Made a big decision today.... and am now 'active' on WSPR!

I know Brad VK2QO will now look at me in a different light, but given so many radio amateurs are WSPRing every day I just had to try it for my self.

Initial thoughts.... software was very easy to set-up. Within a few minutes of it being loaded I had received my first WSPR signals, and soon after that I was linked to the WSPR Net and I could see who was hearing me and who I'd heard.

So, will I continue with it.... maybe! It certainly doesn't leave you with the thrill of operating and 'cracking' a new one through a huge EU pile-up, but the idea of running WSPR when at otherwise busy or at QRL does hold some appeal!

Sunday morning 50MHz MS didn't produce the same amazing burn as experienced yesterday, but still did deliver some good quality completed Qs.

Worked were:
Brad VK2QO @ 2016z (RS55) 826km
Frank VK7DX @ 2052z (RS57) 1719km
David VK3AUU @ 2107z (RS55) 1374km

This morning's 50MHz MS featured a burn that almost was beyond description... a single event that produced signals of up to RS59 for a period of nearly 3 minutes!

Worked were:

Frank VK7DX @ 2017z (RS54) 1719km
Norm VK3DUT @ 2027z (RS57) 1253km
Norm VK3DUT @ 2102z (RS55) 1253km
Joe VK7JG @ 2102z (RS54) 1650km
David VK3AUU @ 2102z (RS58) 1374km

Brad VK2QO @ 2103z (RS53) 826km

Also heard at 2102z were
Brian VK4EK (RS54) 676km
John VK2FAD (RS53) 667km

During the 2102z burn David VK3AUU and Norm VK3DUT both were heard working other stations with signals exceeding RS59. Fantastic... it's what its all about!

Saturday night I made the rash decision to participate in the Winter VHF/UHF Field Day. Now the need to decide on where to go had to be filled.... criteria - somewhere close (within 50km), elevated (over 500mASL) and not too many people... made that decision easy with Mt Mee State Forest and Kluvers Lookout fitting the criteria.

 

Byron Creek Road - Mt Byron and Kluvers Lookout

The first obstacle would be the closed gates..... two were encountered, preventing access to Kulvers Lookout.
 We pressed on and set-up at the edge of the road about 5km north of our intended location at grid locator QG62iv.

 

10 element DL6WU 144MHz Yagi at ~5m AGL

A total of 437 points for 17 Qs on both 144 & 432MHz... best contact was with VK2FWB near Tenterfield in Northern NSW (QG50xw). No winning scores, but a bit of fun.

Saturday was a fun morning on 50MHz MS, and whilst conditions weren't the best some good Qs were completed. They included:


Dave VK7DD @ 2043z (RS52) 1683km
Frank VK7DX @ 2044z (RS53) 1719km
Brad VK2QO @ 2054z (RS53) 826km
David VK3AUU @ 2111z (RS57) 1374km
David VK3AUU @ 2129z (RS52) 1374km

Winter Es also were experienced in the afternoon, and the following stations worked:
ZL4DK @ 0301z
ZL4LV @ 0303z
ZL3ADT @ 0312z
ZL3MH @ 0312z
VK7DX @ 0659z

This weekend's 50MHz MS activity has been interesting. Characterised by many short sharp burns that unfortunately didn't produce too many completed Qs.

Following is a  summary of what was worked from here in QG62lp:

Saturday morning,worked were:
Frank VK7DX @ 2029z (RS51) 1719km
Brad VK2QO @ 2031z (RS55) 826km
Frank VK7DX @ 2037z (RS52) 1719km
Brad VK2QO @ 2121z (RS55) 826km
Norm VK3DUT @ 2125z (RS51) 1253km

Sunday morning, worked were:
Frank VK7DX @ 2057z (RS53) 1719km
Dave VK7DD @ 2105z (RS51) 1683km

Monday morning, worked were:
Frank VK7DX @ 2027z (RS51) 1719km
Frank VK7DX @ 2033z (RS51) 1719km
David VK3AUU @ 2037z (RS52) 1374km

Heard and uncompleted Qs were also:
Dave VK7DD - heard providing RS58 report

No amateur radio this weekend... so nil to report. Spent two great days at Landcruiser Mountain Park playing with the non-radio toy!