File Attachment 1: 30may2.jpg
File Attachment 2: 30may3.jpg
File Attachment 3: 30may1.jpg
WM Lowfer QRT
WM Lowfer sustained a fair amount of wind damage to the Helix Can after yesterdays thunderstorms. It is going to take some re-work to get it wind and waterproof again. I will get it repaired before the 2018/19 Lowfer season, but while things are apart I might work in some 2200m and 600m testing.
Thanks to all who listen and report on 1750m activity.
73 Mike
Alexanderson Alternator Article
Posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018 at 16:33:06.
The Wikipedia entry about Alexanderson alternators has been greatly improved since the last time I saw it, with the most recent update being just three days ago. It also contains links to related topics as well, including some specific stations which used the machines, and all the links presently seem to be current (a remarkable feat by itself in Wikipedia articles). I ran across this while looking for information on the next SAQ transmission in about a month. Fans of this classic radio technology can read the improved article here.
Re: Alexanderson Alternator Article
Posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018 at 18:15:58.
In reply to Alexanderson Alternator Article posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018
"and all the links presently seem to be current"
Oops, too much enthusiasm on my part. Let's make that "many of the links seem to be current"...which is still better than most Wikipedia articles.
2200 m
Posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018 at 18:29:22.
I was too busy Thursday and it got too hot on Friday for me to follow up on the week's earlier daytime copy of WSPR on 2200 meters, but with 22 m fairly dead at midday and WM now QRT on 1750 m, I've resumed monitoring XXP and XND today. The t-storms in eastern Oklahoma are close enough to produce very strong static peaks, but they are not severe so the density of the noise is lower than it was Tuesday and Wednesday. If anyone else can join in this afternoon, I'll look for them too!
The first decodes of the day:
1736 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1736 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1740 -17 -0.7 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1740 -13 -0.7 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
WAS Heard in Ohio
I was recently surprised to receive, by mail, a QSL/SWL report from Adam, KE8DNU, in Toledo, Ohio. He reported sigs were "decent" at RST 349. This is the first non-LWCA type report I have received. So far WAS has been heard in KS & MD (numerous rpts from John and Chris) and now Ohio. Ya never know where these pip-squeaks will be heard....ahhhh, and there lies the fun. Re: WAS Heard in Ohio
73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018 at 21:27:33.
In reply to WAS Heard in Ohio posted by Bill K4JYS on June 02, 2018
Congratulations, Bill!
FWIW, your streak continues here in Kansas with reception nearly every day that I get to listen...some days better than others, as is to be expected, but visible much of the time, and usually audible at some point if I listen a while. Copied here most recently during the noon hour today.
John
Re: 2200 m
Posted by John Davis on June 03, 2018 at 00:50:23.
In reply to 2200 m posted by John Davis on June 02, 2018
Apparently, the Oklahoma storms earlier today turned severe when they moved into Arkansas and Missouri late this afternoon, as static levels rose significantly by 5 PM CDT. Noise at 1 PM was S1 to S9+20, with a median value around S3.5. By 5:00, the noise level ranged from S5 to +20, with a median value of S7.5 or S8, with the result that XXP no longer decoded and XND was nearing the limit, and the PLC at 137.600 was obscured. By 5:30, and there was no trace of WSPR any more, and the noise was consistently above S9.
I will try again tonight if it looks like the storms may give us a break overnight, as Wayde K3MF will also be on.
1744 -18 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1744 -14 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1748 -19 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1748 -15 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1752 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1752 -14 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1756 -18 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1756 -13 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1800 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1800 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1804 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1804 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1808 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1808 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1812 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1812 -14 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1816 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1816 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1820 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1820 -15 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1824 -18 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1824 -16 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1828 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1828 -16 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1832 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1832 -15 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1836 -19 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1836 -16 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1840 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1840 -16 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1844 -19 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1844 -15 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1848 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1848 -16 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1852 -20 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1852 -16 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1856 -21 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1856 -18 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1900 -21 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1900 -17 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1904 -22 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1904 -18 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1908 -22 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1908 -18 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1912 -24 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1912 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1916 -24 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1916 -20 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1920 -24 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1920 -20 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1924 -24 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1924 -20 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1928 -25 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1928 -20 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1932 -26 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1932 -21 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1936 -26 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1936 -22 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1940 -26 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1940 -21 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1944 -27 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1944 -22 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1948 -25 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1948 -21 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1952 -26 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1952 -21 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 1956 -23 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 1956 -20 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2000 -23 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2000 -19 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2004 -23 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2004 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2008 -24 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2008 -18 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2012 -22 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2012 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2016 -22 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2016 -17 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2020 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2020 -18 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2024 -23 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2024 -18 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2028 -22 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2028 -18 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2032 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2032 -20 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2036 -25 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2036 -20 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2040 -24 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2040 -20 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2044 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2044 -19 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2048 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2048 -19 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2052 -22 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2052 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2056 -22 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2056 -18 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2100 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2100 -19 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2104 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2104 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2108 -22 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2108 -19 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2112 -23 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2112 -20 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2116 -23 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2116 -19 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2120 -24 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2120 -20 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2124 -26 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2124 -22 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2128 -26 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2128 -22 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2132 -28 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2132 -24 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2136 -24 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2140 -25 -1.2 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2144 -26 -1.2 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2152 -25 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2156 -25 -1.2 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2200 -26 -1.2 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2204 -29 -1.1 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2204 -25 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43 2208 -29 -1.3 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 2208 -24 -1.1 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
Re: WSPR-2 on 136.000 kHz. dial
Here is the last hour of 2200M WSPR-2 reception at VE3EAR:
1020 -29 -1.0 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1024 -28 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1024 -25 -0.9 0.137528 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1028 -30 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1032 -24 -0.8 0.137528 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1036 -29 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1036 -26 -0.9 0.137528 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1040 -29 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1040 -26 -0.9 0.137528 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1040 -26 -1.1 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1050 -26 -1.2 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1058 -28 -1.3 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1106 -25 -1.1 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1114 -24 -1.1 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
1122 -24 -1.2 0.137581 0 K3MF FM19 30
73, J.B., VE3EAR 2nd June Hifers
Posted by Ed Holland on June 03, 2018 at 15:44:43.
Hi Folks,
I found time to switch on and listen for a while yesterday evening local time (Around 030 UTC) and was rewarded with quite good conditions. Observations were aided by Spectrum Lab.
In the higher portion of the band, EPA provided a strong trace, along with a hint of BUH (or perhaps BUZ) Both are new to the log here. A trace corresponded to RF, another to KC7MMI, and GNK appeared for a while.
Lower down, I Caught PBJ, TON and a hint of trace from a possible PLM.
Below this, EH was plainly audible, and an easy trace to read. Neighbor SIW was visible below, and USC above.
