File Attachment 1: 4junb.jpg
File Attachment 2: MN.mp3
Beacons (fwd)
Tue, May 28, 2019 6:57 pm
Hi John
I wanted to update you on projects my friend and I have been working on. A 22 meter beacon, one for each of us! I was going to send you this earlier but wanted to make sure mine was actually working okay...seems to be.
Here's the info for both.
Mine:
Callsign: ODX
QTH: Burlington Ontario
Grid Square: FN03bh
Frequency: 13.566.7 MHz
Antenna: 1/2 ground mounted vertical cut for 22 meters (As a side note, its actually a Hustler 4BTV without the 10/15/20 meter traps and some extra tubing)
Ham info. VA3SC Burlington Ontario
Mine is on the air. I hope to run it 24/7
........................................................................................
My friend Ian VE3DJI
Beacon callsign: KAH
QTH: Kah She Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario
Grid Square: EN95wc
Frequency: 13.567 MHz
Antenna: 1/2 ground mounted vertical
........................................................................................
Ham info: VE3DJI Ian ...home QTH: Kingston, Ontario
Ian just put his antenna up today and hopes to have it on the air from the island in the next few days. Ian asked me if I wouldn't mine sending you this information on his behalf. Re: Beacons (fwd)
Posted by Jason Goldring on June 03, 2019 at 10:17:38.
In reply to Beacons (fwd) posted by Steve VA3SC on June 01, 2019
If it's of any consolation, for the hell of it, I checked on the outside whips and you were booming in at 10:07 UTC. Then I tried my other SDR which is just on a telescoping ~19" magnet whip. Low and behold...And this was sitting in my window sill in the basement. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EJLqWvDEJdTlWUkTZeJetqk97Y9-GqoV/view?usp=sharing
It's getting out even though we are only a few km's away. Re: Beacons being decommissioned
Jason - J1LPB
Posted by Linas KC9PCP on June 04, 2019 at 16:13:00.
In reply to Beacons being decommissioned posted by Mike Terry on May 23, 2019
Sad to see the beacons go. Lots of fun DXing these. Had one close by I could receive on crystal radio but now gone.
New 22 m beacon
Posted by Ian Baines on June 04, 2019 at 18:44:59.
Just to let you know that KAH is now operational on 13.567 MHz from Kah She Island in Georgian Bay, Ontario
See VA3KAH on QRZ.com for details
The beacon outputs 10 mW to a quarter wave vertical, mounted in a swamp.
It is solar powered and operates full time, unattended
Reports to VA3KAH@gmail.com
MN !!!
Posted by John Davis on June 05, 2019 at 07:39:30.
In reply to Re: New Beacon: MN 13562.8 posted by John Davis on April 24, 2019
Congratulations, Kirk! After nearly a month and a half, MN finally made it to Kansas tonight on 13562.825 kHz (±2 Hz). The signal was pretty decent at times and would have been good copy if it were not for codar pulses and QRN activating the noise blanker so much.
I've been trying the frequency a couple of times every listening session since you announced. Early on, I thought I might be copying you a bit below the intended frequency, sometimes with a fairly strong but drifty signal. However, the keying was definitely not "MN," and I concluded it was probably one of these random pseudo-CW signals we sometimes hear.
In fact, as you'll notice in the attached image file, that same signal showed up again tonight a few minutes before your own signal did. I was parked on the frequency, trying to determine whether that one was conveying any intelligence, when I first saw and then heard your signal! Yours was clearly a short, repeating message. It took me a few minutes to be certain of the identifier because both the noise blanker and rapid QSB were punching holes in it. Every once in a while it was unmistakable.
In the attached sound file, the second ID about 5 seconds in and the last one (just before 45 seconds) are two of the better ones. I've indicated on the Argo capture the portion of the recording that was converted to an MP3. To conserve file size, I condensed the recording a bit. The omitted bit is also denoted in the capture.
Made the late hours worthwhile!
John
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 4junb.jpg
File Attachment 2: MN.mp3
HiFER June 1st
Hi Folks,
I seem to have had little time for listning lately, but did attend 22m for a while on Saturday June 1st, around 1600 PST. No traces were seen running a slow Spectrum Lab chart at the watering hole. No AZ at the lower end of the band, no GNK. There was one glimme, a new logging which was AN, audible and clear for a couple of IDs between fades.
