BPSKers,
Here is the new schedule for TEXAS(space) on a weekly basis:
SUNDAY 9AM CST to MONDAY 9AM CST - MS1000, ET1, continuous bpsk only.
MONDAY 9AM CST to TUESDAY 9AM CST - MS500, ET1, continuous bpsk only.
TUESDAY 9AM CST to WEDNESDAY 9AM CST - MS200, ET1, continuous bpsk only.
WEDNESDAY 9AM CST to THURSDAY 9AM CST - MS10, ET1, continuous bpsk only.
THURSDAY 9AM CST to FRIDAY 9AM CST - MS5, ET1, continuous bpsk only.
FRIDAY 9AM CST to SUNDAY 9AM CST - MS100, ET1, bpsk / cw, (bpsk during even
minutes, cw at 12wpm during odd minutes, synchronized with WWV).
This should let the cw guys have a shot at it over the weekends. I will run
it this way for several weeks. If you have any suggestions or proposed
changes, just let me know.
Regards,
Bill
Subj: One more DJL update
Date: 97-12-30 23:57:59 EST
From: DJL4LOONS
The final mechanical item (excluding the fan and meter) has been removed from the DJL beacon transmitter- the keyer relay. Now, the current through the audio-chip-switched Darlington transistor goes directly into the emitter and base of the 2N3055 switch for the collector current. Its kind of funny to see the power meter needle just rise and fall with no "clickity-clack" from a mechanical relay, but the output is good, clean CW. A current-limiting resistor has also been added for additional protection. Unless a lightning strike occurs nearby, the transmitter should operate at full power with zero service calls! The antenna has survived another week of very high Santa Ana winds with no ill effects.
I have noticed that the harmonic usually heard on 420 kHz from WWVB at night here seems to have subsided during the past month. Maybe NIST corrected this emission with their new setup? They are still on the air, as I can receive their fundamental at 60 kHz (no apparent increase in signal strength yet), but they seem to have been fine-tuning their equipment lately!
Happy New Year!
-Darwin Long
Subj: Finally heard a Lowfer
Date: 97-12-30 20:46:43 EST
From: Bob Bicking
After listening to LF for a year and a half, mostly NDB's, I finally heard
LEK on 12/11, followed by XJ & BOB on 12/18, OK pm 12/29 and Medfer MIN on
12/21. These were all CW. Also heard a LWBC station. Hoping to get a Lowfer
beacon going here soon.
Bob Bicking, W9RB, Freeport, Il.
Subj: OK heard in St. Paul, MN
Date: 97-12-29 18:24:33 EST
From: Bruce Koehler
After returning from a holiday vacation in Phoenix, I fired up my
Kenwood TS440S with remote tuned 3ft loop and preamp early Sunday
morning (2:00-2:45 CST). I heard my Shell Lake beacon BK reporting the
windspeed and temperatures there, and SAM and IMG were also readable.
For some reason LEK was not on. I listened on 189.95KHz and could hear
OK easily with the help of a DSP59+ audio filter. Usually the noise
level is so high at my Maplewood MN location that I can only hear the
local LowFERs.
-Bruce WØBK, BK
Subj: MIN format change
Date: 97-12-27 17:27:09 EST
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
Starting today, MIN (1648.330 kHz) will transmit continuous BPSK at
MS25, ET1 on even numbered days. On odd numbered days, the format will
remain as alternating BPSK at MS100, ET1 and CW at 12 WPM; approximately
one minute of each.
UTC time will be used for the purpose of figuring whether a day is odd
or even. That way I won't have to stay up until midnight to throw the
switch. Normally the transition will be made (manually) at about 0000Z.
Tonight will be 28 December in UTC, so MIN will be running BPSK at MS25
all night.
At some time in the near future, I may simply run BPSK and CW on
alternate days. The present format may be too confusing in the long
term, but it allows for a somewhat wider range of experiments to
determine the best baud rate for MedFER beacons.
73
Lyle
Subj: lw radio
Date: 97-12-27
From:
Iam very interested in listening to utility stations on the lower
end of the radio spectrum.
