WWVB Harmonics? And ARRL 500 kHz experiment
Received a nice letter QSL some years ago for logging the 420 kHz harmonic of WWVB. The engineer said the station put out about 1 to 100w on this frequency, but had not recieved any QRM complaints.
Seeing the recent ARRL application for a 500 kHz experimental license, I wonder if any of you have logged WWVB on the 480 kHz harmonic? At my location, my ICOM IC703 and AOR Window Loop with the 500M ferrite longwave loop picks up a lot of static, and just a few beacons. Will design a larger aircore passive loop to help this little ferrite item out. Hope to listen for the ARRL experiments.
Any commercial maritime users still on 420-500 kHz, even if using data, rather than CW?
73 Re: WWVB Harmonics? And ARRL 500 kHz experiment
KB7AQD Robert
Posted by John Davis on July 01, 2005 at 22:58:50.
In Reply to WWVB Harmonics? And ARRL 500 kHz experiment posted by Robert on July 01, 2005 at 13:18:36.
WWVB harmonics have been greatly reduced in recent years as a result of the new transmitters and new antenna tuning systems.
John Re: Taldom Transmitter, Taldom, Russia and its special antenna
Posted by NM8R Scott in Michigan on July 03, 2005 at 10:54:21.
In Reply to Taldom Transmitter, Taldom, Russia and its special antenna posted by Harald on June 22, 2005 at 11:56:15.
Harald,
Thanks for posting the information about the Taldom site. It was very interesting.
The tower-jumper fellows - I wonder how they get access to such a site to engage in their hobby?! Not to mention it seems that jumping from a tower with guys wires every 120 degrees would be a bit hazardous...!
Scott NM8R in Michigan
SAQ 17.2 Kc
Posted by Scott NM8R in Michigan on July 03, 2005 at 11:10:23.
Did anyone hear, or see via SpecLab, the 17.2 Kc SAQ transmissions this morning?
I could see they were on the air from this site:
http://togapest.elte.hu/%7Esferix/vlf.jpg
Which is an online sferics receiver in Budapest.
Go to this site to see their worldwide network:
http://macserv.murdoch.edu.au/blitz/
There is one other link with even more receiver sites shown, but this one loads the quickest. Interestingly, this network is set up to monitor sferics, which I've only seen once, on a single site. Sferics are really intriguing in their own right, but we can use it to track the on-air habits of different VLF transmitters.
Back to SAQ - I could not pick them up here, either on my rig nor via SpecLab. Not surprising really, considering the path would be daylight for NA, but I had to try.
Did anyone else tyr?
Scott NM8R in Michigan
Transmissions of SAQ successfully received!
Posted by Harald on July 03, 2005 at 12:59:43.
I received today at my home town in Germany at 8E 58 and 48N 43 successfully the transmissions of SAQ!
Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc
Posted by Brock Whaley on July 03, 2005 at 22:03:45.
In Reply to SAQ 17.2 Kc posted by Scott NM8R in Michigan on July 03, 2005 at 11:10:23.
I tried here in Lilburn, GA at 0815 UTC, 4:15 AM EDT. No luck. The frequency was quiet. Most of the t-storms were gone, but looking at the path, most of it was in daylight. Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc
Brock
WH6SZ/4
Posted by Scott NM8R de Michigan on July 04, 2005 at 00:06:50.
In Reply to Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc posted by Brock Whaley on July 03, 2005 at 22:03:45.
What is your rx setup for listening at those frequencies?
Scot NM8R
Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc
Posted by Brock Whaley WH6SZ/4 on July 06, 2005 at 15:50:19.
In Reply to Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc posted by Scott NM8R de Michigan on July 04, 2005 at 00:06:50.
I am blesed with a quiet location. Very little powerline noise, and no light dimmers in the house. All serious lw listening done with the TV's and computers off.
120 foot longwire, rod and waterpipe grounds.
For 17.2 Khz, a four gang 400pf variable capacitor and an NTSC horizontal osc. coil (15.734 Khz) used to to tune to 17.2 Khz, into a 25 year old Palomar lw convertor.
3.5 Mhz output of the convertor into a two FET 3.5 Mhz tuned amp, into a Sony 2010.
The same used for lwbc DX in the winter, but the values of the input circut aare changed to match 153-279 Khz. Konstantynow
Brock
Posted by Mike Terry on July 07, 2005 at 14:24:43.
The latest photos of the fallen mast at Konstantynow show
well that it could never be re-erected! It certainly must have been
quite a sight to see it 'descending'. I am intrigued at the largest of
the two photos of the mast when upright - on the right of the page.
