TSN back on the air
TSN in Tucson is back on the air (13.555.98 MHz) as of OCT 1. Mostly on during afternoon and night. Off mornings sporadically for listening.
Re: TSN back on the air
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 01, 2015 at 19:49:28.
In reply to TSN back on the air posted by Frank Cathell (K3YAZ) on October 01, 2015
Coping TSN with great fad ups and long chains of IDs turned on the radio at 1930 utc and there TSN was listened for a bit and then heard another signal dialed down and there was AZ...anyway both beacons still coming in nicely as of 1948 utc
AZ
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 01, 2015 at 19:51:40.
AZ has been coming in nicely from 2130 utc - 2148 utc with long chains of IDs and so has TSN after a long summer rest. Hearing K6FRC, GNK, and RQ
Wow I never heard AZ before back to the radio...
Posted by Frank Cathell on October 01, 2015 at 22:29:12.
Hearing FRC, GNK, and RQ this afternoon (9/1/15) in Tucson. Good fadeups on all three. Nothing else at this time.
Frank
Re: Hearing K6FRC, GNK, and RQ
Posted by John Davis on October 01, 2015 at 22:40:00.
In reply to Hearing K6FRC, GNK, and RQ posted by Frank Cathell (K3YAZ) on October 01, 2015
What remarkable reception you guys are having today! I hope it's still this good tomorrow if/when I can get out to listen again. Congratulations.
Lowfer SIW QRV
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 02, 2015 at 00:41:47.
With help of Bob, NK9M we got lowfer SIW running again from EN51uq. The schedule is still 185.2993 kHz QRSS30/60 on M,W,F and 185.185... kHz slash code on T,Th,Sa,Su. Switching time is 1800Z.
Last season the slash code dashes bottomed out prematurely and I thought that might be because one op amp was running unregulated. Now all op amps are regulated and despite good behavior on the bench both dits and dahs are crimped in the field. So much for progress! Maybe next year I'll program a Raspberry2 uP to do the job and get rid of those touchy op amps (especially so when one runs them off a single supply). The symbol period has been increased to 5 minutes so it takes quite awhile to send "SIW".
Hope the watering hole has more company by the time LF reception gets really good. I'm already decoded Newfoundland on 288 kHz and Maine on 316 kHz DGPS tonight. NDB DF in Newfoundland on 350 kHz is also doing well. A good sign.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Hearing K6FRC, GNK, and RQ
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 02, 2015 at 02:11:52.
In reply to Hearing K6FRC, GNK, and RQ posted by Frank Cathell (K3YAZ) on October 01, 2015
Hey Frank thanks for taking the time to mention RQ...I think your the only one who hears RQ...1/4 vertical and 20 radials..I wondered if it was getting out...now I know it is.
Re: a couple pieces of test gear available
Posted by Robert on October 02, 2015 at 13:18:20.
In reply to a couple pieces of test gear available posted by Robert C. on September 24, 2015
FIN and TX are gone, only thing left is the Marconi 2955 for $600.00 + shipping
Re: Lowfer SIW QRV
Posted by John Davis on October 02, 2015 at 16:46:04.
In reply to Lowfer SIW QRV posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 02, 2015
That's excellent news, Garry. I'm on my way to the field soon to look for you, assuming the storms out west and those associated with Hurricane Joaquin aren't too noisy. It's certainly chilly enough that we aren't going to see any here today. :)
Regarding the slash code generator behaving on the bench but crunching the ramps in the field...is it possible that there is some sort of unexpected RF incursion into the circuit, with rectification mis-biasing the op amps? Just a wild thought, but it does seem more than coincidental that it only happens when it's actually installed at the transmitter site.
John
Re: Little WM hifer
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 02, 2015 at 21:12:28.
In reply to Re: Little WM hifer posted by Mike - N8OOU on September 24, 2015
Thanks for the very nice QSL card....hearing these little beacons is a lot of fun 73 Bill
LowFER SIW Friday
Posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015 at 06:39:25.
Above is a view of the transition between frequencies and modes that took place around 1802 UTC. Had delays getting to the field, resulting in missing all but what you see here of the slant mode. Note the mystery signals that appear just above 185.297 aeound the same time. I'm not sure how much of the tilt was Old Drifty still warming up at that point, and how much was real.
Moderate noise levels prevailed at mid-day...some static spikes above S9, though the meter was S1 or less a lot more of the time, so some signal got through even at Part 15 power levels! The noise abated a little by late afternoon, resulting in improved traces. There was also a pair of PLC carriers around 185.099 and .097 beating together faintly in the background, but they caused no problems.
Just for reference, here's also a comparison (below) of the slant-mode portion in both QRSS60 and 120.
John
MP on LF in Daytime
MP was solid in SE Kansas around 4 PM CDT Friday afternoon. These two captures were simultaneous, one in QRSS60 and the other in QRSS30.
HiFERs Friday
Posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015 at 07:02:24.
Didn't get a chance to listen to 22 m until late afternoon. Only USC, NC, EH, and sometimes MP were present at the watering hole, all spaced a safe distance from each other this time. Up the dial, MTI was audible most of the time, but never gangbusters like it sometimes is. Thought I had moderately rapid CW for a while where RQ should be, but there was too much QRM from probable ISM sources today to be sure. Will keep trying.
John
Re: Lowfer SIW QRV
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 03, 2015 at 11:58:27.
In reply to Re: Lowfer SIW QRV posted by John Davis on October 02, 2015
John, thanks for the impressive daytime captures of lowfer SIW. Yes, I also suspect RF interaction is messing up the slash code. The electronics are in a plastic, unshielded box at the base of the antenna.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Lowfer SIW QRV
Posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015 at 17:57:03.
In reply to Re: Lowfer SIW QRV posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 03, 2015
Most welcome, Garry. It's nice to have the signal there to look for. I hope to be putting KT on the air soon, but am still working on a replacement for the "stealth loading coil." It's not only inconspicuous enough that the thieves don't notice it, but also such a poor performer that no one wants it anyway...including me. :)
My only alternative this year, since I still haven't gotten a secure structure built at the tower, is to remain on site when operating and remove everything when I leave; which in turn means I need to replace the stealth loading coil with an easily totable loading coil. I've got an idea on that, but seem to have trouble getting the materials shipped. I hope it'll be soon, though. I'd sure like to receive some reports of my own this year.
I went to the field this morning and had trouble seeing SIW at first. The static today is no louder, but a bit more frequent. That's probably not helping. Also, Old Drifty (Kenwood #3) seems to have needed over two hours today to warm up enough for QRSS60 stability! After one hour of warmup only, the Argo trace that turned out to be SIW still drifted upward half a hertz over the course of the next hour, which was my first hour of actual monitoring. At that rate, the slope at 60-sec slow was steep enough to make FFT detection less effective. It has flat-topped now, and was actually quite good for about 20 minutes prior to noon, then faded a bit again. On my way to go look at the transition of modes now.
John
K2SDR WebSDR
Posted by Jeff on October 03, 2015 at 17:59:33.
Hello!
I moved the 20 Meter band so that we can receive HIFER on my SDR.
Now there is a preset for HIFER under the landscape.
Should I have the preset mode be wide CW?
And what would be the best center frequency?
Thanks,
Jeff
K2SDR
www.k2sdr.com Re: K2SDR WebSDR
Posted by Jeff on October 03, 2015 at 18:00:32.
In reply to K2SDR WebSDR posted by Jeff on October 03, 2015
*bandscope
Re: LowFER SIW - Saturday
Posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015 at 21:56:16.
In reply to LowFER SIW Friday posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015
(Some text about these pictures will be added to this message tonight. For now, here are the captures by themselves. Times are CDT.)
Re: LowFER SIW - Saturday
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 04, 2015 at 12:03:15.
In reply to Re: LowFER SIW - Saturday posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015
JD, thanks for the neat captures. Bob, NK9M worked on eliminating the RF interaction to the slash code op amps and has the dots looking correct now. Time will tell if we can get the dashes looking right too.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: LowFER SIW - Saturday
Posted by John Davis on October 04, 2015 at 16:53:41.
In reply to Re: LowFER SIW - Saturday posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 04, 2015
Set everything up at the farm a few minutes ago and noticed that the waveform no longer flat-tops, though it still bottoms out. That's progress. Very little QRN today, so the signal is looking quite clean.
John
Re: HiFERs Friday - Saturday Followup
Posted by John Davis on October 04, 2015 at 17:37:35.
In reply to HiFERs Friday posted by John Davis on October 03, 2015
Conditions were considerably worse Saturday than Friday. Could just barely see the "big three" at the watering hole (USC, NC, EH) and none of the aurally copied beacons came through. The seemingly keyed signal I thought I might be copying at RQ's spot was still there, but during breaks in CODAR I could finally tell it was just two close-spaced carriers beating together. Will check again today!
Can you check signals on WebSDR?
Posted by Jeff on October 04, 2015 at 20:57:16.
I believe I hear CW transmissions around 13.55 on my SDR. (5:00 PM)
Can you confirm they are HIFER signals?
Jeff
www.k2sdr.com
Looking for signals around Connecticut
Posted by W1VLF on October 05, 2015 at 18:01:22.
Hey Guys,
I am trying to wring out the noise in a new receiving system and I am looking for some signals in the LOWFER band. The QTH here isd in northwest CT and looking for CW or QRSS in the CT NY MA area that I can monitor during the day.
Thank you for any help Re: Looking for signals around Connecticut
PauLC
W1VLF
Posted by John Davis on October 06, 2015 at 03:35:15.
In reply to Looking for signals around Connecticut posted by W1VLF on October 05, 2015
Hi, Paul. Doesn't seem to be anyone currently operational in NY on LF at all, and in CT only intermittently down at 2200 m. I anticipate John W1TAG will be putting good ol' TAG on again soon, although it's in ME now rather than MA.
If 2200 m is an option for you, try MP (VE3OT) on 137.7805 kHz. It's visible here in Kansas most every day, and sometimes audible at night.
John
HiFers Recently Heard
Posted by EdWSlidell,LA on October 07, 2015 at 21:57:46.
Hello All. The conditions have not been too good here in SE LA. Did manage to catch WV, after a long absence. It managed to get in here on 3 Oct., 2015, during the 2000-2100 UT period. Very weak, RST239 or so, and in among all the QRSS signals below ~13556KHz. The only other signal heard that day was the power house, GNK, on ~13564KHz, sometimes reaching RST459, but generally weaker. On 6 Oct, 2015, both MTI on ~13557.5KHz, was very good at RST559 on peaks, and GNK was about the same strength. MTI had QSB into the noise at times. Today, 7 Oct., GNK was faintly heard(suspected), but nothing else, during the same 2000-2200 UT period. Perhaps the fall will bring some better conditions. Ed W Slidell, LA EM50cg
Re: HiFers Recently Heard
Posted by John Davis on October 09, 2015 at 03:36:29.
In reply to HiFers Recently Heard posted by EdWSlidell,LA on October 07, 2015
Good work under the current conditions, Ed.
Here on the farm in SE Kansas today, I was busy getting some new top soil leveled out and seeded with fescue, so I only listened sporadically and did Argo captures the rest of the time. No sign of any of the aural CW beacons today, but there was plenty of CODAR to listen to. (Hurray.) At the watering hole, USC and NC showed up well, and there was a "mystery signal"...well, a mystery for a while. It appeared to consist of a lot of QRSS3 dots, a couple of dashes, and a really long dash between two of the dots. Made no sense.
Turned out to be an odd bit of propagation. Finally, another trace started showing up a few Hz above the mystery signal, and then I could see it was EH. Oddly, the "mark" frequency of the slow FSK had gone missing and only the "space" (or backwave, if you prefer) was getting through. When the rest of the signal returned, it all made sense again.
Everything began to fade out after sunset. Just before all signals disappeared completely for the night, I finally got a little of slant mode SIW; specifically, it faded in for one "dot" (upward slope) and then promptly faded away again when everyone else vanished too.
John
The 22 Meter Hifer Dance Today
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 10, 2015 at 00:30:13.
Beginning at 2250utc K6FRC was strong, NDB had a nice showing beginning at 2341 with long string of IDs begining at 0011utc
MTI was very weak at 2351 UTC ....
Some poorly sent CW up around 13562.8 at 2240utc a strong fad up and then gone...in the past Keeler has been around that freq.
All in all not bad...73 to all listeners, VE3OT (MP) Results Today
Posted by John Davis on October 10, 2015 at 00:55:11.
Yesterday, Mitch switched from "MP" in QRSS60 on 2200 meters to his normal call at QRSS3. He was copied in New England, Pennsylvania, and as far west as K3SIW in Illinois during daylight. I found out about it last night, and have had useful traces of MP in QRSS3 in the past, but static from nearby thunderstorms obliterated everything on the band. Noise was a lot lower this afternoon, but still not like a quiet winter day. From the results shown here, I might've gotten fair copy at QRSS10, however, and would certainly have had decent copy at QRSS30. (The red lines demark the same nine-minute period in each of the three traces.)
John
Re: The 22 Meter Hifer Dance Today
Posted by John Davis on October 10, 2015 at 05:38:04.
In reply to The 22 Meter Hifer Dance Today posted by Bill Hensel on October 10, 2015
Listened here somewhat earlier than you did, Bill...from around 2100 to 2200 UTC, with somewhat less success. USC, NC, and EH were visible again, and EH once again materialized like a Cheshire cat in reverse, with the lower frequency showing up several IDs before the higher one did.
MTI was the only CW beacon to be audible, and it wasn't there at first. Just as I was about to give up, suddenly it blasted in for one full ID, then faded away for one, then began drifting in and out of audibility with one or two letters at a time for a while.
Got all excited as I tuned toward WV, but that one turned out only to be a steady carrier. Not a peep out of FRC or even GNK here today. Racket from ISM signals at the center of the band spread down over TON's spot, as often seems to happen here, and I saw roughly a dozen irregularly spaced carriers clustered in a 100 Hz wide band where RQ should be. Kind of hard to hear anything through that...but I won't quit trying.
John
RQ moved and improved
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 10, 2015 at 17:24:40.
I moved RQ about 25ft NW from its old location. The problem with its past location was it sat near a fence and I could only have the radials on the West side of the antenna...now the radials are evenly spaced 360 dgs around the ant. Maybe RQ will be heard a little more often.
Hifer 9ZS On Air
Posted by Joe Armstrong on October 10, 2015 at 20:43:41.
Hifer 9ZS Springfield, IL is back on the air (13.55525 "9ZS" QRSS3 / CW)
Re: RQ moved and improved
Posted by John Davis on October 11, 2015 at 05:57:50.
In reply to RQ moved and improved posted by Bill Hensel on October 10, 2015
That should help a number of listeners, Ben.
It appears I'm in the first skip zone from your QTH, as I am from SIW in Illinois, so there will still be days at a time when I have no chance of hearing you. I might have to try very early in the morning when the ionosphere's tilt may be more favorable for the path between us. It would also be helpful if the QRM would go away for a while. The multiple carriers that plagued your frequency yeterday were replaced by a single, rather strong, one today. But I'll keep listening.
John
HiFERs Oct 10
Posted by John Davis on October 11, 2015 at 06:39:58.
Can you identify the mystery signal? (A hint is inset into the picture.)
I'd been wondering for three days what that odd little DFCW or maybe MFSK trace was, right about where SIW slant should be. Then, as I was preparing this capture to post tonight, I happened to look back at Thursday evening's captures that I hadn't reviewed yet, and there it was...just a few minutes' worth, but distinct enough to reveal it was MP with an oscillator anomaly.
The others at the watering hole are regulars NC, USC and EH. Nobody else seen, and only WV and a little bit of FRC heard this afternoon.
John
"Longwave Broadcasting Retains Listeners"
Posted by Mike Terry on October 11, 2015 at 15:35:40.
Radio World
October 10, 2015
Interesting article in by James Careless
www.radioworld.com/article/longwave-broadcasting-retains-listeners-/277274
Extra SAQ transmission on UN-day October 24
Posted by Mike Terry on October 11, 2015 at 15:37:30.
From Lars Kalland
October 11, 2015
EXTRA GRIMETON RADIO/SAQ TRANSMISSION
There will be a transmission with the Alexanderson VLF alternator on 17.2 kHz on “United Nations Day” October 24th, 2015 at 10:00 UTC(12:00local time).
Start up and tuning from about 09:30 UTC. Re: Extra SAQ transmission on UN-day October 24
This time we do not require any QSL-reports and will not verify.
There will be activity on amateur radio frequencies with the call "SK6SAQ".
Any of following frequencies:
- 14.035 CW
- 7.035 CW
- 7.080 SSB
- 7.050 PSK31
QSL for SK6SAQ via SK6DK or SM-bureau.
The radio station is open to vistors 10:00-15:00 local time. No entrance fee.
Welcome!
Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se
Regards.
SM6NM/Lars
Posted by John Davis on October 11, 2015 at 15:58:52.
In reply to Extra SAQ transmission on UN-day October 24 posted by Mike Terry on October 11, 2015
Thanks for pasing along that information, Mike, and the item about longwave broadcasting.
Anyone who hasn't been to the SAQ website for a while will be pleasantly surprised at the new pictures and material they have there now.