I have a reciever capable of recieving down to 150kc. .If you could give
me any information on stations in my general area it would be
appreciated.
thanks,
Matt Burns
West Virginia
Subj: JDH on BPSK
Date: 97-12-27 11:47:21 EST
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
JDH was printing fairly solidly last night with a GRAB depth of 31. At
MS25, no ET, it doesn't take very long to accumulate 31 repetitions of
the identifier.
It seemed difficult to sync on both JDH and TEXAS at one point yesterday
evening. I got the best results by letting COHERENT run for a couple of
minutes while tuned to the desired beacon with the frame grabber on;
then stepping through the STARTBIT positions manually (with SYNC off)
until the identifier sequence started printing on the screen. Later, the
automatic SYNC function worked on both beacons. The attached brief TRACE
file shows how well the JDH (actually jdh) BPSK signal was getting
through. The times shown are Central Standard time. Although I've heard
JDH several times on CW this season, it has been in the early morning
hours, and under much quieter band conditions. There was no audible
signal on 184.5 kHz last night.
--------------------
COHERENT log opened: Fri Dec 26 1997 at 22:37
22:37:56 h jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh j
22:38:12 dh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdh jdi jdi
22:38:28 jdh jdh jdh bdj`bdj``dj`hdj```j```jd``jd``jd``jd``jd``jd` jd` j
22:38:44 d` jd` jd` jd` jd` jd` jd` jd
73
Lyle, K0LR
Subject: RE: NDB Beacons in East Asia [Mark Nagel]
Date: 97-12-26 20:24:55 EST
From: PowellMclaven.fanshawec.on.ca (Mitch Powell)
Mark: Following NDB info from Admiralty List of Radio Signals (ALRS2)
and should help. I have abbreviated long/lat info.
BM Ma-Kung T'ai-Wan 23.5N 119.3W
WF PRC Xiamen (xing lin) 24.5N 118E
BR Pacific Russia Ostrov Bol'shoy Shantar 55N 137.3E
AAAA Kao-hsiung T'ai-Wan 22.3N 120.1E
SK Sokch'o South Korea 38N 128.3E
HKG Hok Tsui Hong Kong (Cape D'Aguilar) 22N 114E
NN T'ai-nan T'ai-Wan 23N 120E
YU Hua-lien T'ai-Wan 24N 121.3E
DC unk
MD Minamidaito Nansei Shoto Japan) (off Okinawa) 25.9N 131.1E
KW Heng-ch'un T'ai-Wan 22N 121E
Hope that helps -- 73 - Mitch Powell VE3OT
Subj: Australian LF Beacons (fwd)
Date: 97-12-24 & 12-25
From: cbuttschslonet.org (Clifford Buttschardt)
Here is a list of Australian LF beacons. Trying for them is really a task, but some here in the West might be successful.
If Mike Mideke were still listening he certainly would confirm some of these.
He, Jim Ericson, Mark Mallory and I usually chat on 80 CW Sunday nights.
Mike just joined us so he might be having a renewed interest from his new
location in Watsonville, CA.
Other than that, the BPSK experiments have been going very well. Most
of the activity is in the East or Southwest and primarily on the Medfer
bands. On 14091 and 18081 we have been having QSO's as if it were CW or
SSB. Signals sync up rapidly and with little effort using MS25 and
ET1-on. I've been trying to be on 18 MHz each day to be sure that the
Europeans have a signal. DeCarle is usually there as well. Most of the
conversation is about LASER techniques using COHERENT, which is kind of
ironic if you think of it for a moment!
The very best Christmas to you! Cliff K7RR
Subj: RE: New Schedule from JDH
Date: 97-12-24 18:36:55 EST
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
Sounds like a good plan to me. Several of us now feel that a 1
minute BPSK, 1 minute CW cycle is too short to really exploit the
frame-grabbing feature of COHERENT, and have been considering going to
15 minutes of each. However, your timetable is a lot easier to
implement. I may adopt it as a quick fix for my MIN MedFER beacon, since
it seems to be taking me forever to build up the 15/15 minute
modification.
