Back to Main Transatlantic Tests PageReport on the tests of 12-15 January |
The PlansThis weekend (12-14 Jan) there will be a concerted effort to make a transatlantic two-way contact. John, VE1ZJ, will be travelling to the QTH of Jack, VE1ZZ. John has good receiving equipment and expertise, whilst Jack has a good Tx and antenna. John has received four Eu stations on 136kHz, whilst Jack has been received by several Eu stations. It should be a winning combination. Simultaneously (actually 13-15 Jan), the chaps at AMRAD will be braving the cold at Nags Head, on the coast of North Carolina to try again to receive various types of amateur and commercial stations on the LF bands. G0MRF wil be revisiting the apartment block near Heathrow that he used for the first ever crossing of the Atlantic. Since he received (and even heard) dashes from VE1ZZ whilst he was there last time, it seems likely that David will make the two-way this weekend. And OK1FIG, with his father, will be activating the 150m high 'T' antenna that allowed him to make the 136kHz DX record when he was received by VE1ZJ. He describes the operating room as "a huge unheated hall without bed, without shower" and says they will survive on hot tea and coffee. The plan1 Jack will tx on 136.500 . Up could have trouble with CFH down could have trouble with SXV. please keep the freq clear. 2 Jack will tx 10 minutes at top and bottom of each hour 3sec dots. 3 Then Jack will tx straight cw for two minutes. 4 we will listen 135.98 to 136.05 for cw answers for 18 minutes 5 At the same time we will look for 3sec dot qrss from 135.9 through 135.97 6 We hope to start 2000Z fri and run til 0700 both nights 7 Perhaps we should listen (look) for 10 second dot qrss after say 0300Z providing a QSO across the pond has occurred 7a Once a contact is underway , we will respond as the qso develops, ie if we get qrss call we will answer that station only and will only transmit the mode we receive an answer in 8 I hope to have email 9 please pass this info to MM0ALM. My comments: As far as possible, continuous beaconing should be avoided, especially if another station is operating near to you. Send just your own callsign and wait for Jack to identify you. If a QSO happens, all other stations should stop transmitting. Use the frequency plan shown on this page. SummaryThe first night, Friday/Saturday saw reasonable conditions and low noise. VE1ZZ was received by several Eu stations for most of the night. He saw QRSS from OK1FIG and MM0ALM. Unfortunately neither of those stations were able to receive him. On the second night, Sat/Sun, conditions deteriorated and static levels were very high. VE1ZZ saw no amateur signals, and he was not positively identified in the UK. However, SWL KO, NL9222, received VA3LK on Sunday evening, creating a new world one-way record. Achievements
Reports (edited from the rsgb_lf_group)12 Jan Good clear transmission from Jack at 22.00 tonight,
but fading out toward end of 10 minute period. About 2Hz down. Nothing
seen before 22.00, although there were some suspicious dashes on the
same frequency at 20.00 and 21.00. QRN very low. There is a Coronal
Mass Ejection due this weekend.. Just seen VE1ZZ sending 'MM0ALM' at 2310, Friday.
Nothing seen before as local QRM on. VE1ZZ seen sending 'OK1FIG' at 0004 Saturday. [Spectrograms of VE1ZZ receiving MM0ALM and OK1FIG] VE1ZZ acknowledged OK1FIG OO at/by 00.15 010113,
but no-one this side seems to have seen it since all are transmitting
their calls again, i.e. OK1FIG, M0BMU and G3YXM. Their may be others,
but they are all so strong here that cross-mod is a problem. No acknowledgement from Petr [OK1FIG],
it seems he cannot read Jack [VE1ZZ]... Very exciting this!
John, Jack/John reported Petr at '0' at 2043
on the Cluster but I saw a continuous transmission as he tried to
get the data across to Petr. I guess from this afternoon listening
to Petr he is not hearing as well as he is transmitting from that
site. The problem here between 2000 and 2100 was a fair bit of noise
and the signals from Jack were right on the edge of the noise. I was
getting the best copy in 2.1kHz filter with the gain right down, but
I could not decode the 'signals'. I think in that configuration the
big signals on 135.9ish were chopping the RX up a bit. I was worried
about possible CMEs there was an M-class flare just 2 days ago, but
there was no indications from NOAA. It rather depends on circumstances
what its effect will be, but it could be that the early evening may
be the best after that strikes. Good luck all At 0030 010113, VE1ZZ again acknowledged OK1FIG
with I believe OO, but now strong QSB, first and last part of message
difficult to make out, but middle clear. Problem is that VE1ZZ has
locked onto OK1FIG, who is not hearing him and VE1ZZ is not hearing/seeing
the 1 Watters. I think we have now passed the best part of the night
with perhaps another good part around 5 or 6 am. Jack's QRSS was just audible between 0133 and
0140. I have done a WAV file of it (using Spectrogram). He faded before
giving his call in QRQ, but I recorded it anyway so may be able to
do some post processing. He seems to be just sending his call now. Hi all Jack gave an 'O' to MM0ALM at 2308 on the
DX Cluster, but I am not seeing a very good signal here from Jack
tonight so I did not copy any response on 136.5. and it looks as though
Dave did not copy the reply. Pity we haven't slightly better conditions.
