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Loggings => Longwave Loggings => Topic started by: pinto vortando on December 14, 2017, 1927 UTC

Title: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 14, 2017, 1927 UTC
Some Canadian NDBs heard here recently with cool sounding names:

201  GL    La Grande Riviere  QC
224  MO   Moosonee  ON
244  DG   Chute des Passes Dangereuses  QC
256  YXN  Whale Cove  NU
328  YTL   Big Trout Lake  ON
329  YEK   Eskimo Point  NU
340  YY     Mont Joli  QC
341  YYU   Kapuskasing  ON
344  YGV  Harve St. Pierre  QC
346  YXL   Sioux Lookout  ON
351  YKQ   Fort Rupert  QC
371  GW    Great Whale River  QC

Bunch more exotic sounding ones in NWT still trying to DX.

Thank you Canadians for keeping your NDBs in service. 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 14, 2017, 2043 UTC
Some awesome names there!
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 18, 2017, 1226 UTC
some Canadian NDBs heard here 12-6 & 12-17

206  QI     Yarmouth  NS
208  YSK   Sanikiluaq  NU
209  IB     Atikokan  ON
230  YBM  St. Bruno de Guigues  QC
254  5B    Summerside  PEI
261  2H    Lebel sur Quevillon
275  R1    Thetford Mines  QC
332  YFM  La Grande 4  QC
341  ZLP   Toronto  ON
373  2Q    Mont Laurier  QC
382  7P     Iroquois Falls  ON
391  3B    Brockville  ON
 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 24, 2017, 0154 UTC
Some Canadian NDBs  12-23-17  1000-1100Z

Heard only one Maritime, 254  5B  Summerside  PEI.

Best QC DX,  323 KR  Schefferville   and 360  PN  Port Menier.

Best ON DX,  334  Fort Severn.

Otherwise, the action was all from the Prairies this morning:
244  TH    Thompson  MB
248  WG   Winnipeg  MB
250  FO    Flin Flon  MB
284  QD    The Pas  MB
317  VC    LaRonge  SK
370  YBV  Berens River  MB
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 24, 2017, 2009 UTC
12-24-17

Several Maritimes and a NU this morning.

206  QI    Yarmouth  NS
208  YSK  Sanikiluaq  NU
254  5B    Summerside  PE
350  DF    Deer Lake  NL
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 27, 2017, 0140 UTC
Double hat trick !  12-25-17  early afternoon

Got the 3 NDBs at Hamilton: 221  HM,  266  ZHM,  and 397  ZHA.
Also the 3 NDBs at Toronto (Pearson Intl.): 341  ZLP,  368  ZYZ,  and 403  ZTO.  (385  ZDH apparently decommissioned).

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 27, 2017, 1703 UTC
12-27-17   0510-0520Z

Coast to coast DX !

364  ZHZ   Halifax  NS
400  QQ     Comox  BC   

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 28, 2017, 1559 UTC
12-28-17   1220Z

Really The Great White North

350  RB   Resolute Bay  NU

We are experiencing record low temps here in MI.
It was colder here (-10F) than there (-8F) at 1200Z.   ???
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 07, 2018, 1657 UTC
All along the St. Lawrence

263  YGK   Kingston  ON
336  BV     Quebec City  QC
340  YY     Mont Joli  QC
344  YGV   Harve St.Pierre  QC
360  PN     Port Menier  QC
373  YXK   Rimouski  QC
392  ML     LaMalbaie  QC 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Pigmeat on January 08, 2018, 1815 UTC
I notice that Port Asbestos is no longer operational since Buzz Sherwood moved to California to take advantage of the loosening of laws on medicinal plants.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 13, 2018, 1515 UTC
1-13-18  1010 - 1130Z

Heard both NDBs at London  ON:  201  ZXU  and  382  XU.
Heard both NDBs at Sudbury  ON:  344  ZSB  and  362  SB.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: skeezix on January 13, 2018, 2307 UTC
Good thing that YXL (Sioux Lookout) is not in the U.S., or they would be required to change their name.

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 14, 2018, 1636 UTC
I notice that Port Asbestos is no longer operational

Looks like you may be right, can't seem to find an approved published approach for Port Asbestos.  ;)
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 14, 2018, 1706 UTC
Good thing that YXL (Sioux Lookout) is not in the U.S., or they would be required to change their name.

