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Message-ID: <5227DDA0D83340B0908DCBB3B9A42BE3@JimPC>
From: "James Moritz" <james.moritz@btopenworld.com>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
References: <BFF6723B062BFF40B4B7A6CF670160B4040FEB50@argos2.clb.tcfr.thales><002301cb1e8c$d28d4740$4001a8c0@lark><4C35C346.7080307@iup.uni-heidelberg.de><003001cb1eba$b04ba950$4001a8c0@lark> <AANLkTileY5Sk4URCfce7Xv3S8lkjd4t65QVMocyiYOcY@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTileY5Sk4URCfce7Xv3S8lkjd4t65QVMocyiYOcY@mail.gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2010 00:16:14 +0100
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Subject: LF: Re: TA DX on the dreamers band?
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Dear Warren, LF Group,

I think that is a slightly pessimistic view - the first acknowledged 2-way 
transatlantic QSOs on 137kHz were, if I remember correctly, between G3LDO, 
VE1ZJ, and VE1ZZ in a 3-cornered QSO, and between G3AQC and VA3LK in a QSO 
spread over a number of nights, with each station transmitting on alternate 
nights. There have been a couple of 2-way QSOs between VO1NA and M0BMU using 
QRSS30.

However, it is cetainly difficult to have QSOs like this - often several 
attempts are needed, even when both stations are at the "legal limit" ERP. 
Having a beacon signal that is regularly received is one thing, but when you 
go for a QSO it is quite another, since at least a few hours worth of 
break-free copy in both directions are needed to complete even a minimal QSO 
at these very low speeds. As the distances increase, the probability of this 
happening gets lower and lower, which puts the US stations at a disadvantage 
compared to the VE stations. Reducing keying speeds further is of limited 
benefit, because still longer periods of unbroken propagation are needed.

Achieving 1W ERP on 136k at M0BMU has always involved precarious methods of 
temporarily extending the antenna height, including rigging the antenna in 
the dark, and nervously checking it while hoping it doesn't fall down! This 
is just due to typical space limitations. Combined with the fact that 
propagation is usually most viable during the few hours before dawn in 
Europe, this quickly becomes an exhausting process if more than a few 
attempts are needed. So there is a pressing need to develop better ways of 
having a QSO under these conditions. But for me, that is what keeps it 
interesting...

Cheers, Jim Moritz
73 de M0BMU