AGC and the WSPR waterfall display

I saw it before, but I didn't know what is was. Now I know... with strong stations and without the AGC on you will see all the lines in your WSPR waterfall display.

I read at W2LJ Larry's blog about PZT log. Always in for something new: I installed the software. The engine is based on MMVARI, which I used before. Changing the macros is circuitous. I can't find a field for putting in the name of the receiving operator. I don't need another log. I put every qso in qrz.com log and transfer the qrz data to my Excel log. With Excel I can make diagrams and sort out all kind of data. So I wanted to remove PZT log from my computer, but I can't... it wont install the program... aaargh.

Update: It is not my intention to be negative about PZT log. It has a lot of great features on board that will satisfy many amateurs, great job by Charlie M0PZT. Sure when you use CAT control, which I do not. There is a little bug in the RX window, it is flickering. When I right click in the RX window I cannot add the name and QTH easily. I am addicted to Fldigi, it works fine for me. Unless the uninstall.exe in the programfolder I could not uninstall the software. Finally I did with REVO uninstall.

Doing fine on 80 m

I first tried my luck on 160 meter with JT65, I was called by PA0MJK, he gave me -14 dB report. He was -24 dB here. But when I answered, his signal was in the noise. I was reported by many stations on 80 m, only one on 160 meter by OH3GGQ 1462 km.

Unfortunately, no qso.

On 80 meter, no success with JT65 so I switched to PSK31. That was much better. Best DX was US3ICJ Vladimir from the Ukraine. 2325 km. Next qso was with F6CXI Claude from France. Last qso was with HA7JIN/P Jozef from Hungary. That's all for today.

Kabul

I made a few nice contacts on 12 meter today. A new DXCC was YA/RL3AR from Kabul, Afghanistan. I made this contact with PSK31. Other stations on 12 m: UA9XLE/3 UA9UDX, RK4FAJ, UA0ZED/6, RV9MA.

Excellent

When I looked at the propagation widget this morning HF propagation on the lower bands should be excellent. But I couldn't get my WSPR signal across the pond on 80 meter this morning. Direction to Scandinavia was good.

WSPR 80 meter

Results of 5 W WSPR on 80 m this morning.

A nice video from NG9D Youtube channel.

In the late afternoon I worked F6HFX/QRP on 14060 KHz CW.

Sinterklaas (Santa Claus)

The arrival of Sinterklaas into town became a huge event and is broadcast on national television. Numerous people dress as Zwarte Pieten in various cities and towns across the Netherlands. Traditionally their faces are blackened because Zwarte Piet is a Spanish (moorish) servant of Sinterklaas (though some people said Zwarte Piet was originally a slave who, when Sinterklaas bought him his freedom, was so grateful that he stayed to assist him). Today, sometimes the more politically correct explanation that Pete's face is "black from soot" (as Pete has to climb through chimneys to deliver his gifts) is used. Read more

Because of making the video I was not active with ham radio yesterday. Missed a CW contest. On the video you see the arrival of Sinterklaas in our village.

10 m today

The shack of N4CE, I worked him with JT65 on 10 meter. I was spotted by several stations from the USA.

Last night I worked IN3NJB with CW on 80 meter.

Results of WSPR on 10 meter today.

80 meter

I worked YU7U on 80 meter with CW, pretty fast with 32 wpm. But with a little help from CWSkimmer no problem at all. With my own ears I check always if the decodes are right. Hi hi. With the winter season the higher bands are closing down early. That means that I go down to the lower bands. 40 meter is a nice band but very crowded. On 80 meter there is a lot of space available. Enough for CW, JT65 and PSK31. On 40 meter the JT65 frequency 7076 KHz is in the SSB section of the band. On 7039 KHz are a lot of strong CW beacons and other noise. 80 meter is a good alternative for low band operations. The problem for a lot of hams is the antenna space needed for lower bands. Vertical antennas are most of the time insufficient unless you put a lot of radials on ground level. An end fed antenna is possible but you need still 40 meters of length, and that is maybe not possible for a lot of us. I like to work on 160 meter too, but... no antenna for it. Maybe an EH antenna? But that antenna concept is questionable and maybe losses of -20dB.

80 & 40 m results WSPR

I started on 80 m this morning

After that I moved to 40 m WSPR

This photo comes qrz.com: the shack of WA0HQQ Al from Kennesaw GA, I worked him with PSK31 on 12 meter this afternoon. Also worked UR5FA/MM from the Indian Ocean (position: south of Madagascar)

Friese Elfsteden Contest

I participate in the Friese Elfsteden Contest. (A Dutch Contest) I did work 9 of the 11 Friese Steden. I could not find Dokkum and IJlst. And the klunplaats Bartlehiem. Totally I worked 33 stations, my noise floor on 80 meter is S9. The contest was my first test on 80 ssb with my new dipole, and I am satisfied because they could hear me in all parts of the Netherlands with 50 watts. Of course I worked Bas (my fellow blogger) PE4BAS on 80 m, he was very strong 59+20dB.

With some stations in the Netherlands we were testing with WSPR on 2 meter. This afternoon I was spotted by Bas PE4BAS and he spotted me almost at the same time once.

Well, I prefer the electronic key, with this speed I will be dead after 3 qso's. By the way, his key is unplugged.

One month to go...

The end is near... sometimes I think about December 21 2012. The day that the Mayan calender predict the end of our world. I think it is not true, but there is a little doubt in the back of my mind. I must think about this because of an article of Bas PE4BAS on his blog. I put this cartoon before on my blog some time ago.

Links:

Greatdreams.com

Blog PE4BAS

Greyzone

As most of you know, the best chance on DX in the early morning on 80 meter is at dawn making advantage of the grey zone. The sun rises at 8.05 today local time. At 7.30 local time signals became suddenly very strong with WSPR. I was spotted by KD8NNU with 5W on 80 m, that's 6321 km. Best DX so far on 80 m wspr.

Donald KD8NNU from Michigan USA

WSPR on 10 m today using 5 W

Computer back on duty

My computer is back on duty. My hard drive crashed 2 weeks ago. Now I have a new hard drive. I have installed most important software such as: Fldigi, JT65-HF, WSPR and Dimension4. My only browser will be Chrome. Now I can manage my logbook at qrz.com again. Everything is running smoothly again now all is installed. So I am back.

WSPR 5 watt on 80 meter tonight

No radio... and it feels fine

Now I am one week without the radio and computer in the shack. I could do some CW or Phone, but I didn't feel like to do something with it. I was afraid for a cold turkey, the first 3 days were pretty hard, but now I am feeling well without it. Yesterday I was listening on 40 meter, but I heard a quarrel between Dutch and Italian amateurs about the use of a particular frequency. I was immediately fed up with the radio and turned it off. Now I enjoy reading, watching films and do some walking & biking instead of radio. Can you imagine how it feels? Have a nice weekend.

A self powered HF station

I came across this video on Youtube. A self powered HF ham radio station. It's only slightly larger than a briefcase. It can TX from 1Mhz to 56 Mhz. Highly useful for survival situations.

My main computer for the shack is broken down. The computer will be repaired in a few days. So no WSPR and digi modes for a few days. Time to reorganize some things in the shack here.

WSPR on 10m

No South America, no West Coast US today. WSPR on 10 meter with 5 watt.

The number of visitors to my blog is decreasing. Maybe the influence of the social media? Or what? Don Keith N4KC wrote an interesting article about the trends in Google. The graphic in the article was gone, so I made a new one.