Log

An overview of the last QSO's I made, the last 5 days.

Check your dial frequency for 2 meter

Some of us use the wrong dial frequency with WSPR on 2 meter. The right dial frequency is 144.489 MHz. And not 144.488 MHz. If you want to change it go to the Program File folder on your C drive, then open up the WSPR folder, go to wspr.ini file and change the frequency for 2 meter, save it, ready.

Julian G4ILO

It looks so silly when I complain about a lack of DX or conditions, or other daily trivial matters whatever. I was shocked after reading the blog of Julian G4ILO. I wish Julian and Olga all the best and my thoughts & prayers are with them. Of course Julian likes to beat the bugger. Let all hams send Julian a card for a big support. Here is Julian’s address:

Julian Moss, G4ILO
36 The Parklands
Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 0WW
United Kingdom

Low WSPR activity on 6 meter

For a few weeks I am active with WSPR on 6 meter. But overall I am disappointed about the results. Yesterday I was reported by EI7GL (+10db!) and PA0O. When I switched to CW and SSB I worked several stations from Ukraine and Russia last night, and with WSPR nope. Maybe we need more stations with WSPR on 6 meter. When you look to the list of activity this morning then you see that CW rules. With WSPR only 17 stations with only 9 stations from Europe. I feel like a voice crying in the wilderness. There is almost nobody there.

Hearing the Northern Lights!

1 watt and 0.5 watt

I received VK2KRR on 20 meter WSPR with a best report of -7db (he was using 10 watts) That means that 50 milliwatt will do also. He got 'big ears' (see photo) Lee also reported me, and I was using 1 watt. No record for me, but it's nice to be heard on the other side of the world with only 1 watt. My best report was -7db, with -20db means that he should hear me with 10 milliwatts also! Later tonight I was reported by VK2KRR with 500 milliwatt (32.970 km/watt). I forgot to change the parameters, so after 18.00 UTC must be 500 milliwatt instead of 1 watt.



I noticed that the 20 meter is the best band to make intercontinental DX, the last 3 weeks. And sometimes 40 meter (grey zone)

Web Cam Recording

I made a recording with my web cam, while I was making a qso with EC7AMY on 6 meter. I can upload it immediately to Youtube, that's a nice feature. There was also Es on 10 meter I worked with PSK63 TM1EPC, EH3EZD, EH3EPC, and with PSK31 I1YTO and I2WSG.

Web Cam

Just for fun I have a web cam in my shack. You can see if I am QRV. It is just for a test period. I disabled the sound most of the time because my shack is in the living, and I don't want conversations of the family to be broadcast that way. Hi. Click on the web cam picture to activate the web cam.

Summer is here

Summer is here, on the calender. We had rain again and a lot of wind. No sun. yeah, a big flare, what may give aurora June 23. Anyway, condx on 17 meter were poor. I heard only two pile ups, and I hate pile ups. Don't mind phone or CW. I hate split working stations. It is complete madness. I like quietness such as the 20m QRP frequency. That's why I like JT65A, no pile ups, maybe two stations double, but that don't bother. Easiness, time to put the station in the logbook while transmitting. I did work 4Z5OA Leonid (see photo) from Akko Israel and RX9KT Yuri from Muravlenko (4049 km) on 20 meter JT65A, not with QRP but with Low Power 25 watts. It took 15 minutes and see where I am reported in the same time:

Not bad at all. This afternoon I was struggling with Skype, because an old friend from a long time ago, living in Switzerland now, want to Skype with me. But the extra USB cable for the web cam was giving RFI problems so my router was out of order again. When I disconnected the USB cable the problem was over.

JT65A QRPP record

I hoped for a real QSO when I started calling CQ with 50 milliwatt JT65A on 20 meter. Nevertheless, it's good there are autologgers active with JT65A reception. I was reported by UT3IB (photo) with best report -9db. A distance of 2400 km, that makes 29.783 Miles per Watt. (47.940 km/watt) That is a record for me. Basically, when I had used 5 milliwatt he could have received me, my report would be -19db. With WSPR is 2150 km and 50 milliwatt my record. This afternoon with 50 mW WSPR was LA9JO (1967 km) the best distance on 20 meter. With 0.5 Watt JT65A I worked US3IFV on 20 meter (2403 km)

Rainy Sunday

Conditions seems to be reasonable on HF. On 40 meter it was very crowded with CW stations. It is too much for me. So I switched to the PSK part of the 40 meter band. Nobody there. How come? I gave a few CQ’s and G7JUR came back for me. Anyway, that was PSK31 for the 40 meter band. So I went to 20 meter PSK. Much more activity there. But when I gave CQ I am always on someone else’s frequency. Finally I ended up with JT65A on 20 meter, just listening see what comes along.

With 5 watt SSB I worked EH4DIE and EH5DIE on 20 meter, special stations from lighthouses in Spain. And on 40 meter I could break up the pile up to work GB2MOF (see photo) with 5 watt, Cockenzie & Port Seton Amateur Radio Club for National Museums On The Air Weekend and is located at the East Fortune Museum of Flight approximately 20 miles East of Edinburgh. Also worked GB4BRV.

