How Good is your Antenna? Use this to find out!!

How to use WSPR. The Weak Signal Propagation Reporter. Great for testing Antenna Patterns & Directionality for RX & TX.
WSJT-X Software: physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/...
WSPRNet: www.wsprnet.org/drupal/
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#hamradio #wspr #wsjt-x #k8mrd

[@laszlokovacs8827]

Finally - How to do WSPR in under 13 minutes. Succinct. Informative. Easy to understand. No BS. Probably the best intro to WSPR I've seen. Thanks.

[@hamradiotube]

Well thank you very much!

[@Dusty_Ham]

"I assume you have the wherewithall to install software without my help" Bold assumption! Great video, thank you Mike!

[@hamradiotube]

I know. I'm sure I'll get hell about it from someone too.

[@SCTaylorTX]

Thanks Mike! Playing with the new gear, awesome to see how it gets out!

[@ronwolenski-n8wcr]

Thanks Mike! I saw a video a while ago explaining how to use wspr but I really didn't understand it the way they went through it. Your video was right on point and I was able to get it working right away. So now I see my antenna doesn't suck that much, it's just skipping the middle of the US.

[@briantalley8415]

Great video - wspr is really useful to test antennas and propagation ('cuz that's what the "p" is there for). Nice explanation of what wspr is and what it's for, and it can be an eye-opener for what your antenna(s) can do! I sometimes set up my G90 rig as a wspr beacon and just let it run. It's great to see where my antenna can reach on only 5W.

[@KC1PSK]

This really helped me. I had no idea how to use it until now. Thank you!

[@mewrongway]

This is so kool Mike!! Thanks

[@markn1mmo510]

Great video, thanks Mike!!

[@BladePilot24]

Thanks Mike, great informative vid. Nicely done!

[@av3510]

Great vid, Big M!

[@gfodale]

Finally got General. I'll be trying and testing NVIS antennas. This should be a great help.

[@michaelmcghie]

I had some questions answered here with WSPR. Thanks HRT

[@hamradiotube]

Hey that's great. Glad to help.

[@BradSnyder1]

Great information as always Mike. I'll have to give this a try. 73

[@HR4NT]

Excellent video!!! Thanks for sharing! Gotta go try this now. 73

[@W8MJL]

Hey Mike, W8MJL here. Thanks to some of you previous videos on wspr I started using it to test my RGA (raingutter antenna) and was amazed how well it gets out on digital, 25w and I was hitting western EU, Hawaii, Alaska and south America on 20m (40m not so good). And now seeing this video you pointed out a few things I missed and need to play with. Thanks for the demo it opened my eyes a bit wider to the wonders that it Amateur radio. 73 de W8MJL

[@kd8opi]

You shouldn’t be using 25w on WSPR. Way too much power. 5w or less, I use 0.25w.

[@HamRadioDX]

Great video and intro to WSPR Mike. Awesome work 👍

[@hamradiotube]

Hey hey, thanks so much mate!

[@Blk762x35Out]

Me I, I’m not using Ft-8, but I did just get my signal link last week and have been working PSK-31 with my icom 706. Anyway this looks like fun and something I’m going to try hopefully this afternoon or weekend. Thanks Mike! 73!

[@kenluning909]

Nice review. I had not used the WSPR function as of yet. I noticed that you were on last evening. I did not see you on FT8 though the HamAlert was showing you to be. You must have been checking antenna propagation again. LOL. 73 de W5KAL

[@n5yiz]

Excellent info

[@eddy2561]

Excellent video....since I work CW/SSB as well as FT8/4 I have to remember FT8 detcts signals that I won't hear in the station speaker thus a CW signal might not be heard by me, but an FT8 would be detected. I also recommend RBN for checking antennas and propagation. 73/K6SDW

[@k2jwd]

Tnx Mike. Just tried it out on 20M. Running 5W into my homebrew 132ft EFHW I got numerous Europeans and all of the US. Pattern is what I would predict from the NW/SE orientation. Mel, K2JWD

[@62chevrolet]

Funny thing is I have just been dabbling in wspr this week!

[@hamradiowithkevin]

I guess it is time for ME to install WSPR on my portable laptop to do some of these live test experiments. I get many guys suggesting that using WSPR is a solid way to tell antenna differences. I suspect that with bands that change so frequently it should be difficult to really get an accurate result. 5 minutes can make a difference one way or another. great video Mike. 73 K7SW

[@mthc85]

Thanks Mike, Great video! Couldn't help but see the waterfall, any updates on the RFI?

