Re: HIFERS IN DM04 10/28
Hi Ed, copying NC here thursday afternoon at 2230. Been real good a couple of times as it goes up and down. Was able to catch NW on a couple days ago as well in the late afternoon.
73, Mark, Ku7z
DN41af
Northern UT (NUT)
Beacon RM
Posted by Roger on November 02, 2007 at 22:43:59.
Beacon RM is on the air on 189.8 Khz, QRSS-30 and CW. Have been off for a while but will be on when not listening. Have seen MP with good signal here in Duluth, MN. Re: MedFER Beacon JWS - matching
Roger
Posted by J. William Snyder, Jr. on November 03, 2007 at 16:42:18.
In reply to Re: MedFER Beacon JWS - matching posted by Robert B. on October 30, 2007
Well, there's not much to tell. The core is a ferrite rod that was the AM antenna in some old radio I had. I have a L-C meter that I use to measure the capacitance between the 3 meter antenna and ground, and I use the capacitance and frequency of operation to calculate the required inductance. As I mentioned in my previous posting, I also have a handmade air-core coil with several taps for tuning. There is quite a bit of debate in the writings that I have found on the Internet about the advisability of using ferrite or iron powder cores for resonating inductors because the high magnetic permeability of those substances can be a double-edged sword: You get higher inductance with less wire, but the permeability of the core material tends to cause loss of the precious little power that we are legally allowed to use for Part 15 operations.
Here's a link to the L-C Meter that I use. It was well worth the investment. http://www.aade.com/lcmeter.htm
I use the L-C calculation program on this site to determine the proper inductance for the coil: http://www.wa4dsy.net/filter/fr.html
If you would like pictures of the coils, please let me know and I'll take some digital photos of them.
Will Snyder/KB4LFD XKO AND XYW HEARD IN AR
Posted by PAUL DAULTON on November 03, 2007 at 21:38:25.
VERY STRONG COPY ON WD2XKO AND WD2XYW ON 137777.4 AND 137777.0 RESPECTIVELY
LOOKS LIKE MY CALIBRATION IS ABOUT 0.4 HZ LOW. RECEPTION TIME WAS 2100 TO 2230
LOCAL(O200 TO 0330 UTC) NOV 3, 2007. RECIEVER USED WAS A KENWOOD TS50 , A 75 METER DIPOLE, AND ARGO SOFTWARE
FREQUENCY LISTED FOR WD2XYW LOOKS LIKE A MISPRINT, PERHAPS IS SHOULD BE
137777.4 HZ.
THIS WAS MY FIRST TRY AT COPYING PART 5 STATIONS THIS FALL. POOR COPY ON WEB
AT 189950 HZ LAST FEW NIGHTS ON PART 15 BAND. BEACON WMS IS ON 187492 QRSS 30.
NO REPORTS ON MY BEACON YET.
WILL BE LOOKING FOR WEB AND RM NEXT FEW NIGHTS.
PAUL DAULTON LF Ham nets on HF
JACKSONVILLE, AR EM34
Posted by Mike - WM1KE on November 03, 2007 at 22:45:06.
So...
Where and when are folks gathering these days on HF?
It's been a while but I think I have a radio around here, somewhere.
Mike Re: "NWNJ" is "CL"
WM1KE
Central NY
Posted by John Bogath on November 04, 2007 at 08:50:41.
In reply to Re: posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on October 31, 2007
Thank you John for your comments and info. on Carl. Who knows . . . ? We may all be active again on LW if WRC-07 grants some space there for amateur radio. Two-way, real-time communications was always my main interest in these frequencies. Beacon "EAR" status
Thanks once again and 73 for now, John N2BE
Posted by J.B. Weazle McCreath on November 04, 2007 at 11:55:41.
Hello Lowfers,
Beacon "EAR" is operational 24/7 on or about 188.830 kHz.
sending in QRSS30 mode. Reports are appreciated.
73, J.B.
500 kHz Experiment Enters Second Season
Posted by Mike Terry on November 05, 2007 at 14:29:55.
An article on the ARRL Website announces the beginning of the second year of the WD2XSH experimental operation at 505 kHz.
137KHz activity
Posted by Sal, K1RGO on November 05, 2007 at 18:00:50.
I had good copy today on WD2XGJ on ~137.8KHz, 569 ID... QRSS60 on 20:58 UTC and later XNS 599 ID ...QRSS60 approx same freq., also been hearing some FSK and carrier around 187KHz...anyone know who this may be? Re: 137KHz activity
Sal... K1RGO
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 05, 2007 at 18:26:40.
In reply to 137KHz activity posted by Sal, K1RGO on November 05, 2007
Hi Sal,
Thanks for the report!
Re: Carrier and FSK @187kHz - do you have a .wav file or other recording? Could be a PLC (Power Line Carrier)?
73 Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ (& other calls...)
Re: 137KHz activity
Posted by Sal, K1RGO on November 07, 2007 at 14:04:40.
In reply to Re: 137KHz activity posted by Warren K2ORS on November 05, 2007
Hi Warren, www.vlf.it update
What I heard on 187 or so Khz was a fairly strong carrier, on and off briefly, thought it was QRSS, later when I brought my 1985 portable rcvr out where I go mountain biking,(checking out my new lf SJ beacon)I heard FSK and later a 5 sec. carrier... no time for recording or wav...hi I'm thinking it may be a new lowfer...
Also I'm hearing you on 500KHz checkout the 600meter log....
Sal........
Posted by Renato Romero on November 08, 2007 at 03:40:30.
Last posted on www.vlf.it web site:
- Characterization and use of a Minimal Loop in RDF Automatic
Monitoring Stations
...and a new "on line" service:
- LIVE DATA, from IK1QFK ELF/ULF monitoring station
73,
IK1QFK Renato Romero
Possible 137 kHz Amateur Allocation
Posted by Robert Bicking, W9RB on November 09, 2007 at 17:47:03.
From the ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No.45, Nov. 9, 2007: WE2XGR/1
On a more positive note for radio amateurs, a secondary allocation of
135.7-137.8 kHz to the Amateur Service was approved on first reading in
Plenary on Friday afternoon, November 9. This marks the first time since
allocations to radio services began that the Amateur Service has had an
allocation below the medium wave broadcasting band. The effective date
is not yet set, but is likely to be the date of entry into force of the
Final Acts of the Conference. Of course, amateurs must wait until their
own administrations authorize the new allocation before they can use it.
Some administrations, while not wishing to block the international
allocation, have indicated a reluctance to implement it in their
countries because of various interference concerns.
Posted by Don Moth W2MPK on November 10, 2007 at 17:18:00.
Coppied WE2XGR/1 for several hours at Chittenango, NY (Grid FN23bb)last evening on 506.50 Khz saturday Nov. 10th 00:00 utc plus. Sending 12 seconds on and 18 seconds off. IC-R75 and 100 ft longwire also on an L-400 active antenna. Beacon SU on 349
Posted by Jim on November 13, 2007 at 15:20:56.
Does anyone know where beacon SU on 349 or 350 is located? I live in western Mass. and it is fairly strong here between 1700 and 0830 EST sometimes. thanks, Jim Re: Possible 137 kHz Amateur Allocation
Posted by Mike Terry on November 16, 2007 at 11:02:05.
In reply to Possible 137 kHz Amateur Allocation posted by Robert Bicking, W9RB on November 09, 2007
new worldwide amateur allocation at 136kHz
The 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference ends on Friday 16 November.
The big news for amateur radio is that a worldwide secondary allocation of 135.7-137.8kHz has been approved. This marks the first time since allocations to radio services began that the amateur service has had an allocation below the medium wave broadcasting band. The effective date is not yet set and in any case amateurs must wait until their own administrations authorize the new allocation before they can use it.
Some administrations, while not wishing to block the international allocation, have indicated a reluctance to implement it in their countries because of various interference concerns. The band is already available in the UK and several other European countries, but this paves the way for many more countries to become active on LF.
At the time of writing, hopes of a possible amateur secondary allocation near 5MHz had faded as a result of the failure to find a compromise on the main 4 to 10MHz issue. Future WRCs are tentatively scheduled for 2011 and 2015. One tentative agenda item for 2011 is a secondary allocation of about 15 kHz around 500kHz.
An updated report on the Conference proceedings is available on the RSGB web site at www.rsgb.org/wrc.
Re: Beacon SU on 349
Posted by Don Moth on November 18, 2007 at 13:53:52.
In reply to Beacon SU on 349 posted by Jim on November 13, 2007
My beacon finder book lists "SU' as
SU 326 St. Louis, MO Spirit of St Louis
SU 414 Sioux City, Iowa Re: Beacon SU on 349
Posted by Don Moth on November 18, 2007 at 14:04:01.
In reply to Beacon SU on 349 posted by Jim on November 13, 2007
Beacon "SF" is on 349 in Sanford, Maine. Maybe the last dit on the "F" is being cut off. Re: Beacon SU on 349
... .._. would be ... .._ without the last dit.
Posted by ku4xr on November 19, 2007 at 07:52:14.
In reply to Beacon SU on 349 posted by Jim on November 13, 2007
Go to www.airnav.com/navaids/ from there you can type in the beacon identifier to get it's location. Or the frequency of reception to get a list of every beacon on that frequency. The key thing is did you copy the identifier correctly ?? wrong letters, wrong beacon. And were you recieveing the beacon on its A.M. carrier frequency ? again, wrong frequency wrong beacon. Hope this helps. Andy - KU4XR Who / What was I hearing ???
Posted by KU4XR on November 19, 2007 at 08:11:26.
On 11/18/07 from 5:30pm EST until 10:00pm EST I was recieving a signal on the frequency of ( my best calculation ) Kenwood ts450 readout: 137.77, Spectran frequency of 469.55 Hz. So the frequency was approximately 137.77469 KHz. Re: Who / What was I hearing ???
I'm not sure if it was a series of " M's " ; " T's " ; or possibly a series of single dits ( E's )if the signal happened to be QRSS3. Each tone was about 3 seconds in length. I could actually hear the signal audibly for about 30 minutes around 6:00pm just barely above the noise, and it resembled a series of " M's " to my ear. Spectran clearly shows the lines, but being a newcomer to Spectran ( 3 days ) I'm not positive I really know how to read it yet. The signal peaked at an amplitude of -23dB ( hearable above the noise ) and faded from Spectran around -53dB. I am in EM75 near Knoxville, Tn. Can anyone solve my curiosity ?? Thanks and Gud-DXing !! Andy - KU4XR
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 19, 2007 at 10:02:18.
In reply to Who / What was I hearing ??? posted by KU4XR on November 19, 2007
Andy,
Don't know for sure what it was. I recommend checking the calibration against a known signal in that range such as DFC on 138.83.
On the date you mention the only two Experimental Stations in the U.S. that were active were WD2XYW on 137.7771 (Near Kansas City) and WD2XGJ 137.7798 (near Boston), but both were sending QRSS60.
Also try and correlate your Spectran with one of the online grabbers:
http://www.w3eee.com/argolive_3.html
http://www.cpinternet.com/~ki0le/pages/argo.htm
73 & GL
Warren K2ORS
WD2XGJ (136-140kHz)
WD2XSH/23(505-510 kHz)
WE2XEB/2 (160-189 kHz)
WE2XGR/1 (505-515 kHz)
Restarting my beacon
Posted by John OVO on November 21, 2007 at 07:03:13.
Yes it is about time i'm going to restart my Beacon soon keep an eye out for OVO/n3
I would like to update my Address and email on the lowfers beacon list Let me know where to do this at Thanks John
Re: Restarting my beacon
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 21, 2007 at 18:52:19.
In reply to Restarting my beacon posted by John OVO on November 21, 2007
Hi John,
What is the frequency, mode and location (grid square)?
73 Warren K2ORS WD2XKO - 137 KHz Booming into EM75xr
Posted by KU4XR on November 23, 2007 at 17:37:05.
Hope everyone is well: I copied Dex's WD2XKO in plain CW @ 7wpm and the long tones tonite. He is booming into Friendsville, Tn. about 20 miles south of Knoxville. I recieved him at 137.7774 KHz . I'll be listening for others. If you would like for me to try to copy a beacon, contact me by email to set up the sked, I'd be happy to try. 73's to all from Andy - KU4XR New beacon SMV 186.585 kHz, Simi Valley, CA
Posted by Darwin Long on November 24, 2007 at 01:39:02.