QSP from the AMRAD reflector: I just talked to Petr, OK1FIG on 136.600 kHz.
He has seen nil from VE1ZZ this night but is happy he has been seen
at the other side of the pond. According to my calculations, this
is at least a new LF world record, bridging 5697 km (if my estimation
of VE1ZZ's QTH as FN84CM is correct). Conditions were obviously not
good enough over to the European continent, I myself saw no signs
from Canada until 03.30 UTC when I could see very weak traces ('T')
of a QRSS signal on 136.500 kHz. Petr and Jiri will remain QRV until
about noon today and then go home. According to what I have seen on
the cluster they were heard quite well all over Europe, reports came
in from Estland and even Moscow. They might try to put up an lw-antenna
later today to try some crossband QSOs. Any news from our crew in
the US? I keep my fingers crossed for G0MRF/P <--> VE1ZZ tonight!
Keep up the good work, its fun to participate as an observer (and
with my qrp-erp at least being able to qsp ...) My best copy of Jack was at 0000 when he was giving
Petr a report, a good "O". Nothing at-all 0030! I left Argo running
and taking grabs every half hour, the best copy late in the night
was at 0430 and at 0500 with another, not quite so good copy at 0700.
I don't think there's any way Jack and John would have copied me based
on the strength I was getting from them and the ERP Jack is running. I have posted the Spectrograms made last night
with a few comments and thoughts on my web site: www.g4cnn.f2s.com
and have just tested that it works. Competition: See if you can your
call sign in the last pic. Hi all, according to the DX Cluster spots from
Jack, he heard Dave MM0ALM on 135.997. There is also another 'O' report
for OK1FIG at 0615z. I suspect Petr was not getting the reception
levels he needs for some reason. I think other reports confirm my
thoughts that propagation last night was not was not up at the levels
we have seen it in last couple of weeks. Which suggests that under
the right conditions a lot more could be possible. Well done all. Dave, G3YXM wrote on his news-page: VE1ZZ was very strong (almost audible) giving
OK1FIG a 'O' report at 0010UTC. Went to bed and checked next morning
at 0700 - VE1ZZ still there giving his callsign. I hope to be QRV
tonight. Transmitted on 136.916kHz at the agreed 1/2 hour
intervals from 2015 until 0630 last night. This is a log of what I
saw on 136.5kHz; The times are the start of the receiving intervals.
The signal levels were quite variable, so I have shown the max/min
TMO signal report for each 15mins: Like in the nights before, nothing from VE could
be seen here, probably due to the fact that 136.502 kHz is not a clear
frequency. I wonder if Petr 300 km further east might still be plagued
by the DCF spurs? Last night was very exciting Got here 1905Z Got
all set up by 2001Z. Turned on ARGO and there was OK1FIG. Clear O
copy We sent QRSS by hand key . We observed OK1FIG all night until
0343Z Then he came back on at 0615 for one sequence We were calling
him all night Petr's signals were best at 2000Z They were poor after
0200 but always at least M copy. Please call Dave G0MRF and ask him
to be sure he is transmitting at 2000Z That is 1/2 hour or 3/4 hour
before sunset. Tonight you can call even though we are trying QSO
with someone else. ARGO is good I uploaded a few screen shots of what I received
last night (basically OK1FIG, MM0ALM and M0BMU) here : http://www.qsl.net/i2phd/argo/ok1fig.html I have put pictures of VE1ZZ's signals at various
times during the night at http://www.lf.thersgb.net/gallery/atlantic/ve1zztest.htm 13 Jan Hi all we will look for 10 sec dots between 0312
and 0430Z tonight . Please start 3sec qrss at 2000. Hope the condx
are better I will be on 136.493 starting at 20 utc until
06 utc, 5 amps in the antenna to the Decca. 15 minute cycles as per
others. Larry.. Copying you 21:10/ and gone again 21:15,
(T) lots of static crashes. Have image will send later, if it's a
positive id. Who is 3.1Hz above you, i have the same T on him. Yesterday no trace on spectrogram of VE1ZZ transmission.