[@indridcold8433]

I configured the software to work with a very old, modified, Cobra 148GTL. With a 260 centimeter antenna, a PC power supply, RG-58/a left over from the CB glory days, a trash laptop, and the ancient modified CB radio, I can monitor signals from all over the planet! It is fun to track stations in my same maidenhead square, to see where they transmit to and from where they are receiving. It is rather addictive. If I had an amateur radio license, I would likely be using WSPR all the time.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Mike, I had bought the Zachtek WSPR Transmitter about three years ago for 160, 80, 30, and 17. Harry made a custom unit using those bands since it could also transmit on 40, 20, and 15. I ran it for two weeks straight on all those bands (four at a time) having 160 and 80 transmit during night hours. The results were interesting for my inverted U antenna, although can't find the file with the results. Also bought the 10 MHz frequency standard from them to use with my Flex 1500. Was listening for you today on 14.318 at K-3019, but the propagation wouldn't make for a reliable contact. Maybe the next POTA outing. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U

[@DavidHebert308]

Thanks!

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks so much David!

[@Danbertization]

The WSPR data is great for finding where you can be HEARD not where you can HEAR. Just a minor difference. :D Great video though. Love the information.

[@wushock92]

Nice overview.

[@hamradiotube]

Thanks!

[@dougdaniels]

Great presentation Mike, and timely, I just started looking into WSPR. Because I have an old radio, I need a digital interface because I'm a dinosaur who doesn't do digital. Are there options besides the Signalink that might be less expensive and still function properly?

[@hamradiotube]

Good and cheap?? Spoken like a true ham lol! Boy they sure have gone up in price. I think I paid under $100 for my Signalink a few years ago. That's prob still the best bang for the buck though. I know MFJ and West Mountain Radio make interfaces too though. Not sure of the prices but I would assume WMR would be more expensive and MFJ would be, well, MFJ.

[@MrMeasureTwice]

Up your game a tiny bit and put a link or two in the description to some of those in-depth videos. That's be greeeeeaaaattt.

[@thomashenderson603]

Do you ground your Nelson? I was wondering if that would make any difference. 73 Tom.

[@aa3konthego]

Does that ALC setting guidance apply to other modes like FT8 on an Icom?

[@hamradiotube]

Yep. All the same.

[@somethingcool7903]

I have a Yaesu FTM 400XD mobile radio do I need RT systems in order to copy data to my SD card? I format it in the radio? When I put SD card back into radio nothing the All memory and settings options are all dark unable to tap on the option. Probably just best to get Rt I have my HT FT-70D ADMS program and chirp with all channel just can seem to figure out to transfer to the 400. Thanks... then I move on to the big boy stuff😁

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Interesting, but it checks propagation. It only checks antennas when you do multiple A/B comparisons and average the results.

[@LevyCarneiro]

Considering that weak signal is something that works so well for antenna tests, is there some form of "weak signal" chat mode that would allow hams to (slowly) chat around the world on HF? That would be great! Is JS8call it, or it doesn't use weak signal? Meaning it doesn't go as far? Thanks!

[@hamradiotube]

JS8 Call would be exactly that.

[@LevyCarneiro]

@@hamradiotube thanks sir

[@canadavey]

Honest question... Does TXing that long @ 100% duty cycle, is that not good for your radio? Or is it that WSPR is so minimal it doesn't matter?

[@lanceriffle4841]

Who uploads the transmissions to WSPR net? 😮

[@kd8opi]

I don’t think you can say your antenna shows an e-w direction here. Your signal is just being reported more in densely populated areas, and not where nobody lives. 5w is almost overkill for WSPR. Back off on your power to a fraction of a watt, almost to where you can’t be heard at all, to,test antennas. 5w on WSPR is like using a bullhorn to talk to someone in a closet with you.

[@alabamahamr]

Not first

[@hamradiotube]

You are the first to say that though...

[@alabamahamr]

@@hamradiotube 🤣🤣 I guess so.

[@1958johndeere620]

To see how far I am getting out I just whistle into the mic until someone identifies when complaining. I then identify as a woman, and use a ladies call sign.

[@hamradiotube]

The list for the alternates is in the ladies room.

[@donaldsmith3048]

I found WSPR good to find out what band is open to where! Thank You for the information 73 W$DES

[@jaturnbill]

Thanks Mike, exactly what I wanted to see...John T W4BTF