Quite the best conditions we have had here for some time.
Ed
HiFERs Wed. May 30
Posted by John Davis on June 03, 2018 at 17:08:24.
This is a placeholder message to keep this week's overdue reports in chronological order. I will replace it Sunday night or Monday with an actual post.
If you see this same message when you return here later, use F5 or otherwise Refresh your browser to make sure you aren't just pulling the old post from cache memory. Thanks.
John
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File Attachment 1: 30may2.jpg
File Attachment 2: 30may3.jpg
File Attachment 3: 30may1.jpg
HiFERs Sat. June 2
Saturday's session started at local noon with weak copy of EH at the watering hole. Despite moderate Codar and significant QRM, WV was visible a little over half the time and audible nearly half the time. It's one of the signals that has a sideband component 5 Hz above and below the carrier during the regular CW segment. (So does WAS, which may have something to do with them being a little easier copy than some others in the presence of Codar.)
PBJ was only partial copy at best; no TON or VAN or PCO at all. Both GNK and BUV were present (see attachment "2jun1.jpg"), with BUV ranging up to 5 S-units stronger than anyone else on the band. K6FRC was visible and partially audible (one to three characters at a time). I also saw what was probably WAS, but it was too faint to be sure at that time.
With the band somnolent, I tuned down to 2200 m for most of the afternoon. I returned to the 22 m watering hole after 5 PM CDT, and EH was barely visible under Codar. PBJ was good at 5:18, but then faded by 5:20. By 5:30, EH was clearer and USC was showing up faintly. At 5:40, EH was quite strong, with a wide trace...and was producing a slow (0.75 to 1.5 Hz) and very distinct beat note with itself!
Taking this to be a sign of anomalous propagation, I tuned around and say (and faintly heard) WAS; then saw and sometimes heard FRC; then saw the dashes of VAN. No PCO, alas. Then I went back to the watering hole.
Codar dwindle a bit, eventually. From 6:05 to 6:08 PM, EH was surpringly stable in frequency and was producing its own slow beat note again. On Argo QRSS30, the trace of the lower EH frequency resolved into two noisy lines about 0.8-0.9 Hz apart (see attachment "2jun2.jpg"). Unfortunately, EH resumed jumping around over the next half hour, but the fatness of the trace remained obvious and the dual paths continued to be evident.
By 6:26, BUV was very powerful, and WAS was distinctly audible over half the time. I then returned to 2200 m in a futile effort to copy anything through increased QRN.
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File Attachment 1: 2june1.jpg
File Attachment 3: 2june2.jpg
Sunday opening to IL -- NDB2 !
A remarkable short-skip opening was underway when I got to the field at 11 AM CDT. USC and EH were present at the watering hole, SIW slant and WSPR were strong, WM was fair to good, and MTI was putting in an appearance at the top of most minutes. Got some good WSPR decodes, which unfortunately will have to wait for a later report because I forgot to take my memory stick to the farm.
I started tuning around between WSPR slots. The first time, I settled on WV's spot, and pretty soon saw and heard it. Next time around, I went down to 13,554.1 to look for AZ. No luck with that one, but instead I was hearing a nicely keyed signal at a lower frequency, strong at times, but chopped up a bit by QSB. Turned out to be NDB2--first time ever here!
Only GNK was heard in the top half of the band this morning...only moderately strong, but not bothered by much QSB today. There was keyed carrier visible where WAS and FRC should be, but they were not audible at the time. Too many carriers hovering around PCO's spot to see or hear anything definite there, despite the improved short hop conditions. (Or maybe because of those conditions--in propagation, what's good for wanted signals is also good for QRM.) Will continue checking.
John
Re: Sunday opening to IL -- NDB2 !
Posted by John Davis on June 04, 2018 at 00:05:13.
In reply to Sunday opening to IL -- NDB2 ! posted by John Davis on June 03, 2018
The SIW WSPR decodes continued uninterrupted through the time slot following local solar noon (1:16 PM CDT), then abruptly stopped. Meanwhile, SIW slant began fading over the following 35 minutes, finally disappearing for a while. WM faded out over the same time span. As you can see in the file attachment, SIW made a brief reappearance during the 3 o'clock hour for an "S" and "I," then vanished again. There was lots of random multipath earlier, but the reappearance was a skinny single-path trace. More reception report after the WSPR decodes:
1600 -22 -1.4 13.555404 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1604 -18 -0.9 13.555404 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1608 -17 -0.9 13.555405 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1612 -25 -1.3 13.555405 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1616 -21 -1.3 13.555406 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1620 -20 -1.2 13.555406 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1624 -20 -1.9 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1628 -20 -1.3 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1632 -22 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1636 -20 -0.9 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1640 -18 -2.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1644 -19 -1.6 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1652 -21 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1656 -22 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1700 -21 -2.1 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1704 -21 -1.5 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1708 -22 -1.3 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1712 -24 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1716 -22 -1.2 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1720 -23 -2.0 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1724 -24 -1.5 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1728 -22 -1.4 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1732 -20 -1.2 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1736 -21 -1.1 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1740 -22 -1.7 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1744 -23 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1748 -21 -1.3 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1752 -22 -1.3 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1756 -25 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1800 -20 -2.0 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1804 -23 -1.5 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1808 -23 -1.4 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1812 -24 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1816 -24 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1820 -26 -2.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7At 4:05 PM, with only longer-distance signals like USC and EH showing up at the watering hole, I anticipated no more Illinois signals, so I tried for AZ again and soon began hearing NDB2. It was weaker than before, but was copyable about half the time. Next I tuned up to WV and was eventually rewarded with fair copy through the moderate Codar pulses. Later, PBJ appeared for part of a "P" then faded out again.
TON was visible, finally, but I only got an "O" and "N" from it on one ID cycle, (While WV is audible at the same level on Argo, TON's ident has to be stronger to be discerned through Codar. Just guessing, it seems to be a matter of dot timing that causes less conflict with Codar's twice-per-second pulse rate in the ear.) Farther up the dial, I was only able to hear BUV this afternoon, at a more Part 15-like level today than yesterday, and with moderate QSB.
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 3jun-SIW.jpg
630m and 2200m at Hamcom 2018 in Plano, TX
Greetings all -
I will be hosting two sessions at Hamcom, Friday (2pm) and Saturday (9am),
June 8 and 9, at the Plano Event Center in Plano, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort
Worth area.
The sessions will run 50 minutes and will be presented in two parts. I
will spend 15 or 20 minutes briefly discussing some of the goings-on since
we last convened in June 2017 including "opening weekend" and some of the
on-air highlights for both bands which are still accruing in some cases.
