UNID 137,7748 Khz
Posted by Laurence on November 01, 2003 at 17:49:29
Trying to track down a UNID carrier on 137,7748 Khz which appears when conditions to Europe are good from here in Alaska, however our thinking is that this signal may not be European in origin. Im looking for this continuous carrier or small FSK BW signal on this frequency. The signal always appear with either a phase mod or similar mod schema with a bandwidth of around .15Hz - it could even be coming from somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere...but is coming in from the N/NE sector over the Canadian Northern Arctic.
A Loran spur has virtually been eliminated as a cause from Europe.
Have a nice day - LAurence KL1x/wd2xdw
Re: Loggings from Fairbanks
Posted by Michael Oexner on November 02, 2003 at 13:16:50
Hi Dale,
I think I can identify your UNIDs:
Call,kHz,Hz,Station,S/P,ITU,Lat,Long
GLA,248.0,1020,Gulkana/Glennallen,AK,USA,N62 11 43,W145 28 05
PJ,329.0,400,Whitehorse/Robinson,YT,CAN,N60 26 22,W134 51 41
VTR,350.0,1020,McGrath/Takotna River,AK,USA,N62 56 49,W155 33 26
Hope this helps.
vy 73 + gd DX,
Michael
Need Help Identifying a Commecial VLF-LF Converter
Posted by Greg on November 02, 2003 at 21:36:58
After getting clos e to building my own VlF-LF Converetr, I broke down a bought a used one at a ham fest. It is in a metalic box abt 4"x2"x1" and has a blue aluminum label. The lable says "VHF-LF Converter for Communcation Reciever (10khz-500khz)."
and "Set Receiver for 3.5-4.0 Mhz Band..keep Antenna as Close as Possible to this Device", "XTAL OSC. 28Mhz/8=3.5 MHz, "use Sheilded Wire Only", BNC Connector Output and Power +10-14v"
It also has an SO-239 connect or commingout of the front face, in the middle of this label, and a BNC connector for the output, comming out of the right hand side.
Can anyone identify the manufacturer? I have looked alllover the web and cant seem to find any info on this unit. It looks commecially made, but there is a small chance it was a kit, but looking at the Ckt board, I doubt it. It uses an NE602, 74HC161, 2n222, 1n4002, 78L05 and 28 Mhx occilator etc... also looks like there is a vacant spot for a plug in relay.
PLEASE Help, id like to try it , but want just a little more info re, the power to the antenna output and dc blocking, as well as the missing relays purpose.
TNX es 73
ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by Clifton Turner on November 03, 2003 at 21:46:55
I need help ID'ing an active whip design that appeared in QST a number of years ago. The whip assembly was built on a 1/2 by 8 in circuit board that used copper tubing as a complcated looking heat sink and used a relatively expensive large signal NPN transistor. The power supply was on it's own circuit board and had a torid matching transformer for the receiver and a pcboard mounted power transformer. The antenna was designed to operate over vlf to 30 mHz.
If anyone has access to the article or can scan the article and email it too me as I have a few questions about it. I would be glad to pay copying costs for the article. I have the antenna but can't figure out the receiver hookup and a few other questions.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks Clifton Turner KF5OJ kf5oj1@bellsouth.net
318-346-3454
Re: ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by Greg on November 04, 2003 at 02:45:44
Clifton, I have many old QST mags...can you get a little closer to the date of which the article appeared? Do you remeber what may have been of the cover, etc?
If you can check the ARRL site, there is an index, I believe, for all the past articles....it would then tell you which month and year...Try some different serch words to find it, if it doesnt jump out at you. Email me what you found, and Ill dig the mag out of storage for you and scan it.
Greg VA3VFO
Re: ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on November 04, 2003 at 07:05:39
Clifton,
The article was written by Frank Gentges, K0BRA, and was in the September, 2001 issue of QST. A copy in PDF format is available in the "members only" section of the ARRL site.
John Andrews
New Guy to LW....
Posted by Bow on November 04, 2003 at 10:30:28
Hey All..
My name is Bow and I am in Houston, TX.
I have been recently interested in setting up a beacon and thought LowFer would be fun to try.
Actualy, I think 27mhz band would be easier, but with all the noise...Who would hear it? ;)
So probably Lowfer or Midfer would be a good place to start... yes?
I am just trying to find a good transmitter design that I can use to build my unit with...
any suggestions?
Thanks all, I hope to catch some beacons on the air soon...
