Amazingly, EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my extreme QRPP 6 times already!! I had to double check it really was 500uW (0.5mW). It definitely was!!
UPDATE 0917z: 11 spots already of my 500uW (0.5mW) by EA8BFK. Amazing.
Simple QRP projects, 10m, 8m, 6m, 4m, FT8, 160m, WSPR, LF/MF, sub-9kHz, nanowaves and other random stuff, some not related to amateur radio.
Amazingly, EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my extreme QRPP 6 times already!! I had to double check it really was 500uW (0.5mW). It definitely was!!
Once again I am on 10m WSPR with just 500uW (0.5mW) and I have already had 6 spots from EA8BFK (2880km) and one from Greece (a new country with ultra QRPP).
These last few days have been good. I must try to correlate this with solar conditions. I would expect to see some sort of relationship. I would not have thought these last few days were exceptional. Good, yes, but not exceptional.A reminder that my beacon is pre-programmed to report the power is 500mW even though it is just 500uW (0.5mW) during these tests.
I continue to be amazed.
It will be interesting trying ultra QRPP during the Es season.
UPDATE 1245z: Already 18 spots today. EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted me as strongly as -16dB S/N when I was running just 500uW suggesting 16dB weaker still might have been copied.
UPDATE 1730z: 22 spots of me today at 500uW including a new reporter in the USA, who received me strongly. Amazing!!
My 500uW WSPR has already been spotted in the Canary Is. by EA8BFK (2880km). I shall stick with 500uW (0.5mW) today, but yesterday was exceptional.
UPDATE 1116z: EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR twice today already!
UPDATE 1707z: This afternoon, a station in the USA spotted me again when I was using just 500uW (0.5mW).
As I was expecting today to be poor, I started beaconing at 500mW. Then I noticed that EA8FBK (2880km) was spotting me as strong as -2dB S/N, so I turned the beacon PA off at about 0945z and continued at just 500uW (0.5mW). At this tiny power he has spotted me twice by 1425z.
UPDATE 1920z: EA8BFK has spotted me 21 times today when I was running just 500uW (0.5mW). It would seem EA8BFK is a single F2 hop, so he has the best chance. Please note that even though my WSPR beacon is pre-programmed to report 500mW as the power, it is actually 30dB lower (500uW) during these tests.
As conditions looked even more disturbed on HF, I decided to increase my power by 30dB on my 10m WSPR beacon. So, today I am trying with the PA on and 500mW for a change.
UPDATE 1826z: 2 local stations spotted me. Neither would have copied me at 500uW. There were just 2 DX stations.
My QRPP 10m WSPR signal is on again, but I am not really expecting spots as conditions seem disturbed today. You never know!
UPDATE 1712z: No spots all day.
As I was spotted again yesterday with 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR, I am trying yet again today, although I am not too hopeful.
My QRPP 10m WSPR tests continue today. At the moment, I seem to be spotted in the Canary Islands most days.
My 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR beacon is on, but no spots.
UPDATE 1346z: Much to my surprise, I was spotted at lunchtime again in the Canary Islands when I was running just 500uW (0.5mW). He must have a very quiet electrical environment.
My WSPR beacon without the PA is on again with 500uW on 10m. Once again, I was spotted in the Canary Islands yesterday.
My article on these 500uW (0.5mW) tests was in the April 2024 RadCom by the RSGB.
At 500uW (0.5mW) is far harder at the RX end than with 500mW (30dB weaker). I was surprised to get spots at all as many people have a high local noise levels which masks weak signals.
UPDATE 1644z: No spots.
My 500uW 10m WSPR is on again.
UPDATE 1050z: Yet again my 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR has been spotted in the Canary Is.. A reminder that even though my beacon is pre-programmed to report 0.5W it is actually 0.5mW (30dB less) with the PA off in these tests. The station(s) at the RX end must have low noise floors!Although I think spots are very unlikely today, I am again on 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). No spots at 1001z.
UPDATE 1421z: It pays to set expectations low. Two spots of my 500uW (0.5mW) when I was not expecting any! I shall remain at 500uW on 10m WSPR all day.
Amazingly, my 500uW (0.5mW) 10m WSPR was spotted once in the Canary Is. yesterday. I honestly was not expecting this. I left my beacon running more in hope than any real expectation.
It is on now and just been resynced to internet time, so I am again on 10m WSPR with just 500uW (0.5mW).
UPDATE 1425z: No spots today with QRPP WSPR!
As 500mW 10m WSPR yesterday was so easy, I returned to 500uW (0.5mW) today. Judging by yesterday, I might have got one spot at 500uW. SSN is slightly better today, so we will see!
This morning, I am again running (for me!!) QRO i.e. 500mW WSPR. After just a few minutes, DX spots of me received.
UPDATE 1650z: So far today 16 stations have spotted my 500mW 10m WSPR.
As solar conditions seem to be on the wane (although still quite good), I think it unlikely that my 500uW WSPR be spotted, so I shall return to 500mW today.
Funny how this seems really high power now!
UPDATE 0736z: Changed to 500mW 10m WSPR and already spotted locally.
UPDATED 1040z: At 500mW WSPR it is far easier! Plenty of spots from across the world.My QRPP 10m WSPR signal is on again.
UPDATE 1706z: No spots all day. I have definitely concluded that 500uW 10m WSPR only works when (a) conditions are very good, and (b) the RX noise floor is low.
Talk about a sucker for punishment! Once again I am trying 10m WSPR with 500uW (0.5mW). No spots.
UPDATE 1456z: No spots.
My 500uW (0.5mW) WSPR is on, but no spots. It is sync'd to internet time daily (at least).
UPDATE 1703z: No spots.
Amazingly, EA8BFK (2880km) has spotted my extreme QRPP 6 times already!! I had to double check it really was 500uW (0.5mW). It definitely ...