[Lowfer] simple lowfer transmitter plans

[Sean Cavanaugh]

Andy - KU4XR wrote:
>> One more thing, I see most of the activity reports are for
>> frequencies around 185 KHz or so. Should I be looking to set 
>> up my crystal for frequencies in that range rather than lower?
>>
> 
> Hi Sean: and welcome to the world of LF. If I may add my 2 cents,
> as far as frequency goes, unless you want to spend money on 
> specially cut crystals, most OPs just use what they have on hand,
> or what can be scavenged up really cheap, or free. Such as CB or,
> computer crystals, using dividers to get into the LOWfer band;
> One other issue about frequency would be LW broadcast interference,
> and also, the lower in frequency you go; the more Inductance (coil)
> you'll need to resonate the antenna, and that just gets into a loss
> issue for radiated output power which probably would be minute.
> Hope you can get something up and running, it sure is a lot of fun.
> 73; and good LOWfer-ing:

Thanks for the information, Andy. I pretty much have to buy a crystal 
anyways, as my electronic parts stash got tossed out after a 
septic-sewer backup flooded its home in my parent's basement a couple 
years back. I've been slowly rebuilding it, but I don't have any 
crystals to work with.

I'm not averse to playing with the larger coils and so on, as I do 
intend to put something together for 136KHz when Industry Canada decides 
to let us play with that band. I'm hoping to gain a bit of experience 
with LF by playing with the low-power license-exempt stuff. Well, that 
and have fun. ;)

I've almost got an RX loop put together to replace my current random 
"wire" antenna, so hopefully I'll be able to start monitoring for lowfer 
activity sometime this week. I've tried with the current antenna, but 
it's not very good. Not surprising as it is wire run to a screw on the 
rain gutters of my townhouse.

Off to make up an order!

73

--
Sean - VA5LF/VE5SMC