Topband: Lowfer Challenge

[VO1MP- Gus]

Top Band reflectorees:

It's a safe assumption that  a lot of subscribers to this reflector are 
better equipped than most to receive low band signals. Some body 
out there might  find this an interesting challenge.
For people who  are regularly active  on Top band , it might only 
mean co-ordinating a few Mins  :-)   of listening time .
The following message is self explanatory and was received here to-day from
ON7YD  Rik Strobbe  his address is shown below. 
I am not sure if there is a site dedicated to Lowfer activity ?

73 Gus VO1MP
----------
 From: Rik Strobbe <rik.strobbe@fys.kuleuven.ac.be>
 To: gussam@newcomm.net
 Subject: request
 Date: Thursday, January 13, 2000 9:38 AM
 
 Dear Gus,
 
 Searching the web for amateur radio activity in eastern Canada I did find
 your call and e-mail address via the Buckmaster callbook.
 I appogolize for 'intruding' but I have a request and you might be the
 person that could help me.
 
 Since about 2 years we have a new radio amateur band on longwave in several
 European countries : the 136kHz (or 2200 meter) band.The power limitation
 is 1 Watt ERP but until now we managed to work across Europe with a current
 distance record of about 2300km. So we started wondering if it would be
 possible to cross the atlantic on this band. Last winter we did some test
 between Europe and the W4 area (as we found a group of longwave enthousiast
 over there) but the distance was over 7000km, a bit too much. The place in
 North America that is shortest to Europe is VO, about 4000km (from the very
 east of VO to EI it is even only 3100km). So now I am looking for some hams
 that are interested in trying to receive our signals on 136kHz, and
 eventually try a crossband QSO.
 A lot of modern ham receivers go down to 100kHz or less and can be used to
 listen on 136kHz and a loop or wire-antenna can be easily adapted to listen
 on this band.
 
 So my request is : could you distribute this message to other hams in
 eastern Canada that might be interested to participate in this challenging
 experiment.
 
 Anyone interested in this experiment can contact me via e-mail. No
 experience on longwave is required, the European hams will be more than
 happy to give advice on receivers, antennas and operating techniques.
 
 73 and many thanks in advance,
 
 Rik Strobbe    ON7YD


--
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/topband.html
Submissions:              topband@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  topband-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-topband@contesting.com