Cheers,
Ed
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Posted by Jerry on June 07, 2019 at 13:27:22.
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time Re: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning
Or listen online at:
http://69.27.184.62:8901/?tune=3927lsb
Reminder: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time..
Posted by John Davis on June 08, 2019 at 16:07:11.
In reply to Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time posted by Jerry on June 07, 2019
Sorry to miss the net last week. Here's this week's recording. It joins email comments from Mike N8OOU in progress. No notes from Clint this week, unfortunately.
This file is > 9 MB, and as always, will only be on the server temporarily. Stream as-is, or right-click to download to your computer.
websdr_2019-06-08_3927kHz.mp3
Potentially Interesting Evening Ahead
Posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019 at 01:27:28.
Late afternoon was pretty poor on 22 m, but early evening has picked up considerably...both for the difficult short-hop first skip zone regional favorites, and more distant signals from the east,
When I started monitoring at 5 PM CDT, only EH was present. Absolutely no one else could be seen or heard on the whole band. By 6:00, even EH was difficult to see.
At 6:29 PM, two hours before sunset, I started seeing faint hooks of VAN's DAID...but still nobody else on the band, not even FRC. By six minutes later, though, I was intermittently copying new beacon KAH a little out of band at 13567.775 kHz.
Still nobody else audible away from the watering hole, but over the next 25 minutes that part of the band filled out nicely. Before 7:00, NC was back, right above EH; USC was showing up; SIW slant was present, and the WSPR version was starting to make an appearance; MTI became audible most minutes; and WM put in a brief appearance too.
It'll be interesting to see what transpires between now and midnight.
Re: Potentially Interesting Evening...
Posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019 at 06:55:15.
In reply to Potentially Interesting Evening Ahead posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
When I returned to the field, I was greatly puzzled to see this WSPR decode:
2324 -20 -1.1 13.555404 0 K3SIW EN52 7It wasn't on screen when I left for town, which was after 2324 UTC, and at the time shown there was absolutely no sign of SIW yet on the Argo traces. That is two hours before local sunset, when the watering hole was still empty except for a faint EH. The screen captures show enough signal from 6:40 to 7:55 PM CDT (2340-0055 UTC) for SIW slant, but even then the WSPR signal was patchy. I've no clue why the timestamp is so obviously bogus.
From an hour before sunset to half an hour after, EH was relatively good again, NC was quite good, and USC was really super, the strongest I've seen it in a long time! MTI was good audible copy several times as well. After that, conditions deteriorated for nearly an hour, a situation that was not helped by the onset of codar.
Now, it's been several weeks since I last copied PVC aurally, and three or more weeks since I even saw the dotted-line keying pattern on Argo. But suddenly at 9:50 PM CDT, I began seeing it again! Tonight it was at 13555.540 kHz, higher than before. The signal improved rapidly and was exhibiting clear keying sidebands six minutes later. It would have been nicely audible at that point if it hadn't been for blessed codar! Argo showed it to be strong enough again between 10:38 and 10:42 that it might have been audible over codar, but unfortunately I was in the truck at the time. When I returned to the building at 11:06 PM, I could hear keying, but it was a bit weaker by then and codar was still present. Still, I'm pretty sure I heard "P" one time, and a "V" the next time around.
Still no WV nor K6FRC all day or evening, and no further sign of VAN tonight.
I did encounter a peculiar signal around 13562.475 kHz -- and when I say "around," I mean all around that frequency. It was keyed at a QRSS-like rate, but was never identifiable as actual letters. It was sometimes audible under codar, sometimes not. A possible keyed carrier was visible at 13565.875, but not audible, so I can't say for sure. KAH was visible and briefly audible on 13567.805 (±2 Hz) at 11:32 PM. After that, the watering hole was empty by midnight. However, TON was visible for the first time in a few weeks, although not quite audible.
The next question is when or whether the band will re-open before daybreak. More later.
John
Re: Potentially Interesting Evening...
Posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019 at 16:58:46.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting Evening... posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
The band was pretty dead at the watering hole from the time codar ended at 11:25 PM until nearly 1:15 AM, when EH, then NC, then USC and a bit of SIW slant began to return in the upper half of the w.h. Not all of those lasted very long, though. It was mainly a duel between NC and USC until USC faded at 4:40 AM. Five minutes later, NC went into a fade and the SIWs started returning.
That only lasted half an hour, after which USC, NC, and sometimes EH took over again. The SIWs struggled to visibility briefly again at sunrise (nominally 5:58 AM CDT at EM27kc) but did not gain traction until 8:30, by which time USC, NC, and EH were also quite solid.
In the lower half of the watering hole, WM showed up faintly before 2 o'clock. For an hour and a half after 2 AM, MTI was remarkably good, sometimes quite loud. The first instance of K5LVB manifested at 3:30 AM, but only twice at that point. WM returned at 8:02 for about 10 minutes, then LVB showed up again, remaining intermittently prominent into mid-morning.
By 9:30 AM, K3SIW WSPR had decoded several times, but K5LVB hadn't decoded at all. Its WSPR waveform was oddly distorted once again, as has happened before, looking skeletal rather than plump and fuzzy as it should.
At 9:15 AM I began a series of short band scans between WSPR time slots, turning up a faint keyed carrier at 13562.840 that was probably MN, but I couldn't hear it well enough to be sure. There was still no WV and no WAS, and only very faint visual FRC. KAH was at 13567.800 kHz.
FYI, there had been an unforecast G1 magnetic event in the three hour interval before I started listening yesterday afternoon. The NOAA WWV message this morning said there was a chance for another today, but the NOAA SWPC 3-day forecast still doesn't show any expected events. We'll see.
Re: Potentially Interesting ...
Posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019 at 19:05:00.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting Evening... posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
A band scan just before solar noon (1:17 PM CDT today) turned up definite copy of MN this time, and brief copy of AMA. WM made a brief appearance too, without either SIW present. At the watering hole afterward, USC, NC, EH, and MTI were all the signals that were left.
Still no WV yet this weekend, and no audible K6FRC. No WAS for more than two months now.
Re: Potentially Interesting ...
Posted by Chris Waldrup on June 09, 2019 at 19:45:20.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting ... posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
I changed the battery in PBJ this morning so I hope you get it at some point.
Re: Potentially Interesting ...
Chris
Posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 09, 2019 at 19:58:10.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting ... posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
Hey John, Re: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning
Just to let ya know, WAS is still peeping away. I just checked the output with the scope and it is producing about 30mv ptp across the output terminals into the dipole antenna. Not sure what power that translates into with a supposedly 50 ohms imped. When I get time I will ck the antenna SWR. A month or so ago had a direct lightning strike on a recv antenna and had a couple of rcvrs (boat anchors) damaged (and 100+ ft of nr. 14 wire was vaporized) but don't think the beacon xmtr was bothered since there is some output. Anyway, maybe it is prop. and condx will improve so you can hear the WAS'er again. Tnx for listening....73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by Lee on June 09, 2019 at 20:51:18.
In reply to Re: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning posted by John Davis on June 08, 2019
Thanks John
Re: Potentially Interesting ...
Posted by John Davis on June 10, 2019 at 02:27:20.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting ... posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 09, 2019
...about 30mv ptp across the output terminals into the dipole antenna. Not sure what power that translates into with a supposedly 50 ohms imped
That could be indicative of a problem, unfortunately.
Remember, P = E2/R , where P is in watts and E is in volts rms. For E of 30 mV p-p, that's roughly 10 mV rms, so:
P = (0.01)2/50 = .0001/50 = .000002 W = 2 μW
It would take about 485 mV rms (1.37 V p-p) to equal 4.7 mW into a 50 ohm load. Hope that helps. Looking forward to hearing WAS again.
John
Re: Potentially Interesting Evening (Sun.)...
