Messages

181

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Your best clear spots in the 22 m ISM Band?

« on: September 05, 2018, 2205 UTC »

ISM band (HiFer) : 13553 kHz to 13567 kHz

There is much less interference in the 3 kHz windows near the edges at the bottom and top:
13553.2 kHz to 13556.2 kHz is good.
13563.8 kHz to 13566.8 kHz is good.

The centre of the band at 13560 kHz +/- 3 kHz has by far the most interference:
13557 kHz to 13563 kHz is statistically the worst.

13.56 MHz is one of the most common laboratory, medical, and industrial plasma frequencies. The centre frequency, 13560 kHz, is populated worldwide by thousands of kiloWatt-level transmitters for MRI, NMR, semiconductor plasma ion deposition and sputtering chambers, industrial plasma, plasma arc, etc.

Luckily, most of those high power devices are within RF shield rooms or shielded chambers. But, even a little bit of leakage from a kiloWatt device in a screen room could easily compete with Part 15 HiFer beacons, especially when the propagation is favorable. 

RFIDs on 13.56 MHz don't usually cause much interference.

A quick survey of 13560 kHz on some of the better SNR remote SDRs provides an easy way to check the HiFer interference landscape.

182

HF Beacons / Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: September 01, 2018, 0323 UTC »

Closer look and some audio of the chirpy Morse beacon ZN while it was somewhat stable at 4103.7 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California, sunset local time.
Log report 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01
4103.70 Morse Beacon, KN, readable, slowly drifting down, chirp, among lightning static crashes
4102.81 Morse Beacon, Windy, readable, among lightning static crashes

PLAY AUDIO 4103.7kHz Morse Beacon ZN at 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01

Below: Waterfall image of 4103.7kHz Morse Beacon ZN at 0247UTC 2018 SEP 01, and 4102.81 Morse Beacon Windy

183

Pirate Radio History / Radio Caroline

« on: August 28, 2018, 2205 UTC »

While in Liverpool on business in late 1979 into early 1980, I was invited to attend a fund-raising disco dance party for Radio Caroline.
I met some fascinating Radio Caroline staff and supporters there.
They gave me some Radio Caroline promotional items, which I later shared with friends.

My only surviving item from that event is a sticker, on a trusty old toolbox which has served me well around the world several times since then.

Purely for historical reference purposes, I'm posting a photo and information about the Radio Caroline sticker here.


Radio Caroline sticker. Photo date: 28 August 2018.
Photo description: Radio Caroline sticker, circa 1979-1980, on Craftsman metal toolbox; also WRNO Worldwide (shortwave broadcaster) sticker, circa 1980.
Sticker description: Round circle, diameter 5.5 inches (100mm) , white vinyl with black print, glossy.
Printed black image on white background sticker: Centre, silhouette line art of the Radio Caroline vessel " Mi Amigo " and text "ON 319 METRES"; Top text: "RADIO CAROLINE"; Bottom text: "ALBUM TRACKS FROM THE NORTH SEA" "PRODUCED BY FRS ENGLAND PO BOX 123 READING RG3 5JU"

184

HF Beacons / Re: 6 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 28, 2018, 1917 UTC »

Timing intervals of dasher at 6700.5

Report
1839UTC 28AUG2018

6700.50 kHz - dasher, ~66/minute, 436 milliseconds dash duration, 910 milliseconds repetition cycle, good readable ( HexY2k ? )

PLAY AUDIO 6700.5 kHz dasher 1839UTC 28AUG2018

Below: Waterfall image of 6700.5 kHz dasher  ( HexY2k ? ) at 1839UTC 28AUG2018

185

HF Beacons / Re: 6 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 28, 2018, 1832 UTC »

Clearer audio recording of ditter at 6626 kHz

Report 
1806UTC 28AUG2018

6625.97 kHz - dits at 2.1 dits/second, 23 milliseconds duration, good readable ( Rainy beacon? )

PLAY AUDIO 6625.0 kHz Upper Sideband recording of ditter at 6625.97 kHz

186

HF Beacons / Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 27, 2018, 2254 UTC »

Close look and clear audio of the chirping long dasher around 4096 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California, in the afternoon local time.

Log report
2221UTC 27AUG2018
4096.07 kHz - dash, 5.155 second duration, 5.155 second interval, good readable, with initial chirp signature.
Tentatively identified as Coxie ?

