RW rip: Armstrong Broadcast Returns to New Jersey in June, 42.800MHz FM.

[ThaDood]

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/armstrong-broadcast-returns-to-new-jersey-in-june    I'm not likely to be able to hear that here in SW WV. Even with "E" skip, that FREQ will most likely skip over me. However, "E" skip to 600 - 1,000 miles could be the sweet-spot to hear this. Locally, NY, CT, NJ, and E. PA, could hear this with a scanner, or VHF TV, antenna, or even a 6M antenna, for like 100 miles out. With many companies and municipalities abandoning the VHF Low Band, you would be very likely to hear this station, even if it comes-in weak, where you are. What's nice about 42.800MHz is that it can penetrate into rough terrain and less affected by thick tree foliage. However, the reason it was abandoned for broadcasting in the first place was due to F2 and "E" skip. Those early broadcasts on 42MHz had reports from around the world. Anyway, sounds like fun. 

[NQC]

Hey Thadood,

WAY COOL.

I am wondering about a few things though:

They didn’t say much about a schedule, is it 24 hours and if so, for how many days?

Also, they are running Wide FM.I wonder if it would sound too crummy on a NFM scanner ( which is all I have for the low band).

250 watts is not a lot of juice either. But you really can’t expect a temporary/ experimental station to run 50 Kw .I get it.

I DID just find a couple of old / very short boom TV antennas. It would be nice to have a BIT of gain. But they are flat line ( 300 ohm ? ) fed.Not sure how I would get them down to 50/75 ohm ball park without messing with baluns , etc.( which I don’t have) .

I wonder if they still make high/low Z inline transformers , like the old “back of the TV “ type.

The other alternative is simply a Vee dipole, with the elements swung 45 and 45 degrees inwards. As I “ recall “ from my experiments many years ago, this gave around 75 ohms.

NO gain, but “ some “ directivity if mounted correctly.

Perhaps from the big hill.

Prop has been mostly kind of crummy lately, especially above 12 M.

Not sure if Alpine would experience nigh time ducting to Boston or not.

In general, I probably need more info, time and LUCK.

de NQC

[NQC]

Also :

If you believe the lore, ducting “ can” occur “as low as “ 40 MHz,
but is ( “ much “ ?) more “ likely “ above
90 MHz.

Hmmmm.

I also need to find out a sked.

If it’s just a quick historical Bcast at 250 W , even with the gain of the Ringo , it could be dicey this far away.

I might need a few DAYS running 24 hours to stand a better chance.



de NQC

[ChrisSmolinski]

Also :

If you believe the lore, ducting “ can” occur “as low as “ 40 MHz,
but is ( “ much “ ?) more “ likely “ above
90 MHz.

I'm of the heretical opinion that ducting (or something resembling it) can, and does, occur down on HF, and even MW and into the extreme upper end of LW.

[ThaDood]

300 ohm to 75 ohm matching TV transformers? Apparently, Wal-fart has them. https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/300-ohm-75-adapter   (Scroll-down for the outdoor ones.) Thought that the newer Aretronics would have them, but apparently not.  Amazon has them as well.  https://www.amazon.com/300-Ohm-UHF-Matching-Transformer/dp/B0002ZPIOG  Oh, BTW... Many TV preamps can work down that low in FREQ as well. Just, look at the spec's. That article was indeed kind of vague about specifics, like antenna polarization, duration of operation, and actual deviation, albeit it does mention a WFM, for Wide FM. Again, I'm not going to be able to hear it, unless there a nice Sporadic "E" Back-Scatter. Nope... To short for skip and too far for ground RX for my location. OFW...

[Charlie_Dont_Surf]

For what it's worth, the six-meter band has been doing some fun things (but not extraordinary things) lately, it being summer in North America, so you might be able to hear them up in Boston.

I was wondering how their experimental license still allows them to transmit on 42 MHz, since it's not really allocated for broadcast anymore. That frequency area is currently allocated for fixed service (i.e., not mobile, not satellite, not maritime, etc.)  Unless they are planning on [cough, cough] PIRATING. Imagine the FCC's mobile pirate DF goon squad takes the afternoon off from hunting in the Bronx, Nueva York to drive over to Alpine, Nueva Jersey to bust the Armstrong commemorative station. 

Just kidding. Yes, I realize that the FCC can give them special clearance and that must be how they are allowed to do this.

[NQC]

Hey Guys,

Well at least ONE clue : the Ringo will give them a vertical polarization and
“ some “ gain , so at least they are squeezing out “ somewhat “ more than the power in the coax.

To grouse further: I have looked around for more information, no luck.

Also Thursday is not such a great day to do this .Saturday or Sunday would have been SO much better.

And again, HOW LONG are they going to be on the air ?? Folks at ANY  serious distance are going to need to be able to work within a “window “ of propagation that may not last for a super long time.

And maybe I am a pessimist and it’s unfounded,but I swear through years of experience working above 10 Meters that New England is the LAST area to  go into E skip and the FIRST area to drop right  back out of it .And the “ quality “ of the opening sometimes seems lower than other regions.

Again, maybe wrong, but it doesn’t encourage me either.

I MIGHT have better luck with a duct- if it happens for their frequency- which means WELL after sunset and probably  needing a trip up the “ big “ hill.

If I CAN , I might try a shot at it.


But a LOT of variables in the mix: I work 2nd shift, , so trying Friday morning would give me “ better “ chance of E skip ( maybe).

Trying to squeeze it on Thursday would  be way too tight re getting to work , since they are starting at Noon ( another thing I don’t quite get).

Again, more info would have been REALLY helpful.

de NQC

[NQC]

Hey Guys,

Well, I gave it a whirl…..

12 floors up, 10 meter dipole ,1530 EDT.

Supposed MUF was 17 MHz… 20 MHz
WWV was weak and NOTHING above it  (no CB skip).



Nada. So much for E skip.

No duct  openings at 2130.

FLOPPORINO .

No info if they  even were still on- NO sked was ever published.

A REAL oversight on their part. 

It would have been cool to log, but apparently not in the cards.

de NQC/ Boston