21-03-2019, 02:48 PM
An update on this project...
The Raspberry Pi + amplifiers + filters has been working pretty well for the last few weeks. It has consistently been being received on 10MHz almost world-wide on a daily basis, a little more sparsely on 14MHz but most parts of the globe, a few places mainly in the Oceania region plus USA on 18 MHz but 21MHz has given spots only in VK, ZL, JA and western USA. Only an occasional WSPR spot has been received on 50MHz from VK3 or 7 and ZL in recent weeks. Pretty impressive for about 2 watts on HF and 5 watts on 50MHz and using simple antennas.
The WSPR reports have been pretty consistent day-by-day to the point that I have decided to reduce the operating (transmitting) hours of the WSPR beacon as from this week. It will now transmit from 0000UTC to 2359 UTC on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, still across the 5 bands (30 / 20 / 17 / 15 / 6M) with the overall schedule to be reviewed as the year progresses and propagation changes are noted. It should be on the frequencies as follows : xxx0 : 50 MHz, xxx2 : 10 MHz, xxx4 : 14 MHz, xxx6 : 18MHz, xxx8 : 21 MHz following an automatic startup at 0000UTC, where xxx represents any two-digit hour plus any 10 minute interval point. Any manual intervention (me or a power outage !!!!!) can offset the frequency schedule completely.
The Pi unit will stay powered on to retain frequency stability, it just won't transmit all of the time (24/7) as it has been.
It's amazing what a little "cron" effect can do.
The Raspberry Pi + amplifiers + filters has been working pretty well for the last few weeks. It has consistently been being received on 10MHz almost world-wide on a daily basis, a little more sparsely on 14MHz but most parts of the globe, a few places mainly in the Oceania region plus USA on 18 MHz but 21MHz has given spots only in VK, ZL, JA and western USA. Only an occasional WSPR spot has been received on 50MHz from VK3 or 7 and ZL in recent weeks. Pretty impressive for about 2 watts on HF and 5 watts on 50MHz and using simple antennas.
The WSPR reports have been pretty consistent day-by-day to the point that I have decided to reduce the operating (transmitting) hours of the WSPR beacon as from this week. It will now transmit from 0000UTC to 2359 UTC on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, still across the 5 bands (30 / 20 / 17 / 15 / 6M) with the overall schedule to be reviewed as the year progresses and propagation changes are noted. It should be on the frequencies as follows : xxx0 : 50 MHz, xxx2 : 10 MHz, xxx4 : 14 MHz, xxx6 : 18MHz, xxx8 : 21 MHz following an automatic startup at 0000UTC, where xxx represents any two-digit hour plus any 10 minute interval point. Any manual intervention (me or a power outage !!!!!) can offset the frequency schedule completely.
The Pi unit will stay powered on to retain frequency stability, it just won't transmit all of the time (24/7) as it has been.
It's amazing what a little "cron" effect can do.
Doug VK4ADC @ QG62LG51
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.
http://www.vk4adc.com
This Forum is only going to be as interesting as the posts it contains.
If you have a comment or question, post it as it may trigger or answer the query in someone else's mind.