PLAY AUDIO 4096.07 kHz beacon 5.1 second dash with chirp signature at 2221UTC 27AUG2018

Below: Waterfall image 4096.07 kHz at 2221UTC 27AUG2018

187

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / Re: Signals to Correlate with 22m beacons.

« on: August 27, 2018, 2039 UTC »

Hi Folks,

One thing I have been attempting to pursue is finding a predictor/barometer for propagation at 22 m. H
Ed

Hi Ed,

The 20 meter amateur band (14000 to 14350 kHz) is a good indicator.
If you can copy the lowest power level dash (100 mW) in the sequence of the IBP International Beacon Project IARU beacons on 14100.0 kHz, then there's a good chance of copying a HiFER micropower beacon on 13 MHz that is in the same geographic area as the IARU beacon.
https://www.ncdxf.org/beacon/

Copying WWV on 25 MHz or copying DX CBers on 27385 kHz LSB is an indicator of a Sporadic E (Es) propagation opening, and this is a prime time to look for 22 meter HiFER beacons.

In this low part of the solar cycle, there are 3 possible propagation paths for 13 MHz micropower beacons.
1. Local ground wave or line-of-sight <20 miles
2. Single hop Sporadic E (Es) ionospheric propagation 200 miles to 2000 miles
3. Single hop F2 propagation 300 miles to 3000 miles

Copying any double hop propagation for a micropower beacon is extremely unlikely.
Also, NVIS propagation is unlikely at 13 MHz, see this NVIS map:

188

HF Beacons / Re: Unknown Dasher? 4095.288 KHz

« on: August 27, 2018, 1848 UTC »

Thanks Teotwaki, for the tip on the unknown dasher at 4095.28 kHz.
With over a week of trying at various hours of the day, no joy here on that one.
Still seeking it 

But, did copy 5 other   western USA beacons near that freq between 4095 and 4104 kHz
and tentatively IDd them as: Viking, Coxie, Haystack, Windy, ZN.

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,45340.msg166038.html#msg166038

189

HF Beacons / Re: Zebra Beacons

« on: August 26, 2018, 0350 UTC »

Many thanks to all the HFUndergrounders who provided great background on the Zebra beacons.
Received the "ZN" beacon this evening as it drifted down from 4103 kHz to 4098.7 before disappearing entirely.
See log report with audio and waterfall images of the drift in more detail in this other post:

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,45340.msg166356.html#msg166356

190

HF Beacons / Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 26, 2018, 0337 UTC »

A look at the Morse beacon "ZN" which is usually reported around 4103 kHz.
This report catches it just after sunset, as it drifts down a few kHz, then disappears.
Received on the northern coast of California.
About 20 minutes after sunset, local time.

Note: Thanks to all HFUndergrounders who previously provided good background info on this wild beacon: ChrisSmolinski, tesla, mark-n-nut, cwguy, Teotwaki, Token, and others.

Log Report
0301UTC 2018AUG2603
4099.1 kHz - Morse beacon "ZN", frequency drifting down rapidly at 0301UTC from above 4102 kHz
4098.79 kHz - Morse beacon "ZN", somewhat stabilized at this frequency, before disappearing entirely

PLAY AUDIO ZN beacon can be heard drifting down rapidly to about 4098.79 kHz after sunset at 0303UTC 2018AUG26

Below: Waterfall image of the ZN beacon is seen drifting down to 4099.1 at around 0301UTC 2018AUG26.
Note, the ZN beacon is normally reporated at around 4102+ kHz during day time hours.



Below: Waterfall image of the ZN beacon is seen drifting down and stabilizing around 4098.79 kHz at 0303UTC 2018AUG26.
Note, a few minutes later, it disappeared entirely.

 

191

22 Meter Band HiFER Beacons / 13 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 26, 2018, 0156 UTC »

Thread on some western USA 13 MHz beacons.

Log report 0129UTC 2018AUG26
13554.06 kHz Morse beacon "AZ" - weak readable with fading
Reference tentative ID: 22 meter HiFER at Oro Valley, AZ, grid DM42, KF7A

PLAY AUDIO 13554.06 kHz beacon AZ at 0129UTC 2018AUG26

Below: Waterfall image of 13554.06 kHz Morse beacon "AZ" at 0129UTC 2018AUG26

192

HF Beacons / Re: 4 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 26, 2018, 0106 UTC »

Closer look and audio of the chirping long dasher around 4096 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California.

Log report
0039UTC 26AUG2018
4095.79 kHz - dash, 6 second duration, readable, with initial chirp starting at about 4096.15 ( Coxie ? )
Several other beacons heard around 4096 kHz.

0120UTC 26AUG2018 (about 1.5 hours prior to local sunset)
4095.66 kHz- dash, same beacon has drifted down, now intermittently heard at about 3 to 5 minute intervals, dash 6 second duration for several dashes, then fades out. Very weak, with initial chirp ( Coxie ? )

PLAY AUDIO 4095.79kHz beacon 6 second dash with easily heard chirp at 0039UTC 26AUG2018

Below: Waterfall image 4095.79kHz 6 sec dash with chirp at 0039UTC 26AUG2018.

193

HF Beacons / 8 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 26, 2018, 0023 UTC »

A thread looking at some of the western USA beacons on 8 MHz.
This may include harmonics of intended 4 MHz beacons.

If you find these detailed reports useful or interesting, please take a moment to reply with any comments.


Log report
2342 UTC 25AUG2018
8191.72 kHz - dash, ~4 second duration, weak readable (likely harmonic of 4095.86 kHz) , ( possibly Viking or Coxie ? )
8192.76 kHz - dash, 2.3 second duration, weak readable (likely harmonic of 4096.38 kHz) , ( possibly Haystack, 200 mW? )
8193.72 kHz - dits, 1.1 dits per second, weak readable, (likely harmonic of 4096.86 kHz) , ( possibly MarinDit, 15 mW? )

PLAY AUDIO 8193.72 kHz dits 2315UTC 2018AUG25

PLAY AUDIO 8191.50 kHz listening in USB mode with all 3 beacons at 2308UTC 25AUG2018

Below: Here's a waterfall image around 8192 kHz with the three signals logged at 2342UTC 25AUG2018.

194

HF Beacons / Re: 6 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 25, 2018, 2208 UTC »

Western USA signals around 6626 kHz.

Received on the coast of northern California.
Report 2023UTC 2018AUG25 mid-day local time.

6625.84 kHz - dits at 2.1 dits/second, very weak, readable (possibly Rainy beacon?)
6626.38 kHz - growl at 56Hz modulation, 230Hz bandwidth, readable (possibly Rocky beacon?)

PLAY AUDIO: 6625.84 kHz dits signal listening in USB mode

PLAY AUDIO 6626.38 kHz growl signal listening in AM mode

PLAY AUDIO 6625.5 kHz USB both signals: dits and growl listening in USB mode

Below: Waterfall image of 6625.5 kHz USB at 2023UTC 2018AUG25 showing the dit and growl signals.
(note: the horizontal lines are lightning crash static bursts)



Below: Waterfall image of the 6626.38 kHz signal, with better signal strength, at 2025UTC 2018AUG25.
Note the absence of the ditter signal at 6625.84 kHz which had faded out during the time that this image was captured.
The sidebands of the 56Hz amplitude modulation (AM) show up more clearly in this image.
Approximate 230Hz bandwidth is due to the +/- 112Hz (2nd harmonic of the modulation frequency) .
Other higher order harmonics of the modulation frequency extend upward and downward from the 6626.38 kHz center carrier.

195

HF Beacons / 6 MHz Western USA Beacons

« on: August 25, 2018, 0648 UTC »

A thread looking at some of the 6 MHz beacons in Western USA.
If you find these detailed reports useful or interesting, please feel free to reply with any comments.

Starting with this post on the HexY2k ? dasher as it was seen and heard during mid-day local 1930 UTC 23AUG2018.
Received on the coast of northern California.

6700.51 kHz Beacon ~67 dashes per minute HexY2k ? - weak readable with good audibility

PLAY AUDIO HexY2k beacon listening on 6700kHz USB mode at 2254UTC 2018AUG25

Below: Waterfall image at 1930 UTC 23AUG2018 of the HexY2k ? dasher beacon at 6700.51 kHz.
(Dash rate: approximately 67 dashes per minute)
(note: the horizontal lines are lightning crash static bursts)