LF: G0NBD by G3XDV OPERA, -31dB 400uW erp / 236 Km

["Graham" <g8fzk@g8fzk.fsnet.co.uk>]

Opera  reaches  an   all  time  low  !

 

After  making a guess  at the  carrier  level  of  500 mW and  not  seeing  any  spots  for  a while  , 

may  be the  level  was too  low , 

 

Then, in came  a Spot  from  Mike G3XDV at   - 31 dB , as  non  of the  metering  was  actually  registering  the  Rf feed ,   checked  the  carrier level  with the  R&S  , to  find  it was  actually  ~ 200 mW  with the  test  tone  on !

 

So not   1 mW   ERP  , but  more  like  400  uW !

 

And  second  spot  at  -33 dB  , 

 

Not sure  if  its  congratulations  to  Mike for  the  low noise Rx ,  Mr JR   for  the  DSP  or  the  40ft  top  and  end  loaded  inv L in my  40x20 ft  back  garden , or  the  coca cola  company  for  providing  the  coil  formers  : ) [zero]

 

73-Graham

G0NBD

 

 

Rx at Tue, 04 Nov 2014 22:30:16 GMT
From G0NBD by G3XDV Loc IO91VT
Frequency: 0.477 MHz (600m), OPERA, -31dB
Distance: 263 km bearing 132°
Using: Opera v1.5.4/Rptr V1.6
Antenna: RX Op8

 

Rx at Tue, 04 Nov 2014 23:13:59 GMT
From G0NBD by G3XDV Loc IO91VT
Frequency: 0.477 MHz (600m), OPERA, -33dB
Distance: 263 km bearing 132°
Using: Opera v1.5.4/Rptr V1.6
Antenna: Op8__~33dB