[Lowfer] MM lowfer beacon update

[Michael Sapp]

Garry: I heard CFH on 76.2 last night but nothing from XND.  Noise level was 
about constant S6 from a local source when I checked this AM daylight.  Not 
much chance of hearing XND through that kind of noise wall... now and then 
the local noise turns off and I have S1 or so noise level when no lightning 
static is around, but even that lower background noise seems like an order 
of magnitude higher than what I have on 137 kHz. I did the AC voltage 
measurement on the speaker output the other day on 75 kHz with a trusted 
analog meter with the ALC off and pretty much confirmed that 10 dB "by ear" 
perceived noise difference between 75 kHz and 137 kHz.  Seems like I have 
broadband noise sources 10~15 kHz wide either side of 37 kHz,  60kHz, and 75 
kHz....  This noise source or sources is coming in on the antenna as my 
converter is dead quiet with no antenna signal input.  My common mode 
coaxial chokes are around 12mH or so, perhaps not enough to suppress much 
VLF energy. The noise level is much lower on the NW direction versus SW but 
still too high for weak signal detection.  I added a 2 x 3 ft aluminum earth 
capacitor plate at the feed line midpoint ground but that did not help much. 
I suppose I should be grateful with being able to hear reasonably well on 
137, 185, 485 kHz and most of the LW BC and NDB bands...but it would be nice 
the solve the VLF noise issue...

I did not check for MM or WM overnight, I'll have to give that another shot 
some evening when the QRN is low...

73 Mike wa3tts


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "N8OOU" <n8oou at meekfarm.us>
To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands" 
<lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 9:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] MM lowfer beacon update


> Garry, Thanks for the capture and report. I just looked at a weather 
> forecast, and maybe the storms will stay North of here.  It is fairly dry 
> here, so some rain would be welcome.
>
> I have removed the "umbrella" style tophat/guywire that I used last winter 
> on the vertical, and put back to the Marconi style flattop which is 
> supported by taller trees. I am thinking the top 3rd of the vertical was 
> shielded too much with the droopy umbrella wires. I am not sure if my new 
> supports will survive the winter winds. Time will tell.
>
> In the next week or so I will move WM to the vertical, and get it back to 
> normal operation.
>
> 73   de   N8OOU - Mike Meek
>
> On 09/08/2016 07:13 AM, Garry wrote:
>> Mike, noticeable boost in SNR for lowfer MM this morning here so the
>> higher power is showing up at more than just your local receiver. The
>> higher power particularly helps since storms are all around. See no sign
>> of WM so far.
>>
>> Got a late start looking for WH2XND on 75 kHz WSPR-2 but because of
>> storm racket that probably didn't matter much. Had to depend on the
>> usual near-sunrise enhancement to get a few, minimal SNR decodes.
>> Interestingly, found wideband source CKN on 76.2 kHz from BC active.
>> Don't see that one too often. Usually CFH is running on 73.6 kHz from NS
>> but it's been off the air for quite awhile now. Neither one bothers
>> reception of WH2XHR, at least not here.
>>
>> 73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
>>
>>
>>
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