Wednesday, November 21, 2012

SV 1st with PT0S on 6m band

PT0S 50.110 SSB and CW qso.
Today Wednesday 21 Nov 2012 at 15:50z worked PT0S dxpedition on 50.110, SSB and CW.The signal from PT0S was weak here in my QTH (KM07JS) but qso both ways 100%.
This qso is the first between SV and PT0S land in 6m.
The Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (ASPSP) is a group of 15 small islets and rocks in the Atlantic Ocean, lying close to the equator and about 520 nautical miles (990 km) east of the Brazilian city of Natal. The rocks are close to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), are area of constant and severe thunderstorms, resulting in permanently noisy radio conditions, especially on the lower bands. The rocks are located relatively close to both North America and Europe. We hope that the proximity of the rocks to Europe and North America will allow relatively small stations to work this rare entity.
The operators there are:PY2XB, Fred - PY5CC, Peter - AA7JV, George -  HA7RY, Tomi.
My equipment is Kenwood TS-480 with 100W and 7 elements LFA antenna with very good take off to West. http://www.pt0s.com/NEWSUPDATES.html
Thank you guys for 6m and 160m QSO.
73, Spiros
SV8CS

Friday, November 16, 2012

NEW digital Mode (JT9-2) by K1JT.

WSJT-X new mode.
Joe K1JT has made a new digital mode for Low bands (MF 470/500 Khz and LF 136 Khz).
This new mode was disigned for use at MF around 472-479 Khz/500 Khz and also for LF 136 Khz. More info can you find here :
http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjt.html and

http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/WSJT-X_Quick_Start_Guide.pdf

Yesterday I was on 136 Khz (dial usb) monitoring the band on LF and copy very well Stefan DK7FC transmiting in JT9-2 digital mode with this new program WSJT-X by K1JT.
Using Kenwood TS-480 for RX with a QUAD-Loop horizontal antenna with total lenght 230m.
73, Spiros
SV8CS

Saturday, November 10, 2012

New antenna for 472-479 Khz

Yesterday 10 Oct 2012 with the help of my friend SV8DOU we finished to install a new antenna in my 2nd QTH (KM07JR) for MF and LF. The experimental antenna is a horizontal QUAD-Loop with overal lenght 230m. The wire run around the property at variable height (from 4m to 10m).
The reception is better now with less static and man made noise. Next days I will try to tune the antenna to 472-479 Khz.
The results are here:
1) QRS beacon from 9H9ES (478.4 Khz CW dial).
 
2) QRS beacon from SV1AYC (478.7 Khz CW dial).
 
3) Reception with OPERA prog. OP8 by EA5HVK.
 00:25 477 SM6BHZ de SV8CS Op8 1434 mi -32 dB in ZAKYNTHOS Island
 21:41 477 DK8KW de SV8CS Op8 1816 km -28 dB in ZAKYNTHOS Island

Opera program by EA5HVK for download is here:
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/
Spectrum lab program by DL4YHF is here:
http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.html
73, Spiros- SV8CS

Sunday, November 4, 2012

NEW BAND 472 - 479 Khz in Greece

After the modification made by our PTT regarding the SV, band plan, now we can use the MF band from 472 Khz to 479 Khz as sub-band in secondary use with maximum TX PWR 1W EIRP.
Trying to listen on this portion of the band with big surprise I copyed some strong signals coming from DL, OM and I.
Yesterday 03/11/2012 I had 3 QSO's in cross band using from my side either 80m or 40m.
My QSO X-Band :
1) OM1II   03/11/2012  at 18:50   472,7 Khz qsx  3504 CW.
2) IQ2MI   03/11/2012  at 21:20   501,0 Khz qsx 7052  CW.
3) DK7FC  03/11/2012 at 22:02   472,2 Khz qsx  3568 CW.

I heard also a new SV beacon on 479 ( dial CW) with the call SV1AYC.
The signal coming here in KM07JS (about 300Km from beacon location) is 559 max. with qsb but this beacon in on the same QRG with NDB, non-directional beacon,  VIB (qth Viterbo Italy).
Soon I will be active on both bands 472 Khz and 136 Khz with YUMA transceivers.
For now on 137 Khz I am monitoring for JT9-1 mode signal (WSJT-X).
I have not yet any special antennas for 472 or 137 Khz but I am using by beverages.

I hope to see you on this bands asap.
73, Spiros - SV8CS