Posted by John Davis on June 10, 2019 at 06:32:39.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting ... posted by John Davis on June 09, 2019
Results were similar to Saturday evening at the watering hole. USC, NC, EH, and SIW slant & WSPR were visible; MTI was sometimes audible; and WM was clearly visible several times. Nobody was overwhelmingly loud this time. By 10:45, all began to fade.
Between 11:30 and midnight CDT, I did a detailed band scan to see who else was on. A (probable) appearance by AZ was a pleasant surprise; couldn't confirm it by clear aural ID, but the keying sidebands and surf-like frequency drift were the same...only at 13554.129 to .125, instead of higher as before. TON was visible and nearly audible, KAH was visible and sometimes audible. No WV, MN or FRC tonight, although MN and AMA had been visible and briefly audible this afternoon.
Between midnight and 12:30 I tried for LowFER EAR, but QRN was continuously >S9, so I eventually returned to 22 m. It was dead except for the mid-band racket, but I imagine that will be a different matter by morning again.
Re: Potentially Interesting ...
Posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 10, 2019 at 12:54:23.
In reply to Re: Potentially Interesting ... posted by John Davis on June 10, 2019
Tnx John for the info. I just measured the max output at abt 90v pp with a 50 ohm load so guess something is definitely amiss. I am in the process of contacting Chris at Blackcat to see what his thoughts are...probably be simplest to get a new xmtr. It is keying fine and wave shape looks good...maybe a super QRP beacon?
In the meantime WAS will be QRT. I will try to do some listening for a change. Hearing KAH In NC
Thanks for the help.....73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 10, 2019 at 15:04:25.
With WAS down for a while, I will be doing some listening. At 1426, 1448 & 1501Z 6/10/19 have heard a few IDs from KAH, so far peaking RST 339 with deep QSB into the noise floor for several minutes. Sometimes can copy up to 5-6 IDs in a string. Receiving freq around 13567.65 khz. Receiving with the Ten Tec RX340 and the xmit antenna, a 22m dipole at about 40 feet and broad side NW/SE. Hearing ODX In NC
73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 10, 2019 at 16:45:14.
Am hearing ODX at 1630, 1632 & 1636Z 6/10/19 around 13566.308khz. Sigs similar to KAH at RST 339 down on QSB into the noise. Occasional peaks at 439 and copying several IDs in a string. Same rcving setup as with KAH. ODX 13566.480 !!!
73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by John Davis on June 10, 2019 at 18:43:25.
In reply to Beacons (fwd) posted by Steve VA3SC on June 01, 2019
Congratulations, Steve. Copied you in SE Kansas this morning. I've been listening each session since your announcement, but my CW filter wasn't wide enough to copy you when tuned to the initially posted frequency. Fortunately, it was loud enough while I was tuning the dial today to recognize it as CW.
It was no longer as loud by the time I got it tuned in and showing on the Argo display for frequency measurement purposes, but I was still able to get a passable recording for a while. The MP3 file attached to this message is an excerpt from the recording right about 9:30 AM CDT. The OTHR pulser cranked up shortly after, as seen in the screen capture, disrupting further recording opportunities.
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 10juna62.jpg
File Attachment 2: odx.mp3
Re: Potentially Interesting Day (Mon.)...
The usual group were clustered around the watering hole at 9 AM CDT, plus an early appearance by K5LVB, whose WSPR signal looks considerably better today. Throughout mid-day, USC was intermittently present, NC and EH were generally around, and WM and the two SIWs were also frequently there. MTI was frequently audible to.
That pretty much remained the status quo up through 5 PM CDT, in fact. Between 4:30 and 5:00 I did a few quick band scans and was rewarded with the return of WV. Still no FRC this week, but I was able to copy ODX again nicely before the pulser resumed. Only moderate codar this afternoon.
Hearing WV Into NC
Posted by Bill Stewart, K4JYS on June 11, 2019 at 13:29:58.
I am hearing WV... probably the strongest & most consistent Hifer sig I have heard...now NDB2 again, at last!
(1327Z...6/11/19) around 13554.851khz. Started hearing it at 1309z and still strong, about 4-5 S-units above the noise floor. Some QSB but staying copy-able. The dits, dahs and ID surely standout.
Congrats to the op....73 de Bill K4JYS
Posted by John Davis on June 12, 2019 at 03:15:00.
