Mike, VP8NO, has provided the Greyline group with a QRSS signal from the
Falklands by operating the beacon VP8FI. In November/December 2004 he used around 30 watts to an inverted L
with elevated radials on 3.61MHz. Here is an example of the waterfall of SpecLab.
This
shows the QRSS characters xxFI0x and a multipath? effect sometimes seen around dawn.
The sun was quite active in the early part of the tests but towards the end we
seemed to be getting some enhancements.
He has always been very obliging in supplying a signal, if you would like some signals from him join the Yahoo group and ask him.
During the period these recordings were made I altered the setup several times so signal strength comparisons can only be made by signal/noise ratio.
The "midnight" peak referred to is at the midway time between sunset at VP8FI and sunrise at G4ZFQ.
These charts and comments are from my postings on the Greyline Group. http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/greyline/
Ionospheric data taken from archive at http://66.175.38.157/kn4lf5d.htm Sun rise/set http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.html

VP8FI Sunset 23.27, sunrise 07.47 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.24
SFI Ave. 102 A Ave. 4 K 0/1
17-18 Nov. 04 Signal blue - noise purple. Vertical antenna.
All night recording , two peaks (No screenshot to confirm 01.20 peak)

VP8FI Sunset 23.31, sunrise 07.44 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.27
SFI Ave. 102 A Ave. 4 K 0/2
Signal purple - noise blue. Vertical
Another peak around the right time but again no more than earlier.

VP8FI Sunset 23.38, sunrise 07.39 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.35
SFI Ave. 107 A Ave. 5 K 1/2
22-23 Nov 04 Vertical
I captured screen all night, first seen at about 00.00

VP8FI Sunset 23.38, sunrise 07.38 UTC
SFI Ave. 107 A Ave. 6 K 1/3
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.35
I was hit by QRM after 07.00 but if the signals had come up they would have overcome it.

Mutual greyline about this date.
VP8FI Sunset 23.39, sunrise 07.37 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.37
SFI Ave. 109 A Ave. 20 K 5/3
Signals faded in amongst the QRM at about 23.30, on horizontal, still seen
at 08.00.
Turned the audio up at 05.49 the signal was just audible in the 500Hz CW filter used on the FT840 monitoring the vertical.

VP8FI Sunset 23.41, sunrise 07.36 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.38
SFI Ave. 111 A Ave. 13 K 3/4
False peaks QRM @ 23.30, 03.05-8, (obvious) and a couple of times when Mike
got up and fired up his 40KW amplifier!


VP8FI Sunset 23.43, sunrise 07.35 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.39
SFI Ave. 110 A Ave. 10 K 2/3
The peak at 06.15 was real but can't mean anything.
Signals seen at 23.15, just about gone 08.00


VP8FI Sunset 23.44, sunrise 07.34 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.41
SFI Ave. 113 A Ave. 14 K 2/5
Horizontal chart shows 06.45 peak, definitely greater than all night and
nothing after. Lots of QRM on horizontal but observing SpecLab showed no
significant signals in the gaps.

VP8FI Sunset 23.46, sunrise 07.33 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.42
SFI Ave. 111 A Ave. 15 K 3
Very weak at 23.25, gradually increasing with a maximum at 03.10 dropping until peak at 06.45, 6db more than peak at 03.10.
Signals were usually weak, the tone often inaudible but when it peaked was quite clear.
Mike's 16 WPM morse ident heard clearly 06.50
Screencaptures confirm no sign of another peak, faint signals still seen at
08.00
Vertical chart shows less QRM. Again captures confirm decline of signals

VP8FI Sunset 23.47, sunrise 07.33 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.44
SFI Ave. 111 A Ave. 15 K 3/4
QRM has made this chart unreliable to say the least!
From screenshots, Mike first seen very weak 23.00
Gradual increase, small peak 03.05 - 03.20

This is chart from VERTICAL antenna.

VP8FI Sunset 23.49, sunrise 07.32 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.45
SFI Ave. 111 A Ave. 13 K 1/5
Used vertical for all night recording. Chart represents screenshots well at
critical times.
Signals first seen 23.12, weak.
False spikes at 02.51, but "Midnight" peak .
Peaks around 06.50 and lesser at 07.20
Similar seen on horizontal.
Signals on screenshots do not show multipath to any great extent during 0650
peak, but a bit at 0720. More noticable before 06.20, two paths seen.


VP8FI Sunset 23.50, sunrise 07.31 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.47
SFI Ave. 106 A Ave. 4 K 1/2
Signals rose to the "midnight" peak, but it was not a peak, signals
maintained strength, no 06.50 peak.
Increased noise makes the 07.40 "peak" uncertain on the vertical, but
it is
clearly NOT there on the screenshots from the horizontal.
No noise recording until export parameters corrected 06.10 The noise recording helps to identify periods when the chart may be giving a false impression, as around 07.50. Examination of screen captures helps determine whether the signal is present.

VP8FI Sunset 23.52, sunrise 07.31 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.48
SFI Ave. 101 A Ave. 3 K 0/1
Must be the longest continuous reception yet.
First signs at 22.35, signals still visible on the vertical 08.25. I'd be
very hard pressed to identify them in the QRM if I did not know!
Charts are representative, repeat of yesterday, no defined peaks, maybe a
few db centred on 06.40ish?

VP8FI Sunset 23.54, sunrise 07.30 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.50
SFI Ave. 96 A Ave. 1 K 1/4
Today's chart from the vertical is fairly representative.
Scrutinising the screenshots shows a dip after 07.00, and a small peak
around 07.40
Fade out at 08.10

VP8FI Sunset 23.56, sunrise 07.29 UTC
G4ZFQ Sunrise 07.52
SFI Ave. 93 A Ave. 19 K 1/4
A quiet night, not much QRM, not much signal, not much in the way of peaks.
Charts are representative.
Signal first seen 23.15, very weak 05.30. Double trace around 06.30.
Small peak 06.50, down and up a little to 07.40 then last seen 08.22.
Thanks for the signal Mike.........
I still have the log files and overnight screen captures that help verify the charts. I should be able to sort them out if required.
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