[Lowfer] A couple things--LWBC

[Zack Widup]

Interesting. Thanks! The e-probe antenna seems to do quite well up to 3 MHz
or so. Very low noise up to there. I have a one-turn 1 meter diameter loop
and the LZ1AQ preamp set up in the front yard and it also has very low
noise, but signals are not as strong as they are with the e-probe. Last
night Trans World Radio on 800 kHz was about S7 on the loop and 20 over 9
on the e-probe.

Zack W9SZ

On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 9:26 AM Steve Ratzlaff <ratzlaffsteve at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Hi Zack,
>
> I'm in south AZ (southwest of Tucson about 20 miles); I regularly check
> for LWBC. This season has been the worst in many years. I've only heard
> a couple a couple of times so far. This is due to the high solar
> activity this season. Plus there aren't many LWBC still on the air. 162
> France has its low pitched data signal on; 171 has Morocco; 198 has BBC,
> 252 has both Algeria (and weaker Ireland which I've only heard once or
> twice); not sure if 189 Iceland is still on but I haven't heard it this
> season so far.
>
> I check in CW mode with 100 Hz bandwidth; depending on the strength of
> the signal I decide to try SSB or AM mode for hearing the modulation.
> NDB 198 DIW hasn't been on for over a year, so anything on 198 for a CW
> carrier is from BBC. For me 171 is most often heard, then 252. (162
> France data is only heard in CW mode, it can be quite strong.) But as
> noted this season has been the worst in years.
>
> As for using an active whip, remember it needs to be as far as
> possible/practical from all sources of AC, especially for LF reception.
>
> 73,
>
> Steve AA7U
>
> On 3/7/2023 7:54 AM, Zack Widup wrote:
> > I finally got around to putting up an AMRAD e-probe antenna that I built
> > several years ago. It is by far the best receiving antenna for LF and MF
> > that I have now. I was not able to hear any of the "watering hole"
> stations
> > last night. But I did hear several NDB's from Quebec and Ontario. I am
> > beginning to think I'm in a "black hole" for some RF. The only thing I
> have
> > found that may be a problem is that the noise level is very high above 4
> > MHz. I didn't intend to use it much above 4 MHz, anyway, so it isn't much
> > of a problem. I don't know if the noise is from the antenna itself, or if
> > it is from the location where I put it. I put it along the side of the
> > house where it is far away from trees and where the power line comes in.
> > There are no other wires near it. It's about 5 feet above roof level.
> >
> > I am wondering if any of you  listen for the EU longwave broadcast
> > stations? If so, have any of you heard any of them this winter?  I have
> > never been able to receive an EU LF station and was hoping I might be
> able
> > to with this new antenna.
> >
> > 73, Zak W9SZ
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