MSF Rugby
Posted by Mike Terry on July 02, 2004 at 02:46:27
U K. A LONGWAVE GOODBYE TO THE RUGBY VLF STATION
Eight of the twelve 820' masts at Rugby were due to be demolished by DSM Demolition contractors during the evening of 19th June 2004. The Police had insisted that the demolition should take place in the dark and without prior publicity in order to avoid having to close the M1. As it was, they still had to close the A5 and A428 immediately prior to the demolition taking place.
The method of demolition was to simply cut one set of the four support guy ropes for each mast. The tension on the other three support ropes then pulled the mast in the desired direction. Demolition charges were applied to each of the three stay ropes at their base, the metal bracket joining the ropes to the concrete stay block having been pre-
weakened. The 'shaped' cutting charges were linked together to fire simultaneously for each individual mast.
The eight masts were due to be demolished in two phases. The first phase of the three most northerly masts went down at about 21.45 with two seconds between each mast. It was a text-book demolition with all three masts falling 'clean' and in exactly the right place.
The second phase of the five southerly masts was due to take place two minutes after the first phase, this being the time taken for the demolition engineer to move from one firing point to the other. The count-down began and we all expected a similar result to the first phase. Alas, it was not to be. Nothing happened. Half an hour later they had reconnected the command lines and tried again. The fourth mast went down but none of the others.
Half an hour later they tried again. The fifth mast went down but not the final three! An inspection of the command lines revealed that each had been 'nibbled' by rabbits! It seems that bunnies are partial to detonation cord. Despite the cord having been laid down a maximum of eight hours before, all the southern command lines had been severed!
At about 01.00 on Sunday morning, new detonation cord having been applied to each charge, they finally pressed the button and the final three masts fell, slowly and imperceptibly at first, then with increasing speed, hitting the ground in a shower of sparks as the rivets sheared away.
The sound of the demolition was distinctive with the bang of the cutting charges followed by a distinct "crinkling" noise from failing rivets and a final thunderous roar as the 250m masts folded into the ground. Despite the unexpected delay, the masts fell in the right places and as a demolition exercise it has been a great success.
With only four masts remaining the Rugby skyline all looks very different (July-August Medium Wave News via DXLD)
Transmitter on 22300 Hertz active again!
Posted by Harald on July 02, 2004 at 08:55:42
As expected the unidentified transmitter, which I assume is active between 10 o'clock AM UTC and 1 o'clock PM UTC on each 2nd of the month, if this day is not a Saturday, was active again.
Today it was the time between 10:52 UTC AM and 10:56 UTC AM. The signal, which started with a carrier, can be seen on the spectrogram below.
Re: MSF Rugby
Posted by Clive Carver on July 02, 2004 at 18:08:18
I think that should be GBR Rugby. GBR being the old 16Khz service. MSF the 60KHz time signal, does however as far as I know, have its aerial strung between some of those masts. Hopefully the ones still in place, as I still have a MSF signal as at 2200GMT 2nd July 2004.
Re: MSF Rugby
Posted by alan g3NYK on July 02, 2004 at 21:09:36
Yes the 60kHz MSF transmission takes place from a "T" slung between the two easterly masts ( at least that was the status mid last year) that are shown as still standing on the "demolition chart" on the Subterranean Britanica site. It is ironic that a contemporary site, Grimeton, has just been granted World Heritage Status. Mind you it would take a lot of pennies in the collecting pot to keep painting and safety testing, and insuring those 850 foot towers. There are a lot of smaller ones still to go on that site I think, as all the HF aerial farm is yet to be demolished.
Alan G3NYK
Re: Rugby
Posted by Mike Terry on July 04, 2004 at 02:07:57
Thanks to Colin and Alan for clarifying matters.
The BDXC notes the following:
A link to watch the demolition of the VLF Rugby mast's .
http://tinyurl.com/2fpcp or http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/r/rugby_radio/index70.shtml
Note the 60khz time clock is still in use at Rugby.
(BDXC)
Message of SAQ successful received!
Posted by Harald on July 04, 2004 at 06:05:31
I received the first transmission of SAQ on July 4th, 2004 at my home town at 48N42, 8E58 successfully.
