[Lowfer] Beacon report (SDR/ARGO suggestions)

[Garry Hess]

Rick and Laurence,

Thanks for your suggestions on running ARGO with my SDR-IQ. I haven't 
tried them yet, but I did install the trial version of Virtual Audio 
Cable (VAC) and it nicely handles another limitation I've had. The sound 
card of my Dell E521 is limited like Laurence's D620 - I can't record 
the bandpass filtered wave output from Spectrum Laboratory even though 
it's playing back through the PC speakers. VAC works great for that so 
now I can begin filling up memory with audio recordings.

Unfortunately, another problem surfaced that moves audio issues to the 
background. The SDR-IQ runs fine during the day, but at night it no 
longer displays lowfer beacons like ARGO does. QRSS3 works above 200 kHz 
for NDBs, but QRSS30 and 60 at 185.3 kHz no longer shows signals that I 
know are really there. The overload light isn't on, but I do have to 
reduce the gain 10 dB or so in the evening to keep it off. I'm thinking 
the problem is IM/overload anyway. I don't think it's coming from AM 
broadcast because my preamps have notches for that and NDB monitoring 
still works. Then again maybe that's just because QRSS3 is so much less 
sensitive than QRSS30 and the NDBs so much stronger than the lowfer 
beacons. I wonder if instead the problem comes from Loran-C or other 
signals below the lowfer frequencies? I'll build up an assortment of 
preselector filters once I get some cores to help pin down my source of 
trouble.

Rick, I didn't realize Linrad had a Windows version. I downloaded that 
and it's clear why Winrad was developed - the operational guidance and 
"gui" of Linrad are VERY poor by comparison. On the positive side, 
Linrad does interface with my SDR-IQ without error windows. The overload 
light is pegged red but that must be a setup or control issue. I'll 
eventually spend more time on both and figure out how to lower the RF 
gain. For those that think Spectrum Laboratory is hard to master, my 
initial reaction is it's a piece of cake compared to Linrad. Since 
Spectrum Laboratory works there's no rush to learn yet another system. I 
do have a Linux computer though so it might be useful to load the real 
thing on it to see if it's better.

73,
Garry
K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL