SAQ Site: 17.2 Kc output and 40 Kc Swedish Navy
Hey All. SAQ is listed as being a 200 Kw alternator. But since the antenna is so short compared to the operating wavelength,what is that actual power OUT from the antenna? I would anticipate a great deal of loss.
Re the 40 Kc Swedish navy transmitter at the SAQ site- Any info on this one ? ie is it still active, callsign,power,mode etc,etc. ANY info appreciated.
Bye-Bye ZYT (St. John’s International Airport)
N1NQC
Posted by Mike Hardester on July 01, 2008 at 16:32:31.
NAVCANADA has announced the closing of OUTER COVE (ZYT-246 kHz) NDB located at the St. John’s International Airport. The NDB will be decommissioned on July 31, 2008.
LINK:
http://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefinitionFiles/Newsroom/ServiceProjectAnnouncements/2008/an0623a_en.pdf
Very 73 de Mike
questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by Jeremy Hanlon on July 09, 2008 at 06:11:30.
Hello to all reading this.
My name is Jeremy. I am writing on this board to get information about operation on the longwave band.
According to the LWCA website, part 15 operation is allowed on the longwave band between 160 and 190 KHZ, running at 1 watt of power, with a 15 meter antenna. It is also stated there that this is to be used for experimental purposes. It is this operation that I am curious about. You see, my partner (Jake Longwell) and I are looking at starting a radio service to serve Oswego County, an area with no local regular terestrial voice of it’s own. We figured that, given the range of the longwave band, plus the fact that, ‘round here, it is nothing but an empty spectrum, this would be the perfect way to broadcast our service. However, Jake and I are regular radio programmers. We have a programming mindset. So, to that end, we have some questions:
1. When they talk about using the 160-190 KHZ longwave band for “Experimental” purposes, what does that mean in terms of broadcasting? Can you broadcast spoken word? Can you broadcast music?
1a. If the answer to that is yes, then are we allowed to treat our broadcasts like a regular terrestrial radio station? Can we have call letters (WOEO-LW?) Can we sellicet commercial advertising on our service?
2. If our goals are achievable, and we can set this up, then, how far will our service reach (running at 1 watt on the longwave band?)
We hope someone can answer these questions for us. If you are “experimenting” on the longwave band at said frequencies, Jake and I would like to talk with you. It is easier for me, as person in charge of this operation, if you contact me via email. My address is: JHANLON001@twcny.rr.com. We look forward to talking with you, and getting our questions answered.
--Jeremy Hanlon Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Oswego, NY, USA
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 09, 2008 at 07:28:17.
In reply to questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by Jeremy Hanlon on July 09, 2008
Jeremy,
Short answers:
You may use any frequency and form of modulation that fits in the 160-190 kHz range. Music and voice are fine.
The range will vary greatly with the quality of your antenna installation, the type of modulation, and the quality of the receivers/antennas used to pick it up. Assuming consumer-type radios with internal antennas and a modest effort on a transmitting antenna, perhaps a mile or two in the winter.
Note that very few consumer radios in the U.S. have longwave coverage. That would probably be your greatest obstacle.
John Andrews, W1TAG
FOR SALE: COLLINS R-389 (PARTS CHASSIS)
Posted by dave sampson on July 09, 2008 at 08:22:34.
FOR SALE:
COLLINS R-389 PARTS CHASSIS-CONSISTING OF
1.FRONT PANEL
2.CHASSIS
3.TUNING MOTOR DRIVE POWER SUPPLY
BEST OFFER Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by Jeremy Hanlon on July 09, 2008 at 11:02:35.
In reply to Re: questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by Andy - KU4XR on July 09, 2008
In regards to the last followup:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read from the LWCA site, the experimental operation on longwave is considered a part 15 operation. I'm not very literate on the subject, but I remember reading in a data base somewhere that part 15 operations are allowed to seek commercial advertising. Now, if the rules are different for experimental longwave operators, that is a different thing altogether. Maybe there are different rules altogether for these experimentors. I'm not sure.
Next, another point the previous poster brought up: I am well aware that the FCC doesn't issue licenses for the longwave band. It is surprising (and somewhat scary) that they don't do so. However, my partner and I saw this information about the experimental longwave operation on this site, so here we are looking into it.