The signal of SAQ are clearly visible (look at the spectrogram, with all the data)
Nil in MA
Posted by John Andrews on July 04, 2004 at 08:59:59
No successful copy of SAQ here in Massachusetts this morning. I couldn't detect the signal on the 0830 and 1030 UTC runs. The station was audible on the 1230 transmission, but could not be copied through the noise.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: Nil in MA
Posted by Ray, W2RS on July 04, 2004 at 09:08:09
John and Harald,
I also was unable to copy the message, but at 0830 I copied SAQ RST 219, enough to get the callsign and a few letters of Morse. At 1030 and 1230 I could only tell there was a signal there, sometimes, but no copy at all. My noise level was lower at 0830 than the other two, which might account for the difference. I recorded it and will run it through Argo later, but doubt it will make much difference.
73,
Ray
Re: Nil in MA
Posted by Ray, W2RS on July 04, 2004 at 12:03:50
I ran the 0830 transmission through Argo, and as I had suspected, my ears through my 30 Hz active audio filter (Autek QF-1) did better than Argo's CW mode which operated on my FT-102's 200 Hz IF crystal filters alone. That's what usually happens when trying to receive CW signals. However, when I put Argo into QRSS3 mode, it detected a steady signal approximately 20 Hz wide, but of course could not copy SAQ's 10 WPM CW.
73,
Ray
Re: MSF Rugby
Posted by Harald on July 04, 2004 at 12:56:15
Is MSF the only active transmitter in Rugby? Are there still shortwave transmitters in service or was all shortwave equipment in Rugby dismantled between 1980 and 2000?
But the idea of making there a national monument is excellent!
Further SAQ Copy
Posted by Harald on July 04, 2004 at 14:42:09
At my reception site in Germany at 48N43 and 8E58, I was also able to receive the second - unannounced message of SAQ at 8:59 UTC (look at the spectrogram).
Also at 10:06 UTC I was able to receive the signal of SAQ in an excellent quality, as you can see on the spectrogram.
The spectrogram I made of SAQs transmission at 10:30 UTC shows very clearly the signal of SAQ. Note the frequency inconstanies of SAQs signal on the spectrogram in comparision to that of the transmitter on 17.8 kHz.
Also at 12:30 UTC, I succeeded in the reception of SAQs signal, as you can see on the spectrogram.
The last transmission of SAQ at 13:00 UTC, I was also able to receive in an excellent quality, as you can see on the spectrogram.
Harald
Moderator's note: The spectrograms are not presently available.
Re: Nil in MA
Posted by lloyd chastant on July 04, 2004 at 16:01:58
Also nothing from hr-Maryland..
de Lloyd W3NF
vacuum capacitors for antenna tuning
Posted by Dan Marx on July 04, 2004 at 18:58:01
Forgive my ignorance. Just found the website.
Do variable vacuum capacitors, which range from 5-4000 pF, have any application for tuning longwave-longwire antennas.
Reply to djmarx@sover.net if you wish.
Re: vacuum capacitors for antenna tuning
Posted by John Andrews on July 04, 2004 at 21:20:02
Dan,
It's not an ignorant question at all. You could certainly use a vacuum variable for antenna tuning at LF. Understand, though, that very few "longwire" antennas are all that long at these frequencies. At 185 kHz, a quarter wavelength is 1330 feet. Most wire antennas will fall short of that.
The result is that to tune a "short" wire to ground for receiving, you generally need to supply inductance, as the antenna has a capacitive reactance. It's entirely reasonable to use a fixed inductor and do the tuning with a capacitor, and the wide range of some vacuum variables is attractive.
On the other hand, if you have to go out an buy one, even at eBay prices, you may be less excited. You are paying for voltage and current ratings that are way beyond what you need for receiving. You could switch in much smaller capacitors to build up a wide tuning range.
But there are applications. I use a 4000 pF vacuum variable to tune a transmitting loop at 137 kHz. This is for an FCC-licensed experimental station. The antenna current at 200 watts is about 16 amperes, and there is considerable voltage across the capacitor as well. Air variables would have to be huge, and the vacuum cap is a good solution.
