hard pressed to find a circuit for a complete HF CW transceiver much simpler.
See www.gqrp.com/The_Sprat_Pixie_File.pdf .
10m, 630m and 2200m WSPR
My little WSPR-AXE-CW beacon has been on 10m about 30 minutes. So far just G4IKZ (18km) spotting me but it is very early still. We are now approaching the Es season so there should soon be lots of Europeans on the band.
No new 472kHz stations overnight.
UPDATE 1026z: Just G4IKZ so far today with zero DX on 10m o far. A disappointing morning so far on 10m WSPR. Of course, things may improve but the absence of even stations on the edge of Europe suggests a USA opening today is less probable.
UPDATE 1032z: Only G3THQ (88km) spotting me on 472kHz WSPR and this was hours ago. All very quiet. I think there are fewer stations active on this band and mode than before? This certainly seems to be the case in daytime.
UPDATE 1325z: Only 1 spot from EA8BVP (2986km) on 10m WSPR all day apart from local G4IKZ. So far a totally dismal day on 10m WSPR!
UPDATE 1800z: Several spots from EA8BVP (2986km) but still no spots at all from the USA. Conditions across the Atlantic seem far worse now than a few months ago.
Maybe I need to try a new band? I fancy trying 136kHz (2200m) WSPR from this QTH as I think my earth electrode will be more efficient (bigger "loop in the ground") as I go lower in frequency. My best 136kHz WSPR DX from the old QTH was 250km. Some locals and semi-locals might copy me on 136kHz WSPR, although activity is very low on this lower band in the UK. I think some skeds would be needed.
No new 472kHz stations overnight.
UPDATE 1026z: Just G4IKZ so far today with zero DX on 10m o far. A disappointing morning so far on 10m WSPR. Of course, things may improve but the absence of even stations on the edge of Europe suggests a USA opening today is less probable.
UPDATE 1032z: Only G3THQ (88km) spotting me on 472kHz WSPR and this was hours ago. All very quiet. I think there are fewer stations active on this band and mode than before? This certainly seems to be the case in daytime.
UPDATE 1325z: Only 1 spot from EA8BVP (2986km) on 10m WSPR all day apart from local G4IKZ. So far a totally dismal day on 10m WSPR!
UPDATE 1800z: Several spots from EA8BVP (2986km) but still no spots at all from the USA. Conditions across the Atlantic seem far worse now than a few months ago.
Maybe I need to try a new band? I fancy trying 136kHz (2200m) WSPR from this QTH as I think my earth electrode will be more efficient (bigger "loop in the ground") as I go lower in frequency. My best 136kHz WSPR DX from the old QTH was 250km. Some locals and semi-locals might copy me on 136kHz WSPR, although activity is very low on this lower band in the UK. I think some skeds would be needed.
Sunspots and 10m - Mon March 30th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped to 73 and 10m is again expected to be "fair". With k=2 I guess we may see some 10m WSPR spots from the USA later.
29 Mar 2015
New soldering iron on order and beating disabilities
Based on recommendations, I ordered a new Antex soldering iron which should arrive later this week. In the meantime I'll try to assemble (find!) my kit for both VLF earth-mode and optical comms field work. I am still getting very tired, so don't expect too much too soon.
The first tests will be very modest to get me back into "the swing of things". Unless my health starts to make a big improvement, I fear I may have to live with some of my symptoms for the foreseeable future, if not for ever. This would be such a pity as there is so much I want to do. Compared with some though, I have been lucky. If at all possible, I really want to beat my disabilities. I hate being so useless. I remember my "old self" full of energy.
The first tests will be very modest to get me back into "the swing of things". Unless my health starts to make a big improvement, I fear I may have to live with some of my symptoms for the foreseeable future, if not for ever. This would be such a pity as there is so much I want to do. Compared with some though, I have been lucky. If at all possible, I really want to beat my disabilities. I hate being so useless. I remember my "old self" full of energy.
472kHz WSPR
I have remained active all day on MF, but WSPRnet only shows stations spotted in the last 10 minutes, so if there is no-one else spotting you, you do not get shown as being active. This is a pity, as it does not encourage people to take a look. Instead they may look elsewhere. I don't know why there is this 10 minute rule, but personally I find it unhelpful. It would be better to show all stations active, whether or not they are being reported.
