Wm Beacon on the air
I have finally gotten the Wm beacon repaired, tuned and going again. My "near field" signal strength seems good. The rain today will provide the test to see if the Helix can stays dry inside. I appreciate all reports.
Mike - OOU Re: Wm Beacon on the air
--
73 de N8OOU - Mike Meek
Posted by Joe K9ATG on February 02, 2015 at 03:29:35.
In reply to Wm Beacon on the air posted by Mike - N8OOU (fwd) on February 01, 2015
Great news, Mike
OffTopic: License cost
Posted by John on February 04, 2015 at 05:03:05.
After trying to find info on the FCC website. Does anyone have any idea how much the FCC charges for a commercial 50KW 24 hour AM broadcast station license per year. Would it be more than 1000 dollars ??
Re: OffTopic: License cost
John
Posted by John Davis on February 04, 2015 at 08:07:44.
In reply to OffTopic: License cost posted by John on February 04, 2015
The fee is not based on power, but mainly on the size of city to which the station is licensed, and to a lesser extent, the designated class of the station.
A fulltime 10 to 50 kW station can be an AM Class A if it operates on what was formerly known as a clear channel, and is protected over both a primary and a secondary service area. The annual regulatory fee for an AM Class A ranges from $775 per year if licensed to a city of 25,000 or less population, to $9300 per year in cities of 3,000,000 or more people. (AFAIK, there are no Class A stations in cities under a million people in the Lower 48 these days, but (a) the fee schedule for radio is set up for seven population tiers, so they had to fill in all the blanks with numbers anyway, and (b) there might be some Class A's in Alaska that fall in the lower tiers.)
Other fulltime 50 kW stations that are protected only in their primary service areas fall under AM Class B. Actually, so does any full-time station from 250 watts on up, except those on local channels...and the annual fee for a 250 W AM Class B is exactly the same as for a 50 kW Class B station in the same size market. That fee starts at $645/year for cities of 25,000 or fewer people, jumps to $1300 for 25,001 people, and runs on up to $7800 in the 3,000,000+ population category.
The cheapest class of license is AM Class C (local channels only, power of 250-1000 W), where fees range from $590 to $5700. AM Class D basically consists of stations that used to be daytime-only, but some of which are now authorized reduced power below 250 watts at night, and their fees fall between those of Class B and C stations. (47 CFR §1.1153 and §73.21)
Hope that helps.
John
Hifers
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on February 04, 2015 at 17:19:52.
Haven't tuned for hifers for awhile so nice to see all the usual sources here coming through fine as local noon approaches: NC, EH, and USC at the watering hole and PBJ and MTI higher up.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: OffTopic: License cost
Posted by John Gibbs on February 05, 2015 at 05:38:01.
In reply to Re: OffTopic: License cost posted by John Davis on February 04, 2015
John... thanks for the info.. There has been a fight here with a USA station setting up as a border blaster. Run by Canadian interests. So far the Watcom county has denied their tower installation. And will be appealed. It would appear their outlay to hold two licenses would not be too costly. They operate out of Ferndale WA and are trying to setup in Point Roberts WA.
Regards John Vancouver BC
Re: OffTopic: License cost
Posted by John Davis on February 05, 2015 at 08:25:46.
In reply to Re: OffTopic: License cost posted by John Gibbs on February 05, 2015
Interesting. I haven't heard anything about that previously. I wonder what channel they figure to put a 50 kW full-timer on? Or is it a currently licensed facility that they're moving? And if so, how do you suppose they convinced the FCC to authorize the move--or have they bothered with that pesky little detail yet? (It's heck being put out to pasture and no longer have as many connections within the industry to know what's going on.)
Also interesting to think we could be entering a new era of "border blasters" again...and instigated by wily Canadians this time, no less. :)
For over six decades, that would have been an unlikely scenario because no more than 20% of any US broadcast station license could be under foreign control. In addition, there used to be fairly firm requirements to ascertain local programming needs in the city of license.
Then, in the 1990s, the Speaker of the House of Representatives received a sweet $6 million book advance from a global media tycoon. In a matter of weeks, two House bills raced through Congress that (a) removed foreign ownership restrictions, and (b) allowed non-citizens residing overseas to receive profit from their US holdings tax-free. Immediately thereafter, the aforementioned tycoon renounced his US citizenship and absconded back whence he came, keeping his licenses and taking his loot with him.