Subj: VLF
Date: 97-12-23 12:32:48 EST
From: (William E. Bowers)
I have a big old receiver that I would be happy to give to anyone
working in the VLF range. It is a Stoddart Aircraft Radio Co. " Field
Intensity Meter". It tunes from 30 cycles to 15,000 cycles. It is a very
large receiver and contains 20 to 30 tubes. I comes with a equally large
separate power supply and a 3ft loop antenna. I bought it from Tucker
about 5 years ago when I thought I was going to get involved with VLF.
However, work on my LOWfer has and will keep me too busy.
The unit was represented to be in " operating condition ", but I have
never attempted to test it. It came with all the connectors, but not the
connecting cables. I do have the complete Technical Manual.
If some one is interested I hope they live within a few hundred miles
so we could meet half way to make delivery, as packing and shipping
would be quite a problem.
Subj: New Schedule from JDH
Date: 97-12-22
From: John Hoopes (no working return e-mail)
Since there seems to be so much interest in BPSK, I've decided to change
my format from BPSK during the day and CW at night to alternating BPSK
and CW on a daily basis. Starting today, BPSK will run all night till
7am tomorrow (12/23) where I'll switch to CW. So even days are BPSK and
odd are CW. Hopefully somebody will be able to catch the BPSK on skywave
at night.
BPSK will be sent at MS25 with ET off. I'm wondering if anyone
out there has a hard time synchronizing on any speed faster than MS25. I
can't seem to sync on MS100 unless I'm in duplex mode. MS25 works fine
and I can copy signals in the mud with no problem. Any ideas ?
73 de John/AB4MS/JDH
Subj: DJL problems solved
Date: 97-12-21 00:55:10 EST
From: DJL4LOONS
DJL is back on with all apparent problems solved, and up to full power!
I have found the cause of the final transistor on my beacon transmitter blowing frequently- an aging electrolytic capacitor used to couple the intermediate stage to the final. Probably DC flowed into the base of the final transistor through that dried-out cap, causing it to repeatedly blow. I suspected this after noticing how the RF power would slowly rise after I flipped the switch on. This recently worsened to very poor power output, and then the final "parasitizing" on itself. I replaced it with a nice new disc capacitor with a high working voltage. No problems so far after three days (Knock on wood!), just a nice solid clean 1W signal- the likes that I had not been able to achieve for the past two months.
The beacon's collector current is now keyed via a power transistor, instead of relay contacts.
The antenna has withstood another bout of 60 MPH winds and rain with no ill effects to either the antenna or the transmitter. We'll put the beacon to the test again tomorrow with some more rain and wind!
Happy Holidays!
-Darwin Long
Subject: Mystery beacons
From: Lyle Koehler ()
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997
There is a strong CW station amid all the junk between
1700 and 1800 kHz. This one sends the identifier "IS1HT" on 1740.30 kHz.
Clair, K0CJ found that it's actually FSK modulation. The reverse Morse
ID is just below 1740.00. Signals are readable here in Minnesota almost
any time during the night. Kevin Redding from the Phoenix, AZ area
reports that it's also quite strong down there.
This one has us puzzled. The call is a valid amateur call sign, but
that's not likely. It doesn't fit the pattern of a fishnet buoy, and
they are not that strong and consistent this far from the coast.
Any ideas??
Lyle, K0LR
Subj: Satellite Helps Study of Lightning
Date: 97-12-20 02:00:08 EST
From: evogel (Eric Vogel)
A really interesting article at http://www.abqjournal.com/scitech/2sci12-9.htm
An excerpt:
FORTE -- for Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events --
whirls around the Earth at 15,000 miles an hour, looking down with two light sensors and three radio receivers.
