From: "James Cowburn" <james.cowburn@virgin.net>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
References: <657E7065AC4C454AB63F6C7C2FF043F6@Black> <AANLkTimpT_apwHXR97olUxilu3D_3F3ZfGx0Mj2Uf99o@mail.gmail.com> <003101cb04c2$0913cc10$0401a8c0@xphd97xgq27nyf> <1607287044.1492139.1275754813942.JavaMail.fmail@mwmweb034> <BF4A524700075746A6467658DFC7102C5107CB1257@ICTS-S-EXC2-CA.luna.kuleuven.be> <38A51B74B884D74083D7950AD0DD85E82A1C24@File-Server-HST.hst.e-technik.tu-darmstadt.de> <7.0.1.0.1.20100606111158.018277a8@magma.ca> <Pine.LNX.4.64.1006061604470.29015@plato.ucs.mun.ca> <38A51B74B884D74083D7950AD0DD85E82A1C28@File-Server-HST.hst.e-technik.tu-darmstadt.de> <002001cb066b$9d0ddd70$0401a8c0@xphd97xgq27nyf>
Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2010 19:11:48 +0100
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Subject: RE: VLF: RX stations in Canada and US?
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Like other challenges it=92s a personal challenge and that fact that=
 its been
done by others is irrelevant

e.g. Everest, swimming the channel, marathons, snickers....

Had a bad day Mal?  Mind out for the T-storms tonight up your way in
Scarborough=20
=20
=20
With best regards
=20
=20
Jim
=20
=20
Dr. James Cowburn
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
[mailto:owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] On Behalf Of mal hamilton
Sent: 07 June 2010 19:03
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Subject: Re: VLF: RX stations in Canada and US?

The Dreamers band is now becoming more a Nightmare band
A simple VLF experiment to exchange reports amongst radio amateurs req=
uires
a Phd with the ability to manage a frequency stabity of
0.000000000000000000001 cycles otherwise you could be missed also a sp=
eed of
QRS  203573 taking several months or even years to send a DOT.
Summer vacation taken up winding a large coil to resonate antenna. The=
 whole
thing is not real.
For a Radio Operator the task is difficult for an Appliance Operator
impossible
My approach is to generate K/watts of rf at the tx end and  have a  su=
itable
array of wire antennas at the rx end. Communications would be by norma=
l CW
where frequency accuracy is not critical.
Why wait around for months or years for a DOT to be heard when this ca=
n be
done on other bands like 137 or 500 kcs and HF.
Commercial operators have already exploited these frequencies and radi=
o
amateurs are re inventing the wheel
g3kev


----- Original Message -----
From: "Stefan Sch=E4fer" <schaefer@hst.tu-darmstadt.de>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010 8:47 PM
Subject: AW: VLF: RX stations in Canada and US?


Hi Joe,

I don't know that RX but what i recommend is using the soundcard of yo=
ur PC
(or an external) as the RX, just as Paul Nicholson and Jim and Wolf an=
d
Markus and Renato and...... did it. You do not need an extra RX. An ex=
tra
usual RX is just a source of frequency instabilities (offset and tempe=
rature
drift). You have to have a very stable frequency, say 8970,00 Hz +- 0,=
01 Hz.
This can be reached by using your soundcard and e.g. DL4YHFs Spectrum
Lab(V2.75 b08 or higher versions) and compensating the frequency drift=
 by
locking to a military reference MSK signal that is available almost al=
l over
the world.
Then, in a first step you can watch the ALPHAs on 11904,762 Hz and wat=
ch
your accuracy. It should be an absolutely horizontal line!
Theoretically, this could be tried this evening :-)

Best 73 and good luck :-)

Stefan/DK7FC

________________________________

Von: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org im Auftrag von jcraig@mun.ca
Gesendet: So 06.06.2010 20:38
An: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Betreff: Re: VLF: RX stations in Canada and US?



Hi Bill, Group.

Just returned from a one week trip inland (Ottawa).  Yes, I'm near St
John's and have acquired an ITT mackay 3031A which might be satisfacto=
ry
for VLF RX. Any comments on the suitability of this RX would be
appreciated.

73 & TNX
Joe VO1NA

On Sun, 6 Jun 2010, Bill de Carle wrote:

> At 07:45 AM 6/6/2010, Stefan/DK7FC wrote:
> [..]
>> What about the canadian stations? These are in the shortest distanc=
e to
EU
>> and will become a very important factor in some months when the QRN
levels
>> decrease. Are there already stations who permantently monitor the
dreamers
>> band (not the whole VLF) with a suitable RX system? Means, not only
copying
>> the ALPHAs by ear but having a SLOW QRSS/DFCW window where DFCW-600=
 or
>> DFCW-6000 can be displayed. Here, it makes no sense to monitor the=
 ALPHAs
>> and 8,97 kHz in e.g. 4 Hz FFT bandwith, what we need is 4 mHz! So,=
 that
one
>> DFCW element takes 10 minutes. Another important step is to have a=
 STABLE
>> soundcard sample rate. This is well performed in the latest SpecLab
>> version. Alternatively a GPS synchronisation  or so is necessray!
> [..]
>> What do the canadians or US stns think about that? Any REAL interes=
t?
>
> I have the necessary frequency stability/accuracy either already in=
 place
or
> easily arranged and I'm certainly interested, but unfortunately I li=
ve
inland
> about 1000 miles from the East coast of Canada (the best Rx location=
 would
be
> somewhere around St. Johns Newfoundland).  Nevertheless, I'll see if=
 I can
> receive the Alpha signals for a start.  I've been monitoring your
experiments
> and you guys have me all excited about this VLF stuff!
>
> 73,
> Bill VE2IQ
>
>
>