Grabber News
June 11, 2011
VLF upgrades and a ‘Grow-op’
You’ll notice that the VLF page has some new
features. The wide band VLF grab
has been tweaked and the plots are more aesthetically pleasing (at least to me.) I’ve also added a ‘highlight’
plot for posting interesting screen captures as I monitor on VLF. There is also a new link to my LIVE! VLF audio stream on Shoutcast.
Unfortunately, one of my neighbours
has taken up indoor clandestine gardening and the noise generated by their
lighting ballasts is interfering with the LF grabber. I’m working on some sort of
diplomatic plan to get rid this issue but as you can imagine it may take some
time and creativity.
May 15, 2011
VLF Monitoring and LF repairs…
After a couple weeks outage the LF grabber has
returned. The problem was related
to testing on VLF and damage I did to the GPS disciplined DDS system. For some mysterious reason the MAV-11
MMIC in the DDS board went south on me and I had to scramble to find some
replacements.
Meanwhile on the VLF bands, I have been busy building a TX
and RX system for the ‘Dreamers’ band below 9KHz. It would appear after a review of the
RSS-310 and other regulations that Industry Canada has little interest in 9KHz and below.
Earth Mode tests have been conducted and with some success
out to about 10km along the ocean here.
The Earth mode antenna is a BOG type with electrode spacing on the order
of about ½ km. Power run
into the antenna was about 50W.
Work is proceeding slowing on loading up the LF loop for VLF tests later
this summer.
A new VLF grabber is now in operation and can be accessed
from the button bar above by clicking ‘VLF’. It provides a wide band view of the VLF
band from DC - 42KHz. Of particular interest is monitoring the
natural radio noise as it varies all the time and the system is sensitive
enough to sense the natural noise floor.
The long term amplitude integration on the right side of the screen will
give you a good sense of what the noise floor looks like at the
‘moment.’ I suggest
reading What and Where is the Natural Noise Floor? for more
information.
Here’s hoping I don’t blow anything else up!
March 15, 2011
Winter slips into spring…
Winter is quickly giving way to spring and the window to
Europe is closing fast. Conditions
over the past few weeks have also been challenging due to increasing
geomagnetic activity. Based on last
year’s observations the window to Europe should be closed by early
April. Conditions to Far East
Russia have been hit and miss as well most likely due to the recent increase in
geomagnetic conditions.
Some changes have occurred to both the DCF39 and 153KHz plots.
Both now have waterfall displays to help in the interpretation of daily
signal level plots. You can also
listen to the 2200m band in CN89dk by searching ‘VE7TIL’ from the Shoutcast
website. If I’m streaming
live data a link will allow you to hear it.
Thankfully, some good news has come out of the terrible
earthquake in Japan. Kuni, JA7NI who lives fairly close to the epicenter of the
disaster reports he and his family are safe. Yas, JA8SCD in
Tokyo reports his family is fine as well but that most Japanese amateurs active
on 2200m have suspended testing to conserve power in this time of crisis. My sincere condolences go out to all
families affected by this disaster and my hope is that it doesn’t get
worse as a result of the nuclear incidents occurring at the Fukushima reactors.
January 13, 2011
Housekeeping Changes
First let me wish you a Happy New Year! The best to
you are yours and thanks for using the grabber as I can see that there has been
a constant rise in traffic over the past few months... Don't be afraid to
provide feedback and make suggestions. See the terms of use button for my email
address.
Grabber 1 now displays both the EU and NA wateringholes.
Some minor tweaking may occur from time to time but it is considered stable and
the old NA only plot has been discontinued.
Grabber 2 has been setup with an exciting (we don't get out much in the LF
hobby) wide-band plot of the entire 2200m band as seen from CN89dk. The plot
updates every 5 minutes and should be perfect for locals to evaluate their
stations with 'rapid' feedback. It also gives the distant user a clear
indication of local noise conditions at a given moment. I trust you will find
it useful!
The 153KHz plot has been augmented with a waterfall
display of a couple of Hertz +/- of the center QRG. This addition was
necessitated by the constant wanderings of the Russian station located in
Siberia. More often then not its
wandering around in a chaotic manner making the plot colours
meaningless unless you can see the waterfall, so here you go! I've grown fond
of wondering what the Russian will do next and now I'm sharing the fun with
you!
The DCF39 plot remains unchanged for now.
December 6, 2010
New Challenges...!
Testing and implementation of the new SDR receiver used on the grabber is
essentially complete. The design is a modified Softrock
kit with a front end filter designed by Jim, M0BMU. The receiver's LO is GPS
locked and a 10KHz signal is injected from the GPS to
allow for locking of the sound card's sample rate in software. All the data
presented here is now captured off of this receiver and processed with Spectrum
Lab.
I have been beaconing periodically. I have a particular interest in tests with
Argentina and Siberian Russia. These QTHs are located in optimal positions for
my present transmit loop antenna.
Over the pole, geomagnetic conditions have been very cooperative for the past
week or so with wonderful signals from the 153 broadcasters and DCF39 which is
audible for hours at a time now.
'Grabber 2' has been converted to test a new dual grab of the North American
and European 2200m watering holes. As I have PLC QRM in the existing EU
watering hole centered around 136320Hz I have started monitoring on 136170Hz as
it appears clear here and in Europe. Further consultation will be completed
with other parties before a permanent spot is found for TIL to park and listen
for colleagues in EU.
A new loop is planned of about the same size as presently installed that will
be aimed at EU and New Zealand/Australia. It is hoped to be completed around
December 10-11. Stay tuned, as RX tests are planed to
compare it to the JA loop. TX tests will come later as tuner complexities need
to be worked out.
Finally, I gave a presentation to the North Shore Amateur Radio club on
December 2, 2010. If you're interested the presentation is posted on their
website here, 2200m a New
Canadian Amateur Band. Details of my QSO with JA7NI are provided here.
October 17, 2010
Sferics and Tweaks!
I just installed a 400m long N/S Earth loop antenna some may call this a
Beverage On Ground (BOG). One end of the antenna is terminated in a shallow well
and the other a creek that feeds into the ocean via copper plates tossed into
the water.
The antenna works very well on MF and LF but what has intrigued me most is
listening to the natural radio sources on VLF.
Initial testing of the antenna had me connect a pair of 19 set headphones (100
ohm) across the probes and I immediately heard sferics
and tweaks! And yes 60Hz hum too. Not bad for an entirely passive listening
system! I spend a few hours sitting by my pond on a bench listening to natures
RF sounds enjoying the sunshine then moved the party inside to try and remove
the 60Hz hum...
Now I'm monitoring the VLF spectrum 200Hz-18KHz in the
shack and hearing all kinds of interesting sounds. The key to enjoyable success
is the powerful filtering provided in Spectrum Lab that completely removes the
60Hz harmonics and other man made crude from the audio.
As a result of this the 30m grabber has been suspended for a few days until I
complete work on a second grabber computer to accommodate this latest interest.
Check back soon,and I will
post some audio of these experiments for your enjoyment along with some system
details.
October 11, 2010
TS-440 retired... New SDR Commissioned!
All of the grabber systems have been transferred over to a software defined RX
system. The SDR is a modified Softrock type configuration
with 2200m bandpass filter by Jim, M0BMU. The sound
card used is a M-Audio Delta 44. Spectrum lab by Wolf,
DL4YLF does most of the heavy lifting from here...
The local oscillator of the SDR is one of the GPS disciplined VFOs. A separate
GPS derived 10KHz signal is injected into the audio
stream of the system to allow Spectrum Lab to lock the sound card sample rate.
Therefore, all frequencies reported on the 2200m grabbers and plots are
traceable to the GPS standard.
With the commissioning of the SDR system my TS-440 and FT-897 have moved onto
other projects. The 30m plot on Grabber 2 is generated by a separate 30/40m SDR
transceiver; however, it is not GPS sync'd.