The top section appears to have many "somethings" attached to it. Is
this an optical illusion or what could they be if not? Was it to, in
some way, cause the mast to radiate directionally - or maybe radiate
better in one direction than another?
(Noel R. Green, UK, wwdxc BC-DX July 5 via DXLD) Re: Konstantynow
Posted by Scott NM8R in Michigan on July 09, 2005 at 09:42:56.
In Reply to Konstantynow posted by Mike Terry on July 07, 2005 at 14:24:43.
Mike,
Do you have a link to these tower photos? I apologize if I missed it from an earlier post.
Scott
Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc
Posted by Scott NM8R in Michigan on July 09, 2005 at 09:55:32.
In Reply to Re: SAQ 17.2 Kc posted by Brock Whaley WH6SZ/4 on July 06, 2005 at 15:50:19.
Brock,
Thanks for the info on your setup. How well does the TV horizontal oscillator coil work on LW BC?
Also, what is your QTH?
Last fall I finally got an antenna up that lets me hear LWBC stations, and after posting a few times I discovered a handful of other guys who were interested in LW BC, too.
Watch for us this fall and maybe we can share some loggings.
73, Scott NM8R
Re: Konstantynow
Posted by Obelixx on July 09, 2005 at 13:28:45.
In Reply to Re: Konstantynow posted by Scott NM8R in Michigan on July 09, 2005 at 09:42:56.
Pictures of the intact mast are on
http://jerzyjedrzejkiewicz.webpark.pl/str01/gabin-rcn.html
http://jerzyjedrzejkiewicz.webpark.pl/str01/acrobat/rcn_01.pdf
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/88/562px-Maszt_radiowy_w_Konstantynowie.jpg
http://community.webshots.com/photo/58788977/58789054lxUZuc
http://community.webshots.com/photo/58788977/58789117tbnXfK
Pictures of the destroyed mast are on Former RCA Station KPH Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary
http://jerzyjedrzejkiewicz.webpark.pl/str01/gabin-rcn.html
http://jerzyjedrzejkiewicz.webpark.pl/str01/acrobat/rcn_01.pdf
Posted by miketerry73@btinternet.com on July 09, 2005 at 18:41:28.
COAST STATION KSM WILL MAKE ITS INAGURAL TRANSMISSION
COAST STATIONS WLO, KLB, NMC AND NOJ TO BE ON THE AIR
In the sixth 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.
This year's Night of Nights is special: it's the 100th anniversary of KPH,
KSM will appear on the air for the first time and four other US coast
stations will be on the air, several of them on MF in addition to HF.
Frequencies and reception report information for all stations appear below.
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), 6 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).
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.
Many of the KPH transmitters will be 50s vintage RCA sets. KSM will use a
1940s vintage Press Wireless PW-15 transmitter on 12Mc. 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.
KPH 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 KSM "wheel" will be sent to mark the
transmitting frequencies.
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: rd@radiomarine.org) or Tom Horsfall at +1
510-237-9535 (email: wa6ope@hotmail.com).
BT
Station Information follows...
------------
KPH
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.
These frequencies have been made available through the generous
cooperation of Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH and KFS
licenses.
KPH operators will listen for calls from ships on ITU Channel 3 in
all bands. The Channel 3 frequencies are 4184.0, 6276.0,
8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0 and 22280.5kc on HF and 500kc on MF.
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.
------------
KSM
KSM will transmit on 426, 500, 6474 and 12993kc
KSM will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see
KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
Ms. DA Stoops
P.O. Box 381
Bolinas CA 94924-0381
USA
------------
WLO
WLO will transmit on 438, 500, 8514.0 and 12660.0kc
WLO will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see
KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB
700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA
Or via email to: wloradio@wloradio.com
------------
KLB
KLB will transmit on 6411.0
KLB will listen for calls from ships on 6276kc
Reception reports may be sent to:
WLO/KLB
700 RINLA AVENUE
MOBILE, ALABAMA 36619
USA
Or via email to: wloradio@wloradio.com
------------
NMC
NMC will transmit on 448, 472, 500, 6383.0, 8574.0 and 17220.5kc
NMC will listen for calls from ships on 500kc and HF Channel 3 (see
KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
COMMANDING OFFICER
ATTN ITC ERIC SIMMONS
COMMUNICATIONS AREA MASTER STATION PACIFIC
17000 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD
POINT REYES STATION, CALIFORNIA 94956-0560
USA
------------
NOJ
NOJ will transmit on 8650.0, 12889.5 and 16909.7
NOJ will listen for calls from ships on Channel 3 (see
KPH listing for frequencies).