It was built mostly to tell powerful storms from nuclear tests. Both create mysterious pulses of radio energy that
travel in twos. An earlier satellite from Los Alamos showed scientists
that some storms produce these spectacular blasts of energy -- about 1,000 times more powerful than mere lightning and 100 times quicker. They became rather
dryly known as transionospheric pulse pairs, or TIPPs, and no one's sure what causes them.
Eric Vogel
Subject: NDB Beacons in East Asia
From: Mark Nagel
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997
I'm a Longwave DX'er, and I live in southern Taiwan. The problem I have
is that I haven't found any online site which can help me locate the QTH
of the beacons that I hear. If there isn't any online site for NDB's in
East Asia, then I'm willing to pay for a hardcopy. (But I would rather
look up the sites online because the data would be more up-to-date, and
also because it's free).
I already tried Mark Zee's site in Ireland (http://homepages.iol.ie/
/~markzee/wand.htm), but the only Asian sites listed are those in India
and around the Bay of Bengal, which is the several thousand miles from
where I am.
Here are some of the unidentified beacons that I hear regularly. Can you
help me identify these?:
290 BM
295 WF
320 "BR" and also "AAAA" (two different beacons)
330 SK
340 HKG
375 NN
380 YU
390 DC (extremely strong)
405 MD (weak)
415 KW (weak)
Thanks in advance.
Mark
Pingtung, Taiwan
Subj: Medfer loggings
Date: 97-12-19 20:43:19 EST
From: stealth (Ken)
Hi,
Just wanted to share some Medfer reports with the LWCA
members. I am located in Demotte, Ind. For Medfer reception I
use a Sony ICF-SW7600g receiver, antenna is a 5ft. whip @ 15ft.,
and a passive tuner in the shack.
MIN comes in fairly regular.....catch STLMO every now and
then, heard ZL in Arkansas on Dec 7...best one yet was PX in
Berlin, MD. on Dec.18 at 1939CST, came in about a 329RST.
It's nice to hear that the new Ex-band BC stations haven't
run the activity off the band!
Well, I just wanted to drop a short note from Indiana to
let these stations know they're heard!
73,
Ken Berkebile NB9I
Subj: LOWFER NET
Date: 97-12-16 16:12:51 EST
From: John Hoopes
Seasons Greetings to all. Just wanted to let everyone know that the
lowfer and medfer gang are gathering again on 160 meters. The old
frequency of 1983 khz is usually occupied so Brice Anderson, W9PNE (our
leader) has found a new spot on or near 1961.5 khz. Scheduled net times
are Sunday evenings around 9pm EST but alot of the fellows monitor
during the week.
Last Sunday (12/14) I talked to Brice(BA), Dexter (NC),
Bob (BOB). What a great time we had! Seems everyone is reporting the
same thing about conditions being pretty good this year so there should
be lots to talk about.
I am also looking forward to another Eastern Mini
Lowfer Convention(EMLC) at Todd Roberts house located at Hilton Head
Island, SC. Myself and Davey Jones did this last year and what a time we
had looking at and trying out some of Todd's antique radios. We are
looking at some time after the holidays to have the EMLC. All are
invited. I will keep the LW homepage updated as to exact date.
73, John Hoopes/AB4MS/JDH
Subj: DJL woes and other stuff
Date: 97-12-16 04:49:30 EST
From: DJL4LOONS
Has anyone here in the West heard a beacon recently begin transmitting AWOS on 321 kHz? I have noticed one such beacon the past month (at night) but the I.D. is not audible.
Take care everyone, and may you and yours have a very pleasant holidays (and good DX, too!)
-Darwin Long
Subj: musings
Date: 97-12-15 23:22:31 EST
From: Timothy Brannon
I tuned up on the TEXAS beacon this morning (Dec. 15) about 0930 and
realized that Bill had made the change to BPSK/CW as planned. Started
COHERENT 7.1b on my old 386 and used the spotting tone in my Timewave
DSP filter to get precisely on frequency, and got solid copy of TEXAS on
the first try! Of course, the beacon is only about 35 miles away so I
have the advantage of a strong signal all the time.
I hope that more people will give BPSK a try. This is well within the
capability of the average experimenter now. The only tricky part is to
have a reliable means of getting precisely on frequency, but even an
old crystal calibrator set with WWV should work. I found it helpful to
practice using the COHERENT software by using my PC and sound card as a
"transmitter" and a laptop with the S-D board as a "receiver", with just
a patch cable connecting the two. This eliminates the worry of getting
2 radios on frequency and allows you to get used to the interface and
play with the features. Version 7 and later will work with a
SoundBlaster card to generate an 800 Hz phase modulated tone, but you
still need the sigma delta board to receive.
Remember, DON"T use a DSP filter ahead of the S-D board, as this will
mask the phase changes in the signal--I used mine only for the reference
tone for tuning up on frequency, then turned it off.
73,
Tim Brannon KF5CQ
Dallas, TX
Subj: XJ and MEP
Date: 97-12-15 20:24:23 EST
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
MEP (approximately 188.55 KHz) and XJ (184.7 kHz) were both readable
here last night for the first time this season. XJ was very strong, and
after getting his attention on 160 meters, we had a two-way contact on
LF. The band seems to be really shaping up. Results from the past
several years indicate that the last two weeks of December may provide
the best DX of the season. Happy holidays!
Lyle, K0LR
Subj: Beacon BOB report
Date: 97-12-15 00:57:43 EST
From: harveyprairienet.org (bob a. hoffswell)
Reception is great here. JDH, NC, TH, KRY, LEK, XJ, and BA all have good
to great signals tonight (Sunday).
73 de Bob Hoffswell,AA9DH
Subj: Useful software
Date: 97-12-13 20:02:03 EST
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
I recently ran across an interesting collection of "freeware" on G4FGQ's
Web site at: http://www.btinternet.com/~g4fgq.regp/.
Haven't had a chance to try any of it, but it looks like it might be
very useful for LF and MF enthusiasts. One of the most interesting
programs performs calculations on square multiturn receiving loops. The
software not only predicts inductance, but also calculates the Q based
on wire losses and distributed capacity, tells you what capacitor you
need to tune it to a desired frequency, and how many dB down it would be
from an ideal 1/4 wave receiving antenna. I'll have to do some further
checks to see how accurate the predictions really are, but on first
glance it looks like an excellent addition to the LowFER/MedFER bag of
tricks.
73
Lyle, K0LR
Subj: LEK report
Date: 97-12-13
From: k0lr (Lyle Koehler)
There have already been some fairly good conditions on LF. On CW, I've heard KRY, TEXAS, JDH, BA, BOB, BK, IMG, NC, SAM, ARK, TH and OK. With the help of Bill de Carle's latest improvements to COHERENT, BPSK beacon IDF from Idaho Falls has been a fairly easy catch on several nights. I just leave COHERENT running in the TRACE mode for a couple of hours starting a little before sunrise, and check the results later. One of the most recent features of COHERENT is the ability to save a binary file of the input data for after-the-fact analysis using different settings of the SYNC and "frame grabber" options. (Looks like it's time for someone to write a short BPSK tutorial so that everyone knows what we're talking about with these new terms.) TEXAS showed up December 11th in its new alternate BPSK/CW format. The signal was strong enough so that no
special effort was necessary; I just started COHERENT and strings of the "TEXAS" identifier started printing on the screen.
My MF listening efforts have been sporadic. STLMO is often readable both on BPSK and CW but the only other MedFER actually heard was VA, who disappeared after a couple of ID cycles. Bill de Carle's "SOLAR" BPSK beacon eluded me until the evening of December 10th, when it printed almost two solid lines without error during a brief "listening" session.
I've made some progress on a short article describing a simple LowFER transmitter, but it won't make it in time for the January LOWDOWN. Maybe next month!