The second portion will be a free-form Q&A and open discussion intended to
answer practical questions related to getting on the air and finding some
degree of success on both bands. I did this last year for two sessions and
it went very well. Often times a single question can send the session down
a rabbit hole that answers a lot of questions and takes the entire allotted
time to respond. I am also planning at the moment to bring a couple of
"show and tell" items.
There will be no dedicated survey presentation this year unlike previous
years, which is basically the 50 cent tour but several of my presentations
from previous years are available on the Internet as well as the very
excellent 630m presentation by NO3M given at the Dayton antenna forum can
be viewed and his slides downloaded at http://no3m.net/
73,
John KB5NJD
Morning Hifers in Pine Colorado
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 04, 2018 at 14:14:16.
TON, GNK, FRC 1406 utc...TON was the big dog
Grimeton Radio / SAQ Transmission on July 1st, 2018
Posted by Mike Terry on June 05, 2018 at 05:16:36.
The annual transmission on “Alexanderson Day” with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz with the call SAQ will take place Sunday, July 1st, 2018.
This year, three transmissions are scheduled as follows:
1. Startup of tuning at 10:15 (08:15 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 10:45 (08:45 UTC).
2. Startup of tuning at 12:15 (10:15 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 12:45 (10:45 UTC)
3. Startup of tuning at 14:15 (12:15 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 14:45 (12:45 UTC)
All three transmission events will be broadcasted live on our YouTube Channel.
Amateur Radio Station with the call “SK6SAQ” will be QRV on the following frequencies:
– 7.035 kHz CW or
– 14.035 kHz CW or
– 3.755 kHz SSB
Two stations will be on the air most of the time.
QSL-reports to SAQ and SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
– E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
– or via: SM bureau
– or direct by mail to: Alexander – Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen
Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N
The station will be open to visitors between 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
WELCOME!
Alexander/SAQ
For further details, also read our website: www.alexander.n.se
TON
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 05, 2018 at 15:57:39.
I started hearing TON at 1511 utc...nothing on the other AZ beacon... Re: TON
TON is still being heard as of 1555 utc with FRC coming in as well.
Posted by ed holland on June 05, 2018 at 20:36:09.
In reply to TON posted by Bill Hensel on June 05, 2018
Lately TON has been reaching the SF Bay area with a good signal, whilst I have not logged AZ in some time. It used to be a common catch, so I wonder something has happened, alongside the small shift in frequency last year.
Reminder: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Posted by Jerry Parker on June 08, 2018 at 16:05:18.
Reminder: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Or listen online at:
http://69.27.184.62:8901/?tune=3927lsb
click on the autonotch to get rid of hetrodines
Hope to see you there
KFS WebSDR in California
69.27.184.62
OR Try the other Western US HF WebSDR systems: W7RNA Multiband WebSDR Receiver and Northern Utah WebSDR. They both work very well.
69.27.184.62
W7RNA Sedona AZ http://w7rna.dyndns-remote.com:18901/
KA7OEI Northern UT http://websdr1.utahsdr.org:8901/
"NOW HAS 630M RECEIVER"
Jerry WA6OWR
OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 08, 2018 at 16:18:28.
I know those bands are not part of the official FD contest, but is anyone doing a demo or a "fun tent"/GOTA station setup on either of these bands, and if so what are you planning?
I'm asking because I'd like to do some sort of 630M activity in conjunction w/FD this year, but I'm not getting a lot of feedback from my club, so I'm idea shopping.
Thanks, Chuck Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by John Davis on June 09, 2018 at 01:14:17.
In reply to OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 08, 2018
Hi Chuck. Sounds like a great idea to me, but why would these bands not be part of the official FD contest? I was just perusing the official rules, and unless I'm missing something, they state that the objective is "to work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands)...."
The only glitch would be that the operating site on these bands has to be a location that's been coordinated with Utilities Telecom Council prior to its use. In some cases, such as the only coordinated FD site being one's home QTH, this might affect the class or the power multiplier that would be applicable.
Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 09, 2018 at 19:10:59.
In reply to Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by John Davis on June 09, 2018
John, I thought I had read that the new bands were, like the WARC bands, to be excluded from organized contests by some side agreement... maybe I misread, or maybe the author was just speculating - cant say for sure because it was at least a year ago that I saw that statement, and don't even remember where. Re: TON
However, as you stated, the ARRL rules for this year use the phrase "to work as many stations on any and all amateur bands" with the explicit exclusion of only 60/30/17/12 meters, so I guess 630M and 2200M are "valid" for FD contacts - provided that the UTC 'registration' requirements for the site are met... Interesting. And maybe even more reason to do something with 630M on FD. Thanks.
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 11, 2018 at 17:14:56.
In reply to TON posted by Bill Hensel on June 05, 2018
June 10 2238 utc TON
June 11 1446 utc TON
Re: TON
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 11, 2018 at 17:17:40.
In reply to Re: TON posted by ed holland on June 05, 2018
Ed I have often wondered why most of the time when I hear TON the other AZ hifers aren't heard...perhaps the operators of the other AZ Hifer will chime in...
Re: TON
Posted by ed holland on June 11, 2018 at 20:49:13.
In reply to Re: TON posted by Bill Hensel on June 11, 2018
Bill,
It would be nice to understand more about the AZ folks.
I suppose antenna location might be a factor. Perhaps TON is on a good hilltop or mountain. But there have been plenty of times past where AZ was far more audible than TON.
TON was heard loud and clear on Saturday afternoon CA time. Nothing yesterday (Sunday). AZ absent as has become usual.
I did catch a trace of SIW's "on the minute" ID using spectrogram, but otherwise the band was rather devoid of HiFER activity. This, despite sweeping CODAR noise, and a noticeable turn up in general atmospheric noise.
Ed
Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 11, 2018 at 21:20:24.
In reply to Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 09, 2018
GA all -
I took the liberty of sending notifications to UTC a month ago for many big club's FD sites in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and I shopped around the idea of setting up stations, receiving favorable comments from "a few"... that's different from actually putting forth the effort to get on the air, however.
Regardless of what happens from a club FD site here in this local area, several of the usual suspects from around NA on 472 have been talking about FD operations and I think a few guys registered their sites before the 30 days window began...
So expect something to be going on. I will be QRV one way or another...I have a column to write this Summer for the October CQ and I'm supposed to focus on the public service applications for both bands so it would be great to have a local EOC on the air so I can pass formal traffic on ground wave CW..While I'm not emcomm guy, there probably applications for a variety of reasons in a variety of configurations.
73 and maybe I will work some of you...
John KB5NJD..
PS: you are correct about the ARRL "allowing" MF and LF by way of non-exclusion. There is a precedent from last year as several of the VE7 boys were QRV and submitted QSO's for 472...
Re: TON
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 12, 2018 at 14:51:01.
In reply to Re: TON posted by ed holland on June 11, 2018
TON heard this morning at 1422 utc nice copy FRC very weak...NO PVC for a long time it seems.
