Re: [Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John, W1TAG on May 30, 2011 at 06:26:00.
In reply to Re: [Hifer] RY Back On posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011
HiFer AJO
Copied AJO with RST approx 409 in CA at 12:32 PDT. Stragely, HDB was nowhere to be heard. No other HiFers heard (except FRC, groundwave 70 miles away).
13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by Paul on May 03, 2011 at 11:24:13.
Copying the 562 dasher beacon this morning. RST is 509.
Question- My solid state receiver is useless on the HiFer band due to the FM broadcast station located on my tower. I hear S-9 grunge that closely emulates the FM's modulation. It happens even with no antenna connected, ground lifted, etc. The R-390A works fine, no evidence of the FM at all on any band. That is what I am forced to use to listen for HiFers all the time.
Is the Kenwood R-5000 using an I.F. around 103 MHz., or is it just susceptible to this kind of thing? Have installed a low-pass filter, tried different grounds, etc. Like I said, even with no antenna connected and running on battery, the HiFer band is still wiped out when the FM transmitter is on and modulating. If they have dead air, the Kenwood receives HiFers perfectly. Noise drops to zero.
The FM pays rent for being on the tower, so relocating or turning them off for HiFer band scanning is not an option. Since the FM is not coming into the receiver through the antenna cable, is there anything I can do to make it useful on the HiFer band again?
The FM doesn't bother the Kenwood on any other band or frequencies. Literally, JUST the HiFer band. Weird.
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 03, 2011 at 20:08:58.
In reply to 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 03, 2011
Hi Paul. Sounds kinda weird alright. The SSB, AM, & CW IF's on the R-5000 seem to be around 51.1125 MHz and 8.83 MHz, if my on-line manual is correct. Since you don't hear it on the R-390A directly on 13.56MHz, I assume it isn't getting in on that frequency. Is the transmitter itself located in the same room/compartment as the R-5000? Not sure if you maintain the FM unit yourself, but it would be interesting to know the method of obtaining the modulation, and at what frequency it is done. If it started in one of the IF ranges, and was located near the R-5000, perhaps you are hearing that. You could listen in the 8.83 MHz range with the R-390A to see if anything was there, and with a six meter rig around 51.115 MHz to check that IF. A spectrum analyzer would be a nice troubleshooting tool here, just using a small loop of wire on a piece of coax. Do you hear anything like the normal FM programming when the R-5000 is in FM mode? I did notice that the VCO runs between 58 and 88 MHz for the 0-30MHz range, and then mixes 51.115 MHz IF with a 49 MHz crystal oscillator to get to the 8.83 MHz IF range. Best of luck with it. EdWSlidell,LA
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by John Davis on May 04, 2011 at 04:08:37.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 03, 2011
What is the assigned frequency of the FM station?
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 04, 2011 at 07:22:12.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by John Davis on May 04, 2011
Hello John.
From the frequency given by Paul in his post I suspect that the station is as follows: Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
KWLK (LPFM) 103.7 FM 1.9 mi. Valley Springs, CA Religious
I was wondering how Paul could listen beneath an antenna with 10KW ERP, but as it is low power Paul could still accomplish something. Makes you appreciatge the shielding built into the R-390A, even if it weighs slighly more than the R-5000. EdWSlidell,LA
Posted by Paul on May 04, 2011 at 13:00:39.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 04, 2011
Yes, you guys nailed it.
The FM transmitter is located in a building about 30 feet away from my 'shack'. Both the house (shack) and the transmitter building are grounded, etc.
The FM is on 103.7 MHz. I have an IFR 1200 Super S that has an excellent spectrum analyzer in it. I see nothing at all in the HiFer band from the FM. The FM also has a bandpass filter on it to help keep other stuff on the tower from getting in to it and mixing, etc. The output of the FM is super clean.
When the Kenwood is in any mode, I can tell that the noise is modulated by the FM. If the FM has dead air, no interference on the HiFer band. As soon as the FM modulates, I get noise from 13.490 to about 13.690 MHz. The peak is around 13.590 MHz. at S-9! Best copy on the noise "modulation" is when in AM mode. FM is a bit too narrow to demod it.
