Re: AM-88 transmitter
Hello Don (and All), New lowfer today at 188 khz LA County
I am also using the AM-88 transmitter for the GNK beacon and also had a problem at first. The rig was about a foot away from the Astron power supply. The AM-88 is now three feet from the supply with a clean signal. I also put a battery in line but after the correction was made. I am still looking for my first report on the GNK beacon :)
Thanks,
Domenic KC9GNK, GNK 1703.30 KHz
Posted by Lee on August 02, 2009 at 15:20:19.
Greetings fellow lowfers. After 20 years of thinking about it, I actually did it. Today at around 1430 I put on the air a lowfer beacon at 188 khz. Located in the La Crescenta area of Los Angeles county. Grid square DM04UF. Testing with CW now and code later when I buy a memory keyer. In the future I might move to lower frequency and play with different modulation modes. Any reception reports welcome. For records/loging purposes you can call this lowfer JAM. This beacon will be on the air most weekends if I'm not working and intermit weekdays.
Thanks
Lee
New HiFer Beacon in Illinois
Posted by Mark Garrett on August 02, 2009 at 19:46:12.
Hi All:
I am planning a new HiFer beacon to come on the air this week. I got the basic stamp operational today and transmitter is running on the bench. I still need to free up an antenna for the new beacon. I hope to have it on the air by 8/5/09 on 13.563 KHZ.
Call on the beacon will be SZX running around 5 WPM. Located near Macomb, IL EN40, operation will be intended 24/7 once initial issues are worked out (if any).
The HiFer operations have interested me for quite some time and I hope that it will bring as much interest and fun as my 10 meter beacon on 28.215.
Mark Garrett, KA9SZX
I will keep an eye on this newsgroup and let you know when it is on.
Re: Get NDB Signal in China
Posted by Anihc Jiang on August 02, 2009 at 21:32:58.
In reply to Re: Get NDB Signal in China posted by Garry Hess on July 31, 2009
Dear Garry,
Thanks for your information. I downloaded NDB list from www.calssaxe.com/dx/ndb/rww. There are following NDB data out of the list.
305KHz MF
324KHz CJ
340KHz OF
364KHz LA
364KHz CZ
381KHz LM
391KHz SX
400KHz XX
425KHz W
456KHz Q
507KHz DD
303KHz WA
So, I send a mail to Martin and told him this.
73,
Anihc
BD4AEO
Re: New HiFer Beacon in Illinois
Posted by Paul on August 03, 2009 at 08:09:49.
In reply to New HiFer Beacon in Illinois posted by Mark Garrett on August 02, 2009
That's great news, Mark!
I am looking forward to copying your HiFer soon. May the ionosphere be kind to your signals, and may many reception reports come your way.
Paul Re: New HiFer Beacon in Illinois
K6FRC
Posted by Peter B on August 04, 2009 at 05:18:32.
In reply to New HiFer Beacon in Illinois posted by Mark Garrett on August 02, 2009
Hi Mark,
That's good news, another HiFER beacon. I'm near DeKalb and will give it a try for copy, though maybe too close.
I note the freq is at the top of the band and higher than the sometimes ubiquitous HI - Hi Hi!
GL on your launch -- Peter EN51
Re: New HiFer Beacon in Illinois
Posted by Sal, K1RGO on August 04, 2009 at 07:38:26.
In reply to New HiFer Beacon in Illinois posted by Mark Garrett on August 02, 2009
Hi Mark, I'll give a listen, haven't heard much lately,but it looks like condx are getting better. I'm running EH on 13557 24/7 except when listening... NC hifer heard 08/04/09
later....Sal
Posted by Paul Daulton on August 04, 2009 at 15:36:53.
Hifer NC coming in fine at 530pm local 2230utc this afternoon.
Nothing else heard.
Paul K5wms Re: New lowfer today at 188 khz LA County
Jacksonville,AR
em34wu
Posted by Gregg on August 05, 2009 at 04:01:02.
In reply to New lowfer today at 188 khz LA County posted by Lee on August 02, 2009
Hi,
I look forward to trying for this one closer to the winter.
Southern California has a really, really good LF shot to me here in Vancouver, BC.