John
Re: VE3OT (MP) Results Saturday
Posted by John Davis on October 11, 2015 at 16:07:09.
In reply to VE3OT (MP) Results Today posted by John Davis on October 10, 2015
Here's the very best one of the day Saturday, only about 20 minutes before sunset. The daytime hours were a little less noisy than the day before. Once it started getting dark, though, the QRN increased and made QRSS3 unreadable and 10 highly doubtful. The QRSS30 trace looked as if it probably would have worked fine.
The afternoon signal-plus-noise Saturday averaged below S1 with occasional pops to S2. After dark, noise was averaging S5 with excursions from near S2 to S9. That's normally more than adequate for MP at night, and readable most daytimes.
John Re: RQ moved and improved
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 11, 2015 at 16:08:33.
In reply to Re: RQ moved and improved posted by John Davis on October 11, 2015
Location and low signal to noise ratio is everything... szx beacon
I'm going to listen more at the grey line and after dark...last night FRC was in there....you have to love 22 meters or leave it....challenging
Posted by Chuck Sayers on October 12, 2015 at 20:17:31.
Yesterday while looking for RQ, I noticed a weak signal just above RQ's frequency. I watched for awhile and I started seeing SZX coming thru on the waterfall and audibly. It went in and out several times then disappeared. I never did see RQ, Bill tilt the antenna alittle my way so I can hear your beacon. This is the first time I've heard SZX Frequency 15.5637, the freq listed on the TOP END page says 13.562.95 or so. I was using an FTDX-1200 in usb-cw mode and centered the signal with the little slider the 1200 uses.
Chuck K3ETD Re: szx beacon
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 12, 2015 at 20:33:41.
In reply to szx beacon posted by Chuck Sayers on October 12, 2015
Chuck, I did move it....LOL
TON and 7P off until next season
Posted by Ward K7PO on October 13, 2015 at 16:05:09.
John/All,
I turned TON off last weekend, and 7P has not been installed yet. I will have them both on sometime in Jan '16. All of my 'play' time is being absorbed with my part 5 station WH2XXP. I needed the tower space for the LF/MF antenna, so the hifers will have to wait.
WH2XXP is on every night at 475.66 WSPR. ~137.5 to commence soon!
73 from AZ,
Ward K7PO
Tuesday A.M. HiFERs
Posted by John Davis on October 13, 2015 at 16:52:13.
Got out to the field earlier today in hopes of catching better propagation. Too bad TON is already off, as there was a nice opening to the west. K6FRC was able to overcome the regular daytime carrier on 13565.0 from time to time, giving me nearly two minutes of solid copy from 8:59 to almost 9:01 CDT. Too many carriers around RQ, though, including something that resembled a faint high speed RTTY signal.
MTI was solid aural copy at times, but other times fades were so deep that the carrier was even below visibility on Argo. Similar result on WV. At the watering hole,the only visible ones were NC and USC.
I plan to be observing the watering hole most of the rest of the day as I work out there with the tractor.
John
Re: TON and 7P off until next season
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 13, 2015 at 18:01:41.
In reply to TON and 7P off until next season posted by Ward K7PO on October 13, 2015
I'm glad I caught TON a few days ago.
Hifers in ME
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 13, 2015 at 18:56:18.
Had a very productive look/listen this afternoon from 1815 - 1840Z. Saw and or heard:
9ZS, weak, 13555.25 (assembled ID from several chunks)
WM, brief good signal, 13555.30 QRSS3 with shift
SIW, DFCW on 13555.40 and slant 13555.35
NC and USC demolishing each other loudly between 13555.50 and 13555.52
WV very nice sig, 13555.83, CW + dots
MTI also nice, 13557.52, CW
PBJ about same level as MTI, 13557.525 QRSS3
GNK, very good sig, 13563.99
John, W1TAG
Re: Hifers in ME
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 14, 2015 at 16:01:06.
In reply to Hifers in ME posted by John, W1TAG on October 13, 2015
John,
Thanks for the report. Glad to know both hifers are getting out of the back yard. John Davis is the most active monitor but not at the right distance to see much of them.
I can keep track of my MEPT beacon on 10,140.02 kHz via the grabber at https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/j2srkb0kz3814qx/picture.jpg. It makes Laurence's AK grabber often too, but that's been down a lot lately (though up now at http://kl7l.com/Alaska.html).
Hope to see your lowfer TAG active again soon.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs
Posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015 at 21:16:33.
In reply to Tuesday A.M. HiFERs posted by John Davis on October 13, 2015
By late afternoon, I was also seeing EH. Once in a while I could also see MP again, with the oscillator frequency-jumping problem apparently fixed.
LowFER SIW Plus Sawtooth!
Posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015 at 21:49:51.
I captured the mode/frequency change of SIW this afternoon and got a bonus. Look for the faint but very linear ramps just above SIW on the right half of the image:
Is that WM, I wonder, or something else?
John
"Classic MP" Returns
Posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015 at 21:54:18.
With solar noon right between us, but little or no thunderstorm activity over continental North America, here's what I got today, in simultaneous multiple captures at different speeds:
Garry K3SIW caught MP in its usual mode again yesterday morning, but I was monitoring HF at the time. Thought I'd try today, though. Here's Mitch's email explaining why MP was at QRSS3 for a few days:
Had presented a talk on LF at the local Radio Club on Thursday/Oct8 - and
had switched over to full ID at QRSS3, before I left for the meeting. It
was obviously noted pretty quickly - congratulations. Talked about software
of course, and QRSS operation - so set up this speed with ID to provide the
display you have received.
I thought that if I could get them listening down at 137, hearing QRSS3
directly, that they could then install software, and start listening on or
about 500 kHz with additional modes that are available there on a more
regular basis.
NDBs were covered for further listening tests by the novice.
I hope it works, and generates some LF interest and possible activity in
the area. Good crowd of 50, so the odds are that one or more should hop
on the bandwagon.
Returning to QRSS60 tonight - but interesting to see the effect QRSS3, as
noted.
Thanks all for reports.
Mitch
Re: Hifer 9ZS On Air
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 14, 2015 at 23:16:57.
In reply to Hifer 9ZS On Air posted by Joe Armstrong on October 10, 2015
Joe,
I left screen captures running yesterday, and caught a couple of good 9ZS ID's at 2313 UTC. See:
http://www.w1tag.com/files/9ZS-13Oct15.jpg
QTH is in southern Maine.
John, W1TAG/1
Re: Hifers in ME
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 14, 2015 at 23:39:41.
In reply to Re: Hifers in ME posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 14, 2015
Garry,
TAG will be back on 185.297 around October 28. Planning to run it at QRSS60 this winter.
John, W1TAG
Re: Hifers in ME
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 15, 2015 at 00:50:34.
In reply to Hifers in ME posted by John, W1TAG on October 13, 2015
John,
Thanks for the WM Hifer Report. It's good to know the signal is able to be seen/heard outside my property boundaries.
Mike
Re: LowFER SIW Plus Sawtooth!
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 15, 2015 at 01:13:09.
In reply to LowFER SIW Plus Sawtooth! posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015
John,
WM Lowfer beacon is running, but with a compromised antenna system for the moment.
I did a capture at QRSS 60 slow, and your ramp signal is definitely not WM. Good luck on an ID.
Mike
Re: LowFER SIW Plus Sawtooth!
Posted by John Davis on October 15, 2015 at 02:33:23.
In reply to Re: LowFER SIW Plus Sawtooth! posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 15, 2015
"I did a capture at QRSS 60 slow, and your ramp signal is definitely not WM."
That's what I was afraid of. Even though it's in nearly the right spot, it didn't look like the WM of yore. No break in the pattern to differentiate between a W and an M, for one thing. Too slow, for another, though I am in awe of its linearity given that circumstance. This could be a considerable mystery.
It was still around early this evening as SIW was gradually disappearing into the post-sunset noise. It's so faint that I expect it'll be well nigh impossible to snag with a portable loop, which is what I'd like to use in snooping for possible neighborhood sources, unless I just get awfully lucky.
By the way, that super-slow on-off keyed signal a few Hz below SIW also faded into the increasing QRN this evening. And it did something else...after being nice and steady in frequency all afternoon, even while SIW's oven was warming up, it started drifting upward in frequency just before dark.
Good luck with WM this winter!
John
Re: "Classic MP" Returns
Posted by John Davis on October 15, 2015 at 02:37:12.
In reply to "Classic MP" Returns posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015
Just a quick nighttime followup on MP...QRN picked up by about 6 S-units in the first hour after sunset. But according to Argo, MP's signal rose in proportion over that same time. Very handy!
At the start of the second hour, however, static levels rose another S-unit but apparently MP's strength didn't. It made the QRSS10 trace harder to discern, but QRSS30 was still good and QRSS60 showed almost no visible difference.
John
Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 15, 2015 at 17:46:03.
Hi Folks.
I've been contemplating this for a while, but have finally taken some action, ordering parts and trying to plan an aerial... The aim is to put a HIFER on air by the end of the year. A little advice, of course, would not go amiss, so comments are welcome. My starting point will be a Vectronics 20m QRP transmitter kit, outfitted with a 13.560Mhz crystal for operation in the ~22m band. Keying will be via a K1EL kit keyer, once I have it's programming figured out.
Of course I'd like to fit in, and not upset/obliterate existing operations, especially those here in California, and am looking for ideas, advice on that front. I'll probably start out with slow CW, but may consider modifying to a narrow shift mode. The tricky part is planning an antenna. A 1/4w vertical seems a good option, but feed & or power is troublesome. Some possibility to put this on our house deck, using the safety wires as a counterpoise? Anyway thoughts welcome, even if it's "Don't do it!"
Thanks, Ed
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 15, 2015 at 20:27:45.
In reply to Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 15, 2015
Ed,
One thought. 13.560 MHz is ground zero for a lot of RFID, industrial, medical, etc., operation. It's a sewer of carriers, some of which are keyed on and off. You would have better chances by staying at least 2 kHz away on either side. Lots of room, particularly on the low side.
John, W1TAG
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 15, 2015 at 22:23:03.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by John, W1TAG on October 15, 2015
Hi John,
Thanks for your message. I should have been clearer, and meant to imply that I planned to operate within the 13.553-13.567Mhz, as permitted under Part 15, but had not chosen a specific frequency. Thus, my intention to plan carefully and avoid other HIFERS. I used 13.560 as a generic number.
The QRP transmitter kit has provision for pulling the crystal frequency a little and this feature was something that influenced my choice. Of course, longer term stability is open to question. I may build and run in dummy mode for a while to check this. It has more power than permitted in Part 15, but I plan to ensure compliance there.
The whole thing does give an insight into setting up a station, even if this is low power trivia in some respects.
Regards,
Ed
Re: Hifer 9ZS On Air
Posted by Joe K9ATG on October 16, 2015 at 00:04:13.
In reply to Re: Hifer 9ZS On Air posted by John, W1TAG on October 14, 2015
Thank you very much for the report, John! 1027 miles by my calculations!
I am working on a QSL card for the beacon. When finished, I will get one sent your way.
73 Re: Hifers in ME
Joe K9ATG
Posted by Joe K9ATG on October 16, 2015 at 00:36:28.
In reply to Hifers in ME posted by John, W1TAG on October 13, 2015
Thanks again, John!
73 Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs - Thurs. Update
Joe K9ATG
Posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015 at 01:12:22.
In reply to Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs posted by John Davis on October 14, 2015
USC and NC were very strong in early afternoon. EH eventually showed up, and by dark it was not only the strongest, it was the only one still visible. In mid-afternoon, bits and pieces of MP showed up, with signs that oscillator instability has returned...not within individual elements, as the other day, but there were some shifts between elements within the same letter at times.
WV was good aural copy for quite a while in mid-afternoon, but was also gone by evening.
I listened briefly in early afternoon for CW beacons above 13562 and heard what might have been keying from V1RGO, but never could be sure. None of the others were audible up at that end of the band.
Didn't actually have much time to listen/look in person today, as I was working some topsoil I had brought in to build up some low spots near the building. The wind removed several percent of it while I was trying to scarify and rake. (But that's OK...I managed to recover a good part of it in my sinuses.) The point of the effort was to get the seed covered loosely just before dark, so this evening's thundershowers can help it germinate. I tried that last Thursday, but the rain skipped the farm that time, leaving the first batch of fescue to become very expensive birdseed.
John
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 16, 2015 at 13:38:16.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by John, W1TAG on October 15, 2015
Just my opinion..the rapid QSB on 22 meters favors faster CW not slower cw (long wave has slower fad downs and fad ups and the QRSS stuff works well there)..between 5-10 wpm...is best...
Just my view....
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 16, 2015 at 17:02:13.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Bill Hensel on October 16, 2015
Thank you Bill, interesting point. Reading through spec for the keyer, it is mainly intended for conventional ham code speeds, but does have QRSS capability should I ever have an interest/ build a LOWFER etc.
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015 at 17:53:56.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 16, 2015
Just as a counterpoint, I encourage you not to rule out QRSS just yet.
Bill is largely correct if you're planning to do CW only, especially if your ID contains lots of letters and/or lots of elements within letters ("K6FRC" or "V1RGO/B" for instance). But if DX is the objective, QRSS3 or other graphical modes that use about the same timing and work in similar narrow bandwidths do have significant advantages, even at 22 meters. For stations outside the first skip zone, I can hear the CW beacons for short periods of time on a good day...but I can see the graphical ones well enough to identify almost any day. Some guys, like MP, use both types of ID, and I generally listen as I monitor, so I can attest that they are visible far more often than they are audible.
Longer time scales than 3-second dits do tend to be problematic. I'm about to post this morning's capture of PBJ, who uses QRSS6. That's just long enough for elements to get broken up into false dits, requiring several repeats to get a full ID sometimes. Three seconds is usually better.
FWIW, the very first instance of HiFERing I can find in the literature used QRSS1. An RCA team experimented with very narrow modes employing a bank of closely tuned crystal filters and integrating detectors at the receiver's IF frequency to achieve a type of spectrum analyzer display, since Argo and Spectrum Lab weren't around back then. With only a few mW and 1 second dot length, they achieved transontinental contact on 20 m.
John
Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs - Fri. A.M. Update
Posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015 at 17:59:56.
In reply to Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs - Thurs. Update posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015
Good to see PBJ again this morning, although CODAR and QSB were combining to break up the long dashes. It was sometimes strong enough the hear. MTI was fading into and out of audibility, but had several good clear IDs. Frequencies of the two were 13,557.552 and .533 respectively.
At the watering hole, USC, NC, and EH were clear. For several minutes at mid-morning, MP faded up long enough to be recognizable, then vanished again.
WV was audible for brief periods. No other CW beacons apart from MTI and WV made it through yet today.
John
NDB QSL arrived
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 16, 2015 at 20:16:02.
Jeff, Re: Planning a Hifer
Thanks for the very nice QSL card. 73
1.8 Mw Output very cool...
Posted by Ed Holland on October 16, 2015 at 23:35:05.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015
Thanks John,
I appreciate the discussion from all angles. First effort will be to get the hardware in place. Even that is proving problematic, as I was notified yesterday that my TX kit is backordered again :(. I may end up with some kind of homebrew gear after all. Not hard to realize for the mW range power range restrictions.
In the mean time, of course, I can spend a bit of time on the receive end of things. I do have the technology for that, and a decent antenna. Just need to find a machine on which to download Argo or Spectrum Lab and go digging through the noise.
Ed Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John Davis on October 17, 2015 at 00:45:57.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 16, 2015
"Not hard to realize for the mW range power range restrictions."
That's one of the great thing about the Part 15 provisions for 22 meters. Another is that you have a lot of flexibility in how to achieve that restriction. Unlike other Part 15 bands, a kit that puts out more power than you need is OK as long as you attenuate the RF sufficiently before the antenna and don't radiate excess harmonics. No need to have the transmitter right at the base of the antenna, either. In fact, a run of transmission line can be a huge help if you're concerned about thermal frequency stability, which more operators need to be as more stations get put on the air.
John
Re: HiFERs - Fri. P.M. Update, MTI & PBJ
Posted by John Davis on October 17, 2015 at 01:03:41.
In reply to Re: Tuesday A.M. HiFERs - Fri. A.M. Update posted by John Davis on October 16, 2015
As if to prove that it sometimes has a heart and can settle down for a while, the ionosphere let me have this late afternoon view:
Re: TON and 7P off until next season
Posted by John Davis on October 17, 2015 at 06:09:22.
In reply to TON and 7P off until next season posted by Ward K7PO on October 13, 2015
Hi Ward. As much as I miss having TON to try for, I've certainly been glad to see the XXP WSPR signal coming in here! I saw traces of it on Argo before sunset. It started decoding in WSPR tonight at -28 dB in the 0048 UTC time slot, gradually improved to -18, then -10, and peaked at -8 a couple of times in the 20 minutes before 0300.
John
The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by Dave on October 17, 2015 at 13:03:09.
I have decommissioned the sawtooth beacon. It's last known whereabouts ~ 13555.1 KHz. RIP.
Born from the ashes of sawtooth is "FL" beacon QRSS3 CW on 13555.9 KHz loosely snuggled between WV and TSN. That area of the spectrum looks like a desert void of activity according to my TOP END beacon list and the Argo spectrum display.
The beacon circuitry is now less awry with torment from the relentless Florida heat but the oscillator is still in naked breadboard arrangement and subject to minor frequency shifting.
As the frigid Florida winter develops,I'll throw on a sweater and install an attic antenna exclusively for the FL beacon, but for now, it's energizing a zig-zag wire attic loop via an MFJ antenna tuner at 5 meters high.
I beseech the ionosphere gods to smile upon us. The indices look favorable for the next few days.
Dave
Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 17, 2015 at 16:09:31.
In reply to The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by Dave on October 17, 2015
To bad it isn't a plan cw beacon with TSN as such
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 17, 2015 at 19:43:52.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by John Davis on October 17, 2015
Thanks John,
You seem to have summed up my thought process!
Contemplating the setup has been a little more involved than I had at first anticipated, but that has made things all the more engaging. I initially considered two possible set-ups (antenna location considered separately)
Firstly - a "field installation", with all the electronics close to the antenna. This would be subject to significant changes in temperature, and I would struggle to supply power in a convenient manner. A stand-alone solar power approach might work, but adds complexity & reliability issues. Then there is the need to weatherproof the electronics...
Option two is to site the TX in our basement hobby room. This is very stable with regard to temperature, has power and is weather proof. As you mention, the kit has ample headroom in output power to cope with any feeder configuration. I think this will be my starting point. It also has the advantage that I can monitor the gear conveniently.
On to antennas, I have two options when all the practicalities are weighed up. Firstly, a 1/4 wave vertical at ground level, which would require a long feed, radials, and is in a location with nearby trees. Secondly, I can mount a vertical on a corner of the house, above the flat roof, and use wires in our deck railing as a counterpoise. This would put the base of the antenna significantly above ground level, with the counterpoise similarly elevated. It would also be convenient to install, tune and maintain. AS we are already 600ft above sea level, On the San Francisco Peninsula, with excellent HF reception from my receive antenna, I'm hopeful that the beacon could "get out" if I do things right. I'm not licensed, but this seems like a good way to realise some other radio ambitions, long held.
I'm keen to be a good citizen in the band, adhere to the FCC regs, and place my signal respectfully within the established stations. Lots to think about, and it is already fun. Sadly, I learned that my kit is backordered for the second time, so there is more planning time available.. I'm also still head-scratching for an ID...
Cheers,
Ed
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John Davis on October 17, 2015 at 20:09:02.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 17, 2015
That idea of mounting your antenna on a corner of the roof and using deck railing wires as part of a counterpise is most intriguing. It'll undoubtedly help to have nothing in the near-field region absorbing signal, and there's a lot to be said for tuning convenience as well!
John
Dxing MTI today
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 17, 2015 at 20:42:25.
I hadn't heard little MTI for a good while...the solar flux 109,A8 and K3,
so I hungered down on MTIs freq. and at 1554utc - 1614utc I was welcomed with
some very nice fad ups. After MTI went away I dialed on up to FRC and it very strong at 1558.
That's it folks for Sat. morning from Pine, Colorado
Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 17, 2015 at 22:46:19.
In reply to The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by Dave on October 17, 2015
Dave,
I ran screen captures from 10:00 to 18:30 EDT, and nothing was seen. WV was audible most of the time.
John, W1TAG Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Raymond, ME
Posted by Dave on October 18, 2015 at 18:12:19.
In reply to Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by Bill Hensel on October 17, 2015
I made some minor adjustments to FL which improved the output but it resulted in a frequency shift to 13555.845 KHz.
Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 18, 2015 at 22:23:26.
In reply to Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by Dave on October 18, 2015
Dave,
Still nothing here. It was a pretty good day, with all of the regulars plus MP. MTI appears to be running a dead carrier, but PBJ was heard/seen normally.
John, W1TAG
Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by John Davis on October 19, 2015 at 01:39:50.
In reply to Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by John, W1TAG on October 18, 2015
Tried listening here in late morning and again in early afternoon, but there was sufficient power line buzz to nearly obliterate even the ISM racket at mid-band. Only faint traces of NC, USC, and EH were visible through it, and nothing could be heard of any of the CW beacons.
Around sunset, the buzz was gone, but so were all of the signals except EH. May try again tomorrow if there's not a ton of work tying me up all day.
John
HIFER logging
Posted by Ed Holland on October 19, 2015 at 17:03:14.
Hi Folks,
I finally got my act together, downloaded Spectrum Lab on my rusty old laptop and had a tune around 22m. Spectrum lab worked much better when I enabled the PC's audio input! It is fun learning to detect these signals. Also completed an antenna switching system for the receivers.
Firstly, Sunday 18th October, at around 13:45PST, I had positive ID of "NDB" and "SZX" There were other traces at frequencies coincident with Beacons on the list, but I could not identify them
This morning, Monday 19th October ~08:30PST I heard "GNK" Also other unidentified traces, but too little time to investigate further. There was a conspicuous "pip" or dot repeating every few seconds on ~13561.450kHz
Receive setup is a "random length sloping dipole" approx. 25ft on each leg, with the apex in a tree, the ends at fence height. Receiver is either a JRC NRD 535 or Lowe HF225.
Cheers,
Ed
Re: HIFER logging
Posted by Ed Holland on October 19, 2015 at 17:26:16.
In reply to HIFER logging posted by Ed Holland on October 19, 2015
Forgot to mention my location. We are 5 miles West of Menlo Park, California.
mls back on
Posted by mark on October 19, 2015 at 19:27:18.
Beacon mls at 186.204khz is on running Qrs30. It will be on 24/7 unless murphys
Law says otherwise.
Please let me know if you receive it. Tnx mark
Re: mls back on
Posted by Garry, K3SIW on October 19, 2015 at 23:22:56.
In reply to mls back on posted by mark on October 19, 2015
Mark, I see a weak signal at 186.201 kHz that is probably your lowfer. Didn't see your note until near sunset and lowfers at your distance (591 km) usually come in okay on ground wave during daylight. At night signals get wiped out by elevated noise and the skywave is too long to be helpful.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air.
Posted by Dave on October 19, 2015 at 23:28:10.
In reply to Re: The Florida Sawtooth is dead. FL is on the air. posted by John Davis on October 19, 2015
I continue to make adjustments to increase the copy of FL and the last one I made may have shifted the frequency up a 10 Hz or so and there's more work planned until I get it to it's final state. Then I can leave it alone.
I appreciate your continued hunting for the as yet unseen FL.
Portable operation at sun set in at Pine Lake , Colorado
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 20, 2015 at 01:08:24.
My trusty KA1103 in hand and my wet processor, your know that thing between the two ears had a interesting night:
At 0013utc WM came up very strong with its CW ids then at 0020 utc GNK and FRC came in very strong, then FRC disappeared and GNK still had fad ups that were weak.
I can copy RQ via ground wave from Pine Lake and that was where I was located,
GNK and FRC were both stronger then my little RQ.
near 13556 I heard a QRSS signal which just sounds like a carrier followed by two dits, this happened two times...maybe that was FL but I'll never
know.........
I figure any Hifer I'm hearing on the KA1103 has to be a darn good Hifer at
that and thats why I keep putting up these reports...73 to all
Re: Dxing MTI today
Posted by John Davis on October 20, 2015 at 03:12:06.
In reply to Dxing MTI today posted by Bill Hensel on October 17, 2015
Copied MTI here on Saturday also. The next day, on the 18th, John W1TAG noted that "MTI appears to be running a dead carrier." Because of the QRM Sunday, I didn't encounter it myself, but today (Monday) I certainly did. Thom may not be aware of the problem yet.
Today the power line buzz was less consistent, but still sometimes pretty bad. Saw NC, USC, and EH when it was not acting up too badly, and saw & heard the apparent MTI carrier. Thought I had snippets of FRC for a while, too, but none of the other CW or visual beacons made an appearance here this time.
John
Little TSN shows up with big cw signal in Pine Colorado
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 20, 2015 at 22:00:30.
At 2118-2154 utc TSN was basting into Pine, Colorado...in fact RQ was running in the back yard at the same time...the fast cw ID of TSN showed up as soon as RQ stopped transmitting...it was a pleasure to listen to it until around 2154utc CODAR became strong..a great opening...
Rcr icom756 85 ft end fed wire freq. 13555.80 on the readout....
SSB in the 22m Hifer Band
Posted by Ed Holland on October 21, 2015 at 17:37:35.
Hi Folks,
Attempted some "Beaconeering" this morning, but conditions didn't seem too favourable. However, there was an unexpected voice communication on 13.555,00kHz, USB. It sounded like Spanish, or Hispanic accented English, in very brief exchanges between two individuals. Any thoughts?
I'm also turning my attention to LW, and need to plan a sensible antenna for this. I built loops years ago, listening to NDB's back in the UK. Now there's interesting amateur activity down there, it's time to revisit the bands. Pity I threw out that damaged bicycle rim... still, I have plenty of junk from which to create something.
Cheers,
Ed Re: SSB in the 22m Hifer Band
Posted by John Davis on October 21, 2015 at 19:20:22.
In reply to SSB in the 22m Hifer Band posted by Ed Holland on October 21, 2015
Those SSB transmissions haven't been as common recently, but they used to be a regular bane of 22 meter HiFERs. I copied one at mid-day today myself while listening to WV and trying to see FL. They're often attributed to Cuban fishing boats, but might be from other coastal regions of Latin America too. The transmissions I heard today were seemingly from a single individual and being answered in Morse code! (No idea what they were saying in either voice or CW, though. It was all Greek to me, so to speak.)
Elsewhere on the band at this time, NC, USC, and EH are all quite solid at the watering hole, and MP appears to be doing its occasional ocean-wave routine. Thought I heard a bit of FRC, but couldn't be sure. The steady carrier where MTI should be is quite strong today.
John
Re: SSB in the 22m Hifer Band
Posted by John Davis on October 21, 2015 at 22:35:56.
In reply to Re: SSB in the 22m Hifer Band posted by John Davis on October 21, 2015
Followup on my earlier report...no more SSB while I was listening, but there were several powerful packet data transmissions spaced at about five-and-a-half minute intervals, some tens of Hz above WV.
WV continued strong all afternoon, but there has been no sign of FL on the captures I've checked thus far. I then tuned to the watering hole and left Argo capturing while I went out and sprayed some weeds. When I returned about 4:20 PM CDT, the propagation door to Illinois had opened wide for about a minute, and then remained open a crack for another four minutes after that. SIW slant was coming through, along with SIW DFCW, and maybe a trace of WM. Smatterings of RF continued on each of those frequencies, so I left it capturing while running some errands, and shortly we'll see what turns up.
John
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Paul on October 22, 2015 at 06:20:56.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 17, 2015
Greetings from a fellow California HiFer OP.
FRC is only 50 miles from San Francisco. However, yours will have a real advantage with the salt water nearby!
If you do go with the 1/4 wave vertical, remember that it only takes about 2 mW (milliwatts) into a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna to reach the part 15 legal limits for the Hifer band.
FRC is running about 4 milliwatts into a 2-stage helical bandpass filter (2 dB loss) and a 'HamStick' antenna on the roof of a commercial radio building. It's field was measured with a real FIM and shown to be very near the legal limit with that setup.
Despite the less than 2 mW ERP, FRC has been heard in nearly all 50 states, and Australia, Japan, Canada, and Puerto Rico. FRC uses 10 WPM standard CW, no QRSS.
John and the guys are real fans of QRSS, and rightly so. Those super slow modes are excellent! However, the FRC transmitter doesn't have the frequency stability required for slow modes, so I went with regular CW. So far, it has worked out very well.
Best regards, and good luck! Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John Davis on October 22, 2015 at 07:22:56.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Paul on October 22, 2015
"Those super slow modes are excellent! However, the FRC transmitter doesn't have the frequency stability required for slow modes, so I went with regular CW."
Paul is being modest. FRC is atually a lot steadier in the short-to-medium term than some of the graphical mode beacons around the watering hole.
His "plain old" CW signal is highly effective, though. One of the reasons is that the ID has just the right amount of complexity. The characters are a nicely varied mix of dots and dashes, without the ID being too long to hold the pattern in one's head over multiple repetitions (important when you're getting just one or two complete characters on each pass, due to QSB or QRM or both). It also results in the keying sideband pattern being distinctive on Argo at QRSS3. If I see a keyed carrier showing up faintly with that duration and repetition rate, I know to keep listening in hopes of actually hearing the signal on fade-ups.
Another way to make a CW identifier more compatible with digital observation techniques is the old non-directional beacon classic, the dash-after-ID (or IDs plural, in many cases). Back when TON was AJO and I could hear it frequently, I often relied on Argo to alert me to the possibility of impending aural copy. The keying sidebands, followed by that looong dash, were visually very distinctive, well before the signal was evident to the ear.
Paul raises another worthwhile point in connection with antennas and power. The signal strength limits can be met in principle with 4.7 mW into a dipole in free space...and even a vertical radiator over an elevated quarter-wave radial system is also basically just a vertically oriented dipole once one is far enough outside the near-field region...but, of course, none of our antennas are truly in free space. We have ground reflections giving us pattern gain over the radiator itself*; and conversely, we may have local loss factors removing some of that gain. It takes a certain amount of finesse to calculate a plausible, safe value for antenna input power. There appears to be an article in the new QST dealing with these factors that may be of some help.
(*Note: the ground reflections will contribute to gain at some launch angles but detract from it at others. If DX is the objective, you don't want signal canellation at low angles, so you would avoid having the radiation center of your antenna 1/4 wavelength above ground if at all possible. This was something broadasters discovered the hard way some 90 years ago, when heavily loaded vertical antennas working against counterpoises on hotels and office building roof tops were common. It had previously worked for LF stations, but the shorter wavelengths of the AM broadcast band meant that some buildings ended up being roughly a quarter wavelength tall. The result was that the incident wave and the reflected wave were out of phase near the plane of the horizon, so local groundwave coverage was generally terrible and there was a lot of nighttime interference from the station's own high-angle skywave. A prohibition against elevated antennas near 90° above ground eventually got written into the FCC's Standards of Good Engineering Practice for broadcast stations.)
John
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 22, 2015 at 16:37:32.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Paul on October 22, 2015
Thanks Paul,
I appreciate the sanity check on power. I'm going to have to lash up some test gear for this, at least a current meter of some sort.
The elevated vertical is looking like the best option. It has, in order or priority:
1) Permission from the domestic authorities
2) Within sensible reach of the radio room
3) Best location with regard to trees etc.
Last night I fitted another piece in the puzzle, and found a pre-existing hole through which the feeder can be routed from inside to out. That will let me keep the transmitter in the steady climate and protection of the basement.
Next on the list - designing & rigging the vertical, running feed wire, and attempting to do a bit of tuning. Ought to buy a GDO really - I have nothing in the way of test gear for antenna work.... it doesn't matter when you're only a listener, almost anything gets you above the receiver noise floor!
Cheers
Ed
Thursday Mid-Day Report
Posted by John Davis on October 22, 2015 at 18:52:44.
Setting up the farm in preparation for working with the tractor today, I thought I'd also try for some HiFERs. Way too much power line QRM this morning, though, so I got out the other receiver and prepared to try some LF monitoring. Plenty of QRN there, thanks to the blob of thunderstorms in Texas and Oklahoma that will be arriving here this evening.
So, I thought I'd spend some time watching the ovenized crystal in the R75 settle onto frequency from a cold start. Once I was satisfied with that, I happened to tune across 22 m again, and...shazam!...the power line buzz was gone. In its place, the propagation door to Illinois was open (at least for SIW; still waiting and hoping to see 9ZS or WM). The DFCW version was nice and clear, while the slant mode was broken up into slow dots/dashes whose period varied slowly. According to Argo at QRSS30, this turns out to be path bifurcation with Doppler shift; two copies of the signal a fraction of a hertz apart, with their spacing drifting nearer and farther over time, thus changing the beat note between them.
If conditions remain this good when I get back out there in a few minutes, we'll see who else shows up! Otherwise, I'll go back to LF.
(Please excuse any typos involving missing "c" or "s" in my posts. Got a keyboard with some letters becoming intermittent, and I may not always catch them.)
John
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by John Davis on October 22, 2015 at 19:09:13.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 22, 2015
"I'm going to have to lash up some test gear for this, at least a current meter of some sort."
What I do is establish a match to 50 ohms at some convenient reference point in my system and use an RF millivoltmeter to determine my power at that test point, courtesy of good old P=E2/R. Before I had that meter, I found that an oscilloscope with a suitable RF probe did the job nicely, too.
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Ed Holland on October 22, 2015 at 20:02:57.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by John Davis on October 22, 2015
Thanks. I've done a few "back of the envelope" calculations along similar lines, so at least I can understand roughly what we're shooting for before setting out. Figuring out something to measure current and/or voltage shouldn't be too tricky. We are very lucky to have a good "surplus" electronics store nearby for parts.
Of course, this could be just the excuse I'm looking for to buy an oscilloscope....
Re: Thursday Mid-Day -- SIW, WM, GNK, MP etc.!
Posted by John Davis on October 23, 2015 at 04:56:44.
