April 1998 Longwave Messages

(Remember that e-mail addresses in these posts are likely to become outdated over time.)

• Subj: Re: YCD 353.0 kHz
  Date: 98-04-28 01:05:41 EDT
  From: gfhhaertig (Gray Frierson Haertig)
  This is the only voice warning beacon I have heard of (though I haven't heard IT). Does anybody know if it is unique? Are there any other LW beacons out there whose avowed purpose is to warn and not just provide a navigational fix?
  Gray

• Subj: Filters
  Date: 98-04-27 15:04:41 EDT
  From: (Herb Dean)
  Have just put up a 10-1/2 foot loop with 80 turns in 3/4 copper shield. I got a good null of 60 hz and imediately heard pops, tweeks, snaps. Anyone around with some good high-pass circuits? I would say perhaps 300 or 400 hz.
  Could you put me in contact with someone who could help?
  Thanks, Herb Dean

• Subj: Dayton Hamvention
  Date: 98-04-26 11:17:34 EDT
  From: (Lyle Koehler)
  I'm planning to go to the Dayton Hamvention May 15th-17th and would be interested in getting together with any other LowFERs who might be attending.
  73
  Lyle, KØLR

• Subj: YCD 353.0 kHz
  Date: 98-04-26 12:24:45 EDT
  From: QA0057email.mot (William Cantrell)
  There is an AM voice aircraft warning beacon located in Cedar Hill, Texas, just south of Dallas, on 353.0 kHz. It has an audio CW ID beneath the voice: YCD The repeating voice announcement, which happens to be female this month, is as follows:
  ...Attention all aircraft, use caution, Cedar Hill antenna farm, 2,350 feet mean sea level, located one seven nautical miles, south-southwest of Dallas Love field ...
  I have been up on top of the 1200 ft communications towers located there on a hill. An awsome view! Can anyone hear this warning beacon besides us guys in the D/FW metroplex?
  Regards,
  Bill Cantrell
  Senior Staff Engineer
  MOTOROLA Cellular Networks & Space Sector
  Fort Worth, TX

• Subj: Beacon PX
  Date: 98-04-19 20:38:06 EDT
  From: dav3yayshore.intercom (dave holland)
  Beacon PX is off for the summer season. There was a freq. change abt mid winter to get away from BC stations. You have the new freq. listed correctly as 1634.5 kc.
  The static level is still low here, despite the summer like weather, BC dxing is still good.
  Dave PX, DCH, K3YAY

• Subj: 136kHz in Belgium
  Date: 98-04-17 05:03:56 EDT
  From: Rik.Strobbefys.kuleuven.ac.be (Rik Strobbe)
  Since a few days we can use the LF band in Belgium under about the same conditions as in the UK (but only CW and a 2000 Watt HF output limit). At the moment I am QRV but with relatively low power and the antenna is not the best (will change in the future) so I estimate my ERP to ~ 5mW. During the last days I could hear following stations : G2AJV beacon 3dB above noise G3LDO working x-band 6dB above noise LX1PD beacon 15dB above noise G3KAU CQ 6dB above noise G3LNP CQ 20dB above noise (awfully strong)
  This weekend (friday to sunday) I will try to be QRV in the evening (18 - 22 UT) and listen intensively for CQ's and beacons every 10 minutes of the hour. I will try to listen also on saturday and sunday morning (06 - 07 UT). My QTH is 25km north-east of Brussels (JO20IX) so most UK stations are in a distance of 350km and more (except for G2AJV at 250km).
  73, Rik ON7YD

• Subj: Lowfer Beacon RB off the air til fall
  Date: 98-04-17 19:15:13 EDT
  From: bickingmwci (rbicking)
  RB, 186.92 kHz, will be off the air for improvements (a tower and beam) to my ham antenna.
  By the way, I thought the Italian approach to low freq ham licensing made a lot of sense with the 1 W ERP limit. My several month's experience with the FCC part 15 rules suggests that DX is a rarity, mainly due to antenna and power restrictions. The 160M ham band had similar problems when it was shared with LORAN and there were power limitations.
  73, Bob, W9RB

• Subj: Daventry (UK) back on Long Wave?
  Date: 98-04-17 10:59:17 EDT
  From: richard.buckbybbc.co.uk
  Hello,
  I noticed the attached info on a shortwave news group, it sounds like LW is returning to Daventry after all these years! I wonder if it is on the old Dodford Radio 3 site?

                             ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  
  
  UK   Longwave mast: Planning permission has been obtained by Castle
  Communications, the privatised BBC domestic transmission company, for 
  a new 900 ft. high longwave aerial mast between Dodford and Norton, 
  near Daventry, Northants. This permission was actually a renewal of a 
  previous application planned for use on 225 kHz (a frequency 
  subsequently rejected for use by the Radio Authority) and as a reserve 
  for the main Droitwich 198 kHz masts.
  (Radio Magazine, via BrDXC "Communication" Apr)
  ======

  Keep up the good work!
  73,
  Richard Buckby, BBC Nottingham
  E-mail: richard.buckbybbc.co.uk (work)
    richardg3vgw.demon.co.uk (home)
  (Richard has additional reminiscences about the Daventry facility, which will appear in the May LOWDOWN, and later be available on this Web site.)

