Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Working WAS on 630?  (Read 5814 times)

K0OD

  • Member
  • Posts: 3039
Working WAS on 630?
« on: February 13, 2018, 07:13:21 AM »

Who's going to be first to work WAS on 630-meters? Propagation is there for most, perhaps all, of the country, however a few states, including my own, still lack hams with transmitting capability. 

KL7L is quite active running 5 watts on various modes. He has a good signal that often makes it to Australia and Japan over the easy salt water paths. To mainland US his range is usually limited to the Pacific Northwest. A day ago I decoded his WSPR beacon for the first time. As you can see below, it was quite an opening that extended deep into the midwest and even to K4SV in western NC.

Merv, K9FD/KH6 is easy from most of the country. He runs one watt from an exceptional location, a former broadcast site right on the Pacific. He has been off the air for several weeks, but this morning I picked up his signal again.



Jeff
K0OD
Saint Louis
Logged

AA2UK

  • Member
  • Posts: 986
RE: Working WAS on 630?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2018, 10:30:51 AM »

Jeff, just to clarify the stations you mention as running 1 watt or 5 watts this is their EIRP. Depending on the antenna and ground efficiencies they could be running anywhere from 500 watts TOP to 50 watts TOP.
The power needed to end up with 5 watts EIRP can be the upper end of the TOP's I mentioned.
630 meters is a great band I wanted to be on by now but my other ham radio projects need to be done 1st (priorities).
Bill, AA2UK
Logged

K0OD

  • Member
  • Posts: 3039
RE: Working WAS on 630?
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2018, 08:13:13 PM »

Bill, I've wondered about the transmit power levels conveyed on 630 WSPR. I doubt everyone is using  EIRP. Certainly the WA4 beacon bozo isn't. He uses a 190 vertical and transmits his power on WSPR as 0.20 watts! Elsewhere he says he runs 100 watts. Again, it would be nice to know what everyone uses. Maybe I'll ask the 600 meter Yahoo Group how members figure their power number on WSPR.

On the subject of WAS, the very well equipped NO3M publishes his 630m stats as: DXCC 7, WAZ 7, and WAS 34 as of 2018/01/02. http://no3m.net/ Those are the highest 630 stats I've seen.

Here's a current list of stations known to have made at least one contract on 630. 15 states have had no activity on the band. So plenty of "firsts" are available. 
http://njdtechnologies.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/630m-WAS-list-021218.pdf
Logged

AA2UK

  • Member
  • Posts: 986
RE: Working WAS on 630?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2018, 03:48:20 AM »

To answer your question who will get 630 WAS it will be Eric NO3M without a doubt.

Here's a decent article about determining EIRP on LF/MF bands.
http://www.hamsignal.com/blog/antenna-eficiency-and-630m

WA4SZE is using his old NDB antenna which is a 190' Monopole w/ extensive ground radials.
He may very well have the best TX antenna in the US. He also has a dirty transmitter.
At one time I attempted to help him, it didn't take long to realize he was just playing me and doing nothing substantial to correct his TX problems. His EIRP if he's running 100 watts would be much higher than the self reported .2 watts. He's a unique case in how to piss of your neighbors. I doubt he'll ever make a contact on 630 meters. It's too bad because he does have a great antenna with the potential to make many contacts...

I believe most of the other stations make an attempt to report the proper EIRP numbers when using WSPR. Most of the active 630 meter stations are guys I know from VHF/UHF/uWaves. They are technically astute. It seems as if 630 attracts the same mindset as the VHF and above crowd. The other group came from the 160 meter DX operators. Most of the original Experimental licenses were VHF and up op's.

Bill, AA2UK
« Last Edit: February 14, 2018, 04:05:05 AM by AA2UK »
Logged

AA2UK

  • Member
  • Posts: 986
RE: Working WAS on 630?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2018, 04:14:56 AM »

Here is a nice EZ calculator for EIRP provided my M0UKD. Just plug in the numbers.
https://m0ukd.com/calculators/erp-eirp-calculator/
Bill, AA2UK
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up