The Illinois beacons are problematic at solar min, NDB2 in particular. My 72 hr marathon at HF, combined with pre-solstice conditions, is helping, however.
Illinois has one of highest HiFER "populations" in the US, right up there with CA, AZ, and NC. Unfortunately, of the Big Four Beacon States, IL is the closest to me and I'm smack in the middle of the first skip zone. Signals go right on overhead and onward to parts unknown most days. It takes geomagnetic storms, summer sun angles, and/or possibly Sporadic-E events to knock some of the signals groundward at this QTH.
(There's also a ring of stations that are just at the edge of first skip zone from here, which also are somewhat dependent on those same events but which tend to appear a little more often: GNB, K5LVB, MN, and formerly PBJ. A little farther out and thus slightly less dependent on special conditions: WV, MTI.)
Now, during the past two solar maximums, the Illinois crew tended to all be present or all gone at more or less the same time, so the presence of one was a sign they were all likely available. But that's not the case now. The two SIWs can be present without WM, or WM may be fine with no sign of SIW. Once in a very rare while, one SIW will be OK, but the other will be missing--and those two are diplexed into the same antenna! And poor NDB2 seems to be at just the worst possible distance from here, possessed of a nice signal when it does make it through, but requiring voodoo incantations or just the right phase of the moon or something in order to make the trip.
That's why I was delighted with my late morning band scan today, around 11 AM CDT. First, I ran across WV again, who has been harder copy here lately. I noted that it was up several Hz from before, almost exactly on 13555.0 now. Then I tuned down to 13554, straining my ears for a shot at AZ, which is usually a hundred or so Hz higher. Instead, NDB2 came blasting through!
So, I made the screen capture shown here and finally got around to starting a recording too. A sample of that is in the attached MP3 file. I must apologize for the distortion, though. Part of it arises from the audio passing through my pre-Argo Dicke Fix clipper, rather than a separate attenuator cable, but some of it seems to be the result of the receiver's noise blanker mistaking stronger moments of the signal for noise pulses.
BTW, the 72+ hour 22 meter marathon is about to end, because of strong storms preparing to move through the area around midnight.
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 11junb72.jpg
File Attachment 2: NDB2.mp3
Lowfer EAR
24/7 reliable lowfer EAR still coming in nicely in daylight here.
(http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/lowfer/2019-June/047570.html)
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Lowfer EAR
Posted by John Davis on June 13, 2019 at 17:49:46.
In reply to Lowfer EAR posted by Garry, K3SIW on June 12, 2019
Here, at nearly twice the distance, EAR is nighttime only and subject to whims of late-night QRN. I had Argo running for almost 10 hours last night and saw pieces of EAR in four of them, from midnight to 4:10 AM CDT. The single complete ID of the night was at 3:30 AM. See attached capture.
This was part of my ongoing effort to capture EAR in every month of the year. June and July obviously require the most persistence, and I was beginning to wonder if this was going to be like the past two years when June tripped me up. Now if only July cooperates...and September, come to think of it, which proved a bear after last summer's drought finally broke.
I interrupted the recent 79 hour HiFER marathon each night briefly to try 1750 meters, but all three of those nights the static ended up being rougher than usual. It was still plentiful last night, but just enough less to allow a bit of signal through.
---------------------------------------------------------------
File Attachment 1: 13junEAR.jpg
Re: Potentially Interesting Day (Thur.)...
At mid-morning there were promising signs at the watering hole. NC was good (and above 13555.5, so it must have been a cool morning there), USC was detectable, EH was absent (probably off), both SIWs were strong, and MTI was intermittently present. WM appeared only briefly.
Neither WV nor NDB2 were around this morning, and everybody else on the band was also missing except for AMA (faint), ODX (variable QSB but mostly good) and KAH (a bit more QSB).
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Posted by Jerry on June 14, 2019 at 17:04:26.