The tuned wire antenna for receiving can be quite good in a quiet location. Other approaches include smaller loop antennas or active whip antennas mounted out in the clear.
John Andrews, W1TAG/WD2XES
Re: Nil in MA
Posted by Ray, W2RS on July 05, 2004 at 18:04:53
I've now run my recordings of the 1030 and 1230 transmissions through Argo in QRSS3 mode. The signal that was there at 0830 was not detected at all at 1030. At 1230, it might have been there at times, but if so it was way down in the noise compared to 0830, either that or my eyes had seen too many Argo noise patterns by then. As I mentioned in my earlier note, by ear on CW (with very good filtering) I could get the SAQ call and occasional letters of Morse at 0830, but no intelligence at all on the other two transmissions.
73,
Ray
Re: vacuum capacitors for antenna tuning
Posted by Dan Marx on July 05, 2004 at 22:00:57
John: Thanks for your input. I'm thinking about 300-feet for the antenna length. What would you suggest for a VALUE for an inductor? You are right about costs of vacuum caps. Is it safe to buy a USED vac cap? Do they 'deteriorate' with use on such high voltages and currents? Fair Radio (in OH) sells a USED 5-1000 pF Jennings for $210. Would this be a 'wise move'? Would value your opinion. Dan Marx, djmarx@sover.net.
Re: vacuum capacitors for antenna tuning
Posted by Tim Brannon on July 05, 2004 at 23:40:23
I built a LF tuner several years ago for my 50 foot wire receiving antenna, using 10 foot scraps of 24 gauge plastic-insulated telephone wire. I close-wound a coil of about 250 turns on a 3 inch cardboard mailing tube. A shorter, fatter coil would yield a better Q, but this is not at all critical for receiving. I stripped about 1 inch of insulation off each end of the 10 foot lengths and simply twisted them together and soldered, leaving the twisted "pigtails" to make convenient taps. I never calculated the inductance, though this is easy enough to do. I used this coil in parallel with a variable capacitor between the random wire and ground, and picked the best low Z tap for the receiver near the ground end of the coil. With all of the turns and about 200 pF of capacitance I could resonate the 50 foot wire at 185 kHz. I just used a garden variety dual-section 365 pF air variable capacitor from the junk box.
Re: vacuum capacitors for antenna tuning
Posted by John Andrews on July 06, 2004 at 16:06:47
Dan,
I'm with Tim on this one. If you have to buy a vacuum variable, and this is a receiving application, don't bother! A multi-gang air variable will be cheaper and smaller. If you don't have any, then Fair Radio or Surplus Sales of Nebraska would be good sources.
There's one other advantage to using an air variable: They don't die a horrible, sickening death when you drop a pair of pliers on them. Did that once (in a commercial setting) to a vacuum variable, and I almost cried.
Regarding inductance values for tuning random wires, I'd agree with Tim. Loss is a minor issue for receiving, so you can play with some really lousy coils. If you have the variable cap, and a tunable receiver, you should easily be able to determine whether a given value of inductance is too low or too high.
Tips: The better performing antennas of this type are usually located at a distance from the house or other noise sources. Tuning would be done outside, and a coax line used to the house. Considerable noise reduction may result from using transformers to break up any ground loops. Bringing the end of the wire into the shack and tuning there will likely result in disappointment, unless you are in a very quiet location. Of course, you are now talking about going outside to retune the antenna, or doing it remotely.
John Andrews
When was the transmitter Criggion shut down?
Posted by Harald on July 09, 2004 at 06:51:11
Officially the transmitter GBZ was shutdown on March 31st, 2003, but in opposite to GBR Rugby, which made a last transmission at the morning of April 1st, 2003, which I received, tzere was nothing similiar like this at GBZ Criggion. The radiation of the signals on 19.6 kHz, which is the frequency from GBZ did not show any change after April 1st, 2003.
Was the transmitter Criggion already shut-down at an earlier point of time and only spare unit until the end of March 2003?
Was there a last transmission of Criggion? If yes, when?
