UK Longwave Radio History
Posted by Mike Terry on June 01, 2004 at 07:09:15
** U K. Narrator: Quite recently, a radio friend in England made available to ``Wavescan`` a very interesting QSL card. This card verified a reception report dated April 29 in the year 2000 and it was issued by ``Portishead (I think, PORT-iss-HEAD) Radio``.
The interesting fact that was printed on this QSL card states that the station claimed to be the largest radio communication centre in the world. And so today here in Wavescan, we take a look at this interesting radio communication station.
It was back in the year 1920 that their first maritime transmitting and receiving facility was installed into an old wireless receiving station at a coastal location near Devizes in county Wiltshire on the west coast of England. This station was their first long range maritime transmitting station and the single transmitter was a 6 kW valve unit operating on longwave under the callsign GKT.
Four years later, a second longwave transmitter was installed at this same Devizes location. It was also in this same year that a receiving station was installed at Highbridge and this location became the control centre for Portishead Radio for the lengthy period of sixty years.
In the year 1926, the first shortwave transmitter was installed into the original site at Devizes and this marked an important turning point in international radio communication.
A new facility was constructed at Portishead near Bristol in 1927 and this station was officially opened on July 1, 1928. From this time onwards, regardless of the actual transmitter location, the facility was always known as ``Portishead Radio``.
Initially Portishead itself contained three longwave transmitters, though a new shortwave transmitter was installed in 1929. It was at this stage that the original facility at Devizes was closed. Subsequently, three new shortwave transmitters were installed at this location and the longwave units were withdrawn from service.
During the war years, beginning in 1939, Portishead introduced one way transmissions for shipping in the Atlantic as a security measure.
Over the years, Portishead Radio underwent many major developments that included the usage of several additional transmitting locations. In fact, one of their QSL card lists about a dozen transmitter sites that were in use for varying periods of time.
In the year 1948, the transmitter site at Portishead was closed, leaving just three active sites on the air, Leafield, Ongar & Rugby. The Rugby facility was a famous early radio station that was constructed by the Post Office and it was on the air mainly with international communication traffic. There were times though when Rugby was brought into use for the broadcast of radio programming from the BBC London.
The callsign range for Portishead Radio began with GKA, and it seems that every letter of the alphabet was in use at some time or another right down to GKZ.
The usage of Morse Code was gradually phased out over a period of time until in 1999, almost all communications were in voice mode or with electronic signalling. The final transmission from Portishead Radio, using the Post Office transmitter at Rugby, was on April 30, 2000 in Morse Code.
Even though Portishead Radio was a communication station and not a program broadcasting station, yet they were known as a reliable verifier during their more than 80 years of on air service. The AWR collection contains a nice range of Portishead QSL cards in three different styles.
The nicest card was their yellow and blue global card identifying their initial callsign, GKA. A later card was a white text card identifying the next sequential callsign GKB. Their final card was a photo folder card, also identifying the callsign GKB.
The 75th anniversary brochure issued by Portishead Radio in 1995 makes this statement: Portishead Radio is the most famous maritime station in the world. Their final QSL card in April 2000 makes this statement:
Portishead Radio was the largest radio communication station in the world.
In view of their long 80 years of service, and the fact that they were on the air from maybe even more than a dozen different transmitter locations, it would seem then that their twin claims to importance and size were indeed quite accurate (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan May 29 via DXLD)
Re: UK Longwave Radio History
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 01, 2004 at 16:24:13
Hi Mike, interesting material. There should be an "official history" of Portishead Radio somewhere, because I suspect some of the detail has got a bit mangled. In particular I have it on the authority of a former station manager that Rugby was never used for BBC broadcast transmission. It is certain that the LF and VLF facilities could not have been used for that purpose as the aerial bandwidths were much too small. Even the morse speed was restricted on GBR until it was rebuilt.
I also think it unlikely that the short wave station could be used for that purpose as circuits were programmed many days in advance and much of the shortwave aerial farm consisted of directional arrays, hardly well suited for broadcast. Though all the programme material for the BBC was carried on Post Office (as it was called before BT) cables, the BBC had a number of standby transmitter units.
One unmentioned LF transmitter site that continued operation up until quite recently was Criggion.
Cheers de Alan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com Rugby History at www.alan.melia.btinternet.co.uk/rugbyrs.htm
Re: UK Longwave Radio History
Posted by MIke Terry on June 02, 2004 at 03:49:01
Hi Alan,
Yes it an interesting subject. Can I pass your comments onto the BDXC please? I know some of them will know more about it than I do.
