[Lowfer] SAQ 2nd Broadcast

[toddroberts2001 at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/7/2009 1:46:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
w1tag at charter.net writes:

According to the official announcement, there will be a second SAQ  
transmission at 1600 UTC on December 10. That's noontime here in the eastern US,  
and VLF copy is entirely possible (this ain't 505 or 185 kHz!). In fact, your 
 local noise background may be lower at mid-day. So, don't stay up all 
night, and  then sleep through lunch, as you could miss the easier shot.

John,  W1TAG
 
 
Here are some of my experiences when listening for SAQ broadcasts:
 
Overnight hours are usually the worst time of the day for propagation when  
trying to
receive VLF transmissions from Europe, in this case SAQ. Their 0800  UTC
(3AM EST) transmission is right smack in the middle of the worst 
VLF propagation from Europe to U.S. East Coast in a 24 hour period.
Many times I cannot hear SAQ at all in the wee hours of the morning.
Also static levels on VLF are usually at their worst during overnight  
hours.
 
VLF signals from Europe begin to recover during late morning and  midday
and static levels are often lowest on VLF at mid-morning to midday, so the 
1600UTC (11AM EST) transmission is the better one to catch from SAQ.
 
VLF propagation from Europe to East Coast U.S. is at its peak on the East  
Coast from around 
sunset to midnight local time (2200UTC to 0500UTC). I have suggested to 
SAQ that sometime it would be a neat idea if they could make a  special
transmission to USA around 9PM EST or 0200UTC. That means their  operator
would have to be there at around 2 or 3 AM in the morning their  local  
time to make the 
transmission and it would be less likely to see that happen, but it  would
give all the listeners in the Eastern U.S. their best chance to hear  SAQ.
 
I would also like to add that I have found the Italy / ICV Tavolara VLF  
transmitter on 20.27KHz
is the best test signal to see if your receiver might be able to hear SAQ.  
Their 
signal strength here is about the same as SAQ and the distance is very  
similar also.
 
Good luck to everyone!  73 - Todd WD4NGG