Re: ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by Clifton Turner on November 04, 2003 at 15:34:28
Frank Gentges, K0BRA wrote the article in September 2001 issue of QST. Scanning it would be appreciated. Thanks very much. Do I owe you anything for the effort?
Clifton Turner
Re: Need Help Identifying a Commecial VLF-LF Converter
Posted by Clifton Turner on November 04, 2003 at 15:38:07
I'm just guessing, but it could be manufactored by Datong. They produced a up-converter with a 28 mHz if with approximately the dimensions you specify.
Clifton Turner
Re: New Guy to LW....
Posted by John Andrews on November 04, 2003 at 16:37:17
Bow,
Welcome! The best source for 1750 meter transmitter construction information is Lyle Kohler's site:
http://www.computerpro.com/~lyle/
Look for the "Simple Lowfer Transmitter."
You might also want to subscribe to the Lowfer email reflector to get a sense of who's doing what and to pester people with similar interests. To subscribe, go to:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer
You can find more links and info by poking around this LWCA site, too.
John Andrews
Re: Need Help Identifying a Commecial VLF-LF Converter
Posted by Alan G3NYK on November 04, 2003 at 18:37:50
Hi Greg. Its not a Datong as they use an SO42....circuit on my web site under projects.... also the coax connectors are at the ends. Palomar did one but that is pink and the connectors are again on the short sides, both approx 6in x 2in x 1in My web URL.
www.alan.melia.btinternet.co.uk
Cheers de Alan alan.melia@btinternet.com
Re: Need Help Identifying a Commecial VLF-LF Converter
Posted by Greg on November 04, 2003 at 23:58:09
TNX for trying guys...I did try the various converter manufactures,( Palomar and LF Engrng) but none seem to compare in design...The closest, as far a the 28 MHZ Oscillator, is the Datong...but it uses a different ciruit as I checked their schematic. (Unless it is of an older design)
If anyone comes up with any other thoughts, pls pass them along!
73 Greg
ARGO.
Posted by Richard on November 05, 2003 at 20:44:47
Is there a version of Argo that fills the screen more? I saw one here: http://home.wanadoo.nl/nl9222/software.htm but it doesn't work under WinXP.
RFI Attenuation on Coax
Posted by Jim Hill on November 07, 2003 at 13:54:04
In a recent issue of the Lowdown (don't recall the article), there was a reference to using ferrite toroids to attenuate RFI from the house traveling down the coax to the antenna (and back to the receiver). It was in Low Band DXing by ON4UN. No doubt it is somewhere in that 500+ page handbook, but I can't find it. Can anybody help? Other references would be appreciated, too.
Thanks, Jim
Re: ARGO.
Posted by Alberto di Bene, I2PHD on November 07, 2003 at 18:01:16
The next version of Argo will have the useful area expanded.
I am designing now the "remotization" (sp?) of Argo, where you have the sound acquisition process on one PC and the waterfall display on another, linked via a TCP/IP conenction.
I cannot commit now for a firm delivery date.
73 Alberto I2PHD
Re: ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by Jim Hill on November 10, 2003 at 00:35:39
I'm building this antenna using the PC boards mentioned in the QST article. If your antenna uses these boards, I can help you with connections. Here's a warning - I applied power to the power supply with the receiver disconnected and smoked the regulator. The input voltage was too high. I fixed it by including a series resistor and two zener diodes to limit the maximum input voltage.
I would be interested in the your bias voltage to the FET, assuming your receiver isn't sealed up in the PVC pipe. Mine seem to be drawing far too much current, and am building a test setup to see what bias is actually needed. 73's Jim, Yslimjimxx@cox.net Delete the initial Y before using. It's there to prevent SPAM.
WEB copy in NC
Posted by Dexter McIntyre W4DEX on November 10, 2003 at 07:23:48
WEB was coming into NC well this morning. I set up and ran overnight on 137.781 but no luck there. Wasn't surprised though since the QRN level is moderate and I was using the 160M dipole fed as a T tuned to 137 kc. Before sunrise I watched 1704 for a while. Nothing there so just for the heck of it I tuned to 189.950. The poor SLM was overloaded and producing lots of intermod with NC running just 4 kc lower and the two antennas only a hundred feed apart. However Mr. Argo the Amazing did it's job and pulled WEB from the trash.
Screen shot at: http://w4dex.com/argo/web10nov03.jpg
TAG in PSKAM10 mode
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on November 10, 2003 at 09:04:26
TAG has been running in PSKAM10 mode on 185.800 kHz since Sunday morning, and will continue until Thursday morning. Thus far, reports have been received from:
W1VD (72 mi), W1VLF (73 mi), W1JHJ (68 mi). I copied the signal in Maine (130 mi) over the summer, so greater possibilities exist.
