Longwave Bandscan in Holland
1 January 2016
Mike Bryant posted this on DXLD:
LW Bandscan Jan 1 2016 Twente SDR 0250 – 0325 UTC
153 ROMANIA Antena Statelor at 0252 in Romanian. Good.
162 FRANCE France Inter-Allouis in French at 0256. Good.
171 MOROCCO Medi 1-Nador in French at 0258. Good.
183 GERMANY Europe 1 at 0300 in French. Good.
198 UK BBC4-Droitwich at 0302 in English.
207 ICELAND Rikisutvarpid-Gufuskalar in Icelandic 0306
225 POLAND Polskie R. 1-Solec Kujawski at 0310
234 LUXEMBURG RLex in French at 0312
252 IRELAND RTE 1-Clarktown in English at 0316. (Unid co-ch, classical music)
279 BELARUS Belaruskaye R in Belarusian at 0319
531 ALGERIA Jil FM in Arabic w/ Q’ranic recitations at 0322
Happy New Year!
Mike
Re: 75 ohm humbucking transformer
Posted by Joseph Lowe on January 02, 2016 at 03:47:56.
In reply to Re: 75 ohm humbucking transformer posted by John Davis on November 26, 2015
They work great at LF. They were designed to break ground loops at 60HZ in analog video systems. I use one to isolate a receive antenna, and have put 50W through one with no problems.
Re: About Attachments
Posted by Webmaster on January 04, 2016 at 01:47:31.
In reply to Re: About Attachments posted by Doug Williams on December 23, 2015
"Glad to see the LWCA is moving forward with this."
Status Report: The motion is slow, but at least it is going forward, and not the other direction...or off on a tangent, as the "Community Forum" sadly turned out to be. It was a lot of work for very little result; many requests to sign up, yet only a few members ever posted at all, with many months sometimes elapsing between posts. (I wonder if anyone even noticed when I permanently turned off new posting there last summer? No one has said anything, if they did.)
But it's the New Year, a time not just to look back, but also to look forward.
We were actually moving in the current direction in September of 2012--that is to say, toward a return to HTML tags, live links, and eventually file uploads if I found some good code examples. So, I planned to discontinue the Forum back then, but was persuaded to keep it. Big mistake on my part.
Having the Forum to fall back on, and needing to put forth the effort to maintain it, removed most of my motivation to keep developing new features for this Message Board. Yet, thankfully, the code I wrote back then is still around, and I ran across it last week as I began the current round of work in earnest. It's flawed and incomplete, but at least I'm not having to reinvent the wheel totally from scratch.
Also, as I mentioned in the first post of this thread, I finally ran across some comprehensible code examples for file uploading, and now have put together a routine that works very well. The trick is to integrate that module with the rest of the board software so that it works when needed in the posting process, not just as a standalone program. You've seen the upload results in some of the posts of the last two months, but up to now I've had to cheat a little...which is to say, log in as a moderator to write the links into posts manually after uploading.
When we roll out the new Authenticated Authors plan in a few days, you could theoretically do the same thing with HTML to attach uploads to your posts, but that's kind of tedious and subject to error. Therefore, we'll do it in stages. At first, you'll be able to use HTML and certain BBS tags (notably [url], and maybe [img]) which will let you embed live links. Shortly thereafter--I hope--the file uploads will also be available, and you can then simply attach pictures to your message as part of the posting process.
Authenticated Authors will be like registered members in a "regular" forum, who've signed up to be able to use the extra posting features. But there are also some key differences between the new board and a typical forum. Just as now, nobody will ever have to log in to read messages, and nobody will have to log in to write plain-text messages. That will work exactly the same as it a;ways has.
However, if you want to use HTML, live links, file uploads, etc., you will be able to enter your name in a unique way that incorporates your Authenticated Author password. I'll explain this later, but it's a neat method by which we can distinguish an authenticated post from a regular one without having to place cookies on your computer. The board software will recognize the difference and pass most HTML and a few BBS tags that you might include in your message. Then, when you're done writing and click Post to send your message, you'll be given a chance to upload file attachments to go with it. Smooth and simple!
(It may also seem a little limited at first, in that the attachments will just be listed at the bottom of your message, and you won't have the option of positioning them at specific locations within the message. That flexibility will come later, though, once most everyone is comfortable with the fundamental changes and I've got the more elaborate code thoroughly tested.)
Wish I could give you a definite timeline or even a rough estimate when each of these steps will take place, but it's very hard to say. To ensure backward compatibility and minimize disruptions during the upgrade, I'm actually going back and revising a lot of the code that makes the board work now. The new features will blend in better this way, while a few of my other code changes are to prevent posting accidents.
Example: Because we don't have a full coding team and a dummy site where we can test the changes first, I'm stuck making revisions live and testing them in real-time while the board is still in operation. Before, this meant that you could be busy writing a new post, and if the Read-Only message wasn't active at the time you started writing, you might unknowingly click Submit at the very moment some change was being tested. That could cause all your work to be lost. Now, however, I've adapted the code that drives the message list, the posting tool, and the Reply form on all new posts, so that you'll be warned of impending delays in real-time!
You may notice a few other appearance changes lately, and that trend will continue over the next few days. These are not just cosmetic revisions, but are being made to facilitate the new features as well. One of these, for instance, is that you can no longer simply close the Post Confirmation message to return to the Message Board list, but need to click the Message Board button instead. This is because we'll be opening fewer new browser windows, which will both reduce the chance of duplicate posts and make it easier for the software to know what it needs to do next.
I'll keep you posted as major developments occur!
Regards,
John
VE3OT Testing on 630 M
Posted by Steve VE7SL on January 04, 2016 at 22:22:01.
From Mitch:
Testing MP on approx 475 khz - QRSS3 and 150 watts with slightly mismatched
antenna.
VE7SL
http://members.shaw.ca/ve7sl
Re: VE3OT Testing on 630 M
Posted by Steve VA3SC on January 05, 2016 at 02:14:43.
In reply to VE3OT Testing on 630 M posted by Steve VE7SL (fwd) on January 04, 2016
strong signal into Burlington Ontario...02:15 UTC
Re: About Attachments
Posted by Doug Williams on January 05, 2016 at 21:18:02.
In reply to Re: About Attachments posted by Webmaster on January 04, 2016
Nice, John. Looking forward to the improvements to the message board. The "community forum" never did anything but distract from the message board, IMO. You have to go "all in" on one or the other. The message board is by far the most popular, so "all in" on it. :-)
WOLF on 2200M
Posted by J.B. McCreath on January 06, 2016 at 13:48:06.
I will be running WOLF-10 mode for the balance of the week and through the coming weekend.
Receiver dial is 136.000 kHz. and the WOLF centre frequency is 1,350 Hz. I'll be monitoring
from 5:00 pm to 8:00 am every night for anyone wishing to take a try at "howling".
73, J.B., VE3EAR Re: Czech 270kHz to close
Posted by Mike Terry on January 06, 2016 at 18:06:13.
In reply to Czech 270kHz to close posted by Mike Terry on December 29, 2015
Station reported to still be on air, lower power possibly 50kw.
Re: 13558.4 MHz Beacon active
Posted by Ed Holland on January 06, 2016 at 23:07:35.
