Re: LF: SL settings for EbNaut FFT recording ?

[Markus Vester <markusvester@aol.com>]

Hi Luis,

> BTW. What I'm getting from SL is one FFT file 112Kb size every hour as Markus said

> But how can I merge all the files of a 8h transmission like the one your are running now ?

Each of these files contains the data for approx. 8.9 hours. The filename (and the timestamp, which are the first two numbers in the file) refers to the middle of the recording. For example, a file called "05020430.txt" would be centered on 4:30 UT, and contain all received data from 0.03 to 8:57 UT. The next one would then be "05020530.txt", covering 1:03 to 9:57, etc. So the files are largely overlapping. A short transmission could be contained in more than one file, and a very long one (> 7.9 h) might not be completely covered at all. The easiest way is to select the file whose name is closest to the midtime of the EbNaut transmission.

Don't let yourself be confused by the file timestamps in Windows Explorer, which may be one hour later than the end of the recording. The reason is that SpecLab closes the "old" export file only immediately before the next one will be written. This is also the reason why you cannot delete the latest file while SL is running, but you can copy it to another folder.

Usually the data will have started some time before the announced beginning of an EbNaut transmission. The EbNaut decoder will show the file start time, and you will then have to calculate and enter the start offset.  

Best 73,
Markus   


-----Ursprüngliche Mitteilung-----
Von: VIGILANT Luis Fernández <luis@vigilant.es>
An: rsgb_lf_group <rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org>
Verschickt: Di, 2. Mai 2017 22:54
Betreff: Re: LF: SL settings for EbNaut FFT recording ?

Hi Stefan

The grabber is now showing full spectrum from 0-24KHz

https://ea5dom.ure.es/grabber/index.html

The Rx is not at Benidorm in the high tower. It is in the roof of a two level house on top of a 5m pole

But clear out from high obstacles and trees

Fortunately no near by AM or LF stations. The strongest station in the first 500KHz is an Algerian LW broadcast

at 252Khz which puts -18dBm here in the central carrier

The pole is a 50cm x 10mm diameter aluminium rod. Will play with the 10MOhm resistor and first fet stage

with filter. I will also test a different location for the probe. The noise at MiniWhip rised 20dB, so must get it

appart to keep the ear at MF/LF. The power supply is a 12V transformer shared with the MiniWhip

Will test another one just for the VLF probe and with better filtering. The GND of the antenna is separated

from mains earth and there is an audio transformer to the PC soundcard

>>It is all not easy! I would say it is harder than EME ;-)

You can say it truly Stephan. It IS much harder than EME :-)

In EME you can run a modest station and the big guns will work you (my case, for example)

In VLF you have to be the big gun and try to target some electrons into modest stations with small antennas

into a noise storm

>>31 mHz? That's quite optimistic! I would rather try 31 uHz.

Sorry, it was a typo. It is 31uHz really. This are the SL settings by Markus

BTW. What I'm getting from SL is one FFT file 112Kb size every hour as Markus said

But how can I merge all the files of a 8h transmission like the one your are running now ?

Your signal in your grabber looks stronger than the previous transmissions

73 de Luis

EA5DOM

---

De: owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org [owner-rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org] en nombre de DK7FC [selberdenken@posteo.de]
Enviado: martes, 2 de mayo de 2017 14:55
Para: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Asunto: Re: LF: SL settings for EbNaut FFT recording ?

Hi Luis,

Am 02.05.2017 10:49, schrieb VIGILANT Luis Fernández:

I was already running an SL instance showing the first 24KHz in a fast way to get an idea of what's going on with QRM and known signals

It is already included in the grabber at 1 min/pixel. Hour changed to UTC just now

https://ea5dom.ure.es/grabber/index.html

Yes but it starts at 6 kHz, so not the first 24 kHz ;-) From 0...6 kHz there are also informations which are relevant to evaluate the situation of your receiver(site).

 

As you can see, there is a LOT of noise around. What I'm using is your VLF E-Field probe with the first JFet separated in a 50cm aluminium rod probe

and linking to shack with a coax cable https://sites.google.com/site/sub9khz/antennas/dk7fc_efield_probe.jpg?attredirects=0

Not only the length of the rod, also the height above ground, the effective height, playes an even bigger role. Sourrounded by trees you miss sensitivity, the lower the frequency is. And on the top of a high tower, the signals will be much stronger, with the same rod!
If there is a strong local AM transmitter on MF, you may get some interferences, and so on. Thus it is good to see what happens below 6 kHz too.
When DLF on 153 kHz has been active here, running 500 kW to a 350m high antenna in 40 km distance, i sometimes saw AM components, demodulation stuff on VLF, in one of the first versions. So when the antenna is on a high tower and the signal levels are strong, you may afford a second RC low pass filter in front of the first JFET, giving a cleaner spectrum on the lower VLF. On the other side, with a longer rod (giving more capacity) you may decrease the 10 MOhm resistor. This should reduce the noise of the first JFET a bit.
I just played with all that stuff a week ago when optimising my ULF E field circuit for 970 Hz.

Obviously, no clear trace from your last transmission in the 31mHz spectrogram with this Rx conditions

31 mHz? That's quite optimistic! I would rather try 31 uHz.
Are you using an AF isolation transformer between soundcard and antenna? What type of power supply are you using for the antenna? Is the GND of the antenna separated from the mains earth?

So, 7Km is an outstanding Dx at this moment. But really challenging 

 

I do already have a failed microwave oven to use the transformer. And the audio PA too. So you mean to apply the high voltage to the antenna

without resonating coil, right ?

Yes.
Better start with some measurements in the shack, not on the roof :-)
Measure or estimate the capacity of your antenna. Switch a fixed C of that value parallel to the transformer. Use a sine signal generator connected to the audio PA. Try to find a resonance or check the voltage at 8270 Hz. Maybe a normal mains transformer 12V -> 230V will give better results! Maybe you need to add your own primary winding to the transformer. Try to get 1 kV or so, that should work well. With a mains transformer, 500V may work for a few hours. If you have a toroidal transformer, use that!
You can also switch an external C parallel to the transformer if that helps to rise the voltage on the desired frequency. Or switch it in series to the primary winding. Ah and a resistor, maybe 2 Ohm or so may help to protect the PA from transients and short cuts (resonances).

Nice therm. Don't know if the pipe running down to ground would have any issue with this. At the moment 80w at MF didn't show to be harmful

But there can be some noise at 8KHz and this would really be an annoying side effect if that happens :(

The antenna currents will be very low. There will be no unwanted effects, except maybe some local E field coupling on the roof.

 

The resonating coil for VLF is in the "To-Do" list. Actually found a huge plastic (resin) garden flowerpots which are 60cm diameter by 35cm high

This can be stacked upside down leaving airgap between them for ventilation. Just adding one final on top with no coil serves as rain protection

of the full arrange.

Maybe it's a good idea to start in small steps. With your own monitor you will have some first results. And maybe some of the local EA amateurs can help to reach the next distance step :-)
It is all not easy! I would say it is harder than EME ;-)

73, Stefan