WSPR Notes: Operating as a continuous, autonomous probe, a standalone 200Mw (less than an LED flashlight) solar-powered WSPR transmitter leverages the ultra-narrow bandwidth of the WSPR protocol to pierce through heavy ionospheric background noise on just a fraction of a Watt. As the micro-beacon cycles through the amateur radio bands, its automated signal is harvested by a global web of listening stations that immediately upload the decoded data packet to the central database at WSPRnet.org. This continuous stream of raw "spots"—containing precise signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), time logs, and geographic grid locations—allows software aggregates like WSPR Rocks and PSKReporter to dynamically plot visual representations of current ionospheric behavior. By organizing this collective data over specific intervals, operators can generate highly detailed real-time maps, band-by-band activity charts, and historical propagation timelines that reveal exactly when and where the space weather is opening up global communication pathways.  We will be using 40M, 20M, 15M during Field Day.

Map Links

Main Infrastructure & Official Mapping
  • WSPRnet Map: The official hub of the WSPR network. While it is the "single source of truth" where raw data is gathered, it includes a built-in real-time map to track signals globally by band, time window, and callsign.
  • PSKReporter Map: Though widely known for FT8, PSKReporter is a incredibly robust, highly customizable real-time mapping engine that allows you to filter specifically for WSPR signals to see exact paths, signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), and active monitors.
For Field Day WSPR data use the call letters WB6CFA for lookup and maps.

For field day - FT-8 Data use the call letters WA7FW  to see if data was logged. For Nationwide realtime FT-8 try W1AW/0.

Data Links

Data Analytics & Time-Plotting Tools
  • WSPR Live Dashboard: A massive database service backed by highly optimized query engines. It features a web-based Grafana portal allowing users to pull up extensive historical data, run custom SQL queries, and map/graph signal metrics over large blocks of time.
  • WSPR Telemetry Viewer (WSPR TV): An open map-centric tracker focused heavily on filtering spots down to specific amateur bands (from LF up to 23cm) and visualizing the paths of high-altitude balloons and low-power telemetry beacons.
  • WATT WSPR Analysis Tool: If you prefer offline spreadsheet parsing, this site hosts an advanced Microsoft Excel VBA utility that pulls live data down from the WSPR database. It plots results directly onto an interactive Excel-based world map and features an animated timeline to replay propagation shifts.

Misc WSPR

High-Performance Alternate Mapping & Aggregators
  • WSPR Rocks Maps: Often favored over the original WSPRnet for speed and aesthetics, this site uses Apple Maps to generate global activity heat maps, active beacon/reporter distributions, VHF+ hourly updates, and even specialized filters like long-path 40m/30m propagation tracking. (Note: Their secondary layout can also be found at New WSPR Maps).
  • WSPR APRSinfo: A streamlined, fast-loading, lightweight real-time mapping option designed by M0XDA. It serves as a simplified, quick-glance alternative to the main database.
  • https://wspr.aprsinfo.com/   A  good map program for WSPRnet.
  • https://balloons.browxy.com/dx QRP Dx very handy with charts and plots as needed 

WSPR data for a 3 day period near arlington June 3-5 at the Angel of the winds RV park.   
AI Notice:  Some of these charts are created as infographics from a detailed prompt using Gemini-AI Pro.  At the present state of AI there is likely to be a 4-12% error rate.  These charts were all spot checked, but I suspect some errors got through.