Hifer T Rebuilt
Hi, Hifer beacon list
I rebuilt the TX and keying circuitry, it now transmits a sine wave as identification. Once I get it reconnected to the loop it should be on the air again.
AG6YM
Posted by Gary on April 05, 2014 at 13:21:19.
How do I get my Hifer beacon back on the list of Hifer beacons?? It used to be listed ad GNB but I see it is no longer on the list of hifer beacons. Re: Hifer beacon list
?????
Thanks - Gary
Posted by John Davis on April 06, 2014 at 01:24:34.
In reply to Hifer beacon list posted by Gary on April 05, 2014
Hi Gary. Glad to hear from you! It'll be great to have your HiFER back on the list again. Could you fill us in on the current frequency, modes of operation, and whether your contact information in the Operator List is still correct?
GNB has been off the list for quite some time. The last time we had a direct update was in late 2009. I kept it in the list until the next year, when I was in the process of e-mailing operators who hadn't updated recently, and Yahoo bounced the messages I sent to your address.
If all is well now, though, we'll get your HiFER back on the list and maybe generate some reports. What about the LowFER? Any activity with it?
73 and good DX Europe 1
John
Posted by Mike Terry on April 06, 2014 at 10:24:22.
The station will be off for scheduled maintenance over the next few days.
Dates des coupures :
- Samedi 5 et dimanche 6 avril
- Samedi 12 et dimanche 13 avril
- Samedi 10 et dimanche 11 mai
- Samedi 17 et dimanche 18 mai
Merci de votre compréhension et de votre fidélité !
http://www.europe1.fr/Radio/Articles/INFO-Grandes-Ondes-Europe-1-1925873/
The Longwave transmitter Europe 1 is the oldest privately owned radio station in Germany, situated between Felsberg and Berus/Saar, Germany. It transmits on 183 KHz with a power of 2000 kilowatts a French speaking programme, Europe 1, toward France. It is the largest radio broadcasting transmitter in Germany. (Wikipedia) Radio 4
Posted by Mike Terry on April 06, 2014 at 10:39:31.
It's been off air parts of days this week, it's on now.
a516digital
25 March 2014
Analogue reception of BBC Radio 4 LW and BBC Radio 5 Live are going to be impacted during the coming months due to maintenance works at the BBC's AM transmitter site at Droitwich.
Listeners are being advised to switch to digital platforms while the long wave antenna and the masts that support it are refurbished.
Droitwich is the Worcestershire home of the main BBC Radio 4 198kHz LW transmitter, serving much of England, Wales and the near continent as well as BBC Radio 5 Live's MW service on 693 kHz for much of the Midlands and East Wales.
Work will commence from Saturday 29th March 2014 and is scheduled to last until "the summer", according to the BBC.
* BBC Radio 4 LW will be subject to shutdowns between 10:00-17:30 during this period, exact times will vary.
* BBC Radio 5 Live will be subject to reduced power, with daytime transmission being moved to a nearby temporary transmitter at Kenilworth.
According to the BBC, the disruption to services is "to enable engineers to work safely, while refurbishing the long wave antenna, and the two masts which support it."
During the affected times, BBC Radio 4's output on 198kHz, which between 10:00 and 17:30 includes the LW-only midday shipping forecast, will be broadcast on Sky, Freesat and iPlayer Radio. Any cricket coverage scheduled during the maintenance periods will be available via BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra on digital radio.
BBC Radio 4 198 LW from Scottish transmitter sites will be unaffected, enabling ongoing reception via long wave in many parts of the north of the British Isles.
....
There has been no suggestion that the BBC will close any of its national AM radio services, with services returning to normal after the completion of the work in the summer.
=
BBC Radio 4 is a radio station owned and operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is Gwyneth Williams, and the station is part of BBC Radio and the BBC Audio & Music department. The station is broadcast from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasting House, London.
