SAQ

[Frank Gentges KØBRA]

I had similar experience with the 0830/0845 Z transmission.

I set up out in an isolated field using a battery operated Wandel 
Goltermann AT463 selective voltmeter for a receiver set for high impedance 
input and a 30 foot length of wire.

I could clearly hear GBR at 16 kHz and occasional snippets of signal were 
heard at 18.3 kHz. The system seemed fine but the density of sferic crashes 
left no holes to hear SAQ through.  Not even a shred of a snippet.

Since 0830 Z is 4:30 AM I was running out of energy and decided to hit the 
sack and decided  not to get up to make the 30 minute drive for the 1230Z 
session.  I doubt I would have done any better than earlier.

I will have to join Sandy and wait for next time.  We sure appreciate the 
efforts by the Alexander club to keep SAQ on the air and make these 
transmissions.  It is a real challenge for us and demonstrates how 
effective the receive end on Long Island had to be to make a reliable 
link.  I understand the Long Island receive site had a very long wire which 
acted as a directive Beverage.  This LF and VLF stuff they did back then 
(day in and day out) seems even more impressive when you try to do 
something like this.   Our modern whiz bang technology does not give us 
much of an advantage here.

Frank K0BRA


At 03:10 PM 7/1/01 -0400, Nan and Sandy Sanders wrote:
>  Listened for the 08:30 transmission on a tuned loop and on the vertical we
>use for one of the AMRAD 136 beacons feeding a tuned preamp. No luck. QRN
>very high plus 60HZ based noise.
>  For the 12:30 transmission moved I moved to my office and used the E-field
>probe on the roof. Had no 60HZ noise but still no SAQ even on a waterfall
>display.
>  Hope to have better luck next time.
>                                 Sandy
>                                 WB5MMB

Frank Gentges KØBRA
fgentges@mindspring.com