Fwd: fiji captures from 3d2kl
Posted by Webmaster on July 10, 2004 at 20:03:40
Subj: fiji captures from 3d2kl From: (Laurence KL1X)
Ive put some 137Khz captures and signal data from zl4ol/zm2e/3d2kl on my web site - work still in progress on non digital shack photos!
Laurence KL1x/5
may take some time to load on dial up...
http://myweb.cableone.net/flow
KPH OTA For Nighr of Nights V
Posted by Richard Dillman (FWD) on July 11, 2004 at 02:50:39
From: ddillman@igc.org (Richard Dillman)
Here's a reminder that KPH will be on the air this Monday, 12 July, for the fifth annual "Night of Nights".
This Night of Nights is special. It marks the 100th anniversary of KPH which began life in 1904 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco (thus the PH in the call sign).
===================================================
HISTORIC MORSE CODE RADIO STATION WILL RETURN TO THE AIR
Former RCA Station KPH To Be Heard Once Again
In the fifth annual event that has become known as the "Night of Nights", historic Morse code radio station KPH will return to the air in commemoration of the last commercial Morse message sent in the United States.
KPH, the ex-RCA coast station located north of San Francisco, will return to the air for commemorative broadcasts on 12 July at 1701 PDT (13 July at 0001 GMT), 5 years and one minute after the last commercial Morse transmission in the US. These on-the-air events are intended to honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade on ships and at coast stations around the world and made it one of honor and skill.
Transmissions are expected to continue until at least midnight PDT (0700GMT).
For this fifth annual Night of Nights one frequency for the equally historic coast station KFS may possibly be activated. We are working now to repair the antenna needed for the KFS transmission.
Veteran Morse operators, including former KPH staff members, will be on duty at the receiving station at Point Reyes, CA listening for calls from ships and sending messages just as they did for so many years before Morse operations were shut down.
The transmitters are located 18 miles south of Point Reyes in Bolinas, CA at the transmitting station established in 1913 by the American Marconi Co. The original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas will be used to activate frequencies in all the commercial maritime HF bands and on MF as well.
KPH will transmit on 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.8 and 22477.5kc on HF and 500 and 426kc on MF.
If KFS is activated transmissions will be on 12695.5kc.
These frequencies have been made available through the generous cooperation of Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH and KFS licenses.
Many of the transmitters will be 50s vintage RCA sets. Power output will be 4 to 5kW. The transmitting antennas include a Marconi T for MF, double extended Zepps for 4, 6 and 8Mc and H over 2s for 12, 16 and 22Mc.
Operators will listen for calls from ships on 4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0 and 22280.5kc on HF and 500kc on MF.
KPH, and KFS if activated, will send traffic lists, weather and press broadcasts as well as special commemorative messages, many of which will be sent by hand. At other times the KPH and KFS "wheel" will be sent to mark the transmitting frequencies.
Reception reports may be sent to:
Ms. DA Stoops P.O. Box 381 Bolinas CA 94924-0381 USA
Denice is a former KPH operator and was the first female telegrapher hired at the station.
Members of the public are invited to visit the receiving station for this event. The station will be open to visitors beginning at 1500PDT (3:00pm). The station is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and is on the route to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Watch for a cypress lined driveway on the right about a mile past the entry to Coast Guard station NMC.
KPH is operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the National Park Service.
Further information may be found on the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site at http://www.radiomarine.org or by contacting Richard Dillman at +1 415-990-7090 (email: ddillman@igc.org) or Tom Horsfall at +1 510-237-9535 (email: wa6ope@hotmail.com).
VE7TIL 2200m beacon tests ongoing...
Posted by Scott Tilley, VE7TIL on July 13, 2004 at 15:49:05
Please see the 'TIL' beacon status page for the details of my on going TX tests on the 2200m band.
73 Scott
vlf transmitter maintenance schedules
Posted by sharon on July 13, 2004 at 17:32:44
I need to do a VLF survey and am looking for the down- time schedules of both the Cutler Maine (NAA) and Jim Creek Washington (Seattle NLK) transmitters. I have a 12 yr old schedule and need an updated resourse. Any help? Thank you.
