[Lowfer] KA7OEI on 2200m in EN90

Sun Dec 10 18:36:45 EST 2017

While I've had quite a few QSOs on 630 meters, I have yet to have a QSO 
on 2200:  Compared to just a few weeks ago there seem to be fewer 
receive stations showing up on WSPRNET - and even fewer stations capable 
of transmitting, at least using part 97 - particularly west of the 
Mississippi.

I suppose that I'll have to arrange a QSO with someone - using JT9, QRSS 
or some other suggested mode so that I can claim that I've had at least 
one QSO on the band - and to give the other station Utah.  Any takers?

73,

Clint

KA7OEI

On 12/10/2017 2:27 PM, Michael Sapp wrote:
> Clint: Well Thank You very much for the LF beaconing.  I noticed a 
> worthwhile improvement going to a perimeter wire ground along with 
> orthogonal "X" ground wires with 4ft ground rods at each corner and 
> one in the center of the ground system for my EWE antennas which I 
> installed about a year ago.  I also have a substantial AC service 
> ground in a french drain trench which seems to handle my power line 
> noise reasonably well.  The EWE ground is isolated from the AC service 
> ground when the receiver is in use. The ground systems are connected 
> via a substantial copper knife switch when the receiver is not in 
> use.  Also mid-point grounding on the pair of RG6 cables to the 
> receive antennas with common mode chokes on each end...
>
> I'll have the receiver on 2200m again tonight, but may have the NE EWE 
> antenna in use for a few hours after SS before switching to the NW 
> direction like last night...
>
> Neat to see that modest 50mw make the path in WSPR2 mode !
>
> 73 Mike wa3tts
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Clint Turner" <turner at ussc.com>
> To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2017 3:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] KA7OEI on 2200m in EN90
>
>
>> Thanks Mike for spotting my signal.
>>
>> Yesterday I went around with a large spool of wire and ran some 
>> perimeter ground wires around my (rather small) suburban lot which 
>> seemed to improve the signal receive by a local (about 40 miles 
>> north) by a couple dB - and I've noticed that the previous 16-22dB 
>> difference between my signal and WH2XXP has reduced a bit to 
>> something closer 8-14dB, depending on phase of the moon, etc. This 
>> morning, with the (very) unseasonably warm weather I was outside, 
>> bonding the sections of my chain link fence to further tie things 
>> together and improve the extent of the ground system.
>>
>> I've not noticed a huge difference in antenna current (its about 1 
>> amp, more or less) after all of this "bondage" of radials, fences, 
>> etc. but the remote spots indicate that there are gradual 
>> improvements. It will take some burying of wires to make much 
>> difference - but I probably could improve the vertical portion of the 
>> radiator (the window line of my HF "lazy loop" and get it a bit 
>> higher - and wind a Litz wire loading coil for 2200 (I have enough 
>> 660/42 Litz to do this) to replace the current one that is wound with 
>> 22 AWG stranded - which runs very slightly warm.
>>
>> A few details on my MF/LF station may be found here: 
>> http://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2017/12/now-qrv-on-630-and-2200-meters.html
>>
>> Still lots of room for improvement!
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Clint
>> KA7OEI
>> (Also MedFER "CT" - not online at the moment...)
>>
>>
>> On 12/10/2017 11:57 AM, Michael Sapp wrote:
>>> Thanks Garry: I was watching the waterfall at the time working on a 
>>> rx filter project. At first I thought it was XND but it did not seem 
>>> to be in the right place, Ron's signal usually shows
>>>
>>> up a bit lower in frequency...so I was able to grab a screen shot...
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/0chw2vlwaij3g1f/IMG_0959.JPG?dl=0
>>>
>>> Exceptionally quiet at the time with no local in-band QRN sources 
>>> and pretty much only 120 to 150 kHz energy making it to the mixer in 
>>> the LF converter...about half of that
>>>
>>> energy in 7~8 kHz bandwidth centered on 137.5 kHz...
>>>
>>> Currently 137 kHz fairly polluted with in-band switcher noise, which 
>>> my best guess is hash from neighbor's cloths and dish washing 
>>> machines from the periodic mid-day nature of
>>>
>>> how the QRM shows up. Also caught WA9CGZ mid-day here for the first 
>>> time this afternoon, lower atmospheric temps seem to have an impact 
>>> on noise level....and/or the rx filter is working exceptionally 
>>> well...or some combo thereof...
>>>
>>> https://www.dropbox.com/s/y2guuiakblfc3i2/IMG_0961.JPG?dl=0
>>>
>>> The CGZ captures may have occurred without the background noise as I 
>>> was out to lunch at the time and the waterfall capture was around 
>>> 1830 UTC vs 1700~1800 for the CGZ captures....
>>>
>>> Mike, tts
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Garry" <k3siw at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To: <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2017 11:59 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] KA7OEI on 2200m in EN90
>>>
>>>
>>>> Nice copy Mike. I noticed conditions to the NW were up last night 
>>>> but was monitoring DGPS and the lowfer watering hole instead. Nice 
>>>> to know the signal is making it so far east.
>>>> -- 
>>>> 73, Garry, K3SIW, EN52ta, Elgin, IL
>>
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