WSPR - My Best DX - Ham Radio Special

Quick one on Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, part of the WSJT-X suite otherwise known as WSPR.
More videos:
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• Tips and Tricks Tips and Tricks
• Antennas Antennas
• Live Streams Live Streams
• Commander World My Stuff
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[@gaptastic]

That New Zealand path is intersting

[@CapnMic]

as I study for my tech tag .. I've got to say your videos have broken the code of confusion in so many areas ... and provide relevance that is quite informative and interesting ... among other things, you are a great teacher of the subject.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Tnx!

[@seanchallenge]

Wow I live in South Africa ZS5X awesome. I have not reached UK yet. But I enjoy Wspr. My best is Alaska Hawaii and Antarctica. 19000km on 10 watts 40m normal dipole . Thank you for your excellent videos

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice!

[@jamescady723]

Wow, new HF ham --- this video was very helpful. Thanks again, Callum.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnwest7993]

30 years ago I used to run 7 mW EIRP (1 W to the final amp,) on my 1750 meter beacon, a band that is a solid roar in the summer due to lightning from all over the continent. I used BPSK to modulate a precision timed, repetitive data message, and I copied it as I drove every inch from my home in CO to the banks of the Mississippi river as I drove back east along I-80. I shut off my receiver from there east due to traffic and not wanting a distraction. It's not about the skip. It's not about the power. It's about doing everything right and knowing HOW to do everything right. I'm pleased that more and more hams are starting to figure that out.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice!

[@baslev]

Really great video explaining WSPR. It is fun, even for shortwave listeners. You only need a worldreceiver with SSB to participate. I've used this mode since 2009 with 1W or less. I counted the number of DXCC I was received in all those years and marked my 100th DXCC this year. 73, Bas

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes good idea!

[@donaldsmith3048]

I just started using WSPR and found out my antenna is working better than I thought it would for being a HWEF 40 at about 10 feet high. 73 W4DES

[@serge839]

Two things about WSPR. 1) it only gives you an idea of propagation where other WSPR’s are. I see on your map, the African continent is not receptive. That does not mean your signal does not go there, it simply tells you there is no one to listen to it. 2) I use the Sotabeam beacon ( brilliant as you do not need a computer!) and with 200 milliwatt (yes, a fifth of one watt, not a typo!) I was heard in Australia , long path, 20m, 17,000 miles plus !

[@g0fvt]

FWIW WSJT-X will run on a Raspberry Pi, and you can put remote desktop on it too. Extremely low power WSPR transmitting stations can be done with the PI alone using a GPIO pin to drive the antenna. PSK reporter is amazing and of course the receivers never sleep. Enjoy your holiday 73

[@tonyridlen]

Glad your back producing more ham radio videos! 73 KC9QVE Kokomo,Indiana

[@pc4ad]

wspr will show surprises and you can test what the effect is of radials :-)

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

I've started to experiment with wsjt-x etc in the last couple of weeks and just amazed how far 3/4 watt will travel. Even through a gp2500 which is a very lossy antenna.

[@saxon12qa]

I’ve used a QRP labs 250mW WSPR module and hit similar places with a loft wire dipole ;)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Lovely!

[@DonzLockz]

Nice work Callum. I can't wait to try it out. We would of course expect great propagation from you. 😁👍🇦🇺

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha Yes!

[@markramsay6399]

Great video, liked first time around! Like this and PSK reporter. So many variables to check! Mark, 2E0MSR.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Much appreciated!

[@MirlitronOne]

You're quite right that a full WSPR map shows more about the distribution of WSPR receive stations than anything to do with propagation. Meanwhile, a full two watts on WSPR ought to get you to Mars or so! Operating the SOTABEAMS WSPRlite at 200 mW gives a much better indication of conditions.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, tend to agree however interrogating the plots, you can see exactly what signal you were compared to noise floor, so it's actually relative.

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

Awesome Callum! Thanks 👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No worries!

[@tglenn3121]

Rather than tying up your regular rig for WSPR, you should try a Zachtek stand-alone WSPR transmitter. They operate on only 5 volts, and put out a small 200 mW of power. But the performance is amazing!!! The model I have runs on 80m-10m. I'm in California, and I've had my wspr signal received as far north as Ellesmere Island (northern Canada-near Greenland); as far south as Antarctica (Neumayer Station-DP0GVN), and into Europe and Asia. Not bad for only 200mW.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Interesting!

