HiFer Copies
Somewhat better propagation this weekend. On Saturday, 31 July, heard both EH on 13557KHz and NHVT on 13559KHz, both reaching signal levels in the RST 4/5-5-9 range, and today, 1 Aug., WV on 13556, EH on 13557KHz, and K6FRC on 13565KHz, all peaking around RST 339. K6FRC still on at this time, 0300 UT, well into the nightime. R5000 rcvr and 21 ft. vertical. EdWSlidell,LA EM50cg
North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 03, 2010 at 13:42:30.
It appears that all North American Loran-C operations have ended by 1900 UTC today. 100 kHz activity ended here in the NE U.S. around 1800 UTC. Info from the U.S. Coast Guard site:
----------------
TERMINATION OF RUSSIAN AMERICAN LORAN-CHAYKA SIGNALS:
The U.S. transmission of the Russian American signal was terminated on 01 Aug 2010.
TERMINATION OF CANADIAN EAST COAST LORAN-C SIGNALS:
U.S. Coast Guard will terminate transmission of the LORAN-C signals from Nantucket, Massachusetts and Caribou, Maine effective 1900 ZULU on August 3, 2010. At that time, LORAN-C signal transmissions from stations 5930-XRAY and 5930-MASTER will be terminated and will cease operating within the Canadian East Coast LORAN-C Chain (5930).
TERMINATION OF CANADIAN WEST COAST LORAN-C SIGNALS:
U.S. Coast Guard will terminate transmission of the LORAN-C signals from Shoal Cove, Alaska and George, Washington effective 1900 ZULU on August 3, 2010. At that time, LORAN-C signal transmissions from 5990-XRAY and 5990-YANKEE will be terminated and will cease operating as secondary stations within the Canadian West Coast LORAN-C Chain (5990).
-----------------------
While the Loran lines in the 137 kHz band were a bit of a pain for QRSS and similar narrow-band operation, they did serve as handy calibration markers.
John Andrews, W1TAG MedFER station back up
Posted by Domenic on August 03, 2010 at 19:42:42.
The MedFER beacon GNK on 1704.30 KHz is back up with a home brew transmitter. The AM88 picked up a chirp and was taken off the air. The new rig has no chirp and is very clean. NDB updates
73, Domenic GNK
Posted by Michael Oexner on August 04, 2010 at 12:49:39.
Hi all,
Have updated http://ndbchangeblog.blogspot.com/ during the last few
days - comments welcome!
vy 73 + gd DX,
Michael
ENDBH & NANDBH editor
http://ndbchangeblog.blogspot.com Re: North American Loran-C Ended
www.lwca.org/miscdocs/oexner/NDB_info.zip
Posted by Paul on August 04, 2010 at 19:49:01.
In reply to North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on August 03, 2010
I'm really bummed about the loss of LORAN. Now, there is NO backup system for GPS. If some crazy nutjob of a country wants to throw the world into chaos, just shoot down enough GPS satellites, or disable the GPS control system, and that's all there is to it.
Sure, the military may have their own system, but we don't. 99% of the world doesn't either. Scary thought...
Re: HiFer Copies
Posted by Paul on August 04, 2010 at 19:50:54.
In reply to HiFer Copies posted by EdWSlidell,LA on August 01, 2010
Glad to QSL that K6FRC HiFer report for you, ED. The beacon has some nice cards made up for it.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Davis on August 04, 2010 at 22:52:12.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Paul on August 04, 2010
A few other thoughts to keep in mind, though; last points first:
1. Nothing like 99% of the world depended on LORAN anyway. At its peak, it didn't cover even a third of the world's coastal waters, and a far smaller fraction of the land masses and open oceans. In this country, only around 5 or 6% of regular users of land and maritime geopositioning had any LORAN capability, even as a backup.
2. GPS is the heart of the military's system. They're certainly not leaving the control infrastructure unguarded, and you're not going to cripple the satellites themselves with low-tech means such as a suicide bomber or crazed pilot. (This was a realistic possibility with tall LORAN towers, however.) The most plausible and serious threats to the GPS constellation would be (a) space weather, plus (b) sheer age, especially if coupled with a lack of will to maintain sufficient spacecraft and the launch capability to orbit them.