As collateral damage, the same measures may be opening the door to border blaster operations from our side of the frontier? What a world.
Of course, I suppose Canada could erect a large reflector to keep the undocumented signal out--an RF Border Fence, if you will.
That's only a semi-joke. At the very least, the Canadian government could do what ours did in response to the Mexican border blasters. So far as I know, to this very day, if a US citizen wants to use a radio station outside our borders to transmit programs targeted toward Stateside listeners, he has to get a license from the FCC to deliver the programs. It didn't crush the border broadcasters, by any means, but it gave our government a small measure of control over the more egregious hucksters and charlatans such as Doc Brinkley, and it could potentially provide a modest source of revenue.
John
Extra SAQ Broadcast for World Radio Day
Posted by Alan Gale on February 05, 2015 at 19:42:32.
World Heritage GRIMETON RADIO/SAQ will, hopefully, have a transmission with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz on international UNESCO ”WORLD RADIO DAY” (WRD) on Friday February 13th 2015.
Tuning up from 14:30 UTC and a message will be sent at 15:00 UTC.
The message concerning PEACE have been put together by over 200 citizens of Varberg via the “Varberg Calling for Peace” project, in Varberg, Sweden.
No QSL-cards will be given this time and no List of Reports will be constructed but we accept shorter Listeners Report to e-mail info@alexander.n.se
Our amateur radio station (SK6SAQ) will be active with a special call sign for the day, “7S6WRD” where “WRD” stands for “World Radio Day”.
Frequencies:
- 7035 CW or 14035 CW
- 3755 SSB
QSL to 7S6WRD via SM bureau.
The station will be open to visitors 14:00 to 16:00 UTC (15:00-17:00 SVT). No entrance fee.
Welcome!
Yours
Lars/SM6NM Re: OffTopic: License cost
Posted by John Gibbs on February 06, 2015 at 05:22:59.
In reply to Re: OffTopic: License cost posted by John Davis on February 05, 2015
Just a bit more...
The station in Ferndale WA is KRPI on 1550 kHz and broacasts mostly in a language other than english. Catering to a ethnic population in Vancouver BC and vicinity. Ownership is very confused. The money for operations comes from Canada. They run 50kw day and 10kw night. Now they apparently have a license to operate from Point Roberts WA at the USA Canada border. Running 50kw day and night with a directional 5 tower array, Irradiating 20,000 plus Canadian citizens who live within 600 feet of the proposed transmitter site. And only 200 feet from the international border operations. The FCC seems to have been misled by the proponents of this station, and seemly license anything and anyone these days, without any checking. Informal objections have been filed to the FCC, with no results and even our own Government hasn't been very proactive in tackling this at a international level. It seems to be a free for all in radio land ??
Thanks to Watcom county for denying the towers, but is being appealed to a higher court.
John Gibbs Re: OffTopic: License cost
Posted by Geek on February 06, 2015 at 07:10:01.
In reply to Re: OffTopic: License cost posted by John Gibbs on February 06, 2015
And for all that power, they can't even be heard above the power line QRM east of Abbotsford, LOL!
Time Signal Station in China on 77.5 kHz
Posted by Timekeeper on February 07, 2015 at 06:03:10.
Is there really a time signal station in China working on 77.5 kHz as claimed on Time Signal Station in China on 77.5 kHz as claimed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrB1MQrDu9k ? Re: Time Signal Station in China on 77.5 kHz
If yes, where is the TX exactly?
Posted by Webmaster on February 07, 2015 at 08:53:42.
In reply to Time Signal Station in China on 77.5 kHz posted by Timekeeper on February 07, 2015
I know China has at least two time stations on LF, but the only signal I'm aware of on 77.5 is in Germany.
William Hepburn's great DX site should have some information on locations: http://www.dxinfocentre.com/time-vlf.htm
You can always find his site and several other resources linked from our home page, lwca.org
John
HiFER 9ZS
Posted by Joe Armstrong on February 07, 2015 at 17:13:12.
I changed the transmission format to 9ZS (QRSS), 10sec pause, 9ZS (CW) 5 sec pause.
I hope that works better for everyone.
13.5592 HiFer?
Posted by Geek on February 09, 2015 at 03:21:44.
