6m & 2m WSPR Leaderboard Challenge 2021/2022

[VK2KRR]

For all our Australian region guys, and of course any other spectators world wide. That time of year is rapidly approaching again. The 6m & 2m WSPR Leaderboard Challenge! Woooohhh!
Gosh it truly will be a busy time of year! Now is the time to get prepared for our 2 months of DX Madness!

   

[VK2KRR]

Only about 23 days left till the start of the Leaderboard Challenge 2021-22 on 144 and 50 MHz bands.

My 6m vertical omni now up in the air and in action. 

   

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From what I can see on the 6m WSPR map, we are looking for more operators in the areas where there are none the map. In particular we need people/beacons in the northern and central VK4, Alice Springs and Darwin areas, north west VK6 and New Zealand.
Any other areas where someone can activate a home station or beacon on 6m WSPR would be great.

   

[VK2KRR]

It would appear that the signal from Alice Springs is active -
05:10 VK8AR 50.294568 -24 -3 PG66wh 0.2 VK5PJ PF95mk 1309 km

[VK2KRR]

A great response from my recent post, thank you in particularly to the Northern Territory based stations for resurecting their 6m WSPR stations. 
Numerous 6m WSPR signals now out of Alice Springs and growing every day as propagation improves.
Darwin and FNQ also now looking good.
I think the evolving propagation situation should bring more out of their winter time slumbers and dust off their radios.
There are even some signals from Japan which is great.

We'll eventually need signals/receivers on 144 MHz WSPR too once the MUF improves so keep that in mind.

   

[VK2KRR]

Just 11 days to go now till the start of the 6 & 2m WSPR Leaderboard Challenge for this summer season.
Propagation is particularly terrible at present.

[VK3DXE]

Hey Leigh, wondering if we could also perhaps run this for 23cm? A lot of people with shiny new IC-9700's that have never really even warmed the finals on 23cm.

[VK2AZ]

How does the challenge work Leigh?

[VK2KRR]

Hey Leigh, wondering if we could also perhaps run this for 23cm? A lot of people with shiny new IC-9700's that have never really even warmed the finals on 23cm.

Hi Alan, I think one of the purposes of the 6m & 2m WSPR Challenge is that its highlighting the two propagation modes of Sporadic E and Tropospheric Ducting and showing when then bands are good or not so good. Obvioulsy propagation at 23 cm will be tropo, and generally once paths are established on 2m WSPR tropo many people will switch over to other higher bands and modes and see what they can do, as you already know. 
I guess another way of putting it is that 6m and 2m are the base bands for discovery of paths which can then lead to other bands and modes being used.

Feel free to write up results for 23cm WSPR yourself though if you wish? They could be added in or posted up when you have relevant updates etc

[VK2KRR]

How does the challenge work Leigh?

Hilary,

Thats a good question, and one which I dont know has ever been really explained, perhaps because all we really do is gather data from WSPR usage and pressume that people are already using WSPR in any case. But there is a surge in operators over Dec Jan for sure with people taking part in the WSPR Challenge.

Its quite informal and straight forward really. All you have to do to take part is operate on either or both 6m & 2m WSPR during December and January, thats about it. Then the data is gathered from the WSPRnet database and I sort it out into relevant tables and updates usually on a weekly basis.

If you look back in this digital modes topic on AHRDF you will find many posts on the results etc.
Basically there are three tables of data that are maintained for each band 6m and 2m. Those tables are for -
-The greatest number of Two-Way Reports
-Furthest TX distances
-Furthest RX distances

All the results are posted here on AHRDF and also to the relevant group on Facebook which is either 144 MHz WSPR or 50 MHz WSPR Group. 

Its called a 'Challenge', because I think if its called a 'Contest' people get too serious about it all, and it goes for a long time, 2 months. Having said that, there are some people that do take it relatively seriously, but its up to the individual, you can be as serious or as laid back as you wish. 
I like it to be a laid back gathering of like minded people who enjoy observing and utilising long distance radio propagation phenomina at 6m and 2m (and above), across the two summer months surrounding the Summer Solstice and our festive season. 
The WSPR software and database does most of the work for you and the results are automatically sent. 
The other thing that does the work for you is the propagation conditions, you really just have to let the propagation work for you. You dont really need any flash antenna or big power, the propagation when in your favour will do what ever it wants to and your just along for the ride. And when it comes to Sporadic E you only really need a good vertical antenna on 6m and 2m, particularly when using WSPR due to the sensitivity. I've been using a 5/8 vertical on 6m WSPR for the past 2 seasons with good success, quite a few others do also. I also have a vertical omni ready to go on 2m if required for high MUF-Es. 