Cheers
Mike
Re: Australia - 6WF turns 80
Posted by Mike Terry on June 02, 2004 at 09:00:18
Early radios celebrated as 6WF turns 80 Wednesday, 2 June 2004 (see web site for pictures)
On June 4, 720 ABC Perth or 6WF turns 80. To celebrate the Fremantle History museum have set up an exhibit of the early radios that were used to receive those first broadcasts.
The Mulgaphone The Mulga phone wireless receiver was manufactured by The Westralian Farmers Limited.
It was sold mainly to farmers so they could listen in to the new radio station 6WF.
6WF commenced broadcasting on June 4, 1924, and was operated by Westralian Farmers Ltd. in order to provide information and entertainment to the rural community.
Close up To change the channel on these early radios you changed those coils of wire you can see in the photograph. (the coils are grey with diamonds on the edge) Different lengths of wire gave you the different channel.
The early Mulgaphones cost a third of what you would have paid for a car!
When 6WF changed over from long-wave to medium-wave transmission, the station broadcast on both frequencies. During that time you could listen to 6WF in stereo - all you needed was two radio sets.
Mulgaphones were manufactured from 1924 until 1929, when 6WF was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Company.
It is estimated that about 1200 Mulgaphones were manufactured during those five years.
At least ten distinct models of the Mulgaphone were offered for sale.
Mulgaphones were designed and constructed under the supervision of Wally Cozon, who in 1924 was also the technical advisor for the newly established 6WF.
The Batyphone The Batyphone was made after the Mulgaphone. It was a substantial piece of furniture. Families used to sit around it and listen to the radio much as we gather around the television today.
Unidentified transmitter on 22.3kHz again active!
Posted by Harald on June 02, 2004 at 12:59:32
On June 2nd, 2004 I could as expected again receive the signal of the unidentified transmitter on 22.3 kHz at my home town in Germany at 8E58 and 48N43.
(The signal is shown on the spectrogram, which shows it very clearly!)
This transmitter seems to be in service at the second day of each month, if this day is not a Sunday.
I conclude this of the fact, because on May 2nd, 2004 this signal was not present.
Watch out for it on July 2nd, 2004 between 10:00 o'clock UTC and 13:00 o'clock UTC!
Alexanderson day 2004
Posted by Harald on June 02, 2004 at 14:00:59
On July 4th, 2004, there is again SAQ Grimeton in the air and it will transmit again with its old machine transmitter a morse message on 17.2kHz. The transmission times are 8.30, 10.30 and 12.30 UTC.
Further informations on http://www.alexander.n.se/alexandersondagen_2004.htm.
Re: Unidentified transmitter on 22.3kHz again active!
Posted by John Andrews on June 02, 2004 at 16:13:35
Harald,
This frequency has been used by the U.S. Navy from the NWC site in Australia. I wonder if it is tested monthly from one of the other U.S. Navy sites that is closer to you. It might represent a backup transmitter or perhaps an alternate antenna tuning setup.
John Andrews
Re: Alexanderson day 2004
Posted by John Davis on June 02, 2004 at 17:18:42
Or in English:
http://www.alexander.n.se/sa6q.htm
Re: HiFER Results
Posted by Peter Knol on June 04, 2004 at 15:16:42
Hello,
Since I wrote the above message, I'm still listening to the 13.555 Mhz HiFer band. Station HI is daily very strong. His signal becomes visible at +/- 19h30 UTC until 05h00 UTC. Usualy there are also several breaks due fade outs. Best signal is between 23h30 and 01h00 UTC. I'm looking for PJB almost daily, but no trace until now. I chose PJB because he is the only HiFer with QRSS30. (others are quicker). If you like to do a US/Europe special, pse let me know. I'll tune in. Best mode is QRSS20 or 30.
73 es gd DX, Peter PA1SDB in JO33KH The Netherlands...
Re: UK Longwave Radio History
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 04, 2004 at 18:27:50
Hi Mike yes of course, this "hare" has run before and we specifically asked during a visit to the site last year. If there is definite evidence I also would be very interested to know which transmitters were used. There is often confusion between Droitwich and MSF, because of their frequency standard applications. The other BBC site at Daventry is not that far away. Also the text on my web site is taken from an official note written as a guide (I believe) for the 50 anniversary in 1976 ..... GBR started transmissions in early 1926.
Cheers de Alan G3NYK
HiFER LP copied in Holland
Posted by Larry Putmaan WB3ANQ on June 06, 2004 at 13:52:53
All,
This is an email received from Peter PA1SDB this afternoon after Stan AK0B had advised me of Peter's reception.
Peter has received both of my beacons and much to my surprise the NVIS dipole @ 7' off the ground was as strong as the vertical!
I guess the NVIS theory doesn't apply at 13 Mhz? We had over 5" of rain yesterday and my back yard was pretty well soaked but I don't know if that had anything to do with the reception. Does anyone know if conditions were unuaslly good on June 5th??
I have done as Peter requested and made a map showing his location on my webpage ;-)
73
Larry WB3ANQ FM19rc www.wb3anq.com
------------------------------
Hello Larry,
I think I have good news and bad news.
Starting with the bad news: Sorry, but you have to enlarge your map showing locations of stations that have copied HiFer LP :-)
The good news is (I'hope) that I did copy your SawTooth signal last night on 13554980 Hz.
I'm looking already for several weeks for HiFers, but besides station HI no luck. I can hear HI daily, but someone told me that he works perhaps with more power than is allowed in the Part 15 regulations.
I was only monitorring for PBJ and NC until now. Yesterday I tuned in to your signal. After checking the screen shot logs this morning the SawTooth became loud and clear visible...
Just below the SawTooth there is also the QRSS3 LP Hifer I think, but it is not easy to see where a dot starts or ends. The time in the screenshots is 1 hour wrong. 23:22:39 is 22:22:39 UTC.
Your signal was several times visible over the night. Below 2 screenshots with the best traces. As you can see, I was listening with ARGO. My antenna is a simple Wire Dipole tuned for 13.555 MHz at 5 meter (15 feet?) from the ground. The receiver is a ALINCO DX70.
My QTH is Appingedam in locator square JO33KH in the northern part of the Netherlands. The distance is 6228 km or 3870 mi. I think that is a new record for your HiFer station to ?
Tonight I'll monitor your signal again to see If your station can be heard daily here in Holland.
73, Peter PA1SDB www.qsl.net/pa1sdb
www.vlf.it update
Posted by Renato Romero on June 08, 2004 at 17:10:59
A new article:
FLOATING SOLAR RECEIVER A VLF receiver, floating by ground and maintained by solar energy is on line.
73, ik1qfk renato
Re: HiFER LP copied in Holland & Belguim
Posted by Larry Putman WB3ANQ on June 08, 2004 at 18:21:22
Peter Knol PA1SDB Appingedam, NETHERLANDS has reported copy of my beacon the last three evenings June 6, 7, 8th
Also received a report & capture on June 6th from Staf RANS ON6RR HOFSTADE, BELGIUM JO20f 3832 miles.
Thanks to Peter & Staf for listening for my beacon!
73
Larry WB3ANQ FM19rc
www.wb3anq.com
getting started
Posted by Harold L. Deitz on June 09, 2004 at 14:54:50
Would someone please give me a call about the signals I am seeing on a spectrum analyzer. I am using a 2000 ft square loop for an antenna. One signal seems to have a call of SSHH on 178 Khz. My phone number is 405-258-4090. I don't get to check this email account very often as I have to go to a public library to access it.
Thanks, Hal
Vertical streaks near 185.3 kHz on W3EEE 'Grabulator'
Posted by Robert Homuth on June 10, 2004 at 08:19:57
Since it is set for 30 seconds per dit, wonder if it's picking up a standard speed CW LOWFER? Excellent site!
73 Robert
Below 150kHz
Posted by Jacques d'Avignon on June 10, 2004 at 08:41:45
I am looking for the site where I can get a two or three pages list of the various transmissions below 150kHz, I found this list last year and promptly lost the site where it came from!
Thank you.
Re: Below 150kHz
Posted by John Andrews on June 10, 2004 at 11:14:12
Jaques,
Some possibilities:
http://beaconworld.org.uk/files/lfguide.pdf
http://www.aavso.org/observing/programs/solar/radio.pdf
John A.
Re: Below 150kHz
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 10, 2004 at 11:15:56
Hi Jaques, I think I have a copy of that list in my archive....but you guessed.... no URL. If it is of any use in a "google" the file I have is almost certainly of European origin and is named Below150.pdf .....that might help you to find the site again.
