Topband: QRSS Beacons on 160m

[Greg - ZL3IX]

Hi Folks,

1) I would be really keen to see a few of these beacons on Topband.  I agree
that they should be at the top end of the band to avoid interference to DX
ops in the bottom part.  Surely there could be no IMD problem in the DX band
with them so far away?

I would, however, like to see sufficient ERP to make them useful as DX
propagation monitors, and a few hundred mW to the proverbial piece of wet
string, isn't going to cut the mustard in that regard.  Typically DX ops on
standard CW  are using around a kW to at least a 40-50ft vertical.  Since
QRSS is claimed to give about 20 dB enhancement to one's receive capability,
at least 10W to the same antenna, would be required to provide a readable
signal when the standard transmission is just readable.  I would like to see
even more power, say 30-50W, to give a good measurement bracket around the
critical path loss.

Some of you may remember DHJ, the German maritime station operational around
the early 70's.  It provided an excellent propagation monitor around the
world.  VK ops used to say that they didn't even bother going on the air
unless DHJ was S7.  While I am not advocating such enormous ERP as this (we
don't need it today with the advent of more elegant techniques such as
QRSS), I definitely feel that there is a place for something useful on a
worldwide basis.

Here in ZL, we don't need to put any beacons on the air, as the DGPS
transmissions on 1816.4 and 1818.4 serve that purpose very well.  Many
prominent DXers use them to gauge propagation to ZL.  How about giving us at
the other end of the path, something we can use as well?

2) I downloaded Argo last night, but have had some problems with it on
receive.  It doesn't seem to respond to speed change commands.  If I select
slow speed, it just carries right on at normal speed.  Has anyone else had
this problem?

I am using an old Pentium 133 PC.  Is this adequate for Argo?  I also have
SpectrumLab which does work (just), but it is on the limit of what the PC
MIPS can handle.

73, Greg, ZL3IX