The 480 metre high TV-mast Oklahoma
Posted by Harald on July 15, 2004 at 07:12:32
I read in a German book (printed in 1963) from a 480 metre high TV mast in Oklahoma, which stands on an insulator. Because a TV mast designed for VHF and UHF is normally grounded at its bottom, I suppose this mast was designed also for some transmission services in the LF or VLF-range. Has someone more informations?
Re: The 480 metre high TV-mast Oklahoma
Posted by Laurence on July 15, 2004 at 12:53:59
Looking for info locally as this is down the road but also see http://www.phatnav.com/wiki/wiki.phtml?title=List_of_World's_Tallest_Structures
Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by Bow on July 16, 2004 at 09:03:20
Hey all...
I am thinking about building a Hifer beacon using a tube transmitter.
Has anyone done this?
I was thinking of doing the tube transmitter and some type of old- technology keyer...
but I can not find any schematics on the net..
Anyone have any ideas?
Bow
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by John Davis on July 16, 2004 at 10:41:52
It has been done, but (a) the fellow doing it has no Internet access or ambitions, so the plans are not available; and (b) it has become conspicuously evident that his measurement of output power is not very accurate.
Overall, I would not recommend the tube approach for HiFER operation. You will not obtain the frequency stability needed for slow CW or other digital modes, and conventional speed Morse at legal power has a hard time penetrating the noise levels in that Indiustrial-Scientific-Medical band. Those noise levels will be increasing over the next few years as RFID tags begin to replace bar codes on merchandise and stores install the readers necessary to query them.
John
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by Bow on July 16, 2004 at 13:30:35
John,
Thanks for the information.
Maybe I will try a crystal controled lowfer setup instead...
Bow
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by Ed Gelinas on July 16, 2004 at 23:08:47
Hi Bow,
If your interested, there is something called a "Muntz A-M" xmtr ckt on the Internet. It uses a 6BE6 to do everything. The guy designed it for the .54-1.7Mhz BC band, but it may have potential at 22Mtrs. The addr is: http://www.dogstar.dantimax.dk/tubestuf/amtx-1.htm (Whew!)
Or you might look into the 12v plate & screen tubes that were used in automobile radios in the late 50s and early 60s. The plate impedance is gonna be really high as the typical Ip is only uAmps, but I'm sure you could get 4-5mW out of one @ 13Mhz. Just a thought.
good luck & 73, Ed G.
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by tom NU4G on July 17, 2004 at 00:58:00
Don't blame Bow for the original idea, we both came up with it about the same time. We weren't going to try to build an 833 hartley or anything... heehee.
The 12 volt space charge tubes were part of the original idea. No way we could compete with HI using them. Just happen to have several 12K5's on the shelf 6AJ5 might also do well at 12 volts B+. I have some receivers that use them at 24, so we shall see. :-)
I just need to get off my duff, and pull a design out of same and get the thing on the air. If it works well, then maybe a tube LowFer eventually as well.
T
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by tom NU4G on July 17, 2004 at 01:05:35
As for stability, it will be crystal controlled. Several folks are using Epson programmable modules as we speak for hifer and lowfer use. I have some ovens that can be recrystalled for this project. As to power levels, the idea was to use something like a 12K5 with 12v B+ Be hard pressed to get more than 3-5 mw out of one of those. Plus my Borrowed HP 435A power meter will help in assuring my output is less than "The Beacon That Shall Not Be Named" And yea, I know the one you are talking about.
Tom
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by Bow on July 18, 2004 at 02:23:55
Hi there Tom!
Fancy meeting you here... ;)
yes, crystal control is a must.
I am not totally set on Hifer, I may try Medfer or Lowfer as Tom tries HiFer... just to be different, but in the same boat... ;)
Thanks for the link Ed.
I happen to have a 6BE6 in the stash...
I saw that transmitter while I was looking for an LPAM tube project, then I settled for the AES Phono Oscillator that uses a 12SA7-GT, but is not crystal controled.
I have thought of building a clone of that kit but using a crystal oscillator.
Re: Hifer Beacon and Tubes...