Got a dasher (just under one beep/second) coming in strong and steady all evening here in the Fraser Valley of BC. Re: Extra SAQ Broadcast for World Radio Day
Just starting to fade in/out at 0320Z
As I'm wedged in some mountains, first beacon I've heard up here...ever! :-)
Posted by Krystallo on February 09, 2015 at 05:30:12.
In reply to Extra SAQ Broadcast for World Radio Day posted by Alan Gale on February 05, 2015
Hey Alan,
SAQ: I got them once definite and twice much more tentative . By FAR the toughest dx of my entire life (from Cape Cod and around Northeastern U.S.).2000' antenna on beach, 500' bare copper in saltwater . N1NQC 630m Crossband Saturday Night
Posted by Steve on February 12, 2015 at 00:07:03.
Since getting the new 630m band (472-479KHz) here in Canada, one of my favorite ways of promoting interest in the new band has been 'crossband' activity ... that is, transmitting on 630m while the other stations transmit on a predetermined announced HF (QSX) frequency, usually on 80 or 160m. There are many amateurs in the U.S. who are interested in getting the band as well as many Canadians that are interested in getting on the band and the crossband activity usually generates a lot of interest.
The last time this was done, over a dozen stations (from W3, W5 to local) were worked via the crossband mode. A summary of that evening is posted here:
http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/2014/11/630m-crossband-summary.html
Both myself and John, VE7BDQ, have enjoyed making other crossband contacts this past winter and will once again be soliciting crossbanders this coming Saturday evening.
Our plan is to operate from 0200Z through 0700Z, (1800-2300 PST Saturday). Beginning at the top of the hour, we will both be calling CQ on CW and listening for any callers on HF. CQ's will continue until there are no more callers and will begin again at the next top of hour time slot. This should allow for a wide variation in propagation and the possibility of eastern contacts as the evening progresses.
The frequencies will be:
VE7SL TX 473.00KHz QSX (listening) 1808KHz (160m) and 3535KHz (80m)
VE7BDQ TX 474.00KHz QSX (listening) 1813KHz (160m)
It is hoped that as many stations as possible will give a listen for us and be able to call on one of the HF QSX frequencies. Both John and myself will be running at the maximum allowable eirp for the duration of the activity.
If you have not had a look for any 630m stations, hopefully you will take the opportunity this coming Saturday night ... you really do not need any special antennas for receiving on 630m. Many of the stations that I have worked on crossband have been using HF dipoles for low-noise reception.
Please feel free to post this message to other groups as well...and, watch the blog for further updates.
See you Saturday I hope!
Steve / VE7SL
WEB - "The VE7SL Radio Notebook": http://members.shaw.ca/ve7sl
VE7SL BLOG - "Homebrewing and Operating Adventures From 2200m to Nanowaves": http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/
Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 12, 2015 at 13:44:41.
I will be testing a new exciter for the Wm beacon today (Thur 2/12) during the daylight hours. The primary mode tested today will be QRSS 30. As my remote receive site captures on a 90 minute cycle, I will let the different tests run for a while. The exciter is programmed for 185.301, but I am not sure of the calibration. It is a little higher than the Wm graphic. I have the gps reference rcvr, but it is not wired in yet.
You can read details about the exciter at qrp-labs.com it is the Ultimate3S kit. So far I am impressed with this device.
I will put the graphic Wm back on later this afternoon. Re: Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12
Posted by John Davis on February 12, 2015 at 18:27:26.
In reply to Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12 posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 12, 2015
Thanks very much for letting us know about the U3S kit, Mike. Looks like it might be the answer for a lot of people wanting to utilize a few more advanced modes, yet at a surprisingly low cost. No longer any need to tie up a computer, ham transceiver, and (maybe) a converter just to generate a DFCW or WSPR beacon signal, for instance.
It even appears to be no big deal to change QRSS messages whenever the user wants, too. From my first reading of the instructions at the developer's website, I get the impression that all user programming is done via the menu with just two buttons. Is that correct, and did you find that easy enough to get accustomed to?
Also from my reading, it appears the GPS module you mentioned can calibrate the synthesizer between beacon cycles (if there's at least a 14 second gap) so that the output frequency will be maintained closely even though the onboard 27 MHz reference crystal is not particularly high precision. Is that your understanding as well?