Regards Alan G3NYK
Re: Below 150kHz
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 10, 2004 at 11:22:39
Ah the one I have is the second alternative on John's letter. He must have been posting it while I was typing, and it looks as though I renamed it for saving.
Cheers de ALan G3NYK
Re: Below 150kHz
Posted by Jacques d'Avignon on June 10, 2004 at 12:05:33
John, the second alternative is the one I am looking for, but my copy is dated 2003 and the one that comes up on the site is dated 2001. The first URL is a different one but cannot be saved.
Jacques
Re: Below 150kHz
Posted by John Andrews on June 10, 2004 at 13:27:24
Jacques,
According to an article on the AAVSO site, the author of the 2001 document is Klaus Betke. His email address is:
>Klaus.betke@epost.de<
He does have a web site, but that document is not on it. Perhaps if you contact him directly, he can supply the later version.
John Andrews
SAQ Detection from Buffalo, NY
Posted by Mike Burns on June 11, 2004 at 10:22:01
I'm going to try to get SAQ again this year from Buffalo,NY. My loop is 20 turns by 4ft square resonated with a .068 uf cap. I go right into the sound card mic input and process with Home Brew fft software.
Questions ???
1) do I need and external amp? I'm close to the computer and get good gain from the mic input but not shure if it's enough.
2) do I need a 60 hz filter? The loop can be oriented to kill a lot of the 60 Hz but I fear the sidelobes will kill the 17.2 khz signal.
Any help out there ????
Thanks
Mike Burns
South Pacific LF listening
Posted by Laurence KL1X/5 on June 11, 2004 at 16:28:59
I will be on Fiji June 22-July 9th with a LF/HF (FRG100/IC706 + WB Dipole/K9AY) set up - If anyone wants me to listen foe something on LF, above 50Khz or wants a LF X band QSO Email me - we are planning some ZL/3d2 X band 137Khz/7Mhz attempts over the weekend 26/27th. Updates on my web site as I have them.
http://myweb.cableone.net/flow Regards Laurence 3D2KL/WD2XDW/KL1X
Re: SAQ Detection from Buffalo, NY
Posted by John Davis on June 11, 2004 at 18:20:22
Mike,
Before anyone could advise you with any certainty, it would be helpful to know what sort of results you achieve with the loop in its present form. Do you see lots of sferic activity centered around 17.2kHz? How about some of the military signals in the 16-19kHz range?
Also, how are you coupling into the mic input now? Do you use a transformer to keep the loop balanced with respect to ground?
John D
HiFer LP & NC heard in The Netherlands
Posted by Peter Knol, PA1SDB on June 13, 2004 at 07:41:37
Hello,
Last night (June 12/13 2004) HiFers LP and NC where loud and clear visible here in the Netherlands. QTH Locator square is JO33KH.
I have published some screenshot on http://www.qsl.net/pa1sdb/qrsslog
LP his frequency is like published on this LWCA site.
NC was on 13.555,420 MHz last night.
Antenna is a wire dipole tuned for 13.555 MHz and the RX is a ALINCO DX70 + ARGO.
73, Peter, PA1SDB
Re: Reception advice for a LW novice please!
Posted by Paul on June 17, 2004 at 17:40:25
Depending upon your receiver, if a tabletop model is used then a Wellbrook Indoor Loop Antenna will solve your problem of noise and static.
The loop has directional properties on long/medium wave and can be turned to 'null' out annoying tv timebase interference and other electrical noise.
My receiver is an Icom R75, however the 252 signal is loud and clear at my location.
It may help to invest in a tabletop receiver as I did and connect it to a loop antenna.
Your enjoyment of long wave/medium wave and shortwave would almost certainly be enhanced.
Musicmann update
Posted by Mike Terry on June 18, 2004 at 07:23:35
NEW RADIO STATION AIMS TO FLOAT
A group planning to launch a new UK-wide commercial radio station for women shoppers wants to raise £13m ahead of a listing in London.
Isle of Man Broadcasting has won a licence from the Manx government to operate across Britain and Ireland on a long wave frequency.
It will be issuing 18.6 million shares at 70 pence each ahead of a flotation on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) next year, with an estimated capitalisation of between £50m and £100m.
It says it has lined up 60s crooner Gene Pitney and Rick Wakeman of 70s rock band Yes as DJs.