UPDATE 1845z: G4AYT (114km) has been copying me weakly, but consistently, for some time. He is located on the North Kent coast (JO01mi).
UPDATE 2022z: M0PPP (182km), in IO93gm square, has been spotted here consistently this evening on my earth-electrode "antenna" and deaf FT817 RX on 472kHz WSPR.
UPDATE 2145z: PA0RDT (243km) is now spotting me.
UPDATE 1845z: G4AYT (114km) has been copying me weakly, but consistently, for some time. He is located on the North Kent coast (JO01mi).
UPDATE 2022z: M0PPP (182km), in IO93gm square, has been spotted here consistently this evening on my earth-electrode "antenna" and deaf FT817 RX on 472kHz WSPR.
UPDATE 2145z: PA0RDT (243km) is now spotting me.
10m USA WSPR spots - none yet
It is currently 1512z and, so far, no sign of my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon being spotted in the USA. Based on recent days when openings have, on the whole, been poor, I guess I should give it several more hours to see if the band does open across the North Atlantic to the USA and Canada. Local time is now an hour later as we are now on BST. here in the UK. It will remain light here until around 7.30pm local time.
UPDATE 1706z: Still no sign of any spots on 10m of my 500mW WSPR beacon by any USA stations. Maybe later?
UPDATE 1902z: Still no sign at all of any spots from the USA. Unless USA stations start to spot my 10m WSPR soon, I suspect today will be another fruitless day to the states.
UPDATE 1930z: I think there will be no 10m USA spots of me today. Still no USA stations spotting me still on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2008z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW beacon 99 times today, but no USA spots the whole day. I suspect EA8BVP may have closed down as his last spot of me was at 2002z.
UPDATE 1706z: Still no sign of any spots on 10m of my 500mW WSPR beacon by any USA stations. Maybe later?
UPDATE 1902z: Still no sign at all of any spots from the USA. Unless USA stations start to spot my 10m WSPR soon, I suspect today will be another fruitless day to the states.
UPDATE 1930z: I think there will be no 10m USA spots of me today. Still no USA stations spotting me still on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2008z: EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW beacon 99 times today, but no USA spots the whole day. I suspect EA8BVP may have closed down as his last spot of me was at 2002z.
Fell at the first fence!
Well, what a brilliant start! NOT.
My soldering iron has failed and I cannot find the replacement as my wife packed everything when I was in hospital, so I cannot do anything that involves soldering, which is just about everything with field work. So, as I cannot afford a new Weller soldering station, I shall have to invest in a new Maplins sourced soldering iron or soldering station. Just trying to find bits in boxes has just about flattened me too. I am now exhausted. Bother, and I was so looking forward to this day.
Any recommendations for a decent soldering iron, not Weller?
My soldering iron has failed and I cannot find the replacement as my wife packed everything when I was in hospital, so I cannot do anything that involves soldering, which is just about everything with field work. So, as I cannot afford a new Weller soldering station, I shall have to invest in a new Maplins sourced soldering iron or soldering station. Just trying to find bits in boxes has just about flattened me too. I am now exhausted. Bother, and I was so looking forward to this day.
Any recommendations for a decent soldering iron, not Weller?
VLF experiment?
 |
| VLF 5W TX beacon (as now) |
I'll try to optimise the match of my VLF earth-mode QRSS3 beacon to my earth-electrodes as a first step. This alone will probably exhaust me as it will probably mean re-winding a 3C90 toroid.
I can transmit a crystal derived, stable signal at 8.97kHz. Once done, I'll copy this on another PC in the lounge running Spectran software. If this all works, I'll go to my nearest test site to see what copy is like using a RX loop and preamp.
Sunspots and 10m - Sun March 29th 2015
Sunspot number has dropped back a bit to 82 today and 10m propagation is again expected to be "fair"., which is the same as recent days.
EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon many times already this morning, but nothing reported from elsewhere as yet.
UPDATE 1106z: I see that TA2AEG (2547km) has also spotted me a few times now as well.
EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon many times already this morning, but nothing reported from elsewhere as yet.
UPDATE 1106z: I see that TA2AEG (2547km) has also spotted me a few times now as well.
28 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR
No new MF stations spotting me, just the same ones! My best spot this evening is currently from PA3ABK/2 (306km). We'll see if I am spotted by any new reporters overnight or if I spot any new DX. Somehow I doubt this.
I need to switch back from the earth-electrodes to my strapped feeder antenna to compare results. I've been using the earth-electrode "antenna" for several months now.
I need to switch back from the earth-electrodes to my strapped feeder antenna to compare results. I've been using the earth-electrode "antenna" for several months now.
10m WSPR spots from the USA today
KD6RF (7547km) was the first USA station to spot my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon at 1454z today.
UPDATE 2004z: So far I have been spotted by 5 different USA stations on 10m WSPR and 10 different stations in 4 continents today.
UPDATE 2126z: The last USA WSPR spot of me was at 1956z by K3GEN (5883km). I suspect this will have been the last USA spot tonight, but I will continue beaconing for a while longer.
UPDATE 2204z: No further USA spots since K3GEN at 1956z. I think we can assume the USA opening on 10m has ended. Will now go QRT on 10m WSPR but will stay on 630m (472kHz) overnight.
UPDATE 2004z: So far I have been spotted by 5 different USA stations on 10m WSPR and 10 different stations in 4 continents today.
UPDATE 2126z: The last USA WSPR spot of me was at 1956z by K3GEN (5883km). I suspect this will have been the last USA spot tonight, but I will continue beaconing for a while longer.
UPDATE 2204z: No further USA spots since K3GEN at 1956z. I think we can assume the USA opening on 10m has ended. Will now go QRT on 10m WSPR but will stay on 630m (472kHz) overnight.
Stroke update on energy levels - NOT amateur radio
I am still suffering the after-effects of my Sept 2013 cerebellum brain bleed. My main symptoms remain that I feel permanently slightly drunk (in a slight fog), my speech is still poor as is my swallow of thin liquids, and my energy levels are still very low with the slightest physical or mental activity exhausting me. I thought the latter might be low B12 levels, but supplements have made no difference. My fine motor skills must be better as I built a 40m Pixie kit recently and this would have been impossible a year ago. I can drive OK, but I have to concentrate hard. Driving long distances is still not possible.
Overall, progress is being made on my recovery, although it is taking much longer than I was expecting. I guess these days the improvements are very small and harder to notice. At the moment, the exhaustion is the hardest thing to accept as I was a very active person.
Overall, progress is being made on my recovery, although it is taking much longer than I was expecting. I guess these days the improvements are very small and harder to notice. At the moment, the exhaustion is the hardest thing to accept as I was a very active person.
UK clocks change tonight
The UK changes over to British Summer Time tonight, so we get a hour less in bed, but it is lighter in the evenings.
I change all clocks in the house except the one in the shack that stays on GMT. For a few days, I tend to forget and enter my log an hour wrong! Habit. I always keep my log in GMT although in the UK it is no longer compulsory to keep a log. I still like to keep a paper log of the more important QSOs
I change all clocks in the house except the one in the shack that stays on GMT. For a few days, I tend to forget and enter my log an hour wrong! Habit. I always keep my log in GMT although in the UK it is no longer compulsory to keep a log. I still like to keep a paper log of the more important QSOs
Sunspots and 10m - Sat March 28th 2015
Sunspot number is still good at 109, although 10m propagation is expected to remain "fair". In a years time when the SN will have really fallen, we'll think these are really high numbers!
So far today on 10m, EA8BVP (2986km) has been spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon multiple times as has local G4IKZ (18km). Otherwise very quiet so far.
If there is a USA opening at all on 10m, I suspect it will come late in the day.
UPDATE 1206z: EA8BVP has spotted me 21 times so far today.
So far today on 10m, EA8BVP (2986km) has been spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon multiple times as has local G4IKZ (18km). Otherwise very quiet so far.
If there is a USA opening at all on 10m, I suspect it will come late in the day.
UPDATE 1206z: EA8BVP has spotted me 21 times so far today.