It is the second most popular domestic radio station in the UK, broadcast throughout the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands on FM, LW and DAB, and can be received in the north of France and Northern Europe. It is also available through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media and on the Internet. Its sister station BBC Radio 4 Extra (formerly BBC 7), complements the main channel by broadcasting repeats from the Radio 4 archive, extended versions of Radio 4 programmes and supplements to series such as The Archers and Desert Island Discs.
It is notable for its news bulletins and programmes such as Today and The World at One, heralded on air by the Greenwich Time Signal "pips" or the chimes of Big Ben.
The long-wave frequency used was 200 kilohertz until 1 February 1988 when it was changed to 198 kilohertz, and the power is currently 500 kilowatts. The carrier frequency is controlled by a rubidium atomic frequency standard in the transmitter building, enabling the transmission to be used as an off-air frequency standard. For long-wave, a T-aerial is used, which is suspended between two 213-metre-high (700 ft) guyed steel lattice radio masts, which stand 180 metres (590 ft) apart from each other. .
(Wikipedia)
Re: Europe 1
Posted by Mike Terry on April 06, 2014 at 11:48:50.
In reply to Europe 1 posted by Mike Terry on April 06, 2014
An update:
- Saturday ....Sunday shutdowns and maintenance work:
from Apr 5 0100 to Apr 7 0200
from Apr 11 2300 to Apr 14 0200
from May 9 2300 to May 12 0200
from May 16 2300 to May 19 0200
Hifer T on air again
(Daniel Kaehler-D, A-DX April 5)
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 07, 2014 at 05:57:28.
In reply to Hifer T Rebuilt posted by James-AG6YM on April 01, 2014
Hi, Re: Hifer T on air again
T is back on the air. I haven't flipped the switch yet start transmitting, because it is pretty late and I don't see the point to transmitting when no one is listening, but I can fire it up at a moments notice. I haven't tested the frequency yet, but it seems to still be around 13,564.4 KHz the graphic identifier is a sine wave or at least it is supposed to be.
73s AG6YM
Posted by John Davis on April 07, 2014 at 18:49:38.
In reply to Hifer T on air again posted by James-AG6YM on April 07, 2014
Hope to run across it sometime. How is the antenna aligned, so I'll know whether there's any hope?
John
Re: Hifer T on air again
Posted by James AG6YM on April 08, 2014 at 00:34:31.
In reply to Re: Hifer T on air again posted by John Davis on April 07, 2014
The antenna (for now) is a full wave loop up about 10 feet, so there should be radiation in all directions more or less. It's low height means it is probably a bit of a cloudburner though. I'm thinking about a vertical for a lower takeoff angle.
HiferT Details
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 11, 2014 at 02:47:43.
Hi, Lowfer JW
The frequency (as of right now) is 13564.28. It will definitely drift a little as it uses an uncompensated XTAL oscillator. The waveform resembles nothing I have ever seen, a rounded square wave, or a highly distorted sine wave. If you see a perfect sine wave its not me. I recently changed antennas, it is now a folded dipole bent at the ends to reduce the feedpoint impedance to get a better match with the ~130 ohm output.
AG6YM
Posted by John Hamer on April 14, 2014 at 13:20:44.
Lowfer JW is off for now.
Re: Lowfer JW
Posted by John Davis on April 14, 2014 at 19:41:28.
In reply to Lowfer JW posted by John Hamer on April 14, 2014
Hi John. We had your LowFER listed as JH. Was there a change in calls? Thanks.
John
Re: Lowfer JW
Posted by John Hamer on April 14, 2014 at 20:07:06.
In reply to Re: Lowfer JW posted by John Davis on April 14, 2014
Nope. My mistake. JH it is. Sorry about that.
Re: Lowfer JW
Posted by John Davis on April 15, 2014 at 00:38:58.
In reply to Re: Lowfer JW posted by John Hamer on April 14, 2014
Good deal. Let us know when it returns.
73 Hifers in NE IL
John
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on April 15, 2014 at 14:23:40.