In reply to 13558.4 MHz Beacon active posted by Ed Holland on December 12, 2015
Hi Folks,
Well, after a couple of weeks and days away, we returned last night to home base in California. I was delighted to find that the hifer is still beeping away, and the rechargeable batteries in the makeshift keyer are still doing their job :). I may check tuning etc. after all the heavy weather and settling of the crystal, and peak up the ATU just to optimize the signal. In the next few weeks, the proper keyer with ident will be set up and I will notify about any changes.
Happy New Year to all,
Ed
Re: WOLF on 2200M
Posted by Lloyd on January 07, 2016 at 16:29:33.
In reply to WOLF on 2200M posted by J.B. McCreath on January 06, 2016
J.B. I have been listening for your Wolf and if you are indeed on I have not had any copy so far.will continue to monitor OT - Need Info On Magnetron
Lloyd W3NF
Posted by J.B. McCreath on January 07, 2016 at 18:06:26.
A bit of an odd request and OT but I want to tap the brain trust here.
I need specs on a Litton Model L-3431A magnetron, specifically the
voltage and current of the filament and anode/cathode. I've found
nothing on the web, even after a thorough Google search. Thanks
in advance for any help.
73, J.B., VE3EAR WOLF on the Prairie
Posted by John Davis on January 07, 2016 at 19:11:15.
Nothing here in SE Kansas from J. B., but John A was strong last night. Loping across the soggy, wintry Plains was not just one but two WOLF messages. First, my initial set of decodes of the night...
2016-01-06 23:45:00 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000
t: 24 f: 0.294 a: 1.4 dp: 80.9 ci: 2 cj:404 9FRMZ MADNSF0VG ?
t: 48 f:-0.020 a: 0.6 dp: 80.3 ci: 0 cj: 4 U9WWRB1EP/ VE17 ?
t: 96 f: 0.856 a: 0.3 dp: 78.0 ci: 9 cj: 39 ???817E4QD5 8GD ?
(...several more lines of gibberish...)
t:1632 f: 0.156 pm:31.86 jm:890 q: -4.5 -8.4 IWPK78NL7SE22AJ ?
t:1728 f: 0.029 pm:35.92 jm:915 q: -2.5 -5.8 WD2XES WOK9JU7H -
t:1824 f: 0.029 pm:38.58 jm:915 q: -2.2 -5.9 WD2XED/NNOPRU7H ?
t:1920 f: 0.029 pm:42.87 jm:915 q: -2.0 -5.4 WD2XES WOLFING ?
t:2016 f: 0.029 pm:50.29 jm:915 q: -1.7 -4.9 WD2XES WOLFING ?
t:2112 f: 0.029 pm:56.67 jm:915 q: -1.4 -4.8 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2208 f: 0.029 pm:59.10 jm:915 q: -1.3 -4.2 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2304 f: 0.029 pm:69.98 jm:915 q: -0.9 -3.8 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2400 f: 0.029 pm:74.20 jm:915 q: -0.7 -3.4 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2496 f: 0.029 pm:77.52 jm:915 q: -0.5 -2.9 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2592 f: 0.029 pm:94.53 jm:915 q: -0.2 -2.5 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2688 f: 0.029 pm:112.7 jm:915 q: 0.2 -1.7 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2784 f: 0.029 pm:123.7 jm:915 q: 0.5 -1.3 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2880 f: 0.029 pm:135.7 jm:915 q: 0.7 -1.2 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:2976 f: 0.029 pm:143.9 jm:915 q: 0.9 -0.7 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:3072 f: 0.029 pm:150.5 jm:915 q: 1.0 -0.5 WD2XES WOLFING -
t:3168 f: 0.029 pm:157.7 jm:915 q: 1.2 -0.5 WD2XES WOLFING -
And finally, the last set of decodes before I packed up to return to the
warmth of town...
2016-01-07 01:52:59 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000
t: 24 f: 0.229 a: 1.3 dp: 62.5 ci: 8 cj:117 COBOLJQ6D8K/6ZO ?
t: 48 f: 0.228 a: 1.4 dp: 61.2 ci: 9 cj:160 RNHI/UNLK8VI0OU ?
t: 96 f:-0.879 a:-1.4 dp: 59.6 ci: 9 cj: 72 RHX0SX.ORJD3OK* ?
t: 192 f: 0.654 pm:6.932 jm:868 q:-14.7 -8.5 KOP0ZHTOYB99G52 ?
t: 288 f: 0.039 pm:17.32 jm:688 q: -7.6 -7.0 PFDV94V.1KYJMM6 ?
t: 384 f: 0.039 pm:25.72 jm:688 q: -5.3 -9.9 ZCLYSS4UQAVHW7N ?
t: 480 f: 0.039 pm:41.35 jm:688 q: -4.0 -5.5 XES WINTER WOLF -
t: 576 f: 0.039 pm:46.63 jm:688 q: -3.3 -4.3 XES WINTER WOLF -
t: 672 f: 0.039 pm:48.60 jm:688 q: -2.7 -3.9 XES WINTER WOLF -
t: 768 f: 0.039 pm:62.15 jm:688 q: -2.1 -3.4 XES WINTER WOLF -
t: 864 f: 0.039 pm:65.41 jm:688 q: -1.4 -2.8 XES WINTER WOLF -
t: 960 f: 0.039 pm:69.69 jm:688 q: -0.8 -2.5 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1056 f: 0.039 pm:71.34 jm:688 q: -0.5 -2.2 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1152 f: 0.039 pm:74.84 jm:688 q: -0.2 -1.7 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1248 f: 0.039 pm:77.38 jm:688 q: 0.0 -1.4 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1344 f: 0.039 pm:84.70 jm:688 q: 0.3 -0.7 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1440 f: 0.039 pm:91.67 jm:688 q: 0.8 0.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1536 f: 0.039 pm:93.90 jm:688 q: 1.1 0.2 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1632 f: 0.039 pm:99.24 jm:688 q: 1.4 0.6 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1728 f: 0.039 pm:112.2 jm:688 q: 1.9 1.2 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1824 f: 0.039 pm:119.0 jm:688 q: 2.3 1.5 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:1920 f: 0.039 pm:120.6 jm:688 q: 2.5 1.7 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2016 f: 0.039 pm:125.4 jm:688 q: 2.7 2.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2112 f: 0.039 pm:139.9 jm:688 q: 3.0 2.4 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2208 f: 0.039 pm:152.1 jm:688 q: 3.2 2.6 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2304 f: 0.039 pm:152.7 jm:688 q: 3.2 2.7 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2400 f: 0.039 pm:157.9 jm:688 q: 3.3 3.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2496 f: 0.039 pm:159.5 jm:688 q: 3.2 3.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2592 f: 0.039 pm:159.9 jm:688 q: 3.3 3.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2688 f: 0.039 pm:160.5 jm:688 q: 3.4 3.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2784 f: 0.039 pm:161.1 jm:688 q: 3.4 3.1 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2880 f: 0.039 pm:164.0 jm:688 q: 3.4 3.0 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:2976 f: 0.039 pm:166.9 jm:689 q: 3.5 2.9 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:3072 f: 0.039 pm:167.1 jm:689 q: 3.4 2.6 XES WINTER WOLF -
t:3168 f: 0.039 pm:169.9 jm:689 q: 3.4 2.5 XES WINTER WOLF -
2016-01-07 02:45:58 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000
John
Czech 270kHz has not closed
Posted by Mike Terry on January 08, 2016 at 14:51:38.