27 Mar 2015
SPAM comments - deleted again
This evening another SPAM comment was removed. As soon as SPAM comments are found (usually very quickly) they will be removed. Don't bother - just play your silly games somewhere else.
East Anglian Churches blog - NOT amateur radio
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/.This has been updated today to include St Edward King and Martyr in Cambridge. This little church has a famous place in the English Reformation as the place where Robert Barnes gave one of the very first Reformation sermons. Hugh Latimer also preached here. The very same pulpit is still in use to this day.
Our 7 year old grandson's day was made earlier this week when he was shown the bells and rang some of them.
472kHz DX spots
At 0022z F1AFJ (607km) spotted my 5mW ERP WSPR signal. This evening PA0RDT (243km) is the best DX spotter so far.
10m USA WSPR spots
10m conditions appear to be poor to the USA today with just KT5W (6314km) spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon once at 1654z. There may be more spots later.
UPDATE 2225z: It looks like KT5W was again the last USA station to spot me, at 2126z. It looks like he was the only transatlantic station to spot me all day.
UPDATE 2225z: It looks like KT5W was again the last USA station to spot me, at 2126z. It looks like he was the only transatlantic station to spot me all day.
Sunspots and 10m - Friday March 27th 2015
Sunspot number is still high today at 103. 10m propagation is again expected to be "fair" and so far my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon has only been spotted by G4IKZ (18km) and EA8BVP (2986km). Conditions so far on 10m seem "muted", although it is still very early.
26 Mar 2015
472kHz WSPR this afternoon
No great DX so far with G4AYT (114km) being the most distant station to spot my 5mW ERP so far. In the other direction, it is a similar story with no great DX as yet. I am always hoping that my little signal will be spotted by some totally new reporters.
USA 10m WSPR spots today
KT5W (6314km) first spotted me at 1338z, quite early nowadays. As I write this at 1905z there are still plenty of USA stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon.
UPDATE 2235z: KT5W was also the last spot on 10m from the USA at 2118z tonight.
UPDATE 2235z: KT5W was also the last spot on 10m from the USA at 2118z tonight.
East Anglia churches blog updated - NOT amateur radio
See http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ .
This blog has been added to with a note and some photos of Isleham Priory which dates back to 1090AD. I have also updated the entry for Isleham church which we first visited in February.
This blog has been added to with a note and some photos of Isleham Priory which dates back to 1090AD. I have also updated the entry for Isleham church which we first visited in February.
OFCOM plans for the year ahead
See http://www.ofcom.org.uk/content/about/annual-reports-plans/ann-plans/Annual_Plan_Statement.pdf .
Sorry, but this CRAP shows what OFCOM plans are for the year ahead. In an executive executive summary (mine) I would summarise this as,"continue to be a bureaucratic quango".
It looks like it was written by a young, overpaid, headless chicken. Lots of "informed choice" and similar buzz words. Rubbish in my view. No-one there seems to be able to make decisions based on the use of a brain and common sense.
Give OFCOM some real power and let them make common sense decisions. My recent discussions on VLF/LF experiments are just an example of their total inability to think "out of the box". Sorry, but as an OFCOM "customer" I am left very unimpressed.
Opinionated, me?
Sorry, but this CRAP shows what OFCOM plans are for the year ahead. In an executive executive summary (mine) I would summarise this as,"continue to be a bureaucratic quango".
It looks like it was written by a young, overpaid, headless chicken. Lots of "informed choice" and similar buzz words. Rubbish in my view. No-one there seems to be able to make decisions based on the use of a brain and common sense.
Give OFCOM some real power and let them make common sense decisions. My recent discussions on VLF/LF experiments are just an example of their total inability to think "out of the box". Sorry, but as an OFCOM "customer" I am left very unimpressed.
Opinionated, me?
Sunspots and 10m - Thurs March 26th 2015
Sunspot number is still decent at 115. 10m propagation is forecast to be " fair" today.
So far this morning plenty of spots from local G4IKZ (18km) and EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW beacon 27 times already since 0800z.
UPDATE 1200z: 56 spots from EA8BVP in the Canary Is so far today. No other DX spots so far today.
