HFU HF Underground

Loggings => HF Beacons => Topic started by: ChrisSmolinski on September 28, 2021, 1220 UTC

Title: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 28, 2021, 1220 UTC
While checking for Windy and the Desert Whooper, I noticed some CW on 4094.85 kHz. Sounded like it could be a beacon, but  a very weak signal Here's a recording:

https://radiohobbyist.org/blog/mypics/4094.8-28-Sep-2021-11.13.13UTC.mp3
Title: Re: UNID Beacon 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: Teotwaki on September 28, 2021, 1447 UTC
I was also listening to DW and saw this beacon off to the left, slowly puttering out "SFI". I am hearing this beacon at home right now. No mean feat to make it over the urban noise.

I double checked what I heard by tuning in on the KFS SE kiwi

Format

sends 8 slow dashes
sends "SFI" twice, very slow CW

Congrats to the builder   ;D
Title: Re: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 28, 2021, 1825 UTC
Yes, congrats to the builder!

I also feel pretty happy hearing it here out east. Catching a new west coast 4 MHz beacon here is tough.  :P
Title: Re: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 29, 2021, 1106 UTC
SFI suddenly appeared at 1103 UTC this morning, 29 SEP 2021.

Any chance of an eQSL from the op?  ;D
Title: Re: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: Teotwaki on September 29, 2021, 1230 UTC
Good signal all over the west on various kiwi SDR locations including Canada and Hawaii.

Speculation:

5 watts RF power into horizontal 1/2 wave dipole

The slow CW sounds like a memorized “fist” and not micro controller generated.
Title: Re: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: Teotwaki on September 30, 2021, 0434 UTC
Didn't hear SFI most of the day. Somewhere in the last hour I noticed it on the waterfall display, about 20dB over the noise floor.
Title: Re: SFI 4094.85 CW 1113 UTC 28 SEP 2021
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on September 30, 2021, 1103 UTC
SFI appeared here suddenly at 1101 UTC, I was already receiving the Desert Whooper for some time.