I guess there are three serious issues that can prevent just anyone from joining in, that is radio Accuracy, radio Stability and PC clock timing.
Where for WSPR to work you radio needs to be on frequency with a good degree of accuracy as the band in which WSPR operates is only 200 Hz wide. 
Radio must be very stable when transmitting, if there is more than about 3 Hz drift over 2 min period, transmissions wont decode.
The WSPR software for every user must be in sync within about 2 seconds clock error.
Having said this, if someone doesnt have a stable radio on transmit, they are often OK on receive, and some stations can just RX only and upload any decoded signals they see. This can also apply to SWL's (Short Wave Listeners), meaning even unlicenced radio enthusiasts with a good receiver can also take part and provide reception reports to the WSPR database, the same way as licenced ham would. A good way to help others become involved in the hobby.

We try to make it more of a social thing too with interaction on the social media groups 144 MHz WSPR and 50 MHz WSPR. We're maybe also looking at starting up an online video conference or discussion about the Challenge and propagation events etc, possibly to be held as a Zoom meeting or something similar once a week. If that happens will post about it here.

[VK2KRR]

I forgot to mention the use of the brilliant software package, WSPRview, produced by Doug VK4ADC.
In the heat of the moment when Sporadic E is really ramping up on 6m and even to 2m, this software really helps to keep track of all thats happening, and very useful for finding high MUF areas.
https://vk4adc.com/web/index.php/hf-proj...86-lctraps

[VK2AZ]

Thanks for the info Leigh,
I will have to see about getting a permanent WSPR signal up on 6 and 2m.

Hilary

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[VK2KRR]

Propagation slowly picking up on 6m WSPR this week. Very slowly though.

Its great to see all the VK6 stations coming online on 6m WSPR. Anyone in Broome, NW area would be great to cover up there.

Really have to thank Phil FK1TS for running that and 3D2TS on 6m.

Great spread of ZL's on the north and south island.

I believe there are a number of 6m WSPR TX only beacons running, you wont see them on the map till they are received by someone and reported. I think there is at least one in Cairns, one in Townsville, Alice Springs and maybe others? Please reply and let us know if there are more?

I've noticed just recently that Ricky VK4LW is now on deck on 6m WSPR, exciting to see considering Ricky was last years #1 for 6m WSPR Two-Way reports.
We also have David VK2DVM, John VK2IJM, Myself VK2KRR.

Sadly, I have seen reports that one of our previous top place holders for distance, Jim VK3II has had to move location Very sad to hear about this, Jim has run a fantastic station there on many bands for a long time.

There are numerous other top 20 place holders from last summers 6m WSPR Challange Leaderboard already out and warming up the propagation.

Would seem to be very cold, wet, rainy conditions at present on the eastern side of Australia. Im keeping an opening mind as to if the weather plays a part in assisting Sporadic E formation, as its still a bit of a mystery, the propagation is really not good at present. Somewhat winter weather conditions here. See what happens when it clears away.

Edit - We also should not forget the efforts of Chris N3IZN to push 6m WSPR signals into the Australian area during our summer period. More often than not he is successful, so its great to know he is always there giving it a try.

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As for 144 MHz WSPR, I've not even been keeping much of an eye on it as I know the conditions in both tropospheric and ionospheric are not good.

Weather conditions over east at least have been terrible for tropo propagation for a long time. Honestly right now im hardly TXing 2m WSPR, just RX only mostly as I know its not good. Ive been going to TX briefly in mornings and evenings, but the numbers are still the same. So concentrating on the 6m WSPR Es chances at present.

Ionspheric conditions for 2m? High E-MUF chances not good, although earlier in the week FM Broadcast band signals were reported from Fiji etc. So you just never know.

Having a look at the 2m WSPR map, its encouraging to see the amount of VK6 stations that are on the map, excellent! If we ever get some Bight path tropo or Es we will be good to the west.

Lots of stations in SE Australia, VK1, 2, 3, 5, 7. Not too many in VK4 but I think when there is a greater sporadic E chance and tropo to ZL chance that could pick up. But there is loads of excellent stations in the south east of Australia.
Im hearing of a few stations, including myself who will be running a combination of yagi antennas and also have a Omni-directional antenna available for sporadic E use, or even for tropo also. Some are multi-antenna omni arrays intended to provide low radiation angle in all directions.

Im not currently seeing any ZL stations on the 2m WSPR map, but I am fairly sure that ZL1SIX 2m WSPR beacon should be on and will be looking to reach those VK6 stations for a 5000 km+ path. Exciting! 2000 km to VK2 and VK4 should be easy.

VK8 on 2m WSPR is an unknown factor at this point?

I have to say that there are often some Thailand stations on 2m WSPR, you just never know your luck.

I think Phil may run something on 2m from FK1TS or 3D2TS but am not sure?