(Unless I dozed off and dreamt this part, I also gather its timing data can control the start time of WSPR frames, and the GPS positioning information is used to set the Maidenhead grid locator in the WSPR message. That's a lot of functionality in a small package!)
As you mentioned in your previous direct correspondence to me, there's no low-pass filter module available for 1750 meters at this time, largely because there has been no demand yet. However, I don't see filtering as being a problem for most users at 1750 m. Since Part 15 LowFERs tend to locate the final amp and its tuning network outdoors at the antenna base anyway, it makes sense to simply use the Ultimate3S as an exciter, as you are doing.
Thanks again for the good info, and please keep us posted on your further results with it.
John Re: Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 13, 2015 at 13:43:01.
In reply to Re: Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12 posted by John Davis on February 12, 2015
I completed the first test yesterday of the Ultimate3S beacon transmitter. I verified that I can use it as an exciter in my existing Wm beacon station, The QRSS 30 mode was stable and looked good on Argo, and the modifications I made to the 2200m LPF allowed a 1750 signal to pass.
To answer your question about user programming with a small display, and two buttons, is that it gets the job done. I would say it's similar to sending a text message on a cell phone with a regular phone keypad. Like any radio today, it takes a little reading and doing to understand the menus. Once it is set up, everything is remembered except for the clock. The real time of day is necessary only for WSPR.
A menu item is available to manually calibrate the synthesizer without the GPS interface. The documentation says the realtime clock will remain accurate for WSPR for about a week. For my test yesterday, I set the transmission frequency to 185,301, and my measurement with Argo said 185300.8. Garry W3SIW confirmed the same freq. A little more work on the calibration should put it spot on.
With GPS connected, the U3S will set the TOD, location, and Freq Calibration at power up, and when there is a gap in transmissions. Once a transmission starts the U3S operates on one crystal for the uP, and a another for the Synth. For my QRSS test I saw a small drift in freq from a cold startup, but it remained stable afterwards. I did a test on 20m WSPR and received reports of -1 or -2 drift. I believe the drift gets worse in the higher bands. I also understand that a OXCO synthesizer will be available in a few weeks, and a little farther out is a software upgrade to do the GPS lock during transmissions.
With GPS connected everything is just power on and go, in any mode, including WSPR.
In regards to the Low Pass Filter, I worry about that a lot. I understand the high Q loading coil 'filter', but I also have a 5 element LPF after the P.A. In addition I put a LPF at the Wm graphic exciter in the coax feed to the P.A. For the U3S I used the 2200m filter with a few less turns on the inductors.
I know this is like wearing suspenders and a belt! My, 'why do I do this' is, the AM BCB station in the next door town operates on 740Khz. Exactly a harmonic of 185. The Wm beacon will create a heterodyne on any AM receiver tuned to that station. I want to keep that station manager happy with me by keeping that harmonic on my property.
How am I going to use the U3S on-going? I'm thinking about a couple ideas, but have not yet decided. Should I order a couple more? ahhhhh maybe!
Mike - OOU
Re: Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12
Posted by John Davis on February 13, 2015 at 20:30:05.
In reply to Re: Testing a new Wm Exciter on 2/12 posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 13, 2015
Very informative, Mike. Many thanks for that additional information!
With an OCXO option available in the near future, this kit should be able to handle even the most demanding modes currently in use by ham and LowFER beacons, and outperform a lot of more costly hardware as well.
The Silicon Labs Si5351 digital PLL at the heart of the U3S may not possess the very low phase jitter of the older Si570 upon which the K5BCQ VFO is based, but it looks to be entirely adequate for transmitter use. It's also less expensive and perhaps more readily available than the AD9850 DDS chip that I see was used in the preceding version of the Ultimate3.
I was also just about to ask if it has a continuous-on mode, but just now in looking up something else, I see GØUPL took that into account with a sort of signal generator mode...namely, FSK with any repeating message, but shift set to 0 Hz. (I suppose the manually keyed Transmit CW mode would also work, although I am a bit reluctant to add an external switch across the right-hand button.) That should make it handy as a programmable frequency source for the occasional AM or SSB (or my own "OPRAH" mode) quasi-beacon transmitter that doesn't need a lot of frequency agility, but might occasionally need to QSY.
Most interesting!
John
630m Crossband Tonight!
Posted by Steve / VE7SL on February 14, 2015 at 17:41:29.
