[Lowfer] Deviation?

[Ed Phillips]

Dexter McIntyre, W4DEX wrote:

>   The present NC HiFer signal originates from a Wandel-Golterman
> SPM-19 selective level meter with tracking generator.  The generator
> output is connected to a WG precision level regulator.  The output power
> is presently set at +1 dbm.  This SLM has a sweep option which allows
> one to set a lower and upper frequency to sweep between.  Also there are
> several selectable sweep speeds.  This sweeping signal is what produces
> the sawtooth patterns.  The antenna is a dipole sloping to the west
> about 40 feet above the metal building roof.  It is suspended from the
> same weed eater lines that hold the LowFer antenna.
> 
>   Last year when the possibility of HiFering was first discussed I put
> this configuration on the air as it was quick and easy.  I believe it
> was about mid May of 2001.  I ran the beacon a week or so with no
> reports.  I wasn't surprised since I didn't know what to expect.  During
> a thunderstorm I disconnected both the Hifer and 49er antenna cables.
> After the storm I discovered I had been operating the HiFer driving the
> 49er roof mounted amp and had the 49er excited connected to the HiFer
> antenna.  After making the correction, the next day I received about 10
> HiFer reports!  Not being able to tell exactly who was the first to
> catch the signal I just issued a "first day of operation" QSL to all who
> sent reports.  VE7SL was the most distant and K�LR had audible copy.
> 
> 73,
> Dex

Dex:

	Most interesting, and amazing what a signal you are putting out with
such minute power.  Questions:

1. The spectrogram Jim Moritz just send shows periodic "gaps" in your
signal.  I observe the same thing here.  Is that a real effect, or
caused by the spectral analysis programs we are using? They appear to be
too regular to be caused by QSB, and I don't see the same thing with
recordings of continuous signals from the signal generator. 


2. Is your dipole a half wave long?  What is its approximate
orientation?  True E-W, W end lower?

	I just started listening for Hifer signals seriously a few weeks ago,
although have copied AZ for a long time.  Trying to figure what kind of
a Hifer beacon I could put up here, and what antenna arrangement I might
use.  Vertical quarter wave would be easiest, but is something else
worth the bother?

73,

Ed