PSKAM10 may be received with F6CTE's MULTIPSK software, available at:
http://members.aol.com/f6cte/
All reports are welcome.
John Andrews, W1TAG TAG Status: http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/
Re: ID Active whip antenna article.
Posted by Peter Barick on November 10, 2003 at 10:32:10
Just a note, yes the current for the Gentges Active Ant. amp is high, hence the need to heatsink it. It was designed this way for optimal signal handling, recalling this from the narrative.
Boards for it can be had at FAR Circuits, Dundee, IL.
And, check the Amrad site for eratta on this project, as the power x-frmr was changed to a "better" one. The reco'd x-frmr is a split-bobbin type for noise reduction measures.
Peter
Part-5 station "XFX" now QRO
Posted by Eric Smith on November 11, 2003 at 12:14:01
Hi,
My Part-5 station is now running 24x7, 70 watts input.
Frequency is 137780.77 Hz QRSS30 "XFX" + CW ID
Station page at http://www.nutstreet.net/xfx/
73 Eric KD5UWL / WD2XFX EM25ax
LW antenna article in IEEE A&P magazine
Posted by Mark Kahrs on November 11, 2003 at 21:41:06
For those who are interested:
"Field measurement and verification of the radiation resistance of a 18.3 m top-loaded monopole antenna operating at 190-535 kHz" by Jacob Schanker. IEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine, August 2003, pp62-65.
He compares his NEC simulation with measurements on his real antenna (with a conical tower too). 16 radial spokes in the top hat. (9.1 m diameter).
He also compares his measurement of Radiation resistance from FS measurements vs. effective height measurement.
This article should be available in any university with an engineering school. Or, if you have the IEEE digital library you know where to look.
Re: 177 khz - Germany
Posted by Harald on November 12, 2003 at 06:05:01
On http://www.asamnet.de/~bienerhj/0177.html and on http://members.aon.at/wabweb/radio/lw3.htm you can find some more informations about the transmitter.
Its aerial is one of Germany's tallest buildings!
Palomar & AOR loops
Posted by Tony on November 12, 2003 at 12:44:50
I wanted to know if the loops for the Palomar LA-1 amplifier & the loops for the AOR LA-320 series are interchangeable. In other words, would I be able to use the AOR loops with my Palomar LA-1 amplifier?
Tony
Re: LW antenna article in IEEE A&P magazine
Posted by Alan G3NYK on November 12, 2003 at 16:30:09
Thanks Mark, I will be able to get a copy of that. I would be interested to see if he has tried to model and measure the ground loss i.e. the efficiency of the aerial. I do not believe that NEC calculates that correctly for amateur sized configurations.
Regards de Alan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com
Re: LW antenna article in IEEE A&P magazine
Posted by Kevin Carey on November 14, 2003 at 10:42:29
Just a tidbit--I believe the antenna described in the IEEE article is what is now used at many FAA beacon sites. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Schanker while we were both employed by Scientific Radio Systems (SRS)in the mid-1980s. The company furnished 160 NDB transmitters, monitor receivers and antennas to the FAA under a contract. The antenna was made to SRS specifications by Shakespeare.
--Kevin
'Boat anchor' 15 to 600 kHz. receiver suitable????
Posted by Terry on November 14, 2003 at 14:45:11
I have an ex W.W.II US Navy low frequency receiver; havent used it for years but it appears in good shape (but may need some upgrading of capacitors etc). It's probably typical of those military tube receivers of that era, it has a meter that measures the audio output level for example; and is built like a battleship (Hernia heaven or; Oops, my back!)
It's a TRF (straight) receiver with two RF stages, it has a BFO, Det and AF stages. It uses octal tubes such as 6K7 etc. I have sig. generator that goes that low so could presumably trouble shoot the Rx for sensitivty etc.
QUESTION: Would it be any use for receiving low frequency signals here close to the most easterly point in North America? See PS. Also have a DX-394 in the bedroom. Coupled very loosely to the 30 foot metal cored clotheline about six feet off the ground the DX-394 can occasionally pick up European broadcasting stations between 150 and 200 kHz. Also various beacons up to around 320 kHz. It doesn't do as well coupled to the 5 foot metal curtain rod, but there again can occasionally detect French/German broadcasts around 150 to 160!
Cheers. Terry.
