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Author Topic: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons  (Read 4422 times)

Offline Exo

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8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« on: August 26, 2018, 0023 UTC »
A thread looking at some of the western USA beacons on 8 MHz.
This may include harmonics of intended 4 MHz beacons.


If you find these detailed reports useful or interesting, please take a moment to reply with any comments.


Log report
2342 UTC 25AUG2018
8191.72 kHz - dash, ~4 second duration, weak readable (likely harmonic of 4095.86 kHz) , ( possibly Viking or Coxie ? )
8192.76 kHz - dash, 2.3 second duration, weak readable (likely harmonic of 4096.38 kHz) , ( possibly Haystack, 200 mW? )
8193.72 kHz - dits, 1.1 dits per second, weak readable, (likely harmonic of 4096.86 kHz) , ( possibly MarinDit, 15 mW? )

PLAY AUDIO 8193.72 kHz dits 2315UTC 2018AUG25

PLAY AUDIO 8191.50 kHz listening in USB mode with all 3 beacons at 2308UTC 25AUG2018

Below: Here's a waterfall image around 8192 kHz with the three signals logged at 2342UTC 25AUG2018.


« Last Edit: January 02, 2019, 0545 UTC by Exo »
Exo
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2018, 1523 UTC »
Very interesting, thanks for sharing. I'm on the east coast, and may give this a try , in the early evening here, when I might get propagation to the west coast on 8 MHz, especially a little later in the year.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
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Offline syfr

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2018, 1937 UTC »
Likewise...appreciate the post
Kiwsdr x 2. TenTec Paragon/NRD535

Offline Exo

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2018, 0450 UTC »
Report
0430UTC 08SEP2018
8200.15 kHz "D" Morse Beacon, repetition 3 seconds, weak readable, deep fading

PLAY AUDIO 8200.15 kHz D Morse Beacon at 0430UTC 08SEP2018

Note: this "D" beacon was previously reported by: mark-n-nut on June 27, 2018. see previous post.


Below: Waterfall image of 8200.15 kHz "D" Morse Beacon at 0430UTC 08SEP2018




While looking for 4 MHz beacon harmonics, this "D" Morse Beacon was found on 8 MHz.
No other "D" beacons were copied today on 4 MHz.
The "H" beacon could clearly be heard simultaneously on 4100.05 kHz, which is just about half the frequency of 8200.15 but not exactly.
« Last Edit: September 08, 2018, 0556 UTC by Exo »
Exo
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Offline Exo

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2018, 2015 UTC »
Report
2001 UTC 2018 NOV 06, local high noon.

8191.86 kHz, CW, "Viking", dasher beacon, harmonic of 4095.93 kHz fundamental, audible weak readable
8192.76 kHz, CW, "Haystack", dasher beacon, harmonic of 4096.38 kHz fundamental, inaudible very weak, faintly visible on waterfall

Waterfall image below: 8192 kHz Viking and Haystack dasher beacon harmonics 2018NOV06 2001UTC:
« Last Edit: November 06, 2018, 2019 UTC by Exo »
Exo
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kiwiSDR receiver on private LAN for multi-freq HF monitoring.

Offline Exo

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2019, 0111 UTC »
Report
2019JAN21 0106UTC just before local sunset


8191.50 kHz, CW, "Viking", dasher beacon, (harmonic of 4095.75 kHz fundamental) , weak readable, -128 dBm
8192.71 kHz, CW, "Haystack", dasher beacon, (harmonic of 4096.35 kHz fundamental) , good readable, -120 dBm.

Note: Both beacons were also received simultaneously on their 4 MHz fundamental frequencies.

Local ionogram image below of the Pt. Arguello Digisonde for the report time:
« Last Edit: January 21, 2019, 0216 UTC by Exo »
Exo
HF aficionado. On the coast of northern California.
Various receivers, transceivers, and broadband antennas.
kiwiSDR receiver on private LAN for multi-freq HF monitoring.

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2019, 1104 UTC »
I can't even hear the fundamentals of the 4096 beacons anymore, but you're getting the harmonics...  :-X
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
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Offline Exo

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2019, 1911 UTC »
I can't even hear the fundamentals of the 4096 beacons anymore, but you're getting the harmonics...  :-X

Logging these itsy bitsy emitters is a dirty job.
But, somebody's gotta do it ;)

Totally serendipitous, being located at just the right NVIS distance to hear a milliwatt pin drop out there in the high desert.

Sorry to rub it in, Chris.
But, the shoe is on the other foot, for those elusive east coast pirate stations that you seem to catch with amazing frequency.
Exo
HF aficionado. On the coast of northern California.
Various receivers, transceivers, and broadband antennas.
kiwiSDR receiver on private LAN for multi-freq HF monitoring.

Offline KandiKlover

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2023, 2116 UTC »
Hello,

I was looking for the 8191.7 4 second dasher listed on the wiki chart the past week. Haven't been able to hear it but in the search I turned up a 3 second dasher on 8191.8 kHz

Anyone else picking up a 3 second dash on 8191.8? I was hitting up the KFS omni SDR hoping to cheat for better luck when I found it.

Surfing around 2100 UTC daytime I usually spot it in the local afternoon with the way propagation is lately. No luck on Radio Ranch ND7M or Sedona W7RNA hearing it.

Offline KandiKlover

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2023, 0043 UTC »
Also found a ditter now on 8194.5

Offline ~SIGINT~

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Re: 8 MHz Western USA Beacons
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2023, 0050 UTC »
00:45 UTC - I get occasional data bursts up in my part of the world (N.E. Canada).