[Lowfer] What's the DX Record for a LowFER QSO?

[Les Rayburn]

>
>
>One reason I lost interest in EME and meteor scatter after the new wore
>off was because most stations just wanted to get a new call, grid,
>state, or country in their log.  I think it's great to set these goals
>and work to achieve them but that's not for everyone.  We could be doing
>the same on the lowfer bands if we wanted to but my interest isn't
>there.  Lyle and I know that we could exchange an O and M using QRSS if
>we spent a few hours before sunrise trying.  It has been said that
>Lowfers operating beacons aren't accomplishing anything because we
>aren't having QSOs and passing messages.  I say that making that initial
>reception of a signal is most important.  The path has been confirmed.
> >From there everything else is known.  Add 30 db of power and the signal
>will be 30 db stronger at the received end.  No magic to that.  I do
>agree that being able to communicate on LF at a useful speed is
>important and should be done.  But there will always be those who are
>more interested in the unknown aspects of radio propagation.
>
>Dexter


I have to completely agree with Dex. I've never felt short changed because I
was just "running a beacon". If I wanted to pursue something like 20 Meters,
I'd just get on 20 meters.

While I adopt a "live and let live" approach to this hobby, I've always 
thought
that weak signal reception of beacons had really defined the "lowfer" movement
in the truest sense. It is a unique form of radio experimentation, not really
like any other. I've heard all the comparisons to "broadcasting", etc. which
are usually meant to degrade us, but frankly I don't buy it.

In discussions on the Part 5 list, I've pointed out that the most "useful"
application I could see for an LF ham band, would be very reliable
groundwave coverage out to 400 miles or so using a mode like
PSK31.

This is completely practical, given power levels in the 100 watt range,
and would add unique capabilities in emergency communication
situations. Imagine only a handful of amateur stations being able
to cover the entire country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...without
being at the whim of propagation. That is something only LF
could offer.

In the event of a 9/11 type event, say with a nuclear bomb or
large scale biological weapon...you'd still have a network that
was reliable, and could function even with a total collapse of
Internet, cellular networks, etc.

I just wish you'd see things like that pushed by the ARRL in their
requests for ham band here.

But even if such a band comes to pass, or we do see a nationwide
network of LF hams providing PSK31 emergency communications, I
hope there will always be a place for our lowly beacons. "Useful"...
I don't know. But fun and unique, yes.

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF





Les Rayburn, director
High Noon Films
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