Just a reminder about the 630m crossband activity night this evening. There
have been two updates to the plan:
VE7SL will start one hour later than originally planned and
John, VE7BDQ, will be listening on both 160m and 80m
QSX frequencies for callers.
The frequencies will be:
VE7SL TX 473.00KHz; QSX (listening) 1808KHz (160m) and 3535KHz (80m)
VE7BDQ TX 474.00KHz; QSX (listening) 1813KHz (160m) and 3532KHz (80m)
John will operate from 0200Z (1800 PST) - 0700Z (2300 PST) while I will
start one hour later.
Both stations will call several CQs at the top of each
hour segment, at full eirp, and listen for any callers on the specified
calling frequencies.
The last time this was done, transcontinental contacts were
completed ... hopefully conditions will continue to co-operate
and propagation will be good tonight.
We both hope to work you tonight!
73 - Steve / VE7SL
WEB - "The VE7SL Radio Notebook": http://members.shaw.ca/ve7sl
VE7SL BLOG - "Homebrewing and Operating Adventures From 2200m to Nanowaves": http://ve7sl.blogspot.ca/
lowfer JH testing
Posted by John Hamer on February 16, 2015 at 05:00:26.
I have been experimenting with a new loading coil with impedance matching. I will have the transmitter on tonight and tomorrow. My main antenna is not up right now but I have a temporary 50 foot antenna with no top loading. I am still on 181818Hz QRSS30 Florence SC.
Re: lowfer JH testing
Posted by John Davis on February 16, 2015 at 05:10:56.
In reply to lowfer JH testing posted by John Hamer on February 16, 2015
Best of luck with it, John! Hope to get a chance to go to the farm and look for your signal soon, but tonight it's sleeting, snowing, and anything else it can think to do out there! :)
Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 16, 2015 at 16:13:36.
I will be testing the Ultimate 3S Beacon transmitter during the daytime (local sunup/set) for the next couple days. I have the output power set well below the allowed limits so signal strength will be weak. The transmission mode is QRSS 3 with an id of WM. My primary testing objective is frequency stability, so as I apply hot and cold there may be some variance.
Mike - OOU
WH2XHA QRSS3 Beacon (630 m)
Posted by Frank Lotito on February 17, 2015 at 04:48:40.
Today, Feb 16, 2015 around around sunset (Pittsburgh, PA) I expect to start QRSs3 transmission around 476.7 KHz. My QRSs3 transmission is my Part 5 call sign with grid locator. To save time, the zeros in my grid locator are sent as the letter "O." Your reports, including screen shots will be appreciated via my e-mail K3DZ at LIVE.comI expect to be using QRSs3 for the next few days, starting before sunset in Pittsburgh, PA. I will turn off my beacon around 10 PM local time. I am not GPS disciplined, nor am I using an oven controlled crystal oscillator. Frequency drift reports will be appreciated, as well as reports on spurs,key clicks,power supply hum, etc. around my carrier frequency. 73 Frank K3DZ / WH2XHA Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on February 17, 2015 at 19:26:09.
In reply to Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553 posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 16, 2015
Mike,
I have been watching your signal this afternoon. There is some fading, but most of the ID's have been decipherable in the last half hour. Your frequency is quite close to 13555.300, but there is some noticeable chirp. That does make it distinctive, though! It would be a little easier if the ID's were closer together.
A sample screen shot from 1915 UTC:
http://www.w1tag.com/files/WM-4.jpg
John, W1TAG
Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 17, 2015 at 20:04:59.
In reply to Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553 posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on February 17, 2015
Thanks for the capture John. I just changed the delay between ID's down to 1 minute from 4. I have the U3S connected to the GPS receiver today. The U3S performs the frequency lock in that gap. It runs on that calibration thru the next transmit cycle when it then performs another lock. The SI5351 chip seems very sensitive to temp changes.
Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
Posted by John Davis on February 18, 2015 at 01:11:58.
In reply to Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553 posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 17, 2015
So glad I checked the board this afternoon and saw John A's message. It was just dry enough after the last snow to get to the field and the current batch of snow was still a couple of hours away. I started seeing WM almost immediately here in SE Kansas, and even hearing it at times (along with NC and sometimes EH), but codar QRM was very strong this afternoon.
