New Technician here, cannot get contacts on 10 meter.

[WB5UOM]

well wait for a break in conversation and insert your call..dee if they hear you
weak here in texas

 

[KQ4OFQ]

Been trying, not working.

 

[WB5UOM]

there are a couple of online sdr's near you...might be interesting to see if they are hearing better than you..and not sure about 10m ground wave but you might try and see if one if them hears you....may not work at that dustance close in, its been a long time since Ive played with "local" 10m

 

[KQ4OFQ]

As I’m brand new to the discipline I’m unfamiliar with sdr’s. Freq?

 

[WB5UOM]

Shortwave Radio Receiver Map | KiwiSDR & WebSDR | Listen to Internet SDRs

go there to the map...find good ole Florida, there are I think 2 or 3 pins near you indicating SDRs...click on the IP address in the pin box...
then you can listen to any hf frequency...enter say 28.40000 select USB...see if you hear yourself..OR see if other stations are loudrr there.

your antenna likely works best broadside to elements...if they are running north and south..your best signal will likely be to East and west and vice versa..

 

[WB5UOM]

might try this 10m net...

Mosquito Net

The Titusville Amateur Radio Club Mosquito Net takes place every Wednesday at 7:00 PM Eastern time on 28.333 MHz USB and is hosted by Tom, KN4GLO.

www.netfinder.radio

 

[KQ4OFQ]

Ok, I did that. I finally made a contact in Nebraska, I could hear him on the app (with a couple of seconds of latency), but strangely enough I couldn’t hear myself. I tried a couple of other frequencies to hear myself and cannot hear my cell phone there but I did make the contact. I’m confused how that could be.

 

[WB5UOM]

well, on 10meters you are using the ground wave out some distance then skywave...so, he heard you, fid you hear him on your radio or the sdr?

 

[WB5UOM]

and yes, the online sdr will have a couple of seconds delay getting thru the internet to you

 

[KQ4OFQ]

I could hear him on both. Well at least I know I’m getting out there in some way now, I made a contact in Nebraska and one in Brazil.

 

[KQ4OFQ]

He was pushing 90 watts, my radio goes 60. Don’t know if that has any bearing on anything, though.

 

[bill4long]

I should add that I can occasionally rx a few good signals, and a lot of faint unintelligible ones.

Sounds like the band is in bad shape. Good F layer propagation has been sporadic lately. If 10m remains poor for F layer propagation, you can look forward to E layer propagation during the summer months that will provide some decent action.

You can use this SDR to get a sense how the F layer propagation is doing. This SDR is in Dahlonega Georgia. You'll want to listen to other bands too. 20 meters has been doing very well lately. I hear stations running 10 watts on dipoles, coming in strong, which may impel you to get a General license and throw up a 20 meter dipole for your residence, or work mobile or remote. Buddy Poles are excellent setting up temporarily in parks or school yards, etc. You'll have have no problem making lots of decent contacts. Of course, you'll have to get another radio.

This SDR only does http not https, so your browser may complain about it, but the site is safe. It's run by a science teacher at the middle school.

PhantomSDR+ - Modded by magicint1337

websdr.lumpkinschools.com

 

[KQ4OFQ]

Thanks for the good info Bill.

 

[WB5UOM]

Also, I just thought about it, if you ate in town in a residential neighborhood, you might be getting interference from several things...
when NOT tuned to any station...what is your S meter reading ?

 

[WB5UOM]

and good deal on the contacts, you are likely on your way now

 

[KQ4OFQ]

Also, I just thought about it, if you ate in town in a residential neighborhood, you might be getting interference from several things...
when NOT tuned to any station...what is your S meter reading ?

I have 3 meters, swr, power and rx. And how do I have the radio turned on without being tuned to any freq?

 

[WB5UOM]

ok sorry, i meant any frequency that no one is using....and look at your rx signal reading.

 

[KQ4OFQ]

My ex is adjustable from zero up to peaking around 5.

 

[K5MPH]

Some days the 10 meter band will be good and sometimes bad thats just part of the hobby just keep at it you will get the hang of it.......

 

[KQ4OFQ]

Thanks K