Marine Beacon List?
I enjoy locatating radio beacons with radio direction finders from my collection. I've had trouble finding a list of marine beacons, however. I'm familiar with the list at http://home.cogeco.ca/~dxinfo/ndb.htm It does not seem to mark marine beacons, or maybe does not include them, however.
I also understand that the US Coast Guard includes marine radiobeacons in it's "Light List". But I cannot find where to get this list. It is not listed at the Government Publication site.
Is there a list of Marine Radiobeacons on the web, or a place I can find a list? Or are the all gone now? I understand that most have been converted to differential beacons for GPS... but are there any left? Thanks... Rich.
Re: Marine Beacon List?
Posted by John Davis on February 01, 2005 at 14:04:17.
In Reply to Marine Beacon List? posted by Rich SantaColoma on February 01, 2005 at 09:34:23.
Rich,
I am not aware of any US maritime navigational beacons remaining. They started phasing them out rather quickly over a decade ago. (Even aerobeacons are gradually being decommissioned now, although this will not be a very speedy process until roughly five more years, when the pace is likely to pick up.)
The place to look for marine navigational information in general would be the US Coast Guard Navcenter Web page, at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/
They also have a download page for the 2001 Federal Radionavigation Plan (the one still currently in effect) in PDF format.
John
Re: SAQ on 2 February?
Posted by John Davis on February 01, 2005 at 14:26:53.
In Reply to SAQ on 2 February? posted by Ray, W2RS on January 27, 2005 at 15:00:42.
I am not at all well versed in Swedish, either, but as I read it, "Nästa arbetskväll blir onsdagen den 2 februari kl. 18.00" roughly means, the next work session will be on Wednesday, February 2, at 1800.
I seem to recall reading that one such session had been postponed in order to accomodate the transmission on January 19th.
John
Re: SAQ on 2 February?
Posted by Ray, W2RS on February 01, 2005 at 16:04:19.
In Reply to Re: SAQ on 2 February? posted by John Davis on February 01, 2005 at 14:26:53.
John and others,
I asked the group at SAQ, and here is their response:
Dear Ray; MW - Beacon DI2AG
I am sorry to announce that there will not take place any transmission on 2 February. What we announce is a working evening, when Alexander members come together to restore the old short wave transmitters in Grimeton and to prepare marketing efforts. Soon we hope to start training a new generation of SAQ operators in these working evenings.
Best regards,
Ola Hernvall
Secretary Alexander - Grimeton Veteran Radio's Friends
Posted by Walter Staubach, DJ2LF on February 02, 2005 at 09:28:24.
Dear friends of the long and medium waves, Re: Marine Beacon List?
I am pleased to tell you, that I got the permission to operate a MW-transmitter from the german authorities. It will be used for studies of propagation and testing modern receiving modes, using low power.
Some data:
Call is DI2AG (the DI-prefixes are for tests and research only, therefore this is no ham radio application).
Frequency 440KHz+/-100Hz bandwidth.
Modes A1A, A1B, F1B, G1B. Location JN59NO in south Germany.
Max. power 9W ERP.
The permission is valid for 2005
The transmitter is operated as a beacon, at daylight time in Europe with 0.5W ERP and QRSS3, in the night from 22UTC to 8UTC with 4W ERP and QRSS60. And an identification-message in regular CW. Like "DI2AG JN59NO QRSS60".
The transmitter is already in use since January first. Meanwhile I got a lot of reports and screenshots from all over Europe, but did not succeed with the States and Canada. For QRSS the frequency 440,044KHz is used to have a little distance from the NDB´s.
Please send reports and screenshots to DI2AG@fen-net.de
It would be great to cross the pond.
Best regards and 73 Walter DJ2LF
Posted by Rich SantaColoma on February 02, 2005 at 10:27:01.
In Reply to Re: Marine Beacon List? posted by John Davis on February 01, 2005 at 14:04:17.
John:
Well I see I did ask at the right place! The information you gave answered the question once and for all. Marine beacons in the USA are history. They were terminated in 2000. From one of the PDF's I copied a chart, which may be of interest to others here:
http://www.put.com/~proto57/beacon_plan.jpg
In a nutshell, the chart outlines the fate and/or plans for: Maritime NDB, Loran-C, VOR/DME, TACAN, ILS Cat I, MLS Aero NDB, ILS Cat II/III, GPS, Maritime DGPS, WAAS, LAAS (CAT I), LAAS (CAT II & CAT III), NDGPS
So I will enjoy playing with my direction finders for the next few years, using aero beacons. Seems it will be an obsolete hobby soon. Thanks for your time and info... Rich.
Re: Car Radios With Long Wave Tuners
Posted by Andreé DD3LY on February 03, 2005 at 08:40:50.
In Reply to Re: Car Radios With Long Wave Tuners posted by William C. Walker on January 22, 2005 at 12:41:40.
Some of these car radios have very good sensivity, good enough to listen to Belorussia and France and the BBC at the mid of winter at 12:00UTC situated in North Germany. I tried this in a car of a friend last week, he has a SONY there. Most of these modern radios use active antennas but those with a LW band were produced for Europe and Asia, not for the US-market. They are not offered in the states.
Africam GBPSK VD
Posted by lloyd chastant on February 04, 2005 at 22:47:59.
VD was transmitting Africam GBPSK on 185.450 tonite and here is some of my copy on his mode hr in Maryland..
AFRICAM log opened: Fri Feb 4 2005 at 20:48 Local Time
GBPSK copy by W3NF 185.450 Khz of VD
20:48:51 -,m PUNSET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:[0D]5 VD S8NdET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:1
21:04:14 5 VD SUNSET 5:15 V< SUNSET 5:y5 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:15
21:20:45 VD SUNSET 5h[0D]5 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD SUfCET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:15
21:36:29 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD gUN14i5:15 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:15 V
21:53:01 D SUNSET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD SUNSET 5515 VD SUNSET 5:15 VD
22:09:33 SUNSET 5:1r VD SUOSwT 5:15 T[14] YPlnvT 5:15
de Lloyd W3NF FM19MH JWS LowFER Beacon - EM96wc
Posted by J. William Snyder, Jr. on February 05, 2005 at 23:48:48.
Friends: I am a newbie to LowFERing although I have been an Amateur Radio operator for almost 20 years (ARS:KB4LFD). In any event, I have been interested in the LowFER hobby ever since reading about it in QST in an article during the late 1980s, and I rediscovered the existence of the hobby last year after coming across a news item about the denial by the FCC of the petition to establish two Amateur Radio allocations in the LF range (bummer).
In any event, I pored over Lyle Koeler's website and several of the LowFER sites out there, and after several evenings of experimentation and research, I cobbled together a LowFER exciter with a design shamelessly ripped off from.....erm....."inspired" (??) by the Warbler PSK rig that puts out a LSB signal on 186.450 kHz. It along with the portable CD player that plays a CD to which I have burned beacon messages in PSK10, PSK31, MFSK8, Hellschreiber, and QRSS15 (along with a short audio clip from the movie "Pump Up The Volume" ) form the core of my JWS beacon here in Kernersville, North Carolina (EM96wc).
The exciter uses two SA602AN mixers: the first mixes the audio signal from the CD player via a 1:1 audio transformer from Radio Shack with a 3686.400 kHz signal from a microprocessor crystal to create (what I believe to be) a DSB/AM signal at 3686.400 kHz. The output of the first SA602AN is fed into a crystal filter consisting of four (4) 3686.400 kHz microprocessor crystals. The 3686.400 kHz crystal connected to the first SA602AN is "rubbered" with a small trimmer cap that I adjusted so that the crystal filter suppresses the USB and carrier components of the signal. The output signal of the crystal filter is fed into another SA602AN that is mixed with a 3500.000 kHz signal from a FOX JITO custom oscillator (cheaper and faster delivery than a custom crystal based on my research). The output signal of the second SA602AN is fed into a plain ole LM386 audio amp (the specs say that its bandwidth is about 300 kHz), and this is the end of the exciter stage.
A short run of coax feeds the output of the exciter into a K0LR-design push-pull final amplifier that is powered with an 18-Volt regulated power supply. The input power is kept down to less than 1 Watt with a 390-ohm cement power resistor (R = 18 volts ^ 2 R = 324 ohms). The signal from the final transistors is passed through a low pass filter before transfer to a 15-meter loop consisting of just under 50-feet of 3-conductor AC power cable purchased from Lowe's and with the three conductors soldered together at the ends. The loop is tuned has an inductance of about 19.36 uH by my measurements, and I have it tuned to just close to resonance by a network of el-cheapo capacitors ceramic disc and monolithic capacitors (NOT silver-mica although I know that's what I really should use for the best results).
The loop antenna is nailed up on a wall on the underside of my house, and I have the exciter and CD player right next to it inside of a styrofoam cooler to try to keep the temperature as constant as possible. The small CD player is one that I bought for a previous car that fell into disuse when I bought another car that had a CD player. This particular CD player only plays standard audio CDs. I have been doing some experimenting with MP3-encoded PSK31 signals, and it appears that they can be copied just fine....at least when sent through a jumper from the soundcard output into the line-in of the soundcard. So, I am considering the purchase of one of the newer CD players that will play MP3 CDs, which will enable me to queue up more messages in more modulations modes.
Please try to tune in my LowFER beacon if you have the opportunity. I can be reached by email at jwsnyder@jwsnyder.com. Rx reports are GREATLY appreciated, and I will happily QSL.
73 de Will Snyder "LowFER:JWS" ARS:KB4LFD VLF recv'rs and Loop Antenna
http://willhome.jwsnyder.com/
http://www.jwsnyder.com/
Posted by Glenn Boche on February 06, 2005 at 22:44:44.
Being new to listening to this end of the radio spectrum, and a new member of LWCA, I could use a little help. At this time I do not have property to put up a lowfer station, so I've decided to catch as many of the ndb that are scattered from 200kc to 530kc. In 5 days I have managed to log 85 ndb's in 8 states and 3 Canadien provinces. I am using a Kenwood 440 which seems to hear them okay. I am using a trap dipole that is the highest antenna for my station. What I am looking for are plans for a loop antenna that can be rotated that would be 15 to 20 feet in the air. Any help would be appreciated. Most ot the plans I have found on the web are vague as far as contructing it and using it. I have purchased a Rycom 2174A that will tune these freq's. I also have access to a Rycom 6041 that is solid state. Any commnents on that would also be appreciated. Can anyone tell me where the beacon 5CU is located.
Thank you
Glenn Boche WØLUS Re: VLF recv'rs and Loop Antenna
South St. Paul, MN
Posted by Mitch VE3OT on February 07, 2005 at 15:27:45.
In Reply to VLF recv'rs and Loop Antenna posted by Glenn Boche on February 06, 2005 at 22:44:44.
Glenn:
I have a few sites that I have left some articles and notes on various loops that might help you out.
http://technology.fanshawec.ca/eltn124/
http://technology.fanshawec.ca/tele354/
and check out Lyle's ( K0LR ) site. Just Google on K0LR and you will see his site.
73 and good luck
Mitch VE3OT
Re: VLF recv'rs and Loop Antenna
Posted by Ray, W2RS on February 07, 2005 at 17:43:48.
In Reply to Re: VLF recv'rs and Loop Antenna posted by Mitch VE3OT on February 07, 2005 at 15:27:45.
