Modified TERK AM Advantage Antenna ?
Posted by Bill on July 31, 2001 at 14:50:05
Hi,
I was able to modify a TERK AM loop antenna from 530-1700 to 320 - 420. I took the antenna apart and added several feet(10's to 100's) of wire, more wire equaled lower frequencies. However I lost bandwidth, anyone know how this might be overcome ?? The small size of this antenna is the most appealing factor to me. I do understand the limitations of such a small loop, and am not expecting it to perform like larger loops with amps. I just thought it would be fun to see how low I could push this antenna.
I know very little about the TERK antenna as far as what tuning cap is used. But it did work well on my Sony 7600G. Stations that I NEVER heard leaped out as I tuned the small loop(just like on the AM Broadcast band). Any ideas would be welcome.
Thanks,
Bill
Re: Modified TERK AM Advantage Antenna ?
Posted by Joe T. Penrod on August 01, 2001 at 02:17:03
Adding turns to the antenna will certainly push the resonant frequency lower. However, this also increases the inductive reactance which reduces the Q factor. To lower the frequency and narrow the bandwidth, you need to use less L and more C.
RMC (LW 216 kHz - France) web site
Posted by Thierry VIGNAUD on August 01, 2001 at 03:24:08
http://rmcstory.free.fr/ is an URL concerning a french web site about RMC (Radio Monte Carlo) in fact this stations has changed it's name to RMC INFO due to a new format news and talk one month ago.
You have vues of the transmitter building, antennas, feeders and also the story of this station which has started during the second world ware.
RMC INFO Broadcast on LW 216 kHz with 1400 kW at Roumoules (south east of France) from
0300-2200 UTC (summer time) 0400-2300 (winter time), they also use 134 FM transmitters in France (24 h/day).
Hifer RY Glitch
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 02, 2001 at 13:19:17
My Hifer RY beacon in Maine has started IDing as TAG. Not sure what caused this, but it will be corrected on 4 Aug.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: Hifer RY Glitch
Posted by John Davis on August 02, 2001 at 16:18:40
:: Not sure what caused this ...
Maybe the squirrels in the attic have been evolving at an accelerated rate. You're not near a nuclear power plant, or downrange from the Dielectric Communications antenna test site, by any chance. :-)
73,
John
Re: Hifer RY Glitch
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 02, 2001 at 16:40:47
John,
Squirrels...don't think so, because they are all of the scrawny little red variety up there. But Dielectric is right on the other side of the lake near the Channel 13 tower. Never thought of that. Gotta be one of those Digital TV antennas. Probably filled the camp up with ones and zeros. I'll know as soon as I open the door!
John A.
Re: Hifer RY Glitch
Posted by Lloyd Chastant on August 03, 2001 at 13:29:16
JohnI sent a message on the lowfer qth.net stating you where very strong this morning 8/3/01 as TAG.But I don't see my messages posted in the lowfer qth.net ..Yet I see otheres..AM I using the correct email address as lowfer qth.net ??? Anyway signals have been pretty poor for last few days but TAG was nice and strong today..de Lloyd W3NF
LWCA Website Featured on ARRL Site.
Posted by Mark Karney on August 04, 2001 at 12:03:15
I was surfing the ARRL site this morning and was surprised and pleased to see the LWCA site featured in an article my Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU. Check it out at http://www.arrl.org/.
Transverter suggestion and request
Posted by William F. Hagen on August 05, 2001 at 22:51:48
I am interested in a practical transverter, and have seen one that transverts between the 30M band and 1750 MHz.
Are there any practical kits or rigs available that tackle this? Also, I think a transverter from the CB band to the 1750 meter band would be a great Idea, as cb's are readily available,
has anyone tackled this project?
Any comments welcome William F. hagen
transmitter design
Posted by Don on August 06, 2001 at 20:18:26
trying to set up a tube transmitter for lowfer beacon to operate at 180kHz. would like info on pi tank and other tuned resonant circuits.
thanks
D.
Re: Transverter suggestion and request
Posted by Tim Brannon on August 06, 2001 at 23:12:05
Curry Communications marketed an 80 meter to LF transverter several years ago that was reviewed in 73 Magazine, but it is no longer available. At least it's not listed on the website at http://www.fix.net/~jparker/currycom.htm
The basic problem with using a CB radio as the IF rig for a transverter is that the vast majority only work on AM, which given the power & antenna limitations is inadequate for DX work beyond "wireless mike" range. The high-Q antenna system needed to radiate a signal beyond your own backyard is also too narrow in bandwidth to pass an intelligible AM signal. Even the SSB CBs (do they still make'em?) are not likely to include a quality receiver need for serious work on this band. As just a transmit converter???---maybe some of the guys in California can comment on the effectiveness of SSB at 1750 meters. There used to be a Saturday morning SSB net on 1750 meters in the LA area.
Re: VLF receiver
Posted by Bill Farmer W3CSW on August 07, 2001 at 07:57:28
I've developed such a direct FFT VLF receiver that uses the BSOFT ANA200/A ISA card in a 450 MHz Pentium PC. Sample rate is 330k samples per second.
Using a Coax Loop antenna, 100 kHz Low Pass Filter, and pre-amp only.
Currently, I have a Pan Display in 200, 100, and 50 Hz resolutions on the PC.
Would be happy to pass along some graphic attachments of what it all looks like.
73's Bill Farmer W3CSW fxfarmer erols.com
Re: VLF receiver
Posted by john earle, W6MLV on August 07, 2001 at 19:26:59
I would make the range start above 60 Hz and continue to 200 Khz, since the FCC gives us some transmitting possibilties above 150 Khz. Or, maybe go down to dc, but include some 60Hz switchable notch filtering in the high priced version!
john earle, W6MLV
Re: transmitter design
Posted by Barrie, W7ALW on August 07, 2001 at 20:58:17
Hello Don and the group!
I have been thinking about posting the same question.
Tube-type beacon transmitters were quite popular many years ago. I once had several schematics and parts lists for same. Can't seem to find them now.
Any "more organized" people out there that might be able to share the information?
73, Barrie, W7ALW, Missoula, Montana
LF-activity during lighthouse weekend 2001
Posted by Alfred Klüß on August 08, 2001 at 16:53:05
Ali, DF2BC, will be QRV during lighthouse weekend 18th and 19th August 2001 on 136,5 kHz in CW (trying SCW also!)
QTH: Campen Lighthouse locator JO33MJ (nr Emden)
TX: Ropex The First RX: homemade superhet ANT: 70 m high wire vertical with 100 m horizontal head capacitance TIMES: from the early morning until the high noon, mainly between 0400 and 1200 utc and later if activity does make it nessecary.
Listening reports and comment to e-mail: df2bc darc-i06.de hope cul on 136,5 khz vy 73 Ali, DF2BC
Re: transmitter design
Posted by Joe T. Penrod on August 09, 2001 at 01:03:01
I have a good deal of information on the design of various filters and tuners for those who are interested. Will E-mail the details.
73
Joe T. Penrod
Re: transmitter design
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 09, 2001 at 09:35:05
Don,
One issue to keep in mind with tube finals is that the PA stage will have to be at the antenna feed point. If you are using a vertical, that means at the base of the antenna. So you've got to get B+ and filament voltages out there.
Also remember that you are restricted to 1 watt DC input, so efficiency of both the PA and the coupling networks becomes very important.
You've probably noticed that most of the current activity is with solid-state equipment. It's easier to get the high efficiencies with transistor PA's.
John A.
ZL DX testing 22 September
Posted by Bob ZL2CA (Fwd by Webmaster) on August 10, 2001 at 12:34:27
Date: 8/9/01 3:45:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Hi all,
The next session of LF DX beaconing from ZL and VK is scheduled for 21 September (UTC, the "Friday night and Saturday morning" for Europe and stateside, local time in ZL is some six hours into 22 September at ZL sunrise!). The date is selected as being the weekend of the equinox.
Are there any suggestions for optimum frequencies for European listeners? For "trans Pacific" testing we have used frequencies from 181.4 to 184.4 kHz.
I will also apply for a permit to transmit in the 136 and 76 kHz bands from Quartz Hill ZL6QH, but that may take a while to be approved. So for the time being DownUnder DX testing needs to be within the band 165 - 190 kHz.
73, Bob ZL2CA
"HP" on 281 kHz
Posted by John Harper on August 10, 2001 at 16:05:27
Hello,
I would be interested in receiveng reception reports from anyone able to copy "HP" on 281 kHz located at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY.
Reception reports should include (in addition to the usual date, time, etc.) the type of receiver and antenna you are using.
Reports may be sent to my home address. A verification (with data) of your report will be returned if an sase is included. Thanks and good DXing,
John Harper AE5X FAA Technician http://www.qsl.net/ae5x
WTB: Curry Transverter
Posted by William F. Hagen on August 10, 2001 at 23:00:48
WTB: Curry Transverter, the one that transverts between the 30Meter band and the 1750 Meter band.
Thanks whagen inreach.com
Hifer Beacons
Posted by Shawn Axelrod on August 12, 2001 at 14:41:39
I have been hearing one or two (not sure) beacons in and around 13.555.1. One seemed to have a very long tone about 30 or more e seconds. The other seemed to be 3 shorter ( 3 seconds or so) tones. Anyone have ideas who may have been on Aug 10 or 11?? Both were very weak and faded in and out. Thanks for any help. Shawn
Re: Hifer Beacons
Posted by John Davis on August 12, 2001 at 15:58:58
"In and around" a given frequency makes it a little difficult to tell which stations those might be. Can you run the Argo software on your computer? It would give you a direct readout of the dots and dashes comprising the IDs on-screen, and a better idea of the frequencies.
73,
John
HiFer QRSS signal received down-under - RY ?
Posted by Steve Olney VK2ZTO on August 14, 2001 at 16:23:08
G'day All,
Lyle K0LR and I have been experimenting using Wanjina mode recently and Lyle has managed to decode a Wanjina transmission from me from this end using 2mW. I wish I had Lyle's location/receiver/expertise combination !!! On the 14th Aug, I was running a data capture to try and receive a Wanjina transmission from Lyle to make the journey in the opposite direction. No sign of Lyle's signal but at about 0600 UTC to 0800 UTC I did see traces of a signal which looked very much like a QRSS signal. The signal definately has a two letter ID and repeats every 100 seconds. Although my software doesn't have a direct frequency readout, by calculating from the postion on the screen the signal appears to be about 13.55536 MHz. Looking at the signal I reckoned I could see that the first character was an 'R' while the second one looked mostly like a 'Y'. Imagine my surprise when I looked up the list of the web and saw that RY is on 13.55537 MHz using QRSS.
For my money I would say that I have definately received RY (unless of course it wasn't on or had slipped back into TAG mode :-).
I have posted three pictures from the WaHiFer display screen at:
http://www.qsl.net/vk2zto/hifer/
Go there and see what you think. I would be interested in comments.
73s Steve Olney VK2ZTO
Inside photos of NDB
Posted by John Harper (FAA) on August 14, 2001 at 16:37:31
Hello,
It's crude, so far, but I have put together a photo page of the innards of a typical Non-Directional Beacon for those interested in seeing what they look like. This one is "HP" and transmits from near the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, NY on 281 kHz. I plan to add more details soon on NDBs in general. Click on the link below and the NDB page is the bottom link on the page.
Good DXing,
John Harper AE5X http://www.qsl.net/ae5x/index.html
Re: HiFer QRSS signal received down-under - RY ?
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 14, 2001 at 20:45:04
Steve,
Isn't THAT interesting? Boy, I wish I had left RY in DFCW mode... there wouldn't be any question.
