Since around 1 year I use WSJT for QSOs in meteorscatter (on VHF) and I am still surprised, what is possible with this fantastic software. Now I started to use MEPT_JT on shortwave. I am really fascinated what is possible with low power and digital modulation on the short wave. My antenna setup here is not really good, only a trap dipole around 6-7m high in a 90 degree mounting position. I'll try to be QRV 24/7, so my transmissions from Southern Germany are available for anybody out there.
It's great, that the received data is displayed in the web as map and database. To see, how the propagation changes over the 24 hours a day is interesting and useful.

In southern Spain until the end of December

As far as I did understood (TY1MS has no internet acces), the WSPR-beacon make some interference.
Thats why the WSPR-beacon is not always on, and the conditions are poor.
The first 18 spots was with 1 Watt, the rest with 5 Watt.
Lets hope that they have better conditions and can help many stations with a new country and more WSPR spots.

From 9-10-2009 / 14:50 ut till 23-10-2009 / 4:40 ut there were 414 WSPR-spots.
Band(Spots): 80(148), 40(174), 30(13), 20(3), 17(62), 15(14)
Distance min: 3766 kM, CT1EKD (-22 dB, 7Mc)
Distance max: 12356 kM, NN6RF (-21 dB, 7Mc)
Distance AVG: 6094 kM
Best SNR: -3 dB TF3HZ 18 Mc
Reporters: 48
CT1EKD CX2ABP DF6MK DG0OPK DK5WL DL2ZQ
EI9FV G0KTN G3RED G3SUY G3THQ G3WCD
G3YSX G4DZW G4SMX G6PHT G7JVN GI4SRQ
GM4JYB I0EMV I2IAL IW1GB IW2DZX K1JT
K3SIW K9JKM KA1KE LA2XPA LA3JJ LB9YE
NN6RF OY3JE OY4TN OZ1PIF PA3ABK PE1DCD
PY2UNX TF3HZ VE7KPB W1BW W3PM W5CGC
W8LIW W9HLY WV5L YT2AAA ZS1AGF ZS1TX

Keep up the good work boys!!!
Peter , PE1DCD

Many of us have a Multiband TX/RX which can run QRP but for WSPR a computer is needed in TX only mode which makes a mockery of the term QRP as applied to Station power consumption.

We have produced PIC based MEPT’s for Multi Modes and WSPR.

Some have recorded WSPR audio on MP3 and re-played that for Computer-less operation.

I think Computerless is a well understood term in all walks of life. Well this uses a lot less Computer than most. This uses a small PIC processor with no external memory, sound card, hard drive, video card, monitor, keyboard or mouse and has never had relations with Microsoft or Monica Lewinsky.
For the purists I shall say PCless in future, if I remember.

I have now produced the KISS WSPR Organ.

The name stems from my original idea of using a musical tone generator to produce the WSPR tone frequencies. Talking to an Organ engineer yesterday morning soon proved that approach to be far too complex and my simpler KISS idea was implemented.

The Output can be applied to any HF/VHF SSB Transceiver or better, a simple home brew SSB TX.

I noticed one of the 811's filament was open so I inserted a replacement. Apparently the replacement plate was shorted to ground and blew one of the 8 amp in line fuses. So I had to reopen the top cover to remove the bad tube but failed to properly tighten down the cover and the shorting switch was grounded. When I turn on the power smoke poured from the power supply section. An inspection showed two 10 ohms in parallel resistors blew apart.
Now I'm trying to locate replacement 10 ohm 2 watt carbon resistors. I will report next time after I replace the resistors.
Dan, Ni9Y
10.26.2009

as another Amateur has suggested use just one NPN transistor if you feel happy
with a connection between your rig and computer port.

http://wsprnet.org/drupal/node/1154

Note: the higher value resistor between RTS and base of transistor.

Just depends what transistor you have from your junk box.

I have heard about 475 stations including of some fake callsign for my first one year with WSPRnet.
All station's callsigns have been listed at my Web-site:
http://www1.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~7l1rll/radio.html (Select WSPR experiments)
If your callsign was missing above, please let me know.
73
Rick 7L1RLL

DX contesters killed on plane crash...

More info at site of Southgate Amateur Radio Club at:

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2009/dx_contesters_killed_in_pla...

73 de CX2ABP.

I have running my Softrock 6.1 RXTX with PowerSDR40 and WSPR for about a month now and it works very fine and stable. For those who may be interested my setup is:
Antenna: 40m dipole low at about 7m above ground
Hardware: Softock RXTX Version 6.1 (80m/40m Version)
Computer: Pentium Core2Duo 5200 w. 2GB RAM
Soundcard: E-MU0202 at 96 kHz
Software: PowerSDR40 <-> VAC 1,2 || VCOM <-> WSPR
Software: VAC AutoRepeater -> VAC 3 -> Winrad I/Q works as independant RX. This is fine as I can tune around on the band withe the SAME RX Hardware, while WSPR is running in RX Mode.
All VACS (Virtual Audio Cable {should be called Virtual Patch Field}) are set for 8000 .. 192000 Hz sample rate.
Images of my setup are on my homepage: www.df9cy.de

Christoph DF9CY

Hi All,
I am new to WSPR and trying to get started on 20m where I have been active using Digipan.
My problem is that although WSPR installs and I can get to the start screen - as soon as the RX starts the program crashes and I get the Microsoft 'WSPR encountered a problem etc etc.
I have tried setting my options differently; checked device manager; shut down other running programs - no luck.
I am running WSPR 1.12 on my Pentium 3.06 desktop with XP Home. Any ideas please?
73 Chris

Dear reader,

This is my second evening on 40 meters WSPR. As I write this, 5 stations are heard in Holstebro, Denmark (JO46gi). It is beginning to get dark, so I expect UK and Eire stations to surface soon.