Re: TON
Posted by Ward K7PO on June 12, 2018 at 16:39:43.
In reply to Re: TON posted by ed holland on June 11, 2018
TON is the old AJO beacon. When on as AJO, it was on a mountain top location down near the Mexico border. In it's TON incarnation, it now lives on a corner of my 40 acre antenna farm in the middle of DM33. Not as high, but pretty much an unobstructed view in every direction. Same antenna(vertical) and electronics as before, although I plan on changing out the exciter to a U3S soon.
Re: TON
-73-
Ward K7PO/WH2XXP
Tonopah, AZ
Posted by ed holland on June 12, 2018 at 17:23:01.
In reply to Re: TON posted by Ward K7PO on June 12, 2018
Ward,
Thanks for the info. You are obviously doing something right to get a good signal out.
Cheers
Ed
Re: TON
Posted by Bill Hensel on June 12, 2018 at 21:12:57.
In reply to Re: TON posted by Ward K7PO on June 12, 2018
Ward thanks for the info. TON has been coming into Pine, Co almost every day for the past couple of weeks.
UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 12, 2018 at 22:35:30.
In reply to Re: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 11, 2018
Within the next 24 hours I would expect that we will have a definitive answer on this matter of Field Day. While talking to a significant player in the amateur radio logging software game about making additions to his software for 630m and 2200m, he sent a note to Bart, W9JJ, the ARRL contest manager, to confirm inclusion. Apparently the software mod is more than just a change to the config file like some packages on the market so he wants to make sure before putting forth the effort.
Bart is a good dude and added us to the 2018 IGC. Since the ARRL is making a push for the International Grid Chase for Field Day this year and we are a part of that, I can't imagine them not including us but we will find out for sure now. I typically take the "better to ask forgiveness than permissions" approach on stuff like this but it will be a real plus if the software guy makes the band additions for his software going forward, particularly given the LoTW integration which is necessary for IGC participation. Hopefully others will follow.
When I get an update, I will post it here...
73!
John KB5NJD
1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 13, 2018 at 13:53:17.
Greetings all, attempting to find out a bit more about a very weak CW beacon on 1704.50, came across this board looking for clues. Bold assumption it's a Part 15 / RSS-210 source, noting the following:
-I've heard this transmission 4 times now, all after 9pm EST, running a repetitive CW stream with a 5 second break between transmissions translating to "C058LPB GPS OFF"
-Significant fade to nothing, but the signal itself is very weak to begin with. This happens throughout the listening session. I have checked back as late (or early) as 1:30am and it is still there. Daytime - nothing.
-On one session, the 5 second break turned into about a minute, perhaps more. A long tone appeared, brief pause, then a stream of CW "RESET RESET RESET" pause, 5 seconds, then "C058LPB ACQUIRING", 5 second break....did this for the rest of the session.
My further assumption based on the transmission content is that there is some remote or physical interaction taking place, that the device is trying to possibly provide a GPS coordinate stream, which may lead to a further grouping of information such as actual location coordinates, time, contact info. In itself, having the beacon advise that GPS is off or not functioning then going into a recycle routing sounds like less that ideal logic programming - to at least insert some additional information. Has anyone ever run across this little guy or have any info that may assist my "detective" work?
Thanks, BUH/BUV
Jason
Posted by Kelli M N2CHX on June 13, 2018 at 17:11:34.
BUH/BUV now has a new transmitter and frequency is GPS stabilized, so there should be little to no drift.
New Frequency: 13.553.456
Mode(s): 8 WPM CW + other modes which I plan on experimenting with. All will be on the new frequency.
BUH is on dipole. BUV is on 6' roof-mounted vertical.
Re: BUH/BUV
Posted by Kelli M N2CHX on June 13, 2018 at 17:15:57.
In reply to BUH/BUV posted by Kelli M N2CHX on June 13, 2018
I forgot to add:
The transmitter is presently a QRP Labs U3S, for which I custom-built antenna switching and attenuation relays. It is sharing use as a ARS WSPR beacon as well, so transmissions will not be consistently back-to-back as before. But they will always be on 13.553.456, so if you monitor for more than 5-10 minutes and propagation permits, you should hear/see something.
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 13, 2018 at 17:40:54.
In reply to UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 12, 2018
I've been using N3FJP's software for contest and general QSO logging for a number of years now, and it does not have the 630M & 2200M bands included in the current versions. The latest updates offered on Scott's software page date to 3/15/2018 (FD v5.8 & ACL v6.2) and I have verified that I am running the most current versions - his general logging program, "ACL", *does* include the MF/LF allocations, but the ARRL/FD software does not.
I'm curious what other folks are using for FD (and/or general) logging, and particularly whether it has the 630M & 2200M bands included. Not that it would be particularly burdensome to edit the log file after the fact, as there would only be a handful of QSOs to log for those bands - but ham radio logging software has changed a lot in the last few years, and I haven't put much effort into keeping up with it.
Thanks and warmest 73, Chuck
Re: 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada
Posted by Todd Jarett on June 13, 2018 at 18:15:16.
In reply to 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada posted by Jason Goldring on June 13, 2018
I have run by that one once or twice. Very weak. Might pull a single S-unit. Nothing solid. Belfast, NY. Loop antenna makes me think it is north east. Maybe a lost balloon carrying a longwire. Know anyone north east of you who can give a listen?
TJ
Re: 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada
Posted by Kelli M N2CHX on June 13, 2018 at 18:39:07.
In reply to Re: 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada posted by Todd Jarett on June 13, 2018
I'm going to have to try to hear this one with my 4' loop.
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 13, 2018 at 20:16:02.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 13, 2018
N3FJP is actually the software guy I have been referring to - I can say that now. The addition for MF and LF won't be available for his 2018 FD logger as it will be a significant change, not just something in the config file to add the bands. SO any MF and LF field day Q's using his software will require you to add them manually to your HF log file.
73,
John KB5NJD
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 14, 2018 at 02:58:42.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 13, 2018
Thanks John, I had suspected/hoped as much.
208 hours until FD setup begins ;) I hope everyone's preparations are going well.
Re: 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 14, 2018 at 15:14:43.
In reply to Re: 1704.50 CW Beacon - Southern Ontario Canada posted by Kelli M N2CHX on June 13, 2018
We had a huge storm burst yesterday, very unsettled weather. I was not able to pick it up, but on the other hand, lots of noise being heard. Better skies today by the looks of it, crossing my fingers.
Jason
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Bill, KJ4ADN on June 15, 2018 at 20:14:25.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Chuck, N1KGY on June 14, 2018
We are *hoping* to be on 630m for field day. Was going to do a little preliminary testing last night, till I found coax issues.