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Or listen online at kfs:
http://69.27.184.62:8901/?tune=3927lsb
or
KPH Point Reyes:
http://198.40.45.23:8073/
or
Utah Web sdr:
http://websdr1.utahsdr.org:8901/
If you cannot get into the net on 80 meters you can listen and participate by
sending net control your thoughts at wa6owr@gmail.com
73,
Jerry WA6OWR
wspr timing issue on 136khz band
Posted by swlk5 on June 14, 2019 at 21:14:27.
Just an fyi... I've noticed for the past few days, it appears that WH2XXP's 136 khz band wspr signals are "off-time". Too much so to be decoded, looks like about 30 seconds fast. I can see the trace, but no decodes. I assume it is WH2XXP, as the trace is where he normally transmits.
Could someone check this out (verify)and let the op know of the situation if it is a problem?
Listening out of action, PVC still on
Posted by Ed Holland on June 15, 2019 at 00:56:44.
Hi Folks,
A falling tree branch brought down one leg of my "Random wire" dipole this week. The long-wire has been similarly afflicted, so HiFER reports will be postponed until facilities can be restored.
PVC is unaffected and operating as normal fromthe house mounted antenna.
Cheers
Ed SAQ transmission June 30
Posted by Mike Terry on June 15, 2019 at 14:28:57.
News from
the Alexander Association
Grimeton SAQ Veteran Radio Friends
www.alexander.n.se
SAQ Grimeton Transmission on June 30th, 2019.
The annual transmission on "Alexanderson Day" with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz with the call SAQ will take place Sunday, June 30th, 2019.
Two transmissions are scheduled as follows:
Startup of tuning at 10:30 (08:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 11:00 (09:00 UTC).
Startup of tuning at 13:30 (11:30 UTC) with a transmission of a message at 14:00 (12:00 UTC)
Both transmission events will be broadcasted live on our YouTube Channel.
NEW ! ONLINE RECEPTION REPORT FORM TO REPLACE E-MAIL REPORTS
We are introducing a new online SAQ reception report form to be used by listeners to report reception of any SAQ transmissions. We are kindly asking listeners not to send SAQ reception reports via E-mail.
QSL-reports to SAQ are kindly received via:
- Reception report form at alexander.n.se/receptionreport
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by postal mail to:
Alexander Association
Radiostationen
Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N
The 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
QSL-reports to SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
- Email to info@alexander.n.se
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by postal mail (see address above)
Two stations will be on the air most of the time.
The station will be open to visitors between 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
WELCOME!
World Heritage Grimeton Radio station and The Alexander Association
For further details, se grimeton.org or alexander.n.se
The Alexander Association Grimeton SAQ Veteran Radio Friends · Radiostationen Grimeton 72 · Grimeton 43298 · Sweden
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
Re: MN !!!
Posted by KMONAS on June 16, 2019 at 01:40:56.
In reply to MN !!! posted by John Davis on June 05, 2019
Excellent. Thank you for the report! Glad it finally made it through. Conditions have been tough.
-KM0NAS
Re: (Notes): Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Posted by Clint KA7OEI on June 16, 2019 at 05:29:56.
In reply to Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time posted by Jerry on June 14, 2019
Notes on 15 June, 2019 Lowfer net Present were: Because it was just the two of us, Jerry and I dominated and he was interested in the end-fed half wave, hence the quantity of information on that topic, below. 73, Clint Re: (Recording): Lowfer net
WA6OWR, Jerry; KA7OEI, Clint
Via email: AE0CQ, JohnJerry:
Clint:
John:
KA7OEI
Posted by John Davis on June 17, 2019 at 05:02:18.
In reply to Re: (Notes): Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time posted by Clint KA7OEI on June 16, 2019
Nest bet is to right-click and Save to your computer. It may stream OK, but could crash before completing the entire file (~12 MB).
websdr_2019-06-15_3927kHz.mp3
new 13MHz beacon
Posted by adrian chadd on June 18, 2019 at 04:43:51.
Hi! KK6VQK here.
I'm running an experimental beacon on 13563.2KHz or thereabouts. I'm in Oakland, CA. I'd be interested in any reports.
Thanks!
-adrian Re: SAQ transmission June 30
Posted by Mike Terry on June 21, 2019 at 14:20:33.
