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Author Topic: Windy Problems 4102.8 CW 1046 UTC 30 Jan 2019  (Read 1525 times)

Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Windy Problems 4102.8 CW 1046 UTC 30 Jan 2019
« on: January 30, 2019, 1048 UTC »
I was listening to Windy for a few minutes with a nice signal (band conditions seem to be good this morning, stable signals and low noise), and it started to key down for several seconds at a time. It would then start to send normally again for a few seconds, and revert to the key down. I wasn't able to catch the battery voltage while it was sending OK, perhaps it is too low?  Actually, I think it is keying down during the period when the wind dits should be sent.

Seems back to normal at 1145, although no wind dits.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2019, 1147 UTC by ChrisSmolinski »
Chris Smolinski
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Offline Teotwaki

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Re: Windy Problems 4102.8 CW 1046 UTC 30 Jan 2019
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2019, 1408 UTC »
I imagine the anenometer is simply making and breaking a switch contact for each rotation and the micro controller turns those into dits. As a baseline for wind indication we have heard lots of dits sent when there is a good breeze with variable spacing between dits indicating higher or lower speeds. Shortest spacing for higher wind speed.

The other possible states are:

No wind no dits
Very high wind causing one long tone instead of dits (I've heard this)
Possibly a long tone because the anenometer switch is staying closed

One other possibility for the long tones is a maintenance indicator about the battery or some other parameter.

Based on battery voltage swings I think the battery is going bad and the long tones could be a malfunction due to a large battery voltage sag when the transmitter keys.

Thoughts?
Jim
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Offline Exo

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Re: Windy Problems 4102.8 CW 1046 UTC 30 Jan 2019
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2019, 0432 UTC »
Windy has been logged with the long dash, it happens a lot when there is very slow wind, then the wind stops so the anemometer stops in the middle of making a wind dit, which keeps it keyed.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2019, 0434 UTC by Exo »
Exo
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Offline ChrisSmolinski

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Re: Windy Problems 4102.8 CW 1046 UTC 30 Jan 2019
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2019, 1237 UTC »
That makes perfect sense, thanks for the explanation.
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! csmolinski@blackcatsystems.com
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree