[160m] 4OVC

[Kenneth D. Grimm, K4XL]

Hi Wayne,

You have encountered one of the many drift net radio bouys that can be 
found polluting the 160 mx band.  It is most likely in the Gulf, but 
could be in the Atlantic or Pacific.  It would take some very good 
conditions for it to be in the Indian Ocean!  For a look at one of them 
click on this link:  http://www.radiobuoy.com/radio_buoy/ktr17.htm  You 
will notice that they have a DC input of 4 watts or so and a range of 60 
miles.  I'm more than 60 miles from the coast and I regularly hear them 
here in Virginia, so they must be using the QRO version shown at 
http://www.radiobuoy.com/radio_buoy/ktr18.htm which runs 10 watts!  Life 
is hard out on the water.  Pirates apparently also steal other folks 
radio bouys, so some get the deluxe version that can be turned off and 
on remotely.  See http://www.radiobuoy.com/p2-all.htm for the fancy one.

They are a rather mild nuisance compared to the Loran signals that we 
used to compete with!

73,

Ken - K4XL

w5kdj wrote:
> Hello,
> Every once in a while when I am wearing out my CQ FSK generator on 1.808 
> (1030Z) I hear this beacon.  The rotor is broken on my 6 element beam so 
> can't rotate it to determine direction.  Heard it this morning.  '4 oscar 
> victor charlie'.  Its probably south of me (Houston).  Any one have any info 
> on it.
>
> W5KDJ - Wayne Rogers USN (Ret.)
> 3DA0KDJ A25KDJ C91KDJ
> SV0WWW TF2WJN YN2KDJ
> * 5R8KD 1-15 July 09 *
> eQSL LoTW Skype
> Texas DX Society
> http://dx.qsl.net/logs/ 
>
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>   


-- 
Ken K4XL
k4xl at arrl.net

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