Hi Glenn,
In addition to the homebrew designs, which are certainly fun to experiment with, you might also want to check out the commercial antenna I'm currently using, the Wellbrook LFL-1010. It's a LF version of their better-known ALA-1530, which was primarily made to cover the short-wave bands. Both are loops about 4 feet in diameter, made of aluminum tubing with a solid-state preamp at the base. The mechanical design is very solid. There is no need to elevate the LFL-1010, although the specs say that it works best at least 15 feet from buildings. Mine is mounted on a fence post, 5 feet above the ground.
I've had it up for two years. Its performance is quite good for an antenna that size, with very pronounced nulls the way a loop should be. It won't beat the large wire loops that some of the guys have up in the trees, but it's sure easier to rotate!
You can see more about it at http://www.wellbrook.co.uk.
73, Ray
Re: JWS LowFER Beacon - EM96wc
Posted by Bill Ashlock on February 07, 2005 at 21:52:47.
In Reply to JWS LowFER Beacon - EM96wc posted by J. William Snyder, Jr. on February 05, 2005 at 23:48:48.
Hi Bill,
Welcome to the world of Lowfering! Lot of guys around that will help you out, to be sure. I'll make some comments on loop antennas, because that's my specialty, and one general comment.
Check out my loop web site at http://www.thepittsfieldinn.com/Bill/ to get some ideas on what conductors to use to keep the losses low, how to install the loop, test it, etc, etc. These antennas work great in heavily treed areas! I'd have to rate your Lowe's 3-conductor cable as 'not-so-good' but I'm finding that a bank of paralleled mono ceramics are even better than the silver micas, so you are OK there. I'll advise getting that loop away from the house as my experience shows that house wiring and other large metallic items can cause big losses.
My general comment is to keep everything simple modulation-wise until you gain confidence with your ability to get a signal out to the Lowfer group... and I'm talking about a signal of at least 100uv/m at 2mi which is fairly easy to achieve with a loop or vertical (open area required, however). Suggest a simple QRSS30 signal at first. Even signal comprised of all 30 sec dots will work as a first signal.
Give me a direct E-mail any time.
Bill Ashlock Expatriate Finns urge YLE not to end Radio Finland LW/MW broadcasts
Beacon Wm 185.300
Andover, MA
Posted by Mike Terry on February 08, 2005 at 13:19:03.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Finnish expatriate organisations today pleaded with the Finnish Broadcasting
Company (YLE) to end its plans to scrap the long and mediumwave Radio
Finland broadcasts that can be heard abroad. The organisations submitted an
appeal to Mika Lintilä, the chairman of the YLE Administrative Council,
composed of MPs. For expatriates, the organisations said in a statement, the
broadcasts constituted a significant link to Finland, both as an information
channel and in the emotional sense. More than 15,000 Finns living in 25
countries took part in the appeal campaign organised by the Finland Society
and the Finnish Expatriate Parliament.
(Source: Virtual Finland via http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/)
Palomar LF Converter
Posted by Bob C on February 09, 2005 at 10:12:44.
I just bought a Palomar LF Converter on Ebay. Naturally, there were no operating instructions with it. Can anybody help me out with a source for the operation instructions? An email to Palomar has gone unanswered.
Thanks de KB0XR Bob in Minnesota
Re: Programable LF SSB Exciter- $20
Posted by tim smith on February 09, 2005 at 21:45:20.
In Reply to Programable LF SSB Exciter- $20 posted by David Stinson on January 22, 2005 at 18:43:55.
...what is the outout of these little devils?..tim
WILCOM T194C RECEIVER
Posted by tim smith on February 09, 2005 at 21:57:25.
