SAQ Reminder 1st July 2012
REMINDER!
We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmissions on 17.2 kHz, CW, with the Alexanderson alternator on Sunday July 1, 2012 ,“Alexanderson Day”, at 09:00 UTC and 12:00 UTC.
We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before message.
The radio station is open to visitors.
There will be activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call "SK6SAQ" from 09:15 to 11:30 UTC and 12:15 to 13:00 UTC.
Any of following frequencies:
- 14.035 kHz CW
- 14.215 kHz SSB
From 07:00 UTC also on:
- 3.755 kHz SSB
QSL-reports are kindly received:
- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or fax to: +46-340-674195
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen
Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON, SWEDEN (NB: new address)
Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se
Yours
Lars Kalland
SM6NM
sm6nm@telia.com
lars.kalland@telia.com Re: HiFER Grabber file size...
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 01, 2012 at 00:11:44.
In reply to Re: HiFER Grabber file size... posted by John Davis on June 30, 2012
G'day John,
Well - mea culpa - ":-(
Being an impatient sort of guy I was mucking about with file sizes this morning so I have jumped the file size from 130Kb to around 200Kb (with other odd values interspersed). I have settled on around the 200Kb mark. Sorry for the confusion.
About the file sizes on Picasa Web Albums. They are *presenting* the 1000x992 files in two sizes (512x508 normal; 720x714 full screen) presumably to save the load on their system. Fair enough IMV. I am not sure if that is browser dependant, but I suspect not.
However, you can always get the original file (original file size and resolution) by using the 'Download Photo' option in the 'Download' drop-down menu at the top left-ish. Note that this menu is not available in 'full-screen' mode. You apparently can also download the whole archive album if you have Picasa installed on your PC. I don't think anyone will want to do that...!!!
But Picasa is not needed to do single photo downloads.
Try the download method and evaluate the quality if you can spare the time. I would very much value your opinion.
Thanks.
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: HiFER Grabber file size...
Posted by John Davis on July 01, 2012 at 00:50:35.
In reply to Re: HiFER Grabber file size... posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 01, 2012
Thanks for the clarification, Steve. I hope I can follow it well enough. I did get a couple of the 720x714 files on a previous visit to the archive, and they were clear enough to see what activity was present and on what frequency. Haven't been able to duplicate that feat this time, but I'll try again later tonight when there is likely to be more activity showing up.
The current ~200 KB files on the grabber page are super-clear, although even my old eyes had no complaint with the 130 KB ones either. :) The main difference now is that there seems to be less grittiness around the lettering on the Argo screen itself. Can't tell yet whether that will also translate to better ability to distinguish signals, but perhaps so.
73 Re: HiFER Grabber file size...
John
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 01, 2012 at 01:05:49.
In reply to Re: HiFER Grabber file size... posted by John Davis on July 01, 2012
Thanks for the feedback John.
I notice Dropbox does the same thing - i.e. presents a small size for display (around 700px). The difference is there is no slideshow feature in Dropbox and so the equivalent 'full-screen' option goes straight to the original. Mind you, like Picasa, you can't scroll through the files in original size/resolution.
Thanks again.
That makes a grand total of 2 people who find the archive useful enough to make a comment.... ;-)
73 Steve VK2XV
Forwarded SAQ Reception Reports
Posted by John Davis on July 01, 2012 at 17:18:39.
The Grimeton signal crossed the Atlantic to the East Coast, at least, despite only a few hours' notice for many folks.
No such luck here in the middle of the country, alas. The first storms within 100 miles in a couple of weeks brought static last night, but no rain right here where we really need it. Might have had a little better chance if the radio room were ready in the portable building on the farm, but neither it nor the car are currently ideal listening posts at the moment.
