Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Preliminary Results - 14avq vs 1/4 GP

 Since I fired up CG3LDP ( 14avq )  there have been a total of 204 total spots and for VE3LDP ( 1/4 GP) it was 432 total  spots.  Clearly the single band 1/4 Vertical with 8 tuned radials is the better antenna however the 14avq was head 3 times in Europe and the 1/4 Vert was twice.   



14avq   had 25 unique spots 
 2017-04-26 18:16   CG3LDP  -24  ON7KO  6042 50
 2017-04-26 20:54   CG3LDP  -18  G4SFS  5616 53
 2017-04-26 20:46   CG3LDP  -22  F5OIH  6051 57
 2017-04-26 19:16   CG3LDP  -21  CG1VDM  1398 80
 2017-04-26 23:32   CG3LDP  -24  KP3FT  3234 151
 2017-04-26 21:00   CG3LDP  -24  WB2TQE  2021 178
 2017-04-27 12:16  CG3LDP  -17  W4MO  2010 186
 2017-04-26 18:42   CG3LDP  -26  WD4AHB  1636 185
 2017-04-26 18:32   CG3LDP  -17  K4COD  1299 194
 2017-04-26 17:38   CG3LDP  -26  KC4RSN  1368 197
 2017-04-26 20:14   CG3LDP  -18  W4HOD  1379 198
 2017-04-26 17:36   CG3LDP  -24  AI4RY  1375 198
 2017-04-26 19:28   CG3LDP  -20  KF0DH  1338 204
 2017-04-26 18:16   CG3LDP  -19  N5CEY  2518 221
 2017-04-26 18:58   CG3LDP  -29  KD0PLN  2027 222
 2017-04-26 17:24   CG3LDP  -23  KD6RF  1802 227
 2017-04-26 17:22   CG3LDP  -22  K5XL  1914 232
 2017-04-26 17:36   CG3LDP  -15  AC0G  1106 240
 2017-04-26 22:54   CG3LDP  -29  K7GXB  2889 258
 2017-04-26 22:44   CG3LDP  -22  NO1D  2883 258
 2017-04-26 22:30   CG3LDP  -26  N6RY  3351 260
 2017-04-26 23:04   CG3LDP  -26  K6RRR  3332 261
 2017-04-26 22:36   CG3LDP  -27  W6SZ  3318 262
 2017-04-26 23:20   CG3LDP  -27  K7MHI  3156 291
 2017-04-26 22:36   CG3LDP  -26  VE7KPB  2669 295
1/4 Vertical had 32 unique spots

 2017-04-26 13:14   VE3LDP  -3  VA3SK  272 34
 2017-04-26 18:42   VE3LDP  -28  HB9ADJ  6492 54
 2017-04-26 20:34   VE3LDP  -25  F5OIH  6051 57
 2017-04-26 19:34   VE3LDP  -25  CG1VDM  1398 80
 2017-04-26 14:22   VE3LDP  -20  WA9WTK  799 103
 2017-04-26 14:14   VE3LDP  -22  WB3AVN  677 147
 2017-04-26 17:56   VE3LDP  -23  WB2TQE  2021 178
 2017-04-26 18:20   VE3LDP  -26  WD4AHB  1636 185
 2017-04-26 22:48   VE3LDP  -9  W4MO  2010 186
 2017-04-26 13:16   VE3LDP  -25  W4DJW  1062 186
 2017-04-26 17:42   VE3LDP  -23  K4COD  1299 194
 2017-04-26 13:50   VE3LDP  -23  KB8UVN  495 196
 2017-04-26 19:08   VE3LDP  -25  KC4RSN  1368 197
 2017-04-26 13:40   VE3LDP  -16  KC5YSN  382 197
 2017-04-26 17:42   VE3LDP  -25  AI4RY  1375 198
 2017-04-26 17:40   VE3LDP  -18  W4HOD  1379 198
 2017-04-26 19:24   VE3LDP  -18  KF0DH  1338 204
 2017-04-26 13:14   VE3LDP  -29  W3PM  1190 206
 2017-04-27  00:34  VE3LDP  -14  N5CEY  2518 221
 2017-04-26 18:58   VE3LDP  -21  KD0PLN  2027 222
 2017-04-26 19:56   VE3LDP  -32  KD6RF  1802 227
 2017-04-26 20:42   VE3LDP  -6  K5XL  1914 232
 2017-04-26 13:14   VE3LDP  -22  K9AN  759 233
 2017-04-26 22:48   VE3LDP  -23  K7GXB  2889 258
 2017-04-26 22:48   VE3LDP  -18  NO1D  2883 258
 2017-04-26 22:30   VE3LDP  -22  N6RY  3351 260
 2017-04-26 23:04   VE3LDP  -23  K6RRR  3332 261
 2017-04-26 22:48   VE3LDP  -18  W6SZ  3318 262
 2017-04-26 19:06   VE3LDP  -28  KK7KZ  2563 271
 2017-04-27 00:04   VE3LDP  -25  N6KOG  3430 272
 2017-04-26 23:20   VE3LDP  -20  K7MHI  3156 291
 2017-04-26 22:48   VE3LDP  -21  VE7KPB  2669 295




