[CW] OT: 600 meter experiments: Opera Beacon takes Route 66

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

This is off topic, but it is fascinating.  Automated beacons can show when
the bands would permit more conventional communication such as Morse WT or
radiotelephony, etc.

I know that many of us here have an abiding love of radio, and for that
reason, I am sending this along.

There is information given on the mode of "Opera" and information on the
"mini-whip" used for these amazing results.

73

David J. Ring, Jr., N1EA <http://www.qsl.net/n1ea/>

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Subject: [600MRG] Opera Beacon takes Route 66
To: 600MRG <600mrg at w7ekb.com>


http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2012/opera_beacon_takes_route_66.htm

Opera Beacon takes Route 66

500KHz Opera Beacon takes Route 66, spanning the USA coast to coast, and
beyond.

Bob running his USA Experimental 500 KHz station WE6XGR in New York, is
being decoded regularly by N6RY, just north of
San Diego on the WEST coast. And, not only is the Opera beacon reaching
coast to coast USA, its also reaching the west
coast of England at the same time, with G4WGT, G8HUH and G0KTN as regular
customers.

The elegance the coding in the beacon system and the relevance of the
PA0RDT min-whip e-probe antenna used by Gary G4WGT
for the decodes, all serve to dispel the myth that you need high powers and
substantial antenna systems to use MF
effectively. Valuable test data is being gathered by the system and is now
showing the real potential of the 500 KHz
band for DX propagation, not only are the band characteristics being
revealed as never before.

After establishing that the decodes were reliable, a test using the ROS-MF
data mode later confirmed that a qso would be
quite possible to W6 or to the UK, 2200 or 3400 miles respectively.

The show goes on, with the recent addition of a CW ID to support the
requirement of the USA experimental licences, to
decodes via aircraft reflections on 50 MHz by Eddie G3ZJO.

http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/

http://www.radiopassioni.it/pdf/pa0rdt-Mini-Whip.PDF

Graham, G0NBD



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