Next: The previous poster brought up that the FCC frowns on the use of call letters. Please keep in mind that I'm here to learn the correct information, because I know what is allowed for terestrial part 15, but not longwave. According to what I have read on the subject, the use of "phantom" call letters is allowed for AM/FM part 15 operations, as long as the calls are not in use in the given market where the station is set up, or if the calls are similar to those of a station in said market. Are the rules different for experimental longwave? If they are, then, what are they exactly (in plain english?)
Lastly, I think the best thing we could do is talk to someone who is already experimenting on the longwave band. If you're reading this, and you are "experimenting" on the longwave band between 160 and 190 KHZ, my partner and I would like to talk to you, and at the least, ask you some questions. My email address is: JHANLON001@twcny.rr.com. Thank you
--Jeremy Hanlon
Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by John Davis on July 09, 2008 at 11:54:35.
In reply to Re: questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 09, 2008
What John A. said is correct. Maybe I can elaborate a little on a couple of points.
While Part 15 LowFER operating has tended to be an experimental thing, largely due to the lack of widespread consumer radios that can pick anything up down there, it is by no means restricted to experimentation. (That's different from Part 5 stations licensed in the Experimental Radio Service.)
What the FCC says about call signs is that they mustn't be mistaken for a station in a licensed radio service. That's kind of a vague guideline, but it's the reason most amateur radio operators use only a portion of their ham call with their LowFER beacons, rather than the full thing. Given that most commercial broadcasters downplay their callsigns these days anyway and only use them when absolutely required at the top of the hour, you might follow what they do all the rest of the hour, and simply use a slogan for an identifier.
Even commercials are OK...if you can convince advertisers that anyone will be listening, I suppose. The only program content prohibited, basically, are the same things the Commission would fine a commercial broadcaster for.
And, of course, you're not allowed to interfere with any other station, and must accept any interference received from licensed services.
In connection with interference, the amount of audio bandwidth you intend to utilize will affect your choice of frequency. As you notice in the Rules, your carrier AND modulation sidebands have to remain within the band 160-190 kHz. If you allow yourself 15kHz audio modulation, you'll have only one frequency available to you--175kHz--because your radiated sidebands would extend right to the band edges. If you limit audio bandwidth to 10kHz, then you could pick a carrier frequency anywhere between 170 and 180 kHz. For audio rolled off above 5 kHz, you could put your carrier anywhere between 165 and 185 kHz without exceeding emission limits.
Narrow transmitted audio bandwidth is not necessarily a bad thing, because the tuning of your antenna and the IF circuits in the listeners' receivers will limit just how much of the higher audio frequencies they'll be able to hear anyway. In Europe, longwave broadcasters are regulatorially limited to 4.5kHz for the maximum modulating frequency! That does muffle the audio a bit! Commercial AM stations running "HD" in-band digital signals cut off their analog audio at 5 kHz to leave room for the digital noise to fit in the channel; just another nail in the coffin of AM, in my opinion, but some of them still have listeners none the less. In your case, I'd suggest rolling off above about 7 kHz as a reasonable compromise between technical issues and aesthetics.
(Just try not to pick a frequency already in use by another experimenter in your region. Refer to the beacon lists on this website, because just basing your choice on what seems a quiet spot can be misleading. You may not be able to tell if one of the advanced digital modes is on the air by using an ordinary radio with an AM detector, even if it's just down the street! If you can keep your operating frequency several hundred Hertz, or ideally about 1 kHz, away from any beacons, odds are you won't even be noticed by someone looking for digital communication modes.)
John's estimate of reliable range is probably about right for most locales. Longwave is a fairly noisy part of the spectrum in terms of powerline noise, and static from atmospheric events in summer. Coverage also varies with how well the antenna and ground system are in the clear, and with local soil conductivity.
We have one member in California by the name of Ed Gelinas who broadcast on LF under Part 15 Rules for quite some time; haven't heard from him lately, though, so I don't know if he's still active. (I'll try to find out, but meantime you can look up his contact information via the Operator Info link in our LowFER/MedFER/HiFER page at this site. He used the call KLFB.) He did a very professional job with his antenna system and had good soil in his area, and I believe he reported as much as 5 miles listenable range on a static-free day. He had good coverage within his neighborhood nearly all the time, which was what he was after, and a number of his neighbors apparently bought radios with a longwave band in order to listen to his oldies music.
Best of luck with your project!
John Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on July 10, 2008 at 09:31:40.
In reply to questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by Jeremy Hanlon on July 09, 2008
Depending on what you ultimately want to accomplish, here are some possibilities to consider. IF !! you are capable of bringing in the operating revenue, consider an LMA with an operating station. Or buy time from the station, and sell your own sponsers. If you want to be your own boss, reasearch " micro-broadcasting " ( 100mW A.M. ), consider chaining multiple transmitters placed at strategic locations to cover the areas you want. This was sucessfully done in past years by a group in California, who covered the coastal highway. Create a business for yourself, ( just a thought ) , WAAS - Wirless Audio Advertising Service , there's you some creative call letters that stand for the business name. This is just a starting point, the rest will depend upon your research, and creativity. Hope this gives you something to consider: Have a great day: Andy - KU4XR
Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by Skaface on July 16, 2008 at 13:37:15.
In reply to Re: questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by John Davis on July 09, 2008
How easy would it be to convert Lyles's simple lowfer transmitter for AM use on LW? Is it possible?
If I put a 1K to 8 ohm tranformer in line with the finals would this work?
Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by John Davis on July 16, 2008 at 23:30:01.
In reply to Re: questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by Skaface on July 16, 2008
>>>How easy would it be to convert Lyles's simple lowfer transmitter for AM use on LW? Is it possible?
It is possible, but I suspect one would get better audio quality with a single-ended PA stage.
>>>If I put a 1K to 8 ohm tranformer in line with the finals would this work?
If it were a beefy enough transformer, possibly, but there is risk of core saturation and/or winding overheating with the typical Radio Shack-size transformers. Also, the impedance transformation is not optimal, even if you use the center tap rather than the full 1K winding.
You can always experiment and see. Re: questions about LW service: We need answers.
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on July 17, 2008 at 08:50:49.
In reply to Re: questions about LW service: We need answers. posted by Skaface on July 16, 2008
Keep in mind also the carrier power in relation to the peak output power of the PA section while under modulation.
Andy - KU4XR
HiFer "WV"
Posted by michael tyler - wa8ywo on July 18, 2008 at 09:45:43.
HiFer WV has a new transmitter using a time base oscillator and a 10 step selectable attenduator resulting in 4 milliwatts out into a 1/4 wave ground mounted vertical.....frequency is 13.555.15 .....thanks...mike in West Virginia
Re: HiFer "WV"
Posted by Joe K2JT on July 19, 2008 at 14:56:06.
In reply to HiFer "WV" posted by michael tyler - wa8ywo on July 18, 2008
559/569 in (NE) New Jersey !!!
73 Joe K2JT
NHVT
Posted by Joe K2JT on July 19, 2008 at 15:11:03.
7/19/08 2206Z, 13.559, 349/559/QSB in Northeast NJ. Nice to hear ur bcn agn John.
Re: HiFer "WV"
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 19, 2008 at 15:45:37.
In reply to HiFer "WV" posted by michael tyler - wa8ywo on July 18, 2008
Mike,
WV is coming in nicely tonight at 2240 UTC in Raymond, Maine. I make the frequency as 13555.795 kHz.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: HiFer "WV"
Posted by WB2MIC on July 19, 2008 at 17:14:16.
In reply to HiFer "WV" posted by michael tyler - wa8ywo on July 18, 2008
I heard your beacon WV on 13555.95 at 00:00 to 00:02 in Wells, Vermont today. The signal was out of the noise in some QRN. There was slow QSB. I was using an IC756 PRO III and a 270 foot center fed Zepp up at 40 feet broadside to you.
Jozef WB2MIC Auroral News
Posted by Webmaster on July 25, 2008 at 00:43:30.
National Radio monitors and other students of solar-terrestrial phenomena may want to take a look at the LWCA Home Page at this time.
John
Re: HiFer "WV"
Posted by michael tyler , wa8ywo on July 26, 2008 at 12:45:10.
In reply to HiFer "WV" posted by michael tyler - wa8ywo on July 18, 2008
Thanks for the reports. These are the first reports I have ever been able to receive on the HiFer. Thanks very much...mike
Looking for LOWfer interest in Knoxville, TN. area
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on July 30, 2008 at 09:16:08.
Hello All: I'm wondering if there is anyone in the Maryville, Alcoa, Greenback, South Knoxville areas that's interested in getting some local LOWfer activity going ?? If there is; email me and let me know your interest. Thanks and 73.
Andy - KU4XR - Friendsville, TN. - EM75xr
potrzebie