I drove the LED clipper a litle harder to try to deal with codar but only produced intermod products. When I drove it still harder, though, I got better results, such as you see at the left side of the capture. Finally, I gave it all the level the little radio could manage and started getting the result at the right side of the screen. Excelent work, Mike.
That's 9ZS just below WM, by the way. It's not as strong as I saw it in late December, but it did come in enough better later in the afternoon to yield one full ID. Also present were the two SIWs, but USC did not show up today. MTI and PBJ were visible, and MTI was sometimes audible. Heard GNKfairly well, and got one reasonably solid ID from FRC. I'll post other pictures later.
73 Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
John
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 18, 2015 at 12:44:09.
In reply to Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553 posted by John Davis on February 18, 2015
John D., I'm glad you could get this capture and report for me. I have tried to capture the 9ZS on my remote receiver along with monitoring these tests. After several days of 24 hour coverage I have no joy of seeing that signal.
EH has boomed in frequently. Another QRSS or CW mode signal has been received just above EH, but not good enough for an ID.
The CODAR signal strength is very strong here.
Maybe my strong signal to you is due to the snow cover we just received. I don't think the heavy snow made it north to 9ZS this time.
I will be trying different changes to reduce or eliminate the 2Hz drift that occurs at keydown. It's like the SI5351 chip creates it's own drift by simply operating.
Mike - OOU
Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553
Posted by John Davis on February 18, 2015 at 19:44:34.
In reply to Re: Ultimate 3S testing on 13.5553 posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 18, 2015
>>> Another QRSS or CW mode signal has been received just above EH, but not good enough for an ID.
I was seeing such a keyed signal myself yesterday, and one right in the middle of EH as well. (There was a third signal right at 13555.400, but it didn't particularly look keyed, and might have been just a random carrier.)
Based on past locations of known beacons, the upper one yesterday is most likely to be BC or 7P, if either were on yesterday. The one that EH drifted down over is about where MP has been known to reside. I haven't seen any of these (BC, 7P or MP) clearly enough to identify in some months, though, so the two that were visible yesterday are a puzzle to me for now.
>>> It's like the Si5351 chip creates its own drift by simply operating.
I expect that's true. There's not a lot of power dissipated in the chip, considering all that it does, but the heat produced is concentrated in a very tiny space when the oscillator is turned on. Key down versus key up probably produces a significant temperature difference.
[Revision:] In the first posting of this message, I asked if you had experimented with the Park Mode options, but in re-reading the manual, I see that's not available in the 3S version. By keeping the oscillator on during key-up, but at a different frequency, it would remain more stable. That would've been handy. Alternately, of course, one could use an external reference oscillator that always stays on.
John D.
Ultimate 3S testing --- Finished
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 20, 2015 at 14:35:45.
I have completed testing of the U3S. The machine has many strengths and a weakness to work around. When the weather improves a little, I will install the beacon in a more permanent location. I plan to have it operate in the FSK QRSS 3 mode on the frequency of 13.555300 Mhz. If that is a conflict with another station, I can change frequency. I will post when the beacon becomes fully operational.
Thanks to those who heard and reported during this test period.
Re: Ultimate 3S testing --- Finished
Posted by John Davis on February 20, 2015 at 15:03:03.
In reply to Ultimate 3S testing --- Finished posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 20, 2015
Thanks, Mike. I'll certainly be among those looking forward to its permanent return. Can't see any problem with your chosen frequency. It looks to be in the clear.
John
info on NDB event
Posted by Neil Klagge on February 20, 2015 at 16:07:17.
Here is what John Collins posted on 600mrg reflector...
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2015 13:19:46 +0000
> From: kn1h@comcast.net
> To: 600mrg@w7ekb.com
> Subject: [600MRG] NDBLIST event this weekend
>
> The NDBLIST is sponsoring its 191st Coordinated Listening Event this
weekend, Noon on Friday through Noon on Monday. Covered frequencies are 260
- 269.9 Khz and 440 - 1745 Khz. Participants are to log any station
operating in CW beacon mode including Amateur stations in the 460 to 510
Khz range worldwide. This is a good opportunity to be heard on 600M as some
very accomplished listeners will be focusing on "our" frequencies.
>
> 73, John, KN1H
> WD2XSH/38
>
(http://www.ndblist.info and click CLE)
Hope to be copied by several stns... Re: info on NDB event
Neil Klagge
w0yse, wg2xsv,now in Vancouver WA
CN85rq
______________________________________________________________
Posted by John Langridge on February 21, 2015 at 15:14:17.