Still, here are some positive results as reported from locations domestically and overseas:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hi, I would like to report reception of SAQ on July 1, 2012 starting at about 07:48 UTC with V-marker plus the actual text starting at 08:00. Signal strength was good but reception suffered from local electrical noise sources. The setup was a vertical antenna for 14/21/28 MHz with an up converter to 4 MHz and a perseus SDR receiver. 73 DE SV1XV - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Reception of July 1, 2012 1200 UTC session was better than the 0900 UTC although not as good as 'all time' best reception of SAQ during the 2nd session of the July 2011 event. MP3 from this morning's 2nd session pre message 'test and tune' at: Setup: modified AMRAD e probe > audio LNA > Delta 44 sound card > Spectrum Laboratory software - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hi All, SAQ was audible here on Hilton Head Island, SC USA EM92.Sunday morning. I first tuned in about 11:50UTC 07/01/12 and could hear the usual tune ups "VVV DE SAQ SAQ SAQ." A little drift in frequency was noticeable during long keydowns. RST 229 due to background static but at times was up to 239. Using Icom R-75 + 2x250Hz filters, Amrad LF Converter + Ratzlaff Active Whip Antenna up 40ft. 73 - Todd WD4NGG - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Costas Krallis
Athens, Greece, KM18UA
http://www.w1vd.com/SAQ070112.mp3 .
Jay W1VD WD2XNS WE2XGR/2
Anyone else copy SAQ, or at least give it a try this time?
John
Email
Posted by Pat Bunn on July 02, 2012 at 15:53:06.
Someone sent an email requesting details on my 7 and 9 pole imput filters for a LF converter. I saw it on my phone but somehow it got lost in getting to my computer and I have now lost it all together. Please resnd it - sory about losing it.
Pat Re: Email
N4LTA
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 02, 2012 at 16:20:31.
In reply to Email posted by Pat Bunn on July 02, 2012
Hi,
was not me,
but please share this info, I am interested...
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Re: Email
Posted by John Davis on July 02, 2012 at 23:25:11.
In reply to Re: Email posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 02, 2012
Hi Pat,
That was me. Since we can't currently append pictures in the regular message board, if you would e-mail the information, I would be glad to put the schematics and anything you wanted to say about them in a post here from you.
I'll re-send the address by e-mail. Thanks.
John
Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by Garry Hess on July 03, 2012 at 11:41:01.
Shut down the SIW hifer sources to work on antennas this morning. Looking at reception with a vertical antenna around the watering hole at 13555400 Hz I see, in order of decreasing frequency, NC, EH, LP, RY, and USC. The last two overlap slightly in frequency. Signals from all are good at times but plenty of QSB is present too.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by Bob Confrey on July 03, 2012 at 14:11:06.
I'm planning on ordering some Epson or Citizen programmable Osc's from DigiKey or Mouser. What freq should I order to hit the HiFER watering hole? I had seen 13555.400 somewhere. Is this the freq I want or ?? TNX...Bob...WA1EDJ....
Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 03, 2012 at 14:15:57.
In reply to Morning Hifers in NE IL posted by Garry Hess on July 03, 2012
LP has faded or gone QRT but now MP is showing nicely below R"Y and USC.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by John Davis on July 03, 2012 at 15:50:49.
In reply to HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Bob Confrey on July 03, 2012
The watering hole is a pretty crowded place right at 13555.400, but is generally considered to extend from a few tens of Hz below that spot to somewhat above 13555.6. The width of the hole is pretty much set by the capabilities of the versions of Argo running at Steve's and Mauro's grabber sites. As of this morning, Steve is monitoring 13555.380-13555.680 (ie, 13555.530±150Hz), while Mauro's is centered lower (covering about .320 to .590).
Steve suggested a loose sort of band plan some weeks ago that I endorse; in brief, it calls for beacons with well stabilized frequency to operate in the lower part of that range, and those using not-so-stable oscillators, such as programmable modules that are subject to ambient temperature swings, to operate in the higher end which is less heavily occupied.
To help in picking a hopefully clear spot, you'll also want to consult the HiFER list at this site.
73 Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
John
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 03, 2012 at 20:08:04.
In reply to HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Bob Confrey on July 03, 2012
Hi,
I suggest you to use SI570 .. it is settable via I2C bus, VERY stable and with about 10dBm output ...
I use this for LO of my receiver, GPS locked via digital "pll" using a microchip PIC and only few components ...
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 03, 2012 at 20:39:23.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by John Davis on July 03, 2012
John - Coincidentally yesterday I was looking for a more HiFER-ey subject for my blog (it had gone on too long about things webcam lately) and my eye alighted on my hand drawn graph of all the HiFER stations as per your HiFER list. I find it useful to visually see who is where and what the station spacing is.
I'll work on getting that into a more generally useable form.
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 03, 2012 at 23:14:23.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 03, 2012
I have posted a couple of graphics to my blog which show the population of US/CA HiFER stations in the band.
