Re: LF Antenna design/fabrication
125 KHz would seem to be a very poor choice of frequencies if you want to fit the antenna in a 4" cylinder! Typically antenna dimensions at this frequncy are measured in hundreds (if not thousands) of feet! I have an antenna with a linear dimension of 500' and it is only 0.1% efficient. You might be able to get some inductive coupling (as in a transformer) between coils if they are kept in close proximity. If you have to couple through the walls of the ferrite vessel, then I seriously doubt that anything will work. Re: 137.5
My recommendation would be to increase the frequency by several oders of magnitude, say 13.55 MHz (the ISM band) or even higher.
Posted by John Andrews on September 01, 2005 at 11:12:16.
In Reply to 137.5 posted by David KR4OW on August 27, 2005 at 21:07:54.
Bill,
If you follow the document trail, it indicates that a working group made a positive recommendation in May, 2004, and that no further action has been taken. The composition of that working group suggests a favorable disposition towards ham radio, so their conclusion is not surprising.
The really good news would be if our government adopted that position, but it hasn't happened yet.
Per your latest message, there are challenges in using that band, but there are at least four U.S. experimental licensees transmitting on the band on a daily basis. Signals from the east coast guys have been reaching Europe even during the summer. Several Canadian signals are also available, at least during the winter months. Should the issue ever again arise before the FCC, we will have some real data to submit.
John Andrews, W1TAG/WD2XES
WD2XFE on the Air @ 137.2 kHz
Posted by Robert Bicking, W9RB on September 01, 2005 at 13:58:16.
I finally got on the air with my FCC Part 5 license WD2XFE and am transmitting XFE at QRSS10 with ID WD2XFE every 34 minutes at 9 wpm. Station is located at grid EN52. Am running about 100 w while I watch for smoke. I welcome reception reports and have a website to facilitate them. It is at http://wd2xfe.tripod.com/
Schumann resonaces reception
Posted by Renato Romero on September 01, 2005 at 17:12:57.
Schumann Resonances reception, by magnetic component, at less of 50,00 Euro. Can it be possible? If yes, how can be built a minimal set-up? And what is the cheapest way to do that? Some answers in this article: "A Minimal ELF Loop Receiver" posted on www.vlf.it
73, Renato Romero
Wiki-Gallery of VLF-signals
Posted by Harald_der_Grosse@gmx.de on September 02, 2005 at 09:58:31.
On http://de.wikibooks.org/wiki/Gallerie_von_VLF-Signalen there is an online gallery of VLF signals (in German).
And in English on http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Gallery_of_VLF-signals
Please add your observations!
WD2XDW WOLF howling for the last night for a while.
Posted by Laurence KL1X/5 on September 08, 2005 at 17:54:41.
XDW will be on for one more night (8th) on 137.422 Khz using WOLF and 1Kw into the loop. Loop current sits at around 46.5 A at the moment. Ill be off air from dawn tomorrow morning and for the next week or so. Ive been running +24 hours for the past few days and John W1TAG had a daytime reception of XDW during the recent X-17 event over a >2000Kms daytime path - Great stuff, so Flares arent all bad after all! Cheers WWVB
wd2xdw em26aq - bartlesville OK - http://myweb.cableone.net/flow
Posted by Dan Cozine on September 09, 2005 at 17:26:34.
I'm wondering if anyone has a simple straight-forward circuit design for receiving the 60kHz WWVB signal. I'd like to receive the raw time code to play around with in software I'm hoping to develop. I don't need any sort of display, just a single output wire that carries the signal as it is transmitted. Thanks for your help.
WD2XFE back on
Posted by Robert Bicking, W9RB on September 14, 2005 at 20:28:45.
After some teething problems, it is back on at 137.73 kHz, ID XFE @ QRSS10, with complete ID every 111 minutes.
Grimeton Radio transmission Sunday 25 September
Posted by Mike Terry on September 16, 2005 at 10:00:32.
The famous old Grimeton Radio station near Varberg in Sweden will be making
additional transmissions on Sunday 25 September between 0930UTC and 1230UTC.
The transmissions will be on 17.2kHz VLF. The callsign is SAQ. Grimeton
Radio is one of only a very few surviving pre-electronic transmitter for
trans-Atlantic work. It was granted World Heritage status last year.
(RSGB)
The Grimeton radio station in Halland County, Sweden was erected in 1922-24
as a link in the worldwide network of broadcast transmitters. With an aerial
system of six impressive steel towers and an Alexanderson alternator, the
transmitter symbolizes a crucial step in the evolution of modern wireless
communications and is the only one of its kind still in operation.
The need for rapid, secure communications between Sweden and the United
States became increasingly evident in the early Twenties. Transatlantic
cables had proven to be highly vulnerable, particularly in wartime. So the
Swedish Parliament appropriated close to 5 million kronor in 1920 for
construction of a major new radio station. Built by RCA and started up on 1
December 1924, the transmitter boasted of the latest technology. King Gustaf
V officially inaugurated it on 2 July 1925. As one link in an international
network of similar transmitters, it played a major role in transatlantic
telegraph communications.
Grimeton's pride, and the heart of the transmitter, is an alternating
current generator dubbed the Alexanderson alternator. Its inventor was Ernst
Fredrik Werner Alexanderson (1878-1975), a Swedish-American engineer and
pioneer in radio and television engineering who obtained more than 300
patents during his lifetime. The Grimeton transmitter has the last complete
Alexanderson alternator still in operation.
The six 127 meter towers are awesome to behold. Spaced 380 meters apart,
each tower has a 46 meter cross beam. Eight wires carry antenna current
between the towers. A vertical antenna wire transmits from each tower.
Adjacent to the towers are the station's buildings, still well preserved
more than 80 years after their design by architect Carl Åkerblad. A little
nearby village houses the staff.
The Grimeton transmitter not only represents a major advance in the
evolution of modern wireless communications, but is one of western Sweden's
biggest structures and a unique historic monument.
For additional information, phone:
Alexander Association - +046 340 67 42 51.
County Museum of Halland - +046 340 828 30.
Varberg Tourist Bureau - +046 340 887 70.
Administrative Board of Halland County - +046 35 13 20 00.
Halland County Tourist Bureau - +046 35 10 95 60.
http://www.raa.se/varveng/grimetone.asp Tallest tower used for medium wave transmission
Posted by Herbert Guenther on September 16, 2005 at 14:54:36.
Which is the tallest tower used for medium wave transmission? New transmitter on 17 kHz!
I suppose these are the towers of RKS Liblice 2 at Liblice, Czech, which are described on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RKS_Liblice_2 and on http://www.sweb.cz/stredni.vlny/Cra/Liblice_2_cz.html
Posted by Harald on September 17, 2005 at 00:58:14.
Yesterday I received at my home town at 8E 58 and 48N 43 a stong signal of an unidentified transmitter on 17 kHz (further data on spectrogram)
Re: New transmitter on 17 kHz! Zero in UK
Posted by Alan G3NYK on September 19, 2005 at 18:14:48.
In Reply to New transmitter on 17 kHz! posted by Harald on September 17, 2005 at 00:58:14.
Hi Harald, well there is nothing showing in Shefield UK tonight I guess if you are still seeing it is is a local noise source. I am sure you have the lightning URL but this is the one for the Sheffield UK plot...very useful to see what can be heard below 25kHz.
http://togashef.sheffield.ac.uk/%7Esferix/vlf.png
Regards Re: New transmitter on 17 kHz! Zero in UK
Alan G3NYK
Posted by Harald on September 20, 2005 at 09:35:56.
In Reply to Re: New transmitter on 17 kHz! Zero in UK posted by Alan G3NYK on September 19, 2005 at 18:14:48.
The spectrogram of the signal can be seen on http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Image:17000_2.jpg .
Lyle Koehler Website?
Posted by Nathanial Hendler on September 20, 2005 at 18:38:19.
Does anyone know what happened to Lyle Koehler's website? The URL I have doesn't work...
http://www.computerpro.com/~lyle/lftx.htm
I was looking to build his simple lowfer transmitter, but don't have the plans saved.
Thanks, Re: Lyle Koehler Website?
Nathanial Hendler
KE7BOJ
Tucson, AZ USA
http://retards.org/
Posted by Eric KD5UWL on September 20, 2005 at 19:19:49.
In Reply to Lyle Koehler Website? posted by Nathanial Hendler on September 20, 2005 at 18:38:19.
Hi Nathanial,
It is now at http://www.mlecmn.net/~lyle/
73 Re: Lyle Koehler Website?
Eric
Posted by Nathanial Hendler on September 22, 2005 at 12:51:36.
In Reply to Re: Lyle Koehler Website? posted by Eric KD5UWL on September 20, 2005 at 19:19:49.
Perfect, thanks.
I'm looking forward to building his LW transmitter, but am not sure what to do about the antenna. I guess I'll cross that bridge later.
Thanks again for the new link.
Lowfer Nostalgia
Posted by Ken on September 22, 2005 at 21:21:16.
Hello All,
I am the former operator of lowfer beacon KRB...182.222kc, (yes, you'll find my listings in old issues of the Lowdown), from Merrillville, Indiana back in the 90's. I am no longer on LW, and haven't been since those days. I've been renting for a while and activity on LW is out of the question.