For those setting up away from the QTH, what type of antenna(s) are you planning on using?
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 15, 2018 at 21:15:57.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Bill, KJ4ADN on June 15, 2018
Hi Bill -
For one of the "EOC" setups that I am helping I am building them a 472 bucket vario with multiple taps and a slant wire vertical (total length / top load TBD based on their available space) that will be fed against a few radials and whatever other "ground" I can find at their site. I had planned on an folded counterpoise but there is no time to develop and test it...
They are located across town from where I will be but close enough to not be a problem for the traffic we are planning on passing... so not an ideal setup but it rarely is and just needs to work enough. No need to over-engineer and over optimize for a 24 hour event and this will be plenty to get what we need here.
73/GL
jl
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Posted by Bill, KJ4ADN on June 15, 2018 at 21:35:45.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 15, 2018
John, Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Sounds simple enough! Would a single wire loop inside the bucket, that could be turned facilitate fine tuning any better than moving taps?
KJ4ADN - Bill
Posted by John Langridge KB5NJD on June 15, 2018 at 21:42:44.
In reply to Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day posted by Bill, KJ4ADN on June 15, 2018
Hi Bill,
It will be a traditional vario setup.. I'll connect the center conductor of the coax to a tap on the bucket (rough tune) and then use the moving coil inside the bucket to fine tune. I typically set the moving coil to about 45 degrees when selecting a tap on the outside and this gives me the most wiggle room to get anywhere in the band.
This is just like I do at home and describe on my site.
73!
John
Friday Night-Saturday AM
Posted by John Davis on June 16, 2018 at 22:21:16.
Last night was my first opportunity to listen in 12 days. The hours after local sunset were not nearly as productive as the last time I listened after dark, but still not terrible...I guess. EH showed up at the watering hole, faint but fairly consistent. USC was comparable level sometimes, but tended to drop below visibility at others. Saw WV on 13,555.006 and P on 554.085; both taking turns at being audible. It was good to copy P at a level similar to a known-compliant beacon this time.
At 9:50 pm CDT, TON was sometimes loud but mostly just fair, and frequently only visible--wide ranging QSB. First copied it right on 13,558.500, but sometimes it jumped to .504 for several IDs at a time. At 957 pm, FRC put in an appearance, and was sometimes audible for a few characters at a time. Nobody else was copied before I gave up about 10:20 and tuned to 1750 m in what turned out to be a futile effort to catch EAR through the all-night QRN.
This morning around 8:30, I went back to 22 m just as the band was waking up. USC was weak but recognizable, EH seems to have been off, MTI showed up and was occasionally audible at the top of the minute, and an early short-hop opening was already in progress, with both SIWs fair to good. Shortly thereafter, WM started coming in too.
Tuning down to ~13,555.0 about 8:45 am, I could hear P, no longer fitting in at levels comparable to other HiFERs. WV started gradually becoming visible, and eventually gave me short periods of aural copy. Tuning farther down about 5 minutes later, there was still no sign of AZ (it's been quite a while) but codar was starting up faintly, and soon I could hear CW lower down. That turned out to be NDB2.
There was no PBJ this morning. By 8:54, TON was visible but never quite became audible. Frequency was .500 with jumps of +2 to -1 Hz from ID to ID. No sign of VAN, PCO, BUV/BUH or RF, but GNK was fair to loud with lots of level variation from letter to letter.
WAS had a lot of QSB too at 9:00 AM, and varied from weak to moderate strength. Found it at 13,564.865 this morning. FRC was experiencing similar propagation from the opposite direction; found it on 13,565.037 today.
(Frequencies should be considered within ±2 Hz. Battery charging was underway, which precludes getting much closer unless I were willing to do a recalibration prior to every measurement.)
At 9:07 am, ESA's dash after ID began showing up, visual only, on 13,565.950. At 910a, I checked again for AZ without success, but NDB2 had a good signal on 13,554.015.
Having a photographic assignment today (fortunately, just across the highway from my farm) I set up WSPR and returned to the watering hole to capture whatever might come my way during the morning. The attachment is from a screen shot showing the first few SIW captures before I close up and left, and the other denizens of the watering hole.
More in a later report.
John
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 16jun2.jpg
Saturday Noon
My photo shoot was done by local noon (1700 UTC) so I returned to check on the SIW WSPR-2 decodes and do a band scan between transmission time slots. I always like to check for other shorter-than-usually-available paths when there's an opening to Illinois. It's sometimes my only chance to get PCO as well, but still no go on that one.
Above is a capture of SIW slant for the hour up to noon. Despite a lot of Doppler-afflicted multipath, it was a remarkably consistent signal from roughly 9 AM to nearly 1 PM when I returned to town. Below are the WSPR spots, and below that are the other noontime observations. (Note: If you happen to find these spots on WSPRnet, kindly disregard the "RM27kc" grid and the high-mileage DX figures. I'm not really in the Pacific between Japan and Midway. I didn't discover the typo until too late to stop the upload.)
1416 -23 -0.9 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1420 -22 -1.8 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1424 -22 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1428 -21 -1.2 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1432 -25 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1436 -23 -2.0 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1440 -24 -1.9 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1444 -23 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1448 -24 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1452 -25 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1456 -25 -2.0 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1500 -24 -2.0 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1504 -25 -1.5 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1508 -22 -1.2 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1512 -25 -1.1 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1516 -24 -1.0 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1520 -25 -1.0 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1528 -24 -1.5 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1532 -23 -1.4 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1536 -25 -1.2 13.555407 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1540 -24 -1.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1544 -24 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1548 -23 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1552 -24 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1616 -26 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1624 -25 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1628 -25 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1632 -24 -1.4 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1644 -23 -1.4 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1648 -24 -2.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1652 -24 -1.5 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1656 -24 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1700 -22 -1.3 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1704 -24 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1708 -23 -2.0 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1712 -23 -1.9 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1716 -25 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1724 -27 -1.2 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1728 -23 -1.2 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1732 -23 -1.9 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1740 -23 -1.5 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1744 -22 -1.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1748 -27 -1.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7In the brief between-time-slots scans:
At 12:19 pm CDT I encountered an abundant signal from P along with moderate codar, and a visual trace that may or may not have been WV; it never got strong enough to appear unambiguously, let alone be audible, and it was nearly 50 Hz higher than before.