With bpsk31 on 40 meter: DB1NWA and F4BEV.

Still waiting

Still waiting for super DX on 6 meter (Outside Europe). Yesterday was very frustrating. I received only PA0O, and nobody else. But suddenly after 19.00 UTC there was an opening to the South. I was reported several times by CN8LI with good signals. Late at night I let JT65-HF running for 2 cycles on 20 meter. I made no QSO but see where I am reported.

Sporadic E

No, EA8ALD is not a Sporadic E QSO, but a QSO on 40 meter early this morning with bpsk31. Most of the time propagation is poor the last weeks on most HF bands. Fortunately there is Es on 10 or 6 meter. Yesterday I was reported by TF3HZ, EA1FAQ and DK6UG on 10 meter last night with WSPR. Today I have WSPR running on 6 meter with 5 watts into a 5/8 vertical. 5 watt is enough for WSPR, I see sometimes folks are running 10 or 20 watts, but their signal will be 3 or 6 db stronger (a half or 1 S-point). When Es is there, and signals are coming through, than is 5 watt enough. Today Bas PE4BAS is running 5 watts on 6 meter instead of 1 watt. See if I can pick up his signal. When we have time we will try a sked with JT65A and PSK31 on 6 meter.

Yesterday I worked SM3GDT Hans, with bpsk31 on 20 meter, he came back in Dutch! I have in my macros also Dutch, when I come across a Dutch 'speaking' station. He is a Dutchman living in Sweden. We both had QSB and QRM on the frequency. With SSB on 10 meter I worked EE5KB, very short QSO's, only 59, even he didn't replied on my 73. Hurry seems to be the sign of the times.

Update 6 meter WSPR

Timestamp Call MHz SNR Drift Grid Pwr Reporter RGrid km
2011-06-15 10:12 PC4T 50.294540 - 17 0 JO22io 5 CN8LI IM63nx 2267
2011-06-15 09:46 PC4T 50.294549 -21 0 JO22io 5 ON4PC JO10ws 212
2011-06-15 11:28 PC4T 50.294419 -22 0 JO22io 5 PE4BAS JO33jk 167
2011-06-15 11:16 PC4T 50.294479 -21 0 JO22io 5 PA0O JO33hg 148

On 10 meter I heard PU8WWW with PSK31 last night.

Mini Ice Age

The Sun appears to be headed into a lengthy spell of low activity, which could mean that the Earth – far from facing a global warming problem – is actually headed into a mini Ice Age. Read More >>> or Universe Today.

Today is 6 meter (and 60 meters for which we are not allowed in the Netherlands) WSPR day. I use 5 watt into a 5/8 vertical 6 meters up. Later today I will give an update on my blog.

Update: I promised an update but wsprnet.org was down in the late afternoon and still is. There was good Es propagation in the late afternoon but no info is uploaded to wsprnet. Best distance so far was Morocco. 2200 km on 6 meter.

MMVARI beta ver 0.45

I could not fall asleep tonight, so I decided to go out of bed and put on the rig. There was some activity on 40 meter PSK31. I downloaded MMVARI beta ver 0.45 just for trying the software. Most of the time I use Fldigi and I am rather satisfied about the program. But when I was comparing both programs I saw that MMVARI was more accurate in decoding when signals are weak. Anyway, I worked the following stations on 40 meter: IN3AFT, UN7FU, UB9AAJ, UA9TK and OH8GDU.

Weekend activity

My activity this weekend. With WSPR on 6 meter I was reported by PE4BAS.

Grenada

I do not often work late at night, but last night I did. I was QRV on 20 meter with JT65A. I was happy to work J39BS Grenada, Caribbean Island. I was running 10 watt. It is a new DXCC for me. I also worked AB1NJ from Vermont.

6 meter again

I heard LY1CX calling CQ on 6 meter with CW. So we made a qso in the early Saturday morning 6.37 UTC. Yesterday I worked with SSB on 10 meter MCØSHL and SP7AWG. With a SF of 87 the HF bands are very poor. So thank god for Es.

6 meter WSPR

WSPR results on 6 meter today:

19:52	PC4T	50.294545	-6	0	JO22io	5	CN8LI	IM63nx	2267
19:20	PC4T	50.294528	-7	-1	JO22io	5	OH8HTG	KP34di	1794
20:40	PC4T	50.294505	-27	1	JO22io	5	IW4EGP	JN64gb	1111
19:32	PC4T	50.294487	-16	0	JO22io	5	GM4SLV	IP90gg	932
12:34	PC4T	50.294502	-2	1	JO22io	0.5	2E0DXY	IO80ek	624
12:34	PC4T	50.294498	-16	0	JO22io	0.5	PA0O	JO33hg	148

WSPR vs JT65A

I made a QSO with IK2DJV with 0,5 watt JT65A on 20 meter. I will try more QRP with JT65A. In fact the software is meant for weak signals. Thanks to Joe Taylor K1JT. WSPR is really fun to do, only we can't make QSO's with it. So if you want to make QSO's then JT65A is a good choice. This morning I was reported with JT65A (0,5 W) by UA3ARC 2146 km, with WSPR this morning my best DX was LA9JO 1967 km. But this is too premature for conclusions. I think both modes are quite similar, but with JT65A you can make really QSO's. I also worked HB9MGS with JT65A and 0,5 watt on 20 meter. Have a nice day! Wow, I am reported in Greenland, OX3XR 3393 km with 0,5 watt on 20 meter.