I have been recently going through all my hobby "stuff" and ran across a few cassette recordings and thought I'd listen to them before throwing them out. Most of the tapes are "Utilities" that I've copies on SW. To my surprise I found a segment on the tape lasting about 2 minutes of lowfer beacon 9HDQ in Indiana. I remember Dave was the first lowfer I heard through all the din of powerline noise from my awful noise-ridden QTH. Hearing his beacon actually spurred me on to build my own and get on the air. Of course, I wrote him and got my first QSL card from a lowfer. I still have the card and letter. Of course, I have saved the recording as an mp3 file.
It's was really great listening to that string of code again!...brought back some memories!
73...Ken
KWY
Posted by Fredi WZ9B on September 24, 2005 at 18:35:23.
Last night Sept.24.05 02:21 UTC I copied on 13556 kHz KWY (EM26) RST 319. What is the QSL-info?
Re: KWY
Posted by Webmaster on September 24, 2005 at 19:10:53.
In Reply to KWY posted by Fredi WZ9B on September 24, 2005 at 18:35:23.
>>> What is the QSL-info?
I wish we had that information to provide. If the operator would care to furnish the kind of information most beacon operators have listed in our Operator Info page, we'll be glad to list him there too.
John SAQ 17.2 kHz
Posted by Costas Krallis on September 25, 2005 at 05:20:01.
Hi, Grimeton Radio SAQ is strong today in Athens, Greece
on 17.2 kHz CW. Testing with VVV-markers since 0855 UTC.
Station setup: HF vertical, LF converter & FT-817 with
500 Hz IF filter.
Costas SV1XV
Re: SAQ 17.2 kHz
Posted by steveN8YE on September 25, 2005 at 06:19:38.
In Reply to SAQ 17.2 kHz posted by Costas Krallis on September 25, 2005 at 05:20:01.
Nothing heard here. Marietta Ohio. Rycom 6030, lc filter, longwire.
Interesting Long Wave broadcast aerial challenge
Posted by Paul Strickland on September 25, 2005 at 07:04:03.
This was posted on Irish radio entrepreneur, Chris Cary's website a few days ago, obviously aimed at those invilved in the proposed UK music station on 279 khz.
----------------------------------------------
Posted by Chris Cary on September 23, 2005, 4:30 pm
80.3.32.5
Hello. How's this for a challenge?
A £10,000 Prize is offered to any person, or organisation, who can design and build an antenna (less than 200 Ft high) to operate on a frequency of 279 Khz and to give a Signal Strength of 2 Millivolts at a distance of 5 Miles, at a power of 100 Watts.
A 100 Watt transmitter will be supplied on the day.
This can easily be achieved with a quarter wave 700 to 800 Foot Antenna - but this is not what we're looking for.
The judges will be Chris Cary and Peter Murtagh (Chicago) using a Potomac FIM-22 Field Strength Meter.
The closing date is June 1st of 2006.
Any type of radiators considered - CFA is fine, why not be the first to demonstrate it works.
Competition open to UK entrants only, and tests will only be performed in a location to be announced in the UK.
Chris.
Re: KWY
Posted by John Marshall on September 25, 2005 at 19:56:43.
In Reply to Re: KWY posted by Webmaster on September 24, 2005 at 19:10:53.
KWY - EM26 is operated by KE5WY in Tulsa,OK
WD2XDW S-9 in Warwick, OK
Posted by Harold L. Deitz on September 26, 2005 at 18:53:34.
I have been listening to WD2XDW on 137.7752 kHz. for several days and nights using a 2000 ft loop @ 4 ft. His signal strength is almost always better than S-7 and usually an S-9 in Warwick, OK, about 100 miles SW of Bartlesville, OK. I have noticed some very deep, quick fades (a few hundred milliseconds).
I sure would like the particulars of his station and a way to get in touch with this guy. I am applying for a Part 5 license to opperate at 137 Khz and can operate SSB or any digital mode.
Hal - W5GHZ
Re: WD2XDW WOLF howling for the last night for a while.
Posted by Harold L. Deitz on September 26, 2005 at 19:04:28.
In Reply to WD2XDW WOLF howling for the last night for a while. posted by Laurence KL1X/5 on September 08, 2005 at 17:54:41.
Guess I should have looked here first. Laurence, I hope you will be back on the air soon. It would be nice to chat with you on the land line. Your S-9 signal in Warwick, OK, day or night is amazing. 405-258-4090
Hal - W5GHZ
Re: WD2XDW S-9 in Warwick, OK
Posted by Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ on September 26, 2005 at 20:09:06.
In Reply to WD2XDW S-9 in Warwick, OK posted by Harold L. Deitz on September 26, 2005 at 18:53:34.