No other receiver has this problem, just the Kenwood. I also have a Kenwood TS-440S transceiver in the storage cabinet, and it does the exact same thing. Weird!
I can switch the antenna(s) on and off with absolutely no difference in the noise or level. Hook a wire to the antenna connector, disconnect it, same thing.
Run it on battery or the Kenwood power supply, no difference.
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by Paul on May 04, 2011 at 13:03:13.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 04, 2011
Oh, by the way...
I have brought my Grundig YB400 shortwave receiver with me to various transmitter sites, including some very high power sites. Never had a problem with an FM or TV transmitter swamping the SW receiver. Even my trusty Zenith Transoceanic B600 works just fine at FM and TV (and combined FM/TV) sites.
High power RF on the VHF band isn't a problem for SW listening.
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 04, 2011 at 16:18:41.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 04, 2011
Hi Paul. Did you have a chance to see if there was anything in the 8.83MHz IF range? Both the R-5000 and TS-440 use the 8.83 MHz IF filters, however the TS-440 uses a different first IF of ~45MHz compared to the R-5000's ~51 MHz, so the VCO frequencies would be different for 13.56 MHz receive. Interesting that you have the noise appearing over a 200KHz range, and the FM deviation is +/- 75 KHz. Hope you can find the problem. EdWSlidell,LA
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by Lee on May 04, 2011 at 18:08:58.
In reply to 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 03, 2011
Hi Paul Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Someone has mentioned the effective shielding on the R390. Just for GP would it be worth the trouble to put the Kenwood in a RF shielded/grounded container. If that clears the interference problem then the solution could be shielding the offending stage.
Lee
Posted by Paul on May 04, 2011 at 19:54:18.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 04, 2011
Hi Ed,
Nothing at all in the 8.83 range. In fact, I can tune in station in that range and listen easily. Right now, some spanish speaking on 8.8543 USB using all the spanish cuss words I ever learned.
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by John Davis on May 05, 2011 at 04:14:50.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 04, 2011
>>> Both the house (shack) and the transmitter building are grounded, etc. >>>
Doesn't mean much at VHF, where even nice broad copper strap has enough inductance to produce significant voltage difference between any two points along its length when enough power is involved.
FM signals are especially bad about sneaking into equipment via almost any opening. My suspicion regarding the entry point is the front panel display. While it provides reasonable shielding at HF, that may not be as true at VHF. Once inside a sensitive receiver, even a perfectly clean FM signal can make itself a nuisance, either through direct rectification or by mixing with RF signals normally present inside the receiver (i.e., local oscillators).
The latter is what I suspect, and is what I believe Ed is also thinking about, because the problem depends on what frequency you're tuned to, rather than being present most everywhere on the dial. It also accounts for why the TS-440S receiver shows the same result at the same settings, since it is fundamentally the same architecture (re: IF frequencies, and therefore LO frequencies) as the R-5000.
The same receiver in the presence of an FM transmiter on another frequency would see the noise somewhere else on the dial, or the interference might fall entirely outside the tuning range of the radio. (I used to operate my R-5000 at a 100 kW station at the other end of the FM band with no problems at any frequency I normally checked. But noise might have been present elsewhere.) By the same token, receivers with different IFs would exhibit the problem when tuned somewhere else; whereas, receivers with much lower first IFs might have little or no problem with FM broadcast signals whatsoever.
All of these are consistent with it being a case of FM intrusion mixing with internal signals of the receiver. What I'm trying to get clear in my own mind is the exact frequencies involved in this particular problem, in hopes it might suggest a solution. It does not appear to be a simple image response with the first LO frequency, but a somewhat more complex mixing situation.
John
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by Paul on May 05, 2011 at 07:35:49.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by John Davis on May 05, 2011
Thanks, John.
Yes, that makes sense. I'll try some foil shielding and experiment a little. Maybe I can find the entry point and then be able to do something about it.
Meanwhile, I am ever thankful to have the R-390A in the shack also. I actually have 2 of them, the other mounted in a rack right next to the FM transmitter in the same building. It works fine there. Mostly used to monitor AM BCB.
Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 05, 2011 at 09:06:29.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by Paul on May 05, 2011
Hello Again Paul. If you have a small sealed 12vdc battery like a GelCell, and can hook it up to the DC input with a short cable, and then wrap both in plastic and foil, you could eliminate the AC and DC power leads as the access points. There doesn't appear to be much in the way of filtering/bypassing on the R-5000 power input leads, unlike newer radios using the IEC three prong input jacks with integral filters. Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question
Has your R-5000 always had this problem, or did it just start when the FM 103.7 MHz begin operating? The reason I ask is my R-5000 is showing signs of gurgle/instability, and from what Todd/WD4NGG is indicating this may be a common problem in the R-5000 and TS-440 series of radios. Something to do with the glue used to seal the VCO(s) absorbing moisutre and becoming conductive, destablizing the VCO lock. The recommended fix is to physically remove the original glue, without using solvent, which might damage other components. Hot-melt glue was then put around the components to reduce microphonics in the VCO--avoiding overheating anything.
Also, the small push-in plugs used on the various PCB's have a dissimilar metal corrosion problem, where the small coax shields(copper braid) are reacting with the plated push-in plug body. This causes VCO instability and spurious signals. The solution offered on-line was to put a 'small' amount of PCB conductive print solution on the cable/connector side, avoiding shorting-out the coax center pin. Soldering was not recommended as the cable dielectric is polyethylene, and might melt causing greater problems.
Don't have to worry about that with the TFE dielectric used in the R-390A cables. Let us know how you do with this one Paul, as it will certainly be useful to others with these radios. EdWSlidell,LA
Posted by Paul on May 05, 2011 at 09:28:02.
In reply to Re: 13.562 dasher and a receiver question posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 05, 2011
Thank you Ed.
I have seen the discussions about various TS-440 (and R-5000) fixes. Neither of the Kenwoods here are exhibiting the VCO instability problems. The worst thing here is the 440 had a little of the button 'bounce' problem, but then it went away.
I have run the receiver on battery, but have not yet tried running on battery with both shielded at the same time, in the same shield. That is a worthwhile experiment.
First, I am going to try taking hte receiver to an RF quiet spot and use a signal generator with a small rubber duckie antenna to probe around and see where the RF is getting in, then try to shield that area.
The field here at my house is not that strong, all things considered. So, it makes me wonder how many of these receivers out there pick up really strong FM stations and cause problems in certain areas of the receiver's coverage, and the OPs don't even know it.
My problems began when the FM moved onto my tower, so I knew what it was right away.
SIW QRT until Fall
Posted by Garry Hess on May 06, 2011 at 05:50:57.
I returned the SIW lowfer hardware to the home work bench yesterday afternoon. Hope to return it to service next Fall alternating daily between the watering hole (185.2993 kHz) and the original frequency (185.185 kHz). That will allow me to listen to the watering hole spur-free every other day. Interestingly, I found the antenna current way down over just the last couple of days. Turns out that was due to rapidly growing weeds at the antenna base. A little Roundup next Fall will make sure that doesn't repeat.
Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by Lee Clarke on May 07, 2011 at 06:22:18.
I designed a variant of the Inspire ELF radio to insure I had a tight roll-off (high Q bandpass) to reject the fundamental NTSC TV flyback oscillator frequency, local medium wave and long wave broadcasts.
I have operated this radio since 2000, and only now, these last two months, my receiver is picking up an English language broadcast of a Chinese format radio station here in the Northern Virginia area. The morning reception is very clear. Has anyone else been detecting this? The broadcast is wiping out dawn chorus reception.
The frequency band is 100-12KHz
Thank you.
Lee
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 07, 2011 at 10:11:12.
In reply to Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by Lee Clarke on May 07, 2011
Hello Lee. Could this be WDCT, AM 1310 KHz, Fairfax, VA, that you are receiving? It has an Asian format listed. I don't know how far from this station you are located, or if it is considered Northern VA. There is also a station in Luray, VA, near the Caverns, WRAA, 1330 KHz, and I was wondering if they had installed an ELF "caving" radio system. But, its format is listed as Country, and the caving radios use the LF range. EdWSlidell,LA Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by Lee on May 07, 2011 at 12:16:23.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 07, 2011
I'll check it out. Thanks.
