HFU HF Underground

General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: ChrisSmolinski on November 23, 2015, 1732 UTC

Title: 90 meters
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on November 23, 2015, 1732 UTC

The good news is that reception was pretty good last night for WMID's 3442 kHz transmission.

The bad news is that if the ionosphere continues to weaken, 120 meters may be the next step. The blue trace shows the foF2 value for last night:

(http://i.imgur.com/BHfvnix.png)

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: Kilokat7 on November 24, 2015, 0239 UTC

WMID sounded really good here last night on 90 meters.  I think the last pirate I caught on 90 meters was WTCR "Twentieth Century Radio" and this was many years ago.  I also remember hearing MAC Shortwave many times on 90 meters during that time.  It was nice to hear some activity there again but be mindful of the aeronautical band and the MARS frequencies down in that area of the spectrum.  As always, do your homework first.

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: WMID on November 24, 2015, 1510 UTC

That WMID transmission was only 65 watts carrier and a simple Inverted V antenna, about 55 feet hi at the apex.

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: jFarley on November 24, 2015, 1514 UTC

As posted, you were around S9 here and sounding great.

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: redhat on November 28, 2015, 2201 UTC

For the rest of us pondering a (rather expensive) move, can someone recommend a frequency or range of frequencies to monitor as a 43M alternate down there?  MARS doesn't bother me much, but ATC would be something I'd want to stay away from.

+-RH

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: James Brownyard on November 29, 2015, 0014 UTC

3455 and 3485 are good frequencies to avoid.

Title: Re: 90 meters
Post by: John Poet on December 01, 2015, 1942 UTC

Other than the NY Air-weather on 3485 kHz USB, and whatever that is on 3455, the spectrum between 3400 and 3500 seems fairly barren.  Even major portions of the 90 meter broadcast band from 3.2 to 3.4 may be usable with so many stations disappearing from shortwave.

I used to operate TCS a lot on 3275 kHz AM back in 2006-08.  MAC Shortwave used to use 3200, right between the two US powerhouse shortwaves which were on 3185 and 3215.