Messages

16

Longwave Loggings / Russian Alpha's

« on: January 01, 2021, 0402 UTC »

At my local sunrise the last couple mornings I've been hearing the Russian Alpha navigation transmitter on 14.88 Khz.

That is an exceptionally rare experience here at my Michigan QTH.

I'm presuming it is some sunrise enhancement of the D-layer, similar to grey line on the HF bands.  If anyone has a VLF propagation resource that might explain it, please share.

Details of my station on request. 

Scott

17

Longwave Loggings / LWBC in Michigan

« on: October 10, 2020, 0331 UTC »

171 Morocco fading in and out.  Mostly out.

189 Iceland - fair to good copy.  Unusual to see them at all this early in the evening.

198 BBC is conspicuously absent.

252 Algeria is the best tonight, with a nice signal at about -80 dBm.

Perseus with Pixel Pro-B loop.

73, Scott

18

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC

« on: December 02, 2018, 0401 UTC »

Thanks Looking Glass.

It looks like more investigation on 153 Khz is warranted.

Tonight the high end of the LWBC band is working well.   On 252 Khz I heard a stn with French hosts playing what I would call a Mexican/Central American music playlist, and it faded out to be replaced by a weaker station playing a Whitney Houston song.  Nothing on the lower LWBC channels.  A few nights ago I was watching 171/183/189 play hide and seek as the paths changed.  198 was downright strong, pretty much all the evening. 

Thanks for sharing your morning gray line reception.  I was surprised to watch 189 Iceland peak up nicely a bit before local sunrise here in Michigan, when reviewing an overnight recording.  And 171 Morocco sometimes stays in here past there sunrise.

73,  Scott

19

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC

« on: November 30, 2018, 0108 UTC »

P.V.,

Thanks for the reply.  Is there a reasonably accurate LWBC log available?  Hepburn's used to be accurate.  Is it still?  It may be moot as I can't get it to even load a webpage fully, now.

Scott

20

Longwave Loggings / LWBC

« on: November 29, 2018, 0326 UTC »

I'm hearing music on 153 Khz, so will repost my earlier question.   Who occupies that channel, now?  I assume not Algeria as their modulation level was always so low as to rarely produce audio in spite of decent carrier strengths (that in the past).  Is this Romania?

Scott 

(Last few nights have been quite good for LWBC here in chilly N. Michigan.)

21

Longwave Loggings / Re: Nice night for LWBC Stations 2300 UTC 2 Nov 2018

« on: November 03, 2018, 0115 UTC »

I am seeing carriers 153/171/183/189/198, but all with only weak audio here in Michigan, except for 183 which is decently copyable.

Briefly I can catch music on 153.   Who is there, now?  I assume not Algeria as their modulation level was always so low as to rarely produce audio in spite of decent carrier strengths (that in the past).  Is this Romania?

Scott

22

Longwave Loggings / Re: LW from Minnesota 0357 UTC 14 Feb 2018

« on: February 14, 2018, 0418 UTC »

Nice loggings!

Scott

23

Longwave Loggings / LWBC in MICHIGAN - who is on 153 Kc?

« on: February 14, 2018, 0319 UTC »

Some years ago when I started listening to LWBC R. Algeria inhabited 153 Kc.  But, their modulation level was always so low that in spite of a massive carrier they were not listenable.  Kind of the exact opposite of R. Havana Cuba, on SW.  Then I seem to recall they went dark.  So I stopped checking.

Anyway, for some reason tonight I take a quick look and a station is there, and even with a decent signal for a while. 

Who is it?

0300Z

Scott

24

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 11, 2018, 0049 UTC »

171 playing what sounds like non-stop rhythm and dance mx (I said that in tribute to Atlantic 252...).  Definitely not AA mx. 

183 nicely copy-able, while 198 is quite weak.

Nothing higher in the band.  0050Z

Scott

25

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 09, 2018, 2256 UTC »

LWBC already is starting to peak through, and we are around 1/2 hour from local sunset.

Present, though weak: 171/183/189(!)/198.

Scott

26

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 09, 2018, 0116 UTC »

198 BBC is so strong tonight I can hear what my minor league experience in AM broadcast engineering tells me is a consumer grade piece of gear somewhere in the audio chain.    Yes, on the BBC.  Anyway, they are big here tonight.  171 and 183 doing pretty well, too.  Music on 234 Kc for a bit.

27

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 08, 2018, 0323 UTC »

REFMO,

Congrats on 225. 

Last night may have been one of the very very few times I have ever heard anything on 216.  But 225 is always nil here.

Signals also not as strong here, tonight.

It's been an interesting week on LW.

Scott

28

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 05, 2018, 0112 UTC »

-110 dBm is a good noise floor in this era.

Question about your loop - what kind of signal does NAA on 24 Khz lay in at your location on it?   

29

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 05, 2018, 0041 UTC »

REFMO,

I would like to compare loop performance at some point.  I may retire my Pixel and go with the Wellbrook as the loop is so much less noisy than the active whip.  But for now, the whip must dominate here.

Next on the agenda: 252 is BIG tonight (0040Z).  It looks like 171 just came up as well.  It is often on a QSB roller coaster here.  198 is in and DIW nowhere to be found.

I agree about 189 Iceland.  It is a rarity here.  I think it must be due to its northerly path.

Scott

30

Longwave Loggings / Re: LWBC in MICHIGAN

« on: February 03, 2018, 0221 UTC »

REFMO - you have a Wellbrook loop?

 I have a Pixel Pro-1B.  It is good to about 250 Kc's then runs out of gas below, in spite of their advertisement copy.  How does your loop do down low?

BTW, for usual LWBC reception I use an active whip that is German made.  A MIL/commercial marine type unit.  I extended the probe with some hard-drawn refrigeration copper tubing and it is my go-to antenna for all LW work.