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by John Davis on May 07, 2011 at 16:22:54.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by Lee on May 07, 2011
Sounds like a simple case of rectification of the AM radio signal. I don't know how the RF might be gaining ingress to your receiver; something would have had to deteriorate in your filtering arrangement if the rectification is internal. More likely, therefore, the rectification is external to the receiver...maybe a corroded connection on your antenna or lead-in, if any, or antenna connector. That would act as a "crystal radio" detector of sorts, and the audio amplification of the Inspire receiver would handle the resulting detected audio quite nicely.
HiFer NDB
Posted by Paul on May 07, 2011 at 18:13:58.
Copying Jeff's K8NDB 10m beacon right now on 28.2491 MHz. Not moving the needle, but 100% copy.
On a hunch... Turned on the old tube rig and catching his NDB HiFer right now too! It is just barely wiggling the meter. Very little QSB. I would give it an RST of 519.
73,
Paul HiFers Heard--8 May, 2011
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 08, 2011 at 12:50:59.
While trying to get the Kenwood TS-850 going, heard the following HiFers during the 0100-0200UT period on 8 May, 2011---AJO on ~13558, 339; SZX on ~13563, 3/4-3/4-9; GNK on 13564, 4-4/5-9; K6FRC on 13565, 3-3/4-9. All were showing QSB, K6FRC also having interference from a pulsing digital signal above 13566KHz. Nothing heard from EH during this period. Antennas used were 143 ft.LW, ENE, and 20 ft. vertical, with 5 elevated radials at 8 ft height.I am amazed how quiet/low the IF noise is on the TS-850S, compared to the R-5000. Also more LF/MF stations below 500KHz compared to the smaller rcvr. EdWSlidell,LA EM50cg
Re: HiFers Heard--8 May, 2011
Posted by Paul on May 09, 2011 at 07:58:15.
In reply to HiFers Heard--8 May, 2011 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 08, 2011
Thank you for the report, Ed!
Yes, it is amazing how much internal noise the R-5000 has. When LW DXing, it is superb compared to many others though. When comparing the R-5000 to my old tube type receiver, it is refreshing how quiet the tube rig is. For LW, I end up using the Zenith M660A a lot of times just because it is so quiet, yet very sensitive. Bandwidth is too wide, but usable.
HiFer K6FRC
Posted by Jeff K8NDB on May 11, 2011 at 10:35:37.
05/11/11, 1600Z, Copying K6FRC HiFer on 13.565 MHz with a RST of 519. No other HiFers copied at this QTH. 73, Jeff K8NDB
another HIFER roadtrip
Posted by Ward K7PO on May 13, 2011 at 09:27:31.
Left Tonopah, AZ this morning on another road trip. This time to Dayton. Will spend a day or so visiting another ham just north of OKC, then on to Dayton early next week. So far nothing heard except AJO, very weak via ground wave.
another HIFER roadtrip
Ward K7PO
Posted by Ward K7PO on May 13, 2011 at 09:30:43.
Left Tonopah, AZ this morning on another road trip. This time to Dayton. Will spend a day or so visiting another ham just north of OKC, then on to Dayton early next week. So far nothing heard except AJO, very weak via ground wave.
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Ward K7PO
Posted by Lee Clarke on May 13, 2011 at 18:52:33.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by John Davis on May 07, 2011
Thanks John. The unit I designed is a portable I store in a case in the house. The parts are all clean. The bandpass is very tight. I had thought about auto-rectification, but further tests have disproved that for me. Someone transmitting on a power line is my best guest. I think I am picking up the signals from the buried power line. I will elevate the antenna to see if the signal is reduced.
HIFER roadtrip
Posted by Ward K7PO on May 14, 2011 at 17:06:29.
Heard K6FRC last night, an hour after sunset. Was in northern NM at the time. Heard K6FRC - 539, NDB 439, and GNK - 319, all at around 1500z 14 May, while driving across northern TX. They lasted 30 minutes or so. When FRC and NDB faded around 1530z, AJO came in for about an hour -539.
Ward K7PO
Medfer
Posted by Glenn on May 14, 2011 at 18:00:06.
Under part 15 rules and 100 mw can a station be put on 1710Khz and then would it still be considered a medfer? There are kits out there that allow operation in 5Khz steps up to 17oKhz.