HELP!...DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THW WILCOM T194C RECEIVER? THIS IMPRESSIVE LOOKING BOX APPEARS TO RECEIVE UP TO 300KHZ,HAS LCD READOUT,NICE LARGE METER...I DO NOT HAVE A MANUAL FOR THIS GUY,AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT...IT APPEARS IT TRANSMITS UP TO 300KHZ AS WELL,BUT AGAIN I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE OPERATION...MY QTH IS TORONTO,ONTARIO,FN03,AND I HAVE BEEN PLANNING TO PUT A BEACON ON THE AIR..I PICKED THIS RCVR UP AT A LOCAL ELECTRONICS STORE,ASSUMING JUST WHAT IS WAS..I USED TO HAVE AN OLD TUBE TYPE TELEPHONE LINE RCVR,IT IT RECEIVED GREAT...ANYWAY,IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BEAST,PLEASE LET ME KNOW...TNX ES 73..TIM....ve6pg@rac.ca
Re: Palomar LF Converter
Posted by crunch on February 09, 2005 at 22:01:11.
In Reply to Palomar LF Converter posted by Bob C on February 09, 2005 at 10:12:44.
Bob,
As I recall there were 2 models for these converters. One put the vlf band 0-500kc in one of the hf amateur bands. The other put its output in the 4 - 4.5 mc portion of the sw band. The other one put its output to the 80 meter amatuer band.
Glenn
Re: Firing-up Your LF SSB Modem Card
Posted by tim ve6pg on February 09, 2005 at 23:24:03.
In Reply to Firing-up Your LF SSB Modem Card posted by David Stinson AB5S on January 29, 2005 at 03:55:30.
OK...IT SAYS ON EBAY SALE HAS FINISHED...SENT AN EMAIL TO SEE IF THIS IS TRUE...BTW...WHAT IS THE ACTUAL FR OUTPUT OF THE MODEM?...THANKS..TIM..
Re: Palomar LF Converter
Posted by Mitch VE3OT on February 10, 2005 at 12:46:02.
In Reply to Palomar LF Converter posted by Bob C on February 09, 2005 at 10:12:44.
Bob:
I have the schematic and some info at home. I will look for it later this afternoon/evening and give you another email when I scan it. Glenn is correct - I believe the one I had and the schematic shows it using a 3.5 MHz oscillator and then you tune the 3500 to 3600 to listen to 0 to 100 kHZ, then 3600 to 3700 to tune 100-200 kHz, etc.
3500 plus frequency equals your receiver dial.
For 137 kHz tune 3637 on the receiver.
Some had 4MHz xtals - same principal.
Will let you know later
Mitch VE3OT
Re: Palomar LF Converter
Posted by Mitch VE3OT on February 10, 2005 at 20:56:20.
In Reply to Palomar LF Converter posted by Bob C on February 09, 2005 at 10:12:44.
Bob:
Put full schematic and instructions ( notes ? ) on web site . I hope they are useful. I assumed that you have the older model that came out in the late 80s.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/mitch.powell/palomar.htm
There is another description of their newer model on the palomar web site which describes the two versions.. one with 3.5 and one with 4 MHz crystal.s
The VLF Converter has excellent sensitivity. It also has a 7-pole filter to eliminate overload from local medium wave broadcast stations.
It connects between your antenna and the radio. When turned “On” the 10-500 KHz band appears at 4010-4500 KHz for general coverage radios (Model VLF-S) or at 3510-4000 KHz for ham-band-only radios (Model VLF-A). When turned “Off” the antenna connects directly to the radio for normal shortwave reception.
Specifications: Input: 10-500 KHz Output: 4010-4500 KHz (VLF-S) 3510-4000 (VLF-A) Power: 9-v DC (battery clip on rear) Connectors: SO-239 Filter Rejection: 50 dB at 1-MHz I.F. Rejection: 85-dB Size: 2 x 4-1/4 x 5 in. Cabinet: Brushed aluminum panel, black cover.
Model VLF-S.......................................$99.95
Model VLF-A.......................................$99.95
Hifer- HI heard/Palomar
73
Mitch VE3OT
Posted by Brock Whaley on February 11, 2005 at 13:35:11.
Beacon HI on 13558 coming in well at 1800 UTC here in Lilburn, GA. Sony 2010 and 120 foot longwire. Re: Marine Beacon List?