2011-06-10 08:40	PC4T	14.097143	-26	0	JO22io	0.5	OX3XR	GP44de	3393
2011-06-10 09:04	PC4T	14.097144	-26	0	JO22io	0.5	LA9JO	JP99gb	1967
2011-06-10 09:30	PC4T	14.097123	-28	0	JO22io	0.5	OH2MZA	KP01ro	1415
2011-06-10 09:30	PC4T	14.097134	-24	0	JO22io	0.5	OH1ZAA	KP01ro	1415
2011-06-10 09:30	PC4T	14.097134	-18	0	JO22io	0.5	LA3LJA	JP53ej	1244

On 10 meter are also Es conditions. So here are my 0,5 watt and 1 watt results with WSPR on 10:

Timestamp	Call	MHz	SNR	Drift	Grid	Pwr	Reporter	RGrid	km
2011-06-10 09:50	PC4T	28.126082	-25	0	JO22io	1	UA3ARC	KO85so	2146
2011-06-10 09:50	PC4T	28.126091	-28	1	JO22io	1	SWLKN56	KN56jk	1991
2011-06-10 11:08	PC4T	28.126089	-30	0	JO22io	0.5	UA1ASB	KO59du	1760
2011-06-10 10:56	PC4T	28.126079	-21	0	JO22io	0.5	EA1FAQ	IN71pn	1417
2011-06-10 10:56	PC4T	28.126095	-3	1	JO22io	0.5	OE3KFB	JN78wl	911

CW Nostalgic Mode

Though, it is no longer a requirement to know CW for getting a ham license in most countries, it is still an attractive mode. It was the best mode for working DX, where phone failed, CW is still possible. Nowadays, with digital modes, such as JT65A, is CW no longer the best mode. As long as we depend on our ears, for weak signals will CW also fail. But nevertheless, CW is a very nice mode, and it makes us nostalgic. Every radio amateur want to be able to work CW, or don’t they? Sometimes it is hard to learn CW and someone need patience and perseverance to resume learning CW. But once learned, you’ll never forget. After so many years I still need sometimes training to take CW by ear. I become lazy by terrific software who can decode CW such as CW Skimmer, which is the best, unfortunately it is not for free, but it’s sure worth the money. Still I need to train CW sometimes and I use CW Player 4.0.3d. to upgrade my skills. You can adjust the right training speed. You can choose for random text. I like the software very much and it is for free! Good luck and have fun with CW.

Downloads:
CW_Player 4.0.3d
CW Skimmer

Magnificent flare

I never have seen such a flare in times. That means Aurora tomorrow and maybe radio blackouts on HF. The last two weeks we have a lot of geomagnetic disturbances.

Today I worked RZ3AWI and UA3WT with PSK31 on 20 meter. On 17 meter I worked HG15IPA with CW.

Results WSPR on 80 meter tonight with 5 watt.

Sporadic-E propagation at VHF

After a radioless weekend, and a lot of other fun, I charged my battery, so I am fit for the last part of working in the garden. I saw a pretty active sun and G1 geomagnetic storms over the weekend. It's good we have Sporadic E on 10 or 6 meter.

Great strides in sporadic-E achievements and theory have been made since amateurs discovered this fascinating propagation mode in the 1930s. This review of progress and future Prospects provides a practical guide for effective use of VHF sporadic-E propagation.

Read more >>>

I took my dual band hand held with me last weekend, but no activity on 2 meter and 70 cm. It is one of my needless purchases last year. It's good that the hand held has a FM broadcast band on board, so I can listen to something. Last night I worked RW3TP (see photo) on 20 meter with JT65A, a distance of 2500 km. And I was reported by KT1B, VE3ODZ and VK2XV. After that, I disconnected the cables because of heavy thunderstorms over here.

QRX till Monday

160 meter

Last night I did some WSPR on 160 meter. I had a noise floor of S9 and after 21.00 UTC I get a noise of S9+40 db. No reception possible. Anyway, I was heard by several stations. This morning I heard KL7J with JT65A on 14.076 MHz, I tried to work him, but I was not successful. I've never worked Alaska before. It is on my wish list.

Today WSPR on 6 meter again. Best DX: CN8LI Morocco. 2267 km, for the first time outside Europe on 6 meter. And YU1UN Serbia.