LW CW comm

[ridgescan]

I hear this quite often so I thought I'd put it here-anyone know what comms would still be happening on LW?
CW comm longwave video by ridgerocker2001 - Photobucket

it is pretty close to my location.

 

[zz0468]

KSM, a historical station operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society. They're licensed on 426 KHz, among other frequencies.

 

[ridgescan]

Wow thanks zz for your reply really interesting-I read their site. I see it is from Bolinas, Ca. just 15 miles northwest of me on the Marin coast, and they operate and maintain the original equipment and antennas. I guess I was hearing their transmission of news and weather to ships at sea in CW very cool! I would love to tour that station. I may just take a drive there and get some photos one day.

 

[k9rzz]

Dang! I had no idea. I'm putting them on my hit list for sure!

 

[ridgescan]

These are some longwave comms I ran across-frequencies may not be exact-
and here's a nice link to a huge beacon list
LW Radio Beacons

my catches today-
201khz-morse "TCY"
333khz-morse "CC"
338khz-morse "PBT"
372khz-morse "LV"
379khz-morse "SF"
(forgot frequency)-morse "FCH"

I also heard RTTY on 304, 313, 317, and really strong on 519khz.

 

[bryan_herbert]

KSM and K6KPH also sends out QSL cards.

Maritime Radio Historical Society
Maritime Radio Historical Society

 

[lanbergld]

The fun thing to do is see how many miles-per-watt you're getting out of those low-power beacons. Many of the NDBs are just 25 watts. So, if you're 200 miles from the one you identified, and its 25-watts, then you've got an 8 MPW catch.

The furthest low-power NDBs I can get, here in Richmond VA, are from Michigan. That's in the range of 20 miles-per-watt, which is quite good.

Ps. Ridgescan, that RTTY you're getting around 313 kHz are DGPS stations.


Larry

 

[zz0468]

Ps. Ridgescan, that RTTY you're getting around 313 kHz are DGPS stations.

There is readily available software out there that will dcecode these, so they can be identified. As the old NDB's are gradually decommissioned, DGPS stations will replace them as signal sources to chase on LF. They're every bit as fun and challenging to catch. They run higher power, so it's possible to chase them from halfway around the world.

 

[ridgescan]

I got to be careful I can see this LW thing is addicting

 

[k9rzz]

Yeah! My best beacon so far is "RT" Rankin Inlet in the Northwest Territories. I get a kick out of chasing the Canadian beacons, on a good winter night they are SUPER loud here.

Shameless self promotion ,,,

I have several of my local NDBs on YouTube: YouTube - Longwave NDB - "BL" 260khz

 

[ridgescan]

I like that one-you just don't see that stuff anywhere! I aim to get some video of that KSM up in Marin one day and put it here

 

[WisconsinRailfan]

I have several of my local NDBs on YouTube: YouTube - Longwave NDB - "BL" 260khz

I really enjoy your youtube vids, thanks for posting them, I miss leaving in that area. It's really cool to chase these beacons. I found my first one by accident, I was having a few beers, and I imputed a frequency incorrectly, and I heard the beacon

 

[ridgescan]

ok my 1st actual LW beacon DX-404khz, "MOG" out of Montegue, Ca. right up against the north Ca. border. DX 274 miles

 

[k9rzz]

My first NDB was logged on a stock AM radio in a '72 CHevy. Driving to school I passed "BL" daily but never knew what it was. One day, tuned to just the right station as I passed, I heard CW. WHAT? HUH? The rest is history. LOL

 

[AA1LL]

K9RZZ DE AA1LL
I did the same thing as a kid-- only it was the 50's and my father's '55 Ford radio (both stock)!! (tubes and vibrator power supply of course) Copied EWR just below the AM broadcast band when we lived only a few miles from Newark Airport in NJ. Became WN2OPB a year later and the rest is (ancient) history!! I wonnder how many people have gotten into electronics because of NDBs?

73, Paul, AA1LL

 

[k9rzz]

426khz I've got NDB "FTP" Fort Payne, AL coming in and out.

 

[Cville]

426khz I've got NDB "FTP" Fort Payne, AL coming in and out.

Cool. Next time you hear it, try for UWI in Dalton, GA at 400.

 

[ridgescan]

Did another LW beacon DX tonight-
411khz-RD Redmond Oregon. Almost in the center of Oregon. DX 455 miles

 

[KEV200]

K9RZZ DE AA1LL
I did the same thing as a kid-- only it was the 50's and my father's '55 Ford radio (both stock)!! (tubes and vibrator power supply of course) Copied EWR just below the AM broadcast band when we lived only a few miles from Newark Airport in NJ. Became WN2OPB a year later and the rest is (ancient) history!! I wonnder how many people have gotten into electronics because of NDBs?

73, Paul, AA1LL

Hey Paul, got hooked on LF beacons back in 1959... had a 59 Chevy, radio would tune below BC band, copied beacon GDL 512 kc in Guadalahara Mexico.

K4PBN
Birmingham, AL.

 

[ridgescan]

356khz-SA-Sacramento. DX 92 miles