3. LORAN was never an adequate backup for any critical aviation applications, modern high-tech weaponry guidance, or even precision terrestrial surveying. At its hypothetical best, LORAN cannot hold a candle to even a partial GPS constellation. There simply is no viable substitute for GPS, so we'd best just buckle down and keep it working.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Paul on August 05, 2010 at 09:43:52.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Davis on August 04, 2010
All good points, thank you!
I live near the west coast (but I don't vote that way) and there were still plenty of vessels that had LORAN installed. They may not have been using it, but they had it ready. Mine included.
One thing LORAN was really good at- repeatability. If you stored a point on your LORAN and wanted to navigate back to it later, it was always right on the money.
I recall a few years back seeing a 9-foot whip on a colleague's truck. I made fun of him, assuming it was for CB. Nope, he had LORAN in his truck! It was pretty cool. In a geeky sort of way, I was a little jealous.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Ed,WSlidell,LA on August 05, 2010 at 13:57:00.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Paul on August 05, 2010
No to worry Paul. Just heard on the TV that China is setting up their own GPS system, probably similar to the Russian GLONASS system. Should something happen to our GPS system, perhaps they would allow us to use theirs for suitable remuneration. Ed
HiFer "OH"
Posted by Tom Lau on August 05, 2010 at 13:57:15.
John:
The house is up for sale and we plan to move into a condo. HiFer "OH" is now
shut down and will not restart until we find suitable housing. I hope to bring "OH" back on line sometime later this year.
Best Regards,
Tom N8TL
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Clint on August 06, 2010 at 21:04:32.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Ed,WSlidell,LA on August 05, 2010
It is amazing that only a few years ago, the FAA began to think so highly of LORAN C, that they were installing monitoring equipment at selected VORTACS, and beginning to work with the Coast Guard for installation of LORAN C transmitters inland of the US to establish a more reliable nav system than VOR's. Many private aircraft were using LORAN C instead of VOR's much to the chagrin of the FAA, so the FAA thought they should get on the bandwagon. GPS is still unusable for precision approaches in reference to establishing a glide path. Over water approaches, cancellation of signals occurs do to reflections from the water. Putting all the eggs in the GPS basket is not strategic thinking.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Davis on August 06, 2010 at 22:04:29.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Clint on August 06, 2010
>>>GPS is still unusable for precision approaches in reference to establishing a glide path.>>>
Same with LORAN; in addition to which, it was inherently two-dimensional.
>>>Over water approaches, cancellation of signals occurs do to reflections from the water.>>>
That would have to be due to poor antenna design or its location. There's no reason a GPS antenna on an aircraft should be exposed to such reflections in the first place. An antenna that can "see" anything below the craft is also a poor idea from a jamming standpoint.
(As for LORAN, what about the anomalies that afflict ground waves arriving from different directions over land-water interfaces?)
But the important thing--the thing that renders the all-eggs-in-one-basket notion moot--is, there's nothing GPS can't do that LORAN didn't do even less of. Of all the things aviators might wish GPS could do that it's not really suitable for, the hard truth is, LORAN couldn't do them either.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Frederick H. Raab on August 08, 2010 at 08:46:59.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Davis on August 06, 2010
The issue with a back-up system is jamming. 10 watts will take out GPS for 25 miles. With it goes not only air-traffic control but also timing that runs cell-phone systems, internet, etc.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Davis on August 08, 2010 at 12:36:43.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Frederick H. Raab on August 08, 2010
So far as air traffic goes, there are other systems still in wide use, and LORAN was never more than a low budget, marginally adequate substitute for any of them. It was never suited for any critical aviation application, any more than I really believe GPS is in its current form. The question here is not whether GPS is failsafe enough to be used without a backup, but whether there really is any such backup...because LORAN wasn't it!
As for timing applications, some of these used GPS from their beginning and never relied on LORAN at all (even for backup) while it was available, so its absence now is kind of a moot point.
