Return-Path: Received: from mtain-mi06.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtain-mi06.r1000.mail.aol.com [172.21.131.164]) by air-da09.mail.aol.com (v129.4) with ESMTP id MAILINDA092-86194cdf0c0e20e; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:07:10 -0500 Received: from post.thorcom.com (post.thorcom.com [195.171.43.25]) by mtain-mi06.r1000.mx.aol.com (Internet Inbound) with ESMTP id 839A538000060; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:07:02 -0500 (EST) Received: from majordom by post.thorcom.com with local (Exim 4.14) id 1PHOE1-0007Sg-DH for rs_out_1@blacksheep.org; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:05:33 +0000 Received: from [195.171.43.32] (helo=relay1.thorcom.net) by post.thorcom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.14) id 1PHOE0-0007SX-MV for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:05:32 +0000 Received: from imr-ma04.mx.aol.com ([64.12.206.42]) by relay1.thorcom.net with esmtp (Exim 4.63) (envelope-from ) id 1PHODx-0002QY-UF for rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:05:32 +0000 Received: from mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com (mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com [172.29.51.134]) by imr-ma04.mx.aol.com (8.14.1/8.14.1) with ESMTP id oADM4vfo019575; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:05:02 -0500 Received: from White (nrbg-4d075c85.pool.mediaWays.net [77.7.92.133]) by mtaout-da06.r1000.mx.aol.com (MUA/Third Party Client Interface) with ESMTPA id 2C9C3E000248; Sat, 13 Nov 2010 17:04:44 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: From: "Markus Vester" To: Cc: "Paul" References: <4CDE81B2.10609@iup.uni-heidelberg.de> <4CDE898B.8090604@iup.uni-heidelberg.de> <1D64BDBD8B0F4F14A399EBC253B515B8@White> <202187DBCDDD476B846782F3607D34B8@White> Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 23:04:55 +0100 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal Importance: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Windows Live Mail 12.0.1606 X-MIMEOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V12.0.1606 X-Spam-Score: 0.0 (/) X-Spam-Report: autolearn=disabled,HTML_MESSAGE=0.001 Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0014_01CB8387.2F90BF30" X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.63 (2004-01-11) on post.thorcom.com X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, hits=0.9 required=5.0 tests=HTML_30_40,HTML_MESSAGE, MISSING_OUTLOOK_NAME autolearn=no version=2.63 X-SA-Exim-Scanned: Yes Sender: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org Precedence: bulk Reply-To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org X-Listname: rsgb_lf_group X-SA-Exim-Rcpt-To: rs_out_1@blacksheep.org X-SA-Exim-Scanned: No; SAEximRunCond expanded to false x-aol-sid: 3039400cdece4cdf0c06684c X-AOL-IP: 195.171.43.25 ------=_NextPart_000_0014_01CB8387.2F90BF30 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Dear LF, Paul, here's a short summary of today's VLF kite transmission. I'm sorry for= the late notice, but the experiment had not been planned ahead, and= I wasn't sure if I could get on at all. Also, the kite I am using (a= 0.8 m^2 delta toy bought for 4.99 Euro) is a bit small for this sort= of activity, and really requires a good and steady wind. =20 The QTH was actually at 49.3874 N 11.1692 E, a few 100 meters from the= former location reported earlier. The GPS-controlled carriers were on= air=20 11:15 - 12:15 6470.000 Hz ~ 50 uW, and=20 12:30 - 13:10 8970.002 Hz ~ 200 uW (EMRP). Getting on 6470 was easier than expected. I simply used the same "seve= n-bucket" coil, which resonates my 240 pF home antenna to 8.97 kHz. Co= nnected to the kite wire, the resonance was close enough to 6.5 kHz to= be tuned by the ferrite plate variometer. Then the drive for the audi= o amp was increased until the onset of corona sizzling at 0.25 A. At= that point, the amp drew 10 A DC from the car battery and probably de= livered around 50 W. After connecting mobile internet and staring at= Stefan's grabber, I was positively surprised to find a faint trace th= ere! For the frequency change, I removed the two