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There has been some discussion recently
regarding getting a signal across the Atlantic Ocean on LF. A number of people
have recounted stories regarding conditions on 500 khz. Perhaps I can add
to the store of knowledge and how it might pertain to
our LF band on 136 khz.
Firstly I spent 7 years as a Radio Officer
in the Merchant Navy, sailing under various flags, from the tiny tramp cargo
ship to the largest of supertankers. For the last 24 years I have worked at
Malin Head Radio station EJM, and as luck would have it, I was
rostered for evening duty on the 31st December 1988. So it fell to me to
key the 500 khz transmitter at EJM and send our farewell broadcast. With
much surprise one hour before my final transmission, up came the Dutch station,
Scheveningen Radio, PCH,
first on 500 and then on 2182 khz announcing the end of watch on these two
main distress frequencies. I'll never forget part of his transmission ....
'' .....old stations never die , they only fade away.........''. Nice one,
that.
Since 1993 I have kept a
personal log of stations on 500 khz, unusual transmissions,
closedowns (many) etc.
I really wish there was an amateur
allocation around this frequency, when the band opens up, its really
super.
Here are a few notable stations I have
logged over the last few years, either at work (W) or at
home(H).
Position of Malin Head 55.22 NORTH
07.21 WEST
DATE
TIME
STATION
CALLSIGN
Work or Home rx site.
POSITION.
27/11/93
2130
DAMMAN (Saudia
A)
HZG
H
26.26N 50.06E
07/01/95
2307
LUANDA ,
Angola
D3E
H
08.48S 13.16E
26/11/96
0202
KITTANNING
(ship)
KGPK
W
04.00S 81.00W
22/12/96
0826
PALO ALTO (San Francisco)
KFS
W
38.19N 122.07W
14/03/97
1906
KEELUNG (
Tai-wan)
XSX
W
25.08N 121.45E
14/03/97
1941
NINGBO (South of Shanghai)
XSN
W
29.53N 121.33E
31/12/97
2130
PINANG (
Malaysia)
9MG
W
05.26N 100.24E
Note the ship Kittanning heard calling for 20 minutes
on 500khz without success to Callao /OBC , in Peru, was contacted later
and the R/O confirmed his position in the Pacific Ocean, he was quite surprised
his signal had got as far as Malin Head.
As you can see, its almost World Wide reception. The
vast majority of Coast Radio stations use 1 kw to the standard 50m mast or
Tee strung between two masts. I have noted a trend for reception to
be either to the East or the West , nights when Egypt, Turkey or the Persian
Gulf stations are tickling in , there's hardly a sound from Canada or the
USA. Then there might be lots of stuff coming in but it's buried under
noise and static. Stations like Chatham WCC and Amaganset WSL, were
mentioned, but their power levels were exceptional, just imagine
30-40 kw, a bit over the top , and to be quite honest, their signals never
struck me as being that much more potent than the rest. When signals were in
they were in. I speak in the past , as the vast majority of stations have
closed down. My last count there are 14 countries still on 500 khz, since
the official close down, this year, on the 31/01/1999. It did help me to
catch two more stations recently, now the band is quiet. Both stations being in
the Caspian Sea,
BAKU RADIO / UBJ and then
ASTRAKHAN RADIO / UCY4 , 46.20 N 48.02 E, not bad
for a 400 watt transmitter as listed for ASTRAKHAN.
My hunch regarding 136 khz is we will make
it across the Atlantic Ocean to either Canada or possibly (maybe) the U.S.A, but
first they would need to switch of the LORAN pest over there too, my sources
tell me it's a wipe out situation at present. Correct me if I'm
wrong.
How about a new band
around 440 khz. After 136 khz it would
be a breeze.
73 Finbar
EI0CF EJM
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