PS. Located a few miles from where in 1901 Marconi received the first Transatlantic wireless telgraph signal at St. John's Newfoundland (A province of Canada since 1949) from Poldhu, England. A year or so later the first commercial Transatlantic wireless telegraph station was placed in service in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Marconi's own notes of the event seem to indicate that the frequency of communuication was not really known? It is reported that he could not receive the signal when his receiving apparatus was tuned; but did so when the tuning was removed. Some have said that this indicates that the signal he was receiving was probably a harmonic of the basic signal transmitted. However I have not read what that basic frequency was, or supposed to be.
Had this site bookmarked for some time but first time I've posted so am ignorant of transmission modes used for experiements. I aghetr sloooooow speed morse at one character per ten minutes??????????????
Re: 'Boat anchor' 15 to 600 kHz. receiver suitable????
Posted by John Andrews on November 14, 2003 at 16:47:16
Terry,
With a better antenna, you should be able to pick up a variety of European LF broadcasting stations. You also would be able to copy more of the aeronautical beacons. If your goal is to copy the amateur and experimental stuff in the 135 - 138 kHz range, or the U.S. "Part 15" Lowfers in the 160-190 kHz range, you may need more up-to-date equipment.
The major problem you face with the boat anchor is the ability to tune to a specific frequency, and the stability to stay there. As you note, some of the experimental activity uses CW with dot lengths of 30 seconds or more. Reception is done by feeding audio from the receiver into a computer sound card and running DSP software (such as I2PHD's "Argo" program) to visually display signals buried in the noise. Ideally, you should be able to set your receiver within a few Hertz of the desired frequency. To prevent seasickness while looking at the display, the drift is best measured in milliHertz.
I don't think that kind of performance is possible with a WWII TRF set. But it still could be used for Euro LF broadcast and aero beacons as mentioned above.
John Andrews
Re: 'Boat anchor' 15 to 600 kHz. receiver suitable????
Posted by Lyle Koehler on November 15, 2003 at 09:06:47
One view of the frequency actually used in Marconi's first transatlantic experiments is at http://ewh.ieee.org/reg/7/millennium/radio/radio_differences.html
234 Khz Luxembourg into Georiga
Posted by Brock Whaley on November 15, 2003 at 17:55:37
Luxembourg-My first LWBC of the season. Luxembourg 234 Khz with M/F chatting in FF. Occasional music sounders. Fair at times, and lower sync on the 2010 reduced beacon QRM. 0500-0525 UTC Nov. 14. 120 foot longwire, passive tuner, 2010, and a good old fashioned waterpipe ground.
Brock Whaley WH6SZ/4 Lilburn ,GA Just east of Atlanta
Re: 234 Khz Luxembourg into Georiga
Posted by John Davis on November 15, 2003 at 20:17:35
Congratulations. Nice way to start the season.
Re: 234 Khz Luxembourg into Georiga
Posted by Terry on November 17, 2003 at 01:22:11
Congratulations Brock. Not the same "Radio Luxembourg on 208 metres" of my youth? Unfortunately.
Back in the late 1940s it broadcast at night in English playing many of the then popular tunes, including Rosemary Clooney, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Tennesse Ernie Ford, etc.
Ah! Nostagia.
Caaptures From The 185.300 Watering Hole
Posted by Larry Putman on November 18, 2003 at 09:35:36
Got some interesting captures last night on 185.300kHZ.
Have a look at this link. The 185.300 Watering Hole.
http://wb3anq.com/
73 Larry WB3ANQ FM19rc
Isle of Man project news update
Posted by Mike Terry on November 18, 2003 at 15:19:02
The hearing of the Petition of Doleance against the Communications Commission continues to be delayed. Its now six months since the First Deemster ordered that the case be heard as early as possible (and that the summer recess should not be a barrier!). Now in mid November no hearing date has yet been set, despite continuous requests from advocates acting for the Communications and Commission and for IMIB, who, although being neither plaintiff nor defendant, are the only affected party.
"Its an amazing situation, that a project so huge and potentially valuable to the Isle of Man can be delayed so often and so long by administrative lethargy," says the project's founder, Paul Rusling. "The main difficulty seems to be arranging a time convenient to all parties and when the High Court in Douglas has four clear days, as we are told that this is how long the Petitioner, Mr L N Cussons, claims he needs to present his case."
18th November 2003
http://www.longwaveradio.com/News.html
Re: LW antenna article in IEEE A&P magazine..comment
Posted by Alan G3NYK on November 18, 2003 at 16:41:06
Hi Mark, It is a pity they did not measure the effective height properly. A calculation based on the old British Admiralty Handbook (for wireless operators) suggests that the effective height should be nearer 13.5m (using a table of Aerial Form Factors) which would give a radiation resistance of about 0.139ohms and in agreement with the NEC and the other measurement. I wonder if a large ground loss affected that measurement.
Regards de Alan G3NYK alan.melia@btinternet.com http://www.alan.melia.btinternet.co.uk
More Captures from 185.300
Posted by Larry Putman on November 20, 2003 at 10:11:53
Got some good captures from NC,WM.VD last night.
A couple of these should make Dex smile!
www.wb3anq.com
--
Larry Putman WB3ANQ FM19rc Pasadena, MD.
An interesting idea for a VLF-transmission aerial for amateurs?
Posted by Friedrich on November 20, 2003 at 18:34:01
On http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/south_pole/south%20pole.htm a transmission aerial for a beacon at the South pole is described. The used aerial is 7 kilometres long on poles approximately 4 metres high. This leads to an interesting idea: if someone of the LF- or VLF-freaks has a very long yard, he should be able also to build an aerial of this type!
(For security reasons only insulated wire should be used. If such wire is not available it must be laid at least 4.5 metres above the ground, so nobody can touch it!)
Another idea would be the usage of a given-up powerline without ground-conductor as VLF-aerial!
Re: An interesting idea for a VLF-transmission aerial for amateurs?
Posted by Laurence on November 20, 2003 at 20:32:23
I worked in Antarctica for a few years and visited Siple station in 1978/9 (now closed), up the road a bit from the South Pole. The VLF tx (think it was called Jupiter)) was moved to South Pole Station a few years after that. One of the best reasons why this "low" aerial worked so well was its sitting at around 9000ft or so above sea level on a pretty good insulator, nice non lossy dilectric contaminated ice - not exactly in free space but the ground beneath didnt (much) act as a nasty lossy ground warmer which would happen on "normal earth". At Siple (near the Ellsworth Mountains)was, from memory, still pretty high and clear up on glacial ice.
- Im not saying it doesnt/wont work but I dont think it would be very effectve - yep and I know Beverages work well as great receive aerials....
Remember having breakfast one day and the VLF tx was transmitting in the low Khz range using discrete stepped tones, and all the cutlery started to vibrate at either the fundemental or harmonic..pretty eerie'; it didnt stop anyone from chomping on Steak and Eggs...they were pretty used to it, but there were some pretty mad people there.... Ahh the tones, the tones, they made me deaf you know (see the Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Cheers Laurence VP8SB as was..
LEK
Posted by Roger Magnuson on November 21, 2003 at 12:47:48
Am copying LEK on 177.75 Khz. The signal is very good and easily readable by ear. Mode is standard CW and Lyle is sending wind and temp readings. Distance is 72 miles. I can't compare signal strength to what it used to be but its a couple s-units above the noise. Nice to hear LEK on the air again.
Roger, (beacon RM 189.8 Khz)
185 opens up
Posted by lloyd chastant on November 21, 2003 at 15:09:50
seems not much lately but had this capture last nite of some of the gang..
http://www.geocities.com/lacwman/185nov20.jpg de lloyd W3NF FM19MH
MP Back on the air!
Posted by Larry Putman on November 22, 2003 at 08:27:23
Mitch Powell has placed his beacon MP back on the air!
Frequency 137.779.8 Khz. QRSS30.
See a capture of him at:
http://wb3anq.com/index.htm
73
Larry WB3ANQ FM19rc
www.vlf.it update
Posted by renato romero on November 22, 2003 at 16:07:25
New upgrade on www.vlf.it THE REMOTE CONTROL FREQUENCIES by Jean Marie POLARD
73, renato romero
Re: MP Back on the air!
Posted by Dexter McIntyre W4DEX on November 22, 2003 at 17:46:14
MP is running 30+ db above background noise on Argo.
http://w4dex.com/argo/MP/MP22nov03.jpg
Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer
Posted by John Davis on November 22, 2003 at 21:31:40
Does anyone remember who wrote the article having the same title as this subject line, or have experience with the device? We have a member attempting to build one who has run into some difficulties. If you might be able to assist, please let me know and I will refer you to him.
Thanks.
