[ARC5] FCC General exam

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

The LORAN I trained on in USAF Navigator School back in 61-62 was in the region of 160 meters.  A big problem with it was with receiving both ground wave AND sky wave signals at night.  Determining your position at night was problematical  However, it was really meant only for over water navigation. Accuracy of 10 miles or so while over the oceans was acceptable. There were other navigational aids once you got within 40 miles or so of the coastlines. 

 

When the "new" LORAN around 100 kHz came in, the skywave problem is reputed to have virtually disappeared.  The new system was found to be useful over land and was expanded to have stations within the continental USA.  Fishermen on both salt and fresh water really bemoaned the discontinuance of the LORAN C becaue it was so accurate and repeatable!  

  
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
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> Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 21:34:01 +0000
> From: mstangelo at comcast.net
> To: wa5jci at flash.net
> CC: arc5 at mailman.qth.net; k2gkk at hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] FCC General exam
> 
> The Russians had their our version of this system called Alpha. I wonder if it is sill active?
> 
> I was always fascinated with LF and VLF stations below 500kHz. My first LF receiver was a BC-453.
> 
> Mike N2MS
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: wa5jci at flash.net
> To: mstangelo at comcast.net, D C _Mac_ Macdonald <k2gkk at hotmail.com>
> Cc: ARC-5 Mail List <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 21:28:25 -0000 (UTC)
> Subject: Re: [ARC5] FCC General exam
> 
> Then there was the Omega system used mainly for civilian aircraft and 
> ship navigation. We also used it for tracking our high altitude 
> research balloons.
> 
> de Pete WA5JCI
> 
> 
> 
> >The Navy still uses VLF transmitters to communicate with submarines. 
> >Using a loop antenna to eliminate local QRN I can pick up the 
> >Laulualei Hawaii station on 21.4 khz or the Jim Creek, Washington 
> >station on 24.8khz day or night.
> >
> >The Cutler, Maine station at 24khz is easy to pick up since it is 
> >close to my QTH in New Jersey.
> >
> >Mike N2MS