Noted hifers NC, 7P, EH, and USC at the watering hole this morning. Elsewhere, MTI and FRC were coming through.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Radio 4
Posted by Mike Terry on April 16, 2014 at 14:51:16.
In reply to Radio 4 posted by Mike Terry on April 06, 2014
Droitwich Spa Advertiser
16 April 2014
Listeners to Radio 4’s long wave transmission might well have noticed that it’s currently out of service every day between 10am and 5.30pm, but what they might not know is that the national signal shutdown is due to work being done on the Droitwich transmitters.
....
Engineering work is currently taking place to refurbish the long wave antenna and the (two 700 ft) masts, to inspect and then paint them, and to grease the stays that support them....
In addition to the work, which needs to take place every 10 years or so, engineers are also taking the opportunity to undertake some upgrades to the transmitter itself.
Full story: www.droitwichadvertiser.co.uk Algeria 252
Posted by Mike Terry on April 16, 2014 at 14:59:07.
RTA 252 kHz and MW sites: According to Transradio Website (www.transradio.de) RTA signed a contract for rebuilding all the algerian TX sites including 252 kHz. TX's coming from Transradio Berlin Germany (TRAM1500 LW, TRAM600 MW), antennas from Ampegon Schifferstadt Germany.
Walter Barteczek (2/4-2014)
29/03-2014
The following information was received here today:
"For your information, the station Chaine 3 of Tipaza in 252 kHz is out of service since March 17, 2014."
(http://mediumwave.info/index.html) info 49 mhz
Posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 16, 2014 at 23:33:57.
...want to join/subscribe ...6 meters/49mhz groups..any info ?
Re: info 49 mhz
Posted by John Davis on April 17, 2014 at 04:49:27.
In reply to info 49 mhz posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 16, 2014
Lots of 6 meter ham groups out there that could be turned up with a Google search or a glance at qth.net reflectors.
We talk about 49 MHz Part 15 stuff here, whenever there is any activity...but there doesn't seem to be much.
Hifer
Posted by Brian nb9e on April 19, 2014 at 04:46:36.
My hifer BC is back on the air but I need you guys to look at it. It seems to be producing slow cw but not FSK just straight slow cw. It was tough to get it even doing that. Not sure what to do to correct the problem. Thanks, Brian nb9e
Re: Hifer
Posted by John Davis on April 19, 2014 at 19:49:01.
In reply to Hifer posted by Brian nb9e on April 19, 2014
Hi Brian. As of 2 PM CDT here in SE Kansas, I was seeing what looked to be slow FSK CW about 13555.500 kHz with about a 7 Hz upward shift. Couldn't get a solid enough signal at first for visual decoding, but eventually a nice clear "C" showed up, so I figure that must be you.
All signals except USC and NC were undergoing rather wide signal levels at the time. You were several Hz above 7P, who sometimes was nice and clear and other times barely visible; and he was a few Hz above EH, who was invisible when I first tuned in but showed up later. No SIW on HF this afternoon, though. Heard MTI some of the time, and saw (but didn't hear) some of PBJ, rather broken up. Nobody above that spot on the dial so far this afternoon, but I'll check again later.
John
Re: Hifer
Posted by John Davis on April 20, 2014 at 00:21:20.
In reply to Re: Hifer posted by John Davis on April 19, 2014
Late afternoon: no longer seeing BC, but USC, EH, 7P and NC are relatively steady. In fact, EH got unnaturally strong for a while at one point.
Heard MTI sometimes, but nobody else came through farther up the dial.
John
Replacement TX
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 20, 2014 at 04:34:58.
Hi,
I checked up on my own beacon, and the waveform looked like a sawtooth. It appears to change shape with battery voltage. I don't expect anyone to recognize something that changes, so I built another transmitter. This one seems better in every way except one, the output power is only 1.1mW. Since this is ~ 1 S unit below 4.8mW, I would guess that it is enough power to work most people that could hear the 4.8mW. The FSK waveform is a triangle wave.