Posted by John Davis on July 18, 2004 at 16:10:15
>>> my Borrowed HP 435A power meter will help in assuring my output is less than "The Beacon That Shall Not Be Named" >>>
Excellent plan. The key thing in this band is not so much the power that the final can produce, but how much is actually going out the coax. As long as a person can accurately control that and keep the carrier frequency stable, all is well.
Good luck!
John
Historic radio broadcast to be recalled in Maine
Posted by Mike Terry on July 19, 2004 at 14:57:42
Monday July 19, 2004
BANGOR, Maine (AP) A groundbreaking event in radio history will be recalled next week in Belfast, the small Maine city that played a key role in an overseas broadcast that took place nearly 80 years ago.
On March 14, 1925, an experimental station of the Radio Corporation of America received and retransmitted to the rest of the nation the first live, trans-Atlantic long-wave radio broadcast.
The full story can be found at:
CBS4Boston.com/menews/ME--HistoricBroadcast-en/resources_news_html
Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz ! Who ?
Posted by Peter Knol on July 19, 2004 at 18:42:41
Hello Beacon DXers,
Right now (22h36 utc on July 19th 2004) I see a Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz. I think it is not listen in the LWCA freq. list. Does anyone knows who this is ?
73, Peter PA1SDB in JO33KH / The Netherlands
Re: Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz ! Who ?
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 19, 2004 at 21:40:57
Peter,
That signal is from Bill Ashlock in Andover, Massachusetts. His contact info is under "WA" in the operator list on this site.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz ! Who ?
Posted by Peter Knol on July 20, 2004 at 04:27:04
Hello John,
Tnx for your information. He is listed in the LWCA frequency list on 13555.140 KHz but actualy his x-tal is shaking on 13555,465 Khz.
This is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but acualy the needle is in a haystack at a other farm... :-)
I think the HiFers will get more reports if the listed frequency is more uptodate. So pse opperators, check your frequency and send a update to LWCA !
73, Peter, PA1SDB / JO33KH / Appingedam / The Netherlands
Radio Caroline could be revived
Posted by Mike Terry on July 20, 2004 at 17:40:39
Sun 18th Jul 2004
A proposed Ramsey-based long wave radio station could revive the name Radio Caroline.
With less than a year before it goes on air, Paul Rusling, the Chief Executive of Isle of Man International Broadcasting, the company behind the project, says he is undecided of a name but hasn't ruled anything out.(audio of Paul Rusling interview at http://www.manxradio.com/ ) .
Apparently the name "Radio Caroline" was registered by their organisation some years ago.
Re: Radio Caroline could be revived
Posted by Fred on July 21, 2004 at 15:16:29
Radio Caroline has never gone away !!!
After the Ross Revenge came in transmissions fron Eire on 6.295 started.
Since then its been on various satelite's & is now on both worldspace & Sky Digital.
Caroline does not need reviving, she never went away !!
The official voice of "The Lady" can be found here http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk/
Fred
Re: Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz ! Who ?
Posted by Bill Ashlock on July 21, 2004 at 22:11:05
Peter,
Sorry to put you through all the haystacking! I moved the 'worm' (as it is called in the states) up to .465ish just a week ago so it would be seen on all the 'better' viewing screens. :) I've been promising to modulate this beacon with my normal 'Wm' graphic but I'm having so much fun with the 'worm' reports (now the shark) that I've put that off. The worm rides about 10Hz high when the weather is hot and dry and 10Hz low when it's raining. The worm also jumps up and down a few Hz when the wind is up. This is all due to inadequate buffering between the oscillator and the output stage, which can easily be fixed, but.......
Thanks for the report (also to JA).
Bill Ashlock Andover, MA
JY beacon on 326 kHz?
Posted by Bow on July 23, 2004 at 10:14:42
Hello all,
I am chasing some local NDB's and on 326 kHz, I am picking up "JY".
I looked at the AirNav site {http://www.airnav.com/navaids/} and there is nothing listed.
The only thing I have found on the internet was an old 1999 log from a guy listing it as being in Houston, TX at 25 watts.
Does anyone have any information on this or can you point me in the right direction to find it?
Thanks
Bow
Re: JY beacon on 326 kHz?
