BCY Update Information
Just an Update.
BCY remains off air and will remain off air until further notice.
173.75 KHz
Jerry Picou
1116 North Sandusky Ave.
Bucyrus, OH 44820
JJY QSL info
Posted by Jay Flynn on December 02, 2006 at 17:39:40.
For those of you who are receiving JJY on 40 or 60 kHz, you can QSL to:
Japan Standards Time Group
Applied Research and Standards Division
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
4-2-1, Nukui-kitamachi
Koganei, Tokyo 184-8795, Japan
QSLs show views of each station and details with accompanying translation into English.
How do I hear JJY on 60 kHz? WWVB fades out for 1-2 minutes just before local sunrise here on the West Coast. With proper timing, that allows JJY's Morse ID to be heard.
BTW, WWVB also QSLs. Address is same given for WWV.
Good luck,
Jay
(Real novice) can i pick up radio from peru in UK
Posted by Simon on December 04, 2006 at 07:08:59.
i guess not, but brave enough to ask
I can on the net but what about mw or lw
Re: (Real novice) can i pick up radio from peru in UK
Posted by John Davis on December 04, 2006 at 17:41:08.
In reply to (Real novice) can i pick up radio from peru in UK posted by Simon on December 04, 2006
You would seldom be able to receive MW from Peru in the UK, mainly because there are so many other stations in the band which are so much closer.
Unlike Europe, the Americas have no broadcasters on LW, so the only longwave signals you might possibly receive would be airport beacons. Listening for such beacons is a hobby some of us enjoy, but I suspect from your inquiry that is not what you are looking for.
There are many small shortwave broadcasters in Peru, but those stations are mostly very low power and are not heard well outside of South America.
John
Natural Radio
Posted by Bill Hensel on December 06, 2006 at 19:02:32.
Today I listened for whistlers at around 4:30Pm to Sundown here in Colorado and heard only one whistler...I'll listen tomorrow and see what I hear. The Sun on Loran
Posted by Markus Vester on December 17, 2006 at 13:44:01.
The recent bursts of solar activity have also left their footprints on 100 kHz propagation.
http://freenet-homepage.de/df6nm/LoranView/LoranView_2006.htm now has links to the November and December monitoring results, side by side with solar x-ray flux plots from the Space Environment Center archive (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/plots.html).
The Loran-C data are presented at half size. By postprocessing the original bitmaps, quantitative data like fieldstrength or phase plots with 5 minute / 44 µs resolution can be generated here.
Generally, all C-class or stronger x-ray flares impress phase and amplitude transients on signals travelling on sunlit paths - nice examples are Dec 5, 9 and 14. One extraordinary event took place on Dec 13 03:00 UT, when nighttime propagation on northern paths was suddenly and deeply affected. It was presumably caused by a burst of high energy protons, impacting into the polar region about half an hour after the X3 flare.
73 and best wishes Looking for W2AZQ
Markus, DF6NM
Posted by Jim Sears WA3MEJ on December 19, 2006 at 17:57:41.
Looking for Carl W2AZQ. Carl if you get this please email me at the posted email address.
Jim WA3MEJ Re: Looking for W2AZQ
Posted by John Davis on December 20, 2006 at 08:36:05.
In reply to Looking for W2AZQ posted by Jim Sears WA3MEJ on December 19, 2006
I don't know whether Carl visits the message board, or if so, how often. However, since he operates LowFER beacon TH, you should find him listed at this site. Go to the home page, click the Low/Med/HiFER button, then find the Operator Info link and look him up under the call TH.
John
Northern Star International Broadcasters AS
Posted by Mike Terry on December 20, 2006 at 11:18:15.
From Mike Terry:
=================================
Northern Star project to continue with new name after another setback.
=================================
Information on Norkring AS' stalled MW and LW projects may be found at http://www.northernstar.no/. There's no
big news other than a name change for the undertaking.
Do you need a license to broadcast on 160 kHz to 190 kHz
Posted by Adam E. on December 20, 2006 at 16:59:37.
I was asking can you play music on 160 kHz to 190 kHz? Like that one radio station in Europe on 252 kHz back in 2000? I was just asking if expermental
music broadcasts are allowed in this range? Cause I thinking about modifying
my part 15 kit AM transmitter circuit to go down to 161 kHz to see how far the signal would pick up on the radio. I will just use what is required with the part 15 regulations.
Please let me know thanks. Just trying to learn what the rules are not doing it yet.
Adam E.
Re: Do you need a license to broadcast on 160 kHz to 190 kHz
Posted by John Davis on December 20, 2006 at 17:46:00.