Shhhh... don't tell anybody but...
414  SU     Sioux City  IA
368  SOY   Sioux Center  IA  (this one has been miskeying as SOO)
245  FS     Sioux Falls  SD 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 14, 2018, 2254 UTC
Good thing that YXL (Sioux Lookout) is not in the U.S., or they would be required to change their name.

Shhhh... don't tell anybody but...
414  SU     Sioux City  IA
368  SOY   Sioux Center  IA  (this one has been miskeying as SOO)
245  FS     Sioux Falls  SD

You got me curious as to why a town in northwest Ontario would be named "Sioux" since AFAIK this is Ojibway territory.  Some quick research shows that this location was probably an Ojibway "lookout" for advancing Sioux. 

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Pigmeat on January 15, 2018, 0400 UTC
I once had a girlfriend who was from the far S.W. corner of Minnesota. The two nearest big towns were Sioux Falls, SD. and Sioux City, IA. She had sisters that lived in both and the entire bunch of those girls sounded the same to me with those twangy full vowel accents.

I'd advise you to stay far away from those beacons. The women are good looking but they all sound the same. It can cause confusion when you call to talk to your sweetie on her visit home and there is more than one of them in the house.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: KaySeeks on January 15, 2018, 2059 UTC
I once had a girlfriend who was from the far S.W. corner of Minnesota... I'd advise you to stay far away from those beacons. The women are good looking but they all sound the same.

Interesting that the women all (seemingly) must have spoken in CW. Did any of them have a better fist than the other? Was one better at straight key than the others? It's OK to tell me these private details. No one else is here reading them.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on February 11, 2018, 1656 UTC
BC has been scarce here in MI this season but 359 YQZ Quesnel and 368 ZP Sandspit showed up early this morning.

Speaking of season...  enjoy it while you can as the T-storm static is coming back.  Lots of crashes yesterday morning with activity in TX, LA, MS and again this morning with action in the FL panhandle and west along the Gulf coast.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on March 05, 2018, 2341 UTC
Some Canadian DX heard here recently:

212  YGX    Gillam  MB
212  SJ       St. John  NB
232  GP      Gaspe  QC
269  UDE    Delta  MB
280  QX      Gander  NL
385  WL     Williams Lake  BC
390  JT       Stephenville  NL
520  F9       Miramichi  NB
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on March 17, 2018, 1736 UTC
254 5B Summerside PEI was booming in here early this morning but strangely the only Maritime in the log book for today.   ???
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on April 02, 2018, 0019 UTC
Some late season NDB action over the Easter weekend.

Most of the activity was out West:
212  YGX Gillam  MB
248  WG  Winnipeg  MB
284  QD   The Pas   MB
287  ZWG Winnipeg  MB
290  QR   Regina  SK
305  YQ  Churchill  MB
317  VC  LaRonge  SK
350  NY  Enderby  BC
368  ZP   Sandspit  BC
370  YBV  Berens River  MB
385  QV  Yorkton  SK


Maritimes:

212  SJ   St. John  NB
254  5B   Summerside  PE


North:

208  YSK   Sanikiluaq  NU
323  KR     Schefferville  QC
334  YER   Fort Severn  ON
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 20, 2018, 1801 UTC
Lots of QRN this morning but managed to log a new one for me.
388  MM  Ft. McMurray  AB
Surprisingly good DX (1500+mi) for this time of year.   :)
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: jFarley on May 21, 2018, 1812 UTC
MM is a nice log for this time of year, pv!
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 22, 2018, 2354 UTC
Heard  390  JT  Stephenville  NL (1250 mi) about an hour before sunrise here this morning...  interesting given that they would be in daylight.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on May 23, 2018, 0225 UTC
You got me curious as to why a town in northwest Ontario would be named "Sioux" since AFAIK this is Ojibway territory.  Some quick research shows that this location was probably an Ojibway "lookout" for advancing Sioux.

Yes sir and also MI's Upper Peninsula. Ojibwa/Chippewa territory.  Ironically then, SAULT STE. MARIE, MI...that's in CHIPPEWA County.

Why is it that we all live in the same place?

"Theeeere is a town...in north Ontario-ooh..."  8)
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 23, 2018, 1216 UTC


Yes sir and also MI's Upper Peninsula. Ojibwa/Chippewa territory.  Ironically then, SAULT STE. MARIE, MI...that's in CHIPPEWA County.

Why is it that we all live in the same place?

"Theeeere is a town...in north Ontario-ooh..."  8)

If my ancient memory can remember my high school French from many ages ago, "sault" is French for "rapids" as in a river.  Although it is pronounced "soo".

Do you use that Satellit 750 for longwave?  How does it work out for you?
How's the DX in the U.P. ?  Does all that copper in the ground help or hurt reception?
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on June 05, 2018, 2241 UTC
Well you're right about the French word! My mistake.

I haven't checked out TOO much LW but I just saved all these frequencies to see if I can pull em in sumtime. I have heard several beacons and I'd like to learn Morse code so I figure I'll try to copy sum NBDs!  Also pretty close to Canada. Question:

●what does it mean to be "non-directional"? Don't the beacons come from a fixed location? What is their purpose?
● I'm hearing (24/7) a beacon on 335 KHz.  I think it's NOT coming from 328 or 341 bcuz it's clear when I set BANDWIDTH to NARROW...smack dab on 335 KHz, with ANTENNA pointed WEST from my location.

AND, that beacon 335 KHz...is it saying 'QT'? Cuz that's what I hear and I'm just learning basic Morse code


●Oh and my Grundig has a 3.5mm port for "LW/MW ANTENNA"...it attaches to the 360° rotatable ferrite antenna. What's the deal w that? Is there a good antenna I can attach for LW/MW?

hey sry I didn't respond to ur msg until now. I've been enjoying perusing other areas of this awesome website
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on June 06, 2018, 0343 UTC
The beacons send the Morse slowly enough that you can write down the dots and dashes and decode it later.  In fact, most pilots don't know Morse.  The dots and dashes are printed out for them on various navigational charts next to the beacon location.  However, learning Morse (called CW by Hams) can be rewarding.  Go to the ARRL website and look up the W1AW code practice schedule.  They transmit code practice sessions every evening on various frequencies.  They put in a good signal here usually on 40 meters 7047.5 khz.  Put your 750 in SSB mode and fine tune in the code with the BFO knob.

NDB stands for "Non-Directional Beacon" which actually means that the beacon transmits in a pattern equally in all directions.  They are used for aeronautical navigation.  The aircraft is equipped with a radio called an ADF (automatic direction finder) that when tuned to the beacon frequency drives an instrument with a pointer that points the direction to the station.  This technology has been around for a long time and has been largely superceded by newer technologies the most recent being GPS.  Therefore, many NDBs have been and are being phased out.  Enjoy them while you can.

That beacon QT that you are hearing is a Canadian across the Lake from you located in Thunder Bay Ontario.  It actually transmits on 332.  From your location you are well positioned to be able to hear lots of Canadian beacons.  Fortunately, the Canadians have not been phasing out their beacons as much as in the U.S.  Often, the NDB is the only navigational aid available at many very remote Canadian airstrips. 

However, you will need a good antenna to get the most out of your 750.  That rotatable ferrite will pull in only the strongest nearest signals.  The nice thing about the 750 though, as you have noticed, is the ability to connect an external antenna to the 3.5 mm jack on the ferrite bar.  Go to the Universal Radio website and get a mono-mini to SO-239 adapter (their part #1619) that will plug into the 3.5 mm port.  Get a pre-assembled RG-8X coax with PL-259 connectors on each end.  Universal sells them in various lengths from 25' to 100'.  The coax will run from the adapter to your antenna.  My suggestion would be the  EF-SWL antenna (Universal #2205).  Or you can homebrew your own antenna with whatever wire you may have around.  All kinds of antenna plans on the internet.  Just be sure to disconnect the antenna when not in use to protect from lightning damage.  (btw, you can also use that EF-SWL antenna for shortwave listening on your 750... get adapter Universal #2122 and connect to the BNC connector labelled SW on the right hand side of the 750 and make sure the INT/EXT antenna switch is in external EXT). 

Hope this helps get you started.  Any questions, just ask.

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on June 10, 2018, 0810 UTC
Thnx! Haha yea Thunder Bay...makes perfect sense.

I'm taking a liking to CW...I seem to catch on quick...my father was a HAM...electrical engineer and he was pretty much exclusively CW Dx. He was always taking the sweepstakes...

So I'm enjoying this...I like Morse code. I'm taking a liking to it.

And hell I'm not doing bad! So far I have not misidentified CW traffic. This is right up my alley. I swear--i'll be proficient soon enough!

 just wanted to thank ya for the advice and especially the CW practice frequencies!

 and btw I was hearing sum of these NDBs just now...

362 KHz 'SB'...Sudbury, ON   8)

I tell ya tho...I'd love to be in Europe with the LW. Is North American LW pretty much just beacons? Does anyone talk in this range?

Anyway I'm pickin up Morse fast. I'm a musician. I know my mother always said she couldn't tell the diff between a dot and a dash. Weird!

Thnx again for your help! I'll be monitoring the NDBs I'll check back with you guy! peace!

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on June 10, 2018, 1859 UTC
Hmm...if the NDBs  are transmitting 360°....not pointed anywhere in particular...why are they called "non-directional" beacons instead of "omni-directional" beacons? :o
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on June 11, 2018, 0027 UTC
Thnx! Haha yea Thunder Bay...makes perfect sense.

I'm taking a liking to CW...I seem to catch on quick...my father was a HAM...electrical engineer and he was pretty much exclusively CW Dx. He was always taking the sweepstakes...

So I'm enjoying this...I like Morse code. I'm taking a liking to it.

And hell I'm not doing bad! So far I have not misidentified CW traffic. This is right up my alley. I swear--i'll be proficient soon enough!

 just wanted to thank ya for the advice and especially the CW practice frequencies!

 and btw I was hearing sum of these NDBs just now...

362 KHz 'SB'...Sudbury, ON   8)

I tell ya tho...I'd love to be in Europe with the LW. Is North American LW pretty much just beacons? Does anyone talk in this range?

Anyway I'm pickin up Morse fast. I'm a musician. I know my mother always said she couldn't tell the diff between a dot and a dash. Weird!

Thnx again for your help! I'll be monitoring the NDBs I'll check back with you guy! peace!

Being a musician, CW (Morse) will probably come naturally to you.  Worked with an engineer at a TV station once a while ago who could easily copy 30+ wpm.  He also had a night time gig at a neighborhood bar as the piano player.  This guy could play anything you cared to mention off the top of his head... amazing.

There is no LW broadcasting in the U.S.  Pretty much limited to Europe and Africa.

Summer is not the best time for LW DXing.  Too much T-storm static in the air.  However, beacons can still be heard.  Early morning a couple of hours before sunrise is usually best.
Try putting your 750 in SSB mode and tune very slowly and listen very carefully.  Headphones are also a big help as many of the signals are very faint.

Plug an external antenna into that jack on the ferrite bar.  You will be able to hear many more beacons.

Here are some commonly heard beacons that should be copyable from your location with a good antenna:
245  YZE    Gore Bay  ON
276  YEL    Elliot Lake  ON
328  YTL    Big Trout Lake  ON
329  YHN   Hornepayne  ON
346  YXL    Sioux Lookout  ON
379  DL     Duluth  MN
382  YPL    Pickle Lake  ON
400  CI      Sault Ste. Marie  MI
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on June 11, 2018, 0052 UTC
Hmm...if the NDBs  are transmitting 360°....not pointed anywhere in particular...why are they called "non-directional" beacons instead of "omni-directional" beacons? :o

Good question...  have wondered about this myself.  Apparently a matter of semantics.  Nondirectional and omnideirctional essentially mean the same thing in that the signal is transmitted equally in all directions.  In actual practice, a low band NDB transmits a signal in all directions but no directional information is contained on the signal.  The automatic direction finder (ADF) in the aircraft along with the associated loop and sense antennas figures out the direction to the station and drives a pointer needle on an instrument that points the direction to the station.  A VHF Omni station (VOR) also transmits a signal equally in all directions but directional information is placed on the signal.   The omni receiving equipment in the aircraft can tell which radial "to" or "from" the station that the aircraft is on.  Flying using a NDB requires considerably more skill than that required to use a VOR as it is much more difficult to correct for wind drift when using just a NDB.  When using a VOR the pilot just has to keep the aircraft on the VOR radial.  With the NDB, there is no radial.  Although both NDBs and VORs transmit equally in all directions, the subtle difference is that the NDB transmits no directional information whereas the VOR does. Both NDBs and VORs are gradually disappearing as GPS replaces them.

Anyway, hope this all isn't too confusing.  There are plenty of books and information on the internet that can explain this way better than me. 