In reply to info on NDB event posted by Neil Klagge (fwd) on February 20, 2015
As we have had a large number of daytime WSPR listeners, I am going to switch to WSPR for a bit this morning before swithing back to 474.5 CW for the NDBlist event.
Last night was great, receiving many screen shots and some audio recordings.
At one point, I caught a screen shot from my remote grabber that had 5 partcipating CW stations plus 3 WSPR stations simultaneously. And the band sounded like a flock of seagulls with all the CW.. pretty awesome.. Also of note, aroun 0530z, WE2XGR/2, was easy armchair copy...
73 and thanks for all the reports and participation. I know the ndblist guys appreciate the activity.
73,
john KB5NJD / WG2XIQ WM Hifer beacon now on air
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on February 23, 2015 at 20:08:50.
I have started beacon WM on 13.5553 running in FSKCW 3 mode. I currently have a sloper dipole installed with the top end at 30 Ft. above ground. The antenna slopes down in a Northwest direction. The transmitter is the QRP-LABS (.com) Ultimate 3S with the standard SI5351A Synth option and GPS Reference.
Reports are welcomed.
Frequencies used by INS Kattabomman
Posted by Jerdix on February 24, 2015 at 13:45:02.
According https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Kattabomman the mutual ELF-transmitter of INS Kattabomman is operational since 2014.
On http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Navy-gets-new-facility-to-communicate-with-nuclear-submarines-prowling-underwater/articleshow/39371121.cms you can see the pictures of the new giantic masts of the facility, which is said to be the mutual ELF-transmitter, also I believe it is a VLF-transmitter at low frequencies, perhaps between 3 kHz and 10 kHz. Was the usage of new frequencies by INS Kattabomman observed in recent times? If yes, which?
Re: Frequencies used by INS Kattabomman
Posted by John Davis on February 25, 2015 at 18:27:10.
In reply to Frequencies used by INS Kattabomman posted by Jerdix on February 24, 2015
I have searched extensively for supporting evidence of ELF transmissions from the Indian Navy, and still haven't found any since the question came up last year. No radio site devoted to monitoring of VLF and lower frequencies has carried any reports of new ELF signals.
The reference to ELF in the Wikipedia article is supposedly based in part on that Times of India news story, but if you'll notice, the story actually does not mention ELF at all. Wikipedia also cites a Jane's article which simply does not exist! If it ever did exist, IHS Jane's has removed it from their site entirely. A search of Jane's today turned up nothing concerning an ELF facility in India.
At least two other pages on Wikipedia also claim India has an ELF facility at Kattabomman, and both misleadingly cite the same two sources.
Other so-called world affairs and defence Web sites base their rumors solely on an article by an individual named James Hardy, which has been quoted and requoted word-for-word in all sorts of forums (sometimes without attribution) since 2013. It is not clear where he got his alleged information, but the satellite pictures of Kattabomman do not show anything beyond what a well equipped naval VLF transmitter site would need.
The aerial photograph in the Times story is clearly of a well designed VLF antenna system. It's undoubtedly one reason why VTX3 (18.2 kHz) can be received so well in the middle of the United States.
John
Beacon JAM 187.015khz status
Posted by Lee on February 25, 2015 at 22:14:40.
Will be leaving beacon JAM 187.015khz up 24/7 untill the end of season. Mid-week HiFERs
For me that would be end of March ish. The letter J at qrss 60 and a five WPM message. Thanxs
KE6PCT
Lee
Posted by John Davis on February 27, 2015 at 08:58:48.
Been too tied up to extract most of the captures since my late-afternoon listening session Wednesday (between about 4 PM and 6 PM CST), but I'd best go ahead and report anyway and try to show at least one of the results.
At the low side of the watering hole, there was no sign of USC, just as there wasn't when I looked last week. A little lower, buried in the codar lines, were traces of what may have been the FSK QRSS3 signal of WM, but I could never get a clear ID.
Farther up, both SIWs were quite good! The trace of the slant mode looked a little "perforated."