Reception reports may be sent to:
COMMANDING OFFICER
ATTN OSCM WILLIAM KECKLER
US COAST GUARD COMMUNICATIONS STATION KODIAK
PO BOX 190017
KODIAK, ALASKA 99619
USA
BT
BV ES VY 73 TO ALL,
MRHS
=================================
Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
Collector of Harleys, Willys and
Radios over 100lbs.
=================================
(ASWLC)
I'm a newbie
Posted by Paul B. Walker, Jr. on July 11, 2005 at 17:52:53.
Hello ALl:
Let me introduce myself!
I'm Paul Walker, 21 years old from Cocoa, Florida! I've never gotten into LW before, but many MW people would know me from my DX Test at WQMA and love of DX.
I saw a webpage about lowfer ebacons and became more then mildly interested. id love to run a lowfer beacon.
I have PLENTY of room to string up 50+ feet of wire. I just dont have ANY equipment.
Does anyone out there have any equipment they no longer want?
Paul Reusen Aerial Design - Query
Radiofldude@aol.com
Posted by Gene Ellis on July 11, 2005 at 21:35:29.
I ran across this term, and a google of it yielded nada. Any help? Thank you.
Gene Re: Reusen Aerial Design - Query
Posted by John Davis on July 11, 2005 at 21:36:55.
In Reply to Reusen Aerial Design - Query posted by Gene Ellis on July 11, 2005 at 21:35:29.
To find anything by this name, I had to go delving into German sites. My knowledge of that language is getting rusty and I no longer have a dictionary readily available.
In one case involving radio, reusen was machine-translated as "prism," which might refer to the physical layout of top-loading wires extending from the tip of the mast; or perhaps a diamond-shaped top hat supported by multiple masts. Other times, especially on pages dealing with HF transmission, it's translated "staggered array."
However, its most prominent use on a variety of other sites, with themes ranging from sport angling to Greenpeace activities, is primarily in the context of fishing nets!
It's apparently not a specific antenna design named for anyone. Nouns are regularly capitalized in German writing.
John WD2XSH 500 kHz Status
Posted by Mike Terry on July 13, 2005 at 16:41:10.
See: http://500kc.com/
Mike Terry Re: I'm a newbie
Posted by Paul Walker on July 15, 2005 at 01:29:05.
In Reply to I'm a newbie posted by Paul B. Walker, Jr. on July 11, 2005 at 17:52:53.
Anyone home? There have been no responses to my post.
Re: I'm a newbie
Posted by John Andrews on July 15, 2005 at 07:01:08.
In Reply to Re: I'm a newbie posted by Paul Walker on July 15, 2005 at 01:29:05.
Paul,
We're here, and happy to welcome you. The catch may be whether anyone has equipment to sell! Most of the transmitting equipment used at 160-190 kHz is homebrew, with some kit-type peripherals. There's not a lot of business going on in selling the stuff. Should you be contemplating building your own, the articles on Lyle Kohler's site have a lot of possibilities.
Anyway, feel free to ask questions and jump in.
John Andrews, W1TAG/WD2XES
HiFer NL status 13 MHz....
Posted by Peter Knol, PA1SDB on July 15, 2005 at 07:23:24.
Hello,
I'll like to do some PR for my HiFer beacon. It is running amost a year now, but no report came in since September 2004 :-(
Please tune in on 13.555,440 MHz if you have time to listen.
The modulation pattern looks like a shark fin in a audio spectogram.
8 Hz shift - 12 sec. cyclus time.
The beacon website is located on http://hifer-nl.8k.com
73, Peter PA1SDB
Re: HiFer NL status 13 MHz....
Posted by John Andrews on July 15, 2005 at 08:58:24.
In Reply to HiFer NL status 13 MHz.... posted by Peter Knol, PA1SDB on July 15, 2005 at 07:23:24.
Peter,
One problem may be that there are two North American beacons very close to that frequency. MP is on 13555.445 kHz. NC's frequency is more variable (with temperature), but it spends most of its time right around 13555.440.
The area between 13555.42 and 13555.43 is clearer, though NC may wander through it. Anything above 13555.450 would also be good.
The other issue is that propagation has been awful compared to a few years ago.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: HiFer WV
Posted by michael tyler on July 18, 2005 at 21:43:28.