bottom coil buckets, which= brought the resonance to ~ 8.5 kHz. Then I had to carefully pull the= remaining 5 buckets apart, inserting bits of plastic foam material as= spacers. Going through a few iterations took about 10 minutes, and I= got to "full power" (380 mA, 100W) at 12:30. Unfortunately, the wind= had started to calm by then, and there were several dips during this= transmission. Finally at 13:10, the kite landed gently in the grass,= and I decided to close down and pack up early. Traces from both transmissions were visible on DK7FC's 4.5 mHz "600"= windows, and the second one also produced a nice dash on the 0.45 mHz= window. It is likely that these signals would be useful for a kite-to= -kite QSO on either frequency, using 10 minute dashes. The screenshot from F1AFJ has an interesting dash before 13:00. The in= dicated frequency seems a bit high (8970.020 instead of 8970.002), whi= ch could perhaps be due to a small samplerate calibration error. I am= also not sure about the time scale - judging by the width of the noi= se blobs, the setting could have been 11 mHz and 10 seconds per pixel.= It would be nice if Jean-Pierre could confirm the frequency calibrati= on and scroll settings. I also carefully inspected the OE3GHB grabber, which runs at 1.4 mHz= resolution and seems to be very sensitive. It showed an unusually dar= k period of very low noise between 8 and 11 UT today. But no luck for= my transmission there yet. Well, in addition to the technical aspects, being outdoors in the warm= wind was again a rewarding and enjoyable experience.=20 Best 73, and thanks again for the interest.=20 Markus (DF6NM) From: Markus Vester=20 Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:19 PM To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org=20 Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97 - QRT Sorry folks, I had to shut down at 13:10 due to lack of wind. Many tha= nks for looking! Best 73, Markus (DF6NM) From: Markus Vester=20 Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:08 PM To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org=20 Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97 Hi Stefan, thanks for the observation! I am approximately at 49.3851= N 11.1727 E. After a bit of fiddling with the coil, the carrier is on= 8970.002 since about 12:25. I will try to stay on till 14:00, but the= re are a few lows as the wind has calmed down a bit. 73, Markus From: Stefan Sch=E4fer=20 Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 1:50 PM To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org=20 Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97 There is a trace now coming up slightly above 8970 Hz in the DFCW-600= window :-) Markus, what is your exact locator? http://no.nonsense.ee/qthmap/ Let= us see where you are currently :-) 73, Stefan Am 13.11.2010 13:16, schrieb Stefan Sch=E4fer:=20 Wow! Hi Markus, Good luck!! Yes, the wind is very strong indeed. For my kites it is= almost to strong... With your kite you should easily be visible in the 6000er window on= 8970. OOOH! I just looked on my 2nd VLF grabber http://www.iup.uni-heidelb= erg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_VLF_Grabber2.html and saw your trace in DFCW= -600!=20 Congratulations Markus!!!! This is the second amateur radio station= at all who reaches the far field within the 46km band :-) i estimate= 8 dB S/N maybe 10. Great!!! So DFCW-600 on 8970 should be no problem later :-)) Who else of the group is monitoring? It would strongly interest how= Markus is received at other locations :-)=20 Best 73 and wish FUN!! Stefan/DK7FC Am 13.11.2010 12:54, schrieb Markus Vester:=20 Nice wind here in Nuernberg, and I'm back on the /p QTH with my sm= all kite (100m wire, kite currently about 60m up). Since 11:15 I am se= nding a carrier on 6470.00, trying to generate a small peak on DK7FC's= second grabber. Max current into the thin wire is about 0.25 A. After= one hour at 12:15, I intend to switch to 8970.002 Hz, where I can rad= iate about 0.2 mW at 0.4 A. Best 73, Markus (DF6NM) ------=_NextPart_000_0014_01CB8387.2F90BF30 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Dear LF, Paul,
 