From the looks of the screen shots, I'd say it's possible that this is RY. It's currently running 3 second dots, so that should be about 90 seconds for a full cycle.
The frequency appears to be right on, though. By some miracle of propagation, I saw RY at 0000Z on 14 August (it's about 80 km from my home QTH). The frequency looked to be about 13555.360 kHz at that point, if memory serves me correctly. I rarely get to see the signal from here at home. Interesting coincidence.
The antenna is a vertical dipole just barely clearing the ground at the bottom. A big asset to that site is that it's right on the edge of a lake, with nothing in the way toward the west, along a whole arc from south to north. Always was a good HF spot. The transmitter should be running about +2.5 dBm output - I allowed for a moderately long run of RG-58.
Thanks, Steve... if you see anything further that nails it, let me know.
John Andrews, W1TAG RY - Raymond, Maine
Re: Correction
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 14, 2001 at 21:34:48
Small correction to my earlier message. RY is about 240 km from my home QTH. Duh.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: Loops
Posted by Mike Majority, N4VBV on August 15, 2001 at 17:01:47
Mike, Not really that familiar with LF (yet) except using NDB's as a pilot and monitoring them on my Sony ICF-2010 (which works great, by the way). I do have an antenna suggestion: Most stock&feed stores have nylon electric fence wire. It's nylon cord interwoven with 3 strands of tinned copper. Can get a 500' roll for about 16 bucks.
Use it at home (restrictive covenants) ran around my house under the eaves on electric fence standoff insulators, then brought in through the attic with 450-ohm ladder line to an SGC SG-230 coupler. So far have gotten Japan on 30m with 100W (IC-706MKII), and Cedar City, UT on 160m QRP from Phoenix. Lots of 40m contacts with east coast.
Just a suggestion for a relatively cheap antenna, and the nylon cord doubles as a support for the copper wire.
Good luck,
Mike, N4VBV
Re: transmitter design
Posted by Jonathan Smick W2MXW on August 15, 2001 at 20:50:00
Hi Don,
I'm working on my soon-to-be Lowfer beacon "MXW", 188 kHz right now, and the TX will be all tube.
I have found a way to be compliant with Part 15 interpretations of "electrical length" of the antenna and not use a "loading coil" in the antenna per se yet still be able to use a large inductor to efficiently tune the antenna (in the transmitter enclosure, of course). This is the most legal method.
The design is a parallel-tuned tank for the tube final, with a variocoupler design whereby the final tank coil slides into/out of the larger antenna "tuning" coil. This tuning coil is grounded at the cold end and connects to the antenna terminal at the top (with a choice of several taps).
The final tank coil is 1.7 mH, closewound with #22 enam. ("heavy Nysol" 130 Centigrade) on a 3" diam. (nom. trade size) Sched. 40 white PVC pipe, resonated by an air variable cap; the antenna "tuning" coil is also #22 enam. but on a 4" diam. PVC pipe, about a foot long, 7 millihenries tapped at several points down to about 4 mH for coarse matching and shunted by a 50 pF variable to gnd. for fine tuning. Adjustment of coupling between the two coils involves sliding the tank coil into/out of the ant. coil. This telescoping is achieved (3" and 4" PVC are a very loose fit) by using a standard PVC coupling on the 3" d. piece which just happens to fit smoothly into 4" d. pipe. Haven't decided on the final tube but probably will be a 2E26 (have lots of them and want to use an honest-to-gosh 'real' transmitting tube) running at low plate volts to get 1 watt input, although a triode (with no screen to worry about taking from the "total power input" allowance) is not out of the question.
I will be using AM MCW just like an NDB so the final will be plate modulated.
Oscillator will be crystal-controlled, pentode operating in 'electron coupled' mode, which provides inherent buffering without having to use an extra buffer stage (screen is 'plate' of osc., plate is output).
73 de Jon W2MXW
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Re: Ham rigs as LF receivers
Posted by Roger Magnuson on August 16, 2001 at 13:32:53
Tim, I have the IC-746 and so far it looks very good for LF. I do not have any optional filters or high stability oscillator (yet). I have had it connected to my 8' loop with preamp and it works great with just the audio peaking filter. This rig is a good choice in my opinion.
Roger, K0MVJ , Beacon RM 189.8 Khz
Cubic R-3030/R-3080/CDR-3280
Posted by David Ritchie, W6DR on August 16, 2001 at 17:33:26
If you know of a Cubic R-3030, R-3080, or CDR-3280 for sale, please drop me an email. Thanks Dave W6DR (posted 8-16-01)
Re: Cubic R-3030/R-3080/CDR-3280
Posted by Sandy Sanders on August 16, 2001 at 22:03:03
I have a R-3030 but it is not for sale. But if you find one a PDF of the manual can be found at http://www.amrad.org/projects/lf/rx/ (6MB)
I have not run into a CDR-3280. I take it it is a later version?
I have seen R-3080s at Dayton in the $1200 to $1500 range and on the web page of a surplus place in Canada whose URL I have lost. Good luck they are fine receivers.
Sandy
WB5MMB
Re: Cubic R-3030/R-3080/CDR-3280
Posted by Keith VA3QF on August 17, 2001 at 12:25:37
The place in Canada is probably W.J. Ford in Smiths Falls, Ontario - web www.falls.igs.net/~testequipment/
RY Changes Modes
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 18, 2001 at 16:12:21
Hifer beacon RY in Raymond, ME is now operating on 13555.36 kHz in DFCW (dual frequency cw) mode with 10 second dots, and a 5 Hz shift between dash and dot frequencies. Dashes are the same length as dots, but 5 Hz higher in frequency. Viewed on a 3 second per dot ARGO screen, you would see a little more than one complete ID on a screen.
Current plans are to keep RY in this mode until mid-October, and take it off the air over the winter. I plan to rebuild the rig to allow year-round operation, with some remote control capability. The present frequency stablility is not good enough to run the thing in an unheated environment during the winter months.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: LF-activity during lighthouse weekend 2001
Posted by Costas Krallis on August 20, 2001 at 17:10:55
Was it a success? Have you any photos of the antenna?
Regards
Costas
Re: Inside photos of NDB
Posted by Frank Reynolds on August 21, 2001 at 07:00:49
Nice photos. I love a tank circuit that you could use a pipe wrench on.
Frank
Photos of Decca Navigator LF Stations
Posted by Dave G4FTC on August 23, 2001 at 07:05:38
Hi All,
I've created a few web pages containing a technical description and photos of a Decca Navigator Main Chain which are likely to be of interest to Lowfers. Be sure to see the antenna system pages.
On a separate webpage are some photos and technical description of a small airport LF NDB.
See www.rftechnology.co.uk/g4ftc
73's Dave G4FTC
Television on Longwave
Posted by Les Rayburn, N1LF on August 23, 2001 at 09:45:31
Pleased to report that yesterday afternoon I was able to transmit narrow band TV signals on 174khz. Using an old Palomar Engineering transmitter in AM mode, and the software designed by Con, ZL2AFP, I was able to successfully transmit and receive these signals out to a range of about 1/2 mile.
Initially, I had used the Palomar Transmitter and fed it into my existing lowfer antenna system...but has both Lyle and Stewart had predicted, its high "Q" design proved to be unsuitable for AM transmission. I then jury rigged an older coil that I had ( Q=200) and tuned the system to resonance with it. Using this less efficient tuning arrangement, I was able to successfully receive my transmissions inside the shack at a distance of about 40 feet.
After making some adjustments to the software...I used my Icom 746 has a mobile receiver in the car. This system uses a mag mounted version of the LF Engineering active whip has an antenna. I took along a tape recorder, has my laptop was at work.