While the risk of intentional jamming certainly should be an important consideration to critical users of GPS, there are many simple, obvious, effective, and logical steps that can be taken to minimize the risk. These are much less costly than restoring a radionavigation service to operation mainly for its time and frequency capability--and then retrofitting every critical system to use it for backup, since most of them weren't doing that to begin with. These steps include:
* Limiting the amount of sky seen by the receiving antenna in the many cases (especially timing functions) where a full-constellation view is not required.
* Mounting that antenna high enough that it will be difficult to illuminate from a ground-based source, and/or shield it from any directions where there are mandmade structures affording jamming opportunities.
* Not necessarily locating the GPS receiver right at the site where the timing information is to be used. There are many situations in which it could be relatively remote and inconspicuous.
* Continuing to use cesium beam clocks in telecom timing applications, since these (even when intended to be disciplined to GPS) will maintain the required precision for relatively extended outages.
* At critical sites, implement an automated watch for signs of jamming, incorporating simple direction finding and triangulation schemes to help quickly identify the source, in coordination with other critical users.
I can appreciate the value of having a backup for something we depend upon as much as we do GPS. But LORAN is simply not adequate to that task from a radiopositioning standpoint. No terrestrial system--and especially no system operating at LF--ever really can be.
For a time and frequency backup that's relatively difficult to jam, high power LF transmissions are well suited. However, if there were a clear determination (by either government or industry) that such was needed to better secure the nation's communications infrastructure, it could be implemented with only a fraction of the sites that were necessary for navigation. Sure, that's starting a backup system from scratch...but why not? LORAN was so little used for this purpose before its demise, that to go back now with 20/20 hindsight and retrofit everything to use it for backup is essentially the same as starting from scratch anyhow. Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Paul on August 09, 2010 at 07:50:34.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Davis on August 08, 2010
All very valid points. And, I especially like your 'punch list' of ways to safeguard GPS.
You are incorrect in your assumption that LORAN was not used as a timing source. In fact, a couple of my facilities have LORAN loops installed and used the system as a timing source. When GPS was installed, it was wired and programmed as a backup timing source.
Now with LORAN gone, we have no backup timing source. I am going to suggest a local accurate time base, like cesium clocks. But, it will be a long time before the idea and budget is approved, equipment installed, tested, etc. before it can go online as a backup source.
FYI- LORAN made a perfect time base that was difficult to jam because to generate enough field strength on 100 kHz., the source of the interference would have to be on-site, and very non-inconspicuous!
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Davis on August 09, 2010 at 20:05:09.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Paul on August 09, 2010
You are incorrect in your assumption that LORAN was not used as a timing source.
No such assumption on my part.
I think you'll find I said "some of these used GPS from their beginning and never relied on LORAN," and "since most of them weren't doing that to begin with," and "LORAN was so little used for this purpose before its demise"... not that it wasn't used at all.
In practice, only a fraction of telecom users did employ it for timing purposes in recent years, primary OR backup. That capability was an incidental side effect, if you will, of the technology required for LORAN's primary mission, radionavigation. That remains true of GPS as well.
If there is a sudden too-late realization on the part of the industry that there should perhaps BE a backup for a technology they've adopted as secondary users, and have maybe come to depend upon a little too heavily considering its inherent limitations, then I suggest (as I did earlier) that it be something new and designed for the task from the ground up.
As I said then, high power LF has some advantages. But if someone had malicious intent in regard to a specific facility, and if it was not terribly close to a Coast Guard tower, it was NOT really that difficult to jam LORAN on a local basis (meaning up to a mile away), and it didn't require any conspicuous equipment at all. But the less said about the details, the better, even nowadays.
It's just that nobody worried so much about LORAN's vulnerabilities in secondary applications, because they weren't very likely to impact its primary mission, navigation. And, no frequency-and-time users seemed nearly so concerned about backup for LORAN itself back then when it was king of the roost, as they are now that it's gone.
All this fretting in retrospect over a backup system for what was always a secondary use is futile. Where were the forward thinkers who should have been--and still should be--planning ahead for a method whose infrastructure is a lot more efficient in terms of cost-per-user? LORAN was no longer efficient by that standard, even for its primary intended use, let alone its secondary uses.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Paul on August 10, 2010 at 00:02:56.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Davis on August 09, 2010
The forward thinkers are all consumed with the latest ap for their iPhones.
