OK, since no one responded to the forum post, will have to put it here.

There are severe issues of interference from near by users of WSPR from JT65 users and vice versa on the 160m band. Not sure about any other bands? Ive not experienced it on others if it does happen.

I know we have reported problems from USA and Australia regarding this issue. With stations on either mode having their receptions ruined due to the alternating transmissions being to close together and putting up QRM across each others frequencies.

Solutions?

-The two modes need to be moved further appart?
-An alternating program of WSPR one week and JT65 the next week?
-We just give up WSPR altogether as being unworkable?

Hi all, just to let you know, a while back I created a Facebook group for 160m WSPR enthusiasts. There is a few people who have joined the group from different countries, its quite good and easy to advise of your activity and meet up with friends with similar interests.

As a bit of an experimental thing, I thought I would make some group pages for those interested in 10m WSPR and 6m WSPR, just to see how it would go and give those on Facebook an interest group that caters for them too.

It may be especially helpful on 6m to help group those interested together and may help get some longer paths achieved.

I know there has been a WSPR Group page, which covers everything, but not everyone wants posts about 30m bands etc. So I thought I'd set these up for those with specific interests.

10m WSPR Facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/188699241232946/#!/groups/188699241232946/
6m WSPR Facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/groups/188699241232946/#!/groups/361822510505153/

Anyone interested is quite welcome to join. At least it will give WSPR and these bands more exposure and chance to attract other users who may come across the groups in their travels around the Facebook world. And a good way to get to know other WSPR users with similar interests.

If any 160m WSPR enthusiasts are interested, I've recently opened a "160m WSPR" Facebook page.

Just myself and Derek VK6DZ on there at present, but others from around the world most welcome and let us know what your up to in the world of 160m WSPR.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/149900118453784/

Hi Folks, as you would be aware, as the sunspot numbers rise and solar flux etc, the chances of signals passing on the 6m band increase.
We down in Australia have quite a good following on 6m WSPR with operators showing up on the map from different parts of the country.
We really would like to see some more stations on 6m WSPR from specific locations at the moment, particularly those with yagi antennas, but an omni will do if thats all thats available. Even if you can only listen and not TX that is still a good help.
As the sun is heading south at the moment it would be valuable to have more stations anywhere in the southern hemisphere.
But we would also like to see some stations from Hawaii, and also west coast USA.
More stations from Japan and other Asian areas, also Russia.
Yes, some times it may not be easy, and sometimes you may hear nothing for quite a while, but hopefully that rare signal path that comes through that you weren't expecting will make it all worth while!
So any further stations that could come up on 6m WSPR would be much appreciated by us all.
Leigh VK2KRR

I rarely operate on 10m SSB, tonight (16th Nov) I thought I would give it a go and share a few voice signals into Europe, Russia via the big Optibeam OB17-4 yagi.
I also gave mention to WSPR weak signal digital mode a few times to some of the hundreds of operators calling in the pile up, maybe some may come and have a look into WSPR now.

As luck would have it, I was being recorded for youtube video by Penn G0VQY in England, and an excellent video it is too, runs for about 10 mins. Towards the end you see I mention WSPR operations :)
Thought some of you WSPRers may like a look, just go to the address below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9UDEJjZYOg

Regards

Leigh VK2KRR

Hi all.

I was just thinking that it would be really handy to know, if someone is running a directional antenna with WSPR, what direction they are pointing.

It would be very handy, especially for people using 10m, 6m, 2m to know which way people have their antenna facing.

I was thinking that, for example, when u see a stations call on the WSPR map, that u click on their call and now it brings up data such as this "VK6DZ Tx 20% 50.294520 37dbm", that it would be handy if something basic could be included like -

VK6DZ Tx 20% 50.294520 37dbm NW

or

VK6DZ Tx 20% 50.294520 37dbm 325 deg

The beam heading data does not need to be sent on a WSPR transmission, but if there could be an option implemented on the program interface somewhere, where you could say, tick a check box for - N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW or Omni. Or even a data box where you could type your heading in degrees, like - 270 deg. If this data could be just uploaded to the WSPR site in the normal 2min upload interval, I think it would work out OK.

Some people also use yagis for many other bands too from anywhere from 40m to 15m also, and others, so it could be handy.

What do you think ? I presume it would not be much of a drama to implement that?

Leigh VK2KRR

Last night I was able to use a Kite supported 160m 1/4 wave vertical antenna.

After a few teething troubles were rectified, the kite 1/4 wave worked really well, better than expected actually!

I went from almost hearing nothing from USA direction, to hearing quite big signals. Very impressed. Though it can be quite high maintenance due to gravity and wind variation.

I'll try and use it when I can on 160m.

Just want to inform anyone interested in 6m WSPR that Gary VK8AW is on air now and planning to be on air most days now.
Gary is now up north in Darwin, close up to the equatorial areas.
He is currently running 20W @ 20% but im not sure of his antenna at this stage.
I hope that some people can have a look for his signals, it could be quite interesting to see what happens.

Leigh VK2KRR

Just for all the 160m peoples info, you may have noticed Ive not been on 160m past few nights, ive not abandoned the band, but have removed parts of the Beverage antenna system as Im completely re-building it.
It was originally only set up in a temporary state just for testing purposes to see if it would work, and it seems to go OK, even though it has been set up quite poorly which would give it low efficiency.
The re-build will be a permanent set up with double to amount of supports, and nearly double the length, possibly tripple thickness of wire. I will also be adjusting where its pointing slightly as it was about 316 deg before, this time it will be about 300 deg so its better aimed at Europe. If it really nulls out the USA I will add a 2nd one aiming at the USA. Im also moving it from starting inside the house yard to start at the yard fence away from buildings.
The length will be increased from 1 WL (160m) to 1-3/4 WL (280m).
So hopefully it should work even better than it was working before very soon.

Leigh VK2KRR

Thanks to Jim JG1KGS, a few of the stations down here in VK have been lucky to hear and be heard by him on 28 MHz WSPR this week on the TEP paths. A few very strong signals on the 28 MHz band into the +10dB area with only low power.

I have set up a page on my website to try and monitor the TEP openings from 28 - 50 - 144 MHz. http://www.vk2krr.com/evening_japan_tep_log.htm

Will try and keep track of the best times.

Probably one of the best TEP paths is between VK & JA but no contacts have been made for quite a while on 144 MHz.

It would be good to see a lot more stations from Japan on WSPR, esp 28, 50 , 144, especially with yagis.

Im still in the process of setting up 6m here but I can get on 10 & 2m no problems.

I'll try update this blog entry a bit when I can.

Regards

Leigh
VK2KRR