UPDATE 1315z: UR/SWL56 (2283km) has been spotting me since 1250z. No USA spots so far, but after yesterday I expect these may come much later in the day. EA8BVP has spotted me 78 times so far today.
So far this morning plenty of spots from local G4IKZ (18km) and EA8BVP (2986km) has spotted my 10m 500mW beacon 27 times already since 0800z.
UPDATE 1200z: 56 spots from EA8BVP in the Canary Is so far today. No other DX spots so far today.
UPDATE 1315z: UR/SWL56 (2283km) has been spotting me since 1250z. No USA spots so far, but after yesterday I expect these may come much later in the day. EA8BVP has spotted me 78 times so far today.
25 Mar 2015
SPAM
Today I have deleted 2 comments as SPAM. An AM transmitter on 6.925MHz is not amateur radio. It is pirate radio and I do not support pirates.
All SPAM detected will be removed. Please do not waste your time or mine posting SPAM to any of my blogs. As soon as I spot them the comments and links will be deleted.
UPDATE 26.3.15 1000z: Noting G1KQH's comment maybe I need a photo of a tin of SPAM here?
All SPAM detected will be removed. Please do not waste your time or mine posting SPAM to any of my blogs. As soon as I spot them the comments and links will be deleted.
UPDATE 26.3.15 1000z: Noting G1KQH's comment maybe I need a photo of a tin of SPAM here?
No 10m WSPR spots from the USA today?
Despite the sunspot count being high today at 127 I have received not a single spot from the USA of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon today. There is little doubt that conditions are on the change. In past months a sunspot number of 127 would have almost guaranteed USA spots. No longer.
Overall, just a "fair" day on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1820z: Guess who spoke too soon? Starting at 1708z, a few USA stations have been spotting me. I guess when conditions are marginal the openings are shorter in duration and will start much later. At least the 10m band did open to the USA, just.
UPDATE 2010z: The opening on 10m to the USA seems to have ended with K4RCG (5995km) being the last to spot me at 1918z.
UPDATE 2115z: So I was totally wrong again! K9AN (5995km) and others in the USA are still spotting my 500mW WSPR on 10m. This USA 10m opening was late starting, but it is not over yet!
UPDATE 2145z: KT5W (6314km) was spotting me still at 2132z. I wonder if this will be the last from the USA today?
UPDATE 2215z: No further USA spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon since 2132z. I think the opening has ended, although I'll leave the beacon running as I have been wrong twice this evening!
Overall, just a "fair" day on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1820z: Guess who spoke too soon? Starting at 1708z, a few USA stations have been spotting me. I guess when conditions are marginal the openings are shorter in duration and will start much later. At least the 10m band did open to the USA, just.
UPDATE 2010z: The opening on 10m to the USA seems to have ended with K4RCG (5995km) being the last to spot me at 1918z.
UPDATE 2115z: So I was totally wrong again! K9AN (5995km) and others in the USA are still spotting my 500mW WSPR on 10m. This USA 10m opening was late starting, but it is not over yet!
UPDATE 2145z: KT5W (6314km) was spotting me still at 2132z. I wonder if this will be the last from the USA today?
UPDATE 2215z: No further USA spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon since 2132z. I think the opening has ended, although I'll leave the beacon running as I have been wrong twice this evening!
Sunspots and 10m propagation - March 25th 2015
Today is "Lady Day" March 25th 2015. I remember, as a child, we moved to a new town and home on Lady Day 1959. I think Lady Day was linked to the old Liturgical Calendar and to legal matters.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Day .
Sunspot number is very good at 127 but 10m propagation is only forecast to be "fair". Already (since 0822z) my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon is being spotted in the Canary Is. by EA/LA3JJ (I think he should be signing EA8/LA3JJ) and by UR/SWL56 and by local G4IKZ.
UPDATE 1155z: I see I have now been spotted by EA8BVP (2986km). No other what I'd call "real" DX.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Day .
Sunspot number is very good at 127 but 10m propagation is only forecast to be "fair". Already (since 0822z) my 10m 500mW WSPR beacon is being spotted in the Canary Is. by EA/LA3JJ (I think he should be signing EA8/LA3JJ) and by UR/SWL56 and by local G4IKZ.