Using this system, I drove around the neighborhood and recorded the narrowband television signal from the shack. I had focused a small b&w camera on a test card reading "XM" for the test.
I took careful notes of my location, and drove a little further away every 10 minutes or so. After returning to the shack and playing the tape back into the soundcard, I discovered that copy was maintained out to about 1/2 mile.
The range was not very impressive but has expected. LF proves to be a lousy place for a high bandwidth mode like AM. In addition, the summer time static levels and low power (1 Watt) will really limit the range.
However, it did prove that narrowband television on longwave is possible and it was a heck of a lot of fun!
I plan to test this software on 2 meters when I return from my business trip, expecting much better results there. Look for an article complete with photos and the newest software from ZL2AFP on the Noise Floor site soon. Hopefully others will experiment with this mode on both LF, HF, and VHF.
I think on the amateur bands this mode could provide a very useful "DX mode" for ATV, though some would debate wether it was ATV at all. It does provide a nice
3-4fps live video signal in a very limited bandwidth, and has already been proven on 20 Meters in limited tests.
In my book, that means it's not slow scan TV, not digital TV, but still TV. I encourage hams to experiment with narrowband television...
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
30khz Antenna Design for Troubleshooting a Metal Detector
Posted by Thomas Moore on August 24, 2001 at 15:28:53
Hello,
This is a wierd problem I am hoping someone may provide me some help. I have a 60" dia. metal detector while installing, was dropped and the outside shield cracked. My problem comes in in the large number of false trips I get. I believe the problem comes from the way it was installed rather than the cracked shield. To prove this, i would ike to do the following:
Build an antenna and hook it to an O-scope and run the antenna arount the outside of the metal detector to determine if there is a significant leakage and where the leakage is located. My problem is in the design of the antenna - I don't know how to do it and make it portable enough to move around the outside of the detector. Can anyone here give me any advice, hints or if you have a better idea - i am really open to this.
Thanks - Thomas D. Moore - systems sunstuds.com
LF Ham Band?
Posted by Douglas Williams on August 25, 2001 at 10:53:16
Would someone be kind enough to give us an update on the ARRL proposed LF ham band?
Has it been shot down by the FCC or have they just not made a decision yet?
Re: LF Ham Band?
Posted by John Davis on August 25, 2001 at 14:27:24
Hi Douglas,
They have simply not made a decision on it yet. It is seen as benefitting relatively few spectrum users and has the power companies ranting against it, so it's an issue that can easily be put on the back burner.
Personally, I don't expect it to be looked at until most or all of the digital TV licensing is complete and the backlog of FM applications is caught up. Only then will the Commission's technical staff really have time to devote to lower priority matters.
Given the sort of issues they're currently dealing with, I'd say a non-answer at this point is better than a speedy answer. The quick answer would probably be "no."
73,
John
Beacon "WV"
Posted by michael tyler ....wa8ywo on August 26, 2001 at 22:05:15
Have HiFer Beacon about ready to go on the air......ran a test today and adjusted power to 1.5 millwatt.....will be on in a few days as soon as i finish the cabinet.......Lowfer "WV" is almost ready as well.....need to redo the loading inductor to increase the inductance...the antenna is shorter than i thought it was going to be......my question is, do i need to paste a label stating that this is a Part 15 device on these units?........I have an antenna resonant (using the modified LowFer loading Inductor) for a MedFer beacon and hope to have it on soon....thanks ...mike...wa8ywo..."WV"
Re: Beacon "WV"
Posted by michael tyler on August 26, 2001 at 22:20:21
I found the link to the Part 15 Regs.on the Low down site....please disregard the question about the label...thanks...mike...wa8ywo
HiFer Beacon WV on the air!!