Hal,
You can get Laurence's info at the LWCA operator page:
http://www.lwca.org/sitepage/part15/index.htm
Alternatively you can go to Laurence's web site:
http://myweb.cableone.net/flow/
73 Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ Re: Interesting Long Wave broadcast aerial challenge
P.S. ssb is not used to my knowledge on 137 kHz
Posted by Alan G3NYK on September 27, 2005 at 07:25:29.
In Reply to Interesting Long Wave broadcast aerial challenge posted by Paul Strickland on September 25, 2005 at 07:04:03.
Ah this looks like a doddle !! but I guess that the conditions stated are not quite correct !! There is no doubt that a terminal voltage of 2mV could be presented by the right kind of receiving antenna. This would be Fs* effective height. A receiving antenna of 30 metres effective height would produce about 60 mV from the 100 watt to a quarter-wave, thus allowing a 3% efficient transmitting antenna to be used to generate 2mV. I guess this might even be achieved by a CFH. I suspect what is actually required is a Field Strength of 2mV/m.
That should provide for some interesting "litigation" after the event.
Cheers de Alan G3NYK Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers
Posted by Walter on September 27, 2005 at 16:13:39.
Are there radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers or highrises? Do such constructions make sense?
Re: Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers
Posted by Warren K2ORS on September 27, 2005 at 16:40:49.
In Reply to Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers posted by Walter on September 27, 2005 at 16:13:39.
Mediumwave antennas need an effective ground screen, normally 120 half-wave wires (which can be 300 meters long) radiating from the base. This is not feasible with skyscrapers or highrises. Skyscrapers are often used to support vhf television and fm antennnas (as well as uhf tv). Vhf and uhf antennas do not need a ground screen.
Hope this helps. Re: Interesting Long Wave broadcast aerial challenge
Posted by Nigel on September 28, 2005 at 15:27:30.
In Reply to Re: Interesting Long Wave broadcast aerial challenge posted by Alan G3NYK on September 27, 2005 at 07:25:29.
Hmmm............... wonder if they allow it to be constructed on a ship :-)
Best consumer radio for Longwave?
Posted by yaffle on September 29, 2005 at 09:09:05.
Hi, I would like to buy my father a radio for christmas, the problem is that he lives in France, about 200km south-west of Paris. Before he kicked it off a ladder he had a very basic, cheap 1980's vintage Japanese radio-cassete, which would pick up radio 4 lw from the UK.
Can anyone recommend me a consumer radio which would recieve long wave effectivly (his old one did of but it wasn't great) I would like to get him somthing fairly nice, with good sound quality.
I've been looking at a Roberts R827 would this be a good choice?
Would it be better than the sangean 818? (which I understand is the same basic machine)
Thanks
Re: Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers
Posted by Vern on September 29, 2005 at 09:42:14.
In Reply to Re: Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers posted by Warren K2ORS on September 27, 2005 at 16:40:49.
I think WLS in Chicago uses an antenna on a building downtown. The metal frame of the building can act as the ground system. But I've also heard that thier radiation pattern is kind of Wierd
UFO-detecting facilities using MF at Shirley Bay
Posted by Frank Web on September 29, 2005 at 09:48:01.
According to http://www.ufoevidence.org/documents/doc1799.htm there was (and perhaps is) a UFO monitoring station at Shirley Bay, Canada. Interestingly this station used a receiver tuned to 530 kilohertz. Re: Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers
On August 8th, 1954 this station should have registered an "UFO", but unfortunately there was bad weather and no pictures could be made.
After this evidence no data were published any more.
Has someone more information about the Shirley Bay facilities?
Are there other similiar facilities?
Posted by Warren K2ORS on September 30, 2005 at 11:20:35.
In Reply to Re: Radiator towers for mediumwave on roofs of skyscrapers posted by Vern on September 29, 2005 at 09:42:14.
From what I've been able to find out, WLS has had a traditional ground mounted tower since 1938:
http://gallery.bostonradio.org/2004-07/ord/100-02157-med.html
WLS FM is on a skyscraper. For more pictures of WLS AM, FM and towers and transmitters see:
http://gallery.bostonradio.org/2004-07/ord/
73 Warren K2ORS HiFers RY, GG, GA, BO Good copy in Michigan
Posted by T. Kennedy on September 30, 2005 at 13:49:12.
Consistently good signals from: BO, and RY (MA and ME)
Intermittent copy from GA, GG (Quebec)
Thanks to these stations for remaining on the air.
Antenna: Windom at 40 feet
Receiver: HP 3586C
Software: Argo
Still looking for stations from "across the pond".
Any Europeans on the air?
(I understand that NL is QRT)
73
potrzebie