In reply to Do you need a license to broadcast on 160 kHz to 190 kHz posted by Adam E. on December 20, 2006
If you limit your transmitting capabilities to the requirements of FCC Part 15 Rules and Regulations, no license is required between 160 and 190 kHz. In brief, the limits are: a DC input power to the final amplifier of no more than one watt, and an antenna (including any transmission line and ground connection) no longer than 15 meters in length. It is also necessary to choose your operating frequency so that the modulation sidebands will be confined to the band. For music, this would most likely mean keeping the carrier frequency around 175 kHz.
This site contains both summaries of the Rules and the complete text of them in various forms. I encourage you to begin looking at http://lwca.org/sitepage/part15/ and click the About Part 15 link.
Good luck.
John Re: Do you need a license to broadcast on 160 kHz to 190 kHz
Posted by Warren K2ORS/WD2XGJ/WD2XSH/23 on December 20, 2006 at 17:47:51.
In reply to Do you need a license to broadcast on 160 kHz to 190 kHz posted by Adam E. on December 20, 2006
Hi Adam,
Yes you can broadcast music, as long the power input to the final is 1 watt or less and the total length of the antenna and feedline is 15 meters (or less). This means that you won't be heard very far on AM! (A few blocks to a couple of miles with a really good receiving setup). For this reason most people run morse code or computer based modes which can be heard for hundreds of miles (sometimes thousands of miles).
Take a look at:
http://lwca.org/sitepage/part15/index.htm
For all the details.
Russian Alphas off the air
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 23, 2006 at 08:29:23.
I was getting my receiving equipment ready for the SAQ transmission on Dec 24 0800 UTC and noticed the Russian Alphas have been off the air since Friday Dec 22. I wonder if they could be down for maintenance or if the Russians have turned them off for good? That would be a big loss as they were a good test signal in the lower VLF range. 73 Todd WD4NGG Re: Russian Alphas off the air
Posted by John Davis on December 23, 2006 at 10:40:40.
In reply to Russian Alphas off the air posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 23, 2006
Haven't read any announcements of a permanent shutdown yet, though the Russian government is not always the most communicative. More likely it is one of the routine maintenance events and/or lack of budget for the electric bill, as has reportedly happened before.
John
SAQ
Posted by N1NQC on December 24, 2006 at 20:40:52.
Did anyone copy SAQ?? de N1NQC Re: SAQ
Posted by Steve N8YE on December 25, 2006 at 05:01:29.
In reply to SAQ posted by N1NQC on December 24, 2006
Nil in Marietta Ohio. I heard it very weak last February. My Argo viewer showed a few Morse characters on the trace but it wasn't good enough for a positive ID. I had a summertime noise level in my Baldwins. (email via QRZ)
Re: Russian Alphas off the air
Posted by Steve N8YE on December 25, 2006 at 05:04:42.
In reply to Re: Russian Alphas off the air posted by John Davis on December 23, 2006
What is an Alpha, and what Frequency? Re: Russian Alphas off the air
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 25, 2006 at 06:13:29.
In reply to Re: Russian Alphas off the air posted by Steve N8YE on December 25, 2006
Hi Steve, the Russian Alpha system is a navigation system similar to the old Omega system on VLF. They have 3 prime stations on 14.9, 12.7 and 11.97KHz that transmit what sounds like dashes every few seconds. They are good test signals for a VLF receiver so I was surprised to see they are off the air. They might be off for maintenance or some have said they could be off the air due to not paying their electric bills! Whatever the reason I hope they come back on! 73 Todd WD4NGG Re: SAQ
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 25, 2006 at 06:21:32.
In reply to SAQ posted by N1NQC on December 24, 2006
I don't think too many heard SAQ in the USA this time due to heavy static and poor conditions on VLF. I could only hear a few bits and pieces of SAQ between the static crashes here in Southeast US. Jay Rusgrove had fairly good copy and a recording from Burlington, CT. Go to this address for an audio clip - http://www.w1vd.com/SAQ122406edit1.ZIP
73 Todd WD4NGG
Re: SAQ
Posted by N1NQC on December 26, 2006 at 08:15:11.
In reply to Re: SAQ posted by Steve N8YE on December 25, 2006
Hey All. I had SAQ VERY faint signal on a 1500 ft longwire/75 ft saltwater gnd on the MA coast. I captured it on audio tape too. . I also had a weak MSK station on about 21.3. Anybody know what this one might have been? ... A number of Afroeuropean B'casts also copied , all moderate to good , one or two were actually loud, even at that late hour. ...Also had a brief rise of faint CW on about 505 KC from ham beacon, then back down and gone for good. de N1NQC Re: SAQ
Posted by Ed on December 26, 2006 at 12:13:00.
