Messages

76

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Question About Morse Code Speed for Beacon "BRS"

« on: April 20, 2018, 1829 UTC »

PVC runs about 10 WPM using a K1EL keyer, and has received several reports over the years from member tesla in Colorado. Antenna is a sloping dipole supported from a mast on the roof, the top of which is around 18 ft from roof level. This leaves the dipole ends still well clear of the roof.

We're just across "The Bay", so I'd hope you can get similar results at least, if you can clear the hills to your East.

Best of luck, and I'll keep an ear out.

Ed

77

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / PVC Antenna change

« on: April 09, 2018, 2201 UTC »

Hi Folks,

Just for a change, I tuned up PVC on the garden longwire: approx 80ft span between trees at ~20ft above ground. There is a balun and a ground rod at the feed-point. I think the usual dipole might benefit from a little attention in the mean time.

No opportunity for listening of late, so just antenna experiments for now. Longer term, I also want to test a small tuned loop on 22m operation.

Cheers

Ed

78

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Loud Data station Sunday 18 March

« on: March 26, 2018, 2000 UTC »

This activity was noted again yesterday (Sunday 25th March) at 15:45 PST +DST.  Brief bursts of FSK signal for around 15 minutes.

79

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Loud Data station Sunday 18 March

« on: March 21, 2018, 1427 UTC »

Hi Folks,

Wonder if anyone else heard this around 4 to 5 PM on Sunday (circa 1100UTC)? Classic RTTY type data signal, strength around S7 on the random dipole here in the CA Bay Area. It ceased as I was monitoring.

No beacons recorded during or after.

Ed

80

Equipment / Re: Electronic Dog Fence Wire as Antenna

« on: March 16, 2018, 0346 UTC »

Both my "random wire dipole" and long wire are made with dog fence wire. It works perfectly, and has held up well. The dipole, in particular, has been a great on HF in reception of 22 m beacons. For reception, almost anything will do, it just has to stay in the air.

81

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: P 13555.0 2108 UTC 28 Jan 2018

« on: March 05, 2018, 1817 UTC »

P heard yesterday afternoon in Northern California (SF Peninsula). Audible frequently, with a strong clear signal at times. Definitely a newcomer.

I also recorded Spectrum Lab traces of EH and USC, which were strong at times, fading in and out over minutes. That was all the HiFERS heard/seen yesterday.

82

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Hifer Beacons Heard in Pine, Colorado

« on: March 02, 2018, 2214 UTC »

Thanks tesla,

Nice to know PVC is getting through. This weekend should provide some listening opportunities here in CA.

Ed

83

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Hifer Beacons Heard in Pine, Colorado

« on: February 20, 2018, 1109 UTC »

Thanks for the report tesla.

Hoping to try some antenna experiments this spring. I'll update here and at LWCA if and when I do. I have a hankering to test a small tuned loop to look at the feasibility for a compact HiFER setup.

84

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: 3rd & 4th Feb listening

« on: February 08, 2018, 1749 UTC »

PVC has a similarly small audience... Thanks for the reports. Were I more fluent in Morse, I might suggest attempting a QSO

85

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / 3rd & 4th Feb listening

« on: February 05, 2018, 1737 UTC »

Just a quick report

Saturday's listening, at around 15:15 PST/23:15UTC. At the 13,555 kHz spot, I noted a trace of NC and SIW using Spectrum Lab, but no other signals were detectable. Further up the band there was a big lift for PCO, and it was plain copy by ear - a lovely clean signal, with some slow fading minute to minute. No sign of any of the other beacons in that region.

Sunday listening around 16:00 PST, often a fair time, revealed a quiet band - even the constant drones around 13,560 were subdued.

86

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Beacons Sunday 28 Jan

« on: February 01, 2018, 1744 UTC »

Finally had some time to listen, early on Sunday Morning (~0300 UTC)

Alas things were rather flat. By ear, I heard traces of RF, and with software, a few of the cluster around 13,555+ including EH, SIW and USC. The latter were very weak traces, and conditions only degraded during the remainder of the day.

It is great, however, to see new beacons coming on air, and this section of the forum growing. I shall be watching and listening with interest

87

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Beacon heard in Pine, Colorado

« on: February 01, 2018, 1739 UTC »

Hi Tesla,

It is possible you heard carrier in place of PVC - in the middle of lots of radio tinkering, I switched in the bypass to the keyer to peak up the antenna tuner, and forgot to set it back to key mode.

PVC was sending again as of Sunday evening.

/Ed

88

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: PVC at last

« on: December 22, 2017, 1930 UTC »

Nice to know PVC is making it somewhere and being found! Thanks for the report tesla.

I want to get some logging time in over the holiday.

89

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: PCO loud and clear

« on: December 12, 2017, 1840 UTC »

Brrr!

"little" PCO was romping home in the above report, Very clear above the background. Wish I could listen more often.

90

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Chirpy dasher 13561.3 1754 UTC 10 Dec 2017

« on: December 11, 2017, 2218 UTC »

In the past, I've heard similar chirps at regular intervals. It seems like they should be a beacon, but there is no obvious indication. Quite often they were strong enough to be audible, not just a Spectrum Lab trace.