Matter closed. See support forum.

Status Update: * 48 hours elapsed since my last update * Increasingly more odd behavior observed: ** At certain intermittent times, the transmission fast blink occurs ** After a successful fast transmission blink occurs, I do no observe the fast transmission blink for 3 to 5 minutes. ** As a side note, I have a total of 3 WSPR desktops running concurrently (different bands). All three WSPR desktops are right next to each other, and I can see the other two WSPR desktops (with no issues) transmit in unison, stop, and then resume transmission. The WSPR desktop with intermittent issues will transmit in unison with the other two, but only intermittently. ** WSPRD reflects all of my daily traffic to Oceania (Auz/NZ) and Japan traffic is nil after I encountered the desktop 80 to 10m issue. I do see traffic in North America, but this daily traffic is materially lower than prior to noted issue.

@Harry...I finally made it to your neck of the woods! SM0EPX/RX2

I am now one of the global WSPR beacon project operators and represent the West Coast (Bay Area / CA United States WB6YRW station). More about that here: https://twitter.com/IntlWspr I am using one of Harry's latest 80m to 10m WSPR desktop transmitters and have about two weeks of 24/7 transmission time to date on the unit. Working flawlessly like his other units that I have on hand. For the WSPR beacon project the station configuration is a follows: Dedicated antenna ( 293 foot 80m to 10m sky loop (nine sided polygon, horizontal plane, average height 27 feet --> Balun DIY 4:1 credit to VK6YSF --> LDG Z11 ATU --> Zachtek WSPR 80m to 10m desktop Spent about 4 weeks of antenna build, test, and tune time with the aforementioned configuration with a great deal of this time on test and tune. Lab book of test and tune experiments here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/186xD_u_-2sfmUPQc6Ci0fax_WJnW0EXBPZlVflfUEKQ/edit?usp=sharing Once the antenna SWR was the best it could be without the ATU, the ATU easily resolved the remaining minor mismatches. Note this sky loop is different from the 160m to 10m sky loop I referenced earlier in this blog. I used the 160m to 10m sky loop to help me baseline, tune and test the 80m to 10m WSPR beacon sky loop. This was invaluable because this enabled me to quickly surface and identify the best location to insert the feed point in the loop. For my given location with a hillside, NOT all feed points into the antenna wire are equal. Moving the feed point 20 feet East along the loop made a difference of whether I daily / consistently connected with Japan, Australia, Antarctica, and Canary Islands. Feed point location placement on a loop can make a MATERIAL difference in my location. 2 weeks of WSPR TX test and tune experiments using a variety of different feed point locations along the sky loop was performed. The WSPR beacon station just went into production operation a day ago. Typical results on a given day look something like this: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HyyijtwwoLHFimQq8 Note: there is one WSPR beacon decode spot error in the middle of Atlantic Ocean (WB6YRW); otherwise this is pretty typical of what I see on a daily basis.

I didn't answer one of Harry's questions previously. He asked: "Did you get more spots with the tuner on the band that had high SVR ? I expect that you would as the antenna current would increase." The short answer is no and I was pleasantly surprised. I ran a scientific method approach. Two experiments. Experiment 1 - Desktop midplus ---> 160m to 10m skyloop running nonstop for 15 days. Experiment 2 - Desktop midplus ---> ATU (LDG Z-11) ---> 160m to 10m skyloop running for the next 15 subsequent days. 75 feet of RG8 cable. 4:1 balun using type 31 ferrite mix. For each experiment I monitored the daily WSPR database map and transaction logs. Without the ATU, 40M had the highest SWR at 3 to 1. The remaining bands: half were between 2 to 3 to 1 and the other half were 1 to 1.5 to 1. End result: there was NO material difference in confirmed reach distances (km/m). Impact: In my location with my configuration, running with an ATU does not matter for 160m to 20m. We have a discussion about this on the eham.net site. The positive upshot on this test result is that if your running mobile / temp location and using the Midplus, it is quite possible that you might be able to get away with not lugging around an ATU. The Midplus power amp seems to be very forgiving with a much less than ideal antenna matches...which can be the case when mobile, backpacking, etc.. The contacts I made, previously discussed, occurred with and without ATU. This speaks very well to WSPR and Harry's Desktop design. I am 50% of the way complete running the next experiment: Desktop HighPlus --> ATU --> 160m to 10m skyloop. Same RG8 coax feed line; same 4:1 balun. I will then run the test without the ATU for the same duration. I posit that I will not see much a confirmed WSPR TX transactional difference with and without an ATU given the same PA architecture for doing this experiment for thoroughness. Upon completion of the aforementioned experiments... I am going to begin experimenting and changing the location of the feed point in my skyloop; hence change from one angle in the loop to another angle in the loop. Goal is to radiate more of the skyloop North South and target LatAm. My WSPR 160m to 10m sky loop is highly biased toward East / West propagation. I monitor the WSPR traffic into LatAM by band, and my signal isn't getting there at all...except further South into Antartica. As a result, I am going to begin experimenting and changing the location of the feed point in my sky loop --> change from one angle in the loop to another angle in the loop. Goal is to radiate more of the sky loop North South and target LatAm. WSPR and the Desktop really make it easy by removing variables (TX test on all bands nonstop, digital confirmation nonstop) so that I can laser focus on the critical antenna areas and run aforementioned A/B antenna experiments - non stop. 😀