• Subj: RE: Readability of screen
  Date: 98-04-17 12:53:57 EDT
  From: petersonhjw (Art Peterson)
  John,
  I decided to cure the problem I had with reading print against a "busy" background by setting my background color to gray and selecting the option "always use my colors" which overrides the original background. System in use here is Netscape v3.0 and a VGA monitor on a 386 PC. Everything comes out OK for me this way. I'm pretty much a novice at this yet but am starting to "learn the ropes." Thanks.
  73, Art Peterson
  
  • Reply 1:Hi Art,
    That's a good approach. I was aware that Netscape would let you set a background color of your own choosing, but I had assumed it would only override a fixed background color specified in the HTML file. I didn't know it could also override a background image. That's a tip I'll put in the Web Browsing Hints subsection of the LW Home Page soon.
    73, John Davis

• Subj: Italian LF HAM band
  Date: 98-04-16 08:41:50 EDT
  From: clpsstadio.telecominterbusiness.it (DTCB/PV RA AB3 CL PS STADIO)
  From yesterday Italian Ham radio has been authorized to use the LF band. Frequency is the same of other European countries: 135.7 - 137.8 kHz, with power limit of 1 W ERP.
  IK1QFK, Renato.

• Subj: Re: Trans-Atlantic tests on 136kHz
  Date: 98-04-15 06:23:12 EDT
  From: (Peter Dodd)
  Our experiments on 136kHz in Europe on 136kHz show that distances of over 1000 miles can be achieved fairly regularly (on aural CW). I have worked OH1TN cross band on 137kHz/80m several times and 2-way on 137kHz once. The distance is 1860km. The openings are usually, but not always, fairly short.
  It would seem that a trans Atlantic path is possible on 136kHz.
  To test this out I will be sending test transmissions on 137.5kHz from 2300UTC until 0600UTC every evening that the weather permits from tonight onwards. These transmissions will be very slow morse with a dot period of about 3 seconds and will just be my call G3LDO repeated. This transmission would be visible on a computer waterfall display.
  Our experience indicates that 137kHz band conditions are good when 160m conditions are good..
  If you are interested perhaps you could let me know if the frequency I have chosen is reasonably clear. The band is from 135.7kHz to 137.8kHz.
  I can operate on any frequency in the band and change the speed of the CW. We tend to quote the CW speed in dot length seconds rather that fractions of WPM. I will be working towards BPSK later but have a way to go. For example my transmitter is at present VFO controlled.
  I will be away from home from tomorrow, Thursday, for a few days, but I can transmit any day from next Sunday onwards.
  Regards, Peter, G3LDO

• Subj: G3DLO Testing
  Date: 98-04-14 07:51:04 EDT
  From: RMonty3worldnet.att (Robert Montgomery)
  HI:
  Wonder if you could put up a posting for me. Peter Dodd is doing some testing on 137.5 kHz from 2300 to 0600 utc. Wx permitting. Slow cw long periods of dots then to his call sign G3DLO . His email address is . Conditions so poor last night that even the locals had a tough time. Propagation problems and not static crashes.
  Many thanks!
  Bob Montgomery

• Subject: Bubbler on 218
  From: "Jacques d'Avignon" ()
  Organization: HF Monitoring & Propagation Forecasting
  Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 14:29:23 UTC
  A few months ago I had put on the wire the fact that there was a bubble jammer operating on 218 kHz. This jammer was again heard a few weeks ago here in Ontario and also was heard by someone in Germany. It definitely has the sound of a bubble jammer and it can be heard on 218 kHz USB.
  Could you mention this transmission and ask listeners to let me know if they hear it anywhere in North America, Europe or anywhere else.
  It was heard here from about sundown in Europe to sunrise in North America, making it very difficult to pinpoint as the reception is not consistent with what you would expect from a LF transmission from overseas. The fact that it was heard in Germany re-enforces the fact that it really exists! At first we had difficulty beleiving this transmission. We beleive that it is the first "jammer" heard on LF. It would be interesting to be able to prove without a doubt that this really is going on.
  Have a great day.
  Jacques

• Subj: VLF Station Info Needed
  Date: 98-04-13 10:34:43 EDT
  From: (Robert Montgomery)
  HI:
  I am looking for some information on a station VTX3 on 18.2 kHz in cw which usually sends a marker signal at about 20 to 25 wpm. I have heard that it was located in India but want a little more detail. Anyone know of the station and its correct location?
  Thank you!
  Bob Montgomery
  Lowdown logging editor

