On Jun 29, 2023, at 10:00, Christopher Bowne <[email protected]> wrote:
I’m in! BTW there will be two transmissions on the 2nd. COMEX for the first is at 0430 EDT and (I believe) the second one COMEX is at 0730 EDT.
I haven’t been active much on the MRCA list in the last few years until recently, but I have fairly consistently been copying the SAQ transmission very solidly over the last 5 years or so up here from shoreside locations like Stonington Point and Barn Island here in Stonington, CT and from Weekapaug Point, Watch Hill Point, and Quonnie Salt Pond, RI using a Wandel and Goltermann AT-611 Selective Level Meter, powered from a small 100 watt 12VDC to 120V AC inverter and a (stand alone from vehicle) 12V Group 24 battery. To keep things Swedish, usually operate from our Volvo XC60. Have successfully copied SAQ with just a 75 meter Hamstick, but best results are with a 200 foot mini terminated Beverage or the same wire just deployed as a “trailing wire” lying on the ground. The trailing wire arrangement is fairly directive, with significantly higher signal levels when the receiver is at the head of the wire axis lined up on the bearing to SAQ. Even though the system including the battery is standalone from the vehicle electrical system, I have to ground the receiver chassis to the vehicle body to minimize EMI from the inverter. The vehicle is completely shut down during reception to minimize/eliminate EMI from the vehicle electrical/electronic systems.
A VERY EMI quiet background noise location is necessary to copy SAQ. Received levels indicated on the SLM are typically -90 to -100 dBm, with typically about 10-20 dB SNR. Usually, and especially this time of year, thunderstorm static is the limiting factor on successful reception. Time of day is usually not a factor, I’ve copied some
SAQ transmissions that have occurred in late
morning local time here on the East Coast. Both the upcoming 0430 and 0730 EDT transmissions should be copyable here, QRN
permitting.
I usually watch their YouTube livestream on my iPhone during the transmitter startup to know exactly when the RF is being put onto the antenna, usually can hear it right away if conditions are good.
I’m challenging myself this time to also copy them on a Navy RAK WW2 vintage VLF receiver along with the W&G. The biggest challenge will be getting that beast out of the
shack and into the Volvo! Despite its weight, it doesn’t draw much power, might be able to power it from the 100 watt inverter or definitely a 700 watt one I have.
Game on!
Chris AJ1G
Stonington CT
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 28, 2023, at 22:19, B. Smith <[email protected]> wrote:
I know everyone is tuckered out from Field Day but here is a Low Frequency challenge.
SAQ is scheduled to make a transmission on 2 July (dark thirty Early). Info can be found at the link below. As far as I know the only members of our group who have successful received the transmission on 17.2 kcs are N3FRQ, K4CHE, and W2AMI.
Z
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