[Lowfer] Trans-continent propagation

[Garry Hess]

Like J. B. I found conditions quite good over night. The evening began 
with Navtex 518 kHz decodes of $4U,$4W, and $X in Yarmouth, NS; Nuuk, 
GRL; and Labrador, respectively and San Francisco decoded as early as 
0401Z. Tuning to 186.849 kHz showed lowfer SJ with QSB and drifting 
upward slightly during the "J" using QRSS30, slow. Around 0400Z QRSS20 
was tried but only traces of the signal were seen. PBO was tried on 
187.2 kHz using QRSS60, slow but nothing was noted.

Returning to Navtex 518 kHz and "autopilot" the usual suspects of New 
Orleans, San Francisco, Miami, Riviere-au-Renard, Savannah, Boston, Long 
Beach, Astoria, Chesapeake, San Juan, and Thunder Bay were decoded. Less 
common decodes from Bermuda, and Torfino were seen too and Honolulu was 
apparent at 1240Z.

As reported in an earlier email, all 3 VLF Alpha signals came through 
nicely around 1200Z. This was due a serendipitous drop in the 60-Hz 
harmonic picket fence usually seen at VLF (common-mode chokes don't 
solve the problem). Several 10 kHz-span SDR-IQ panoramas showed plenty 
of active VLF stations, including RDL on 18.1 kHz, new to me. FSK 
signals were noted around 75.2 and 135.2 kHz.They both might be local 
spurs but the latter aligns with RFID spectrum assigned for animal 
identification. Any thoughts?

73, Garry, K3SIW, EN525a, Elgin, IL