Posted by Mitch VE3OT on July 23, 2004 at 20:28:39
Hi Bow:
JY is Houston/Nixin on 326 kHz.
(intercontinental - Walka ) 29.59.36N 95.12.54W Elevation 117 feet and power of 25 watts.
73 Mitch
Re: Shark fin pattern on 13.555,465 Mhz ! Who ?
Posted by Robert KB7AQD on July 23, 2004 at 20:40:54
Also seeing it via the W3EEE 22m "Grabulator" in PA on an almost daily basis! Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the QRM...
Who uses 1705-1800 kHz?
Posted by Robert KB7AQD on July 23, 2004 at 20:45:37
What navigation or maritime services currently use the 1705 to 1800 kHz range? If one ran a MEDFER station under the Part 15 field strength rules here, how much power could we run? I have heard data stations here, and wonder if these could be decoded with current data mode decoders?
Re: JY beacon on 326 kHz?
Posted by Bow on July 23, 2004 at 21:36:57
Thanks Mitch!
Re: Who uses 1705-1800 kHz?
Posted by Bow on July 23, 2004 at 21:40:53
Well, The Extended-AM band goes to 1710 khz...
For a Medfer, you are limited to 100 mw, under Part 15.
The odd thing about this whole Part 15 is, you need to be 100MW or under for ANY frequency transmition...
So why can you pretty much set up a beacon anywhere in the bands and be legal?
Re: Who uses 1705-1800 kHz?
Posted by John Davis on July 23, 2004 at 21:43:52
>>> What navigation or maritime services currently use the 1705 to 1800 kHz range?>>>
I don't know the specifics, but I gather the principal user is a type of position reporting system. These are presumably the data bursts we hear so much in that band.
>>>If one ran a MEDFER station under the Part 15 field strength rules here, how much power could we run?>>>
Well, 30 microvolts/meter at a distance of 30 meters (about 100 feet) is MUCH LESS than we can do with the alternate Part 15 provisions in the broadcast band. It is an effective radiated power of roughly 30 nanowatts, less than a thousandth of the power that is obtainable in a good MedFER installation!
John
Re: Who uses 1705-1800 kHz?
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 23, 2004 at 21:52:52
Bow,
The 100 milliwatt DC input with a 3 meter antenna rule applies to 510 to 1705 kHz only. No change was made when the AM broadcast band was expanded.
John Andrews
HiFER "MP" London ONT, visible on W3EEE 22M Grabulator...
Posted by Robert KB7AQD on July 24, 2004 at 01:00:57
In between numerous lines of QRM, "MP" seems to be putting a good signal into Pennsylvania tonight at 0455Z on the W3EEE website ARGO scope.
Re: MusicMann279 secures funding - correction
Posted by Mike Terry on July 25, 2004 at 13:33:23
Sunday, July 25, 2004 Media Network
Correction: Isle of Man International Broadcasting The Chief Executive of Isle of Man International Broadcasting, Paul Rusling, informs us that the story we published yesterday from a source on the Isle of Man was "riddled with inaccuracies" and was written by an untrained journalist. Paul Rusling assures us that the meeting was a private press briefing, and not a press conference, and no figures were announced. Those mentioned in the article are "pure speculation." We have deleted the item, although it remains online elsewhere. In future, we will only carry news about this project that we receive from the company itself.
http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/
Re: Radio Caroline could be revived
Posted by Mike Terry on July 24, 2004 at 03:46:01
Hi Fred,
Yes I agree, but there are many though who mourn the fact it has become a hobby station with a small listenership. I am a WorldSpace subscriber and avid Caroline listener since 1964 (over 40 years!)but there are only a few thousand at most of us.The UK satellite feed has to be specially tuned in as its not on the EPG so probably has only has a few hundred listeners.Don't know how many listen on the internet. No medium is portable so not attracting many listeners. Caroline on shortwave was not official, a pirate relay.
Paul Rusling is a true anorak and Caroline/free radio man (he was on board for some time)and wants to recreate the "old" feel of the station. I expect (but don't know) that both stations are collaborating on this.
