Dear LF Group,
I have been running a dedicated WSPR receiver and PC more or less full time
for the past few weeks on 502.4kHz "dial frequency" (other frequencies
possible if requested), with loggings uploaded to the WSPRnet database. It
is good to see there have recently been a few new countries QRV in WSPR
mode, including EI6IZ, LA3EQ/P and PA3FNY.
Some info for stations looking at their spots in the database - The 500kHz
receive antenna here is currently a phased vertical/loop combination which
is necessary to reject local QRM. It produces a single deep null on a
bearing of about 90degrees from here. The directional pattern only makes a
few dB difference to signals from most directions, but obviously signals
coming from the east , e.g. from ON, PA, DL, are heavily attenuated and will
show low values of SNR as a result. An omnidirectional antenna would be
preferable from the propagation study point of view, but unfortunately the
noise level would be increased by at least 20dB, and many of the weaker
signals would then be undetectable. So this seems the best option at the
moment. The WSPR receiver is an RA1792 with an old 400MHz laptop.
Cheers, Jim Moritz
73 de M0BMU
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