Oct. 1998 Longwave Messages

(E-mail addresses in these messages may eventually become outdated.)

• Subj: Congrats Greg!
  Date: 98-10-30 10:37:39 EST
  From: eagle icubed (George M. Jacob)
  I am glad to hear that Greg is putting a beacon on! Congratulations to you, Greg. We miss KRY here in SW PA, we need a standard to check if the receive equipment is working. If Joe reads this, I hope he'll put on his fine beacon again this year.
  George
  "GIR"

• Subj: Historic Longwave\Poulsen
  Date: 98-10-29 22:53:50 EST
  From: poulsen hicom (David L. Quinlan)
  Hello! If you are interested in Historic radiocommunications perhaps you would be interested in my home made Poulsen Arc oscillator. This is only a table top sized arc but it has most of the features of the arcs used for world wide communications between 1903 and the 1930's. My arc is made almost entirely of modern components as I was never able to trace anything Poulsen-ish except for documents. I have lots of them. I use a carbon/copper arc with about 10 amperes input to the arc. The oscillating circuit is tuned to 50 to 300 kHz depending on the application.
  The RF output can light a 200 watt bulb in the secondary of the RF transformer. It will also light a small Tesla coil. I have used this in a small way for communications but I don't have an antenna that will load at those frequencies, and anyway it's illegal. If this seems interesting to you please send me an email. I am always hoping to find someone who is interested in the Poulsen Arc and who knows more than i do! Then i can pick his brain and get beter results. So far i seem to be the only person in the world who has a working Arc system. Could that be possible?
  Regards
  David Quinlan
  Reply 1: Hi, David. I, for one, have long been intrigued by Poulsen arc transmitters, but have never had more than the most fundamental information about them. I'd be very glad for any information you'd like to put here on the Web site, and if any of our other readers are also interested, I encourage them to as well as write to you. It could prove most interesting. - JHD

• Subj: New Lowfer
  Date: 98-10-29 11:24:16 EST
  From: gweinfurt1 ohiou.edu (Greg Weinfurtner)
  Hi all!
  I've set up a beacon and wanted to pass on info for the LowFER report. It will begin tonight Oct 29, 1998 and run continously, 24/7.
  Call: GW       Frequency: 186.00       Mode: CW
  Schedule: 24/7 continous       Operator: Greg Weinfurtner NS8O
  Location: Athens, Ohio       QSL: 9411 Kitty Lane
  E-mail: ns8o-qsl.net       Maidenhead grid: EM89

  ****************** Amateur Radio *******************************
  *                       ns8o-qsl.net                           *
  *            http://www.qsl.net/ns8o/index.html                *
  *           http://ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu/~weinfurtner          *
  ****************************************************************

• Subj: A3O and GIR
  Date: 98-10-28 10:45:23 EST
  From: k0lr emily (Lyle Koehler)
  LowFERs A3O and GIR were both readable here in Minnesota at about 0415 CST today. It had been a couple of years since I last heard them. Within half an hour, both of them had faded out but OK came up from barely readable to good copy. Things are looking up even though there is still lots of QRN.
  LEK is transmitting CW at 12 WPM for the first 30 minutes of each hour, and BPSK at MS100, ET1 for the second 30 minutes. The BPSK identifier is LEK(space)(space), with a run length of 4. LEK's frequency is still 186.750 kHz.
  73 from Lyle, K0LR

• Subj: RE: VLF stations from 10K to 30k
  Date: 98-10-28 01:39:44 EST
  From: ashlocks mdc (Ashlock)
  Reply to question about a list of stations from 10 kHz to 30 kHz:
  RadioScience Observing by Joseph Carr lists 30 stations (including power output) from 15.1 kHz to 28.5 kHz. The list actually goes all the way to 148.2 kHz.

• Subj: Lf & VLF emissions from hurricanes
  Date: 98-10-26 22:28:01 EST
  From: deburges bellsouth (Charles Burgess)
  After observing possible "sprite" discharges during Hurricane Georges, it seemed to me that there must be a electromagnetic dynamic to these storms. Does anyone have information about this?
  Sincerely,
  Charles Burgess

• Subj: 10 khz to 30 khz
  Date: 98-10-26 22:25:30 EST
  From: microres crl (Stan Wilson)
  I am looking for a source of what stations and power levels between 10 khz and 30 khz. Any suggestions ?
  Thanks, Stan ak0b

• What is so rare ...as the first beacon of the season!
  Date: 98-10-24 07:33:39 EDT
  From: n4zv roanoke.infi (n4zv)
  Congrats to Mike for his good work with A3O. Solid copy in Virginia this morning for my first LowFer of the season....and my first ever reception of A3O. The improvements paid off!
  73
  Bart VA/N4ZV

• Subj: RE: First LowFER beacon heard
  Date: 98-10-21 06:14:09 EDT
  From: mustang kickit.pgh (Mike Lamanna)
  Thanks for listening ... There is another beacon on 189.2khz with the call sign GIR you should be able to hear
  Thanks again
  Mike

• Subj: First LowFER beacon heard
  Date: 98-10-19 22:09:12 EDT
  From: RLLaney
  Just tonight (Tue.) at 9:10 PM I was able to copy A30 in Monroeville, PA, which is about 165 miles from my QTH in Herndon, VA. This is the first LowFER of the season for me. I had begun to think that I was not within range of anyone.
  73,
  Bob

• Subj: Medfer BPSK
  Date: 98-10-19 18:14:05 EDT
  From: aa1a radiocom
  Here is copy from 'SOLAR' on 1690.590 last night which is about 300 miles away, and has a very loud AM station ( +32 db here ) from Lexington Park, Maryland covering the spectrum +/- 1690khz.
  Needless to say I did not hear Bill's beacon but the Coherent program did.
  The speed is MS50 with ET1 ON... (Zulu times)

  *00:50:44
  J!1s2bJ11sGNJSjs2CfE1 2Qf!5  Qf!d PQ[0D]!o '[10]f[0A][0D]#"Q0!U
  *00:51:25
  pJqea"[10] ~ha*AeN.hARJNOrAR SOLAR SOLAR SOLAR SOLAR SOLSR SO
  *00:52:14
  LAR SOfs[04]D[0A].fs[04]e[0A].fs[04]e[0A]pfs[04]Q[0A]pfv[04]Q[0A]
  *00:52:42
  pf(y ,93"K ,9r"y ,93"9u,93"[0F] L>y([0F]ber EC[02]er Ss[02]!,SS
  >>06:18:42 [09]3I[18]+_b3yce9[09] dccPC3[0D]2:P[12]Y[0D][13] d 1^vlp [02]e
  

  This was the only complete hit all night but it shows that this AM station better watch out..hi..
  Antennas here are a 250' flat top, 160m full wave loop and a 10' shielded loop. The 10' loop with the null on the AM station is the only hope.
  73s
  Dave Riley - AA1A - www.radiocom.net

• Subj: New Spectrogram version--again
  Date: 98-10-18 07:28:37 EDT
  From: sm6lkm.jbeab swipnet.se (Johan Bodin)
  Dear all,
  I got a new "radio version" of Spectrogram from Richard Horne last night. A few bugs are fixed and the help file has been updated.
  It is not available on the official Spectrogram page yet but you are welcome to download it from my page (see second message, below).
  73 de Johan Bodin, SM6LKM

• Subj: LF: New pages
  Date: 98-10-17 09:02:50 EDT
  From: mike dennison.demon.co.uk (Mike Dennison)
  Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group-blacksheep.org
  I have created two new pages on my web site:
  1) A few photos from the HF Convention LF Forum at www.dennison.demon.co.uk/hfconv.htm
  and
  2) A direct comparison between Spectrogram 4.2.2 and the new 4.2.6 at www.dennison.demon.co.uk/newspect.htm
  --
  Mike, G3XDV

• Subj: New "radio version" of Spectrogram!
  Date: 98-10-15 14:11:35 EDT
  From: sm6lkm.jbeab swipnet.se (Johan Bodin)
  Hi all
  Richard Horne has split his freeware audio analyzer, Spectrogram, into two different versions. The "radio version" has a variable time scale and cursor offset.
  The variable time scale together with spectral averaging is very useful for receiving extremely slow CW.
  By setting cursor offset to the zero beat frequency of the radio, the true radio frequency of a displayed signal can be read out simply by placing the cursor on the signal.
  The radio version is currently not available at the Spectrogram home page but you are welcome to download it from my web site:
  Homepage: http://home4.swipnet.se/~w-41522/
  73 de Johan Bodin, SM6LKM
  
  • The file is mirrored at the LWCA site and can also be downloaded here, but a visit to Johan's excellent site is also recommended for its other interesting features.

• Subject: LF/MF Beacon & Part 15 Roundup!
  Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998
  From: John Davis, LWCA LowFER/MedFER Editor
  To: Operators of LowFER/MedFER Beacons, Other Part 15 Stations
  As we do each fall, we are trying to update information for the Operators Contact List we publish in The LOWDOWN, and place in the online beacon and operator lists here on this Web site. We'd like for this to be the most complete and accurate year yet!
  If you have not already received an e-mail request from me (which means I have no e-mail address for you, or an outdated one), I hope you will go ahead and send us an update; likewise, if you have received my message but responded yet. The information we are looking for:
  • Frequency(ies) and Call Sign(s).
  • Mode (CW, CCW, BPSK, SSB, etc.) and Schedule.
    Please also mention if you only operate for part of the year.
  • Operator's Name (and ham call, if any).
  • Physical Location of Transmitter (nearest town).
  • QSL Mailing Address. (Note: If you furnish your street address, we do publish it in The LOWDOWN; but we do not use house numbers or street names of respondents in the online list, unless you specifically request us to do so.)
  • Preferred E-mail Address.
  • Maidenhead grid or geographical coordinates, if known.
  • Member of LWCA or ARRL? (Requested for statistical purposes only; not required for your station to be listed.)
  Please send all updates to this LW Message Board. The previously listed Part15-aol.com address is temporary, and has been discontinued. Thanks for your assistance.
  - John

• Subject: frequency sweep around 136 KHz
  Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 16:33:45 -0700 (PDT)
  From: Clifford Buttschardt
  The possibility of operation around 136 KHz in the near future suggests we check for interference. I'll not draw a conclusion just yet, but I urge all to determine if you think the spectrum clear enough to be useful.
  Here in Central California there is a minimum shift FSK signal so outrageously strong that any antenna produces S9 reception. The mark carrier is right on 136 KHz and space 50 Hertz higher. 137 KHz and 138 KHz also have similar signals considerably weaker. There appears to be another FSK station on 135.25 using 100 Hertz shift also rather weak.
  There are two loud PLC (Power Line Carrier) on 135.55 and 132.17 KHz.
  These measurements were made in the middle of daylight hours using both an audio spectrum analyzer and a 100 Hertz BW CW filter with a frequency synthesizer for reference. The proposed band is between 135.7 and 137.8 KHz. It looks rather grim for the West coast of the US!
  Cliff K7RR

• Subj: LEK beacon plans
  Date: 98-10-12 11:00:53 EDT
  From: k0lr emily (Lyle Koehler)
  LEK is still in the "summertime" mode, running CW only on 186.750 kHz. I'll try to put LEK on an alternating BPSK/CW schedule within the next few weeks. It will probably run something like 15 minutes of BPSK at MS100, ET1 and 15 minutes of 12 WPM CCW. Will post a message to the Longwave message board when LEK starts sending BPSK again.
  73
  Lyle

• Subj: RB back on the air
  Date: 98-10-11 16:00:48 EDT
  From: bicking mwci (rbicking)
  LowFER RB is on 186.92 kHz, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as I now have a separate ham antenna and don't have to time-share any longer. The antenna is a 31 foot vertical with a 25 foot diameter top hat. The ground system has 32 buried radials ranging in length from 40 ft. to 200 ft., 16 of them terminated with ground rods. Used 3000 ft. of 14 gauge wire for the radials. Still using small Curry litz loading coil. May make a large coil after I rest up a bit.
  73.
  Bob Bicking
  Freeport, IL. 61032

• Subj: Question on top end station:
  Date: 98-10-08 12:32:13 EDT
  From: R D Palmer
  John,
  Picked up a station on 1671.8 (to maybe 1672.0) giving the identification; 3KHC tone, over and over last night October 7th at 1210 UTC.
  Would you have any idea who or what may be transmitting this signal? I couldn't find any reference to it.
  Dick Palmer
  Green Valley, AZ
  
  • Reply 1: Regretably, I find no reference to such a signal in recent MedFER correspondence or Latin American navigational aids, either. It almost fits the pattern of a fishing buoy marker, but I'd hate to say for sure. Anyone else have any ideas? - JHD

• Subj: earth dipole web page - Revised
  Date: 98-09-27 / 98-10-04
  From: (John Taylor)
  If you are interested in earth current systems, you can download a booklet on the topic on my web page, which is now:
  www.wireless.freeserve.co.uk
  Email address is earth-wireless.freeserve.co.uk
  John G0AKN

• Subj: Report from "LEK"
  Date: 98-10-03 23:38:58 EDT
  From: k0lr yahoo (Lyle Koehler)
  Until I talked to Bruce, W0BK on 75 meters this morning, I didn't know that my web page had evaporated. Maybe qsl.net dumps any pages that haven't been updated for 60 days. Anyway, the page should now be up and running again at the same old address -- http://www.qsl.net/k0lr
  I was able to detect OK every time I listened this afternoon, and a few minutes ago (at 10 PM) his signal was still there through the static crashes. BK, RM and SAM are all putting in consistently good signals. Bryce, KI0LE has made some improvements to his new beacon BRO from Duluth so that it's also readable here every day.
  I'm gradually shifting my radio-related e-mail to another address -- k0lr-yahoo.com
  73 from Lyle, K0LR

• Subj: Part 15...
  Date: 98-10-02 21:38:31 EDT
  From: donnatom netins (Tom Gruis, Ed.D., K0HTF, K.Y.C.H.)
  Just so you know, "d" is still operating on 175 KHz. No changes in the listing are needed at this time. I will be restoring some service with my ham band beacons on 10, 6, 2, 222, and another soon on 432.350 MHz.
  73!
  Doc (Tom) Gruis
  "D" and K0HTF
  Des Moines, Iowa

• Subj: RE: NDB Guide
  Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998
  From: Bill Riches
  Just received my copy - great job Bob
  Bill, WA2DVU
  Cape May, NJ

• Subj: NDB Guide
  Date: 98-10-01
  From: John Davis
  Nondirectional Beacon monitoring enthusiasts may want to check out the 1998 Beacon Guide by LWCA loggings editor Bob Montgomery. Here is a link to monty.htm, a page with descriptions and ordering information.
  - John

• Subj: LowFER Transverter
  Date: 98-10-01 11:45:30 EDT
  From: aa1a radiocom
  Just an update for lowfer transverter files on radiocom.net:
  www.radiocom.net/dave.htm then lowfer links..
  73s from Dave

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