There are currently only three commercial stations licensed to braodcast nationally in Britain - Classic FM, Virgin radio and TalkSport.
The latter two are on the AM broacasting band, which has inferior quality to FM.
Because Isle of Man Broadcasting will also be on AM, some observers think it will face an uphill struggle.
One analyst said: "They will have their work cut out for them."
"Listeners now are much more discerning about quality - they don't want crackle and hiss when there is such a range of FM quality and digital stations."
It says it will offer a mix of easy listening music, news and talk, going head-to-head with the BBC's Radio 2.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30400-1139868,00.html
3d2kl LF operational
Posted by Laurence on June 19, 2004 at 03:11:18
3D2KL is operational RX from Pacific Harbour. Fiji RH19AS (confirmed GPS) _ noiz levels are good, in fact very good and the S meter isnt moving much with QRN. Hotmail account is proving dodgy! - thanks laurence KL1X/5 Listening DCf39/xes xfx regions for the first night.
Palomar amplifier/loop system
Posted by Tom Root on June 19, 2004 at 16:10:34
Does anyone have experience with this system....especially as pertains to VLF and LF?
LP HIFER captured in Norway
Posted by Steinar Aanesland on June 21, 2004 at 12:50:50
Hi all
I think I captured LP HIFER Beacon here in south east Norway :). I have been looking for LP for a while with out any luck, sow I decided to clean and solder the contact point on my dipole antenna to see if this would give me any result. And this morning my work gave me a payment . When I look at the spectran that have monitored 13.5549.80 MHz the hole night I sow a nice and clear Sawtooth on the screen.
Take a lock at my web side www.aanesland.com and you will see the results.
Best regards from LA5VNA Steinar Aanesland Oslo, Norway Loc: JO59JQ
Re: HIFER 'ARO'
Posted by tom norris on June 21, 2004 at 15:43:06
Yes, that was me. Soon to be up full time. I hope soon anyway. Perhaps eventually at least.
Tom
Hifer VD, GA and GG in Norway to night.
Posted by Steinar Aanesland on June 22, 2004 at 13:13:49
Hi all,
VD, GA and GG was captured in south-east Norway to night.
VD was on 13.555.400 MHz. GA and GG was almost on the same frequency; 13.555.332/333 MHz
http://home.online.no/~sbro-aa/22_06_04/
Steinar LA5VNA www.aanesland.com Oslo, Norway Loc: JO59JQ
2200m Authorization granted
Posted by Scott Tilley, VE7TIL on June 22, 2004 at 18:27:24
I just received authorization from Industry Canada to conduct tests on the 2200m band. Therefore, LowFER TIL will be going QRT to make way for tests on this band. I expect to be on the air within a week using my callsign VE7TIL within the confines of the proposed amateur allocation between 135.7-137.8KHz.
Please see http://www.scottboxx.com/radio for updates and operational details as they occur.
Initial plans call for tests to be run from around 100-300watts into a small flat top antenna. There will be phases of cont. low power transmission to conduct short range ground wave tests and spurts of very high power to test a 1Kw amp we are designing.
The west coast of Canada will soon have two active LF stations on the band!
Regards,
Scott, VE7TIL
Fwd: ZL6QH & ZM2E Sat 26 June
Posted by John Davis on June 22, 2004 at 18:55:56
Subj: LF: ZL6QH & ZM2E Sat 26 June Date: 6/22/04 6:56:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: vernall@xtra.co.nz (Vernall)
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Hi all,
The Quartz Hill ZL6QH club station will be activated on LF this coming Saturday night. The usual 137.7890/137.7886 kHz DFCW120 QQQQQ... beacon will run from before ZL sunset till after ZL sunrise, except for times selected for:
1) attempting an LF/HF crossband QSO with 3D2KL, starting with DFCW60 (we will adapt to conditions at the time)
2) attempting an LF SSB QSO with AX2TAR in VK7
The special call sign ZM2E will be used for the attempted QSOs. We have yet to finalise sked times for two-way contacts and further information will be posted to the reflector nearer to the Saturday night.
For those not accustomed to seasons downunder, it is midwinter here.
73, Bob ZL2CA
ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by E. Gelinas (Sunnyvale, Ca) on June 22, 2004 at 23:04:19
Just completed a MAJOR antenna ground system upgrade and far-field intensity markedly improved as a result. Perhaps someone 'out there' can copy at least the carrier. If you do hear an UNID @ 164.900 Khz(+/- 3 Hz), please let me know. If I can get any reports, I may switch to a C-W format for "after-hours'operation beginning around October.