Unfortunately, thinking today is that consumer grade computer equipment and software is "good enough". Gone are the days of commercial standards being applied to comms equipment and broadcast equipment. You can find a Dell or HP desktop computer in almost any radio studio in the country today delivering on-air audio. Today, something as fragile and whimpy as a home computer is indeed considered an 'upgrade' for broadcast grade equipment that weighed tons and seldom required repair, except at the heavy hand of the weekend DJs.
So, for us dinosaur engineers that know the difference between a 12AX7 and a 3CX5000, LORAN is a fond memory. I admit the technology is outdated and severely limited in capability and features, especially considering the taste for technology in everyone these days. However, it remains no less functional of a technology to its intended task than an analog cellphone does for making a simple phone call. It's when you want texting, web surfing, apps, etc. that the technology no longer lives up to modern expectations.
Same goes for LORAN. It was good, it worked, it was reliable, and it will be missed. Maybe not today, but someday.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by John Davis on August 10, 2010 at 14:03:40.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Paul on August 10, 2010
>>>The forward thinkers are all consumed with the latest ap for their iPhones.>>>
I expect you're all too right about that!
Good points.
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Lee on August 10, 2010 at 21:59:29.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Paul on August 10, 2010
"So, for us dinosaur engineers that know the difference between a 12AX7 and a 3CX5000, LORAN is a fond memory. I admit the technology is outdated and severely limited in capability"
I was a Studio Sound Engineer that worked for the better part of 25 years regularly and for a very good salary. And I maintained that because I could also work on Video Equipment. All of it. Now all of that maint/service is done by IT weenies. If it doesn't have a LAN connector on it they are completely lost. It's amazing. Recently I have burrowed into a fairly large Telecom and hopefully I can ride out the technology upheaval there. In the mean time playing with the Lowfer equipment provides a certain amount of nostalgia and comfort.
73zzz Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Lee
Posted by Paul on August 10, 2010 at 23:29:50.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by Lee on August 10, 2010
Hi Lee.
Yep, you're SO right!
One of my contracts in a medum/large market imploded a few months ago. The GM asked me if I would be willing to be the C.E. of their 4 stations for half the money I was currently earning. I said NO. So, they decided to hire someone who would work for half of my salary. I was very professional about it, and even offered to train the new candidate, quite cheerfully in fact.
So, they hire a young I.T. weenie with a big ego who thinks he's the smartest guy on the planet. I showed him what the inside of a broadcast transmitter looks like for the first time in his LIFE. Now, he's the C.E. of 4 stations.
The day he started, the GM called me on the phone (even though I was just downstairs) and told me I wouldn't be needed anymore. The kid is smart enough to be on his own. Wow!
People assume that if you know I.T., you know audio and RF as well. I'm stunned!!!
But, it all worked out. I've been trying to edge closer to retiring anyway. Enjoying the time away from the stress factory.
Follow up- The kid is having trouble keeping some stuff on the air. But, all the salespeople's computers are working perfectly!
Re: North American Loran-C Ended
Posted by Frederick Raab on August 11, 2010 at 17:29:46.
In reply to Re: North American Loran-C Ended posted by John Davis on August 10, 2010
Loran-C was not well supported or used during the past decade as our government kept it alive on a year-by-year basis. No one wanted to make equipment for a system that would go off the air the next year. One year, funding for Loran was approved because some of our congressmen saw the James Bond movie where they "hijacked the GPS Y code" in order to send a ship off course.
As for jamming GPS, see the paper by Last in the May 2010 issue of "Inside GNSS".
Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe
Posted by w0vt on August 15, 2010 at 15:02:41.
I was informed by W5COV I really need to build a Lyle Koehler design Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe for my new Lowfer beacon transmitter. The article calls for a Radio Shack 279-104 split ferrite core which is no longer available from RS.
Could someone tell me where I could find a suitable replacement for the RS core and it's part number?