Cheers!
New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by Mark Garrett on August 05, 2009 at 08:06:57.
I have placed HiFer Beacon SZX at 13.563 MHZ on the air this morning but initial results are not what I expected as far as hearing in the near field so it looks like more work is needed. Part of the problem is that most the lowest powered equipment I would have in order to confirm operation is rated for five watts (CB stuff). If you happen to stumble upon it great, otherwise you might want to wait a few days till I can figure out how to get RF coupled into the antenna more effectivly and how to measure the results with what I have.
Re: New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by John Davis on August 05, 2009 at 08:54:44.
In reply to New HiFer On The Ai posted by Mark Garrett on August 05, 2009
Mark, when you get a chance, please confirm whether your contact information at qrz.com is correct and whether the beacon is in the same town, so we can be sure it's correct in our own list.
Thanks. Re: New beacon "L"
Posted by Kel McMillan on August 05, 2009 at 12:37:56.
In reply to New beacon "L" posted by Kel McMillan on July 22, 2009
Just letting everyone know that L is still on the air and is 24/7. Seems to have pretty good groundwave coverage so hopefully it will be copied elsewhere.
Polish Radio external service confirms end of longwave 198 kHz
Posted by Mike Terry on August 05, 2009 at 22:28:31.
Media Network
By Andy Sennitt
August 5, 2009
The website of the Polish Radio External Service confirms that it no longer uses the longwave frequency 198 kHz as of midnight UTC on 30 July.
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/polish-radio-external-service-confirms-end-of-longwave#comment-941727 Re: New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by Mark Garrett on August 06, 2009 at 10:45:57.
In reply to New HiFer On The Ai posted by Mark Garrett on August 05, 2009
I worked on SZX last night and radiation is better but I will need to run to a hamfest this weekend and get the correct parts for making this play properly. Still a work in progress.
Who will be the first to receive this beacon??
Note to John: I have updated QRZ.
VLF BOATANCHOR FOR SALE/TRADE
Posted by dave sampson on August 06, 2009 at 13:02:58.
i have a DAK-3 ww2 era direction finding receiver (big and heavy ,size compares to 2 RBA's stacked verticly) " XR " ON THE AIR This weekend
have receiver,amplifier,cabinet,sense antenna base,mint original manual.
will sell or trade for other vintage lf gear.will ship or can pickup in cny
73s
dave
Posted by Andy - XR on August 07, 2009 at 16:13:34.
Hey everyone:
I'm puting " XR " on this weekend. Fired it up at 11:00 UTC. Fri.
Good luck to anyone who tries to pick it up. Freq. & Mode see below.
Re: New lowfer today at 188 khz LA County
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates: N: 35* 43' 54" - W: 84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
Posted by Lee on August 08, 2009 at 20:19:33.
In reply to New lowfer today at 188 khz LA County posted by Lee on August 02, 2009
I don't know if you are allowed to post a reception report on your own Lowfer, but here goes. I am getting very good reception of JAM 188khz 18 miles out in Hollywood CA. About 6 stories up next to Paramount Studios. Using an unmodified DX 440 Rad Shack receiver. Nice!
Re: New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by Mark Garrett on August 10, 2009 at 19:53:23.
In reply to New HiFer On The Ai posted by Mark Garrett on August 05, 2009
I have returned from the hamfest with correct caps and it has made a difference on increasing RF out to the antenna. Not sure how much more but it is a detectable improvement. I still need additional components to improve the overall operation but it may be another hamfest to aquire the right ones. I hope over the next several weeks to come up with a improved antenna system and get it operational. The work continues.
Re: New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by Paul on August 10, 2009 at 23:33:44.
In reply to Re: New HiFer On The Ai posted by Mark Garrett on August 10, 2009
That's great news!
For what it's worth, my Hifer uses a 20m hamstick mobile antenna. It gets heard just fine. If you need a "Plan B", it would be a very inexpensive option.
Re: New HiFer On The Ai
Posted by Mark Garrett on August 11, 2009 at 10:06:25.