Subj: "TEXAS" is now BPSK/CW
Date: 97-12-11 14:46:06 EST
From: cantrell_bill (Cantrell Bill)
Well, Lyle beat me to the announcement! What a pleasant surprise to get a
trace file the very next morning after freezing my ears off, modifying the
TEXAS Beacon for BPSK/cw. Here are the details:
"TEXAS" is now on 184.400 kHz. I am using an atomic clock for the time base,
so the carrier and baud rate are accurate to better than one part in 10
billion (10E-10). I am sending bpsk during even minutes and cw during odd
minutes, synchronized with WWV. For now, the message is TEXAS(space), sent
using ET1 at MS100. The cw speed is 12 wpm.
As alternatives, I can change the error correction to ET0(none), ET1 or ET2.
I can also change the baud rate to any of the following settings:
BAUD: MS2000 MS1000 MS500 MS200 MS100 MS50 MS10 MS5
CW WPM: 0.6wpm 1.2wpm 2.4wpm 6wpm 12wpm 24wpm 120wpm 240wpm
Clocking: (0.5Hz) (1Hz) (2Hz) (5Hz) (10Hz) (20Hz) (100Hz)
(200Hz)
Also, the message can be changed to TEXAS(space)AGGIE(space) in ET1 only.
If someone would like me to send at a different baud rate or error correction,
just let me know. You'll like this season's collection of "TEXAS" color QSL
cards. One shows a view of downtown Ft. Worth from the vantage point of the
top-hat.
Regards,
Bill
Subj: equipment exchange
Date: 97-12-11
From: (robert bicking)
For Sale: Drake R8, like new, with original box, $ 600.
W9RB, Bob, 815-232-2731.
Subj: Possible Lowfer Beacon Antenna
Date: 97-12-11
From: (rbicking)
I have been using a Uni-Hat Capacitance Terminated Short Vertical Radiator
since getting back into Ham radio in Nov. 96. It is a 31' vertical with a
15' top hat and has a rather unusual feed system. It is designed for 40, 80
& 160 m but I have used it on all bands up to 15 m successfully (155
countries worked and a 160 m WAC). I'm in the process of building a Curry
CW 495 and am incorporating remote switching at the antenna to insert a
large coil (from Curry) for 1750 m. Heart surgery and winter has delayed
completion but I'll let you know how it turns out.
If you want info on the Uni-Hat, the address is 3816 Royal Lane, Suite 100,
Dallas, Tx. 75229.
73, Bob W9RB.
Subj: Lowfers
Date: 97-12-11
From: okbill (William E. Bowers)
OK is now operating with the new antenna. This antenna is
located on a hill that is about 30 feet higher than the old location.
The top hat was increased to 15ft diameter. OK operates all the time,
except when DXing for other LOWfers.
On the low band so far TEXAS, ARK, and best of all LEK have been
copied. I think that I also had SAM but not for sure All these were in
CW
On MIDfers STLMO, ZL and MIN have come in with CW. The catch of MIN on
12/9/97 at 02:00 UTC was amazing ! ! It came in so loud and clear that I
sent Lyle a tape recording which I bet will amaze him.
On another subject I would like to know if anyone has any information
about "Interceptor Electronics ", in Round Hill, VA. I have purchased
Loop antennas and recently an excellent keyer . I have been trying to
order a new keyer but can’t get a response from them .
Merry Christmas Bill Bowers
Subj: VA Receptions
Date: 97-12-10 21:07:38 EST
From: N4ZV
I've been fighting some wicked-bad noise here this season, as
construction continues on Smith Mountain Lake. So far, - ABC and PX on
medfer. TH, JDH, and NC on lowfer. All of these receptions were on tuned
loops. The old active antenna, and longwire are currently useless. As
QRM increases, due to everything, from Pentium based cordless phones -
to the expansion of the Broadcast band...I'm afraid we'll all have to
rely more and more on directional antennas. Try a loop!
73
BART VA/N4ZV
New Beacon
Readers! Here is an item that we somehow didn't receive previously, but which may be of interest:)
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 (Posted 10 Dec.)
Sender: Kevin Carey
Just a quick note to say that CW beacon "KC" (185 kHz) is up and running
from Bloomfield, NY (about 20 miles south of Rochester--FN12). Although
the antenna system is far from ideal right now, it might be worth a try
for listeners in the Northeast.