In Reply to Re: HiFer WV posted by Matt Joseph on June 20, 2005 at 11:18:24.
Thanks matt. did you get my email I sent you??? thanks..mike....wa8ywo
I am interested , will be back with a beacon ...any help out there?
Posted by Bill Hensel on July 23, 2005 at 10:11:03.
Hello gentlemen my name is Bill Hensel and I used to operate medfer beacon D on 1675Khz divorce etc drove me off the air. I must say the beacon game was truely my most fun aspect of radio. I am now living in Pine, Colorado in the mountains sw of Denver.
I want very much to build a beacon for 22 meters and would appreciate any circuits or idea that any of you guys could send to me regarding this adventure.
Anyhow Frank Cathel has stured my interest once agin in beacons, that devil he is, so when I get the coins I will rejoin LWA once again.
Bamboo Rod makers sometimes go through rough times and the Frog Green Dollars have been skinny.
Take care all,
Bill Hensel - Pine Colorado a village of 100 people and one beacon nut.
HI hifer beacon heard in Colorado
Posted by Bill Hensel on July 23, 2005 at 15:36:48.
I am hearing (HI) beacon 13.558 Khz on my HQ-180 and end fed wire. I can hear all over my house. Nice work. This is very interesting.
Bill Pine, Colorado
Re: I am interested , will be back with a beacon ...any help out there?
Posted by John Davis on July 23, 2005 at 16:00:51.
In Reply to I am interested , will be back with a beacon ...any help out there? posted by Bill Hensel on July 23, 2005 at 10:11:03.
Sure, lots of help out there. One of the 22m transmitter circuits most popular with folks just getting on the air is the one at Lyle Koehler's Web site. I don't have the URL handy, but you can find it via the LWCA.org homepage. Click the Lo/Med/HiFER button, and then then "About Part 15" link at the bottom of the new page. There are links to a number of useful sites there, including Lyle's.
We'll look forward to seeing you on the air again, Bill.
John
Signal on 136 kHz
Posted by Jay Flynn on July 25, 2005 at 17:43:16.
Los Angeles, CA. Re: Signal on 136 kHz
I am copying a fairly strong digital station on 136 kHz. It is about 50 baud with 50 Hz shift. It is not Baudot or FEC code. Any ideas what it is?
Thanks in advance.
Posted by John Andrews on July 25, 2005 at 19:47:34.
In Reply to Signal on 136 kHz posted by Jay Flynn on July 25, 2005 at 17:43:16.
Jay,
It was first reported on the LWCA LF mail list around the end of May. Based on some poorly distributed DF readings, it seemed to come from northern California -- San Francisco was suggested. The signal has been unmodulated at times, but usually has the data that you described. The best guess is that it's U.S. military, so I doubt very much that the data stream could be decoded by mere mortals.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: Signal on 136 kHz
Posted by Jay Flynn on July 27, 2005 at 15:47:44.
In Reply to Re: Signal on 136 kHz posted by John Andrews on July 25, 2005 at 19:47:34.
John =
Thanks for the info. No, I doubt we'll know the content. Some idea as to it's purpose and end user would be interesting.
As to it's location, I'll put a loop on it and see what I get.
Jay
Are/Were there radio towers built of wood in USA/Canada?
Posted by Obelixx on July 29, 2005 at 15:08:21.
As one can read on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lattice_tower there were in earlier times many radio towers built of wood in Germany. The only remaining towers of these is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Tower_Gliwice (Webmaster please activate) in the nowadays Polish town Gliwice. Re: Are/Were there radio towers built of wood in USA/Canada?
Because in the USA and Canada even powerlines for 345 kV are mounted on transmission towers built of wood (this is not common in Europe at all) there is the possibility that there are or were radio towers built of wood in the USA and Canada. Are or were there such towers? If yes, where?
Posted by John Davis on July 30, 2005 at 03:01:29.
In Reply to Are/Were there radio towers built of wood in USA/Canada? posted by Obelixx on July 29, 2005 at 15:08:21.
There were such towers in the 1920s and 1930s in several places. Most were not very tall by modern standards, and supported the topload span of T aerials. I started working in broadcasting in the Sixties, and I remember reading about one station that was supposedly the last in North America to use a wooden mast to support a vertical wire radiator. They were preparing to replace it with a conventional steel tower at the time.
There are some broadcast history sites on the Web which have additional details. Try a Google search using these keywords (including the quotation marks as shown):
"wooden tower" radio broadcasting
potrzebie