73s HiFers Heard -- 20 April, 2014
James-AG6YM
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on April 20, 2014 at 15:28:52.
GM all. Listened this morning around 1315 UT, and the AJO, SZX, GNK, and K6FRC beacons were all coming in well. GNK as usual was best, with 459 signals, while the other were around 339. Fairly quiet regarding background noise at this time. At the present time (~1515 UT), the only signal being heard is GNK, weaker, 339 or so, with a lot more background noise of the manmade variety. Not much atmospheric noise. Better conditions than last several days. No MTI heard during this listening period. Ed W Slidell, LA EM50cg
49 mhz
Posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 22, 2014 at 14:34:05.
..AJO,...you on 49 mhz these days?
Re: 49 mhz
Posted by Ward K7PO on April 22, 2014 at 20:54:16.
In reply to 49 mhz posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 22, 2014
7P is on 49.86 24/7, at same location as hifer 7P and AJO.
Re: 49 mhz
Ward
Posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 23, 2014 at 01:39:32.
In reply to Re: 49 mhz posted by Ward K7PO on April 22, 2014
..many thanks, Ward, had no idea where to look...73 see ya W9ESX/Robert..
Re: 49 mhz
Posted by Ward K7PO on April 23, 2014 at 04:48:43.
In reply to Re: 49 mhz posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 23, 2014
No problem, Robert. Good luck with your listening efforts, and of course, please let me know if you hear anything on 49 mhz. I can hear it about 90 miles from the hill, most of the time. I take a road trip to Dayton each year and I'm really hoping for some good E skip this year. I've heard the other beacons on every trip, but so far no 7P (49 mhz, that is).
Ward K7PO
Re: Replacement TX
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 23, 2014 at 06:44:01.
In reply to Replacement TX posted by James-AG6YM on April 20, 2014
More FSK problems, The Spectran trace is a square wave with a shift of -2Hz, and that's being generous. I don't understand it, the waveform looked like a triangle wave on my oscilloscope when I had the 555 timer connected to it the other day. If anyone has any ideas what the problem could be please tell me.
Fixed it
Posted by AG6YM on April 23, 2014 at 06:48:35.
In reply to Re: Replacement TX posted by James-AG6YM on April 23, 2014
It was a stupid mistake pin 3 instead of pin 2.
Converting to QRSS
Posted by AG6YM on April 23, 2014 at 07:27:58.
In reply to Fixed it posted by AG6YM on April 23, 2014
The shift changes with voltage. I should just go back to plain ol' CW, or QRSS in this case.
elad fdm-2s sdr for on longwave
Posted by john ferro on April 24, 2014 at 01:21:47.
Has anyone tried or use the Elad SDR for NDB hunting?? would be interested in hearing opinions on this radio and how it compares to other favorite longwave radios. Thanks, john
Re: elad fdm-2s sdr for on longwave
Posted by John Davis on April 24, 2014 at 02:48:12.
In reply to elad fdm-2s sdr for on longwave posted by john ferro on April 24, 2014
Understand that these observations are only based on a survey of the company's published specifications and what I saw in the manual, as I can't afford to try out every latest-greatest Software Dependent Radio brick on the market. :) Maybe it will help a little though, until (or unless) anyone with hands-on experience comes along.
In short, this unit seems to have a lot going for it in terms of software. Seems a bit complex to set up initially, and I have no idea whether there are any tricky interactions with sound cards.
The hardware is more capable than its lower priced predecessor. Minimum Discernable Signal is significantly better, for instance. On the other hand, the overall dynamic range is still probably not the greatest, thanks to rather low input clipping levels in different bands. If you're willing to use external pre-filtering and possibly an external adjustable attenuator to keep the ADC from overloading, it would probably do fine.
My main thought would be, however, that unless you have a use for its capabilities on other bands, this would be a lot of money to sink into an NDB receiver! (And, of course, a computer capable of running it.) There are a lot of analog radios out there that can do at least as good a job for a lot less money...and even some lower cost and/or home-constructable SDR front ends that can be used with Spectrum Lab at LF.