Thanks, Ed G. "The Oldies Twins"
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Eric KD5UWL on June 22, 2004 at 23:06:35
Hi, Ed,
I've enjoyed reading about your station both on the web and in The Lowdown.
Can you describe in more detail what you did with your ground system?
Thank you in advance!
Eric
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Ed Gelinas on June 23, 2004 at 22:24:49
Hi Eric,
I'm working on an article for an upcoming LOWDOWN on the system, but briefly, it goes like this; at the far end of EACH radial is a 4 or 8 ft ground rod (most are 8') with a series capacitor between the radial end and the ground rod. This capacitor is VERY important as it cancels out the XL of the buried radial and really maximizes the available current in said radial.Here, on a 45' radial(the longest) it requires a 0.047uF value. On the 20 footers,(the shortest) it runs about 0.15 uF. The bad news is I have 134 radials!! Lots of expense and lots of exercise.(I LOVE to experiment) Hope this info helps you. 73, Ed G.
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Eric KD5UWL on June 23, 2004 at 22:53:08
Hi, Ed,
WOW -- very amazing. To drive an 8' x 5/8" ground rod here in NE Oklahoma with a fence post driver takes me about 15-20 for-real wallclock minutes of hard labor, and it probably disturbs neighbors in an appreciable radius. I can deliver a very significant amount of force with each strike, too, but our soil is mostly clay and it's quite a job.
I cannot *imagine* 134!
Good work -- I'll be looking for your Lowdown article. If you have room, perhaps you could describe the soil/ground conditions out there. I'm not real familiar with the area and I'm sure there are at least a few others who are not either.
Thanks for the reply -- will watch for your article!
73 Eric
Re: Receiver opinions/comparisons
Posted by Douglas Williams KB4OER on June 24, 2004 at 15:54:38
As the owner of a 7030 since 1991, I'll have to agree with Alan. It is a wonderful receiver with craptacular ergonomics. It is quite "hot" on the LF bands, compared to many shortwave receivers and ham transceivers, having good sensitivity down to 20khz.
Re: Receiver opinions/comparisons
Posted by Douglas Williams KB4OER on June 24, 2004 at 16:05:17
Er, I meant to type "as an owner of a 7030 since 2001".
IOMBC
Posted by Mike Terry on June 24, 2004 at 19:56:59
I have now received a copy of the glossy 40 page offer document and fascinating reading it is too.
The company is setting out to raise funds of some £13m "to finance the establishment and early development of the Station and to provide working capital".
It is anticipated that the station will commence broadcasting in 2005 with a
10 year licence.
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Ed Gelinas on June 24, 2004 at 23:35:42
Hi Eric,
Perhaps I exaggerated-I have 134 buried radials, but 'only' about 80 rods, still a major undertaking. After some fertilizing, I managed to get the soil conductivity up to between 60-80 mS/M, testing it using a 4-point probe setup and 60 Hz. I also have a 3/4" pipe down 23 ft at the base of the antenna(AC & DC gnd, worthless at RF). The soil is adobe/clay mix with a sand layer down at about 10-12 ft, more clay, and finally coarse gravel.
I'm on a city lot 78' x 95' which makes the going rough for a decent ground system. I have to concentrate as much return current per sq ft as possible to make this thing work.
Try using a 1/2" rod next time. They 'drive' a lot easier and you only lose about 2% current in the process, compared with the larger one. Also they're less expensive. Good luck & 73, Ed G.
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 25, 2004 at 19:38:24
Hi Ed, I have posted your short description of your work on the RSGB LF reflector, for comment. I have done this as I cannot make sense of what you describe, in terms of my own aerial system measurements at 136kHz. It could be that I misunderstand from the short description. I would like to discuss this further and the measurements that you have made, but perhaps you would wish we wait until you have written it up fully?
If you system really does reduce the 136kHz ground-loss it could be a god-send to all those with small plots. At the moment the only viable way of reducing the ground loss is by using extensive capacitive top-wire loading (requiring a quantity of what you call "real estate")....most of us have found short radials and ground pins ineffective after the first couple or so.
You may have stirred up a lot of interest!!
