Dear LF Group,
Thanks for all the reports - It looks like 500kHz is rather like 136k in
that you need a propagation path that is in darkness or near-darkness over
the longer distances. It is encouraging that the QSB seems not to be too
severe; it looks like QRSS contacts should be perfectly feasible over
inter-European distances if signal levels won't support CW, etc. Should be
interesting when winter comes around.
I got out my old HRO receiver yesterday - with the 480 - 960kHz coil pack
plugged in, a 0.1uV signal is at a comfortably readable level at 502kHz, so
it lacks nothing in sensitivity compared to a modern RX. The selectivity is
poor compared to a modern CW filter of course, but this is not too much of a
problem, since there are not really any very strong signals around the band,
unlike 136k. It drifts significantly, a kHz or two in the last day or so -
but it is drifting very slowly, so not really a problem for normal
operation, I suppose it might settle down in time. I have now installed a
relay and gain control pot for muting on TX, and used it for a QSO with
G3AQC this morning. What with SG Browns headphones, morse key and
everything, I am starting to look like a proper radio operator now :-)
Cheers, Jim Moritz
73 de M0BMU
> Hello Dave, LF
>
> Yes there was a period around that time when all 3 of your were strong
> and stable. The times on the screenshots are in UTC (the radio PC is
> set to UTC to eliminate doubt!)
>
> It's only really dark here between 2200z and 0200z. It was getting
> light, and signals were starting to fade, when I went to bed at 0300
> BST.
>
>
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