In reply to Re: Czech 270kHz to close posted by Mike Terry on January 06, 2016
There has been confusing information in different media about LW 270 kHz, whether it has been closed down or not. It has NOT been closed down. Heard it this noon via Twente webSDR.
Ydun Ritz (6/1-2016)
http://mediumwave.info/news.html HiFERs January 8
Posted by John Davis on January 08, 2016 at 20:18:06.
From half an hour before noon to roughly 20 minutes after, I finally had my first chance in two weeks to check on HiFERs. Visually, USC was consistently the strongest, followed by EH, which had drifted down to straddle SIW slant mode, and RY was pretty good except for abrupt deep fades at times. (NC was also good, but had drifted up high enough that it was out of my 250 Hz IF bandwidth and I had to tune to 13555.575 to center it.) The path to Illinois was open for several minutes at a time, long enough at one point for me to capture "SI" out of the SIW slant mode, between the high and low frequencies of EH. That same opening gave me about three good minutes of WM as well, and an entire "K3SIW" of the DFCW version.
Audibly, WV was intermittent, but finally gave me several good complete IDs. MTI was strong at times, and there was an unboken carrier above it where PBJ usually is. There was a steady carrier just above 13556.25 and some random dits and dahs intermittently below it. GNK was good today. There seemed to be snippets of FRC, but not enough to be sure.
MF and LF, January 8
Posted by John Davis on January 08, 2016 at 23:05:49.
MP QRSS6 at 475.000 kHz was copyable here in SE Kansas this afternoon, with signals greatly enhanced in the two hours before sunset here. XES has returned to full power in WOLF mode on 137.350 kHz as of 2200 UTC, and first copy here was 8 minutes later (4:08 PM CST).
John
Re: WOLF on the Prairie
Posted by John Davis on January 10, 2016 at 05:57:52.
In reply to WOLF on the Prairie posted by John Davis on January 07, 2016
Thursday night, John used only 2W TPO instead of 300. While he was copied in Illinois, the signal didn't quite make that last hop to Kansas. He returned to full power for Friday evening.
My first decode that afternoon was at 4:08 PM CST. There were three full sessions before I had to return to town. The first yielded results on the 7th decode at q: -4.6, which built up to +5.8 by the 29th successful decode:
2016-01-08 22:00:00 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000 -ut
22:00:24 f:-0.407 a: 0.2 dp: 49.2 ci:10 cj:421 D3EPPRT1AIZ3/AQ ?
22:00:48 f: 0.470 a: 0.3 dp: 47.6 ci: 1 cj: 43 ID/QW48I1OZ8M J ?
22:01:36 f:-0.483 a:-1.2 dp: 48.6 ci:11 cj:333 O NE7PYDD1 H9L0 ?
22:03:12 f: 0.557 pm:0.494 jm:625 q:-12.1 -6.3 EUTD 54FRD QGHN ?
22:04:48 f:-0.498 pm:0.592 jm: 40 q:-11.9 -8.1 .MU9S21*BAO.CFG ?
22:06:24 f: 0.039 pm:1.026 jm:515 q: -6.5 -9.3 6M34ER/960HIRMQ ?
22:08:00 f: 0.039 pm:1.586 jm:515 q: -4.6 -5.5 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
22:09:36 f: 0.039 pm:1.749 jm:515 q: -3.4 -4.3 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
22:11:12 f: 0.039 pm:2.019 jm:515 q: -2.3 -2.6 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
... 23 successful decodes here ...
22:49:36 f: 0.039 pm:8.426 jm:516 q: 5.6 4.7 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
22:51:12 f: 0.039 pm:8.584 jm:516 q: 5.7 5.0 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
22:52:48 f: 0.039 pm:8.614 jm:516 q: 5.8 5.1 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
The next batch took nine intervals to yield the message, with decode commencing at q: -3.6, eventually building to 8.5:
2016-01-08 22:52:59 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000 -ut
22:53:23 f: 1.001 a:-0.6 dp: 55.4 ci:10 cj:130 UAE6X3.10TEFPND ?
22:53:47 f:-0.158 a: 1.4 dp: 55.8 ci:15 cj:224 *K*MLGT1DH9EGOG ?
22:54:35 f: 0.400 a:-1.4 dp: 51.6 ci: 6 cj:266 **PUD2M7G 6/YH7 ?
22:56:11 f: 0.010 pm:0.573 jm:873 q:-12.1 -8.5 LX9U95FTJV9.N9R ?
22:57:47 f: 0.010 pm:0.767 jm:873 q:-11.6 -8.0 0AMMXQDNYD.SZ0 ?
22:59:23 f: 0.010 pm:0.965 jm:873 q:-10.7 -6.0 0AL68PKLCCNK6ZJ -
23:00:59 f: 0.010 pm:1.170 jm:873 q: -9.7 -8.4 THEM53 O6PFK6ZJ ?
23:02:35 f:-0.703 pm:1.367 jm:199 q: -9.3 -8.2 E09I846SO5E51X4 ?
23:04:11 f: 0.029 pm:1.625 jm:403 q: -3.6 -3.3 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
23:05:47 f: 0.029 pm:2.309 jm:403 q: -2.1 -2.0 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
23:07:23 f: 0.029 pm:3.766 jm:403 q: -0.9 -1.3 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
23:08:59 f: 0.029 pm:6.260 jm:403 q: 0.4 -0.3 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
... 20 more good decodes here ...
23:42:35 f: 0.029 pm:41.30 jm:403 q: 8.2 8.1 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
23:44:11 f: 0.029 pm:42.22 jm:404 q: 8.4 8.1 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
23:45:47 f: 0.029 pm:43.92 jm:404 q: 8.5 8.2 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
And the last batch before I had to retreat to town took 10 tries to lock onto the correct frequency, and then 22 MORE tries to yield the message, with q: not rising appreciably. I'm not sure what was different about this round.
2016-01-08 23:45:59 >WOLF10 -r 11024.559 -f 800 -t 1.0 -w 0.0000 -ut
23:46:23 f: 0.791 a: 1.1 dp: 54.1 ci: 0 cj: 0 GKQ5EFSR.43L.6. ?
23:46:47 f:-0.271 a: 0.4 dp: 53.0 ci: 0 cj: 0 GVV2*YW7I6JYFUU ?
23:47:35 f:-0.250 a:-1.3 dp: 51.5 ci:11 cj:216 D6QJ*8UO1???RAD -
23:49:11 f: 0.234 pm:1.078 jm:765 q:-13.8 -8.3 HAWNOLKP6UDF3/F ?
23:50:47 f: 0.684 pm:1.169 jm:862 q:-13.1 -8.5 7UU6C9EW0RUPWH4 ?
23:52:23 f: 0.010 pm:1.571 jm:941 q:-11.9 -6.0 2RHDQ3VHEZQW.OY -
23:53:59 f: 0.762 pm:2.164 jm:641 q: -9.8 -6.5 /V6GE .F91E OK* ?
23:55:35 f:-0.391 pm:3.427 jm:838 q: -9.6 -7.3 NG94WGK5GB5GU54 ?
23:57:11 f:-0.908 pm:3.768 jm: 33 q: -9.2 -8.5 G1**X*LQYSI1JGG ?