here's a short summary of today's VLF= kite=20 transmission. I'm sorry for the late notice, but the experiment= =20 had not been planned ahead, and I wasn't sure if I could get= on at=20 all. Also, the kite I am using (a 0.8 m^2 delta toy bought= =20 for 4.99 Euro) is a bit small for this sort of activity, and= really=20 requires a good and steady wind.  
 
The QTH was actually at 49.3874 N 11.= 1692 E, a few=20 100 meters from the former location reported earlier. The GPS-controll= ed=20 carriers were on air
 11:15 - 12:15  6470.000 Hz= ~ 50 uW, and=20
 12:30 - 13:10  8970.002 Hz= ~ 200 uW=20 (EMRP).
 
Getting on 6470 was easier than expec= ted. I simply=20 used the same "seven-bucket" coil, which resonates my 240 pF home ante= nna to=20 8.97 kHz. Connected to the kite wire, the resonance was close enough= to 6.5 kHz=20 to be tuned by the ferrite plate variometer. Then the drive= for the=20 audio amp was increased until the onset of corona sizzling at 0.2= 5=20 A. At that point, the amp drew 10 A DC from the car battery= and=20 probably delivered around 50 W. After connecting mobile internet and= staring at=20 Stefan's grabber, I was positively surprised to find a faint trac= e=20 there!
 
For the frequency change, I removed= the two=20 bottom coil buckets, which brought the resonance to ~ 8.5 kHz. Then I= had to=20 carefully pull the remaining 5 buckets apart, inserting bits of= plastic=20 foam material as spacers. Going through a few= =20 iterations took about 10 minutes, and I got to "full power" (380= mA, 100W)=20 at 12:30. Unfortunately, the wind had started to calm by then, and the= re were=20 several dips during this transmission. Finally at 13:10, the kite land= ed gently=20 in the grass, and I decided to close down and pack up early.
 
Traces from both transmissions were= visible on=20 DK7FC's 4.5 mHz "600" windows, and the second one also produced= a nice=20 dash on the 0.45 mHz window. It is likely that these signals would be= useful for=20 a kite-to-kite QSO on either frequency, using 10 minute dashes.=
 
The screenshot from F1AFJ h= as an=20 interesting dash before 13:00. The indicated frequency seems a bi= t high=20 (8970.020 instead of 8970.002), which could perhaps be due to a small= samplerate=20 calibration error. I am also not sure about the time scale  = - judging=20 by the width of the noise blobs, the setting could have been 11 mHz an= d 10=20 seconds per pixel. It would be nice if Jean-Pierre could con= firm the=20 frequency calibration and scroll settings.
 
I also carefully inspected the OE3GHB= grabber,=20 which runs at 1.4 mHz resolution and seems to be very sensitive.= It showed=20 an unusually dark period of very low noise between 8 and 11 UT to= day. But=20 no luck for my transmission there yet.
 
Well, in addition= to the=20 technical aspects, being outdoors in the warm wind was again a re= warding=20 and enjoyable experience.
 
Best 73, and thanks again for the interest.
 
Markus (DF6NM)
<= /FONT>
From: Markus Vester
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97 - QRT
=
Sorry folks, I had to shut down at 13= :10 due to=20 lack of wind. Many thanks for looking!
 
Best 73,
Markus (DF6NM)
 

From: Markus Vester
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97
=
Hi Stefan, thanks for the observation= ! I am=20 approximately at 49.3851 N 11.1727 E. After a bit of fiddling with the= coil, the=20 carrier is on 8970.002 since about 12:25. I will try to stay on till= 14:00, but=20 there are a few lows as the wind has calmed down a bit.
 
73, Markus
 

Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: VLF: TX on 6.47 and 8.97
=
There is a trace= now coming up slightly above 8970 Hz in=20 the DFCW-600 window :-)

Markus, what is your exact locator? http://no.nonsense.ee/qthmap/  Let=20 us see where you are currently :-)

73, Stefan

Am 13.11.2= 010 13:16,=20 schrieb Stefan Sch=E4fer:=20
Wow! Hi=20 Markus,

Good luck!! Yes, the wind is very strong indeed. For= my kites=20 it is almost to strong...
With your kite you should easily be vis= ible in=20 the 6000er window on 8970.

OOOH! I just looked on my 2nd VLF= grabber http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_= VLF_Grabber2.html=20 and saw your trace in DFCW-600!
Congratulations Markus!!!! This= is the=20 second amateur radio station at all who reaches the far field within= the 46km=20 band :-) i estimate 8 dB S/N maybe 10. Great!!!

So DFCW-600= on 8970=20 should be no problem later :-))

Who else of the group is moni= toring? It=20 would strongly interest how Markus is received at other locations :-= )=20

Best 73 and wish FUN!!

Stefan/DK7FC

Am 13.11.2= 010 12:54,=20 schrieb Markus Vester:=20
Nice wind here in Nuernberg, and= I'm back on=20 the /p QTH with my small kite (100m wire, kite currently about 60m= up).=20 Since 11:15 I am sending a carrier on 6470.00, trying to gene= rate a=20 small peak on DK7FC's second grabber. Max current into the th= in wire is=20 about 0.25 A. After one ho= ur at 12:15, I=20 intend to switch to 8970.002 Hz, where I can radiate about 0.2 mW= at 0.4=20 A.
 
Best 73,
 
Markus=20 (DF6NM)
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