12:22 - no PCO; GNK fair-good
12:24 - MTI audible, but barely
12:26 - no PBJ, no TON
12:30 - GNK good, but no BUV/BUH
12:34 - no ESA, no FRC
12:38 - no VAN
12:43 - reset computer clock; WWV 10 MHz was better than 15 MHz
John
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 16jun7.jpg
Saturday Afternoon
1752 -24 -1.1 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1756 -26 -0.8 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1800 -28 -1.8 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1808 -23 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1812 -24 -1.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1816 -22 -1.1 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1820 -24 -0.7 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1824 -19 -1.5 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1828 -21 -1.4 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1832 -23 -1.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1836 -24 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1840 -27 -2.2 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1844 -25 -1.6 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1852 -22 -1.2 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1900 -23 -1.9 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1904 -22 -1.8 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1908 -22 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1912 -17 -1.6 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1916 -23 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1920 -19 -2.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1924 -24 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1928 -28 -1.3 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1944 -28 -1.6 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1948 -22 -1.5 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 1952 -25 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2000 -23 -2.1 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2004 -25 -1.7 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2008 -23 -1.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2012 -23 -1.4 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2016 -25 -2.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2024 -28 -1.7 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2032 -23 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2036 -24 -1.4 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2040 -25 -2.3 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2044 -24 -1.6 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2048 -23 -1.7 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2100 -21 -2.3 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2108 -23 -1.7 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2112 -28 -1.5 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2116 -19 -1.4 13.555410 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2120 -21 -1.4 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2124 -18 -2.3 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2132 -21 -1.6 13.555409 0 K3SIW EN52 7 2356 -31 -2.0 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7 0004 -31 -1.7 13.555408 0 K3SIW EN52 7There were no more decodes from then through 0214 UTC/9:14 PM when I decided to manually scan the band, although some snippets of the slant mode signal showed intermittently on the QRSS30 Argo trace.
Actually, the slant mode signal and codar went through some pretty interesting changes during the afternoon. Remember how fuzzy the SIW trace was in the earlier post? It narrowed down considerably about 1:30 PM CDT, just minutes after solar noon. About 4:40 PM (2140 UTC) it went away altogether, except for those few brief reappearances later. Then over the next 30 minutes or so, codar got stronger and split up into two fuzzy traces! It got less stronger but became even more diffuse after 6:30 PM, and then SIW reappeared from about 6:50 (2350 UTC) to 7:10 (0010), yielding two WSPR decodes in that time. I'll attach a file showing those three key changes.
John
(from my log:)
much codar, s5-s9
9:17 pm - P & WV
no pbj
9:21pm - TON, wide qsb variation
no van or pco
9:25p - GNK barely vis
9:27 pm - K6FRC visible and up to 50% audible
9:29 - ESA faintly visible...at 9:32, nicely visible for a minute, would be audible if not for codar... then rapid disappearance
9:42p - no more SIW; usc & mti weak; eh fair; no wm
185 kHz - s9+10 constant QRN
137 kHz - QRN S9+10 to 20
630 m - S9 static, constant
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 16jun-PM.jpg
Re: UPDATE: OT, but is anyone doing a 630/2200M demo for field day
Are there any materials to stay away from - the form for the coil(s)?
Would 6-8" PVC from Lowes or Home Cheapo do the trick? I'll get the thin stuff, and grove it with a lathe... Is 14awg solid enameled heavy enough, or should I go larger for a portable?
Last night, about 10-11pm EDT, I "faintly heard" what sounded a lot like the WSJT-x mode stuff on my radio, near 475KHz, (had the filter pretty wide, 2.4kz). I did not have a computer on the radio to decode, and it was off a E/W facing 160-60-80m Fan Dipole (Virginia, USA), on my K3 (pre-amp ON). Not near as "noisy" as the higher HF bands... surprised me!
Bill
Re: Saturday Noon
Posted by Kelli N2CHX on June 17, 2018 at 17:07:44.
In reply to Saturday Noon posted by John Davis on June 17, 2018
"12:30 - GNK good, but no BUV/BUH"
BUV/BUH has a new transmitter and is now permanently on 13553.456.
Re: Saturday Noon
Posted by John Davis on June 17, 2018 at 17:37:47.
In reply to Re: Saturday Noon posted by Kelli N2CHX on June 17, 2018
Thanks for that update. Will try for it later this afternoon.
2200 m WSPR
Posted by John Davis on June 17, 2018 at 18:02:37.
Last night's static was S9+20 on 2200 m with the noise blanker on. Not even the Arizona Part 5-ers were visible nor the semi-local PLCs at .500 and .600. On 1750, when I punched up the memory setting for 188.830, the S-meter flashed "abandon all hope, ye who enter EAR." (That's what you call infernal noise!)
Even 630 m was solid S9 static and nobody was visible. The radar loops this morning didn't show it easing up til daybreak, either. I'm glad I came back home and slept instead of staying in the field all night.
So, I'm listening during daylight hours today just in case anyone is inclined to transmit. Results from late morning below.
1604 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37 Re: Friday Night-Saturday AM
1604 -19 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1608 -19 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1608 -18 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1612 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1612 -17 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1616 -19 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1616 -17 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1620 -17 -0.8 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1620 -14 -0.8 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1624 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1624 -15 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1628 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1628 -15 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1632 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1632 -15 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1636 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1636 -15 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1640 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1640 -14 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1644 -18 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1644 -14 -1.0 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1648 -17 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1648 -13 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1652 -18 -0.9 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1652 -14 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
1700 -21 -1.0 0.137507 0 WH2XXP DM33 37
1700 -16 -0.9 0.137527 0 WH2XND DM33 43
Posted by jimvm on June 17, 2018 at 21:32:31.
In reply to Friday Night-Saturday AM posted by John Davis on June 16, 2018
Thanks for the report, John. ESA is back on and VAN is off UNTFN.
I have been experimenting with the Hamstick antenna. I have put a 150 pF cap. acros
the base to make a 'L network'. The SWR is 1.4 to 1 at 13.56 MHz. Without the cap,
SWR is 2.5 to 1. I can not detect any field strength changes.
73 jimvm wb6qzl BUH / BUV?
Posted by John Davis on June 18, 2018 at 05:38:26.
Started looking for BUH/BUV at 7:21 PM CDT and continued monitoring the spot for 25 more minutes. Started picking up two different types of signal: one very wide and audible but not really readable; and the other fairly compact, but more visible than audible (codar was one big factor). The compact signal repeated every 75 seconds.
At 7:38:40, the compact signal had finally grown strong enough to catch the "BUH" ID. Sorry to say, the other signal never was copyable with its whooping chirp and all the codar pulses.
John
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 17junb.jpg
Sunday HiFERs
SIW slant was the first thing visible at the watering hole when I got to the field in late morning, so I had hope of a short-hop opening and went looking for the other stations that usually appear in such circumstances. At 10:47 AM CDT, P and WV were about equal in level and trading audibility. There was no AZ or NDB2. By 10:51, codar had picked up to moderate levels. TON was visible at levels that would have been audible if the band were quieter, but the pulses and a cluster of carriers 10-20 Hz below the signal precluded that.
10:56 - no PCO, almost no GNK--suddenly SWBC sidebands!