23:58:47 f: 0.029 pm:4.210 jm:291 q: -6.7 -8.1 01PGCD??? 33YT8 ?
00:00:23 f: 0.029 pm:4.822 jm:291 q: -6.1 -7.3 .JM98*2XBV6S6 S ?
... 17 more attempts with lock on the correct frequency, but without decodes ...
00:29:11 f: 0.029 pm:9.858 jm:291 q: -1.4 -7.7 9ODD42T4JFL72W ?
00:30:47 f: 0.029 pm:10.09 jm:291 q: -1.2 -9.8 .LJ9WJ/KL0E8SNR ?
00:32:23 f: 0.029 pm:10.30 jm:291 q: -0.9 -8.2 WD2XES BIFSW36A ?
00:33:59 f: 0.029 pm:10.44 jm:291 q: -0.7 -5.7 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
00:35:35 f: 0.029 pm:10.61 jm:291 q: -0.5 -5.7 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
00:37:11 f: 0.029 pm:10.68 jm:291 q: -0.3 -5.6 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
00:38:47 f: 0.029 pm:10.82 jm:291 q: -0.2 -5.4 WD2XES BIG WOLF -
More on "Roundup of SAQ Reception Results"
Posted by Mike Terry on January 10, 2016 at 08:54:05.
ARRL
January 8, 2016
excerpt:
The 2015 Christmas Eve transmission from SAQ, the Alexanderson alternator station at the World Heritage Grimeton site in Sweden, elicited more than 350 reports, according to a preliminary accounting, many of them from hams.... nearly 160 came from Germany. Listeners in the US filed eight reports, with just five indicating they actually heard SAQ.
The vintage station began its holiday transmissions in 2006. Dating from the 1920s, the Alexanderson alternator can put out 200 kW but typically is operated at less than one-half that power level. Once providing reliable transatlantic communication, it is now a museum piece and only put on the air on special occasions.
MP on 475 kHz Mid-Day!
www.arrl.org/news/saq-alexanderson-alternator-christmas-eve...
Posted by John Davis on January 10, 2016 at 18:17:16.
Mitch has been running MP at QRSS6 on 475 kHz lately, and though it has been easy copy at night, today is the first chance I've had to look for it in mid-day. Clear copy at both QRSS3 Slow and 10 Normal. Good low-noise conditions today are really helping. If this is groundwave propagation, perhaps there is also some benefit to having temperatures in the mid-teens, Fahrenheit.
- John
Re: HiFERs January 8
That evening, I meant to add that FRC was coming in decently about 45 minutes after sunset, even though nearly everyone else was gone by then.
Re: MP on 475 kHz Mid-Day!
Posted by John Davis on January 11, 2016 at 06:06:19.
In reply to MP on 475 kHz Mid-Day! posted by John Davis on January 10, 2016
MP continued visible all afternoon, with an enhancement of level in the half hour before sunset, a minor reduction right around sunset, and then increasing strength again afterward.
I then checked HiFERs during twilight, before packing up and returning to town. Plenty of CODAR. Only USC and RY were visible, and USC faded away after a few minutes. RY actually got better after that and was still present when I left. Nobody else was visible or audible on 22 m this evening.
John
HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by John Davis on January 11, 2016 at 19:55:00.
Between 9 and 10 AM CST, I had fair copy of RY and NC, and good copy of USC and EH. I thought I could hear bits of WV, but couldn't be sure. MTI was coming and going, but no sign of PBJ. FRC was making it through, three or four characters at a time, then finally one full ID.
I resumed listening in person around 11:30 AM for an hour and a half before checking on MP at 475 kHz (still coming in, but there's a little more noise there than yesterday). During the mid-day session, the path to Illinois opened up. I started seeing SIW DFCW firt, then later SIW slant (distinctly weaker). After a bit, both SIWs perked up significantly, and WM began making the trip too. For a while, it looked like I might also be seeing 9ZS, but the ID was never complete enough to tell. The maybe-9ZS disappeared about the same time WM took a big dip in level. WM remained present faintly for the rest of that particular ID cycle, then never showed up again. Up the dial, MTI wa doing a lot better than earlier, and PBJ showed up for a while looking kind of fuzzy before it went away again. No GNK or FRC this time.
Now, about that pirate...both during the morning and mid-day sessions, there was an AM signal with its carrier at 13560.5 kHz. Because of where most of the ISM noise is concentrated in my vicinity, USB worked better than AM, and LSB was all noise. During the morning session, I could only tell that there was a combination of voice and music. At noon, it sounded like dialogue from a Burns & Allen episode, so I'm wondering if this is the same pirate that was running old-time radio shows last year. Anyone else hearing it, or has anyone seen reports about it?
The pirate is definitely not running Part 15 power. Even four and five kHz up from its carrier, the sidebands are sometimes stronger than most Part 15 stations here.
John
Interestingly,
Re: HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on January 11, 2016 at 23:18:14.
In reply to HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by John Davis on January 11, 2016
John,
Thanks for the detailed report. I've noticed that locally I see the slant code signal nearly 10 dB below the DFCW+Hell. Not sure why but apparently something has detuned since when I last checked the power levels going into a summer they were within 2 dB. Anyway, 10 dB is too large a discrepancy so I changed my pad level so now both register about the same here.
By the way, if the DFCW ever gets really strong perhaps you'll be able to make out "K3SIW" visually when the Hell graphical mode kicks in (between each DFCW transmission).
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by Chris KD4PBJ on January 12, 2016 at 01:40:53.
In reply to HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by John Davis on January 11, 2016
Apologies. I've had PBJ off a few weeks due to being away over Christmas and my mom passing away. I'll get it back on tonight.
Chris Re: HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by John Davis on January 12, 2016 at 04:44:09.
In reply to Re: HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by Garry, K3SIW on January 11, 2016
"if the DFCW ever gets really strong perhaps you'll be able to make out "K3SIW" visually when the Hell graphical mode kicks in"
So that's what I was seeing before noon! Didn't recognize it. Now that I know what I'm looking for, if I back away from the screen, I can sort of see the "SIW" in two of the Hellschreiber instances, but the K and 3 still elude me. (Scroll the window below as needed to view the whole thing.)
For a while, there, the slant mode got pretty strong too. Notice the "perforations." It did that again during the noon hour, and that time I also ran a QRSS30 instance, below. The perforations were a very slow beat note between the two Doppler-shifted paths the signal took.
BTW, I heard the pirate again in late afternoon, going strong even after most of the visual HiFERs had gone away. (EH was taking a random journey around the watering hole and I could see parts of RY, but NC and USC and everyone from Illinois were gone. On the other hand, WV, MTI and FRC were doing well.) The pirate does indeed seem to be our "old-time radio" friend again. I still can't say for sure if the noon program was Burns & Allen, but at 4:28 PM CST, the audio was good enough to tell definitely that they were starting The Great Gildersleeve.
John
Re: HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by John Davis on January 12, 2016 at 05:08:36.
In reply to Re: HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by Chris KD4PBJ on January 12, 2016
Thanks for the update, Chris. Very sorry to hear of your loss.
Apparently the fuzzy "J" at mid-day was just random fluctuations of a stray carrier. What came before it was very random, and nothing followed, so I guess it was simply a strange coincidence that it was in the right neighborhood just above MTI.
