Last night in a bought of radio depression, I was motivated enough to try WSPR -- as I wasn't too motivated to do anything else -- the band conditions were dismal. I had held off on trying WSPR being loyal to PROPNET a similar venture that uses PSK31. I never do well in those Coke/PEPSI or BETAMAX/VHS sort of questions.... Well PROPNET is equal to BETAMAX, it is better in every way, but you guess it!, WSPR is more popular and hence the better choice. The idea of internet cross tabulating propagation reports is way cool, and more so when the whole world tunes in.. For a quick thrill on 30 watts or less try WSPR.
-- WSPR stands for Weak Signal Propagation Reporter, but it's pronounced "Whisper" - quite an appropriate name as it is all about sending and receiving signals that are barely audible. DOWNLOAD
The software is written by Joe Taylor, K1JT, a Nobel Prize-winning Princeton physicist. It was first released in April 2008. It uses a transmission mode called MEPT-JT. The "JT" stands for Joe Taylor, while MEPT stands for Manned Experimental Propagation Transmitter.
Consequentially, a very interesting interview with Dr. Taylor, k1JT can be found in this month's CQ Magazine - A link provided here.
