[Elecraft] VLF/LF Converters

[Jack Smith]

Ron

17.2 KHz is well within the working range of the Jackson Harbor Press 
kit. The main issues are a good receiving antenna and local noise.

I can hear German and French LF stations (200 b/s encrypted GMSK) in the 
20 KHz  range a few dB above the noise most of the time with my 
experimental active antenna, SAQ may be detectable with narrow band 
techniques such as  the ARGO QRSS program.

Back in the day, I used to listen to the long wave CW from the public 
coast stations and ships up and down the East Coast--quite a collection 
of signal quality could be found, not to mention operator fists.

Jack K8ZOA

Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> Nice write-up Jack!
>
> One of the things CW buffs can do with such a converter is catch the Marine
> CW stations that are still active. Station KPH on the California Coast is
> very active, and the last I saw there are several others around North
> America warming the 600 meter (400-500 kHz) airwaves regularly now. Very few
> ships are still using CW, but a number of licenses for coastal stations have
> been maintained, and even a few new ones issued to individuals unwilling to
> let 600 meter CW die. 
>
> When active, one will hear the "CQ Wheel" calling for anyone with traffic,
> traffic lists being send, press (news) sent, etc. 
>
> More information about KPH with ties to other stations available is located
> at 
> http://www.radiomarine.org/kph-proj.html
>
> Just don't try to hear them between 15 and 18 minutes past the hour or
> between 45 and 48 minutes past the hour. They still observe the traditional
> two 3-minute "silent periods" when all stations stop routine activities and
> listen for distress calls on 500 kHz. 
>
> And for some real "DX" fun, check out the occasional transmissions from SAQ
> at Grimeton (Sweden) on 17.2 kHz! That would require some modification of
> the input filter, I suspect. SAQ runs a Alexander Alternator: a big
> specially-designed rotary alternating current generator hooked to an
> antenna. See:
>
> http://www.alexander.n.se/startsida_e.htm
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft    
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>
>