Heard something on 171 kHz

[Tincap]

I had an amazing catch on my G8 traveller II on longwave last night. I caught a beacon from northern Quebec at 332 khz wich is over 1500 km's from me. Not bad for only 10 watts and a radio that's supposedly deaf on longwave. I wasn't using any antennas either...just barefo0t and it was as strong as one of the locals.

The one at Lake Katatipawasakamaw? Talk about 'out in the sticks'! Good job, mimo!

I've been monitoring 261. Underneath the beacon (which I've yet to ID) I do get slight het and audio, but it's just under the thresh-hold. It's too early to tell whether its a false image or -the most likely LW candidate- Radio Rossii, with its 2.5 million watt transmitter located just north of Moscow. I'll try again, as conditions permit.

~BG

 

[mimo]

It was this one:
332 YFM CAN QC La Grande-4 N 53 42 41 W 073 42 11

I included the co-ordinates so people can see where it is. Consider the distance from Ottawa, I'd consider that one hell of a catch. I have heard a ver faint beacon at 261 as well, but not often. I usually have to go outside and put the radio up against a phone pole to hear it.

That beacon is either:
261 GD CAN ON Goderich N 43 44 47 W 081 43 51

or

261 2H CAN QC Lebel-sur-Quévillon N 49 02 14 W 077 01 15

 

[Tincap]

It was this one:
332 YFM CAN QC La Grande-4 N 53 42 41 W 073 42 11

I included the co-ordinates so people can see where it is. Consider the distance from Ottawa, I'd consider that one hell of a catch. I have heard a ver faint beacon at 261 as well, but not often. I usually have to go outside and put the radio up against a phone pole to hear it.

That beacon is either:
261 GD CAN ON Goderich N 43 44 47 W 081 43 51

or

261 2H CAN QC Lebel-sur-Quévillon N 49 02 14 W 077 01 15

Well, mimo, you certainly are creative! I'm sure your method should improve your chances of TA LW catches, although it would be kind of nippy during mid DX season.

I believe its Goderich I'm picking up (no need for a 'phone pole', lol!). The code taps out 3 letters, with a 'B' inserted before the 'GD'.

~BG

 

[pianoplayer88key]

It was this one:
332 YFM CAN QC La Grande-4 N 53 42 41 W 073 42 11

I included the co-ordinates so people can see where it is. Consider the distance from Ottawa, I'd consider that one hell of a catch. I have heard a ver faint beacon at 261 as well, but not often. I usually have to go outside and put the radio up against a phone pole to hear it.

That beacon is either:
261 GD CAN ON Goderich N 43 44 47 W 081 43 51

or

261 2H CAN QC Lebel-sur-Quévillon N 49 02 14 W 077 01 15

You get much better luck than I do with phone poles and LW beacons. When I tried putting my radio up to a utility pole all it did was severely desense my radio (so it would say 49/00 or 50/00 or something like that with no signal receivable).

I had much better luck with a portion of a barbed wire fence across the street from my house, though.
Here's an audio comparison of 404 MOG barefoot (indicating 15/01) then on the fence (indicating 25/20).
And, here's a photo of the PL-606 on the fence.

One of these days I might want to make a tuned longwave loop antenna. My Select-A-Tenna just won't tune much below about 530 or 520 or so.

 

[stacker]

I usually have to go outside and put the radio up against a phone pole to hear it.

Radio on a telephone pole...that would be the "Hooterville Method."

 

[stormy01]

I usually have to go outside and put the radio up against a phone pole to hear it.

Radio on a telephone pole...that would be the "Hooterville Method."

I could picture Oliver doing that on Green Acres, but didn't he have to crank the phone to ring the operator?

 

[ddsparxx]

TA DX can be very challenging this time of year, but it can be done as someone on the board previously pointed out.

You are right, it can be very challenging as tonight I am hearing nothing on longwave except the lightning static noises and the very, very faint beacon on 215 or 216.

 

[Tincap]

I've got some het going on 171 kHz, along with some audio, just under the thresh hold. There's very little lightening static at this time...time to poke around the dial, me thinks!

~BG

 

[radioman148]

I've got some het going on 171 kHz, along with some audio, just under the thresh hold. There's very little lightening static at this time...time to poke around the dial, me thinks!

~BG

It's getting close. Usually I'm ready around Labor Day, but sometimes we get chances before then.

 

[BobOnTheJob]

I know morse code...email me a sample at bob53bob at gmail dot com if you want it decoded.

 

[Tincap]

I know morse code...email me a sample at bob53bob at gmail dot com if you want it decoded.

Thanks for the offer Bob, but between the beacons and Google, this is a great way to learn some (very basic) Morse Code.

I'm currently getting a little het on 153 & 198. Static wise, LW is much quieter tonight, making it easier on the ears...compared to all that crazy lightening last night! 8I

~BG

 

[K6JHU]

If you can jack your radio into your sound card, there are programs that will read morse code (plus a number of other digital modes) and display the data available as freeware.