John
Re: Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer
Posted by Lyle Koehler on November 23, 2003 at 03:45:24
A web search on the subject words brought up a lot of hits, including the Science Workshop page http://www.science-workshop.com/ That's where I bought the boards for mine about 10 years ago, and it looks like they are still in business. There was an article about it in Ham Radio magazine, September 1986. A 1998 QST article describes a more elaborate version of homebrew spectrum analyzer; updates are at http://users.easystreet.com/w7zoi/SA.html Kanga Kits may have boards for this project.
A couple of years ago I added an Analog Devices AD8307, which vastly improved the "linearity" of the logarithmic amplitude display on my poor man's analyzer. Other than that, my memory of what's inside the box are pretty foggy, but I'll help out if I can.
Hifer @ 13.560
Posted by Ron KC8IPK on November 23, 2003 at 14:01:59
I'm hearing a CW beacon on 13.560 meg. The code I'm having a hard time with. It sounds like O O O or S S S over and over. It's a fairly weak signal in Michigan. Has anybody else confirmed??
Thanks,
Ron KC8IPK EN82gh
Re: Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer
Posted by John Davis on November 23, 2003 at 14:38:46
Thanks, Lyle. I'll send additional contact information to you directly.
John
Re: Poor Man's Spectrum Analyzer
Posted by Dave Riley on November 24, 2003 at 17:17:55
Built one of these 10 years ago also.. It still runs good and very useful...
Poor Man's workshop page; http://www.science-workshop.com/ is still good and he put out a thick updated bound volume on the unit a few years after I purchased. Well worth the few bucks...
Question for group; What is best place to venture for beacons these days? I am partial to 512khz. since we used this qrg for comms from ship to ship... Anybody still around when we were /mm on the M/V Sea Venture and using 186 kc. for cw comms?
Is there much 600 meter beacon activity?
Am working on rig for the Fessenden site in Brant Rock...
What to use for freq and mode is the question...
The original station is still identifiable there and has the original ground system available. It is only a few feet from the salt water and ought to get out nicely... It is the site of the world's first radio voice broadcast and first voice heard across Atlantic and first 2 way comms across Atlantic... Your suggestions welcomed...
www.radiocom.net/Fessenden
73s de Dave 1A
Re: Hifer @ 13.560
Posted by Ed Gelinas on November 24, 2003 at 20:24:49
Hi Ron,
Don't think you're hearing us, but never can tell. Hifer 'KHFB'(13560Khz,+/-40Hz) uses MCW after hours with a 770Hz tone at approx 2.5sec on and 1 sec off from 10;30Pm-7Am PST.Oldies format rest of the time.
Start FCC part 15 on 160-190kHz?
Posted by Ed RU6LA on November 25, 2003 at 05:27:55
When in USA have permitted beacons 1w output and a 15 meter antenna under FCC part 15 on 160-190kHz?
Very interesting msg from Dexter W4DEX :
"I still have the oscillator section of my first LF xmitter. It's an International Crystal OX-1 board with a 189 kc xtal. I built the xmitter about 1965 after reading a an article in an electronics magazine about the Part 15 rules. A schematic was included using what I believe was a 6AQ5 for the power amp. So I'm fairly sure the Part 15 rules for the 160-190 kc band was made prior to 1965."
Now I has opened LF's historical page on http://136.73.ru/h_history/index.htm
TNX for any corrections or new facts!
73! Ed RU6LA
Re: MP Back on the air!
Posted by Larry Putman on November 25, 2003 at 09:30:56
Conditions are improving!
Got good overnight captures of MP.
www.wb3anq.com
73
Larry WB3ANQ FM19rc
Re: Hifer @ 13.560
Posted by Ron KC8IPK on November 25, 2003 at 20:54:26
KHFB would be a nice catch, but the 3 di's or 3 dah's is what I heard. I heard it over a 2 day period. I was copying HI at 13.558 when I started to hear the edge of this. Thanks for the reply.
Re: Hifer @ 13.560
Posted by Ed Gelinas on November 26, 2003 at 20:51:49
Hi Ron,
Too bad-I had my hopes up. Before my station went on the air(Apr '03) I heard something similar to what you described, but it sounded like someone trying to send code with a toggle switch! I couldn't decipher it.(Reminded me of the movie "ON THE BEACH" 73 & Happy Thanksgiving, Ed G.
RTE's proposed service on 252 kHz
Posted by Mike Terry on November 27, 2003 at 17:51:27
Hi all,
Below is the latest information regarding RTE's proposed service on 252 kHz
(the former Atlantic 252 transmitter). I received this today after sending a reception report to them a few months ago. The proposed service on 279 kHz from proposed station to be located just off the Isle of Man' northern cost is also delayed while waiting for a court hearing following the lodgement of an objection by a resident against the decision for this station to operate.
This court hearing should have taken place in September but the legal procedure was postponed and is not likely to be heard now until sometime in January. This in turn delays their development schedule and the plans to begin broadcast test in the summer of 2004 now look to be delayed also.
Robert GI7IVX Location: 54 03.20N 06 00.03W The home of NDB dxing in Northern Ireland Receiver NRD525 Antenna Datong AD370 vertically polarised http://www.kilkeel7.freeserve.co.uk/
http://www.rconnolly.utvinternet.com/
On behalf of RTÉ can I acknowledge your contribution to our longwave 252 tests and apologise for the delay in reporting back to you. The tests have concluded for the time being and our next objective is to bring the issue to decision.
It has been fantastic to read your responses; from those with a professional or collegiate interest; from those hearing echoes from home; from those with an interest in Ireland and from those who simply liked the programmes.
Sincere thanks to you all!
Unfortunately, the volume of responses we have collated and mapped means that we cannot respond individually. However, below are some short answers to the most frequent questions you asked.
FAQs
Where is the transmitter?
Summerhill, Co. Meath, Ireland
What service is proposed?
Transmission of RTÉ Radio 1 - a talk and music channel from Ireland's public service broadcaster that is the most popular in the country. The station is particularly strong in spoken content and public interaction.
When will you make a decision/go on air?
We envisage presenting a proposal to our Authority (Governing Body) by the year end and, if approved, starting the service in Spring 2004 (perhaps there may be an appropriate date in the middle of March?!). I will mail you when we have a decision.
How will you decide?
The basic factors are:
* Desire to provide All Ireland service on one frequency - related to Good Friday agreement and exchange of cultures on our island.
* Concurrent benefit of transmission to UK - to serve the Irish community there and to bring our output to a new audience.
* Potential demand for the service. We know that RTÉ has a strong audience at home but the wider audience remains unknown. Your mails have been extremely instructive and encouraging in this respect.
* Cost of service - the power bill alone for a LW service is considerable.
* Mix of existing services. Overseas, RTÉ radio broadcasts its four services on Satellite to the UK and Ireland, Radio 1 is also available throughout Europe on satellite and segments of R1 output are on Satellite throughout the world. We have to be sure that our mix of services is as effective as possible.
Thanks once again - hopefully you'll hear from us soon!
John Paul Coakley Head of Operations RTÉ Radio
For more on RTÉ Radio please see the link below
(http://www.rte.ie/radio/index.html)
***********************************************************
Re: RTE's proposed service on 252 kHz
Posted by Mike Terry on November 28, 2003 at 13:43:22
RTÉ Radio 1's launch on long wave 252kHz faces further delay "due to unforseen circumstances". This is the second time the relay of RTÉ's flagship channel on 252kHz has been delayed: it had already been earmarked for an October launch, but with just weeks to the deadline RTÉ then announced that it hoped to have the service running at the start of the New Year. Tests on the massive transmitter located in Summerhill, Co. Meath,
have concluded according to RTÉ and the next stage is the decision-making process. Sources have now indicated that a St Patrick's Day March 17th launch is likely.
http://www.radiowaves.fm/news/index.shtml
Testing Modes
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on November 29, 2003 at 12:50:21
I did some brief tests this morning to compare various modes that have beenused by Lowfers in recent years. The work was done on 185.800, using my 10 mW exciter fed through attenuators into a small loop. My receiver and rx loop were set up as normal, and were picking up the usual mid-day noise. I used QRSS3 as the reference point. I selected a signal level that could be confidently read without a knowledge of the text. Here are the results:
PSK31 +11 dB PSKAM10 +4 dB QRSS3 0 dB Jason -11dB QRSS30 -11 dB WOLF -15 dB (6 minutes for clear copy)
I could not control the outside noise level during the tests, so that plus my errors might make a couple of dB difference in either direction. I did not do QRSS60 or slower, but it should be on a par with WOLF based on tests with LEK and BRO some time ago.
Comments:
1. PSK31 and PSKAM10 have much greater throughput than the other modes. Even with errors, you might pick up enough useful text at lower signal levels.
2. PSKAM10 needs to sync onto the signal. After that, it may hold through a signal drop. But it wouldn't re-sync at that lower level.
3. I am surprised by the Jason results, and want to pursue that. I wouldn't have expected it to be on a par with QRSS30. I suspect that in a real-world situation, missed characters and re-syncs would be more common than in this simple test.
4. I would like to do MS100 BPSK comparisons, but have never been able to run Africam with either computer in the shack, despite much advice from Bill DeCarle.
John Andrews
TAG in Jason Mode
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on November 29, 2003 at 14:59:08
TAG is presently operating in Jason mode on 185.800 kHz. Jason software may be found at:
http://www.weaksignals.com/
All reports are welcome.
John Andrews, W1TAG TAG Status: http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/
Re: Testing Modes
Posted by Alan G3NYK on November 29, 2003 at 17:50:49
Hi John, that is an interesting test and lines up well with experience on PSK31 over here I think. Dave G3YXM and Reino OH1TN have worked on PSK31 and could only make the contact when strengths were adequate for a manual CW qso. That would probably make is somewhat worse than your measurement. I dont know whether the fact that you really require a linear PA to transmit PSK31 at 136khz DX power levels, had any effect on the comparison.
Jason has proved to be remarkably resilient and I have readable copy from Andy G4JNT (abt 250miles) at low power levels that would not not support QRSS10, and would be barely readable on QRSS30. This was particularly the case with Stewart's decoder. This last test was done after dark and there were some static crashes around.
Cheers de Alan G3NYK
Re: TAG in Jason Mode
Posted by lloyd chastant on November 29, 2003 at 22:27:17
Did a quick look and caught a small sample of TAG tonite here in Maryland. will keep it on a bit longer and see if able to catch more..
www.geocities.com/lacwman/tagjason.jpg
de Lloyd W3NF FM19Mh
TAG Off
Posted by John Andrews on November 30, 2003 at 12:57:48
TAG will be off for some transmitter work this week.
John Andrews TAG Status: http://webpages.charter.net/w1tag/
Re: New Guy to LW....
Posted by Jim Wortham on November 30, 2003 at 16:42:37
Hi John,
I am new into this hobby and am asking the same questions you are. Would you be kind enough to forward me anything you get by email and I will do the same? Thanks.
Happy Holiday,
Jim Wortham
Re: The low and medium frequency radio scrap book
Posted by Jim on November 30, 2003 at 16:54:33
Hi John,
I was interested in this radio scrap book. Maybe you can order it on one of the used online booksellers.
I would like to see a few pages of the 6th edition if you can scan and email, or copy a few pages. I am new to this hobby; do you have any books or info to sell on this hobby?
Happy Holidays,
Jim Wortham PO Box 40 Madison, IN 47250-0040 Voice mail/Fax: 812-273-4672
The PC as VLF-transmitter
Posted by Friedrich on November 30, 2003 at 19:19:27
Every PC with a soundcard and an operating system Windows95 or higher can be easily transformed into a VLF-transmitter!
The only thing you have to do is to download "SpecLab" from http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.html (Webmaster, please make this link active!) .
This software allows not only FFT-analysis of frequencies less then 24kHz, respectively 48kHz, if your soundcard can sample with 96kHz, it also contains a signal generator!
Choose on the main window of "SpecLab" "View/Windows" and then in the popup-menu "Test signal generator".
There you can find a dialog for setting up the generator.
In order not to disturb any transmitters on frequencies over 24kHz choose always "sine" for the Waveform of the "function generator"!
This tool offers a very simple and convenient way to create VLF-signals without designing any circuits. Ideal for transmission experiments!
It would be surely interesting (and somewhat funny) to find out, how far you can transmit with your PC (with or without a power amplifier), when you connect to the speaker output
- a coil
- a ground dipole as aerial.
Perhaps someone will get the occasion to connect the PC output to a real VLF-transmitting aerial!
Re: The PC as VLF-transmitter
Posted by John Andrews on November 30, 2003 at 21:57:36
Friedrich,
As you say, SpecLab can indeed be used to generate signals in the VLF range. While I appreciate your enthusiasm, anyone considering radiating electromagnetic waves in that region should familiarize themselves with their country's regulations. Here in the U.S., the spectrum from 9 kHz and up is regulated. It would be difficult to have any legal communication in the 9-30 kHz VLF range over any sort of useful distance. Below 9 kHz, you can attempt to radiate significant signals, but the antenna efficiencies are incredibly low, and you must watch the harmonic content very carefully. While SpecLab can generate low distortion sine waves, that suppression must continue through a power amplifier of hundreds of watts. The signal source would be the most simple part of the undertaking! Ranges of a few km are possible, and may include a number of home stereo systems within that radius!
John Andrews, W1TAG
www.lwca.org
potrzebie