In reply to SAQ transmission June 30 posted by Mike Terry on June 15, 2019
SAQ “Alexanderson Day” Transmission Set for June 30
ARRL
06/20/2019
The annual “Alexanderson Day” transmission from SAQ in Grimeton, Sweden, will take place on June 30. The Alexanderson alternator will transmit on 17.2 kHz on the following schedule: Startup/tuning at 0830 UTC, and message transmission at 0900 UTC; startup/tuning at 1130 UTC, and message transmission at 1200 UTC.
Both events will be live streamed on YouTube. SAQ has introduced an online SAQ reception report form for listeners to report reception of any SAQ transmissions. This replaces the former email route.
Amateur Radio station SK6SAQ will be active on Alexanderson Day on or about 7.035 MHz and 14.035 MHz on CW, and 3.755 MHz on SSB. QSL via the SM QSL Bureau. Two stations will be on the air most of the time.
An article about Alexanderson Day, “The Legacy of Radio at Grimeton Station, SAQ,” appears on page 66 of the July 2019 issue of QST.
http://www.arrl.org/news/saq-alexanderson-day-transmission-set-for-june-30
Re: new 13MHz beacon
Posted by Ed Holland on June 21, 2019 at 18:07:48.
In reply to new 13MHz beacon posted by adrian chadd on June 18, 2019
Hi Adrian,
I'm just across the Bay, and will see if there's any chance to hear you.
Ed
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Posted by Jerry on June 21, 2019 at 21:21:48.
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
Or listen online at kfs:
http://69.27.184.62:8901/?tune=3927lsb
or
KPH Point Reyes:
http://198.40.45.23:8073/
or
Utah Web sdr:
http://websdr1.utahsdr.org:8901/
If you cannot get into the net on 80 meters you can listen and participate by
sending net control your thoughts at wa6owr@gmail.com
73,
Jerry WA6OWR
17.8 kHz TACAMO
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on June 22, 2019 at 02:29:32.
Wideband TACAMO transmission is underway at 0228Z on 17.2 kHz. Re: Lowfer net 3927Khz Saturday morning
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Posted by John Davis on June 22, 2019 at 16:13:26.
In reply to Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time posted by Jerry on June 21, 2019
No notes from Clint this week, who was gone, as were Dave and KI6R. Eb Keller and I participated via KFS WebSDR, as did two anonymous addresses. Jerry discussed antenna construction at his QTH, and I reported on the (minimal) progress of the new homesite preparation here, and prospects for more rain.
The MP3 recording this time is only about 1.3 MB in size so it should stream adequately; but as always, right-click and Save if you want to keep it for the long term.
websdr_2019-06-22_3927kHz.mp3
Re: Listening out of action, PVC still on
Posted by John Davis on June 22, 2019 at 17:38:09.
In reply to Listening out of action, PVC still on posted by Ed Holland on June 15, 2019
PVC is unaffected and operating as normal
Although I am greatly belated in doing so, I can confirm this to have been true.
It had been a few weeks since I last saw the dotted-line signature of PVC on Argo and had heard nothing further aurally, but the night of Thursday the 13th was different. It started out much the same as others recently...conditions deteriorating throughout the afternoon until little or no activity remained on the band by 5 PM CDT, then an upturn around 7 PM, an hour and a half before sunset. NC returned with a nice signal, then USC made an appearance, and by 7:07 MTI was booming in at the top of each minute. From 7:40 PM, the SIW slant and WSPR signals began in earnest, and by 8:10 PM the dotted line of PVC began manifesting from time to time on 13555.530 kHz (around the same time SIW slant began exhibiting multipath Doppler). K5LVB QRSS and WSPR showed up shortly thereafter.
The SIWs faded out for several minutes at 8:30, then the slant mode returned faintly until around 9:05 PM. After that, the PVC dotted-line made a little stronger appearance, but still didn't reach audibility. West coast codar picked up strength within minutes too, unfortunately. After 10 o'clock, everybody pretty much went away for an extended period. Before 11:00, NC and PVC returned intermittently.
From 11:35 PM to 12:25 AM, codar got much stronger. When it appeared, I retreated to the truck for a late night snack, out of the reach of hungry flies and giant killer vampire mosquitos. Bad timing! Right in the middle of the worst of the codar is when PVC suddenly experienced a dramatic enhancement that (should have) brought it to full audibility for around a minute and a half, despite the QRM.