BTW, I have been using a Palomar converter for over 25 years now. It works best with some sort of tuner or tuneable pre-amp ahead of it. I use both, home brew, and have heard many LWBC with it here in GA, and when I lived in in Hawaii.
Used with both a Hammarlund 140 and the 2010.
Brock Whaley
Lilburn, GA East of Atlanta
WH6SZ/4
Posted by Shawn Axelrod on February 20, 2005 at 07:44:38.
In Reply to Marine Beacon List? posted by Rich SantaColoma on February 01, 2005 at 09:34:23.
Try looking at the URL's below
http://www.angelfire.com/mb/exband/amb.html
http://www.angelfire.com/mb/exband/marine.html
Re: Marine Beacon List?
Posted by John Davis on February 20, 2005 at 17:22:46.
In Reply to Re: Marine Beacon List? posted by Shawn Axelrod on February 20, 2005 at 07:44:38.
Just bear in mind... many of these mediumwave beacons are no longer operational. That's not to say the lists aren't helpful, because they could aid in identifying a signal that shows up while one is perusing the band. However, they're not useful for planning targeted listening, because there's no way to tell for sure which beacons aren't really there any more.
Also, you'll want to have an industrial strength popup blocker if you visit an angelfire.com site. 8>0
IC-706 replacement
Posted by Lyle Koehler on February 21, 2005 at 09:18:02.
An English translation of the announcement that appeared in Megahertz magazine is available at http://www.qsl.net/ab4oj/icom/ic7000.html
They call the new radio the IC-7000, which is suspicious because Icom previously used that designation for a receiver. However, the article doesn't appear to be a hoax. The new radio will have some of the features of the IC-756PRO series such as IF DSP and 0.5 ppm stability, in a package slightly smaller than the IC-706. Supposedly available in the second quarter of this year, it may not show up in the US for another few months because of the FCC approval cycle.
I expect that sensitivity on LF will be just as poor as that of the 706 series, but with a preamp it might be a pretty good LF receiver.
HIFERS,ETC
Posted by TIM on February 22, 2005 at 15:17:48.
HI FROM TIM..VE6PG/3.,FN03...IS THERE A DISCUSSION BOARD FOR HIFERS? I PLAN TO PUT A BEACON ON 1750M.,44M.,AS WELL AS 22M. ASIDE FROM THE CW ID,HOW/WHERE DO I FIND OUT WHERE THESE GUYS ARE,AND EMAIL THEM WITH A RECEPTION REPORT? Re: HIFERS,ETC
THANKS,ES 73..TIM...SK...
Posted by Eric KD5UWL on February 22, 2005 at 20:30:22.
In Reply to HIFERS,ETC posted by TIM on February 22, 2005 at 15:17:48.
Hi, Tim,
Have you seen this list? http://www.lwca.org/sitepage/part15/mfmain.htm
On the same page it is available from (http://www.lwca.org/sitepage/part15/index.htm, which you can reach by clicking on "Low/Med/HiFER" on the LWCA homepage, http://www.lwca.org/), you can find the OPERATOR INFO link, which is http://www.lwca.org/sitepage/part15/callmain.htm
This is probably the link you are looking for.
Hope this helps, NDB ESS
Eric
KD5UWL/WD2XFX EM25ax
Posted by Chris Waldrup on February 22, 2005 at 22:37:22.
Hello,
I am hearing a beacon "ESS" around 250 khz from here in central NC. I checked Airnav.com and it said that there was an ESS on 260 in Alaska. As I really doubt that I am hearing a beacon in Alaska does anyone know what it may be?
Also, how is propagation right now?
Chris Waldrup
KD4PBJ
Re: HIFERS,ETC
Posted by John Davis on February 23, 2005 at 00:27:05.
In Reply to Re: HIFERS,ETC posted by Eric KD5UWL on February 22, 2005 at 20:30:22.
