Re: [english 100%] Re: LF: 2200m Trans-Atlantic QSO dream...

[Domenico IZ7SLZ <iz7slz.domenico@gmail.com>]

Hi LF'ers

i suggest to the operators that are looking for any kind of ancient software for a T/A two-way contact, to have a look at

EbNaut.

EbNaut is a bpsk mode with FEC designed by Paul Nicholson for the VLF world.
But two years ago some EbNaut QSO's took place on LF between EU stations using short symbol durations. Signals from VO1NA have been nicely decoded even in Italy and also

a signal from DF6NM and IW4DXW have been decoded at VO1NA (without having a disciplinated oscillator at RX side).

See Paul Nicholson's Log:  http://abelian.org/vlf/amateur-radio/

So, i think that  a two-way QSO is possibile with EbNaut even in this coming Spring.

For starting this FB mode, it is necessary, as first step,  to achieve a good frequency precision with the RTX radios. This, sometime,  can be easly achieved by building some reference oscillators that use cheap GPS solutions.

Here, i've built a 10 MHz reference oscillator with a PLL locked with a 10 kHz coming from a GPS. This 10 MHz  reference signal goes to my RX and to the Exciter. Some 'scrapped' 10 MHz /GPS reference oscillators are on the market and easy to found.

Then you have to deal with different softwares.

For Windows' users, we can use Paul Nicholson's EbNaut-tx and EbNaut-rx together with other necessary programs as SpectrumLab and the DF6NM's tools.
But if you are using Linux (Ubuntu,...) , then  'vlfrx-tools' is the only fb suite needed for managing EbNaut Linux native program.

This mode is not well documented. Some EbNauters already wrote useful instructions. But i think that 'live' assistance on this mail reflector can help more: Questions from who is trying to use EbNaut and the answers from the Group can be more useful.

So i'm at disposal if some operator wants to try this mode.

Some month ago i have built-up a program for  auto-decoding EbNaut transmissions scheduled at certain time and frequencies (see the log on  http://www.qsl.net/i/iz7slz/EBNAUT/DECODED.TXT)

This setup can be again on-line if needed, also with different settings.

Of course, i'm also at disposal to put on air a small EbNaut signal on LF from my locator JN80nu.

I believe that using EbNaut on LF (i.e. dealing with more robust signals than VLF) can be a very good training for acquiring the skill necessary to use EbNaut on VLF.

73, Domenico IZ7SLZ

On 19 March 2018 at 18:36, DL3JJ HOME <dl3jj@dl3jj.de> wrote:

It did not work.
Was only in pull down menue.
Got no answer on my request for this slow mode in future available.
JT9-5 or so would be a big deal for 160m too.

73
Ralf
DL3JJ

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- From: DK7FC
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2018 5:22 PM
To: rsgb_lf_group@blacksheep.org
Subject: [english 100%] Re: LF: 2200m Trans-Atlantic QSO dream...

Hi Paul,

There is an old version of WSJT-X that contains slow JT9 modes. If i
remember correctly there was -1 -2 -5 and -10. Maybe someone has the old
exe still available?

73, Stefan

Am 19.03.2018 17:07, schrieb N1BUG:

One of my big dreams is to complete a two-way QSO across the
Atlantic on 2200m. It has been done. It can be done. My station is
getting close to being ready. I have heard 2E0ILY up to -12 SNR on
WSPR2 and I have been reported with -19 SNR by G8HUH and G0LUJ.

It is too late for this season as QRN is always high now. But for
next winter I should have 3 dB more power and hopefully more/better
receive antennas.

Modes are a bit of a problem. On the best nights JT9 would be easy
but most of the time it would probably have to be QRSS or DFCW. It's
too bad we don't have a very slow digital QSO mode like JT9-10 or such.

So, who is going to take the challenge for a dream QSO next winter?
You have all summer to get the station ready... ;-)

73,
Paul N1BUG FN55mf