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.   

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!

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

2612 km on 5 milliwatts on 80m

This morning.....

Last 6 hours ....

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.