Posted by michael tyler on August 27, 2001 at 22:10:43
Beacon WV is on at 16:10hrs EST. today.....frequency is 13.55563MHz.....running 1.5 milliwatt into a sloping dipole.......continuous.....CW at 4 wpm......sending (e e e e e e wv wv wv ") 5 sec pause then repeat ....location EM98 near Richwood West Virginia I will post pictures on my LowFer webpage....thanks...mike wa8ywo http://access.mountain.net/~mtyler/LFbeacon.html
LowFer and MedFer "WV" coming soon!
GL copy in Maryland
Posted by Lloyd Chastant on August 28, 2001 at 10:11:35
I had a nice Argo copy of GL this morning(8/28 at 1345Z) on 13555.28.It is listed as central Texas..Can some tell me who that is and/or an email address. I would like to send him the Argo copy.Thanks de Lloyd W3NF FM19MH
Re: LF Ham Band?
Posted by Douglas Williams on August 28, 2001 at 11:23:18
Thanks for the answer, John. It seems the FCC will be moving at it's usual glacial pace on this one. I really don't understand why the power companies are upset. Do they actually believe that our tiny signals, and they would be tiny given the sizes of the antennas that could be practically erected even if the FCC allowed us, say, 100 watts output power, could possibly interfere with their PLCs?
How many other countries have LF ham bands now?
Re: GL copy in Maryland
Posted by John Davis on August 28, 2001 at 21:21:03
GL is operated by KI5GL. I don't have an exact QTH from him, and don't know whether the online callbook lookups are accurate. However, I believe geolucetx aol.com will work for e-mail.
73,
John
Re: Photos of Decca Navigator LF Stations
Posted by Richard Allen, W5SXD on August 28, 2001 at 22:26:23
Great website! I especially enjoyed the 136 kHz stuff ...
Re: HiFer Beacon WV on the air!!
Posted by Bill Ashlock on August 28, 2001 at 22:31:32
Hi Mike,
Congratulations on your entry into the Hifer band! Will be looking for you at 13.55563, beginning tonight. Any chance you can slow her down to a dot time of about 3 sec so that us screen capture folks using ARGO can get a better look?
BTW: Are you set up for receiving? We're putting out a QRSS sawtooth-looking 'WA' at ~13.56230 with a 3 second dot time.
Happy Hifering!
Bill WA Andover, MA
Re: HiFer Beacon WV on the air!!
Posted by michael tyler...wa8ywo...HiFer WV on August 29, 2001 at 09:49:57
Thanks Bill for the comments.....the current ider i am using is "store bought" this time but it will go down to 1 wpm.....would that help?? I have a Receiver, a FT840, and i am just now getting the time to think about QRSS software.I hope to get setup to receive slow code very soon. Trying to get LowFer and MedFer "WV" on the air before winter...BTW, you can see HiFer WV on a web page i am working on at http://access.mountain.net~mtyler/HFbeacon.html I will try to get the software and listen for your Beacon in the next couple of days....thanks for letting me know about it.....73....mike wa8ywo
Re: LF Engineering
Posted by Frank Reynolds on August 29, 2001 at 13:14:44
I have an LB400. It works just fine either by itself ( with my Drake R8A) or through a Palomar converter into my RS 395. I'm in central NY and have a problem with the local 800KW Loran station.
It seems to come through the LB400 at 200, 300, and 400kHz more than it does on just a long wire; due to the gain of the unit I suppose.
It has been trouble free for the 5 years that I have owned it.
Frank
Re: LF Engineering
Posted by Bob Gaye on August 29, 2001 at 20:00:17
I can agree with Frank. I'm in western NY and also hear harmonics of the LORAN station Frank mentioned. I'm also within 5 miles of two AM broadcast stations and hear the second order mixing products(1080 - 930) at 150 KHz quite well. Adding attenuation between the antenna and receiver won't help this problem with an active antenna. The L-400 should be mounted no higher than necessary to reduce these problems. Mine is at about 9 feet. If I go up to 20 feet the problem is much worse. It's below roof level at 9 feet, but it hears.
I just completed the AMRAD LF Active Antenna and it also has intermod here, but not as bad as the L-400.