October 2, 2010
Station Info Button Added...
Enough said? Hit refresh if you don't see it...
October 1, 2010
DFCW10 Tests Started
This week the 2200m beacon will be in operation in a
relatively fast mode (DFCW10). The dit will be on
137778.0Hz and the dah on 137779.0Hz. The beacon will be in operation during
hours of darkness in CN89dk. The message being sent is a secret and up to you
to decode and report.
It is hoped that this testing will lead to a QSO attempt with stations in
Ontario (VE3).
Reports can be sent to the email address in the 'terms of use' button.
September 28, 2010
First 2200m JA-VE QSO completed!
Finally! After months of trying, our gear, conditions and most of all our XYL's
patience all worked together to produce a QSO!
JA7NI (DFCW30) and VE7TIL (DFCW60) completed a trans-pacific QSO on 2200m this
morning a first between Canada and Japan. CN89dk to QM09fl is 7162km.
Things started off with a surprise as NI copied TIL's beacon signal 30min
before his sunset. What followed was a 'quick' exchange of calls and NI's
report was received by TIL. Then a very long and deep fade occurred. This
happened before to us and we lost each other and an entire nights sleep...! But that taught us a lesson and we
adapted to the deep fading on this path by creating a master slave relationship
between the stations and using QSK to full effect. Master slave means the
station that is expecting a reply simply waits until he hears it while the
other station transmits until heard with pauses (QSK) to listen... NI waited
patiently not knowing TIL had copied the calls and his report. Our procedure
was for him to simply wait until he copied something... Three hours later RO
appeared on NI's screen and during one of my crawls out of the bunk I saw a dot
during a pause in transmission and stopped the transmitter. A few minutes later
there was an R and TU but not in DFCW but rather QRSS as a malfunction at NI's
end had him scrambling but he recovered with grace and the QSO was in the
bag...
This QSO caps off months of work by both operators in improving their stations
and beaconing on the path to learn its characteristics to make a QSO possible.
What is clear to me is the trans-pacific path on 2200m is a very viable
communication path for amateur experimentation. I'm sure time will demonstrate
this further as procedures and equipment improve on both sides of the ocean.
I would like to particularly thank Yas, JA8SCD (the
Tokyo Grabber) for his help and translation services. Without him this would
have been much more difficult.
More details including station equipment to follow in the next few days as I
get caught up on my sleep and family life :-)
September 23, 2010
QSO Attempts with JA7NI in Progress...
Over the past few days JA7NI and VE7TIL have been attempting to complete a QSO
on 2200m. Conditions have been good but QRN and fading have foiled us on each
attempt.
We believe it is just a matter of time before all the factors align and a QSO
is completed. Monitor Grabber 1, JA7NI and KL7UK's
AK grabber between 0830-1300UTC to keep up on the 'action' so to speak.
In the meantime, when attempts at a QSO are not in progress TIL will be
following the following beacon schedule during windows of possible propagation
with Japan. This schedule has been suggested to avoid QRM in the wateringhole in JA and VE7.
September 19, 2010
Grabber 1 now QSK
The 2200m Grabber 1 is now fully QSK.
When the transmitter is off live RX data will be displayed there. Before the RX
system was unconnected to any antenna at all during beacon operations and used
to display the state of the beacon only. QSK should make for some interesting
experimental options.
September 18, 2010
JA7NI Building on Success!
Two windows in a row JA7NI has captured TIL. It appears that conditions and
improving operator skill are paying dividends for JA7NI as TIL was copied for
about an hour this morning in JA.
The image below shows grabs (top) from JA7NI and (bottom)
from KL7UK in AK. TIL appears at JA sunset and is slowly engulfed by QRN
and QRM. Traces of TIL where observed later in the window. It is hoped that
with continued improvment to the RX system at JA7NI
and with lenghting nights a QSO will soon be
possible. Time on the plot is JST
September 16, 2010
Loran Lines in Japan...
Here's a list of Loran-C
Lines that may be visible in Japan.