 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on June 12, 2018, 1424 UTC
The beacons send the Morse slowly enough that you can write down the dots and dashes and decode it later.  In fact, most pilots don't know Morse.  The dots and dashes are printed out for them on various navigational charts next to the beacon location.  However, learning Morse (called CW by Hams) can be rewarding.  Go to the ARRL website and look up the W1AW code practice schedule.  They transmit code practice sessions every evening on various frequencies.  They put in a good signal here usually on 40 meters 7047.5 khz.  Put your 750 in SSB mode and fine tune in the code with the BFO knob.

NDB stands for "Non-Directional Beacon" which actually means that the beacon transmits in a pattern equally in all directions.  They are used for aeronautical navigation.  The aircraft is equipped with a radio called an ADF (automatic direction finder) that when tuned to the beacon frequency drives an instrument with a pointer that points the direction to the station.  This technology has been around for a long time and has been largely superceded by newer technologies the most recent being GPS.  Therefore, many NDBs have been and are being phased out.  Enjoy them while you can.

That beacon QT that you are hearing is a Canadian across the Lake from you located in Thunder Bay Ontario.  It actually transmits on 332.  From your location you are well positioned to be able to hear lots of Canadian beacons.  Fortunately, the Canadians have not been phasing out their beacons as much as in the U.S.  Often, the NDB is the only navigational aid available at many very remote Canadian airstrips. 

However, you will need a good antenna to get the most out of your 750.  That rotatable ferrite will pull in only the strongest nearest signals.  The nice thing about the 750 though, as you have noticed, is the ability to connect an external antenna to the 3.5 mm jack on the ferrite bar.  Go to the Universal Radio website and get a mono-mini to SO-239 adapter (their part #1619) that will plug into the 3.5 mm port.  Get a pre-assembled RG-8X coax with PL-259 connectors on each end.  Universal sells them in various lengths from 25' to 100'.  The coax will run from the adapter to your antenna.  My suggestion would be the  EF-SWL antenna (Universal #2205).  Or you can homebrew your own antenna with whatever wire you may have around.  All kinds of antenna plans on the internet.  Just be sure to disconnect the antenna when not in use to protect from lightning damage.  (btw, you can also use that EF-SWL antenna for shortwave listening on your 750... get adapter Universal #2122 and connect to the BNC connector labelled SW on the right hand side of the 750 and make sure the INT/EXT antenna switch is in external EXT). 

Hope this helps get you started.  Any questions, just ask.

Hey buddy this is TOTALLY awesome advice, especially regarding EXT antenna to connect...honestly I've been trying to figure that out. The adapters and the coax and all this...but now u gave me superb advice and I thank you very much. Even including item # for some of the equipment? Thanx man!
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on June 15, 2018, 1453 UTC
I'm just learning Morse...last night I copied 382 KHz. ..listed here as Iroquois Falls, ON...

on the list here I read that the CW says 7P...but I think I heard 'YPL'.

Do u know if that's correct?
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: jFarley on June 15, 2018, 1539 UTC
Yes; YPL is correct, and is also on 382 kHz.  7B has an offset of ~1015 Hz, while YPL (the dominant Canadian on this freq) has offsets of approx +/- 400 Hz.

The best most up to date NDB listing can be found at: https://www.classaxe.com/dx/ndb/rna/signal_list

Here there are very good search capabilities to help you ID what you hear, and this is an invaluable resource for the NDB DXer.

If you are interested in being a part of the global NDB community, I suggest subscribing to the NDB list group, which can be found at: https://groups.io/g/ndblist

joe

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on June 16, 2018, 0059 UTC
Given your location you probably heard YPL.  It puts out a good signal.  In fact, at night it covers the more local to me XU London ON on the same freq.
Try www.dxinfocentre.com.  Lots of good stuff there including a list of NDBs. 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on July 22, 2018, 1455 UTC
Quebec in here this morning 1 1/2 hours before sunrise:

338  ZEM   Eastmain  QC
340  YY     Mont Joli   QC
344  YGV   Harve St. Pierre  QC
351  YKQ   Ft. Rupert  QC
366  YMW  Maniwaki  QC
373  2Q     Mt. Laurier  QC

edit:  just occurred to me that YY and YGV would have been in daylight

Couple more early this morning 7-23-18:

360  PN    Port Menier  QC
373  YXK  Rimouski  QC

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on August 11, 2018, 1831 UTC
Noisy conditions early this morning, lots of T-storm QRN as the WX map showed lots of storms mostly across the southern and eastern States. 
Heard only a few beacons in Ontario, all fairly local.  So was quite surprised to hear 206  QI  Yarmouth  NS in here with a rather nice signal.
FWIW, a nearly 900 mile path, most of it would have been in twilight.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on August 12, 2018, 1637 UTC
260  YAT Attawapiskat ON and 260  UFX St. Felix deValois mixing in the heavy QRN this morning.
Also was able to pull 289  YLQ LaTuque QC and 300  Ogoki Post ON out of the DGPS band din.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on September 05, 2018, 2359 UTC
Band was very quiet early this morning.
385  QV  Yorkton  SK  had a good signal in here.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on September 09, 2018, 1433 UTC
Pulled these out of the DGPS band this morning:

289  YLQ   Latuque  QC
290  QR    Regina SK
291  9Q    Amos  QC
300  YOG  Ogoki Post  ON
305  YQ    Churchill  MB
317  ZZR  Trenton  ON
317  ZMX  Montreal  QC
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on September 09, 2018, 1435 UTC
Hat Trick !

Three NDBs at Hamilton  ON  heard this morning:

221  HM
266  ZHM
397  ZHA

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on September 30, 2018, 1534 UTC
Fall season conditions continue to improve with less QRN.
Some Canadians heard here this weekend that are not received here too often:

206  QI    Yarmouth  NS
209  IB    Atikokan  ON
212  SJ    St. John  NB
244  DG   Chute des Passes Dangereuses  QC
305  YQ    Churchill  MB
323  KR    Schefferville  QC
344  ZSB  Sudbury  ON
350  DF    Deer Lake  NL
362  SB    Sudbury  ON
371  GW   Great Whale River  QC

Propagation was especially good to the East with loud sigs from the Maritimes.

362 SB usually comes in here strong day and night... it was included because
the other beacon there, 344 ZSB, is rarely heard here ???
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on October 27, 2018, 1116 UTC
11:45z WEBEQUIE 355 KHZ 'YWP'

11:50z INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN
353 KHz 'IN'

Also I'm copying good ol' DULUTH, MN...379 KHz 'DL'.

Btw I'm actually geographically closer to WINNIPEG than I am to DETROIT! like 15 miles closer
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on October 27, 2018, 1150 UTC
Fall season conditions continue to improve with less QRN.

Yeah I should say so! I haven't listened in a few months...right now atm I hear NDBs all over the place! woot!
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: [tRMZ] on October 27, 2018, 1155 UTC
There is no LW broadcasting in the U.S.  Pretty much limited to Europe and Africa.

Okay! SO...what's with these Michigan NDBs? Oh...NDBs is not "broadcasting"?

Yeah I'd sure like to hear Radio Polska 225 KHz but I'm dreaming! So, LW is popular in Europe + Africa bcuz of its "ground propagation"? Since there are so many different countries and languages  right next to each other?

What about real "satellite" radios? ...is all that European LW broadcasting available via satellite radio?
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: jFarley on October 27, 2018, 1601 UTC
There is no LW broadcasting in the U.S.  Pretty much limited to Europe and Africa.

Yeah I'd sure like to hear Radio Polska 225 KHz but I'm dreaming!

This is the year, this is the season.  Try each nite between approx 0000 and 0400.  Astounding things happen down there.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on October 27, 2018, 1810 UTC
Good propagation all directions this morning:

206  QI    Yarmouth  NS
208  YSK  Sanikiluaq  NU
232  GP    Gaspe  QC
235  9H    LaGrande 3  QC
242  XC    Cranbrook  BC
254  5B    Summerside  PE
305  YQ    Churchill  MB
332  YFM  LaGrande 4  QC
334  YER  Fort Severn  ON
338  YPX  Puvirnituq  QC
350  DF    Deer Lake  NL
350  NY    Enderby  BC  (heard mixing with DF...  coast to coast DX)
360  PN    Port Menier  QC
371  GW   Great Whale River  QC
390  VP    Kuujjuaq  QC
395  YL    Lynn Lake  MB
396  YPH  Port Harrison  QC
 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on November 03, 2018, 2016 UTC
Good band conditions early this morning,  highlights were several new ones for me
to the far northeast:

265  YKO   Akulivik  QC
277  YLC   Lake Harbor Kimmirut Baffin Is.  NU
281  CA    Cartwright  NL

Otherwise, logged lots of Prairie beacons:

212  YGX    Gillam  MB
269  UDE    Delta  MB
284  QD     The Pas  MB
290  QR      Regina  SK
300  YIV     Island Lake  MB
305  YQ      Churchill  MB
336  LF       LaSalle  MB

Finally, logged the far west as the propagation seemed to shift that way
about an hour before local sunrise:

368  ZP    Sandspit  BC
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on November 19, 2018, 0045 UTC
204  YFY    Frobisher Bay  NU
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: jFarley on November 20, 2018, 1606 UTC
Nice one!
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on November 21, 2018, 2253 UTC
214  K8  Nemiscau  QC 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 16, 2018, 1527 UTC
Propagation has been so-so recently but have managed to log some Canadians heard here for the first time...

200  UAB   Anahim Lake  BC
205  YRQ   Trois Rivieres  QC
206  XBE   Bearskin Lake  ON
213  YRC   Saguenay  QC
230  ZUC   Ignace  ON
347  PA     Prince Albert  SK 

Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 22, 2018, 1556 UTC
Some beacons heard this morning in the really Great White North:

Heard this one last month for the first time but it seems a regular in here lately:
204  YFY  Frobisher Bay  NU

Been looking for this one for quite a while.  Never had a solid ID on it in the past
but had nice sigs in here this morning:
214  YIO  Pond Inlet  NU

This one was booming in here stomping out the more local to me SB Sudbury ON:
(Sudbury usually heard here day and night with strong sigs but was buried this morning.)
362  YZS  Coral Harbor  NU   

So... Take Off to the Great White North...
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 29, 2018, 1900 UTC
LW band conditions mediocre at best here this morning with propagation
mostly to the east featuring lots of Quebec for some reason
including these not heard here very often:
 
241  DG    Chute des Passes Dangereuses
261  2H    Lebel sur Quevillon
275  R1    Thetford Mines
291  9Q    Amos
343  ZBM  Bromont 

Otherwise, heard only 2 beacons west of Ontario:

269  UDE    Delta  MB
400  QQ     Comox  BC
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 30, 2018, 1829 UTC
Pipeline to Nova Scotia this morning:
 
206  QI     Yarmouth
263  QY     Sydney
266  YZX   Greenwood
all with good sigs

Still hearing lots of Quebec including:

220  BX    Lourdes de Blanc Sablon
230  YBM  St. Bruno de Guigues

Propagation also shifted somewhat to the West
since yesterday allowing these Prairie beacons
to be heard with nice sigs:

212  YGX    Gillam  MB
244  TH      Thompson  MB
284  QD     The Pas  MB
290  QR      Regina  SK
300  YIV     Island Lake  MB (only got the "V" clearly on this one
                                          mixing with YOG in the soup)
305  YQ      Churchill  MB

Propagation North-South practically nonexistent
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 12, 2019, 1914 UTC
Northern Ontario loud in here this morning.
The following beacons had especially strong sigs:

326  VV    Wiarton
328  YTL   Big Trout Lake
334  YER   Fort Severn
335  YLD   Chapleau
346  YXL   Sioux Lookout
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on February 06, 2019, 1059 UTC
235  9H  La Grande 3  QC and 332  YFM  La Grande 4  QC  both with good sigs here this morning.
YFM especially loud, covering QT Thunder Bay ON also on 332.
These beacons are associated with airports located near Hydro-Quebec generating stations,
looks like a massive project.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on March 17, 2019, 2024 UTC
Log 'em while you can.
Looks like many Canadian NDBs are scheduled to be decommissioned
beginning in April and continuing in phases over the next seven years.
Log 'em while you can.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on April 26, 2019, 1334 UTC
Yesterday was the scheduled beginning of the phased decommissioning of many NDBs in Canada. 
247 YLH, 283 PT, and 329 YHN normally have a good signal in here at my QTH but could hear none of them this morning. 
Looks like they may have gone SK.   :(
So, log what you can while you can.   
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: R4002 on May 17, 2019, 1823 UTC
Log 'em while you can.
Looks like many Canadian NDBs are scheduled to be decommissioned
beginning in April and continuing in phases over the next seven years.
Log 'em while you can.

Even the more rural parts of Canada?  Are they going to decommission the entire NDB network?  I don't like the idea of relying entirely on GPS for airnav.  Good to have a backup.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Josh on May 17, 2019, 2000 UTC
Log 'em while you can.
Looks like many Canadian NDBs are scheduled to be decommissioned
beginning in April and continuing in phases over the next seven years.
Log 'em while you can.

