I set up my LF satation for 73kHz although not expecting very much
after what Dave G3YMC said:
Don't all get too excited about the prospect of Rugby being off Tuesday.
The 60kHz transmitter is indeed often off on the first Tuesday, but normally
not until at least 10am
However, checked the band at around 2100 on 31/1 and heard G3XTZ
loud and clear in spite of the growler.
At 2125 we exchanged reports, his 579, mine 569.
This morning at 0840 the growler went off and I worked G3YXM 579 both ways
G2AJV was in beacon mode with a 559 signal.
Tail ended the QSO between between G3YXM and M0BMU. Worked M0BMU, my
RST 569, his 559
During this QSO the noise level came up just after Jim had given me
my report and I was not able to tell when he passed it back. I
carried on listening - then the noise went off and I heard M0BMU
asking were was I. I went back and we finished the QSO. -
congratulations on your efforts on this band Jim.
I though the noise, which nearly scuppered the QSO was local but it
turned out to be the maintenance guys on the 'Growler' winding the
power up and down. This enabled me to make some tests using Gram
while monitoring the G2AJV signal.
When the growler was off G2AJV was Q5 about 3 to 4dB above the noise.
When the growler came on G2AJV was inaudible but a clear signal on
Gram (on a fairly wide bandwidth setting).
Before this test I was of the opinion that the noise from the
sideband noise from the growler contributed 3 or 4dB to the noise
floor at the bottom of the band and at this distance from the growler
transmitter. Measurements this morning indicate that the additional
noise is more like 6 to 9dB, far worse than I though. It must be hell
in the midlands! It does explain why the QSO with GD0MRF was not as
plain sailing as I thought it would be.
--
Regards, Peter, G3LDO
<[email protected]>
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