{"id":39710,"date":"2019-09-17T08:07:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-17T12:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=39710"},"modified":"2019-09-17T08:07:35","modified_gmt":"2019-09-17T12:07:35","slug":"wspr-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/wspr-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"WSPR explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/i> contributor, Bill Patalon, who shares a link to the following article on Extreme Tech<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Last Tuesday at 1744 UTC (1:44 PM EDT) UR3RM, a ham radio<\/a> station in Ukraine blindly sent out a message on 7040.138 kHz.\u00a0 It was automated. It was text. Maybe someone would hear it. Maybe not.<\/p>\n

The \u201cmaybe not\u201d part is easy to understand because UR3RM\u2019s transmitter was putting out one milliwatt, .01 watts. To put that in perspective, a Class 2 Bluetooth transmitter, the ones good for around 30 feet, run 2.5 milliwatts.<\/p>\n

UR3RM was using a mode called WSPR for Weak Signal Propagation Reporting. Unlike most of ham radio, this is a one-way mode. Not only is there little expectation anyone will be listening, but there\u2019s even less that the signal would make it back. Radio propagation isn\u2019t always a two-way path.<\/p>\n

WSPR\u2019s biggest selling point is you can do it on the cheap. It\u2019s easy to set yourself up for not much more than $100 and often a whole lot less. And, though a ham radio license is needed to transmit, anyone can put up a receiver. And the US ham license test is multiple-choice, all published and online.<\/a>[…]<\/p>\n

Click here to continue reading at Extreme Tech.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Post Readers: How many here have received and\/or transmitted using WSPR? \u00a0Please comment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Patalon, who shares a link to the following article on Extreme Tech: Last Tuesday at 1744 UTC (1:44 PM EDT) UR3RM, a ham radio station in Ukraine blindly sent out a message on 7040.138 kHz.\u00a0 It was automated. It was text. Maybe someone would hear it. Maybe not. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1114,545,3],"tags":[3339,8006,4102,6246],"class_list":["post-39710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-modes","category-ham-radio","category-news","tag-bill-patalon","tag-extreme-tech","tag-ham-radio","tag-wspr"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aku","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22705,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/12\/1940-pearl-harbor-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":0},"title":"1940 Pearl Harbor QSL card","author":"Thomas","date":"December 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Patalon, who shares the following QSL card\u00a0via Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/PrivateBrief\/status\/806189384244596736 Thank you, Bill!","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pearl-harbor-qsl","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Pearl-Harbor-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Pearl-Harbor-QSL.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Pearl-Harbor-QSL.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Pearl-Harbor-QSL.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36726,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/magpi-issue-80-features-ham-radio-projects-for-the-raspberry-pi-mini-computer\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":1},"title":"MagPi Issue 80 features Ham Radio Projects for the Raspberry Pi mini computer","author":"Thomas","date":"March 31, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Thanks to a hat tip from the Southgate ARC, I discovered that the excellent MagPi magazine has featured a number of ham radio projects in this month. I've outlined below a list of the projects with page numbers--note that many are simply summaries that link to full project notes in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/PiMag-Ham-Radio-e1554033963434.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":31206,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/gatesair-halts-production-of-am-transmitters\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":2},"title":"GatesAir halts production of AM transmitters","author":"Thomas","date":"March 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Radio World via Bill Patalon) GatesAir is suspending the sale of new AM transmitters. When a prominent radio engineer passed along word to Radio World that he\u2019d sought a quote from the manufacturer on a new transmitter but was told the company had discontinued the model and was assessing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/flexiva-3dx-100-digital-am-transmitter-straight-1024x530.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/flexiva-3dx-100-digital-am-transmitter-straight-1024x530.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/flexiva-3dx-100-digital-am-transmitter-straight-1024x530.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33318,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/haarp-wspr-80m-transmissions-july-30-aug-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":3},"title":"HAARP WSPR 80m transmissions July 30 – Aug 1","author":"Thomas","date":"July 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Southgate ARC) Chris Fallen KL3WX\u00a0will be using 80 kilowatts into the massive HAARP antenna array in Alaska for WSPR experiments in the 80m band from July 30 to August 1 Chris KL3WX tweeted: WSPR experiments are tentatively planned to occur between 2300 and 2400 hours UTC on July 30,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HAARP.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HAARP.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HAARP.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/HAARP.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26452,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/video-lightbulb-vs-radio-beacon-by-thomas-cholakov-n1spy\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":4},"title":"Video: Lightbulb vs Radio Beacon by Thomas Cholakov (N1SPY)","author":"Thomas","date":"June 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Ivan Cholakov (NO2CW), who writes: My 11 year old son Tommy (N1SPY) completed a project where he compared a 1W lightbulb to a .25 W radio beacon that he put together and bet that the radio beacon can be heard around the world. I asked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Lightbulb-v-beacon-wspr-kit.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Lightbulb-v-beacon-wspr-kit.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Lightbulb-v-beacon-wspr-kit.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Lightbulb-v-beacon-wspr-kit.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44521,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/radio-waves-fcc-fines-drone-retailer-high-school-wspr-buoy-flashing-radio-firmware-and-radio-recliner-powered-by-senior-resident-djs\/","url_meta":{"origin":39710,"position":5},"title":"Radio Waves: FCC Fines Drone Retailer, High School WSPR Buoy, Flashing Radio Firmware, and “Radio Recliner” Powered by Senior Resident DJs","author":"Thomas","date":"July 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Spectrum-Display-Airspy-SDR-Sharp.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Spectrum-Display-Airspy-SDR-Sharp.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Spectrum-Display-Airspy-SDR-Sharp.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Spectrum-Display-Airspy-SDR-Sharp.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39710\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}