My antenna is just 10 meters of household electrical cable on the floor (radial), and 10 meters on the roof. Not optimal - but it works for RXing.

I had some problemes when starting in this corner of the radio hobby.

1. What audio device to select?
Having downloaded and installed WSPR 1.12 by K1JT, I could not decide which audio device to select in Setup -> Options. When WSPR started, the command window displayed four lines:

Audio device 0; Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Audio device 1; NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio
Audio device 2; Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Audio device 3; NVIDIA(R) nForce(TM) Audio

Selecting device 1 for "Audio In" and device 3 for "Audio Out" worked for me.

2. How to get audio into WSPR

17 Oct 09
Operating 2W from Thousand Oaks California.
Antenna is a long wire.
Will decrease power to 1W or below as soon as possible.
Skype: "PatDarden" Mail: mail@jcdarden.com

73

Connect a short ground strap between the transceiver and computer. Connect radio's aux audio output to computer's line in, line out to radio's aux audio in. Use a pot at the radio end of the cable to adjust audio level for transmit. (Accessory plug in many ICOM radios). Connect 220k resistor from serial port RTS to base of NPN transistor. Add a .01 or larger cap between base and emitter. Emitter to ground. Collector to PushToTalk. Adjust audio levels to suit. Voila. The sound card audio output level should be as high as possible to allow the pot to reduce noise as well as control transmit level.

I added a used Sound Blaster Live Value card to the computer so I could run WSPR concurrently with normal ops.

Ok Life`s too short for QRP? A stated and known way of speak... But correct? Do`nt think so! Now i`m a pretty young man and may see things abt different ok? So here we go as stated. Now i`m not the type to fiddle inside the radio, nor attemting to homebrew any interface. But i know where to buy`em (good way to start anyway HI) Don`t get me wrong, i love my seldering iron.... but that reguards antenna work... coaxial cables and so.
So why here.. Where else to fully test the antenna designs? i ask... Where else you got the repply mesured in db? WISPR HURRAY !
An... hush... i can hear a weak signal... hush agn.... yes now if i try the ather antenna? Yepp! a few db moore! in that direction HURRAY ;-)

As starters i`ll be active 20-6m BUT you`ll might find me ANYWHERE... Got a wish? send a mail :-)

De LB9YE

Just downloaded HRD and ordered an interface. active within the week (I hope).

I decided to participate in the 160m test.
I strung up a 135 foot doublet which I bought
15 years ago but had never opened. Right now
the ends are up about 30 feet and the center
is about 10 feet. The ladder line comes in
the window sill wrapped in a plastic shopping bag.
Most of the 100 feet lies on the floor in a
scramble.

I tried matching it on 160 with a Nye Viking
PI network matchbox but it wouldn't tune below
about 3 mHz. So I put my Dentron Super Tuner
back together and that did load up on 160.
The Dentron was working hard to match the doublet,
with the matching coil becoming warm after 110 seconds of
100 watt RF. I could not detect any warming of the
balun coil.

This setup seems to get out on 160 about the same
as some of the other stations adjusting for power.
Unfortunately Microsoft rebooted the computer after
Patch Tuesday, so WA7KGX missed the wee hours of
the morning when conditions on 160 might have been
the best.

in the next couple of days we should see first signals from Namibia V51
It is OE1IFM and OE1CSC who will install the new beacon system, that has been built and sponsored by Om Gernot.
see
http://www.oe1ifm.at/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Ite...

vy 73 de Mike

Like to get on WSPR with your homebrew rig? Looking for a challenge that goes beyond simple plug-and-play?
Then you should consider the GenesisRadio kit: G3020 is a multimode, 30m+20m duobander with 5W output. Yes, G3020 is no beginners kit but if you are clever and possess good soldering skills you'll get it right too. Homebrewing+QRP=Fun! For more information visit http://www.GenesisRadio.com.au
73 Nick VK2DX

PS here is an unsolicited report from yet another happy builder:

Hi you all out there,

I read an article on WSPR in our national HAM-radio magazine yesterday morning and decided to spent a few hours on sunday to try it all out.
It is exciting stuff! Within a few minutes the software was downloaded and installed on an old laptop that I use for digimodes. It all ran smooth and the first reports of my 5 Watts on 30 m signal came in from Asiatic Russia and the Westcoast of the USA. And all that with only 5 Watts in a 2x19 mtrs dipole on 12 mtrs above streetlevel (which means 10 mtrs above sealevel since we are 2 meters below.....)
I intend to do propagation experiments on 80 m the coming week.

73 for now

Jan PC0C

I have cut a 30m half wave antenna, which is connected to the match-box of my PAR End Fedz antenna. The wire is still indoors, strung down the hallway, and dangles down the stairs, but it seems to work fine. I soon got it on frequency with my home brew antenna analyser. I still want to build and try a magnetic loop to see how the two indoor antennas compare. Will probably use 15mm Copper pipe with mechanical compression fittings, rather than having to buy a blowtorch and flux to use solder joints.

I am noticing a fair bit of data burst QRM on the 30m WSPR segment today. Not sure what it is.

73 - Rob VK2GOM