They are to be found on the 'Introduction' page of the blog here...
http://vk2xv-hifer.blogspot.com.au/p/hifer-background.html
Hope they are of some use.
Comments appreciated.
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by John Davis on July 04, 2012 at 00:30:25.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 03, 2012
Very cool graphs! ...especially the second one, showing the close-in view of the watering hole with observed frequency variations included.
John
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 04, 2012 at 01:10:02.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by John Davis on July 04, 2012
Thanks. I'll update them when your list data is updated. The information is reliant on your data as I cannot receive most of the stations - so if stations want the latest depiction they would need to feed you the latest info - not myself.
However, I will update the width of observed used bandwidth as I see them here on the VK2XV grabber. Most stations are fixed - but a few are wanderers (maybe would could classify them in astronomy terms: fixed = 'stars'; wanderers = 'planets'...;-). Also some are 'jumpers'.... hopping from one spot to another.
All good fun....
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 05, 2012 at 12:51:35.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 04, 2012
Took at look at the hifer watering hole from EN52, Elgin, IL this morning and found the following (frequencies approximate): LP, center of triangle FSK at 13,555,507 Hz; NC, bottom of 4 Hz deviation sq wave at 13,555,495 Hz; EH, bottom of DFCW 5 Hz shift at 13,555,461; RY, bottom of DFCW 4 Hz shift at 13,555,409 Hz; and USC, bottom of DFCW 4 Hz shift at 13,555,405 Hz. Didn't see MP but that requires very short skip. Locally, SIW is running QRSS6 at 13,555,429 Hz via a half-wave dipole and slant code CW at 13,555,438 Hz via a quarter-wave vertical.
73, Garry
Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq??
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 05, 2012 at 16:54:02.
In reply to Re: HiFER Watering Hole Freq?? posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 05, 2012
I'm going to nudge Hifer RY up a few Hz this weekend to get more separation from USC. Operation during the 7-15 July period will be intermittent, as we will be at the site.
John, W1TAG
GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 05, 2012 at 17:13:21.
Hi,
now the filename of my grabber's captures are in the format:
IK1WVQ_HIFER_aaaa-mm-gg_hh-mm_GMT.jpg
The capture interval now is settled to 300 seconds.
Comments and suggestions are welcome ..
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Hifer LP
Posted by Larry Putman on July 05, 2012 at 18:09:29.
My Rigol has remained stable for the last 24 hours! The problem was thermal. The current frequency is 13.555505 Mhz. rising up 4 hz to 13.555509 Mhz. I will leave it there if I am not interfering with anyone else?
Larry WB3ANQ
Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 06, 2012 at 17:02:54.
In reply to GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 05, 2012
G'day Mauro,
It looks goods. It is easy now to select a file from a wanted time.
I wonder how you solved the date-naming problem ?
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 06, 2012 at 22:56:07.
In reply to Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 06, 2012
Hi Steve,
for now I wrote 10 lines of VB6 to change the filenames,
awaiting an ARGO modification promised from Alberto I2PHD.
My magloop resonant to 13555 is almost done.
then I want to try the big jump from here to your grabber ...
This evening I was in the local OM club to investigate the better hours and antenna orientation for the New-Zeland ...
the answers from the guru was 90° - 180° and 04 - 05 GMT ..
What is your opinion ????
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 07, 2012 at 03:36:49.
In reply to Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 06, 2012
Mauro,
I think we need to send a carton of beer to Alberto.... :-)
While far from being a propagation Guru I would agree with yours.
Long Path: 0400 - 0600 UTC - due west from Italy (expect to be about 6dB better off than US HiFERs to here).
Short Path: 2300 UTC - briefly and due east from Italy (expect to be about 10dB down on US HiFERs here).
That is my opinion.
What EIRP are you allowed to run in Italy ?
You mentioned New-Zealand. Did you mean Eastern Australia ? That's where my QTH is.
73 Steve VK2XV
Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 07, 2012 at 07:28:35.
In reply to Re: GRABBER IK1WVQ - new filename under DROPBOX archive posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 07, 2012
Hi Steve,
sorry for my mistake: Australia, not Newzeland ...
I do not know the max EIRP allowed in Italy, nor if it is allowed to trasmit from here..
But, I know what I can output +10dBm directly from my Marconi 2022 generator ...
Then, I own a Minicircuits precision +29dBm amplifier..