Regards Alan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Ed Gelinas on June 25, 2004 at 22:49:42
Hi Alan,
Briefly, it's a conventional buried radial system where the far end of the radial is connected to an 8 ft ground rod thru a series capacitor. A short radial exhibits an Xc property, but when the far end is connected to a 'load', in this case, it's a rod, the radial becomes inductive. Without the capacitor, the current increase is so slight, in most cases, that's it's not worth even bothering with the ground rod. With all the 'right stuff' connected, I found as much as a 20X current increase at the far end of the radial, compared with it's just being left open.
Here's the 'rub'- this current increase MAY NOT be reflected back to the antenna as an actual lowering of ground RESISTANCE, but as far as the field leaving the antenna is concerned, it represents a substantial decrease in ground LOSS. In doing polar plots at 5 mi, I found the signal had been increased between 4.5-6.0 db, even though the antenna current had only gone up about 1.0mA!! My main loading coil is located near the top of the antenna, so the bottom 20' is all current. Antenna current is 91mA, antenna impedance is 77 ohms. I wonder if these are 'typical' values and what's typical on 136 Khz. Also, my top hat is a 6-wire affair, 50 ft total diameter, the antenna being 25 ft tall. Hope this helps you, tnx and 73-Ed G.
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Alan G3NYK on June 26, 2004 at 07:40:14
Hi Ed, yes thanks for that. Jim Moritz has contributed some ideas to the RSGB reflector based on his experiments which support you findings. If you let me have your e-mail address I will forward these direct to you to save duplication. Like all ground systems there are differing results in differing locations due to the nature of the ground. The professionals dont need to struggle with such short aerials so little has been published, and most that dates from the 1920s, and refers to VLF systems. This means there are still "wrinkles" to be discoved, or rediscovered, in this area.
Well done Cheers de Alan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com
FWD: ZM2E and ZL6QH operations
Posted by John Davis on June 26, 2004 at 21:48:31
Subj: LF: ZM2E and ZL6QH operations Date: 6/26/04 7:36:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time From: vernall@xtra.co.nz (Vernall)
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Hi all,
The ZM2E beacon transmission from Quartz Hill went well from our point of view, but it seems LF DX propagation was probably thinner than normal.
As Laurence 3D2KL has already reported, we had a successful crossband 137k/7M contact with him, including 15 wpm CW, even though it was fairly early in the evening. As Laurence reported good LF signal strength from the DFCW120 beacon, we started the QSO with DFCW10, so any DX listeners in North America with 120 second dot length setting would have been rather compromised. The QSO took place between 0550 and 0710z.
We were unsuccessful with trying to have an SSB contact with AX2TAR (in VK7). We tried from 0900 to 1000z, so there was no beacon during that hour.
The DFCW beacon ran for three sessions:
- from before ZL sunset till 0550z,
- then from 0710 till 0900z,
- then from 1000z till after ZL sunrise around 2000z.
The next booking for LF tests is the September equinox.
73, Bob ZL2CA
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Ed Gelinas on June 26, 2004 at 22:53:37
Hi Alan,
Would definitely appreciate that info. At these freqs, what's under the ground is more important than what sits on top of it anyway!
My e-mail is klfblw@comcast.net
Thanks & 73, Ed G.
Re: 2200m Authorization granted
Posted by laurence 3d2kl on June 27, 2004 at 04:11:50
congrats Scott - I know a lot of background work has taken place.
3D2KL HiFER Captures
Posted by Webmaster on June 27, 2004 at 14:39:16
Laurence has sent some ARGO captures of HiFERs NC and VD as received in Fiji. Check them out (approx 50KB each) at:
hifer26jun04.jpg
hifer27jun04.jpg
John
Re: 2200m Authorization granted
Posted by Scott Tilley, VE7TIL on June 28, 2004 at 20:02:52
Thanks Laurence!
Re: IOMBC
Posted by Mike Terry on June 29, 2004 at 03:02:11
By William Hall June 29 2004
The Isle of Man, a rain-swept island in the Irish Sea with about 70,000 inhabitants, has long envied Luxembourg, stuck in the middle of Europe.
While both compete in tourism and as offshore financial centres, Luxembourg has had one big advantage - Radio Luxembourg.
Founded in 1933, it grew to be Europe's most successful commercial radio station in the 1950s by broadcasting night-time pop music to a predominantly young English-speaking audience. It was overtaken by "pirate" offshore commercial radio stations serving the UK, such as Radio Caroline, but it did more than anything to raise Luxembourg's international profile to a whole generation of British "babyboomers".