Lee, w0vt
Re: Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on August 16, 2010 at 07:52:27.
In reply to Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe posted by w0vt on August 15, 2010
Hi Lee: I haven't built one of the probes, but I think you should be able to use one of the snap on ferrite choke cores commonly found on wiring harnesses of TV's, and in some SMPS's. You will have to be self creative on the mounting of the cores to whatever you use for the clamp. If you plan to leave it on the antenna semi-permenantly, then the plastic housing that the cores are in will probably work OK. Just wrap your wire around both halves of the cores to make the transformer, and snap it onto the antenna.
73 : Andy - KU4XR
Re: Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe
Posted by John Davis on August 16, 2010 at 13:39:44.
In reply to Re: Lowfer Clamp On Current Probe posted by Andy - KU4XR on August 16, 2010
I bought the ferrite from Radio Shack back when it was available, but haven't seen it in years so I can't even try to measure its characteristics. I expect Andy's right about using wiring harness chokes, though. Suppressing wideband RF on cables is the original purpose Radio Shack's snap-ons were sold for, and most any types that are still available in similar physical size should be close enough.
Antenna diameter
Posted by Lyn Mattson on August 21, 2010 at 13:44:58.
Hi,
New to your site. A friend and i have home built everything but are now realizing the problems with the antenna.
Question: is the vertical pole diameter critical or important? Capacity to ground seems important and the large pole surface probably affect the ground capacyity.
My antenna has 20 feet of 2 inch rigid conduit on the bottom and salvaged sections of aluminum CB antenna and other tubing on the upper section. Advantage is the antenna can be tipped up-down using a small boat winch for adjusting top hat and down for storms etc.
Lyn
Re: Antenna diameter
Posted by John Davis on August 21, 2010 at 16:46:40.
In reply to Antenna diameter posted by Lyn Mattson on August 21, 2010
Antenna diameter is not critical, but you are correct that a larger diameter is helpful for increasing capacitance to ground.
The larger you can make the diameter of the higher parts of the antenna, especially, will help with current distribution and radiation efficiency. Physically, it's not necessary to make the top of the mast a single broad conductor. It's nearly as effective to let it support a skirt of three or four wires, more or less in parallel. NDB HiFer copied, I think
Posted by Paul on August 22, 2010 at 00:10:12.
I had the R-390A receiver running today and parked it on NDB's frequency (13.562). I heard, what I believe, was NDB running QRSS mode. At times, the signal was 529! But, QSB made copy of QRSS by ear difficult and unreliable. I know for a fact I heard "D" and "B" a couple times.
Re: NDB updates
Posted by Garry Hess on August 25, 2010 at 10:00:56.
In reply to NDB updates posted by Michael Oexner on August 04, 2010
Michael,
Thank you for the NDB update information. It's been a noisy summer here in NE IL so I haven't been able to listen much. Last night was pretty good and I looked for all the NDBs on your USA deletion list that I've previously received. Only found HKF, 239 kHz still active. Also, HB is still active on 361 kHz and not yet signing the new HBJ call.
73, Garry
Re: NDB updates
Posted by Michael Oexner on August 26, 2010 at 00:13:38.
In reply to Re: NDB updates posted by Garry Hess on August 25, 2010
Garry,
Thanks for your valuable input. I'd appreciate if you could keep an eye and ear on HKF and HB/HBJ.
vy 73 + gd DX,
Michael Re: NDB updates
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on August 26, 2010 at 10:41:17.
In reply to Re: NDB updates posted by Michael Oexner on August 26, 2010
Hello all: On Wed. 8/25/2010, I stopped at the McMinn County ( TN. ) Municipal Airport where NDB " MMI " is located. I had a wonderful chat with Charles - W4RST at the SWIFT ( SWIFTY ) museum. He told me that the " MMI " NDB is virtually unused anymore due to GPS, but is still active. He told me that to his knowledge the beacon hasn't been checked in around 4 years but is still plugging along. I was permitted to walk into the antenna/transmitter area and take some photos with my cellphone camera. I was surprised to see the beacon setup. It is all Southern Avionics equipment. The SA25 transmitter ( soild state ), and the SA1000 antenna coupling unit. The transmitter is housed in an approximately 1 foot by 2 foot box, mounted on the pole with the antenna coupler, and the antenna is a simple 50 foot high center fed Marconi antenna. It has 2 top wires at 200 feet long, and spaced about 3 feet apart. Once I get the photos enlarged, and edited for clarity; I'll try to upload them so anyone who wants to can see them. 73 to all, and good DXing: Andy - KU4XR
Copies of Hobby Broadcaster
Posted by Rev. Robert P. Chrysafis on August 29, 2010 at 19:34:58.