10:59 - USC fair w qsb, no SIW, intermittent MTI
Mid-day doldrums had seemingly already set in at 22 m, so at that point I tuned to 137.5 kHz for an hour, and checked back at 22 m from 11:59 AM to 12:02 PM. USC was fair, EH and MTI were fair to good. SIW slant returned briefly, but did not last. Resumed monitoring 2200 m.
Went back to 22 m about 7:15 PM and did the previously reported search for BUH. Looking around the band later did not yield much, partly because codar was up to S9+20 at the high end. At 800 pm, the watering hole contsined EH, both SIWs, MTI sometimes, and brief faint appearances by USC. No more WM. By 8:12 PM, EH was now powerful and messily interacting with codar; SIW was now too intermittent for usable copy; no more BUH, P or WV. At 815, K6FRC was very good, when I first tuned in, then faded away. Called it quits for the night. Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday
Posted by John Davis on June 19, 2018 at 00:50:15.
In reply to BUH / BUV? posted by John Davis on June 18, 2018
(Times are Central Daylight).
Late this morning, BUH was strong enough for a time that it became clear the every-75-seconds "BUH" ID is preceded by another keyed transmission that seems to be at a lower level and/or is keyed at a different speed. I was never able to hear it clearly. At least it seems to hold its frequency stable during keying. BUH was at 13,553.426 this morning, ±2 Hz.
With the better signal strength today, the presumed BUV transmission between those intervals visibly occupies over 60 Hz of bandwidth at times, most of which is the frequency shift during keying. The longer elements of each character seem to be broken up into dots of quasi-random length, giving a stuttering effect. Whether this is a keyer defect, or the result of the frequency swooping through narrow selective-fading nulls, I cannot tell.
There were two other signals on the band this morning that exhibited a similar, uncopiable, stuttering effect. One appeared for a time around 10:59 AM CDT, off and on for a few minutes, at 13,557.515. This one only spread over about 20 Hz BW.
The other showed up around 13,564.060 kHz at 11:09 AM, and was spread as widely as maybe-BUV, with a similar whooping and stuttering sound.
John
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 18jun-BUH.jpg
Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday
Thank you for the report!
The swooping sound is the SHELL (Slow Hell) with a wide freq range I was playing with in between CW ID's the last couple of days. No one else has a beacon below 13,554.000, so I decided to play with some wider modes, but they're probably going to be impossible to decode because the power level is just so low. It's fun to play with though, and I'll continue to dink with different modes below 13,554 just to have some fun and see what is copyable.
There was also a short ID in standard FELD HELL, which might be what you're seeing just before the CW ID. Again, who knows if it could ever be copied properly because of using such low power. Perhaps on a really good day.
I'm guessing BUV was just not copyable at all where you were. Using the same two antennas on 20 meter WSPR at full power, I noted that the vertical has a much shorter range than the dipole, and it also surprisingly seems to be very directional toward the WSW for some weird reason. It's a very short vertical (6'), and there are two sections of coax between it and the transmitter, with a SO-239 barrel connecting them, and there is a lot of loss there as well. In contrast, the dipole has a single, brand new 50' roll of RG-8X feeding it.
As for the other things heard in different areas of the band, they are not related to my beacon(s). Everything I'm doing at this point is between 13.553 and 13.554, centered as closely as I can get to 13,553.456 (exact frequency chosen because I'm an admitted weirdo).
Thanks again for the report. Look for more oddball transmission modes ~13.553.456 in the future :-)
Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday
Posted by Kelli N2CHX on June 19, 2018 at 01:47:33.
In reply to Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday posted by Kelli N2CHX on June 19, 2018
Added: Beacons are now off this evening until some time tomorrow due to thunderstorms here. I prefer my radios medium rare rather than extra crispy.
Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday
Posted by John Davis on June 19, 2018 at 03:18:37.
In reply to Re: BUH / BUV? - Monday posted by Kelli N2CHX on June 19, 2018
I prefer my radios medium rare rather than extra crispy.
Amen!
That explains why I didn't see anything further below 13,554 when I returned to the field before sunset. Codar was strong, and several other beacons were also missing, but a few others that I usually hear/see when BUH is present were either around faintly or at least intermittently copyable tonight, including WV, USC, GNK, and WAS.
Now that I know what the swept signal is supposed to be, I'll experiment a bit to try to see it.
I don't know if I'll have much luck using Argo, since it has such a limited range of speeds. It's the only waterfall-type program I have on the field computer, though, because it is so resource-frugal that I can run multiple instances without conflict even though the machine is not very fast. At the watering hole, two Argo windows at QRSS3 span the width of my narrow CW filter, which includes just about everybody operating in that vicinity. Simultaneously, I can run another copy at QRSS30 to capture SIW slant and/or do frequency stability studies, and if I'm very careful, also run WSPR at the same time.
I'm open to suggestions for alternate software, however, provided it can run under ancient Windows Vista (the only spare notebook machine I've got with an adequate sound card, and for which I can still obtain a satisfactory replacement battery).
As for BUV, I used to see and hear it fairly well in the upper half of the band. At this distance, the difference wasn't terribly large, and sometimes the vertical did a little better. There must be more difference now, for some reason, but I expect there's still a chance to catch it if I can find the signal at a time when codar is not so overwhelming.
John
22M Short Conditions: K6FRC & ESA
Posted by Jack Roblin on June 21, 2018 at 03:44:45.
6-20-18, 0322 ZULU, received in Victorville, CA (southern CA)
K6FRC : Good signal, solid 559 copy.
ESA: My first reception! Weak, heavy QSB, about 339 overall, but clear ID with dashes.
Interesting conditions tonight. No other HiFers heard, just my "local" beacons to the north of me here in California!
73, Jack WA6KYO
Re: 22M Short Conditions (Tuesday PM)
Posted by John Davis on June 21, 2018 at 05:29:01.
In reply to 22M Short Conditions: K6FRC & ESA posted by Jack Roblin on June 21, 2018
Good work, Jack. Unusual conditions here, too, right before the solstice.
I didn't get a chance to listen Wednesday or even to report on what I did the day before, but Tuesday evening was very productive. In late morning, it looked as if the band would be dead all day...very little USC or EH visible and nobody audible before noon, so I went to 2200m for an hour. I returned to 22m at 1 PM CDT and had the Illinois "locals," so I left the radio and computer watching the watering hole while I was busy with other things.
In the evening, I finally got to spend some time in the shack, and copied NDB2, P, WV, WM, MTI, SIW WSPR, SIW slant, EH, USC, TON, GNK, WAS and FRC...each audible at times, as well as visible.
