The best way to find out wether we can cross the pond on 136kHz is to try it.
What I have in mind is a transatlantic test, similar to what we did last
year in cooperation with N4ICK, but with a much larger group of listeners
at the W/VE side. There are plenty of 'lowfers' in USA/Canada that are well
equipped for listening in the 160-190kHz segment, it should not be too hard
for them to adapt their receivers/antennas to 136kHz.
So my suggestion is that we take a weekend (somewhere in february ?) that
the Europeans transmit on 136kHz and the Americans listen (look) for us.
We can announce this event via this reflector, the LCWA webpage, the AMRAD
webpage and eventually also via topband reflectors.
Best chances will be using slow-CW techniques at our side and have the
Americans looking for us using GRAM or similar software.
Regarding transmitting antennas, stations with long horizontal wires also
produce very good signals, not only the sky-high verticals. So I think
there will be a lot more suitable stations than the 'happy few' on Mal's
list. Besides half a dozen UK stations (including GW4ALG if he can use his
'balloon antenna') there are EI0CF, the 3 SM's and the 2 OH's. For these
last the distance may be more, but they have the advantage of their more
northern position with a (part of the) propagation path that is in the dark
for almost 24h/day.
So, what do you think of this idea ? Will we set a weekend and try to get
the Americans listening (looking) for us ?
73, Rik ON7YD
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