In reply to Thursday Mid-Day Report posted by John Davis on October 22, 2015
Wow. Long day and evening of work on the farm, but a great afternoon for HiFERs. Won't be able to stay awake long enough tonight to retrieve the captures, but I promise they'll be worth your attention!
John
135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon.
Posted by Ed Larsen on October 24, 2015 at 17:16:19.
I was recently involved with locating an RFI source to fish RF ID tags that operate on 134.2 kHz. Using an FSLM a big signal was found at 135.95 kHz that sounded like narrow FSK. This new signal is interfering with VLF RF ID systems in the western US. The contractor investigated the new signal and discovered that it is the US Navy out of Dixon, Ca. The transmitter at Dixon has been reactivated after several decades. It is expected to transmit intermittently through mid-November, and will begin broadcasting again in April 2016. I can easily hear it in El Dorado county using an eight-turn one-foot diameter loop tied to the FSLM so it must be many kW. 73s, Ed, KI6R.
Re: Planning a Hifer
Posted by Paul on October 24, 2015 at 18:19:20.
In reply to Re: Planning a Hifer posted by Ed Holland on October 22, 2015
If you make the 100 mile trip east to pick it up and return it, I will loan you what you need.
Re: Little TSN shows up with big cw signal in Pine Colorado
Posted by Bill Hensel on October 24, 2015 at 18:42:52.
In reply to Little TSN shows up with big cw signal in Pine Colorado posted by Bill Hensel on October 20, 2015
Oct. 24 1810-1840 utc TSN is coming into Pine very nicely, with some strong fad ups
Re: 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon.
Posted by John Davis on October 24, 2015 at 19:42:34.
In reply to 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon. posted by Ed Larsen on October 24, 2015
Not only is it interesting that they should fire up Dixon again after all these years, but also that it's being done right as the FCC is deliberating the 2200 meter ham band proposal. Got to wonder if that's coincidence, or what?
Re: 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon.
Posted by Ed Larsen on October 24, 2015 at 23:46:33.
In reply to Re: 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon. posted by John Davis on October 24, 2015
It was also reported that Dixon is intending to bring up a 2nd VLF transmitter on another frequency. The frequency is not known at this time.
Ham Transceiver for VLF listening
Posted by Keith Densmore on October 25, 2015 at 14:08:46.
I would like to know of any recommendation for a standard ham hf transceiver that receives well on vlf. All of the sets I have come into contact with perform very well above 1.5 MHZ but are poor to dismal below that. Wonder if anyone knows of an exception. Thanks, VE3TS
Re: Ham Transceiver for VLF listening
Posted by Dave Childs on October 26, 2015 at 00:00:22.
In reply to Ham Transceiver for VLF listening posted by Keith Densmore on October 25, 2015
Drake TR-7 or TR-7A might [I only have experience with the R7]. Anyone know if their transceivers tune that low?
Re: Ham Transceiver for VLF listening
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 26, 2015 at 00:27:30.
In reply to Ham Transceiver for VLF listening posted by Keith Densmore on October 25, 2015
Keith,
VLF is 3-30 kHz. LF is 30-300 kHz. What frequency range are you interested in?
John, W1TAG
Re: 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon.
Posted by John Davis on October 26, 2015 at 03:32:53.
In reply to Re: 135.95 kHz Transmitter on-the-air again from Dixon. posted by Ed Larsen on October 24, 2015
It's certainly a powerful signal here in the middle of the country...in excess of 30 dB stronger than VE3OT (MP) on 137.780. Glad it's not located any closer than it is.
John
Sunday HiFER Note (was: Re: Thursday)
Posted by John Davis on October 26, 2015 at 03:49:28.
In reply to Re: Thursday Mid-Day -- SIW, WM, GNK, MP etc.! posted by John Davis on October 23, 2015
I promise I'll post those wild captures from Thursday as soon as I get done with prepping material for The LOWDOWN, but here's a quick bit of followup from today during my receiver tests.
In many ways, it was a repeat of Thursday. The door to Illinois was open much of the afternoon...first, the SIW duo during the noon hour, then around 1:00 CDT, WM began showing up faintly. And, as Thursday, WM didn't come in really well until after 4 PM, around the same time SIW got a bit shaky for a while.
NC, USC, and EH were present nearly all the time, sometimes quite loudly. MP was intermittent, but showed up enough to be identifiable a few times. When SIW DFCW was present, it was sometimes loud enough to copy the CW ID by ear.
Note the perforation effect in SIW slant, just below MP? That's atually a manifestation of the bifurcation effect I've observed before, where two copies of the signal (sometimes more) arrive simultaneously, and at least one has been nudged up or down in frequency by Doppler shift. When the two paths are separated in frequency by 1 or 2 Hz, the bifurcation is visible as such. When the difference is only a fraction of a hertz, the result is a slow beat note that results in the perforation appearance. On SIW slant today, there were up to three strong copies and one weak one, separated by 0.1 to greater than 0.4 Hz at times.
I spent a good chunk of mid-afternoon watching the space between WV and TSN. WV was audible a lot more of the time today than Thursday. I could see a faint Morse keyed carrier where TSN should have been, but never could quite hear it. FWIW, WV was about 45 Hz above its listed frequency, right about where I understood Dave to say FL should be. Still haven't found the new QRSS3 FL signal, though.
Farther up the dial, I had really good copy of PBJ at times, and the steady carrier that is probably MTI.
GNK was coming in really good most of the time, but none of the other aural beacons in the upper half of the band made it through here.
Thankfully, CODAR has been low the past couple of days, and there have been no long repeats of the power line buzz I was having before.
John
Monday Morning quick report
Posted by Ed Holland on October 26, 2015 at 17:12:35.
No chance to listen all weekend, so I stole 10 minutes this morning, ~8am PST.
TSN provided a strong signal, with frequent peaks in signal levels permitting a solid ID by ear.
Something in the vicinity of SZX, but positive ID was not possible.
Little else. I keep hoping to hear my Californian neighbor FRC, but no luck. I think he skips right overhead, and Mt Diabolo does a number on the ground wave.
Lots of thinking but little activity on the beacon project. Considering Callsigns, I may go with TAH, for a family theme, or PTL for a geographical one.
Cheers,
Ed
Re: Sunday HiFER Note (was: Re: Thursday)
Posted by Ed holland on October 26, 2015 at 18:12:11.
In reply to Sunday HiFER Note (was: Re: Thursday) posted by John Davis on October 26, 2015
Nice report John, thanks for sharing the captures.
This is all helping this newbie understand what he's seeing/hearing :)
/Ed
Hifer RY On The Air
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 26, 2015 at 18:26:37.
Hifer RY from Raymond, Maine (FN43sv) is back on the air until May (at least) on 13555.415 kHz, in QRSS3. That puts it right in the middle between the two SIW signals. Despite the unheated building, a nice 10 MHz OCXO should keep it on frequency over the winter. The antenna is a vertical dipole hung from a tree branch near the lake. The center of the dipole is about 30 feet above ground, and the coax runs pretty much at right angles to the cottage. The weak link in all of this may be the fairly long horizontal feedline, which could be trouble in an ice storm. But with bungee cords above and below the antenna, and at the tie-off to the cottage, it might hold. Time will tell!
Reports here or by email are welcome. I inadvertently brought some test equipment home last week, and am pretty much flying blind about the antenna.
John, W1TAG
Re: Monday Morning quick report
Posted by Ed Holland on October 26, 2015 at 19:56:27.
In reply to Monday Morning quick report posted by Ed Holland on October 26, 2015
Doh! Forgot to mention intermittent clear reception of GNK
Lowfer TAG On Air
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 27, 2015 at 14:46:04.
Lowfer beacon TAG in Raymond, Maine (FN43sv) is on the air until May on 185.297 kHz in QRSS60 mode. Previous winters have been done with QRSS30, but I decided to try the slower mode this year. There are no other changes.
Reports here, on the Lowfer reflector, or by email are welcome.
John, W1TAG
Re: Hifer RY On The Air
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 27, 2015 at 17:51:23.
In reply to Hifer RY On The Air posted by John, W1TAG on October 26, 2015
I turned the WM beacons off this morning to have a listen for Hifers and Lowfers. Strong copy on the RY beacon which was dualing with EH here in South Eastern Il. The Argo capture is on dropbox; https://www.dropbox.com/s/507xjyou8ucx10k/hifer1027150002.jpg?dl=0
Mike
Re: Hifer RY On The Air
Posted by John, W1TAG on October 27, 2015 at 18:13:09.
In reply to Re: Hifer RY On The Air posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 27, 2015
Mike,
Very nice! Had intended to do impedance measurements on the antenna, etc., but goofed and brought the test equipment home last week.
Thanks.
John, W1TAG
Hifer's heard/seen on 10/27/15
Posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 27, 2015 at 20:49:54.