First WSPR test of the " Antenna Season "

WSPRing on 20m

VE3LDP 100 mw  1/4 Vertical with 8 radials.  
CG3LDP 100 mw Hygain 14avq some radials.  

CG3LDP is at the top of my hill about 60ft higher then VE3LDP.  CG3LDP has clear LOS 360 degrees.  The old Hygain 14avq trap vertical has a series of radial ,  not any particular length.   Using a WSPR light powered by the Sotabeams DC to DC converter connected to a12V Lead Acid Car Battery.  

VE3LDP is just up behind the house.   The 1/4 Wave GP has a series of 8 tuned radials.  There is clear LOS from about 180 to 360 degrees .    The hill slopes away to the West favouring VK land.   To the east the hill rises a 60ft at around 90 deg the elevation angle is about 20 degreees and at about 30 degreees the elevation angle rises to about 30 degrees. 
  
I suspect that CG3LDP will favor Europe and VE3LDP will favor VK land.  This is the first " Antenna Test " using my WSPRlite's.   

Friday, April 21, 2017

80m @ 13:30 est Today ....now QRO at +30 dbm

 Yesterday I got my new 1W Linear + new BPF hooked up to the WSPRlite and I am now QRO at a whopping 1 Watt!

 Didn't WSPR on 80 until 00:30 this morning but my one watt got  into Europe until 01:50 am est then I made it to Australia between 6:18 and 7:00 am est.      

 Noticed not much propagation through the afternoons on 80m.   Just fired things up after charging my battery and was one of three stations being heard anywhere in North America!


Friday, April 7, 2017

Auroral Modulation

Super love working CW over the North Pole and the modulation that the Aurora adds to the tone.  It varies in intensity and modulation but it always a haunting sound.....





I worked RW0CR just a few minutes earlier.




This is where he is on the globe...note he is bearing 337 deg not due West LOL!

























Details .....

























And this is Alexander ...



30 Days 5mw on 80m to a 1/4 GP with 12 Radials

30 Days 5mw on 80m to a 1/4 GP with 12 Radials


Saturday, April 1, 2017

QRO?

Picked up a little 2 Watt HF Linear amp on Ebay.    Wanted to get to +33 dbm instead of the +23 dbm I am currently WSPering at.

Looked at the WSPRlite power op at the various settings

30 Meters
Desired OP                  Measured OP               Delta
200 mw                   +23 dbm /200 mw               0 db
100 mw                   +20.8 dbm /120 mw       +0.8 db
  50 mw                   +18.3 dbm/67mw           +0.7 db
  10 mw                   +12.2 dbm/16mw           +2.2 db
    5 mw                   +9.8 dbm/9mw               +2.8 db

80 Meters
Desired OP                  Measured OP               Delta
200 mw                     +24 dbm/251 mw           +1 db
100 mw                     +22 dbm/158 mw           +2 db
  50 mw                     +19 dbm/80 mw             +2 db
  10 mw                     +13 dbm/19 mw             +3 db
    5 mw                     +10dbm/10 mw              +3 db

So the results were tightener then I was expecting!  

I needed to know the levels because I bought this little 2 Watt Amp...




























The manufacturer said 1mw drive would give you a +33 dbm OP.   When I tested it it need allot less drive.   Used the 80m beacon from the WSPRlite set to 5mw OP (  actually 10mw ).  To get +31 dbm out of the amp I was driving it with a 29 db pad installed whic turns out to be a -19dm drive level yielding a +31 dbm op ...50 db gain!  Driving it any harder just created intermods and no more power op.