Subject: RL Update
From: RLLaney
Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997
RL is on the air nearly 24 hrs. I have not heard any lowfers so far this
season, but I have not listened as much as in past years. Going to do
something about that, however. Recall that I was building seismographs. I
now have 2 up and running and have received quakes from as close as 15 miles
and as far away as 7,000 miles. At the end of the year I will be retiring for
the second time and will have more time for both LF and earthquakes!
Hope you have great holiday season.
73,
Bob
Subject: New BOB info
Date: Sat, 6 Dec 1997
From: "bob a. hoffswell"
BOB's rx is working again. I found several noise problems associated
with a connection to the power ground and a noisy power strip. All is
well again and I'm hearing BA 569 (or better, sometime)),
even thru some QRN lately.
I'm using a 500' long wire to the NNW up about 6'. I tried an insulated
wire on the ground in the same direction and have about the same signal
received on either. With another 500' wire on the ground to the ENE, I now
copy KRY solid at 549, so things are looking up and I hope to hear others
soon, if the QRN ever goes away!
73 de Bob Hoffswell,AA9DH
Subject: LF Beacon JDH
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997
From: D. McIntyre
LF beacon JDH, Bonaire, GA, 184.5 kc, is Q5 copy here in NC every
evening. Also got a chance to listen at 1 p.m. today and could hear it
well but not as good as during the evening hours. TH from NJ, 189.360
is also Q5 most evenings. Beacon NC, 189.050 was off the air a few days
this week due to a shorted IRF-510. Lightning must have struck
somewhere within 100 miles! It was back on line Wednesday evening with
new FET and all seems to be normal.
73, Dex, W4DEX, LF Beacon "NC" 189.050
Subject: Tech America Catalog
Date: Thu, 04 Dec 1997
From: Lyle Koehler
I just got the Tech America catalog in the mail yesterday. It looks like
Tandy has done more than just generate a mail-order version of the Radio
Shack catalog, because there is a lot more emphasis on components and
less on home electronics. They carry a fairly complete line of ICs and
the prices are competitive with Mouser or Digi-Key. One of the best
features of the catalog is that it contains pinout diagrams for most of
the logic chips, and pinout diagrams *plus* a description of linear IC
functions.
On the down side, they don't have any variable capacitors -- not even a
trimmer or a varicap diode. RF experimenters don't get no respect any
more.
The catalog is marked with a price of $3.95 but I got mine free by
calling 1-800-877-0072. It's worth having around the shack just for the
IC references.
Lyle, K0LR
Subj: Rycom on ebay
Date: 97-12-03
From: DXGUY (Don L Davis)
Noted a Rycom R1307 for sale on ebay (web auction). Looks very nice,
but reserve bid seems a little high ($75.00). ebay is a good place to
browse for electronics & radios - have had a lot of fun there. I'm
not interested in the Rycom, I've got one I need to get running
myself. Anyone have a manual I could get a copy of? Thanks, enjoy
-don davis
Subj: Equipment Trade
Date: 97-12-02
From: (Robert W.P. Patterson)
Wanted: Lowfer transmitter such as a Curry to be used for beacon work.
Trade a Tandy 1400LT laptop..XT with 2 floppy drives, carrying case, AC
supply. Needs battery replaced for portable work, but works fine from
AC.
Bob Patterson K5DZE
Subject: Frequently asked questions
Date: Tue, 02 Dec 1997
From: Lyle Koehler
Strong signals from Iceland and TUK early this morning; easy copy in AM
mode rather than just detecting the carrier with a narrow CW filter. For
some reason, no LowFER DX at that time, although OK was very strong a
couple of hours after sunrise. BK has made some improvements to his new
antenna and is now on a par with SAM; both with good signals here 24
hours a day.
More later.
73 from Lyle
- (Lyle is working on ideas for a Frequently Asked Questions list and some articles for LF beginners. If you have ideas or suggestions he might find useful, feel free to e-mail him. - JHD)