In reply to Re: SAQ posted by N1NQC on December 26, 2006
Nothing heard in SE LA from SAQ, using 58ft/NNE and 105ft/NNW LW antennas, up about 15ft, and Cushman CE-24A meter. Almost no local 'TV' or powerline spurs at this time in the morning(2AM), and background noise less than -110dBm(45Hz). Some atmospherics from low pressure system in W. Gulf, but still quite low. Did hear a weak stn at 19.8(NWC Australia?) and the stronger(-72bBm) NPM(Hawaii?)at 21.4, if the www.vlf.it listing is correct. The 21.4 began on/off keying/tuning(?) about 15 mins. before the SAQ test, and resumed MSK about 0815UTC.
Re: SAQ
Posted by N1NQC on December 26, 2006 at 15:49:37.
In reply to Re: SAQ posted by Ed on December 26, 2006
Re: Russian Alphas off the air -- back 1500z 27th
Hey Ed .It SEEMS that I also had NPM here in MA. Can anyone confirm that GBR/GBZ/GQD are off the air? .de N1NQC
Posted by Alan G3NYK on December 27, 2006 at 07:27:30.
In reply to Russian Alphas off the air posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 23, 2006
Hi Todd, I think you will find the alphas are back again as at 1500z on the 27th. they have obviously consumed all the Christmas booze now, and its running on on the fumes !
Best Wishes de Alan G3NYK
Re: Russian Alphas off the air -- back 1500z 27th
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 27, 2006 at 13:10:46.
In reply to Re: Russian Alphas off the air -- back 1500z 27th posted by Alan G3NYK on December 27, 2006
Thanks Alan for the report on the Alphas. Yes I do hear them back on the air again. Nice of the Russians to spend all that money to provide us with good test signals on VLF! Maybe they paid up their electric bill for the month! 73 and Good Wishes for the New Year. Lowfer beacon YHO
Todd WD4NGG
Posted by Steve N8YE on December 28, 2006 at 02:43:04.
I am hearing a lowfer beacon YHO on approximate frequency of 188.150 khz. It is standard cw at about 10 wpm. Is anyone else hearing it? It is not on the list.
Re: Lowfer beacon YHO
Posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on December 28, 2006 at 03:59:24.
In reply to Lowfer beacon YHO posted by Steve N8YE on December 28, 2006
Steve,
Well, that solves a bit of a mystery, as I had been told the beacon was on 189.16. I tuned to 188.15 this morning a bit before sunrise, and found a weak CW signal on 188.151. With the 30 Hz audio filter, I picked out a few YHO's. Interesting! Copy was marginal, and it almost seems like there was a longer string being sent. As I type this, the signal has gone into a fade, and pretty much disappeared.
YHO would be operated by Bill Dawson, K8YHO, in Mason, OH. Now that I look back through an old beacon listing from 2000, YHO is shown on 188.15, so maybe he's been there all along.
Anyway, thanks for the info, and feel free to QSL directly to Bill.
John Andrews, W1TAG Re: Lowfer beacon YHO
Posted by John Davis on December 28, 2006 at 06:56:13.
In reply to Re: Lowfer beacon YHO posted by John Andrews, W1TAG on December 28, 2006
Congratulations, gentlemen. We try to list only beacons for which we have confirmation from the operator or else third-party reception reports within the past year.
However, we do keep call signs and contact data in the Operator Info page for quite a long time, just in case somebody does hear a signal from them. YHO is still in that list from the year 2000, the last time we heard from him.
The most recent reception report was dated February, 2004, so YHO was no longer in the beacon list by frequency. I have now restored the entry for a while longer, thanks to these reports.
John
Re: Lowfer beacon YHO - Heard in SC
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 29, 2006 at 07:25:29.
In reply to Lowfer beacon YHO posted by Steve N8YE on December 28, 2006
I tried listening this morning 12/29/06 and heard YHO RST 229-329 between 11:45-12:15 UTC on 188.15KHz. His signal seemed to hang in there until sunrise. Also heard TH RST 329 on about 189.36KHz from 11:30-11:45 UTC then signal faded. Those are my first Lowfer signals heard this season. 73 Todd WD4NGG Denmark ceasing on LW
Posted by Mike Terry on December 29, 2006 at 09:11:12.
A reminder that there are just a few days left before Denmark is due
to cease all broadcasting on longwave (243) and mediumwave (1062).
Quite an historic moment, as I can remember in the 1970s when all the
Nordic countries could be heard fairly easily in the UK on both LW and
MW.