Hifer RY and EH continue to be seen here this afternoon. An audible and visual copy of several WV id's earlier today;
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ndav13ug5vr4fiw/hifer1027150035.jpg?dl=0
USC and NC captured later in the afternoon;
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rzso09lfw0ldp1v/hifer1027150053.jpg?dl=0
Re: Hifer's heard/seen on 10/27/15
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 27, 2015 at 22:22:47.
In reply to Hifer's heard/seen on 10/27/15 posted by Mike - N8OOU on October 27, 2015
Mike,
Meant to mention that WM was significantly better on the 13.5 MHz vertical dipole than on the 80 meter dipole used during the summer. NC and USC were still consistently the strongest, but your signal was similar to SIW's DFCW.
John, W1TAG
Lowfers
Posted by Garry K3SIW on October 28, 2015 at 16:41:48.
Saw TAG weakly at the watering hole before sunrise then after local sunrise tuned for EAR and MLS. EAR was and is coming in fine but not even a trace of MLS has been noted. A few days ago it was fine so perhaps there's now a problem or the frequency has shifted out of my ARGO display range. Down on 137.78 kHz higher powered MP of course is coming in well.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL Re: Lowfers (MLS)
Posted by Garry K3SIW on October 29, 2015 at 21:12:47.
In reply to Lowfers posted by Garry K3SIW (Fwd) on October 28, 2015
Just noticed MLS come back on the air. Frequency is drifting down and looks like it will stabilize a bit above 186.201 kHz.
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
Posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015 at 17:21:25.
Hello there, and greetings to all board members -
I have been a long-time reader of this board, but have not posted until now. I recently became interested in HiFer operation. After finishing a construction project that took several months and much time spent slaving over a hot soldering iron, I was a bit burned out and in search of a project that would be quicker and more straightforward to put together, for some relative relaxation. The HiFer band has long piqued my interest, and I started to think about how I could put a simple beacon on the air.
The first experiment involved connecting an N0XAS PicoKeyer to a scratch-built Pixie 2 TX. It worked, but I wanted a one-board solution with a built-in and pre-programmed keyer chip. I dragged my old Hans Summers QRSS TX out of a box. It was his original kit QRSS TX. I changed the crystal, and the values of inductance and capacitance in the LPF, as well as modding it from FSK to straight on-off keying. Also, to ensure that an increase in supply voltage wouldn't lead to overstepping the power limitations on this band, I added a 3.3V regulator.
The final step was to re-program the ATtiny13V chip from my callsign, to send the call letters "SPT", in honor of my youngest cat Sprout.
This little beacon is now putting out ~2.5mW at 13558KHz ± ~20Hz into an L-shaped dipole (an old Buddipole on a painter's pole on my balcony) at 25 feet above ground. It's partially shielded by buildings to the south, but has a reasonable take-off in other directions. It has already been heard in Portland, OR with a 239-339 signal report - a distance of a little over 500 miles.
I wasn't sure what frequency to put it on, but as most beacons seem to be in the segment above 13560, I thought I'd place mine in the lower half of the band. I am quite willing to move, if there are other beacons or signals too close in frequency.
The power output was a bit of a head-scratcher for me too, not having access to a field strength meter. I have read of power outputs in the range of 1.8mW to 5mW, with differing antennas. During the course of my internet reading, I did come across a few pre-2004 beacons that were running 1.8-2mW into a dipole, so I took that as my reference, and figured that 2.5mW into a dipole should be a reasonable figure to comply with the post-2004 regulations (I am now thinking that may be a little high). Obviously, the field strength at 30 meters from the antenna will vary from one installation to another, but I figure that in the eyes of the FCC, there is a big difference between being a little over the field strength limit when running 2.5mW, and being way over due to a transmitter power output several times that.
I also read a recent post by K6FRC, in which he stated that his installation has a transmitter output power of 1.8mW, which puts him pretty close to the allowable field strength limits. I'm wondering if he's talking about the pre-2004 10,000uV/meter level or the current 15,848uV/meter level?
Anyway, my little powerhouse is sending the letters "SPT" at 6wpm 24/7 on 13558KHz. I would be thrilled to receive reception reports.
Dave Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
AA7EE
PS - I calculated my TX power output by measuring the peak-peak voltage across a 51 ohm resistor, with a 'scope.
Posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015 at 17:29:55.
In reply to Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015
I forgot to mention that the beacon is in Oakland, CA in the SF East Bay.
Dave Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
AA7EE
Posted by ed Holland on October 30, 2015 at 18:04:01.
In reply to Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015
Hi Dave,
I'll listen out for you and check in again later - you should be an easy capture from across the Bay over here, 5 miles West of Palo Alto,
The Bay Area is filling up! Plans to get my beacon on the air are stymied by delays in an equipment order, but I hope to get the antenna up and tested ahead of that. Also I will give your signal a bit of breathing room when it comes to picking a frequency.
Callsigns are hard to pick... I'm currently considering TAH, PTL or for some British Car fun, MGB.
Cheers,
Ed
Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
Posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015 at 19:37:46.
In reply to Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz posted by ed Holland on October 30, 2015
Ed -
A friend in SF couldn't hear it, even though it was audible (barely) in Portland. You may be a little too close, but it'd be great if you can hear it.
I considered OAK, for Oakland (where I live), and GRC, for grilled cheese, as I figured calling it a grilled cheese beacon would sound cute. I settled on SPT, as I already have 2 home-built receivers named after my kitty, so I thought I'd name a beacon after her too.
I've been talking to Hans Summers, and his Ultimate 3 QRSS transmitter kit will cover the HiFer band without modification, as it derives it's frequency from an Si5351 chip. You just have to plug in the LPF for the 20M band, which also works for the HiFer band, and make sure to dial the power down.
Looking forward to listening for your beacon Ed. If I can't hear it from here, I'll just have to take a short trip down to the South Bay with a portable receiver :-)
Dave Re: Hifer RY On The Air
AA7EE
Posted by Dave on October 31, 2015 at 00:47:35.
In reply to Re: Hifer RY On The Air posted by John, W1TAG on October 27, 2015
I hit the watering hole trifecta Friday evening from central Florida: EH (always solid copy here), SIW slant, RY, and SIW in dual freq CW.
I got some very clean views of RY, and faint but definite SIW's straddling RY.
Dave
Re: Hifer RY On The Air
Posted by John on October 31, 2015 at 17:11:51.
In reply to Re: Hifer RY On The Air posted by Dave on October 31, 2015
Dave,
Thanks for the report. Where are you located?
John, W1TAG
Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 31, 2015 at 17:13:49.
In reply to Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015
Dave,
For output and antenna questions, take a look at:
http://www.w1tag.com/Hifer2.pdf
The current regulations would permit 2.3 mw into a ground plane antenna, and 4.6 mw into a dipole (either horizontal of vertical).
John, W1TAG
Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz
Posted by Paul on October 31, 2015 at 18:00:48.
In reply to Introducing My New HiFer Beacon "SPT" on 13558KHz posted by Dave AA7EE on October 30, 2015
Good work, OM!!
I see you chose 13.558 MHz. There used to be a pirate radio ship off the British coast on 558 kc. called "Laser 558". It was similar to Radio Caroline, but without all the publicity.
If you get stuck for a callsign, or Sprout suddenly dislikes being a beacon, you could always change it to LSR or something.
I will be QRV for you, OM.
73, PS Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon
Posted by Dave N4EF on October 31, 2015 at 21:40:40.
In reply to Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 31, 2015
John, your paper on 22 m antenna selection and transmitter power is fabulous. Thank you. Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon
Dave
Posted by Dave AA7EE on October 31, 2015 at 22:13:57.
In reply to Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 31, 2015
John - this is fantastic - thank you very much for taking the trouble to think it through and share your results with us. Looks like my little beacon is due for a power increase this evening from 2.5mW to 4.6mW, with a little extra to account for the line loss. It is under 1dB, but I will need to measure it again to get a more accurate figure.
I plan, in a few weeks, to publish a blog-post detailing how I modified my transmitter to place it on the HiFer band, along with a description of how to flash the firmware, for those who haven't done that before. I already have permission to publish the schematic, and the source code for the ATTiny chip. Would you mind if I included a link to your document? It would really help in giving folk an introduction to what is allowed on this band, as well as a feel for the original intent of the regulations, and the devices that operate there.
Dave Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon
AA7EE
Posted by John Davis on October 31, 2015 at 22:39:15.
In reply to Re: Introducing My New HiFer Beacon posted by Dave AA7EE on October 31, 2015
Dave, when you have your blog entry ready, it'd be great if you'd post the URL to it here. We'll turn it into a live link. I'm sure there are a lot of folks who will find it helpful.
John D
potrzebie