[@Paul_VK3HN]

WSPR is magic, And there are some fascinating insights that can be drawn from a bit of analysis of the data. Thanks Callum. Good that you're not taking radio to Bude. Go for some long walks instead!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Couldn't agree more!

[@plaws0]

Thanks for reminding me to leave WSPR running when I am doing other things, at least in receive mode. Particularly on 50 MHz as we get into Fun Times for that band.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Great tip!

[@plaws0]

@@DXCommanderHQ Have to work at the office today (booo) but left PC at N5UWY running WSPR tuned to 50293 kHz ...

[@patrickwall8517]

I live in St. Louis, MO USA my best so far is New Zealand on CW.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Nice

[@peteg7sqc254]

Have you seen the Zachtec WSPR Desktop Transmitter. Little standalone box that puts out 200mW and autocycles between the bands. Runs on USB or needs 5v. Furthest I have got is 10290 miles on 19 Mar 22 (VK4EM 10.140).

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Amazing.

[@mm3nrx]

PSK reporter is my go to tool to see where I am not being heard :D

[@albert7ii]

Thank you vy much. It is a wonderful mode and I am almost daily running it with 180 milliwatts... Antartica... New Zealand... Hawaii.. you name it, ? Been there. Greenland ? Been there. Callum.... pls do give JS8Call a try.... you will quickly become addicted. Let me put it this way: FT8 ? Computer to Computer, with a bit of human on the side. JS8Call ? Human to human with a bit of computer on the side.Sums it up best. CW... razor sharp ears...and skills ? -15db. SSB ???around 0 DB.... Whisper ? -31 db and YES, I have received stations at -31 db !!! Thanks for another great video. Albert. EI7II.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

JS8call.. On my to-do list promise!

[@temporarilyoffline]

I bet there is a way to overlay this with the far-field plots and see who's right ;-)

[@evanjones2539]

When WSPR first came to fruition, 2 Watts was truly QRO..! If you want a challenge, try it down at 50mW. You will sort the men from the crocodiles..! (the efficient stations from the big mouths with no ears)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, I have heard.. I have nothing to measure down that far :)

[@evanjones2539]

@@DXCommanderHQ You look to have a quiet location.. (I'm also in the sticks bit suffer with Openreach ADSL noise) Milliwatts will sell your aerials..😀😀 GW7UNV

[@JohnUsp]

Awesome, do you have some video-tutorial explaining how to set up WSPR and do the first transmission from scratch? Thanks.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

No - not yet. In the pipe.

[@JohnUsp]

@@DXCommanderHQ cool... waiting for.

[@richarde735]

you’re wspr’ing here and there… but I am just mowing the lawn.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha!!

[@philipchandler330]

Enjoy your respite

[@TheGoose81]

I had a quick go on WSPR last night, but for whatever reason PSK-Reporters website wasnt showing any of the stations i was receiving on 40m? In WSJT-X on FT8 the psk-reporter website works just fine! Any ideas?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Now.. I wonder if it might have caught up with itself by now? Else I'm sorry I don't know.

[@2EOGIY]

0:18 does that vertical line mean that you have reached to yourself?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha! No, it's that German station in Antarctica I think..

[@brianfields4479]

Very interesting video, I have used it before to plot single verticals compared to 2 ele parasitic ants. That said it must be remembered, if you try to qso stations in those far places with the same power on cw or ssb, you will probably will get nil. You might have more success with ft8, but that's not a mode for everyone. 99% cw here. 73 .

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes Brian...!

[@leightonlewis4954]

Hello Callum, I hopes everything's all ok with you, I was wondering if you can help me please ? I've installed and reinstalled Wsit-X on windows 10, it only transmits when i press tune, However, it is not transmitting even when i press Enable Tx or Tx Next or both, I don't know who else i can turn to. Kind regards Leighton 2W0EQQ 😃

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK.. Now.. there is a check-box or a schedule which can hold it back but I can't remember.. Is there a Facebook group that can assist..?

[@leightonlewis4954]

Thank You Callum 73s mate ❤

[@Aimsport-video]

Population distribution will skew directionality results.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Good point.