John
Re: HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by Mike N8OOU on January 12, 2016 at 05:15:29.
In reply to HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by John Davis on January 11, 2016
JD, Thanks for the report on WM. I had the exciter disassembled last Thursday for a test of new firmware, and am glad to here it is working properly.
Mike
Re: Czech 270kHz has not closed
Posted by Mike Terry on January 12, 2016 at 16:46:40.
In reply to Czech 270kHz has not closed posted by Mike Terry on January 08, 2016
They decreased power from 650kW to 50kW. Operating 0500-2400, weekends 0600-2400.
http://mediumwave.info/news.html Unmistakable PBJ - (was) HiFERS and a Pirate!
Posted by John Davis on January 13, 2016 at 05:17:30.
In reply to Re: HiFERS and a Pirate! posted by John Davis on January 12, 2016
No mistaking some fuzzy randomly fading carrier for the real PBJ today! MTI was very strong at times, too. The "tinsel" in the upper part of the capture is sidebands from some musical number being performed on the old-timey radio pirate on 13560.5 kHz. (No idea what the strong carrier is on 13557.570 kHz.)
Elsewhere on HF today, NC and USC were strong at noon...EH was strong, but jumping all over the watering hole...and RY was a bit choppy but visible. Both SIWs were strong for a while, and WM made a brief appearance. WV was finally audible after several minutes of waiting, and so was FRC.
By about 4:30 PM, only three stations were visible anywhere near the watering hole: NC, EH (which had settled down nicely in frequency), and RY, which was giving remarkably solid and unbroken traces. Everybody else, visual and aural, seemed to be taking a vacation except for the ISM noise at the center of the band, and finally a few more peeps out of FRC.
John
Hifer RQ
Posted by Bill Hensel on January 13, 2016 at 21:31:39.
Hifer RQ 13.5635 Mhz making it into the Mojavie Desert solid copy, listening on the Mojavie Tuner up on Global Tuners... beginning time 2100-2131 and still solid copy.
Re: About Attachments
Posted by John Davis on January 14, 2016 at 08:46:20.
In reply to Re: About Attachments posted by Doug Williams on January 05, 2016
Time for another status report. There have been a lot of changes in the Message Board software over the past nine days to get it ready to accomodate our new features. Only a couple of those changes have been visible to users, though, so you might have wondered if anything was going on. Indeed it has been! Tonight I had success with one of those less visible changes, but it is such a significant benchmark that I wanted to update you on it.
Specifically: The board now recognizes both Moderators and Authenticated Authors, and accords them each the proper privileges.
For this post, I logged in via the new Authenticated Author method. Now I can use basic text formatting or write
Acircle = π r2
here, without needing to go through the full Moderator log-in the way I usually do. This extra capability will soon be available to anyone who wants to sign up as an Authenticated Author, and the features will get better over time. The next steps directly ahead:
1a. At this stage, I need to finish a sign-up procedure to get Authenticated Authors registered as painlessly as possible. This (I hope!) is mere days away.
1b.Almost simultaneously, I need to add a preview feature that will let authors (all authors, actually, not just Authenticated ones) preview their posts before sending them. If you remember back to when we allowed HTML several years ago, previewing was a necessary intermediate step between submitting a post and actually getting it onto the Message Board. That extra step was kind of ungainly, especially for everyday messages that didn't use HTML formatting, and it added considerably to the work of the Board software. The new Preview function will work in parallel with the Board instead, giving you the option to see how your message will look to other readers prior to sending it. You can fix your HTML code or links, and correct any typos, before you ever click Post.
When these features are ready, we will then go live with Authenticated Authoring. That may not be as exciting right at first as I'm possibly making it sound, because initially it will only enable basic HTML formatting tags of the same type that we allowed a few years ago. Those are all that's currently encoded into the Board software, but that will begin to change almost immediately.
2. We'll quickly increase the range of usable HTML tags to include live links, and possibly also enable embedding of images that are hosted externally (on your own Web site or Photobucket account, for instance).
3. We'll tie in our file upload routine that already works well but is currently separate from the Board, so that you can upload files to lwca.org as attachments to your posts. (This might even become available before all of Step 2 is implemented, depending on how the work goes.)
4. Finally, tools will gradually be added to the posting form to help you with potentially trickier aspects of embedding live links, quoting from previous posts, etc. That way, you won't necessarily have to be an HTML expert to use all of the new capabilities.
More details soon.
John
Re: About Attachments
Posted by John Davis on January 14, 2016 at 21:01:45.
In reply to Re: About Attachments posted by John Davis on January 14, 2016
A further quick update: it looks as if live links -and- automatic conversion of "http://" URLs to links will be available immediately when we roll out Authenticated Authors program! The new Preview feature may not be available right at first, but since clickable links will be so simple to do, that may not be a problem. Wish me luck!
Any thoughts on BBCode?
Posted by John Davis on January 15, 2016 at 07:00:43.
How many of our users have used BBCode tags before, I wonder? (Examples: [b][/b] to turn bold on and off, [url=http://www.somewebsite.com]Link to My Favorite Site[/url] and so forth.)
How many have a preference for those over HTML tags. Or, the other way around?
We can do both quite compatibly in the long run, of course, but I'm looking for feedback on which path I should spend more time pursuing in the short term.
Thanks!
John
WM Lowfer QRT
Posted by Mike N8OOU on January 15, 2016 at 17:02:15.
While John is away thinking and scratching his head, I will slip in here to say that I am taking the WM Lowfer beacon off the air for a short while to upgrade the firmware and code in a new message. I hope to have it back up by tomorrow Sat, Jan 16,2016.
Mike.
Re: WM Lowfer QRT
Posted by John Davis on January 16, 2016 at 04:30:42.
In reply to WM Lowfer QRT posted by Mike N8OOU on January 15, 2016
Thanks for the update, Mike. I'm just about done with the current feverish round of code writing, and soon need to get started on next month's LOWDOWN, so I will try to take a look tomorrow if at all possible.
Our weather down here has returned to winter temperatures and will only get colder for the next several days, apparently. Better to listen while I can do it without freezing. :) Longwave homebrew equipment offering
Posted by Sam Winram on January 16, 2016 at 16:21:42.
After 65+ years of building many kinds of radio gear, I'm offering my LW receiving equipment to a person(s) interested in this hobby who's perhaps shy of the means to buy some at the moment. Thus the gear is free, possibly with some help re shipping depending on location. Equipment includes an active e-probe antenna w/low-pass filter, a receiver-coupler with battery & AC power, a tunable preselector/amplifier, and a 11-500 kHz up-converter. I'd prefer to offer these items as a "package" as I can supply the interconnecting coax cables w/plugs & shipping would be simplified. Also available is a digital audio filter for CW reception & a "McGreevy" adjustable low-pass VLF/ELF receiver for output to a PC using spectrum analysis software. If interested, email me & I will provide a more complete equipment description along with photographs.
WM Lowfer back on air
Posted by Mike N8OOU on January 16, 2016 at 16:25:37.
I have re-started the WM Lowfer Beacon after upgrading the firmware in the exciter, and installing a new message using the additional capabilities. Also I dropped the frequency down to 185,300.5 KHz.
Reports are welcomed. Re: Any thoughts on BBCode?
Mike
Posted by Mike N8OOU on January 16, 2016 at 16:55:27.
