From time to time WSPR's reports a decode that is just "Too good to be true".
To a newcomer they are something to get excited about. Is this WSPR mode really that amazing.
Sometimes they just "don't look or feel right" to an experienced WSPR's eye.
Sometimes they are just plain "WRONG"

If it fails the Database filters, IT thinks it is Suspect and is simply not entered in the DB.
If it passes the Database filters and is entered it may still be suspect.
Filters are not intuitive, they don't ask all the right questions and think about the Answers.

There are a few simple checks you can do, that should confirm if a Decoded Spot is Suspect.

Date and Time are rarely suspect, unless you know you were not on air at that time.

Look at the Callsign, Is it a Normal Format (prefix, number, suffix), recognise the prefix?
No, a quick check with QRZ.com or a similar DX Call book Listing.
"The search for 6p7frs produced no results!, MMM, 6p7frs looks like a callsign from Pakistan".
Not a good result, Suspect ?

Look at the Band/Distance, 50MHz, 5123kM, a Long way to go on a quite band, 1600kM is my best DX today. Not a good result Suspect?

Look at the S/N ratio -29dB, thats right at the decoders limits. We know WSPR was working very hard trying to decode something, ALL_WSPR.txt confirms the 6p7frs data looped through the error correction system 16,018 times to produce this Decode. Not a real good sign!

Look at the Grid Square BG24 the WSPR Map tells me in the middle of Antartica, Only 4 digits, A Pakistani in Antartica far from all known bases. Not an expected result Suspect?

Look at the Power, 501 Watts, Odd figures, Wattmeter that accurate?, Not really QRP,
(10 Watts or Less). Again Not a good looking result Suspect?

So our Suspect Spot Below Failed on most of the Simple Tests and I Believe it should be consigned to the Bit Bucket where it obviously belongs.

Timestamp Call MHz SNR Grid Pwr Reporter RGrid km az

After looking at the WSPR database over many months I wonder.

Why do so many VK stations feel they must run high power on WSPR?

Look at the database for any band and most of the stations running double figures in power are VK's.

Is it because they can't read:

The Weak Signal Propagation Reporter Network is a group of amateur radio operators using K1JT's MEPT_JT digital mode to probe radio frequency propagation conditions using very low power (QRP/QRPp) transmissions.

Is it because we don't understand the terms, Weak Signal Propagation or QRP/QRPp

Is it because we think its a contest to see who can score the most spots.

Is it because we don't know how to reduce our power?

Is it a throwback to our convict ancestry, a need to be noticed, a cry for help.

Or simply a feeling of isolation from the rest of the world.

73, Paul VK4ZBV.

Every so often in life there are moments that you get to treasure.
Sometimes it takes a little time for the significance of that moment to sink in and be recognized or fully understood.

I like many Amateurs operate a very modest WSPR station in the suburbs of a large city, with a wire dipole @ 7.5mts strung between the house and a tree in the backyard. The receiver is an SDR-IQ and a Dell computer running Windows XP.

Today I see a station that I have spotted a number of times in the last week about the same time each afternoon.

WSPR Reports 0706UTC -18dB 0.3DT 18.106100MHz 0Drift DL6NL JO50 23

Which looks just like the many thousands of other Spots before, What is so special about this Spot?

Well first I Now know that DL6NL's home brew Transmitter is producing 200 milliwatts power output.(3.17V on 50 ohms)

Secondly Peter's (DL6NL) antenna is a 85cm diameter copper pipe horizontal magnetic loop, (suspended by string) from the overhead light fitting about a meter above the rig on the Table inside Peters apartment. (nice short low loss feeder)

And last but not least my QTH is only 16,001 km from Peter's QTH. Thats a long way for 0.2W given all the circumstances.

I know Peter will be as excited about what his little rig has achieved, as I was to receive his spots.

My thanks go to Joe Taylor K1JT, Bruce Walker W1BW, and the WSPR development team,my new friend Peter DL6NL and WSPR's for making this moment possible.

Paul VK4ZBV