Eric has a pretty thorough list. An easy way to get there is by going to the lwca.org home page and clicking the LowFER/HiFER link. The resulting page gives you access to all the others.
You may also want to visit the LWCA Email Groups page to find out about the LowFER and HiFER mail reflectors. They're a good way to keep up with day-to-day activities.
John
Re: Firing-up Your LF SSB Modem Card
Posted by Barry on February 23, 2005 at 20:53:59.
In Reply to Re: Firing-up Your LF SSB Modem Card posted by tim ve6pg on February 09, 2005 at 23:24:03.
The boards have been relisted as item # 5748931412 with a new lower shipping cost!
Picture of the radio mast Konstantynow, the tallest construction ever
Posted by Harald on February 24, 2005 at 11:01:28.
I have got an interesting picture for lwca.org. It is of the tallest construction ever built, the 646.38 metre high mast antenna of the Polish longwave transmitter Konstantynow!
This mast used as aerial of half-wave length for a longwave broadcasting transmitter on 227 kHz (later 225 kHz) with a transmitter output power of 2000 kilowatt was insulated against ground for a voltage of 120 kV and stood therefore on a 2 metre high insulator.
The radio mast at Konstantynow was guyed in 5 levels with steel ropes with 50 milimetres diametre which were subdivided by special insulators.
It was a steeltube framework construction with triangular cross section and consisted of 86 sections each with a length of 7.5 metres. The side length of the triangle was 4.8 metres for each side. The tubes forming the edge of the triangle had a diametre of 0.245 metres with a wall thickness between 8 and 34 milimetres depending on the height.
The radio mast at Konstantynow was built between 1972 and 1974 and went in service on July 22th, 1974. On August 8th, 1991 it collapsed at reconstruction works.
At first it was planned to rebuild this mast. Due to protests by local residents this was impossible and a new transmitter site had to be found for this facility. This was found on a former military area near SolecKujawski, where in 1998/1999 a new transmission site with a 330 metre and a 289 metre high guyed radio mast, which are both grounded and fed by special ropes in the upper guys, was built and which went in service on September 4th, 1999.
[ Click ]
BCY
Posted by Jerry on February 24, 2005 at 13:11:28.
Hello: Pictures of Polish longwave transmitter Solec Kujawski
I have taken my beacon BCY off air as I am moving some equipment and performing other activities in the "shack".
The beacon will probably be off a couple of weeks to possibly a month or more.
Jerry
Posted by Harald on February 25, 2005 at 10:43:17.
Moderator's note: The links below do not work on all Web browsers! (Explorer is OK, Firefox is not, others not tested.)
On http://www.pg.gda.pl/~sp2pzh/solec.html you can find pictures of the Polish longwave transmitter Solec Kujawski. This 1000 Kilowatt transmitter working on 225 kHz uses an aerial consisting of a 289 m and a 330 m high guyed mast, which are grounded and fed by the guys. The transmitter Solec Kujawski is the successor of the famous transmitter Konstantynow, whose radio mast, which was built between 1972 and 1974 and collapsed in 1991 was until now the tallest construction mankind ever built!
On http://jerzyjedrzejkiewicz.webpark.pl/str01/gabin-rcn_02.html there is an aerial picture of the longwave transmission facility Solec Kujawski.
Re: Further Articles
Posted by Harald on February 25, 2005 at 12:42:59.
In Reply to Picture of the radio mast Konstantynow, the tallest construction ever posted by Harald on February 24, 2005 at 11:01:28.
Further articles (in Polish, browser compatibility not guaranteed):
1. T/A LW BC reception in Michigan
2.
3.
Posted by Scott, NM8R on February 25, 2005 at 21:28:39.
R. France on 162 Kc, moderate to strong, 0200Z. Time pips on hour, OM & YL in French, and catchy music. Also, a weak signal for a while on 171 Kc (Morocco, R. Medi 1? Couldn't ID it.).
