[Lowfer] SAQ transmission 30JUN2013 - limited success

[Bill Cromwell]

On 06/30/2013 09:23 AM, jrusgrove at comcast.net wrote:
> First session weak copy due to high static levels. Second session 
> rivaled all time best reception of SAQ due to significantly lower 
> static and was the best reception of SAQ since 7/3/2011.  A short .mp3 
> of the reception can be found at http://www.w1vd.com/SAQ063013.mp3 . 
> The clip is divided in two parts - the first during the 'tune up' with 
> nice frequency excursion and second during the message.
>
> Receiving setup as usual: Modified Amrad e probe > audio LNA > Delta 
> 44 A/D > Spectrum Laboratory.
>
> Jay Rusgrove W1VD  WD2XNS  WE2XGR/2
> Burlington CT

Jay,

Thanks for the MP3. I awoke at 04:30 Eastern time and slipped into the 
shack, turned on the already tuned and waiting RAK-7 and took my big dog 
outside. Within a few minutes I had Spectran up and a faint trace on the 
waterfall (several traces). I believe one was SAQ .. complete with that 
"frequency excursion". SAQ had competition - QRM immediately adjacent 
almost right on top of him. Somebody's home appliance? I was able to see 
and hear that the signal was CW. Lasted a few minutes and then off. The 
other signal remained. I have a SAQ.wav file for later attempts at 
further processing. Maybe play it back in Spectran with the notch filter 
set on the QRM - duh. Why didn't I think of that when I was trying to 
pull SAQ out live? Too early in the morning and without coffee (evil grin).

With your MP3 as a comparison, the tones I could barely hear, fading and 
with QRM sounded like the ones in your copy. RAK-7 does not have a 
digital display nor a digital display output. Only a logging dial (but 
quite easily repeatable). I've become intimately familiar with those and 
the tuning charts for them over the past 35 years. I'm very sure I had 
17.2 kc on my Spectran display (along with QRM). This is the first time 
I used any kind of digital enhancement in the SAQ attempt and the first 
time I had any success at all. Now I'm encouraged to try *more*.

Now looking at "active antenna" designs.

73,

Bill  KU8H