Beacon SMV is now on the air here in eastern Simi Valley, CA.
CW Morse ident frequency is 186.585 kHz
SSB center frequency for the voice ID is 187.000 kHz USB (CW Morse ident is
heard as 415 Hz tones).
ID cycle: 60.00 sec
Format as heard at 187.000kHz USB:
0 - 46.8 seconds: Morse ID of "SMV" (. . . - - . . . -) with 415Hz
tone, repeated 12 times
47.0 - 52.0 seconds: 5-sec dash
52.2 - 60 seconds: USB voice ID "This is radiobeacon SMV, Simi Valley,
California, USA". Every other minute alternates between a male (my) and
female (my wife's) voice ID.
Transmitter: Curry Communications EXP 1750 beacon transceiver kit.
Keyer/ ID generator: mp3 player on "repeat track" mode playing a one-hour
set of 60 ID cycles, plugged into audio input of transmitter. Several
formats and test tones are also stored on the player for transmitter/
antenna tuning, and is battery-backed to continue operating should power
fail up to several hours.
Antenna: 37.5' vertical with square tophat (15' per side, perimeter wire,
inner square wire at half-width). Three 2"x10' pipe masts, one 5' mast, one
2' rod on top to which wire support "struts" for the tophat arms meet at the
top of, one 6" lightning arrestor. #16 braided copper wire is connected to
all components, and all parts bolted together for maximum conductivity and
no intermittencies or changes in resistance if structure sways. Three-point
guy system, three levels 10' apart. Three PVC insulators (12" each) per guy
wire.
Base insulator: LAPP porcelain tower base
Ground: One 8' copper rod at base of tower next to transmitter, and six 50'
radials outward from ring around base of tower, three terminated to 8'
ground-rod guy-wire anchors, three unterminated. Central rod and radial ring
bolted to transmitter chassis.
Transmitter and ATU (variometer-tuned, 12" diameter Litz-wire coil) is
housed in a DoglooŽ doghouse with vinyl door to weatherproof the components.
The structure sits atop four large concrete blocks to prevent flooding and
to allow intake of air through a cooling fan (operates during daylight) that
sucks cool air from beneath, through a fine-mesh filter, and into the
doghouse. Hot air exits the rainproof vent on top. The ground enters a
drainhole on the bottom, and the antenna lead to the tower is routed through
a small PVC tube with a down-facing elbow outside to drip-proof the lead.
The transmitter, power supply, and keyer are housed in a metal file box with
a cooling fan to suck air in one filtered opening on one side, through the
box over all the systems, and out the other side.
So far, the signal is dectectable over 300 miles distant daytime, with decent ionospheric enhancement at the same distance at night, so the signal is getting out fairly well.
QSL's are available if you can catch it!
Take care!
Darwin Long
Simi Valley, CA
A3O back need some signal reports
Posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007 at 15:24:20.
Hey Guys:
After several years out of the Lowfer stuff I started my beacon today and was wondering if anyone can hear it? its about 182.6khz.
thanks Re: A3O back need some signal reports
Mike A3O
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 24, 2007 at 16:13:40.
In reply to A3O back need some signal reports posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007
Where are you? Also what mode?
73 Warren K2ORS Re: A3O back need some signal reports
Posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007 at 16:28:35.
In reply to Re: A3O back need some signal reports posted by Warren K2ORS on November 24, 2007
~182.9 cw beacon "A3O"
Mike Re: A3O back need some signal reports
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 24, 2007 at 18:43:36.
In reply to Re: A3O back need some signal reports posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007
Mike Re: A3O back need some signal reports
Thanks, where are you physically? What is your QTH?
Tnx Warren
Posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007 at 19:13:05.
In reply to Re: A3O back need some signal reports posted by Warren K2ORS on November 24, 2007
Monroeville,Pa 30 miles east of Pittsburgh
thanks
Mike Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops!
Posted by John Davis on November 25, 2007 at 20:16:54.
In order to get word of your station out to the maximum number of people, please be sure to include FULL information with your message... frequency, call sign, city (or nearest city), grid square or lat-lon if you know it, hours and mode(s) of operation.
In addition, since many potential monitors still only read our print edition, and won't be posting their reports here or using electronic mail, we also need conventional contact information, please; most especially, snail mail. You can send it to my lwcanews address at AOL if you do not want to post it all online in this Message Board. That's:
This also applies to returning operators, as your data has probably been purged over the years and/or wouldn't be current any more, anyway.
Thanks.
John
Re: A3O back need some signal reports
Posted by Bob on November 25, 2007 at 23:25:09.
In reply to A3O back need some signal reports posted by Mike A3O on November 24, 2007
Geeesh, you better hope that GIR and QYV dont get back on the air...They will completely drown out your signal.
Nice to know that you are back on. Only wish I could get back on the air, transmitter is still in the same place, hooked up, just have no antenna. Hope George gets his operating again.
QYV Re: Restarting my beacon
Posted by Bob on November 25, 2007 at 23:29:32.
In reply to Restarting my beacon posted by John OVO on November 21, 2007
Johnny, great to hear the interest has returned. I see that Mike A30 is back on. When time permits will listen for your beacons.
QYV Re: Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops!
Posted by J.B. Weazle McCreath on November 26, 2007 at 09:01:03.
In reply to Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops! posted by John Davis on November 25, 2007
Hi John,
Nothing changed since last year, but here's the scoop
on my beacon operation and physical location data:
Beacon EAR on 188.830 kHz. in QRSS30 mode 24/7 from
village of Saltford, Ontario at 43 44.61N 81 41.28W
grid square EN93dr.
Snail mail address is:
J.B. Weazle McCreath, VE3EAR/VE3WZL,
36620 Saltford Road, R.R. No. 4,
Goderich, Ontario, Canada.
N7A 3Y1
73, JB
New 500kHz Record
Posted by Warren K2ORS on November 26, 2007 at 14:30:35.
As John notes on the www.lwca.org homepage, Jay WE2XGR/2 (W1VD) worked Finbar GI4DPE on 500kHz. However, the current record for 500kHz is Bob WE2XGR/6 who also worked Finbar GI4DPE twice, the 1st QSO between the two was on 18 November.
For information updated daily see:
http://500kc.com/W0RPK_report.htm
73 Warren K2ORS/WE2XGR/1 Re: Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops!
Posted by Sal, K1RGO on November 26, 2007 at 15:19:25.
In reply to Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops! posted by John Davis on November 25, 2007
Hi John, Re: Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops!
My lowfer beacon SJ will be running 24/7 starting on or before Dec 20,2007. I'll be running QRSS10 and (6 wpm for local testing, days at times).Freq. is 186.850 kHz. Grid is FN31nh (near New Haven, CT). I'll probably run 24/7 all winter if the antenna stays up...hi.
Sal, K1RGO, EH and now SJ
Posted by Darwin Long on November 27, 2007 at 00:53:00.
In reply to Attention New/Returning Beacon Ops! posted by John Davis on November 25, 2007
"Vital statistics" for new beacon SMV 186.585 kHz
Beacon Callsign: SMV
CW Frequency: 186.585 kHz
SSB-voice center frequency: 187.000 kHz (USB)
Mode: Dual CW + SSB-voice (alternating CW 52 sec, SSB 8 sec)
Hours of Operation: 24hrs daily
City: Simi Valley, CA USA
Grid Square: DM04
Transmitter coordinates: 34°16'59.84"N 118°42'19.06"W
Contact information:
Email: DJL4Loons@aol.com
Snail: 4567 Barnard St, Simi Valley, CA 93063
I am a "returning operator" (ex-DJL 188.0/188.92, Newbury Park, CA), and am now operating from a new location and improved facilities here in Simi Valley. I selected a slightly lower frequency this time to avoid QRM from the Petropovlovsk, Russia broadcast station on 189kHz, which has made DX of my signal a challenge during past winters.
See prior post for ID cycle format and antenna system details.
-Darwin Long
SMV 186.585
Simi Valley, CA
potrzebie