Re: LF: opera 137 beacon going

[Roger Lapthorn <rogerlapthorn@gmail.com>]

Mal

Agreed about working VK/ZL on any HF band with CW and moderate power. 

However, WSPR, JT65HF, QRSS and OPERA (as examples of weak signal modes) demonstrate that it is possible to communicate over such distances regularly with next to no power at all: people are regularly working HF intercontinental DX, or getting amazing beaconing reports, with just a few milliwatts or even microwatts thanks to these new modes. WSPR has certainly proved its worth on MF and LF for me beyond any doubt and there is rarely a day when a few watts does not get me a 10m WSPR report from Australia;  at times just 5mW is enough with my small Homebase10 wire halo. Now whether this digitally assisted communications is more satisfying (or cleverer) than working ZL with 100W on 20wpm CW on an HF band I cannot judge. 

As much as I enjoy modes like WSPR, there is little to compare with working DX with a 500mW of CW from a simple homebrew transceiver and antenna.  There is still plenty of HF CW thank goodness.

All the best and 73s

Roger G3XBM

On 10 January 2012 18:23, mal hamilton <g3kevmal@talktalk.net> wrote:

Graham
I can work ZL on 10 Mhz on CW frequently and on 160 metres and on any band
160 - 10 metres. no doubt it is interesting to experiment with data but it
is so easy on CW for those who know how to hammer the old key.


de mal/g3kev

----- Original Message -----
From: "Graham" <g8fzk@g8fzk.fsnet.co.uk>
To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: LF: opera 137 beacon going


> Amazing  , day  10  , ZL> EU  decodes  on HF   10Mhz  and a beacon  on 136
> will  take a  look  for  you  later  Andy
> Tnx -G
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Andy Talbot" <andy.g4jnt@gmail.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 4:06 PM
> To: <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
> Subject: LF: opera 137 beacon going
>
> > Having had to modify a 137kHz source to be able to generate on-off
> > keying, I'm transmitting a signal using 2.048s symbol mode on 137420Hz
> > 33% duty cycle (for now)
> >
> > This is based around my PIC generator for the mode
> > Details at   http://www.g4jnt.com/PIC_Opera_Source.pdf  and
> > http://www.g4jnt.com/OperaBeacon.zip
> >
> > As its an independent source, with no PC in the Tx chain - no IP
> > packets will be sent to t'web showing the details
> >
> > and its definitely gettign out....
> >
> > 15:46 136 G8IMR de F6CNI Op8 391 km -28 dB in 136 kHz dial nr Paris
> >
> >
> > Andy
> > G4JNT
> >
>

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