[Lowfer] Overnight signals in NE IL

[Garry Hess]

It's been a difficult week or so for LF monitoring with CME and 
lightning disturbances. Last night the noise level here was fine but 
signals were a bit disappointing.

WD2XSH/6 was strong as usual in the early evening via Opera on 500 kHz.

Signals from NDBs to the far north had been strong but last night YPH on 
396 kHz was barely noticeable.

On the other hand, signals from NDBs to the south were pretty good. The 
usuals were heard like DDP, Puerto Rico, 391 kHz, +1044Hz, 10.39s; CBC, 
415 kHz, Cayman Is., +1023Hz, 8.49s; SPP, 387 kHz, San Andres Is., 
+1019Hz, 8.19s; ZIY, 344 kHz, Grand Cayman, +1038Hz, 8.47s; BOG, 340 
kHz, Columbia, -1028Hz, 8.43s; and new call sign ULC (used to be UCL), 
230 kHz, Cuba, +805Hz,8.21s. Yet lowfer BR wasn't even detectable. As 
local sunrise neared the 518 kHz Navtex station in Puerto Rico was strong.

MOG, 404 kHz, -1050Hz, 8.02s was seen to the west, but it was very weak 
even though the Lompoc, CA DGPS station on 321 kHz decoded easily. Other 
western DGPS stations were a mixed bag. Many of the usuals were not seen 
or overwhelmed by nearer stations. An exception was Myton, UT on 303 
kHz. With a small loop aimed to null the Greensboro, NC station, it did 
decode.

To east the DGPS in Cape Ray, NL on 288 kHz decoded, indicating likely 
copy of lowfer WM. But no signal was apparent (the noisy previous night 
at least yielded traces of WM). Lowfer EAR is coming in fine ground wave 
as this email is written.

VLF has been disappointing with no trace of the Alpha stations for over 
a week. Noticed that CFH has moved back to 73.6 kHz from 137 kHz so if 
it stays there that will help future monitoring on 136 and 137 kHz. CKN 
on 76.2 kHz was good copy around 1000Z too. Around local sunrise TFK on 
37.5 kHz was also good copy.

JD's hifer reception reports prompt me to temporarily shut off hifer SIW 
today to take a look and see what I can copy.
-- 
73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL