Messages

811

Longwave Loggings / Daytime NDB DXing

« on: December 24, 2017, 0214 UTC »

Had some time to look through some NDB loggings from the past year or so with particular attention to daytime DX reception. 
For sake of discussion, day DX being anything greater than 400 miles (640 km).

329  YHN   Hornepayne  ON  459 mi
351  YKQ   Fort Rupert  QC   642 mi
360  PN     Port Menier  QC   1020 mi
366  YMW  Maniwaki  QC      436 mi
392  ML     Malbaie  QC        719 mi
407  ZHU   Montreal  QC      513 mi

Checked my logbooks since these beacons have all been heard here many times at night and during twilight but these were all daylight path, no greyline cheating.

Feel free anybody to include your best day DX if you wish.  Would be interesting to see what others have accomplished.   

812

Longwave Loggings / Re: Take Off to the Great White North

« 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

813

Equipment / Re: Matching Impedance

« on: December 21, 2017, 2359 UTC »

  Wonder if it's the 1:9 balun between the 50 ohm coax and the Hi-Z port (1000 ohm impedance port) on the RSP2. 

Probably.

You say that you are using the high Z port in an attempt to reduce noise.  You may be reducing the noise but you are also probably reducing signal as well.

Try to eliminate the balun and go directly into the SMA 50 ohm port.  See what tap on the Squid works best. 

You mentioned RG-58 coax.  Some RG-58 is real junk,  inadequate shielding.  Use a good quality name brand coax.  Your feedline is a likely culprit when picking up noise. 

814

Equipment / Re: Matching Impedance

« on: December 21, 2017, 0206 UTC »

By calculation, (f=1005/ft) your 170' full wave horizontal delta loop is resonant at about 6MHz and impedance is theoretically about 100 ohms at resonance.  Actual impedance may vary from maybe something like 50 ohms to over 200 ohms based on various factors (mostly height above ground).  An antenna analyzer would be the best way to determine resonant frequency and actual impedance at any given frequency.  However, a good match can be obtained by experimentation.  Tune in a steady continuous signal such as WWV at 5000 or CHU at 7850 (daytime would be best as there is less fading in and out) and try different taps on the Squid while observing the S-meter or better yet the SNR (signal to noise ratio) on your SDR.  There are enough taps available so you should find something that will provide a close match.  In other words, you don't really have to know the exact value of impedance because you can get a close enough match by experimentation and,  also, the impedance will change with frequency.  My suggestion would be to match the antenna as best you can with the Squid near its resonant frequency and then use an antenna tuner to match to other frequencies. 

For example, with my RSP1 is connected to a random wire antenna about 50' long through a matching unun.  Tuning in a weak signal on the AM broadcast band, the SDR displays a SNR of 3db.  Now switching the antenna tuner (MFJ 956) in line and peaking the signal results in a SNR of 15db. 

Let us know how things work out for you.

815

Longwave Loggings / Re: Winter NDB Logs

« on: December 18, 2017, 1252 UTC »

236 YHK Gjoa Haven NU...  nice one !    Ice Pilots NWT season 2 episode 1,  check it out.
Been trying to log it here,  good to hear it is still on the air.

TY, pv!  YHK shows up here about once or twice a year.  Checking every day possible is the key.

IF you need YUT Repulse Bay NU this tough one has become far simpler now that YLD has recently slid up to +415 exposing YUT on +405.  It was in very solid this AM around 1100.

OK, tnx for the info on 335 YUT.  That is a tough one here as ZKF Kitchener seems to hold down that freq.
Also looking for 350  RB Resolute NU.  Have got DF in NL and NY in BC and RG in OK on that freq, just need some propagation to the north.

816

Longwave Loggings / Re: Take Off to the Great White North

« 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
 

817

Longwave Loggings / NDB logs 12-16-17

« on: December 16, 2017, 1842 UTC »

1015-1115Z

244  TH    Thompson  MB
248  WG   Winnipeg  MB
269  UDE  Delta  MB
284  QD    The Pas  MB
287  ZWG  Winnipeg  MB
300  YIV    Island Lake  MB
305  YQ     Churchill  MB
370  YBV   Berens River  MB

All Manitoba all the time... 

818

Longwave Loggings / Re: help with UNID

« on: December 16, 2017, 1831 UTC »

4T was booming in this AM.  It has a very short DAID, and has been reported as sounding like "4TT" from time to time.

I did not see 4B this AM.  It has no DAID, but has currently been keying as something which sounds like "4TS".

This should clear things up!   

OK, tnx, based on that going to tentatively go with 4B as the R was stuttering, could be an S.   
Both in MB and both on the same freq but 300 miles apart so probably only a problem for NDB chasers.

819

Longwave Loggings / help with UNID

« on: December 16, 2017, 1717 UTC »

MB was booming in here this morning.  On 280 heard what sounded like 4TR with no DAID.  Various sources show 4B and 4T both on that freq and both in MB.   
No doubt about the 4 but my guess is perhaps it was 4B with the B miskeyed  as TR.  Then again maybe 4T with a messed up T. 
Anybody else log this one recently?  tnx.

820

Longwave Loggings / Re: NDB Logs 12/16/17

« on: December 16, 2017, 1706 UTC »

Interesting,  you heard 332 QT Thunder Bay this morning in CT but at the same time here in MI the usually strong QT signal was completely covered by YFM La Grande 4 QC.
Propagation can do strange things. 

821

Equipment / Re: Matching Impedance

« on: December 15, 2017, 2211 UTC »

Lots of taps on the Squid, so, let's assume that by experimenting you have found the best match to your horizontal loop.  (The idea here is that when impedances are matched there will be maximum transfer of signal). 

From the Squid, run a good quality coax to your RX location.  "Good" means not only low loss but also well shielded.  Some coax has very minimal outer braid shielding.

Your noise could be from nearby radio transmitters or locally generated electrical/electronic QRM or both.  If you have noise pickup problems, consider using a common mode filter (choke) as close to the RSP2 RX as possible.  Lots of info on the internet on how to build a common mode filter or you can purchase one already built.

Leave the ferrite on the USB cable or get a better quality (shielding again) USB cable.  This cable can pickup lots of noise and transfer it to the RX.

Looked at the specs for your RSP2 and like my RSP1 it has a 12 MHz low pass filter.  So, especially below 12 MHz you need some help.  Have found here that an antenna tuner at the RX input helps considerably in peaking the desired signal.  Pulling it out of the noise so to speak.  Even something as simple as an MFJ 956 works wonders.

Don't know where on the outskirts of GR your QTH is located, but if it is near any of the half dozen or so AM broadcast stations in your area, you may have to build a notch filter(s) (also known as a wave trap) specific to the frequency of the offending station(s).

If the antenna is bare stranded wire, in time the wire will oxidize between the strands and create high resistance and a noisy situation.  Copper oxide is a good rectifier... think mixing products.
Use bare or insulated solid wire or insulated stranded wire.

Just a few thoughts that hopefully may be of some help. 

822

Longwave Loggings / Re: Winter NDB Logs

« on: December 15, 2017, 1657 UTC »

236 YHK Gjoa Haven NU...  nice one !    Ice Pilots NWT season 2 episode 1,  check it out.
Been trying to log it here,  good to hear it is still on the air. 

823

Longwave Loggings / Re: December 2017 NDB Logs

« on: December 15, 2017, 1651 UTC »

With everything going GPS, these old NDBs are becoming low priority.
Also, a lot of NDBs (and VORs as well) are being decommissioned and in the process the documentation and reality may not always match. 

824

Longwave Loggings / Re: Winter NDB Logs

« on: December 15, 2017, 1445 UTC »

 - and Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan

We may never know,  n'est-ce pas? 

825

Longwave Loggings / Re: December 2017 NDB Logs

« on: December 15, 2017, 1437 UTC »

There doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency in repairing some of these miskeying NDBs.