Regards
Mike
WD2XFX
Posted by Eric KD5UWL on July 24, 2004 at 19:42:12
XFX now running DFCW60 at 137780.7 with 0.17 Hz separation and 120 watts in NE Oklahoma EM25.
Temp hifer from Okie
Posted by Laurence on July 26, 2004 at 12:32:11
Ive a slow 1 minute cycle GPS referenced sawtooth waveform running on 13.554920/930 into a dipole slung into a tree "beaming" North South.
Click on the link ref new hifer on the webpage to see what it looks like togther with LP higher up.
http://myweb.cableone.net/flow.
Cheers Laurence , Bartlesville, NE Oklahoma
Re: Temp hifer from Okie
Posted by lloyd chastant on July 26, 2004 at 13:15:46
I was wondering who that was --I had very nice copy on that this morning hr in Maryland..Can send you a capture if you'd like..
de Lloyd W3NF FM19MH
VLF Low Bit Rate DSP
Posted by Dave Rickett on July 27, 2004 at 16:16:00
Is there anyone else working on low bit rate dsp in the vlf? That is sourcing and detecting 1000 second or longer bits below 9 kHz.
Personal computers now have the performance to make it possible. 33 million sample frequency conversions work giving about 0.001 Hz frequency resolution with the ability to improve the signal to noise ratio. Hundreds of MB signal records are now readily stored to hard disk drives and then frequency converted to a single display.
Re: Radio Caroline could be revived
Posted by Fred on July 27, 2004 at 17:51:18
You may be able to hear Caroline in the UK after dark ON 1593 Khz from a Pirate relay in Eire ! (2.5 Kw I beleive)
Comes in fairly well on a portable in Birmingham during darkness hours when there's not too much QRM/N.
Happy DXing & maybe see you on board the Red Wreck during the RSL
Fred
Low and Medium Frequency Radio Scrap Book
Posted by Douglas Williams - KB4OER on July 28, 2004 at 08:17:28
Would someone please tell me which edition of Ken Cornell's "Low and Medium Frequency Radio Scrap Book" was the last (most recent) edition?
Re: Low and Medium Frequency Radio Scrap Book
Posted by John Andrews on July 28, 2004 at 08:45:59
Doug,
The last was the 10th edition. I think it was published around 1996, but I'm not sure.
John Andrews
Re: Low and Medium Frequency Radio Scrap Book
Posted by Mitch VE3OT on July 28, 2004 at 19:54:19
Right as usual John.
I have a couple of the 10th edition here, and dated 1996. Still a great reference.
Mitch
Hifer AZ down four days
Posted by Jim Mandaville on July 28, 2004 at 20:33:59
Hifer AZ in Tucson, AZ will be down 29 Jul through 1 Aug.
Re: Hifer AZ down four days
Posted by lloyd chastant on July 28, 2004 at 21:19:34
Jim, just a note to let you know I still hear your AZ cw from time to time here in Maryland-and I note on my pad I was copying you on the 22 July here..
de Lloyd W3NF
Re: VLF Low Bit Rate DSP
Posted by John Andrews on July 29, 2004 at 22:02:05
Dave,
I haven't heard of any activity or plans since you inquired last summer. The feeling at the time was that it would be very difficult to generate much useful radiated power. I seem to recall some discussion about the noise level, even in a very limited bandwidth, setting a pretty high threshold on detection.
So nothing new that I know of. Did you do any further work on the subject?
John Andrews
Lowest cost LF receiver
Posted by RJ Goos on July 31, 2004 at 17:54:37
Maybe the low-fers can help me...
Where can one find an inexpensive LF receiver, say in the rough range of 150-500 kHz? I don't need it for communications, I need it to help in the construction of a theremin (an early electronic musical instrument based on two or three LF oscillators). It only needs to be able to pick up a signal from oscillators a few feet away, so doesn't need to be very sophisticated.
Thanks,
RJ WD0EGC
Re: Lowest cost LF receiver
Posted by John Davis on July 31, 2004 at 23:58:20
Hmm, this sounds like a job for...Radio Shack.
Assuming they still bother with anything other than mainstream consumer appliances, that is. They used to have a number of inexpensive models with longwave coverage down to around 150kHz.
www.lwca.org
potrzebie