Glenn - WØLUS Re: Medfer
South St. Paul, MN
Posted by Glenn on May 14, 2011 at 18:27:58.
In reply to Medfer posted by Glenn on May 14, 2011
That should read steps up to 1710Khz not 17oKhz.
Re: Medfer
Posted by John Davis on May 15, 2011 at 00:41:00.
In reply to Medfer posted by Glenn on May 14, 2011
No, sorry. Part 15 rules require that emissions under the 100 mW input power/3 meters antenna provision be confined to the band 510-1705 kHz. That's carrier and modulation products together, in fact.
John
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by John Davis on May 15, 2011 at 00:44:13.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by Lee Clarke on May 13, 2011
I'm not sure what you mean by "transmitting on a power line." There would be little point in trying to put the audio from a broadcast station onto a power line, and only the very highest audio frequencies would be likely to couple from a power line to your receiver input in any case.
John
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by Lee Clarke on May 16, 2011 at 20:27:15.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by John Davis on May 15, 2011
I was thinking of someone using a home sound system over powerline, except that the signal is leaking past the home wiring.
Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina?
Posted by John Davis on May 16, 2011 at 21:55:57.
In reply to Re: Radio broadcast on ELF band in Northern Virgina? posted by Lee Clarke on May 16, 2011
Interesting thought, but there are a couple of problems with the theory: (1) carrier-current systems operate at higher frequencies, typically 160 kHz and above, not down at audio frequencies which wouldn't propagate far enough (especially the lower audio frequencies); (2) they typically use frequency modulation in order to overcome the ubiquitous noise in the LF band; and (3) whatever modulation method used, your receiver would have to have a detector suitable for demodulating it. Natural radio receivers don't have detectors--not intentionally--and thus couldn't recover audio from the carrier. That's why something in the immediate vicinity of the receiver must be rectifying the broadcast signal. Have you tried it at different locations? If so, with what result?
John Spent the weekend with two of the men from SAQ
Posted by Paul on May 17, 2011 at 13:21:00.
Spent last weekend hosting two of the finest gentlemen one could ever meet from station SAQ in Sweden. They came to check out the original Marconi transmitter and receiver installations in California. Here's a picture of the small group just after having breakfast at the Marconi receive site in Marshall, CA. I'm the one in the National Park Service shirt.
http://www.paulshinn.us/images/SAQ%20team.JPG
And, as an aside... I took the Zenith T.O. to the top of the ridge and set it on one of the original Marconi tower bases (used to be seven 300 foot tall towers on the ridge from 1913 to 1947) and listened to some SW.
Hifer
Posted by Domenic on May 18, 2011 at 17:26:39.
Am hearing EH in Madison Wisconsin 519 on 13557.13KHz @ 00:25
Domenic KC9 GNK
HiFer's Heard Past Weekend--15-16 May, 2011
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 19, 2011 at 07:57:47.
Did some listening on the past weekend, and heard quite a few HiFer's with reasonably good signals. Between 0230 abd 0330 UT, 15 May, first heard GNK, ~13564, good signals, around 449, then K6FRC, ~13565, signals 339, AJO, ~13557.5, also 339. Finally, for only a few minutes, NDB, ~13562, weakly heard, signals about 229. The next day, right before 2100 UT, was hearing NHVT, 13559, signlas good at 449, strong enough to be heard through the SWBC splatter from 13570. When the station shifted freq. at 2100 UT, was able to hear EH, ~13557, 3/4-3/4-9, when strongest. Also heard SZX, ~13563, 2/3-2/3-9, GNK right above it, signals 339 or so, and finally, a very weak K6FRC on ~13565, only aboutr 229 at best. Listened yesterday(18/19 May), but was not able to hear any of the HiFer's. Some local noise, dot and dashers, but no CW signals. EdWSlidell,LA EM50cg
Re: HiFer's Heard Past Weekend--15-16 May, 2011
Posted by John Davis on May 19, 2011 at 08:06:45.
In reply to HiFer's Heard Past Weekend--15-16 May, 2011 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 19, 2011
Good work there, Ed. I've had little success hearing anyone here lately. Yesterday afternoon I copied NC, but with some fairly deep fades. Thought I might have heard a bit of EH, but it didn't last long enough to be sure. And FRC was covered up by a steady carrier that hasn't been around before.
PBO
Posted by rick on May 19, 2011 at 17:27:41.
Hi All,
"PBO" will be shutting down until the fall.
Thanks Re: HiFer's Heard Past Weekend--15-16 May, 2011
Rick KA2PBO
Posted by Ward K7PO on May 20, 2011 at 03:48:31.
In reply to HiFer's Heard Past Weekend--15-16 May, 2011 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 19, 2011
Ed,
Your conditions are much better than here in Dayton. I arrived monday, and have not heard any hifers at all here. Will be on the road again next tuesday, but probably no time for listening until then. For now, off to Hamvention!
HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3
Ward K7PO/8
Dayton, OH
Posted by Jeff K8NDB on May 20, 2011 at 06:06:45.
Hifer NDB is now transmitting "AZ" in QRSS-3 mode and "NDB" at 10 WPM CW every 70 seconds on 13.562020 MHz. This test will last until June 1, 2011. 73s Jeff K8NDB
Re: HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3
Posted by John Davis on May 20, 2011 at 15:30:40.
In reply to HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3 posted by Jeff K8NDB on May 20, 2011
That's great news, Jeff. After today's rains, though, it may be almost June 1 before I can get out in my field again to listen. ;-)
John
Re: Spent the weekend with two of the men from SAQ
Posted by Douglas D. Williams KB4OER on May 21, 2011 at 09:21:44.
In reply to Spent the weekend with two of the men from SAQ posted by Paul on May 17, 2011
Thanks for sharing, Paul. We appreciate it.
Re: Spent the weekend with two of the men from SAQ
Posted by John Davis on May 21, 2011 at 09:57:32.
In reply to Re: Spent the weekend with two of the men from SAQ posted by Douglas D. Williams KB4OER on May 21, 2011
Indeed, we do appreciate it, Paul.
By the way, do you have the names of the guys who were there? I've corresponded with some of the folks at SAQ, but never met them, so I wouldn't recognize any of them by face anyway. I'm just curious who all made such a long trip.
73 Re: HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3
John
Posted by Jeff K8NDB on May 21, 2011 at 17:26:13.
In reply to Re: HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3 posted by John Davis on May 20, 2011
John,
I appreciate your effort to listen for the NDB signal. I will leave NDB in QRSS-3 mode until further notice in hopes that you and others can copy the QRSS-3 "AZ" transmissions. I am currently in North Carolina and was hoping to capture the NDB QRSS-3 transmissions and other HiFer signals while visiting here. Please remember that NDB transmitts "NDB" at 10WPM CW and "AZ" in QRSS-3 mode. Thank you for your signal reports. 73, Jeff K8NDB
HiFers Heard -- 27 May, 2011
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 27, 2011 at 09:04:04.
HiFers heard, between about 0230 and 0330 UT, 27 May, 2011. GNK on ~13564KHz, with signals in the 3/4-3/4-9 range. Also heard AJO on ~13557.5, with good signals in the 449 range. Highest up was K6FRC, ~13565KHz, with weaker signals around 2/3-3-9--QSB was significant. All of these were heard after a frontal passage, with heavy rain, lightning, and some nearby tornadoes. Must have stirred up the ionosphere. EdWSlidell,LA EM50cg
Re: HiFers Heard -- 27 May, 2011
Posted by John Davis on May 27, 2011 at 11:03:11.
In reply to HiFers Heard -- 27 May, 2011 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 27, 2011
>>> Must have stirred up the ionosphere.
That may well be the case. Tall thunderstorms do interact with the ionosphere and transfer fair amounts of charge to it. It would be interesting to study the possible effects at HF, although I suspect they are short-lived and would probably be swamped by solar flux on a good day. Of course, we HAVEN'T been having good days for solar flux in a while! So, maybe this storm season during a quiet sun is an opportunity in disguise.
Sometimes it's a pretty good disguise, however. I wanted to be out in the field myself, listening on 22 m at mid-day, but sudden thunderstorms with plenty of lightning have put an end to that for now.
John
HiFer NDB copied. No others
Posted by Paul on May 28, 2011 at 10:54:10.
Scanning the 22m band, have a good copy on NDB today. Maybe RST 519 or so. The QRSS is easy to pass by when it isn't transmitting, so just parked on Jeff's freq. until I heard it.
Scanning the band, no others heard except mine 70 miles away. The 'dasher' and 'ditter' seem to have disappeared. Have not copied either of them in weeks. Prior to that, they were in almost every day.
73,
Paul HiFer's--28/29 May, 2011
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 28, 2011 at 17:45:51.
With the SWBC missing from 13570KHz, on 28 May, was able to hear NHVT around 0400UT, on 13559KHz, with signals about 449--good signals despite the usual carriers on 13560KHz. Also heard were a weak GNK on 13564, 229 or so, and a slightly stronger K6FRC, 339, on 13565KHz. All pretty late in the night for reception. Earlier today, 1500UT or so, heard a weak GNK, 229 at peaks, and no other stations copied. Currently, 29 May, after 0000 UT, was again hearing NHVT with really good signals, 449 when peaking. Only other signal being heard was K6FRC, again 339 or better when at maximum. These are about the two furthest apart sations for my location. EdWSlidell,LA EM50cg
Sheldon Remington
Posted by terry richardson on May 28, 2011 at 21:27:33.
Sheldon
We are trying to have a little Alcatraz reunion near San Francisco in August. Are you still in Hawaii? It would be fun to catch up.
Terry Richardson
Re: HiFer's--28/29 May, 2011
Posted by Paul on May 29, 2011 at 08:42:02.
In reply to HiFer's--28/29 May, 2011 posted by EdWSlidell,LA on May 28, 2011
That nuclear reactor magnetic amplifier is really helping to get that FRC signal out.
Thanks Ed!
73,
[Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on May 29, 2011 at 08:44:20.
Hifer RY is running QRSS3 on 13555.40 kHz from Raymond, Maine. Reports are welcome.
Re: [Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011 at 10:38:54.
In reply to [Hifer] RY Back On posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on May 29, 2011
Huzzah! Will give it a try this afternoon, assuming the "isolated" thunderstorms stay away. LF was filled with a continuous roar and crackle here this morning, but 22m was still relatively quiet as of an hour ago.
JD
Re: HiFer's--28/29 May, 2011
Posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011 at 10:41:35.
In reply to Re: HiFer's--28/29 May, 2011 posted by Paul on May 29, 2011
Have only heard bits and pieces of FRC here in SE Kansas this past week, but that's better than recent weeks when nobody was heard from the west at all! Keep that reactor reactin'. Re: HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3
Posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011 at 10:47:42.
In reply to Re: HiFer NDB Transmitting QRSS-3 posted by Jeff K8NDB on May 21, 2011
This morning I caught one clear A, some partial Z's, and what looks to be keying sidebands of three Morse letters, each one slightly longer than the one before. QRM was too strong for aural copy. Assuming that is indeed your carrier, Jeff, it's awfully close to right on the listed frequency, too! I'm going to try for better captures this afternoon.
John
Re: [Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011 at 17:30:16.
In reply to Re: [Hifer] RY Back On posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011
Time shown below is CDT. Good enough in SE Kansas to copy by ear at this point.
Re: [Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John, W1TAG on May 30, 2011 at 06:26:00.
In reply to Re: [Hifer] RY Back On posted by John Davis on May 29, 2011
JD,
Thanks for the report. RY is now in DFCW mode with 4 sec dashes on 13555.400, and 4 sec dots on 13555.395 kHz. The freq accuracy seems to be within 0.5 Hz -- will check it later.
John,W1TAG
Re: [Hifer] RY Back On
Posted by John Davis on June 01, 2011 at 20:08:03.
In reply to Re: [Hifer] RY Back On posted by John, W1TAG on May 30, 2011
(This post appears here, despite its date, in order to complete the thread it was in. It also appears in next month's archive.)
For anyone curious what "RY RY" looks like in DFCW:
That was late afternoon Monday (CDT). Over the next two days, I've witnessed unusually good signals from both NC and RY...both thoroughly audible at times, such as when this screen was snapped. The return of a little solar flux the past few days has certainly helped. Still struggling to find any of the western guys, though.
JD
potrzebie