UPDATE 1155z: I see I have now been spotted by EA8BVP (2986km). No other what I'd call "real" DX.
24 Mar 2015
10m USA spots
As mentioned in an earlier post, today has been good to the USA on 10m despite only "fair" predictions.
UPDATE 1942z: Still plenty of USA spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon coming in on 10m. This opening is still going on.
UPDATE 2022z: KB9AMG (6300km) still spotting me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2204z: KT5W (6314km) was the last USA station to spot me on 10m WSPR at 2104z. At an hour ago, I think this will be the last USA spot today. Since then, just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.
UPDATE 1942z: Still plenty of USA spots of my 500mW 10m WSPR beacon coming in on 10m. This opening is still going on.
UPDATE 2022z: KB9AMG (6300km) still spotting me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 2204z: KT5W (6314km) was the last USA station to spot me on 10m WSPR at 2104z. At an hour ago, I think this will be the last USA spot today. Since then, just local G4IKZ (18km) spotting me.
Internet time server and 472kHz WSPR
The program atomic.exe seems to be doing a decent job of keeping my PC to time. Currently it re-syncs to internet time every 5 minutes, which is probably far more often than is needed. I know that my timing drifted out after 12 hours, so once an hour is probably often enough. I shall have to alter settings and experiment.
No great surprises on the 472kHz WSPR band today with stations who have spotted me before, or that I have spotted before, in the log.
 |
| 472kHz WSPR spots today so far |
Sunspots and 10m propagation - March 24th 2015
Sunspot number has again risen strongly. Today, it stands at 119. 10m propagation is expected to be only "fair".
UPDATE 1334z: So far, a couple of USA stations have copied my 10m, 500mW WSPR beacon. The first were KT5W (6314km) at 1312z and WB8ELK/01 (6872km) at 1314z. At least 10m has opened to the USA today. I was beginning to think these openings had ended.
UPDATE 1340z: So far, 5 different USA stations have spotted me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1430z: So far, 9 different USA stations have now spotted my 500mW on 10m WSPR. This opening is much better than I was expecting.
UPDATE 1708z: 15 unique USA stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR. A good 10m opening.
UPDATE 1334z: So far, a couple of USA stations have copied my 10m, 500mW WSPR beacon. The first were KT5W (6314km) at 1312z and WB8ELK/01 (6872km) at 1314z. At least 10m has opened to the USA today. I was beginning to think these openings had ended.
UPDATE 1340z: So far, 5 different USA stations have spotted me on 10m WSPR.
UPDATE 1430z: So far, 9 different USA stations have now spotted my 500mW on 10m WSPR. This opening is much better than I was expecting.
UPDATE 1708z: 15 unique USA stations spotting my 10m 500mW WSPR. A good 10m opening.
23 Mar 2015
Internet time servers
I noticed that, by default, my PC synced to internet time only once a week, far too long on an old PC. I have downloaded a package (atomic.exe) that allows you to program any chosen interval and hope now the PC clock will be very regularly updated to internet time. This is essential for WSPR. At the moment it is set to sync every 5 minutes, but once every few hours is probably frequent enough.
I used atomic.exe before on my previous PC for many years. It worked well. A virus scan showed no threats. For now I'll stick with this, although (see comments below) there may be better solutions when the internet may be down, but this is very rare. Virgin Media cable seems very reliable and very fast.
I used atomic.exe before on my previous PC for many years. It worked well. A virus scan showed no threats. For now I'll stick with this, although (see comments below) there may be better solutions when the internet may be down, but this is very rare. Virgin Media cable seems very reliable and very fast.
Last USA spot today
On this rather lack lustre day on 10m WSPR it looks like W1VR (6965km) was the last to spot me at 1746z this evening. Only a couple of unique USA stations spotted me all afternoon.
472kHz WSPR
Spots received from 10 unique stations in the last 24 hours on 472kHz WSPR with best DX 306km. As far as I can see,these are stations that have spotted me before. I am still using the earth-electrode "antenna".
 |
| Unique 472kHz WSPR spots of my 5mW ERP in last 24 hours |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