Also ending on 31 December is SW from Iceland (12115 and 13865).
There is a tradition of interesting and unexpected radio things
appearing and disappearing on 1 January, so send in your news next
week!
(Chris Greenway, Dec 26, BDXC-UK via DXLD)
U.S. Lightning Strikes Map
Posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 29, 2006 at 11:15:03.
I have run across this U.S. Lightning Strikes Map recently and find it has a better display of lightning strikes in the U.S. compared to other maps. You can get a pretty good indication of how noisy conditions will be on LF by seeing how intense the lightning activity is and how close it is to your location. For example on today, Friday 12/29 there is intense lightning activity across Texas. I can already hear the increase in QRN on VLF in the daytime and can pretty well predict the QRN will be bad on LF this evening 12/29 here in SC. Earlier this week there was no lightning activity across the entire U.S. lower 48 and condx were very quiet across LF and VLF even at night. 73 Todd WD4NGG Re: U.S. Lightning Strikes Map
http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/golf/uslightningstrikes_large.html?from=mapofweek
Posted by Alan G3NYK on December 29, 2006 at 16:06:27.
In reply to U.S. Lightning Strikes Map posted by Todd WD4NGG on December 29, 2006
Hi Todd that looks like a nice facility, I notice it seems to be aimed at the golfers.
For those transmitting from the US and hoping to be heard in Europe there is a nice site that indicates the 24 position with a color coding of the time so you can see the storms moving.
http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/Rsfloc.html
I find this one extremely useful locally together with a site on the Isle of Wight for really local real-time tracking.
Happy New Year all, and good LF DX in 2007
Alan G3NYK
Beacon MRJ
Posted by Tpot on December 29, 2006 at 19:54:34.
I picked up a beacon on longwave around Dec 27-29 and I am very exited because this is the first longwave signal I picked up.I can't pick up longwave well with my radio's internal ferrite rod for MW/LW because my radio was designed for shortwave (and this is what I use it for the most) and tunes 150-29999 kHz.
The beacon was picked up between 285 and 286 kHz(My radio only shows to the nearest kHz but fine tunes) and uses AM tones instead of true Morse code.I decoded the call and the call sign is MRJ.I recieved it between 6 and 7 PM local time (2300-2400 UTC) from Southwest Pennsylvania and then I was done listening.I would like to get a reply containing some more information about this beacon and/or a good list of longwave beacons.This might also be a good DX oppertunity for any DXers out there.
P.S.:I don't know when it fades out and comes in, but I guess it comes in around sunset and fades out around sunrise, but I'm not sure if I get it 24/7 or not.I will probably give more info on this later.
Re: IOMIB now anticipates early 2007 launch
Posted by Teapot on December 29, 2006 at 20:11:35.
In reply to IOMIB now anticipates early 2007 launch posted by Mike Terry on November 17, 2006
I have to keep that in mind...I want to pick something up on longwave other than 1 beacon and static.Sounds good because LF signals over water paths are good for propagation and I live a few hundred miles from the Atlantic.I would like to know the transmitter power. Re: JJY 40KHz Time Signal Heard on East Coast US
Posted by Teapot on December 29, 2006 at 20:29:42.
In reply to JJY 40KHz Time Signal Heard on East Coast US posted by Todd WD4NGG on November 12, 2006
JYY also transmits on 60 kHz, 8000 kHz, and 15000 kHz.8000 kHz and 15000 kHz would be most intresting to me because I am a shortwave listner but my radio tunes longwave down to 150 kHz so I can talk about stuff below 500 kHz here.I would like to to listen to 8000 kHz or 15000 kHz, but WWV is on 15000 and I wouldn't bother to get up at 900 or 1000 UTC just to tune a station I have a good chance of NOT getting.
P.S.:I live in Pennsylvania and also WWVB might not allow you to get JYY on 60 kHz.You might not be interested in JYY's other frequencies, but this is just for your information.
Re: U.S. Lightning Strikes Map
Posted by Ed on December 30, 2006 at 06:36:30.
In reply to Re: U.S. Lightning Strikes Map posted by Alan G3NYK on December 29, 2006
Thanks for the additional lightning info sites. I've been using the site below which is keyed toward commercial and military users.
https://thunderstorm.vaisala.com/
And, it looks like it is getting to close to SE LA. Time to shut down. Ed
Re: Beacon MRJ
Posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006 at 13:05:22.
In reply to Beacon MRJ posted by Tpot on December 29, 2006
Just want to tell you I got this beacon on the 30th during the day between noon and 1 PM(0500 and 0600 UTC). This indicates that the beacon is close by and I am about to tell you the direction....do not take this seriously because I might be wrong and I will not tell my exact location but I live in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
I think the beacon comes from the SE or NW.I just ran upstairs to find the direction while I was typing.