• Subj: Beacon NC off air
  Date: 98-04-11 10:20:31 EDT
  From: dmcintyreatt (Dexter McIntyre W4DEX)
  Lowfer beacon NC will be QRT till further notice. The coil house recently suffered wind damage. It will be removed from the building top and I will either repair or build a new coil and enclosure.
  73, Dex, W4DEX

• Subj: Antennas
  Date: 98-04-08 21:31:10 EDT
  From: w2mpkdreamscape (Don Moth)
  Just a note to let you know that both my LowFER & MedFER beacons are off the air until 9/15/98 because of yard and tower work. Should be back on with better antennas and new loading coils.
  Miss my bi-monthly phone calls with SK Shel Cleaver; he sure was an inspiration.
  Don "MPK"

• Subj: email typo
  Date: 98-04-03 11:03:31 EST
  From: QA0057email.mot (William Cantrell)
  Hi John,
  I should mention that the email address listed for me in your "LF-MF Beacon Operators By Call Sign" listing (April LOWDOWN) has a typo. There is no hyphen between e and mail. It should be:
  qa0057email.mot.com
  --
  Regards,
  Bill Cantrell
  Senior Staff Engineer
  MOTOROLA
  Cellular Networks & Space Sector

• Subj: Cuban Beacon ID Mystery
  Date: 98-04-03 07:48:55 EST
  From: RMonty3worldnet.att (Robert Montgomery)
  Not sure if you have been following the loggings in the column or not but there has been a couple of beacons from Cuba that seemed to be sending two different IDs on the same freq at the same signal strength.
  Received an email from Arnie Coro this a.m. that says they have been having problems with a couple of the beacons and the keyers have been malfunctioning. They are presently on back up xtmrs till the problem can be solved. So the bottom line is that there are not two different beacons on the same freq using different IDs but merely using back up xtmrs.
  Bob Montgomery

• Subject: ELF Antennas
  Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 16:38:28 -0500
  From: Tom Hall
  I am interested in constructing a sensor to receive electromagnetic signals in the 50 Hz to 2,000 Hz range. It seemed to me that perhaps the antenna designs for ELF in this range have already been studied, but I can't seem to find much information. Any leads or suggestions of where to look would be much appreciated
  Tom Hall

• Subj: Alexanderson Alternator
  Date: 98-04-02 12:31:48 EST
  From: (John W. Willmott)
  Hi folks: I need information on the very low frequency Trans Atlantic communication system installed on the Eastern end of Long Island, N.Y. near Southold - Sag Harbor - Orient Point back in the 20's or early 30's when I was a kid fooling around with radio and then got ham ticket and call W2CVR in Huntington, L.I.
  A group of us visited the transmitting building and were admitted by those in charge about 1932 or 33. We saw the huge alternator - perhaps 15 to 20 feet in diameter in operation. The antenna was a series of towers - 5 to 7 each about 600 feet tall (?) with cross arms about 100 feet supporting wires.
  The last time I saw them was perhaps in the 40's and they were still there in the 50's when I was barging around at 50 feet over Block Island sound in the July fog looking for access to Deer Park Airport. I had to climb out on instruments when masts higher than 50 feet became obstacles and the threat of the towers and wires in the fog confined me to over water.
  Well, I made it here after many years and other activities and I need info for my historic writings and pics if anyone has them. So, who has some information for me? Best wishes.
  John W. Willmott

• Subj: JDH off for summer
  Date: 98-04-02 11:41:09 EST
  From: ab4mspeachnet.campus.mci (John Hoopes)
  Just a short note to everyone know JDH will be QRT for the summer. It will resume operation in October.
  73 John Hoopes

• Subj: Kudos to Lyle
  Date: 98-04-02 12:23:07 EST
  From: (John Hoopes)
  Ditto to what Bart said. Lyle's web page is "most excellent". Anyone searching for good LOWFER info would be advised to pay K0LR's site a visit. 73.
  John

• Subj: Lyle's Website
  Date: 98-04-01 20:41:47 EST
  From: (n4zv)
  Hats off to Lyle! The WAVE recordings on his web-site give us an indication of WHAT to listen for...not just HOW to listen for it!
  73,
  Bart - N4ZV/VA

• Subj: Waves on the Web
  Date: 98-04-01 13:12:08 EST
  From: k0lremily (Lyle Koehler)
  I've added some WAVE files of LowFER signals to my web site. Thanks to Bill Bowers and Bill Cantrell there are even a couple of pictures of their LowFER beacon stations. The files are available by clicking on "Listening for LowFERs, Part 2" on my home page at:
  www.computerpro.com/~lyle
  The link to "On the Art of NDB DXing" has not been working. I don't know if the URL has changed again or if this a temporary server problem. If it doesn't clear up in the next couple of days I'll try contacting Steve McGreevy to get the straight scoop.
  73
  Lyle, K0LR

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