(but the 2 things are not related .. HI!)
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Night of Nights is this week!!
Posted by Paul on July 08, 2012 at 20:37:20.
http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/events_nightofnights.htm
A magical night of pure radio bliss. Don't miss it! Extra points for using a tube-type radio receiver that weighs over 20 pounds to copy.
PDF about loop antennas for 13.5 MHz!
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 11, 2012 at 21:17:49.
Hi,
very usefull this PDF!
http://www.stmb.it/grabber/hifer/antennaCookbook.pdf
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 12, 2012 at 15:36:31.
Took at look at the watering hole and at 1450Z, 7/12/12 copied LP, triangle wave centered at 13555509Z; NC, bottom of square wave at 13555505 Hz; EH, DFCW bottom at 13555461 Hz; and USC, DFCW bottom at 13555402 Hz. No sign of RY, perhaps because John is working on it, and MP, skip not short enough.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 12, 2012 at 19:31:43.
In reply to Morning Hifers in NE IL posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 12, 2012
Garry,
No sign of RY because I moved some stuff on the bench, and knocked the power strip switch off! It will be back on shortly when the freq stabilizes... Thanks for the non-report!
John, W1TAG
Re: Night of Nights is this week!!
Posted by Paul on July 12, 2012 at 19:35:30.
In reply to Night of Nights is this week!! posted by Paul on July 08, 2012
12:30 PDT as I write this.
Have all but two of the transmitters re-freq'ed and tested. Can't run a 50's vintage RCA on 17 megs because that antenna is down, so will run one of the 80's vintage TX's on 17 megs. All freqs should be up and running in the next couple hours, then we'll be ready for 5:01 PM PDT when all heck breaks loose until midnight.
We'll be running the messages on 426 kc. most all night too.
Good luck SWLs!
Re: Night of Nights is this week!!
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on July 13, 2012 at 02:24:15.
In reply to Re: Night of Nights is this week!! posted by Paul on July 12, 2012
Hi Paul. During the period of 0145 to 0225 UT, 13 July, 2012, not hearing anything but a ship(?) station kkue/kkui calling KSM and WLO on 500 kcs. The station requested QSY up 434, which I believe was WLO's old working freq. The keying of the transmitter may be intermittent, as it changed between 'e' and 'i' each time the callsign was sent. Nothing heard from either KSM or WLO in reply. The latter would be strong here on the Banks of Ponchartrain, if they were using their old MF transmitter and antenna. With all the local thunderstorm acitivity, I doubt that the West Coast stations could be heard here tonight. WCC and WSL were not too strong here back in the day they were operating. The old WNU MF site is only a few miles from here, and that would have been easy copy. Will continue listening for a while. GL with it. Ed WSlidell,LA EM50cg
JT65
Posted by Lee on July 13, 2012 at 03:32:03.
Has anyone experimented with JT65 in the lowfer world. I'm thinking it would not yield the extreme distances being acheived using QRSS and spectrum software.
Lee
HiFER - VK2XV Grabber update...
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 13, 2012 at 05:17:46.
G'day to those who use my Picasa Archive.
At the moment I am testing a new version of my Archiver for Picasa Web Albums. The new code requires a 'flush' of the photos - so you will see lots of error triangles for the next hour (0500utc - 0600utc).
Hopefully after that it will be back to 'normal' - hopefully no bugs...
The new code was necessary as the old code used about 3MByte download per update. It now uses about 0.04MByte download per update... My orange download quota indicator is slowly turning back to green...
73 Steve 73
Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 13, 2012 at 12:58:14.
In reply to Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 12, 2012
John, RY is QRV this morning and coming in nearly as well as EH. LP is in there too but nothing from the SE at the moment (1300Z, 7/13/12), i.e. no copy of NC and USC.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 13, 2012 at 13:03:49.
In reply to Re: Morning Hifers in NE IL posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 13, 2012
Garry,
Thanks. I had moved RY up to 13555.415 kHz (dot freq) earlier in the week. It should stay on, now.
Lowfer TAG will be off for a while, as I'm going to try some remote receiving from this site over the next month or so.
John, W1TAG
Re: Night of Nights is this week!!
Posted by Paul on July 14, 2012 at 17:51:27.
In reply to Re: Night of Nights is this week!! posted by EdWSlidell,LA on July 13, 2012
Thanks, Ed!