Glad to hear Pablo! Since the last June 3 post: * June 3 to June 19 operated the 160m to 20m Zachtek --> Z-11 --> skyloop without any issues. Z-11 observation with the Zachtek....it took 7 to 11 days for my Z-11 to learn and match my skyloop. Initially I would execute the autotune on the Z-11...over days the Z-11 would fall out of tune. I would subsequently manually fine tune and store the bands that were out of tune. After 11 days, I am able to get all of the WSPR bands either to 1 to 1 or below 1.5 to 1...but this did not occur right out of the box...hence, you need to monitor the ATU and adjust over a timeframe. * I am doing this same 7 to 11 day manual ATU tune cycle, again, but instead using the 17m to 6m Zachtek desktop --> Z-11 --> skyloop. * I will be installing a vertical 80m to 10m this Fall/Winter for the WSPR transmitters. My intent is to automatically split TX WSPR transmit time between the skyloop and the vertical so that I can run experiments and see how the vertical vs horiz polarized antennas are making a difference in my location. My goal is to automatically switch antennas every hour; even hour = skyloop; odd hour = vertical. My hypothesis is that certain polarizations are more effective given a band at a certain time...WSPR database transactions make it much easier to perform these type of tests. * This past week has been pretty phenomenal on WSPR 20m; and still is frankly. Interesting WSPR contact was KH0W in Saipan / Northern Mariana Islands

May 26 Status Update * Overnight made contact with Antarctica (8,882 miles / 14,194 kms) away; furthest distance away to date; running on 40 meters (still with no antenna tuner...go figure) * Overnight made contact with Canary Islands; running on 30 meters WSPRnet map updated in google album https://photos.app.goo.gl/5ESa4NAURNfR9ecS7 @Harry...no, still waiting for antenna tuner. So the two contacts made last night are even that more impressive. 40 meters swr currently at 3 to 1 . 30 meters swr currently at 5.4 to 1

Status Connection Update * May 24 connected with Iceland * May 25 connected to Canary Islands * Pacific Rim is a pipeline audience from my location..down to Tasmania, New Zealand, and Australia. Japan and Alaska as well. Eagerly awaiting for the Zachtek hi-plus in transit. Wsprnet and pskreporter map reports showing a LOT of WSPR activity on the higher bands; anxious to move further into Eastern Europe, Middle East, Far East, LatAm, and the poles. See a lot of WSPR traffic inbound (from aforementioned regions) to US on those bands. Zacktek Operation from Day 1 to date (non stop) * Very pleased with the skyloop and the Zachtek midplus. So many countries in so little time! * Zachtek running cool to the touch in nonstop broadcast mode * I am using a Kasa smart plug so that I can "control" my Zack anywhere in the world and be in FCC compliance: https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-HS103P2-Required-Google-Assistant/dp/B07B8W2KHZ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=P135O8O5KHVL&dchild=1&keywords=kasa+smart+plug&qid=1622010136&sprefix=kasa%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUlYyOEtNOEFINVc3JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDI1ODEyTjVUVk9TV05MMTlOJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1MTg3MzgyMjJZQlg2TzNRUlZWJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ== $15....for remote control! Loaded the smart app on my Google Android Pixel 3; plug the Zach right into the USB cube and the USB cube into the Kasa smart plug. A non event. Tangential Update: @Harry... I have had several chats/email conversations with Roland re. the WSPR beacon project. Met him in the WSPRnet chat room. I am in the process of fulfilling all the requirements for the application.

Day 3 May 20 first contact into Germany; Western EU is now off my list; onto Eastern EU, Africa, and LatAm....

Day 2 May 19 confirmation from San Jose to Tasmania...7946 miles or 12,788 kilometers