In reply to Re: New HiFer On The Ai posted by Paul on August 10, 2009
I was intending to get a ham-stick at the hamfest but the dealer was out of them at the time, he had 17 and 24 meters but no 20 :( Re: AM-88 transmitter
I will have another hamfest to go to in a month so will see if he has refreshed his stock by then and I hope to build my 1/4 wire vertical this or next weekend.
Posted by Lee on August 11, 2009 at 22:40:14.
In reply to AM-88 transmitter posted by Don Moth W2MPK on July 28, 2009
Have you checked out the North Country Tech support FAQ on the their WEB site. Lots of info about AM-88 noise issues.
VLF BOATANCHOR SALE/TRADE UPDATE INFO.
Posted by dave sampson on August 12, 2009 at 06:38:03.
just to update the info. on the DAK-3 and hopefully get someone interested...
the DAK-3 is a superhet. am/cw direction finding receiver of approximate 1943 vintage covering 250kc-1.5 mc in 2 bands.there are 2 units (each the same size and similiar in appearance to the rba/rbb/rbc series) both units are mounted in a verticle rack cabinet.there is no damage (extra holes,dents,bends,broken parts ect..)just flaking paint on the right side of the cabinet.i am open to offers and im not looking to get rich.im deffinately willing to trade for some other vintage lf/vlf receiver or parts.
just looking to make some more room on the radio bench.
thanks TWIN-COIL FERRITE LOOP QUESTION?
73s
dave
Posted by dave sampson on August 13, 2009 at 07:16:06.
hello
found a ferrite loop on the net that sounds interesting.
it is called the CC CRANE TWIN-FERRITE ANTENNA.
they make some pretty HUGE boasts of its performance on their website.
wonder if anyone has used one?
how is this antenna constructed electricly? has anyone in the lwca homebrewed their own for longwave use? and how does it perform?
73s MG on the air
dave
Posted by matt on August 13, 2009 at 20:47:02.
Re: MG on the air
Hello,
MG is on 1704.94 PSK 10.
QTH FN12mv.
Please send report to kc2pua@rocketmail.com
73's
Matt
Posted by Shawn Axelrod on August 17, 2009 at 14:48:11.
In reply to MG on the air posted by matt on August 13, 2009
Could you let me know your city and state. Thanks Shawn
K6FRC HiFer
Posted by Jeff K8NDB on August 19, 2009 at 07:54:07.
Nice copy on the K6FRC Hifer in SW Arizona this morning.
73,
Jeff K8NDB " XR " on the air for signal testing this weekend
NDB HiFer 13.562 MHz
Posted by Andy - XR on August 20, 2009 at 21:23:57.
Hello again everyone:
I will have " XR " on the air Thurs - Sun night for signal testing.
I added a physically shortened 20' vertical section to the ant.
which now makes the vertical heigth 50'. The vertical section is
similar to a base loaded coil, with a 7' whip, placed electrically
above the top-hat section of the ant.
What I noticed right away based on previous fs readings when the
ground was wet, is virtually no drop in fs reading, whereas before
adding the vertical section; when it rained, the fs reading would
drop to nearly half the output as when the ground is dry.
If possible, this weekend, I hope to double the amount of wires
in the top-hat from 9 up to 20 and see what happens.
If anyone gets the chance to look for the signal overnights thru
the weekend, any reports will be greatly appreciated
73 everyone:
K6FRC HiFER
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates: N: 35* 43' 54" - W: 84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
Posted by Jeff K8NDB on August 21, 2009 at 16:35:39.
Nice copy on K6FRC HiFER today at 2133Z, RST 539, into Yuma, AZ.
73,
Jeff K8NDB
Pictures of OHT 370, NDB near Arlanda Airport, Stockholm, Sweden.
Posted by Harald Jota on August 22, 2009 at 14:45:09.
I made my first NDB visit today, wondered what they look like. Some pictures at: http://www.ponnyland.com/harald/oht.htm .
" XR " still bouncing off Delta layer tonite
Posted by Andy - XR on August 22, 2009 at 18:20:04.
Hey everyone:
Lightening is up in the western states, and up eastern seaboard.
Hopefully it will quieten down in a few hours. " XR " is still
on in QRSS-60 mode, with a good steady output. Ground's dry, so
it's at its peak.
Didn't get the chance to do any ant. work today. felt bad, so
spent most of the day lying down.
Thanks in advance to anyone who tries to dig it out of the noise.
73 for now:
VLF-preamplifiers
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates: N: 35* 43' 54" - W: 84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
Posted by Andy on August 25, 2009 at 10:49:21.
Hi,
I have a bunch of professional VLF-preamplifiers for sale or trade. If you are interested, drop a mail to hf_mobile@hotmail.kom but interchange the letter "k" for a letter "c" in the mail address!
73 de Andy
--SINGLE-TURN LF LOOP QUESTION???
Posted by dave sampson on August 27, 2009 at 07:17:20.
i am interested in the single-turn non-shielded loop concept...like described on the K0LR website.
my question is, how large a frequency range can i expect with this antenna?
is it pretty narrow banded 5 or 10 kc? or can one significantly broaden the bandwidth to several hundred kc without giving up Q factor?
thanks very much Re: --SINGLE-TURN LF LOOP QUESTION???
dave
Posted by John Davis on August 27, 2009 at 19:41:25.
In reply to --SINGLE-TURN LF LOOP QUESTION??? posted by dave sampson on August 27, 2009
You can never increase bandwidth without "giving up" Q factor. (Remember, the very definition of Q factor relates the half power bandwidth of a resonant circuit to the center frequency.)
With the numbers Lyle gave in his article, the 3dB bandwidth is only going to be around 4kHz! Of course, the antenna will be usable to at least the 6dB point and maybe more, depending on your requirements and the abilities of your preamp...but if you need true boadband performance, you might want to omit the resonating capacitor and couple the loop to an amplifier with very low input impedance and high gain. MORE ON SINGLE TURN LOOPS?
Posted by dave sampson on August 28, 2009 at 07:04:53.
thanks john....
would an amplifier design similiar to the one used for the amrad active whip ant. work well in the single-turn loop configuration, and would the amp. also perform best if mounted at the antenna as opposed to in the shack?
thanks Re: MORE ON SINGLE TURN LOOPS?
73s
dave
Posted by John Andrews on August 28, 2009 at 11:35:57.
In reply to MORE ON SINGLE TURN LOOPS? posted by dave sampson on August 28, 2009
Dave,
The "simple loop" on Lyle's site has a coupling network designed to be connected by a 50 ohm line to the receiver. If you want to try a preamp, I'd suggest one that is characterized for 50 ohms in and out. A really simple but nice one may be found at:
http://www.w1vd.com/LFMFpreamplifier.pdf or
http://www.w1tag.com/pix/W1VD_Preamp.jpg
Regarding your original question about bandwidth, you can control it to some extent by the turns ratio on the coupling network transformer. A smaller turns ratio will give a wider bandwidth at the expense of signal strength. You may find that with a decent preamp you can live with the wider BW.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Lowfer JAM 188 khz LA County, La Crescenta
Posted by Lee on August 29, 2009 at 21:28:18.
On the air this weekend until I need to evacuate. The fires are very close. I might need to JAM out of here. I made some changes to the ground system. I was impressed/shocked at the improvement to the field strength. Much higher! I will be making my own local reception reports in the near future. You know! 50, 60 miles out. I will be checking with my folks residing at " Rancho Bernardo" San Diego CA for a local reception report. Thanks in advance for any! reception reports!
Grid square DM04UF. Testing with CW now and code later when I buy a memory keyer. Any reception reports welcome. For records/loging purposes you can call this lowfer JAM. This beacon will be on the air most weekends if I'm not working and intermit weekdays.
Thanks
Lee
Beacon " XR " back on 24/7
Posted by Andy - XR on August 30, 2009 at 20:36:05.
As of 8/30/2009; I'm going to let Beacon " XR " run 24/7, unless
doing ant. work, or an imminent storm in the area. I hope the
improvements I've done during the summer will prove to be worthwile.
Good luck to anyone who tries to see it, and thanks for your effort.
73 to all, and good listening ::
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN.
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 184.322 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
Coordinates: N: 35* 43' 54" - W: 84* 3' 16"
http://www.myspace.com/beaconxr
potrzebie
