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Author Topic: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations  (Read 2862 times)

N4AEQ

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Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« on: February 27, 2019, 10:22:17 AM »

  I have 2x 160m vee/dipoles in x pattern , several HF rigs that cover down to 100khz and several sdr dongles with vlf/lf upverters that go down to DC.  So what would be the best time, frequency and maybe other antenna to use for receiving any station on 630/2200 bands?  I am retired and stay up late at night trying to log eastern Europe AM broadcast band stations during winter months. So while I am doing that, what would be the best freq and time to listen for any amateur stations on 630/2200 meter bands.
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WA4JNX

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RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2019, 04:54:02 AM »

Try listening just before and after your local sunset to take
advantage of Greyline reception.

Signals tend to be stronger during this time:

https://dx.qsl.net/propagation/greyline.html

You will find QSB very slow on 2200m,but

the "season" is drawing to a close as we enter

Spring.
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WA4JNX

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RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2019, 05:52:47 AM »

BTW your best bets for European Longwave
Broadcast stations are:

BBC Radio Five on 198 khz
Iceland on 189 and 207 khz
Medi-1 Tangiers on 171 khz

Try for these at sunset during the
Greyline RF "happy hour".

If conditions are not optimal try running
your receiver with the BFO on for
exalted carrier reception.

« Last Edit: February 28, 2019, 05:59:55 AM by WA4JNX »
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N4AEQ

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  • Posts: 107
RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2019, 11:30:02 AM »

Ronnie,
 Thanks for the reply, I would like to log atleast one station while winter is still around, I will
try your suggestion.
 Thanks
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WA4JNX

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  • Posts: 26
RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2019, 12:50:35 PM »

You are most welcome.

Here is a Youtube by WA3TTS using a
vintage Hallicrafters to get Medi-1 on
171 khz:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UsvNh6LOcvE

Mike has many other such videos on Youtube,
using any and everything for a receiver...his
2,000 foot long antenna insures good reception
even in summer.
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WA4JNX

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  • Posts: 26
RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2019, 06:36:53 AM »

One final thought...if you are still having reception
troubles please consider an outboard upconverter.
The Jackson Harbor Press converter is easy to
build and for 18 bucks delivered can't be beat:

http://www.wb9kzy.com/lfconv.htm

Chuck Olsen supplies output crystals for 4
and 10 mhz,too.

The instruction manual download is on his
website.
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AA2UK

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RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2019, 05:30:25 PM »

Most amateur operations on 630 meters use WSJTX software, JT9 as the mode. Activity seems to be around the WSPR frequency of .474.2. If you're listening for CW there are a few stations running this mode. Using WSPR mode you can leave the receiver and computer running all night and you will start to see propagation cycles.
Bill AA2UK
« Last Edit: March 04, 2019, 05:35:40 PM by AA2UK »
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VE1YY

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RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2019, 08:51:11 AM »

While the LF and MF season is ending with the approach of Spring, do not be deterred from listening. We still have much to learn about LF and MF propagation. Your listening and reporting (such as to PSKReporter, WSPRNet, etc.) builds the data base of observations allowing for better modelling and predicting of propagation year 'round.

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NO3M

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RE: Best time, freq to receive any 630/2200m stations
« Reply #8 on: March 11, 2019, 03:54:04 AM »

Mike has many other such videos on Youtube,
using any and everything for a receiver...his
2,000 foot long antenna insures good reception
even in summer.

Mike is a personal friend of mine.  He does not have a "2,000 foot long antenna", but rather uses a pair of orthogonal, reversible EWEs.  You can see details about his system in the April 2019 QST.  Through extensive work mitigating common-mode ingress and other optimizations, his systems works very well from a suburban lot not far from the city (Pittsburgh).
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