In reply to Any thoughts on BBCode? posted by John Davis on January 15, 2016
John,
To answer your specific questions, I haven't used BBCode tags. I also don't know much about HTML Tags either. I let some software called kompoZer do that for me in building my web pages. I am happy with reading and typing plain ol text. For me it would be great to be able to just type in a URL and have the system take care of the linking details.
Now to confirm the obvious that I am "old --- school", at one time I new the WordStar control keys really well! Hi Hi
Mike
Re: Any thoughts on BBCode?
Posted by John Davis on January 16, 2016 at 19:40:06.
In reply to Re: Any thoughts on BBCode? posted by Mike N8OOU on January 16, 2016
"For me it would be great to be able to just type in a URL and have the system take care of the linking details."
I'm very pleased to report that part works quite successfully now. So do most HTML and BBCode tags, too.
As of late last night, the main Board software itself is fully revamped and merely awaiting Authenticated Authors to use it. (It could still use considerable cleanup, of course, and there may be minor bug fixes ahead once we start using it in earnest, but all the essential mods are functional right now.)
The next step, then, is to get it where people can sign up to use it. Once they do, they'll be able to post live links and enable uploads merely by including what's called a "tripcode" as part of their name when they post. I hope to have a sign-up process in place by the end of the month. It would be sooner, but the next 10 days or so will be tied up with the February LOWDOWN.
For those who want to format their text somewhat, BBCode is said to be easier to use than HTML. It consists of tags in [] brackets, many of which look a lot like hypertext markup...[b]some text[/b] instead of <b>some text</b> to make some text bold, for instance. The tags are more limited in capability than HTML to keep posters from accidentally (or intentionally) doing bad things to the contents of their own message, or to the reader's computer. In practice, we also limit the available HTML tags for that same reason.
Apparently, many people are familiar with BBCode from other forums and a few might like to use them here. I haven't implemented all the possible HTML or BBCode tags yet (no tables or ordered lists, or others that take a fair amount of configuration by the user), but that's why I want to get a sense of how many of our group have used BBCode before, and how extensively. That'll guide my priorities for further upgrades.
All feedback welcome!
John
Re: WM Lowfer back on air
Posted by John Davis on January 16, 2016 at 19:42:54.
In reply to WM Lowfer back on air posted by Mike N8OOU on January 16, 2016
Have been looking a little bit so far today, and see a bit more RF around the target frequency than elsewhere, but nothing identifiable yet. There's a surprising amount of QRN right now, though, so that's not helping. Maybe this evening...
Re: Any thoughts on BBCode?
Posted by Paul on January 16, 2016 at 22:01:52.
In reply to Any thoughts on BBCode? posted by John Davis on January 15, 2016
Although I have used them, I usually don't.
The most useful tag would be [IMG]
I think the [b] tag gets abused on most forums.
Re: Longwave homebrew equipment offering
Posted by Robert on January 16, 2016 at 23:17:55.
In reply to Longwave homebrew equipment offering posted by Sam Winram on January 16, 2016
Email Sent to your verizon email :-)
thanks
robert
V1RGO/B QRT
Posted by Sal,K1RGO on January 17, 2016 at 02:30:14.
I have finished the V1RGO/B testing on 13555.61. I will put the diode back in the cw id matrix and will be sending K1RGO/B on 28.254 MHz with a modified old CB unit running 2 watts for a 10 meter beacon caper. Re: Any thoughts on BBCode?
later............Sal,K1RGO
Posted by John Davis on January 17, 2016 at 06:25:58.
In reply to Re: Any thoughts on BBCode? posted by Paul on January 16, 2016
"Although I have used them, I usually don't.
The most useful tag would be [IMG]"
Thanks for that input, Paul. Based on our experience when we made HTML avaiable several years ago, and our more recent experience in the Community Forum, I don't think most people who use this board are likely to make much use of the text formatting tags. But I suspect you're right about [IMG], so I will keep working on that one.
The one worrisome question about [IMG] is whether message writers will be thoughtful about the size of image files they use. Even if the reader has automatic resizing turned on in his browser to keep a gi-normous image within the confines of the screen, the fact remains that a 5 MB picture file is still going to take a while to load on ordinary Internet connections.
Some forums implement the [IMG] tag with options to force a particular height and width on screen, but it still doesn't change the fact that a huge file will require time to load, and may also choke the browser on a machine that has limited resources. When it is possible for Web authors to specify a reasonable display size, it seems some tend to forget that this setting has no effect on the original file size of the image as it traverses the network.
For that reason, plus the extra code complexity in accomodating different formats for specifying picture size, I'm inclined to implement only the most basic version:
[IMG]url_of_the_picture[/IMG]
We can try it and see how that works, then go from there. Any additional thoughts on the [IMG] tag or others will also be welcome.
John
Re: 13558.4 MHz Beacon active
Posted by Ed Holland on January 18, 2016 at 04:00:07.
In reply to 13558.4 MHz Beacon active posted by Ed Holland on December 12, 2015
Quick update:
The 13558.4 MHz beacon received some attention today, since I was reorganising the radio desk in the basement. By and by, I found some poor connections in the lines to and from the ATU, and resolved the issues. Later I took the Grundig portable on a short hike in the rain and verified that the beacon is "getting out". Soon I will add a proper keyer an ID in place of the constant dash. Today, a heavy duty bout of spring cleaning occupied a good portion of the day.
Any reports are welcome.
best regards,
Ed
Re: Longwave homebrew equipment offering
Posted by Sam Winram on January 18, 2016 at 21:14:50.
In reply to Re: Longwave homebrew equipment offering posted by Robert on January 16, 2016
Post #5730 offer has now been subscribed to so the offer is withdrawn. Thank you.
Sat./Sun./Mon. HiFERs
Posted by John Davis on January 18, 2016 at 22:37:24.
Saturday was the best day of the weekend for HiFERs, except for no openings to Illinois. In fact, nobody there made it through until today, which I'll tell you more about later. Meantime, Saturday resulted in RY, EH, USC, NC (when I tuned up significantly above the watering hole), WV, MTI, PBJ, and FRC. The pirate's carrier at 13560.5 seemed to be present, but it's hard to tell for sure because it was weaker and the program wasn't distinguishable. Everybody was gone by sunset, except for RY, which slowly disappeared like the famed Cheshire cat.
Similar results Sunday except WV was audible for much shorter periods and FRC was barely recognizable. When everyone else was gone at sunset, RY got stronger this time, easily CW strength for several minutes, before also beginning to fade out, well after sunset.
Today was the first band opening between Illinois and here for some time, lasting roughly from a quarter to noon until just before 1:30 PM. At times, WM was very prominent, and at other times SIW at 13554.00 was stronger. But if you've been looking for its DFCW ID there, you haven't seen it for a few days because Garry has temporarily been experimenting with WSPR-2. I managed several good decodes this afternoon, which I'll share with you further tonight.
Other HiFERs today were RY (pretty steady copy), EH (experiencing some sort of problems with a very noisy looking trace), USC (exceptionally strong), NC, and a strong MTI (but no PBJ today). Also absent: WV, GNK, and only slight visual traces from FRC but no audible CW.
John
Re: V1RGO/B QRT
Posted by Paul on January 19, 2016 at 04:41:33.
In reply to V1RGO/B QRT posted by Sal,K1RGO on January 17, 2016
Hi Sal,
You may want to coordinate that with the IARU region 2 beacon coordinator Bill Hays. 10m beacons are coordinated.
Bill's contact info is available at the bottom of his beacon list page- http://www.qsl.net/wj5o/bcn.htm Re: V1RGO/B QRT
Posted by Sal,K1RGO on January 21, 2016 at 01:43:51.
In reply to Re: V1RGO/B QRT posted by Paul on January 19, 2016
I'll check it out, tnx
Any thoughts on autoconversion of live links?
Posted by John Davis on January 21, 2016 at 21:52:02.
In reply to Re: Any thoughts on BBCode? posted by John Davis on January 16, 2016
What I'm seeking this time is your opinion on the appearance of live links that will get autoconverted in messages from Authenticated Authors. There are two ways they can be presented to the viewer.
In the first, the writer types in the full URL with the usual "http://" in front of it, as I am about to do below with the SpaceWeather site of NASA's Dr Tony Phillips, but the finished link appears only as:
www.spaceweather.com
which is fully clickable and actually opens in a new window. Because I am logged in as an Authenticated Author myself right now, instead of as a moderator or administrator, what you're seeing is the real, live autoconversion at work as it is currently configured.
The other way we could do it, of course, is to show the reader everything, just as I typed it:
http://www.spaceweather.com
The irony is, you might think that displaying everything just as I typed it would be the simpler approach. But for technical reasons too picky to go into here, it's really not. (In this demonstration, I actually had to log in again as an administrator immediately after posting this and force the second link to appear the way it does now.) I can make the software do it in this format if any users think they'd be more comfortable seeing the "http://" in front of the URL, and/or if you think readers would be more likely to recognize it as a link this way. However, if you don't think that's a concern, I'll leave it as it is.
Your opinion is most welcome.
John
Re: Any thoughts on autoconversion of live links?
Posted by Ed Holland on January 21, 2016 at 22:41:01.
In reply to Any thoughts on autoconversion of live links? posted by John Davis on January 21, 2016
I like contracted links highlighted with underline + font colour myself, i.e. option 1.
This is the way that seems common on other boards, and it is helpful when links become very unwieldy in length. Should one want to know the full detail, it is simple enough to retrieve that information.
Thanks
Ed RQ reception
Posted by Brian on January 21, 2016 at 23:07:09.
Just heard Hifer RQ for the 1st time here at the work qth DN10tx using PCR1000 to a discone atop the truck shop about 75ft AAT.
Re: RQ reception
Posted by John Davis on January 22, 2016 at 05:21:01.
In reply to RQ reception posted by Brian on January 21, 2016
Congratulations on that reception, Brian. RQ has continued to elude me here, with up to half a dozen carriers right around the target frequency at any given time. No one of them is very strong, but together they produce a pulsing beat note that has kept me from hearing any CW thus far.
BTW, what is the status of your own BC beacon? Thanks.
John
Re: V1RGO/B QRT
Posted by Sal,K1RGO on January 23, 2016 at 03:35:19.
In reply to Re: V1RGO/B QRT posted by Paul on January 19, 2016
I emailed the dude, and I'm all coordinated now. I'm on the 10 meter beacon list. dipole ant sw/ne , 2w out 24/7 Re: RQ reception
later...........
Posted by Brian nb9e on January 23, 2016 at 15:51:21.
In reply to Re: RQ reception posted by John Davis on January 22, 2016
My QRSS beacon BC is broken. I never could get it to oscillate properly again. I have tried on several occasions to retune it but no joy. My plan is to put a CW beacon on instead at 10wpm around 13.563
Re: 13558.4 MHz Beacon active
Posted by Ed Holland on January 24, 2016 at 05:03:24.
In reply to 13558.4 MHz Beacon active posted by Ed Holland on December 12, 2015
An additional follow up to this, I made some adjustments to the ATU today, after realising a mistake in my aerial current monitor setup. Long story short, I think I was well away from being peaked up, and should have a better signal now.
Cheers,
Ed (learning as I go)
Re: RQ reception
Posted by Bill Hensel on January 25, 2016 at 23:58:10.
In reply to RQ reception posted by Brian on January 21, 2016
Hey that was a nice to see, I,ll get a nice QSL card out to
you ...is your mailing address on qrz.com
wonder what time of day?
Re: 13558.4 MHz Beacon active
Posted by Ed Holland on January 26, 2016 at 00:31:06.
In reply to Re: 13558.4 MHz Beacon active posted by Ed Holland on January 24, 2016
Quick update: Yesterday I checked the signal from a location about 4 miles from home. A previous test there had not given a positive result. Yesterday, it was clearly audible with the Grundig portable receiver and its telescopic antenna.
Reports welcome,
Ed
Re: RQ reception
Posted by Brian nb9e on January 27, 2016 at 02:26:31.
In reply to Re: RQ reception posted by Bill Hensel on January 25, 2016
3:07 pm good on QRZ
200mhz kills cancer
Posted by Francis Gentile on January 27, 2016 at 05:00:40.
I have built two 'medfer' broadcast AM transmitter kits but I could not get predicted performance out of them, perhaps being in a an urban enviroment.
However I am now interested in transmitting in the lowfer because of the evidence of cancer killing properties, see below:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4703612/
(excerpts)http://www.novocure.com/about-us/our-history.aspx
Electric fields have long been known to interact with biological material and this has been exploited for medical treatment by effecting the depolarization of electrically excitable nerves and muscles, or inducing the deep heating of tissues. Dr. Yorum Palti at the Rappaport Institute in Israel developed a technology to deliver electric fields that affect dividing cell viability. Analysis of this effect on cell viability revealed a tight peak of cytotoxic effect in all cell types tested between 150 and 200 kHz, which was not apparent at frequencies < 50 kHz and > 500 kHz. This cytotoxicity also increased with field intensity. Based on their ability to kill tumor cells in culture, these alternating electric fields have been referred to as tumor treating fields (TTFields)
[....]
TTFields therapy for glioblastoma is delivered by two pairs of transducer arrays positioned orthogonally on the shaved scalp, adhered by a thin layer of conductive gel that provides good conductivity (Fig. 2) [48] . TTFields are generated by a battery-powered alternating current generator, operating at 200 kHz, with maximum voltage alternating from +50 to –50 V.
[....]
An enigmatic feature of the effect that TTFields have on cells is that the incident angle to the mitotic plate dictates the magnitude of cellular damage. When TTFields were perpendicular to the plane of division, cells were relatively unaffected but when the TTFields were parallel to the plane of division, cells exhibited a higher degree of mitotic failure
[....]
The outcome of the trial indicates that TTFields probably has equivalent efficacy when compared with chemotherapy and bevacizumab.
There was far less hematological toxicity, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and pain associated with the device when compared to BPC chemotherapy.
[....]
In the pivotal EF-11 trial that lead to FDA approval for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma, response typically occurred 6.6–9.9 months following the onset of treatment, at which point responders exhibited rapid tumor regression [41•]. This pattern of delayed response is also consistent with an immune mechanism of tumor rejection. Finally, clinical data strongly suggest that concurrent use of dexamethasone, a potent immunosuppressive agent, is correlated with poor outcome
[....]
Absence of prior bevacizumab usage was also favorable
Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway
On the Norway island Gossa, there is near Aukra a 200 metres ( source for height: https://www.ippc.no/norway_aip/current/aip/EN_ENR_5_4_en.pdf , page 11) high radio mast at 62.785825 N 6.901392 E , which looks like according https://www.google.com/maps/place/62%C2%B047'09.0%22N+6%C2%B054'05.0%22E/@62.7881394,6.8966867,3a,60y,142.05h,93.51t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1so9LbRF8szFp7T_sCI6jQxw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Do9LbRF8szFp7T_sCI6jQxw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D164.82635%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0?hl=en a mast radiator with a capacitvie enlengthening similiar like a LORAN-Tower. But there is no LORAN-C transmitter listed for this location nor is or was there a longwave broadcasting station. WM Lowfer Off the Air
Which radio service use or used on which frequency under which callsign this mast?
Posted by Mike N8OOU on January 27, 2016 at 22:40:03.
ALL;
I have taken the WM Lowfer off the air for maintenance. I hope to be back on by the weekend. Weather Permitting.
Mike
Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway
Posted by John Davis on January 29, 2016 at 08:27:46.
In reply to Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway posted by Manten on January 27, 2016
Sorry, I don't know the answer with any certainty. The mast is the right size (taking into account the capacitive top loading) for Loran-C. Norway formerly operated four of those stations, but as you already know, none match that location.
Norway also operates a powerful VLF station for NATO submarine communication, which I have seen listed at three different locations. All of those possible sites are much farther north, however.
Norway has five NAVTEX transmitters. I do not know Norwegian geography very well, but it does not appear to me that any of those locations match. Additionally, the height of the mast is a third of a wavelength at mediumwave NAVTEX frequencies, so top loading would definitely not be appropriate.
Norway also operates 12 Differential GPS stations along the coast. These work at somewhat lower frequencies. A 200 meter mast would be self resonant near 375 kHz, which is within the upper end of DGPS frequencies. However, masts of that height, especially with top loading, are considered unnecessary for DGPS because it is not intended for very long distances. One can easily cover 200 km with an antenna of half the size at DGPS frequencies.
Therefore, the best guess would be that this is an LF station, perhaps on a frequency under 150 kHz, probably operated by the Norwegian Navy for its own purposes.
I took a Google Street View virtual tour, going west from Aukra, then turning south along the county road that leads to the driveway of the station. A much shorter tower is also visible on the property with microwave dishes mounted on it. The Google camera car did not attempt to drive down the lane, which was marked with a sign bearing what appears to be two official-looking warnings of some sort. The sign was blurry in the Google image, and the text would have been in Norse, anyway, so I was unable to determine from it who operates the facility.
John
Amateur radio taking 630 meters for a test drive
Posted by Mike Terry on January 29, 2016 at 08:57:08.
It's the debut of an experimental event and hams in the U.S. and Canada are on board: The first Midwinter 630 Meter (amateur) Activity Weekend will kick off at 0000 UTC on February 6 and continue through 2359 UTC February 7.
The activities on the MF spectrum will allow amateurs to engage in crossband operation, with Canadian amateurs on 630 meters, their newest band. The event follows a similar one last November that engaged
Canadian and U.S. hams as well as the Maritime Radio Historical Society.
The ARRL's 600 Meter Experimental Group Coordinator Fritz Raab, W1FR, said "Much of the interest is in response to the strong likelihood of U.S. amateurs receiving access to the band in the near future, while Canadian hams are eager to learn more about the present level of amateur radio activity on their newest ham band."
A number of Canadian stations will work two-way crossband on CW.
Operation will be from 472kHz to 479 Khz in various modes.
(ARRL, eHAM.NET) Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway
Posted by Manten on January 29, 2016 at 14:24:00.
In reply to Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway posted by John Davis on January 29, 2016
Which LF-frequencies are listed for which locations in Norway?
Authenticated Author Progress Report
Posted by John Davis on January 31, 2016 at 03:41:51.
It has been 10 days since I last reported on developments. Work came to a near halt for a week while I prepared material for The LOWDOWN, which took extra time because of the blizzard back East where the publication is printed.
Before I started on the publication, I had Authenticated Author recognition working, and the Board would convert URLs to live links and pass HTML formatting tags well. It appeared there might be a problem with conversion of BBCode, which I checked out tonight. It's a classic case of "I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong." It was apparently only a problem with the way I logged in for the earlier test.
The other thing looming over me at the time I started on the publication was the software for the author sign-up process--kind of important, because unless people can get registered to use them, the improvements are not very meaningful. The software crashed before doing anything at all! During the column writing and editing, I took short breaks to isolate all the code blocks and located three subroutines that each, individually, would crash the interpreter.
As soon as the columns were done and on their way to HQ, I redirected my attention to finding the problems in those code blocks. All three turned out to have tiny punctuation errors in very critical places. Those problems are now fixed! That doesn't mean the sign-up is ready to go to work, though. The regular debugging to ensure correct functionality still has to be done, and there's no way to predict how that will go.
So, in condensed form, the next steps are:
John Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on January 31, 2016 at 04:14:54.
In reply to Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway posted by Manten on January 29, 2016
The only active VLF station I'm aware of in Norway is JXN, transmitting on 16.4 kHz (see http://no.geoview.info/antenna_of_jxnvlftransmitter,164616069w). Its transmissions are relatively infrequent but it's QRV right now (0412Z, 31 Jan 2016) and is strong on the Alaskan grabber at http://kl7l.com/Alaska.html. It's much weaker here in grid EN52ta but copyable.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway
Posted by John Davis on January 31, 2016 at 21:57:49.
In reply to Re: Unknown longwave radio mast in Norway posted by Garry, K3SIW on January 31, 2016
The station for which Garry posted links, JXN, is the Norwegian NATO station that I made reference to. In different lists, it is shown variously as being at Novik, Helgoland, and at another location in the same vicinity that I don't recall at the moment. Of course, that region is much farther north than the island with the mystery tower. And it is VLF, with a much larger antenna system.
The only LF station in Norway that appears on the frequency lists I have found online is LBA 57.70 kHz, Trondheim. There might be more assignments on official ITU lists that I cannot access. Perhaps someone else has such information and would share it here.
As I mentioned, the mystery mast is considerably larger than antennas that normal DGPS stations require, but since some of them are technically at LF, I'll go ahead and list them here anyway. Question marks below indicate a Norse character that my browser did not recognize.
IALA DGPS List for Norway
(All 100 baud data rate)
ID Station Frequency Status
515 Andenes 311 KHz On
0 Bellsund 302.5 KHz Proposed
0 Bjornaya 301 KHz Proposed
0 Ekofisk 289 KHz Proposed
500 F?er 310.5 KHz On
517 Fruholmen 309.5 KHz On
510 Halten 301 KHz On
0 Jan Mayen 307 KHz Proposed
503 Lista 304 KHz On
511 Sklinna 303.5 KHz On
513 Skomv? 286.5 KHz On
0 Skrova 300 KHz Proposed
0 Slettnes 288.5 KHz Proposed
508 Svin? 302.5 KHz On
516 Torsv? 284 KHz On
0 Torungen 299 KHz Proposed
505 Utsira 313 KHz On
507 Utv? 314 KHz On
520 Vard(?) 305.5 KHz On
John
potrzebie