Even the more rural parts of Canada?  Are they going to decommission the entire NDB network?  I don't like the idea of relying entirely on GPS for airnav.  Good to have a backup.

Agreed, gps systems are vulnerable to attack from natural and man made vectors, so mothballing these stations would be a good idea. The sun could fart and wipe out a number of satellite systems, some bad actor could hack gps and ruin it or attack it directly - gps will be one of the first things to go in a major war. That being said, will aircraft still have mw/vlf rdf abilities in 7 years?
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 17, 2019, 2138 UTC
The decommissioning... er "modernization"... will take place in phases over the next seven years.
Not all NDBs will be shut down, about 70 will be spared the ax (including a lot of the exotic "North of 60" beacons).

Same thing happening in the U.S.  Fewer and fewer NDB approaches or approaches that even require an ADF.
Not just NDBs... looks like many VORs and marker beacons are also on the way out.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 30, 2019, 1549 UTC
Heard early this morning some beacons from the Great White North:

206  QI     Yarmouth      NS
212  SJ     St. John        NB
284  RT     Rankin Inlet  NU
300  YIV    Island Lake   MB
323  KR     Schefferville  QC
329  YEK   Eskimo Point  NU
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Funkspiel on December 30, 2019, 2044 UTC
Wow nice DX.  I've been trying Rankin Inlet every night but I can never hear it well enough to copy behind Old Crow  >:(.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on December 30, 2019, 2206 UTC
Wow nice DX.  I've been trying Rankin Inlet every night but I can never hear it well enough to copy behind Old Crow  >:(.

Thought you were referring to the bourbon there for a moment but then realized you meant the NDB YOC in the Yukon.   ;)
Anyway, IIRC, RT is not currently scheduled to be decommissioned and may even have its power increased so hopefully you will yet get to log it.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Funkspiel on December 30, 2019, 2354 UTC
Quote
Thought you were referring to the bourbon there for a moment but then realized you meant the NDB YOC in the Yukon

Lol, I don't normally drink at the radio unless I'm on 80 meters.  ;D

Quote
Anyway, IIRC, RT is not currently scheduled to be decommissioned and may even have its power increased so hopefully you will yet get to log it.

Tonight is my last night in the Yukon for a while. I'll be pulling an all-nighter to try and get as many of these stations as possible.
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: jFarley on December 31, 2019, 0135 UTC
Wow nice DX.  I've been trying Rankin Inlet every night but I can never hear it well enough to copy behind Old Crow  >:(.

I've been checking for YOC every nite but RT is always in the way :)
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: Funkspiel on December 31, 2019, 0405 UTC
Quote
I've been checking for YOC every nite but RT is always in the way :)

Wanna trade?
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 24, 2020, 2204 UTC
332  YFM  La Grande 4  QC
Heard @2130Z, the path was still daylight... 880 mi. 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 10, 2020, 1439 UTC
Propagation generally poor early this morning but a pipeline into Manitoba for some reason.

212  YGX   Gillam  MB
244  TH     Thompson  MB
248  WG    Winnipeg  MB   big signal
269  UDE   Delta  MB
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on May 17, 2020, 1402 UTC
284  QD  The Pas  MB...    couldn't figure this one out at first, it is apparently miskeying as AA S. 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on October 17, 2020, 1307 UTC
Not much propagation to the North this morning, the action was all out West.

212  YGX   Gillam  MB
244  TH     Thompson  MB
248  WG    Winnipeg  MB
250  FO     Flin Flon  MB
290  QR     Regina  SK
300  YIV    Island Lake  MB
317  VC     LaRonge  SK 
Title: Re: Take Off to the Great White North
Post by: pinto vortando on January 14, 2022, 1404 UTC
The decommissioning continues, coming up on phase 7 of 12, but still plenty of Canadians to be heard.
Here is a list of several beacons heard here recently all with nice signals:

206  QI    Yarmouth  NS
248  WG   Winnipeg  MB
326  FC    Fredericton  NB
332  QT   Thunder Bay  ON
332  YFM  LaGrande4  QC
340  YY    Mont-Joli  QC
346  YXL  Sioux Lookout  ON
351  YKQ  Fort Rupert  QC
360  PN    Port Menier  QC
362  SB    Sudbury  ON
371  GW   Great Whale River  QC

...so take off...log 'em before they are gone.