Re: JJY QSL info
Posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006 at 13:30:45.
In reply to JJY QSL info posted by Jay Flynn on December 02, 2006
If you collect QSLs you should get a QSL from JYY because as far as I know they are colorful at least for shortwave but I am pretty sure they are the same.
Re: Beacon MRJ
Posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006 at 13:33:50.
In reply to Re: Beacon MRJ posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006
Sorry....I put 0500-0600 UTC when I really meant 1700-1800 UTC.
Re: ARRL Experimental License for 500 kHz Research by Radio Amateurs
Posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006 at 18:25:21.
In reply to ARRL Experimental License for 500 kHz Research by Radio Amateurs posted by Mike Terry on September 16, 2006
I hope that does become a more interesting part of longwave.I want it least to become a part of longwave where I get things but a ham allocation would be good.
The only thing I can get at this time is a beacon on 286 kHz and static.Just a beacon and static.
Re: Denmark ceasing on LW
Posted by Mike Terry on December 30, 2006 at 23:36:40.
In reply to Denmark ceasing on LW posted by Mike Terry on December 29, 2006
This New Year's Eve, December 31, Denmark leaves the longwaves. Of course we
have seen many European longwave stations close down in the last fifteen years,
as FM became the delivery method of choice, and the end of the Cold War, also
brought an end to the power and coverage race between East and West on longwave
and medium wave in Europe. Denmark is the latest to close down, both on
longwave and medium wave as this year ends.
As far as I can tell, the station was on the air in the mid 20's on 260 kHz
eventually working its way up to 7,500 watts. In 1934, as per a 1933 wavelength
conference, it moved to 238 kHz with a major power increase to 60,000 watts.
(Radio Luxembourg was never recognized by, nor did it adhere to the 1933
longwave frequency adjustment treaty. After jumping around the dial, they
settled down to 230 kHz, just prior to World War II. By the time of, and during
its German occupation and control, Radio Luxembourg blasted out 200,000 watts
on 232 kHz. Just 6 kHz away from Denmark.)
Following World War II, A longwave reassignment plan moved Denmark to 245 kHz.
On this frequency, its power was eventually increased to 150,000 watts.
When another longwave band plan that went into effect in 1987, Denmark had
moved down 2 kHz to 243 kHz, and by this time, their power was up to 300,000
watts. On trips, I was able to receive them with a fair signal at 12 noon in
London on a "barefoot" Sony 2010. And so can you.
For one more day. Regards,
(Brock Whaley, Lilburn, GA, Dec 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Re: Beacon MRJ
Posted by Michael Oexner on December 31, 2006 at 07:52:57.
In reply to Re: Beacon MRJ posted by Teapot on December 30, 2006
Hi,
Taking into account your location in SW Pennsylvania and that you heard the beacon during daylight you most likely heard MKP McKeesport PA on 287 kHz.
Maybe you can double check on the Morse code:
MKP -- -·- ·--·
MRJ -- ·-· ·---
A Happy New Year to all LFers :-)
vy 73 + gd DX,
Michael
Re: Denmark ceasing on LW
Posted by Mike Terry on December 31, 2006 at 08:23:01.
In reply to Re: Denmark ceasing on LW posted by Mike Terry on December 30, 2006
Possible reprieve?
Stig Hartvig Nielsen Says:
December 31st, 2006 at 15:45
...Both 243 and 1062 from Kalundborg will continue on January 1st 2007. The
FINAL decision as to what exactly will happen with these two transmitters
still hasn't been taken.
http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/?p=6916#comment-74203
Re: Beacon MRJ
Posted by Steve N8YE on December 31, 2006 at 15:08:23.
In reply to Beacon MRJ posted by Tpot on December 29, 2006
Tpot, here is a website that will search out data for beacons http://www.airnav.com/navaids/
If you send me your email, I can send a very extensive file of beacons. Lowfer beacon 'DPC'
..73..Steve..N8YE
Posted by Denis P Cote on December 31, 2006 at 17:38:46.
All;
Lowfer beacon 'DPC' is back on the air transmitting morse from the hills of Duanesburg, NY (FN-22) on 173.5 KHz. Transmitter work in progress and anticipate sending QRSS, DFCW and HELL in the very near future. All reports appreciated.
Exciter/Transmitter - LW Max , Ashlock Final
Antenna - Coax Loop
73's and Happy New Year!
Denis P Cote - 'DPC'
ARS: W1WV
Duanesburg, NY
FN-22
potrzebie