Topband: N2XE Beacon Tribune - W4ZV Sets World Record!!

[John C Ceccherelli]

...at least as far as I can tell.  I'm not sure if anyone actually keeps
track of such things but as far as I can tell, nobody has received a weaker
signal over a greater distance on 80 meters so...

Bill Tippett, W4ZV, of New London, NC correctly copied code word OMAHA from
the N2XE beacon transmitting with a peak carrier power of .0000406 watts.
Bill confirmed reception of the beacon at 2328Z, January 2, 2005.  The
precise distance between the two stations using lat/long instead of grid
squares is 546.8 miles.

The beacon peak carrier output was measured using an Agilent 8563EC
Spectrum Analyzer (good to fempto-watt range) at 40.6 uW.  This establishes
Bill's record reception distance at 13,467,980 miles per watt.

Aside from the exceptional signal processor between Bill's ears, a Ten Tec
Orion Transceiver with a 1000 foot Beverage antenna was used.

W4ZV was the ONLY station to report hearing the diminutive signal.  A
remarkable acheivement--congratulations Bill!


In other news...

N2XE was running some unannounced sea trials on160 meters, 1825 KHz.
Although this was only a shake-down cruise of 160 meter equipment and only
on-the-air for 35 minutes at 1/2 watt, three stations correctly received
the signal!

If you copied ORION... you're right!

K3JJG, ED    PA    FM29    156mi    589    R4C/SLINKY BEV
N1BUG, PAUL,    ME    FN55     350mi    599+
W1TO, TOM    MA    FN32    79mi    579    1000MP/INV L

Good work gentlemen!

Tonight's beacon will be running on 160 meters at or about 100mW for the
maiden voyage on the top band.  An announcement will follow.

73,
N2XE

John Ceccherelli