I say "should have" because I didn't return to the shack until three minutes before the top of the hour, when the enhancement had passed...but from the timing, it was unmistakably PVC.
John
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File Attachment 1: 13junPVC.jpg
Re: 17.8 kHz TACAMO
Hopefully they'll finish up by the time SAQ is set to use the channel on the 30th. Who'd have thought we'd ever see potential congestion down at 17.2 kHz!
Re: Listening out of action, PVC still on
Posted by Ed Holland on June 24, 2019 at 20:05:32.
In reply to Re: Listening out of action, PVC still on posted by John Davis on June 22, 2019
Thanks John,
That is a great report with interesting details. It all makes me wonder what causes our signals to be audible at various times of day, with long and short timescale events. Perhaps, in addition to the levels of ionisation in the reflecting layer, there are effects akin to reflections of from a fluid surface, which are focused and defocused by the pattern of waves and ripples?
Thanks for listening.
I should have the receiving station at PVC restored very shortly. Almost got to it this weekend, but car repairs won my time instead.
Cheers
Ed
WM beacons have gone on vacation.
Posted by Mike N8OOU on June 26, 2019 at 23:54:22.
All;
Both WM Lowfer and Hifer beacons are taking a short vacation and are off the air. Hopefully both will power back up and operate normally in a couple weeks.
Thanks to all who listen.
Mike 73.
Fwd: Hifer PBJ
Posted by Chris Waldrup on June 27, 2019 at 14:51:20.
From: Matthew Burns
Date: June 26, 2019
To: kd4pbj
Hi Chris,
I just wanted to let you know that I am receiving HiFer PBJ here in Rock, WV at 1:42 EST. The antenna is a 20 meter dipole about 10 feet off of the ground. I haven't checked the calibration of my receiver today but the frequency seems to be about 13557382 Hz. Attached is a screenshot.
Thanks,
Matt Burns
kc8com
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File Attachment 1: 0626PBJ.jpg
WAS Back On - Freq. Change
GM Hifers, Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time
I just fired WAS back up after replacing the defective osc/amp IC. I have adjusted the output to about 1.4v p-p on the scope. Think that translates to a bit over 4.7mw to the 22m dipole. The new IC moved the freq. up to around 13.566 mhz. I would appreciate any reports...should it be heard?...esp if I am interfering with another beacon or if the new freq. has QRM from ISM xmsns. I will let it run a while on the bench and will probably be doing some tweaking freq. wise. I have packaged the xmtr with a 12vdc p/s and it will be up on the wall. The xmtr is still slow to re-start after loosing power so will need to address that problem since it will not be easy to get to.
Tnx...73 de Bill K4JYS/WAS
Posted by Jerry on June 28, 2019 at 23:47:12.
Reminder: Lowfer net +/- 3927Khz Saturday morning 0800 California time Re: new 13MHz beacon
Or listen online at kfs:
http://69.27.184.62:8901/?tune=3927lsb
or
KPH Point Reyes:
http://198.40.45.23:8073/
or
Utah Web sdr:
http://websdr1.utahsdr.org:8901/
If you cannot get into the net on 80 meters you can listen and participate by
sending net control your thoughts at wa6owr@gmail.com
73,
Jerry WA6OWR
Posted by adrian chadd on June 30, 2019 at 03:34:19.
In reply to Re: new 13MHz beacon posted by Ed Holland on June 21, 2019
hi! cool, let me know if you pick it up! I'd like to see if i'm getting out at all.
It's going into a 20m hamstick tuned to the beacon frequency with a very poor counterpoise right now. I hope to improve that soon.
SAC Grimeton - today (June 30)
Posted by Mike Terry on June 30, 2019 at 14:32:16.
Alexanderson Day, June 30th, 2019
The Alexander association is greeting all visitors welcome to the Alexanderson Day , Sunday June 30th, 2019 between 10 am and 4 pm. This year we will try to do two transmissions with the SAQ transmitter during the day.
https://alexander.n.se/category/news/?lang=en
potrzebie