[Now] strong wind and S9 crack noise on my small T receiving antenna
so impossible to TX and RX for VE1ZZ. I'm very sorry that I cannot
play any role in this trial, so best luck to all involved. Absolutely nothing here tonight. Have checked
every half hour since 20.00 till now 00.15 for VE1ZZ or VA3LK, but
no sign. The static has been increasing steadily and is now at such
a level that it is quite impossible. Sounds like rain static, practically
continuous like wind blowing or paper bags being crumpled. Screen
nothing but white dots. Decided to retire early. It generally seems to have been bad tonight. I
have caught a few elements from Jack (after about 2300z), and been
able to work out roughly where his message was amongst the crashes
but not good at all. The elements I have seen are the 'same colour
as the noise' , and have been seen in odd quieter periods. No signs
from Larry either. I will leave a monitor running logging screens.
I have reverted to Easygram which seems to me to perform a little
better in these circumstances. Maybe I am more used to the settings.
It all seems to go to show we need to be able to pick our times to
be successful. Hi All, Condx terrible . 128.9 kHz and DCF39 both
around S-2 and worst this winter . In addition S-9 QRN here also .
Will Keep trying . Much the same conditions here ! ... awful. I will
continue transmissions, 3 sec dot, at 12 mins past and 42 mins past
each hour on 135.9400 kHz, change to 10 sec dot after 03.00Z, but
give up soon after that if conditions do not improve. Don't suppose there are many of you still up but
thought I would send a small word of encouragement to John and Jack.
Have seen something of your signals on all but one transmission period.
Conditions are bad but good to see you're sticking with it. Early
evening best with an M signal. Now down to a T. Consoled ourselves
with a cross-band QSO with G0ONA 136kHz to 477THz ! Oh well back to
the TX. Blown two fuses so far but Ammeter off the end stop at 8A+
Hope 10 sec dots offer some improvement. Now 03.30Z ... nothing identified on 136.500 kHz
for some hours, but I can see something about 2.7 Hz off freq. I am
afraid that it looks like a wash-out tonight, Good Luck to anyone
still trying. It was awful. We need higher priced help to pick
the good weekends hi. DCF39 was weak or not there at all most of the
evening. VE1ZZ was even weaker at times, noise was very high. My frequency
has been reported as 3.1 Hz high due errors in the reference system,
my regrets about that - the fix will come soon I hope. Maybe it will
be better tomorrow evening Hi Ko, Thanks for the gram. After processing it
with Paint Shop Pro, I too can read VA3LK twice there. It is just
just clear enough to be sure. That is interesting because the previous
night I had success, but you didn't, confirming the explanation that
Alan and others have given of the way the D layer works. My experience last night was the same as others:
S9+20dB QRN and a high white noise level. From 2200 to 0300 I saw
only vague traces of signals from VE, and no Morse characters at all.
Transmitted 3s dots before 0300 and 10s afterwards. Went to bed at
0330. A big shame for G0MRF who chose the wrong day. I am sure he
could have made the two-way on Saturday morning. Last night, I transmitted 3s dots at the agreed
intervals on 135.916kHz, from 2115 until 0630. On receive, the noise
level was about 10 - 15dB higher than the previous night due to the
QRN. As a result, virtually nothing was seen, except for very faint
traces near 136.5kHz at around 0230 and 0430. No luck with TA signals until now. QRM and/or
QRN too high. I did stare at the Gram all the night, like mad.
I placed a typical screen shot (taken somewhere around midnight) to:
http://www.sweb.cz/ok1fig/ta.jpg
(~100 K), or better http://www.sweb.cz/ok1fig/ta.bmp
(~400 K) The red markers are symetrically around 136.500. The irregular
line exactly in the middle was never legible, and also was the same
in periods when ZZ listened. I will eat my hat if somebody will decode
Jack's callsign out of it. Only once I saw something that could be
"V", but it was during my transmission. The character of the screen
shot shows that I was not a deaf station I dare say. If VE1ZZ could
move with fq a few Hz up or down I would have much much higher chance.
Thanks all for exciting weekend Although last night was a bit of a washout I was
pleased to see the report from Ko about the reception of Larry VA3LK.
Sorry I missed it Larry. If signals were 10dB down from those on Friday
night, just imagine how far Larry's QRS signal could go on a 'good
day'. The news from the /P tower block is that Sean (who passed his
RAE in December) now realises how difficult LF really is. Suitably
enthusiastic he is now trying to find a kindred spirit in the 12 story
building about 600 feet to the West of his QTH. Quite an exciting weekend on LF. 14 Jan Hi all. After just 'T' reports from 2200z onwards
Jack suddenly came up out of the noise to a good 'O' report with me
at 0230z and 0300z. That tends to suggest that we did not pick a very
good time for the test, and conditions are improving again now. |
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