looking for the complete back issues of the now defunct hobby broadcasting magazine. willing to swap something for them or offer cost of shipping.
i have tried contacting the guy who was publishing this magazine and he is no longer reachable.
SMV 186.585 Copied
Posted by Jay on September 01, 2010 at 07:52:14.
Just wanted to advise that I copied SMV, 186.585 on 8 AUG 2010 at 07:40 local time. My receiving location, Arcadia CA, N6AH. I was using just a TS2000X, 80-foot end-fed wire with SGC 1.8-30 MHz auto tuner. 73.
Lowfer SIW QRV
Posted by Garry Hess on September 02, 2010 at 08:51:48.
Lightning racket has picked up the last couple of days here in NE IL but it's September, a month with an "r" in it, so with the help of Bob, NK9M, the lowfer beacon "SIW" is again QRV. The frequency is 185.2993 kHz, just below beacon "MP" on 185.301 kHz, and it is sending QRSS-60, 24/7 (assuming the solar panel gets enough sunlight to keep the battery charged). Hopefully with a new PA and improved variometer it will get out better than last year. Still have to work on the ground system so there's plenty of room for improvement.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL Rycom 6041
Posted by Lee on September 04, 2010 at 19:33:32.
Does anyone have a spare Rycom 6041 manual they would like to sell? I would like to obtain it if available.
Thanks,
Re: Rycom 6041
Posted by Paul on September 06, 2010 at 07:58:47.
In reply to Rycom 6041 posted by Lee on September 04, 2010
http://www.vintagemanuals.com/manual.php?manufacturer=Rycom&model=6041
It is available.
HiFer Beacons Copied
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on September 10, 2010 at 07:33:22.
Good copies on the GNK beacon(13564 KHz) last night around 0100-0200 UT, 10 Sept., 2010--up to 449 at times. GNK hifer copied
Earlier, the WV beacon(13556 KHz) was in around 2100 UT, 9 Sept., 2010, but never much more than 339.
And, all through the day(9 Sept.), EH was heard from time to time, and peaking around 459, with some local QRN, and SWBC splatter from 13570 KHz. Ed EM50cq
Posted by Sal, K1RGO on September 13, 2010 at 14:03:45.
I copied GNK , cw ~10wpm today on ~13.564 MHz at 16:13 to 16:30 UTC wid QSB peaking 549 at times , nice signal.... Antenna progress for Beacon - XR
Later.....Sal
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on September 15, 2010 at 08:14:37.
Hi all:
Well thankfully the WX is beginning to cool some now, allowing me to
be able to get outdoors in the evenings to try to finish constructing
my new antenna for the lowFER beacon. I for the most part finished the
top hat construction on Tues. evening, just a few " loose ends " to
finish that part of the project. Shouldn't take another evening to
do that. Next comes the coupling of all the pipes together, adding
the guying hardware, and ropes, moving it into position, and
" Hopefully " being able to raise it into position. As always,
attempting this as a One Man project, because help is not always
available. Nothing ever goes as thought about, but hopefully it will
go up with very few complications along the way up.
If I can get the antenna up, and it performs to any reasonable
expectation; I hope to try running some digital modes this season
on 1750 meters for a little flavour.
Hoping everyone has a good day, 73 :
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***
Coordinates: N: 35º 43' 54" - W: 84º 3' 16" Re: Antenna progress for Beacon - XR - UPDATE
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on September 15, 2010 at 18:32:18.
In reply to Antenna progress for Beacon - XR posted by Andy - KU4XR on September 15, 2010
Hey everyone:
I finally finished what is to be the Top Hat for my lowFER antenna. After deciding to use circumference wiring instead of radial wiring for the Top Hat, I was pleasantly surprised with the measured capacitance to ground when I connected it to the radial system using a run of wire. The Top Hat mounted on its 14 foot pipe was about 15 feet away from the radial connection point, so maximum capacitance was not seen because the Top Hat was not directly over the connection point for the radial system. Measured capacitance was fluctuating between 180pF, to 220pF. That was more than I expected, so I am happy so far. I have no idea what the capacitance will be when I get it mounted on the antenna, and raised to 40 feet AGL. Definitely lower. Here is a link to the photos of the finished Top Hat if you would like to view them:
http://ku4xr.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=9876191
73 to all for now:
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***
Coordinates: N: 35º 43' 54" - W: 84º 3' 16" Re: NDB HiFer copied, I think
Posted by Jeff on September 16, 2010 at 17:27:13.
In reply to NDB HiFer copied, I think posted by Paul on August 22, 2010
Paul,
Thanks for that report. I have been in North Carolina and just returned home to read your post. NDB is running QRSS3 sending AZ over a 60 second period. Once every 70 seconds the beacon sends NDB in CW at 10 WPM. I may switch it to the CW mode only in hopes of receiving more reports.
73,
Jeff
Two Inactive NDB's
Posted by Bill KB9IV on September 17, 2010 at 09:05:27.
As I prepare for the upcoming LW Season I would like to report 2 inactive (local) NDB Stations; They are:
371 kHz ACQ Waseca, MN (AWOS) I don't know if it moved? or went DGPS?
379 kHz OW Owatonna MN Moved? DGPS? (12 miles away)
FYI I live in Waseca, MN
Best to All.
Bill KB9IV
509 Khz Beacon
Posted by Bill Marvin on September 18, 2010 at 15:07:00.
Hi group I have been receiving a weak CW Beacon on 509 Khz with a ID as "OF". Slow CW at about 10 wpm. Received during 0400 in So. MN. Any ID info??
Bill KB9IV
Re: 509 Khz Beacon
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on September 19, 2010 at 05:21:08.
In reply to 509 Khz Beacon posted by Bill Marvin on September 18, 2010
Bill,
That's the lower sideband of an aeronautical beacon in Nebraska. The carrier frequency is 510 kHz. Details at:
http://www.classaxe.com/dx/ndb/rna/
...just fill in the call sign.
John Andrews, W1TAG
Re: HiFER "MTI"
Posted by Thom Hogan on September 19, 2010 at 09:35:29.
In reply to HiFER "MTI" posted by Thom on November 25, 2009
FREQ: 13557.54
BEACON: MTI
LOCATION: Norcross, GA
GRID: EM73ww
NOTES: 5wpm CW 24/7
TX has been relocated to the Norcross GA area.
UNID HiFer copied. Need help
Use QRZ and KI4MTI address for snail-mail.
Posted by Paul on September 26, 2010 at 16:23:06.
Lots of QSB today, but very short bursts of good signal from something in the 13.556.5 range (ish).
It has a fairly long string, which makes IDing almost impossible. CW at around 10 WPM. In the string are- "YBEA" and the numbers 9 and then 6. Also might be a C and an O.
Long beacon strings on HiFers really isn't a good idea, but to each his/her own. Anyone know which HiFer this might be?
Thanks!
Paul
Re: UNID HiFer copied. Need help
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on September 26, 2010 at 17:45:35.
In reply to UNID HiFer copied. Need help posted by Paul on September 26, 2010
Hi Paul. I have heard this 'beacon' before(posting 1359 and others). Also, at other times on the same frequency, a station with voice(USB) ID in English with basically the same info repeated a few times. After the voice ID, it went into what I believe to be Portugese(Brazilian?), and there was communciation with other stations also in Portugese. However, it is always weak, and at the limit of my receiver's sensitivity. It may be a net of stations operating in or near Brazil in the offshore oil fields. The oilrigs leaving the Gulf for Brazil are fitting a second SSB system for use by the Petrobras personnel on board. By the way, this 'beacon' is sometimes much stronger that the normal Part 15 beacons I have heard, although the USB stations are generally much weaker. Re: UNID HiFer copied. Need help
EdWSlidell,LA EM50cq
Posted by Paul on September 27, 2010 at 16:45:35.
In reply to Re: UNID HiFer copied. Need help posted by EdWSlidell,LA on September 26, 2010
Thanks, Ed.
This station was sending the same string over and over, and as QSB would have it, I could only copy the same part of the string each time signal was strong enough to ear copy.
What a weird one!
GNB NM and JAM CA copied in NUT N. Utah
Posted by Lee on September 27, 2010 at 17:33:02.
Thanks to Mark Ku7z in Ogden Utah for the Argo capture. Looks like he snagged GNB 188khz New Mexico and JAM 188khz California overnite on the 24th and 25th. GNB is running 5 wpm and JAM is running a combo of QRSS 30 and 5wpm. We are a couple of hundred hz apart sitting side by each as they say! Heads up East Coast and Great White North. You can view the capture at the thread in the New LW Message Board area. Thanks again Mark Early lowFER propagation
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on September 29, 2010 at 08:38:23.
Hi all:
I looked for " EAR " on Mon. night without a lot of sucess. J.B.s beacon is always difficult for me to catch. However on Tues night I started looking around 9:30 pm local time and was surprised to see " EAR " pop up out of the noise around 10:16pm EDST. I first thought it was just some ghost signal, but then I started seeing the characters. The signal peaked between 12:30am to 1:45am EDST, and started to fade out around 2am. By 3:30am EDST it was gone for the night. This incident is completely out of the usual for me where I
usually start to receive signals around 2am until sunrise. Distance
between us is 566 miles. I have been looking for " EAR " since I
started lowFER-ing in 2007, and last night( 9-28-2010 )was the best
I have ever copied his signal, AND !! the earliest...
73 all, and good lowFER-ing
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***
Coordinates: N: 35º 43' 54" - W: 84º 3' 16" Watering Hole overnight in Friendsville, TN. 9-29-2010
Posted by Andy - KU4XR on September 30, 2010 at 10:40:00.
Greetings all:
Well it wasn't a fruitless night, but no abundance either. Of the 2 stations that I know were on, I did get some fragments of signals from each.... I did get all 3 letters of " SIW " ,unfortunately not all in sequence, so it dosen't count for a reception, but Garrys signal was in there with visible traces numerous times thru the night. And strangely again, the signal peaked between 10:30pm, and 11:30 pm local time ( EDST ) the same as when I found " EAR " on Tues. night. I also saw some traces, and fragmented characters of " UWL " showing up very close to 185,301.5 KHz and my calibration may be off a few tenths of a cycle. I was getting Garry at 185,299.3 KHz ... At approximately 2am EDST I received an " L " from " UWL " but the first dit in the letter was coming out of a fade, so it really looks like a " G " on the screen. But knowing the frequency, and the beacon; I knew it was Eric. He has a distinguishable signal line right at the noise floor for quite some time, but it never really came up out of the noise. The distance between Eric, and Myself is about 752 miles so that's not bad at all, especially in QRSS-30 mode. QRSS-60 may very well have made the difference in a solid reception here.
The distance between Garry, and myself is 492 miles.
" XR " is of course still off while I continue my work on the new antenna.
" CV " is off till Charlie can get his antenna back in the air.
Paul reports that " WMS " is down for some repairs. " MP " is currently on 2200 meters, and the dual " WM's " show up only sporadically when Bill fires them up. " XDW " Laurence is moving around too much right now to throw a fishing pole out a window somewhere, and Beacon " IO " ?? I haven't ever saw that signal yet. OK, that's it for now, you Gents all have a great day, 73 :
Andy - KU4XR - EM75xr - Friendsville, TN. USA
LOWfer Beacon " XR " @ 185.29875 KHz ( QRSS-60 )
*** Temporarily OFF, while constructing a new antenna ***
Coordinates: N: 35º 43' 54" - W: 84º 3' 16"
potrzebie