426/500 was running 5 KW. Back in the day, KPH was running 40 KW, and had a better antenna system. I suspect that the signal strength years ago would be magnitudes better than it is today.
Spent all day yesterday putting things back to "normal" for KSM ops today. What a ride!
Will be putting together an article on the festivities for Radio World.
VY 73
ZUT!
Re: JT65
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 14, 2012 at 18:54:17.
In reply to JT65 posted by Lee on July 13, 2012
Lee,
JT65 is designed for higher speed, wider BW use at VHF and up. Of the JT-series, JT2 would be more suited to LF.
JT65 would certainly work at LF, but most of the LF/MF work with this type of coding has been with WSPR, also created by K1JT. WSPR works in a much narrower BW in a 2-minute window, and is very well suited for low SNR (but stable frequency) environments, such as LF. WSPR signals can be copied under conditions that would permit QRSS3 to maybe QRSS10, if memory serves.
John, W1TAG
Re: JT65
Posted by Lee on July 15, 2012 at 08:00:17.
In reply to Re: JT65 posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 14, 2012
Thanks for that info! I did not know that WSPR and JT65 were created by the same person K1JT. I will look into JT2. EN52 overnight reception
Thanks.
Lee
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 15, 2012 at 14:24:20.
Plenty of QSB and lightning racket around last night so pleased to find lowfer BR still QRV around 185.550 kHz at 0430Z. Didn't notice a top-of-the-hour QRSS30 ID but the long (5 second?) hold after each series of CW IDs came through with Spectrum Laboratory running at QRSS3 bandwidth.
To the south WD2XSH/6 was solid copy sending QRSS10 on 475.322 kHz, but the PSK31 messages from WD2XSH/7 on 476.3 kHz were only about 75% correct thanks to lack of FEC. Since those signals weren't particularly strong it was surprising that a bunch of NDB DX stations to the south were copied: DPP, CBC, SPP, and BOG. The DGPS station in Panama on 302 kHz also decoded.
On VLF, CFH, Halifax, NS,73.6 kHz and CKN, Vancouver, BC, 76.2 kHz were both pretty good, yet NDB copy of 350 kHz NL and BC stations was nil.
On the hifer scene, VK2XV's grabber showed nice USA signals around 0600Z, despite solar storms and http://www.hamqsl.com/solar1.html's "poor" rating for HF propagation.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Lowfer TAG Staying On
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on July 15, 2012 at 17:08:26.
Contrary to earlier indications, Lowfer TAG will remain on the air at 185.800 kHz with WOLF(10). I was going to take it down for some remote receiving activity over the next few weeks, but our neighbors have arrived for a 3-week vacation along with their customary electronics, and the LF spectrum just ain't the same...
John, W1TAG
Revised return for JAM 187.015khz La Crescenta
Posted by Lee on July 16, 2012 at 04:30:53.
I finally admitted to myself that I need to drop the antenna mast for some safety maintenance. If I go to that trouble I should probably add 2 more top hat radials. And I should probably spar varnish the fiber glass mast because the UV light is just tearing it up. Soooooooo revised return date for JAM 187.015khz is mid/late September. I will post with the weekend date when I figure that out. Thanks. HIFER propagation gone ???
Lee
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 16, 2012 at 07:01:03.
Hi, Re: HIFER propagation gone ???
is the HIFER propagation gone ??
This night no trace of USA beacons in my grabber, nor in that of Steve VK2XV !!
Who turned off the light?
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ
Posted by John Davis on July 16, 2012 at 07:42:56.
In reply to HIFER propagation gone ??? posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 16, 2012
I think the question is, "who turned on the lights?" The northern and southern lights, that is. :) With the Bz component of the magnetic field strongly southward and a planetary A-index of 60, it's a safe bet we're in a pretty good geomagnetic storm right now. I suspect it's subsiding from the previous time I checked, because the solar wind presure is down considerably, although the field is still strongly tilted.
Also, I see from the grayline and MUF map linked at our solar-terrestrial page, it appears the maximum usable frequency is very low in both directions from North America right now, while on the day side of the planet, X-ray absorption is present at lower HF, meaning the available working frequencies are rather limited and don't currently include 13 MHz.
Things should improve later in the day.
73 Re: PDF about loop antennas for 13.5 MHz!
John
Posted by Gregg on July 18, 2012 at 10:29:48.
In reply to PDF about loop antennas for 13.5 MHz! posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 11, 2012
Sweet find!
Re: HIFER propagation gone ???
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 19, 2012 at 02:10:31.
In reply to Re: HIFER propagation gone ??? posted by John Davis on July 16, 2012
Yes, HF propagation has been way down of late but the A value is back to about 5 now (http://www.hamqsl.com/solar1.html) and plenty of USA-European WSPR decodes are again showing at http://www.wsprnet.org/drupal/wsprnet/map. Looks like the IK1WVQ grabber isn't connected to a receiver since not even commercial/QRM sources are showing. USA signals have been weak into VK2XV's grabber but generally evident around 0600Z despite high A values.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Morning Hifers
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 19, 2012 at 13:45:53.
Good copy this morning (1345Z) of 4 hifers at the watering hole: NC, low tone at 13555496 Hz; EH, low tone at 13555426 Hz; RY, low tone at 13555413 Hz; and USC, low tone at 13555402 Hz.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: HIFER propagation gone ???
Posted by Mauro IK1WVQ on July 19, 2012 at 18:58:58.
In reply to Re: HIFER propagation gone ??? posted by Garry, K3SIW on July 19, 2012
hi,
>Looks like the IK1WVQ grabber isn't connected to a receiver
I controlled all cables and settings, and I thing no ..
at 23:08 GMT of 18/07/2012 you can see a spot of "HI" beacon.. only few minutes ... see my archive ...
In this WE I shall control the integrity of antenna.
73 de Mauro IK1WVQ Re: K9AY on LW?
Posted by John KB5NJD on July 19, 2012 at 19:25:00.
In reply to K9AY on LW? posted by Bill KB9IV on December 28, 2011
I recently rewound transformers for each of my K9AY loops using LF compatible core materials and used the same termination resistance as i do for 160m (about 380 ohms IIRC) and I have confirmed directivity and good F/B when listening to NDB's. My intent was to make this change in preparation for 630m but it seems to work well down into the low 300's and high 200's without problems. I do run a significant amount of preamp and filtering as the loops are the normal size (about 80 feet or wire total).
The RSGB pub, "LF Today" has a modified K9AY loop with a larger aperture and a remote tunable resistance.
good luck!
jl
Hi Fers Heard 20-23 July, 2012
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on July 23, 2012 at 13:59:13.
Hello Everyone. The following Hi Fers were heard 20-23 July, 2012. WV on ~13560, MTI on ~13557.5, SZX on ~13563, GNK on ~13564, and K6FRC on ~13565 KHz. Only MTI and GNK had good signals (3/4-3/4-9) when at maximum. The others were generally 2-2/3-9 when audible. The best signals were Friday here, after 0000UT/21 July, 2012, when all the signals were heard off and on till about 0300UT. Conditions are not too good--even the SWBC on 13570KHz is not as strong as usual. Ed WSlidell, LA EM50cg
VK2XV HiFER Grabber Offline...
Posted by Steve Olney VK2XV on July 26, 2012 at 05:41:21.
Due to ongoing non-local QRM, especially at peak HiFER times, the grabber is off-line.
Perhaps if the QRM clears in the future it will return.
73 Steve Olney - VK2XV/VK2ZTO/AX2NMR
Website: http://vk2xv.djirra.com Re: New Lowfer Transmiter
2200M: http://vk2xv-136khz.blogspot.com
600M: http://vk2xv-500khz.blogspot.com
22M: http://vk2xv-hifer.blogspot.com
Grabber: http://www.qsl.net/vk2xv
Posted by John Hamer on July 31, 2012 at 00:58:01.
In reply to Re: New Lowfer Transmiter posted by John Hamer on June 30, 2012
Just wanted to update everyone on the status of my antenna. I finally decided on the antenna design and I bought all the supplies last weekend as well as parts for the loading coil. I'm planning on getting the base done this weekend and the mast completed on the following weekend.
Re: New Lowfer Transmiter/Loading Coil
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on July 31, 2012 at 03:13:45.
In reply to Re: New Lowfer Transmiter posted by John Hamer on July 31, 2012
Hi John. Do have an idea what your approximate loading coil value(uH) or the coil's physical size will be? It likely will be base loaded I imagine, for tuning/repair convenience if nothing else. Thanks, Ed WSlidell,LA EM50cg
potrzebie