The Isle of Man has been trying for more than 40 years to get its own international radio station. Manx Radio, founded in 1964, was the UK's first commercial radio station. But it serves a local audience, and the UK government repeatedly blocked attempts to establish a powerful international commercial radio station on the Isle of Man because it would be unfair competition for the country's three national commercial radio stations -
Classic FM, Virgin and Talksport.
However, a challenge in the European courts in the early 1990s changed the ground rules and the Isle of Man government awarded a 10-year licence to Isle of Man International Broadcasting in 1999 for a new commercial,
long-wave radio station serving the UK and Republic of Ireland. After several planning objections, which resulted in the transmitter having to be moved a few miles offshore, the project finally got the go-ahead earlier this year.
Last week, IMIB announced plans to raise £13m for what will be the country's fourth national commercial radio station. It will have a staff of 40 and a new type of "crossed-field antenna" that is a fraction of the size of the
1,000ft masts normally needed for a similarly powerful long-wave radio transmitter.
IMIB's target audience will be adults aged 25 to 55 with a heavy emphasis on women who have a reasonably high level of disposable income. It has recruited 1960s and 1970s pop stars, such as Gene Pitney and Rick Wakeman,
to host shows that will compete with Radio 2, the most popular of the BBC's radio channels.
Paul Rusling, a former Radio Caroline disc jockey and IMIB's chief executive, says the new station will need an audience of 2.5m to break even and is hoping eventually to reach 4m.
By contrast, the latest Rajar ratings show that Radio 2 has a 12.9m audience, Classic FM 6.5m, Virgin 2.5m, and Talksport 2.1m.
Richard Corkhill, the Isle of Man's chief minister who remembers when Radio Caroline was moored a few miles offshore from his home, is a big fan of the island's new radio station, which has been on the drawing board for 10 years.
"A lot of people thought Luxembourg was a radio station. We do not want people to think our island is just a radio station," says Mr Corkhill. But he is confident it will raise the international profile of an island with a triple A credit rating that will shortly scrap corporation tax to boost an increasingly diversified economy set to grow at 5.5 per cent a year.
"We are a self-governing crown dependency, and we are keen to make sure that we are not forgotten," says Mr Corkhill.
Mr Rusling promises to do his best. While the new station will not be broadcasting a regular diet of Isle of Man news, local announcers will be encouraged to mention the island's good points, including the weather,
unless, of course, it is pouring with rain and the island is shrouded in its usual Irish sea mist.
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373334125
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Bill Ashlock on June 29, 2004 at 18:56:04
Hi Ed,
I'm very interested in your ground radial experiments. Have some questions:
1. Why are you running only .637 watts into the antenna? (.091)^2 * 77 = .637. Would think you would want a full 1w if you are trying to attract listeners.
2. Are there any tree branches within 50ft of the top hat?
3. What type of soil do you have?
I'm in no way trying to put your efforts down but 77 ohms of system resistance is not really that good compaired to some of US Lowfer masters. Bill Cantrell, TEXAS, was running under 20 ohms and Bill Bowers, OK, a similar value. These guys DID have the advantage of an open field to work out of. If you have tall trees surrounding the antenna they will increase the system resistance considerably. The best I could do back in my 'vertical period' during the summer months was 100 ohms, so you are doing better than I could. If I look up from the back yard there is only a 40ft diam hole in the tree cover to place a top hat!
Best of luck with your experimentation!
Bill A
Re: ant ground upgrade @ lowfer 'KLFB'
Posted by Ed Gelinas on June 29, 2004 at 22:27:35
Hi Bill,
Yeah, 77 ohms is not good, but neither is this location. Yes, in spite of tree trimming, I DEFINITELY have tree branches within more like 20 ft of the top hat and that HAS to be a major prob. If I had acres to play in, this DEFINITELY wouldn't be a concern!
The xmtr is running 1.0 W INPUT(as per the rules) and considering the efficiency of tubes at lower plate/screen voltages, 60+% efficiency isn't bad. Also, to get a decent modulated envelope OFF THE ANTENNA, solid-state devices are 'out',hence the 600+ mW power output level.
The lw station is now more 'experimental' as most of the audience has gone to the SW outlet on 13560Khz. Coverage there is much more consistent and SW radios are more common.
73, Ed G.
www.lwca.org
potrzebie