I take that to be a slow-moving version of the phenomenon that causes the bifurcation of traces sometimes seen on 22 m. Instead of the main signal and the Doppler shifted copy being one or two Hz apart, they're only a fraction of a hertz different, resulting in a slow rythmic pulsation of level. The period of that pulsation itself varied over time. There was less effect on the QRSS6 signal, which comes from a different type of antenna.
Simultaneously, EH (which I suppose had just been turned back on following a listening session, as it was drifting downward in frequency for a while) was showing faint traces at times of a possible +2 Hz ghost. Probably doesn't show up that well during the span of this picture, though.
NC was good with only normal slow QSB. MTI and sometimes PBJ were audible, with wide and relatively slow level fluctuations. A little more rapid QSB on GNK, but good solid copy a lot of the time. Nobody else heard or seen in SE Kansas that afternoon.
John
Re: Mid-week HiFERs
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on February 27, 2015 at 14:04:16.
In reply to Mid-week HiFERs posted by John Davis on February 27, 2015
John, thanks for the capture. Glad both Hifers are still putting out. Don't know why the slash coder showed up punctured. Looks fine here at the moment. Perhaps that had something to do with the spurious pulses above EH. Haven't copied USC here for awhile either.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Mid-week HiFERs
Posted by John Davis on February 27, 2015 at 18:48:24.
In reply to Re: Mid-week HiFERs posted by Garry, K3SIW on February 27, 2015
Yes, both SIW signals were quite good and not subject to any deep, slow fading that day. The CW ID was audible and would have been easily copyable except for the codar pulses. Those were stronger than they look in the captures, but fortunately they're the sort of impulse noise that Argo can overcome with the help of heavy clipping.
My best guess about the "perforations" is that they result from Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances, a phenomenon that I gather has been receiving renewed study lately. When I first began seeing multiple traces a couple years back, my first thought was that maybe particularly dense Sporadic-E clouds might be able to affect 22m, but I never was able to correlate these events with 6m Sporadic-E openings reported in ham publications. That's why I've begun suspecting TIDs are a better explanation.
If multipath signals, one of which is Doppler shifted from a TID, are a hertz or so apart, they'd show up as the dual traces we've seen before. But if the TID is very slow moving and the frequencies end up less than an FFT bin apart, then we might get the sort of interference pattern that showed up here.
(For background, TIDs are manifestations of atmospheric gravity waves--the meteorological type, not the cosmological kind. There are medium scale and large scale TIDs. The large scale events tend to originate at high-latitudes but can migrate to lower latitudes during geomagnetic storms. Medium scale TIDs, which are more likely what's at work here, have been linked to jet stream wind shears and even seismic events. Who knows, enough HiFER monitoring might be able to contribute to some real science.)
I admit to being a little puzzled about that stuff above EH. It appears to track EH's frequency, but seems to show up with totally random timing. I tried to see if I could tell anything about it from listening, but never could discern its presence by ear, even while Argo was drawing it on screen.
John
Re: Mid-week HiFERs
Posted by Chris Waldrup on February 28, 2015 at 01:04:47.
In reply to Mid-week HiFERs posted by John Davis on February 27, 2015
My PBJ Hifer needs a weekly battery swap but I haven't had a chance to do it due to our ice and snow storms over the last two weeks. I'll do it tomorrow.
Chris HiFER capture using a website
KD4PBJ
Posted by Mike Meek N8OOU on February 28, 2015 at 03:38:14.
This morning (2/27/15) I was monitoring the WM Hifer with my local radio and Argo. I was also looking at the websdr of the "Great Lakes Listening Post. Michigan USA - RTLSDR" It is one of the stations that can be found at http://www.websdr.org.
I could see some lines on the waterfall at 13.555 and hear tones thru the computer speakers. I decided to switch the Argo capture input from line-in to microphone, and after a little hunting for the tones, and positioning the mic and capture volume I started seeing NC. (File miwebsdr.jpg - opens in new tab or window) With further tuning I found "EH" (File mibeaconeh.jpg) I never found WM this morning, but I have seen my signal received there on previous days.
I was quite amazed that I got this combination to work. Stability is not great, but things considered - not bad. Nothing is calibrated frequency wise. It's close, like in hand grenades, not Horse Shoes.
For someone without access to radios and antennas, this is a computer/internet solution that works. Maybe it is old news and I was just not aware it could be done. If that's the case, this is just a reception report from Michigan via Illinois.
--
73 de N8OOU - Mike Meek
potrzebie