John
info 49 mhz
Posted by Robert Rode W9ESX on April 25, 2014 at 06:00:43.
Ward K7PO...Is 49mhzerc@hotpop.com a good add, ? it gets rejected by mailman..cant use standard form with ATT, some reason computer wont do it..sure want in the group, thanks any info Robert/W9ESX
Re: Hifer beacon list
Posted by KC7MMI on April 25, 2014 at 06:18:27.
In reply to Re: Hifer beacon list posted by John Davis on April 06, 2014
Are non-club members able to get their beacons listed on this site?
Benjamin KC7MMI
Re: Hifer beacon list
Posted by John Davis on April 25, 2014 at 14:00:18.
In reply to Re: Hifer beacon list posted by KC7MMI on April 25, 2014
>>> Are non-club members able to get their beacons listed on this site?
Sure. It's a resource for the whole experimenter community, so the more, the merrier.
All we ask is that the beacon actually be on the air at some more or less definite schedule, so it will be worth the listeners' time to look for it, and that the operator periodically confirm his beacon status and contact information...at least once a year, if the beacon remains on continuously; or any time the information changes, such as if it is turned on and off seasonally or switches to a different frequency or mode of operation.
(Unfortunately, that's why GNB is still not back on the list at this point. Gary has not yet responded to my request for frequency and mode of operation. At least my e-mail to his Yahoo address did not bounce this year, but I've still got to have that information to put a station in the list. I hope we'll hear from him soon.)
John
WG2XCT CW Beacon
Posted by Pat Bunn on April 25, 2014 at 18:10:41.
I plan to run WG2XCT all weekend on 471.80 KHz - cw beacon testing my transmitter.
Running about 450 watts to antenna.
Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon
Posted by John Davis on April 25, 2014 at 18:18:56.
In reply to WG2XCT CW Beacon posted by Pat Bunn on April 25, 2014
Congratulations and best of luck with the modified amp, Pat! I'll check for it today as we get closer to dark.
John
Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon
Posted by John Davis on April 26, 2014 at 03:02:02.
In reply to Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon posted by John Davis on April 25, 2014
I checked for your signal about 9 PM CDT, Pat, and could definitely discern an interrupted carrier. It was a few S-units below the static crashes, though, so no copy. Probably would have worked perfectly with QRSS3 or thereabouts, just to give an idea of how close to readable it was.
John
HiFERS This Week
Posted by John Davis on April 26, 2014 at 03:43:26.
Somewhat fewer QSB incidents today than Tuesday, so signals were a little steadier [in SE Kansas].
On Tuesday afternoon, I had USC, EH, 7P, and NC in the early afternoon, with MTI audible and PBJ somewhat visible. Lots of quick and deep fading. Nobody else heard or seen in the afternoon.
Around dark Tuesday, it occured to me that maybe 22m is becoming an evening band at this time of year, so I tried again. USC and NC were gone, but EH and 7P were sometimes quite good. MTI was barely audible, no sign of PBJ, but FRC was strong and relatively steady, enabling copy of the complete ID for extended periods.
Today was my next chance to get to the field. It was a little past mid-afternoon before I first got a chance to listen this time, but as I mentioned, signals were steadier. USC and EH were solid, NC was good much of the time but did have some slow and deep fades, 7P ranged from fair to solid, and it looked as if BC was trying to make it through at times. MTI was barely audible most of the time and PBJ was absent, as was everybody else, really.
After 8 PM CDT, following extended monitoring of 137 kHz, I went back to 22m. By then, USC, EH, 7P and NC were still present, but BC was not. Up the band, MTI was audible at times, with lots of deep fades, and PBJ was still nowhere to be seen. A little farther up, there was AJO! The ident characters only came through clearly a couple of times, but even after that, it was easy to tell by ear and by Argo when the DAID occured. There was a carrier a few hundred Hz above the band center, amplitude modulated with a male and a female voice, but I couldn't make out anything they were saying. No SZX, GNK, or T tonight, but after listening for a while, FRC faded up well enough to catch a couple complete IDs.