These harmonics of the Loran-C navigation system can provide a very accurate
frequency reference and also the ability to assess station RX conditions
throughout the day as the local lines tend to be very stable signal sources
which can allow you to watch the noise floor go up and down... The Loran system
has be discontinued in North America and parts of
Russia but it is believed that most of the Asian chains are still functional.
See the Megapulse
website for detailed chain information on transmitter location and chain
layout.
September 14, 2010
QRM in JA...
At the present time it is clear most if not all VE7 stations on 2200m can hear
the well equipped JAs.
However, rather then work on improving their RX
situations some JA stations continue to beacon during times of mutual
propagation destroying the RX opertunity for others
in JA.
I would suggest to those QRM generating operators to save the power and work on
a proper RX setup as it is clear you can't hear at all so what's
the point?
In the meantime, implementing a bandplan similar to
the gentlemen's agreement in EU and eastern NA may be in order.
September 12, 2010
New 30m QRSS Grabber!
I've finished a long standing project to get my 30m SDR system operational.
Now logging both WSPR stations and Grabber 2 is displaying the QRSS
experimenter's window.
On the 2200m front, TIL continues to beacon nightly testing propagation and the
ability of the loop tuner to stand up to abuse.
The biggest limiting factor now does not seem TIL's ability to radiate a signal
but rather propagation conditions and the receive capability of stations in
Japan.
Most if not all RX grabbers in Japan display high levels of man
made noise and most appear to be using active whips or other compromise
type antennas.
JA7NI continues to use a 1000 foot or less beverage on
2200m with little results to show for his efforts during the tests.
Hopefully as the fall progresses a JA will manage to setup a decent 2200m RX
system and a QSO will be possible. By then TIL should be able to run 2KW and
will be calling for any takers.
September 4, 2010
TIL Heard (well seen) in Japan!
After months of testing with Kuni JA7NI, both
stations have demonstrated the reciprocal ability to copy each other.
While not impressive to the eye, the above grab demonstrates for the first time
the ability of TIL to be heard in JA.
Back on August 23rd the impressive signal below was captured on the TIL grabber
of NI's complete callsign in DFCW. The RX antenna was
the new TX loop installed by TIL.
TIL was operating a 400W transmitter feed into a 20m vertical by 30m horizontal
loop antenna. The loop current was 17.75A, Rac = 1.21
ohms for an estimated ERP of 160mW.
NI was using a 110m beverage antenna optimized for 160m DXing.
He plans improvements to his 2200m RX capability this fall as TIL plans to
improve his transmit capability as well.
TIL Grabber 1 & DCF39 operations will be disrupted by transmission testing
for the next few weeks, 153KHz plot functions are not
affected by the tests. We welcome reports from other stations as the VE7/JA
tests continue.
April 13, 2010
153KHz Plotter...
Check out the new 153KHz plotter to be used in
assisting with devining the VE7/JA path on 2200m.
April 9, 2010
Grabber Antenna Upgrades
The grabber now has two 47m (150') perimeter receive
loops orientated NE/SW and NW/SE.
The antenna system will eventually configured as a K9AY array but is presently setup
as resonant loops phased by a VK5BR type system.
The grabber is presently listening on a bearing toward Japan.
A Softrock SDR radio kit has been ordered and the
grabber will be transfered over to a SDR receiver
within the next few months.
February 9, 2010
US Loran-C Shutdown Begins...
"THE U.S. COAST GUARD WILL TERMINATE THE TRANSMISSION OF ALL U.S. LORAN-C
SIGNAL EFFECTIVE 2000Z 08 FEB 2010.
AT THAT TIME, THE U.S. LORAN-C SIGNAL WILL BE UNUSABLE AND PERMANTELY
DISCONTINUED.
THIS TERMINATION DOES NOT AFFECT U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE RUSSIAN-AMERICAN OR
CANADIAN LORAN-C CHAINS.
U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THESE CHAINS WILL CONTINUE TEMPORARILY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS."
