Dear LF/VLF group and other interested listeners/watchers,
After a break of 2 months i will do my next VLF kite experiment on sunday,
6th februrary 2011. I've got the permission to fly a 300m kite
vertical antena in daylight. My plan is to start early in the morning,
coming on air at about 7 UTC.
The wind forecast tells that the wind will be above 18 km/h (3 bft) but
will decrease in the afternoon. This is a job for my smaller kite (3.6
m^2). Maybe i have to change to 8.1m^2 in the afternoon.
Such a kite experiment is always very exciting and a little chaotic
too. So i cannot tell a too detailed and strict TX plan. The antenna
consits out of 2 pieces, a 200m and a 100m part. The 200m part is the
first that is lifted. Usually i want to serve 3 VLF bands: 33km, 46km
and 58km. The antenna is only resonatable at 46km / 6470 Hz if the 200m
piece is connected. Thus i started on 46km in the last experiment. But
due to the necessity to become QRV on 33km / 8970 Hz as early as
possible to make a TA contact i want to start on 8970 Hz on sunday,
maybe transmitting at 200m while rolling out the second 100m part.
Anyway, if possible it's better to watch on all the 3 bands
simultaneously, like 4X1RF, TF3HZ, KL7UK, DK7FC and others do it :-)
But usually you'll be informed here by the group what currently goes
on. My VLF grabber in 40.0 km distance will display the activity. 8970
Hz can be viewed at
http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_VLF_Grabber.html
and 6470/5170 Hz at
http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_VLF_Grabber2.html
If the wind, interest and my personal energy holds on i will be transmitting
from 7...16:30 UTC. TX power will be 550 W. Depending on the soil
humidity this will result in up to 100 mW ERP on 8970 Hz. As usual, my
TX location ist JN49IS36VH
If all works well i'll try to reach the following goals:
-Transmitting a constant carrier for about 1 hour (GPS locked) at
8970.00000 Hz at full power (it's always full power! ;-) ), hoping to
leave a strong trace at several curious VLF receivers :-)
-Transmitting a message in DFCW-600 at 8970 Hz to give a better ID and
to keep the activity interesting
-Trying a DFCW-3 crossband QSO with DF6NM on 9/137 kHz at 179 km
(http://no.nonsense.ee/qthmap/?qth=JN59NK&from=JN49IS36VH)
-Transmitting a short message in DFCW-10 for well equipped stations in
a range of some 100km. Just to check how far DFCW-10 can be detected
-Maybe trying a CW QSO with DF8ZR in 16km distance (who strongly
improved his station)
-QSY to 5170 Hz / 58km or maybe 6470 Hz, depending on the feedback and
the diurnal noise situation
-Transmitting a carrier and some shifted DFCW-600 letters to give
better ID.
-Spontaneous tests depending on request, wind situation, QRN and
personal energy
-Reaching the TF3HZ VLF grabber in DFCW-600
(http://simnet.is/halldorgudmunds/TF3HZ_VLFgrabber/ ). Halldor has put
a lot of energy in this project, mni TNX!
-Reaching other grabbers like 4X1RF and maybe KL7UK (the limit of my
optimism!: http://no.nonsense.ee/qthmap/?qth=JN49IS36VH&from=BP51IP
) or even a university in India(?). Generally reaching as many stations
as possible. EI8JK, many stations in UK (G3XBM, M0BMU, or even
GM4SLV?), some new of them (G3XDV, G3KEV?), maybe a first contact in
Russia,RA3YO? And norway, LA3EQ? I've heard from the yahoo VLF group
about stations in Romania/YO.
-Hoping to give VLF interested OMs a chance to check, compare and
improve different antenna systems.
-Maybe convincing a station in Greenland/OX to put some interest on the
bands below 1 MHz? :-)
-Making a fascinating day for all involved.
-Improving the station by reducing the ground losses of the system.
Reaching 1.4 A / 15 kV rms at 8970 Hz
As far as i can see there is no chance for a DX distance record as long
as i don't reach so far unknown stations or stations in USA/Canada or
India. But the main aspect is not the distance record, although
interesting and fascinating and exciting, but rather having fun, active
"Dreaming" and making some interesting observations :-)
So, hope for a good activity and good wind conds. Any reports are
highly appreciated. RX stations are THE important part of such an
activity! Thanks in advance!
73, Stefan/DK7FC
PS: Some grabber links:
http://qsl.net/4x1rf/vlf/vlfgrabber.htm
http://www.mydarc.de/df6nm/vlf/vlfgrabber.htm
http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_VLF_Grabber.html
(8970 Hz in 40 km distance)
http://www.iup.uni-heidelberg.de/schaefer_vlf/DK7FC_VLF_Grabber2.html
(6470 and 5170 Hz in 40 km distance)
http://simnet.is/halldorgudmunds/
http://kl7uk.com/VLFAlaska.html
There are many others available. The above are running 24/7. Sorry if
there was someting forgotten.
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