Have had some decent T/A LW BC reception over the last week here at my Michigan QTH, especially of R. France 162 Kc.
Give it a try about 2 hours after your local sunset!
Scott 60kHz Difficulties in Hunstville, AL
NM8R
Michigan
rig: TS940 antenna: AAS GMBH STA 10 w/100 cm rod
Posted by John Davis on February 26, 2005 at 10:40:42.
Yesterday I received e-mail from Tom Smiley in Huntsville, Alabama, who has recently been experiencing difficulties with WWVB-synchronized clocks at various places in that city, but not when he goes elsewhere. I wonder if we have any readers nearby who might be able to take a listen for WWVB and determine if there is some type of area-wide interference? Below is an extract of Tom's message.
- John
Presently, I own 5 atomic clocks, but suddenly, about 4-5 months ago, they all stopped syncing at night! Well, actually, it may have been gradual, but I became aware that my office atomic clock was no longer resetting, then a day or so later checked the one at home in my living room, then a week or so after that, the one in my wife’s school. All had stopped resyncing when they had been working perfectly for about 2 ½ years! And I am not aware of any new construction around my home, school, or office that may have occurred during that time. The clocks were still hanging on the same wall and location for the 2 ½ years where they functioned perfectly before they stopped syncing. Weird!
I have Googled the web for hours and get all kinds of reasons why WWV(B)’s signal strength may be weak and hard to get an atomic clock to sync, including poor weather, metal walls, wiring, facing wrong direction, too far from WWV, sunspots and other short solar events (natural), RFI (man made), etc. Of course, any and all are valid “reasons”, but at best temporary reasons, unless someone is pumping out RFI 24/7, …and although sunspots can run for many days at times, except for the following.
I went on a 3-day business trip to Florida last week and took my atomic travel alarm with me. It reset inside my Ft. Lauderdale motel 2 nights in a row, and Tampa, 1 night. Since my travel alarm shouldn’t care if sunspot interference is in Florida or Alabama, I am now fairly sure it is a local Huntsville phenomenon. Since strength of signal can be a relative thing, I have changed my mind and now deduce it is not a “weaker” WWVB signal, but rather that some kind of interference is being generated in the Huntsville area, springing up and submerging the WWV signal in the noise. A friend of mine 20 miles out of Huntsville has seen no problem – his clock still syncs fine.
Do you know any members of LWCA living in or near Huntsville that might be interested in this phenomenon?
Thanks and regards,
Tom
If you can assist, please post here and Tom can either read your reply or we'll put you in touch with him.
Re: T/A LW BC reception in Michigan
Posted by Jeff W0ODS on February 28, 2005 at 15:14:05.
In Reply to T/A LW BC reception in Michigan posted by Scott, NM8R on February 25, 2005 at 21:28:39.
R.France was heard here on 162 last night as well (~0300UTC 28 Feb). Also try Algeria on 153, it's usually in there as well.
Jeff
W0ODS
Eastern Iowa Datong VLF converter
Kachina 505DSP
400m single wire NE beverage
300m bi-directional 2-wire NW/SE Beverage
Posted by Colin on February 28, 2005 at 18:18:55.
I have aquired a Datong VLF converter, model VLF. I think it outputs on 28Mhz but any idea what the input frequency is ?. It works but I dont know what Im listening to
Re: Datong VLF converter
Posted by lloyd chastant on February 28, 2005 at 19:53:48.
In Reply to Datong VLF converter posted by Colin on February 28, 2005 at 18:18:55.
Colin, you might take a look at this URL
http://www.alan.melia.btinternet.co.uk/loscprob.htm
some interesting info and a schematic of the unit.
It basically takes the input from the connected antenna and outputs to 28Mhz.It covers 0 to 500Khz and that will be outputted on 28.0Mhz for 0Khz and 28.5Mhz for 500Khz.
So, for instance, 300Khz would read at 28.3Mhz on your receiver.
de Lloyd W3NF
potrzebie