Now, these were not exactly armchair copy, and I've heard them all before (even in the early evening) but I consider them very remarkable this time for three reasons:
1. I've never copied them all on the same evening.
2. I've never seen both short and long hop so stable an hour after sunset. And the biggie...
3. This was despite highly unusual QRN levels hovering above S9!!!
(Interesting side note regarding speed of CW beacons versus interference: When the noise is codar, faster speeds such as the keying of FRC, WV, NDB2 etc. seen easier to copy and less susceptible to the repetitive pulses; but for continual randomly-timed random static, the slower speed beacons like MTI, TON, and GNK are definitely easier for me to copy.)
John
Re: 22M Short Conditions (Tuesday PM)
Posted by Mike N8OOU on June 21, 2018 at 11:28:45.
In reply to Re: 22M Short Conditions (Tuesday PM) posted by John Davis on June 21, 2018
John,
Your comment / observation regarding CW speeds might be an interesting change to implement and run for a long term test.
A question for you: Were these QRM/QRN conditions unique to this one evening or do they exist more frequently? I have observed fast QSB conditions chop up the dashes on slower CW which makes it hard to recognize.
73 Mike
Re: 22M Short Conditions: K6FRC & ESA
Posted by ed holland on June 22, 2018 at 00:04:42.
In reply to 22M Short Conditions: K6FRC & ESA posted by Jack Roblin on June 21, 2018
Obviously I need to work on PVC a little more!
2200m QRSS
Posted by Joe VO1NA on June 22, 2018 at 23:12:32.
A beacon is now in operation on 137.777 kHz QRSS 100.
200 watts 2 Amps RF to a 100x20m RL.
Reports welcomed.
73 WOLF
Joe VO1NA
Posted by Tom Lau N8TL on June 23, 2018 at 00:27:08.
Does anyone use WOLF Mode on 630 or 2200 meters or at all these days? I know choice modes are WSPR, JT9, and QRSS these days. Thanks, Tom N8TL
Re: 22M Short Conditions (Tuesday PM)
Posted by John Davis on June 23, 2018 at 02:56:31.
In reply to Re: 22M Short Conditions (Tuesday PM) posted by Mike N8OOU on June 21, 2018
Were these QRM/QRN conditions unique to this one evening or do they exist more frequently?
The codar QRM is relatively frequent, but QRN at comparable levels is fairly rare. The experiment might have to continue for a while to be meaningful, but I think it would be interesting.
Codar QRM can range from absent; to barely audible and less than S1 on the meter; all the way to S7 or S9 many afternoons or late evenings here, with rare peaks to +20 dB. By comparison, known-legal beacons generally are under S1 even when nicely audible, and only rarely top S2 or thereabouts under propagation enhancements.
Storm QRN on 22 m with my setup in the past has seldom been so prominent. Around sunset tonight, for instance, it was S3 to S5, which is not an everyday event even at this time of year. Tonight's storms were nearly 200 miles away at the time. Usually it requires the bad weather to be closer than 100 miles, and +10 or +20 crashes usually are an indication that you could see the thunderhead if you looked outside. That's why Tuesday night's QRN being able to drown out codar seemed so remarkable to me.
Re: WOLF
Posted by John, W1TAG on June 23, 2018 at 14:23:40.
In reply to WOLF posted by Tom Lau N8TL on June 23, 2018
Tom,
WOLF is sadly gone at this point, though the software is easily available. Its requirement for a linear transmitter (BPSK), excellent receiver frequency stability and an accurate knowledge of your computer's sampling rate probably doomed it. Too bad, as you could do 15 character transmissions/receptions at your choice of interval based on conditions. With 30 minute transmissions, you could easily equal QRSS60 results, but with greater character throughput. 2-way QSO's were easy, as long as both participants had agreed on the T/R timing. 15 characters were plenty for good "ham" exchanges, and the format was not forced on you.
In addition to your list, plain old CW is still very viable, and MFSK appears to be still in use, as it is at HF.
John, W1TAG
Re: WOLF
Posted by Tom N8TL on June 23, 2018 at 14:46:49.
In reply to Re: WOLF posted by John, W1TAG on June 23, 2018
John:
Thanks for the excellent update. Hope you and family are doing well.
Tom N8TL
398 khz too much noise to make it out
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 26, 2018 at 22:54:32.
I am living in the southern Ontario area of Canada, Hamilton area to be a little more exact, recently after relocating my "basement" bunker to higher ground I moved a dipole outside to reach a new entrance, finding that there is a slow CW stream on 398 khz. Trouble is I have a bad noise problem and I am not able to "connect the dots".
I have looked at some directories for local stations but cannot figure out what this actually is. Maybe someone knows? It is going 24/7.
Jason
Re: 398 khz too much noise to make it out
Posted by John Davis on June 26, 2018 at 23:26:16.
In reply to 398 khz too much noise to make it out posted by Jason Goldring on June 26, 2018
Very likely that would be beacon ZHA at Hamilton - Ancaster, per William Hepburn's DX Information Centre. The carrier frequency is listed as 397 kHz, but the upper sideband (the actual keyed signal containing the identifier) would be in the passband of a radio tuned to 398.
Re: 398 khz too much noise to make it out
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 26, 2018 at 23:38:43.
In reply to Re: 398 khz too much noise to make it out posted by John Davis on June 26, 2018
You know I would have thought the same but Ancaster is literally in my backyard, wow, I am not sure if I should be taking a second look at my setup or perhaps make a note to someone regarding the QSL report. Everything else seems to be booming in fine but that little guy is just barely perceivable. Again, though, I have a bad noise floor in that range.
Thanks so much for the followup! Got 22 meter Beacon ?
Jason
Posted by michael tyler on June 29, 2018 at 17:03:33.
I really enjoy listening for HiFer Beacons and I REALLY enjoy seeing photos of the actual transmitter device. Building and operating a Beacon is an expression of the builder. Each is a "one of a kind". So with that in mind here is a link to photos of Beacon WV...… www.wa8ywo.com/22meterbeacon.html
Re: Got 22 meter Beacon ?
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 30, 2018 at 02:10:44.
In reply to Got 22 meter Beacon ? posted by michael tyler on June 29, 2018
Great job, nice and simple! I still have a beacon in the works on the bench, for the 44m band. Wanting to have this stay outside, drift concerns quite a bit....so working on options. Re: Got 22 meter Beacon ?
J
Posted by michael tyler on June 30, 2018 at 03:09:18.
In reply to Re: Got 22 meter Beacon ? posted by Jason Goldring on June 30, 2018
THE THERMISTOR I USE SEEMS TO HELP WITH DRIFT. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ONE I USE...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-1-PTMS2101YP816BTA-Original-New-Thermistor-Sensor-PTC-2-Pin-/141987058409?hash=item210f1692e9
MAYBE THIS WOULD BE OF HELP....IT HEATS UP WHEN COLD AND TURNS OFF WHEN WARM....MIKE
potrzebie