Users of the grabber will notice that only one bright Loran line remains in the
2200m Waterhole at about 137779.63Hz.
The Loran-C system has had little impact on the reception of weak signal
communications on 2200m and actually assists stations without GPS disciplined
oscillators to ensure they are on frequency.
February 7, 2010
Canadian Amateurs are Authorized to Operate on 2200m!
We had all stopped holding our breath and then some strange reports came in
from Europe of VO1NA being copied on 2200m! No it wasn't Joe being a pirate
again as James Dean, VE3IQ, advises that Canadian Amateurs are now authorized
to operate on 2200m on a secondary basis.
I wish all Canadian amateurs good DX and recommend that before operating on the
band that they educate themselves about the worldwide gentleman's agreements
already in place with respect to band plans. While the likelihood of
interference with Primary services is low there is a greater chance you could
be interfering with weak signal amateur experimentation if you operate unaware
of the conventions established over years of worldwide amateur experimentation
on the band.
There are also unusual safety considerations you should be aware of before you
begin any attempt to operate a 2200m transmitter. It is recommended you consult
with experienced operators if you are not sure of what these issues are and
have no experience with high RF voltages and the possible burn and fire hazards
these present even at the amateur EIRP of 1W.
The best place to coordinate activity and share both technical and operating
experience is on the RSGB LF reflector. Amateurs from around the world monitor
here and translate and post the highlights on regional reflectors for those not
comfortable conversing in English.
RSGB LF Reflector Subscribe
We look forward to much interest in Canada and I personally wish to thank James
Dean, VE3IQ, for his tireless work that made it possible for most of the
world's amateurs to operate on this truly unique piece of spectrum.
January 19, 2010
Tree 1, Powerline 0
On January 18th at about 10:45UTC a tree snapped in a 120Km/h windstorm taking
with it about 1km of the power feeder and a number of poles. It may take a day or two before power is restored and the
logger and DCF39 plot return.
December 6, 2009
A week in the life of DCF39...
The grabber has entered a stable mode of data collecting with most of the
software and hardware upgrades completed for now.
This week has seen some very quiet solar and geomagnetic conditions with nearly
no actively at all. Interesting the signals from DCF39 are
way down from early and mid November.
Here's an animation of this weeks DCF39 plots taken
at 2000UTC each day from Nov. 29th to Dec 5th. Alas, nothing audible was noted
this week. Here's hoping conditions will improve and something in the data will
give me a clue as to what tickles the ether to create good propagation on
2200m.
November 26, 2009
Work on the grabber continues...
The system clock is now set so all data posted here is now timestamped
in UTC. The receivers are now on a battery backup as well. So even during a
complete power outage the grabber will remain fully operational. The next step
is to dedicate a PC for grabber operation...
The DCF39 page has been upgraded with some useful propagation monitoring aids
to help the user rapidly determine the possible affects
of aurora and lightning on propagation. There is also an interpretation page to
explain what the DCF39 plot means.
Over the last week the 2200m US experimental stations WD2XGJ, WD2XES and WD2XKO
have been quite active. Below is a rare triple header!
November 17, 2009
The Pirate of Newfoundland?
See the 600m Buttulator...
November 15, 2009
Many new upgrades where completed to the website and
the grabber hardware.
The website has been upgraded to a more user friendly format and the computer
system now sports a UPS to increase reliablity during
a windy west coast winter in the woods.
A new DCF39 plotter has been added based on the recent discovery that DCF39 can
be heard here audibly at times lending some hope that 2200m QSOs between
western NA and Europe may be possible some day.
Finally some tongue and cheek (pun intended) comments have been added with the
new 600m Buttulator.
DCF39 has been heard here audibly for the first time since I started listening
on 2200m in 2004.
The pitch of DCF39's Mark frequency is about 1850Hz. This is due to the fact
the grabber is centered on 137780Hz for 800Hz...
This recording was made on November 6, 2009 at 8:55pm PDT.
WD2XGJ
JH1GVY from
PM96uc, 50km north of Tokyo