Bottom line: consider your RF environment. If it's hostile a tuned loop or wire with good preselector may be the way to go. I'm now using a 60 foot wire and homebrew preselector and doing quite well. And no 150 KHz intermod.
Bob - K2LGJ
Hifer beacon PBJ now on the air
Posted by Chris Waldrup on August 29, 2001 at 20:35:33
I just got my Hifer beacon on the air on 13.558 MHz. The ID is PBJ and the location is Apex (Raleigh area ) NC. I am running the transmitter into a halfwave dipole 55 feet up in the air beaming north/south and feeding the dipole with one wavelength of open wire line and a homemade balun. Enclosure is a 5 gallon bucket with a tight fitting lid The ID is 6 wpm CW, repeating every 10 seconds. Please let me know if you hear it. Thank you.
Chris Waldrup KD4PBJ Apex, NC
Re: PBJ Heard
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 30, 2001 at 20:04:13
PBJ was clearly heard in CW at 0000Z on 31 August. Frequency was 13557.87 kHz. Good copy on peaks.
John Andrews, W1TAG Holden, MA FN42ch
GL info and copy in Maryland
Posted by Lloyd Chastant on August 31, 2001 at 11:11:45
On 8/28/01 I copied GL in Maryland and sent George KI5GL an email on that.GL is located in Austin,Tx and is 1295 miles from my QTH.That has been my best Dx beacon copy.George says his beacon is running 1.5 milliwatts into a 1/2 wave vertical(Cushcraft R5) with base about 20 ft above ground. I also copied GL this morning (8/31/01 at 1138Z) and that was the only beacon I could hear at the time-If anyone would like to see the ARGO copy I can send that independately...de Lloyd W3NF FM19MH
Re: LF Engineering
Posted by Clint Turner on August 31, 2001 at 18:39:25
I have an older LF-400B, bought in 1986-1987 - and it has spent about 4 years outside so far. It is showing the expected effects of weather, but it has survived plenty of thunderstorms and winters.
I, too, have noticed that it can respond to harmonics of LORAN and WWVB (which is very strong here in Utah.)
I have noted that the IMD is much lower when operated at 18-22 volts than it is at 12-14 volts.
It also seems to do a respectable job in rejecting AM BCB signals and preventing them from overloading.
It was with this antenna that, this past winter, I was able to copy VA3LK on a number of occasions from an urban location. (The fact that I have a metal roof on my house may help matters, though...)
The only complaint that I have had was that mine used RG-174 through a strain-relief coming out of the bottom. When I first got the antenna, I was hauling it all over the place and quickly fatigued the connection. I had to carefully "unglue" the bottom cap and install a BNC connector.
Clint KA7OEI
Really low-frequency PLCs
Posted by Clint Turner on August 31, 2001 at 18:53:55
This is along the lines of QRSS/low data rates/low frequency communications:
A few weeks ago, my boss ( who is also a ham - WA7X) mentioned that the power company had "changed out" the power meter at his ( relatively) remote mountain cabin. Upon closer inspection, he noticed an odd-looking module connected to the meter movement.
After looking at the digital pictures that he had taken, we did a quick web search and found out what it was: An extremely narrowband, low-rate telemetry scheme for reading the power meter.
The system is called "The Turtle" and it typically sends 1 bit every half hour or so, taking between 14 and 27 hours (depending on message length.)
More info may be found at:
http://www. turtletech.com/
In a nutshell, a data carrier is modulated onto the powerline and is received at the substation (or wherever.)
So far, WA7X has tried to find the carrier frequency that is being used by coupling an AC "wall wart" into a sound card and using Spectran/Spectrogram - but has yet to find anything other than the 60 Hz line frequency and its harmonics. So far, the frequency and modulation scheme is unknown: My guess is either BPSK or a form of FSK.
By the way, it would *appear* that the inventor/ owner of the company is a ham (possibly WB0DAA.)
Clint KA7OEI
www.lwca.org
potrzebie