None of the HiFERs have shown the mysterious carrier bifurcation near sunset lately, for whatever reason.
John Re: HiFERS This Week
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 26, 2014 at 07:57:48.
In reply to HiFERS This Week posted by John Davis on April 26, 2014
There was (and still is) rain tonight, it probably shorted out my beacon I'll take a look at it in the morning. Other transmitter on air
73s AG6YM
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 27, 2014 at 00:59:09.
Hi,
I placed the backup transmitter on the air. The antenna is 1/4 wave wire pulled up into a tree working over two radials. The other transmitter got waterlogged yesterday. This radio has not been tested for reliability yet, so it might break down. It has an improved FSK circuit that transmits a "heartbeat" waveform at 13,565.48 KHz, with 1.1 mW.
73s AG6YM
Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon 26 April, 2014
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on April 27, 2014 at 02:30:42.
In reply to Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon posted by John Davis on April 26, 2014
Up to 2120 UT, 26 April, 2014, I was hearing the WC2XCT beacon just above 471 KHz. Signals had been fairly good, but with the atmospheric noise, it was about only 259 copy. The noise has been running S7 to S8 on peaks, but the WC2XCT signal was clearly copiable in its entirity. Antenna is 142 ft. LW, roughly E-W, and using an Icom FT-706II with Palomar VLF converter. The beacon signal seemed to disappear after about 2125 UT, and was not able to copy it any further. Ed WSlidell, LA EM50cg
Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon 26 April, 2014
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on April 27, 2014 at 02:34:55.
In reply to Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon 26 April, 2014 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on April 27, 2014
Correction to times -- times/date given were CDT, or 0220/0225 UT/27 April, 2014. Ed WSlidell, LA EM50cg
Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon 26 April, 2014
Posted by Pat Bunn on April 28, 2014 at 19:07:58.
In reply to Re: WG2XCT CW Beacon 26 April, 2014 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on April 27, 2014
Thanks for all the WG2XCT beacon reports. I am going to crank it up to a KW at 6:30 EDT for a few hours to test the transmitter at full bore. May start easing it up before that time
Pat HiFERs Monday
WG2XCT
Posted by John Davis on April 30, 2014 at 18:58:47.
I guess our high winds were blowing the signals elsewhere. Early in the afternoon, I saw USC with some fading; someone right above Pat with either FSK or DFCW that was so faint I couldn't make out clearly which mode it was, let alone the content; EH with considerable fading; someone else briefly that I took to be 7P, but which was so chopped up I couldn't really say; someone else that I took to be BC at first, but only really saw one "C" and only broken up pieces of other characters; and NC with prolonged and deep fades. Farther up, MTI came and went at the limit of audibility. Nobody else could be seen or heard.
Later Monday afternoon (between 6 and 8 PM CDT), USC was coming in much better; the mystery signal above it was no longer visible; EH was stronger but fuzzy, with the trace sometimes splitting into two about 1 Hz apart for minutes at a time; the trace that I had taken to be BC, but which I could now see more clearly wasn't; and NC. The non-BC signal turned out to be a sideband of USC, tracking 120 Hz above the intended signal! USC became strong enough for a while that the identifier on the sideband was unmistakable. I set up another Argo instance 120 Hz below USC and found it there as well, so I suppose Pat's power supply has developed a bit of hum.
Farther up from the watering hole, AJO was faintly visible with its characteristic DAID, but not audible. Thought I heard SZX intermittently, but couldn't be sure. And I did hear FRC, although not as consistently across multiple ID cycles as I did over the weekend.
John
beacon repaired
Posted by James-AG6YM on April 30, 2014 at 21:46:59.
sorry to bother you again, but the beacon is back to its original state. I fixed the water damage to the other transmitter and its now back on the air.
73s AG6YM
potrzebie