Unknown 160m Transmission
 

A few days ago in the evening, on 160m 1925Khz to be very precise, there was a transmission that was being read both in English and another language.

There was mention of compass degrees which made me think shipping or weather.

Readability was not that great I add. Anyone any thoughts?

Thank you.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

I think that you may have heard Italian coastguard/Marine met report and also other information for seafarers.
They often appear in "our" 160m allocation.
Have heard them regularly when QRM permits,HF SDR sites may be a fruitful hunting ground should you wish to hear more.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Thank you for that.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Years ago there were several UK coastal stations sharing the band with us, also a LORAN and a Decca navigation chain. It was a wonder sometimes how we found room for a QSO on Topband.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

I remember Loran and "fish phone" from the 1960,s.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Humber radio - humber radio - humber radio!

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Yes!

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Hasn't been the same since the departure of the diddly-dums...
Who needed calibration scales to kHz divisions.... you instantly knew where you were - by the sound of it.

If only the present crud was down at the level of Loran and the DDs

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

I thought Decca was transmitted on the LF band around 100kHz? My study notes from the 70s are buried in the loft somewhere so I can't check that out.

A.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Just for old times sake, there wouldn't happen to be a recording of Loran's top band 'jingle bells' lurking on youtube or somewhere?

David

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGTkaVbKNJw

Lawrence.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Ref post 9

There was LF LORAN,operating in the Khz frequencies,known as LORAN-C
Now navigated some way off original topic I think.
I remember RAF SAR Sea King navigation fit still retaining Decca Navigator which was turned off but also being fitted for GPS/Satnav in 1990'S.
Last encountered in cabin of a Girl friend's Dad's sea going yacht, tried cadging it but he held tightly onto it in case the system be turned back on.
Italian CG transmissions heard around 16.00 hrs today on 160m.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

100kHz, same as the recently-ceased E-LORAN. And Chayka in Russia. It might well come back, as network dismantling, at least Stateside, has ceased.

Didn't LORAN-A (Skywave LORAN) work around 1.9MHz? There was a LORAN-A station up on the east coast of Scotland at Cruden Bay.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

It seems there was a Decca system that worked on 1.6 megs, but we were not taught that as it probably didnt feature in the DTp masters and mates syllabus. High accuracy position fixing for stuff like oil rig positioning etc, I guess before the advent of High Accuracy GPS for civilian use.
I can remember taking part in some seismic surveying around a rig in the North Sea whereby a portable decca system that worked via what I think was a microwave link to the rig to get a precise fix relative to the rig position. I'm sure it was explained to me as being a phase difference system like Decca. Certainly a small dish was installed as part of the kit and on the bridge was a VDU that was very like a video game whereby the ship was represented on the screen and had to keep it in a precise location while the boffins let off air charges over the side. Great fun especially for a junior officer like me, getting to play with the "Poscon" Joystick control that wasn't used very often. Sorry very off topic.

A.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Perhaps Syledis?

David

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Here is a part of a 1960's recording of an AM QSO with the "jingle bells".
I have removed names and callsigns.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NH_...ew?usp=sharing


John

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Ah! Thanks, that brings it back!

Topband just doesn't seem the same without it, and QSOs are also a bit thin on the ground.

David

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Hi Jon,

Or the "Jingle Bells" as it was also known. Actually it was a number of HIFIX radio-navigation chains centred around 1900kHz. They were mainly used for offshore oil work and by RN survey ships. If you'd like to recapture the old sound, try:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGTkaVbKNJw&t=2s

73

Roger (ex-HIFIX tech, 1969-74)

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

SYLEDIS is long-confined to the dustbin, thank goodness for 70cm band operations! It caused untold grief to amateur activities on that band but in the end the QRM it caused to the MOULD systems was it's downfall in the UK.

73,

Roger (ex-SYLEDIS tech 1980 to mid 90s when GPS came in and saved the day).

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

There was also a Loran (Type A, I think) station located at RAF Garthness near to Sumburgh airport in the Shetland Islands. After I left Decca Navigator in '74 I moved to a company who were making an updated version of HIFIX called HydroTrac. I was sent to Shetland, Fair isle and Ducansby Head to select likely beacon sites and Garthness was an ideal spot. It was on care and maintainence at that time and a call to RAF Saxavord (spelling?) got us inside the Loran station with a local caretaker. It was chock full of gear I've long forgotten but I did recall a rack full of AR-88 receivers!

I believe the Loran station was scrapped and the site used for oil-workers accomodation. We chose Sumburgh Head, Fair Isle and Duncasby lighthouses for our chain, they were subject to bad WX outages but the chain ran for a number of years until differential GPS took over. I think the last Top Band system to go was Racal HyperFix and ATUs for that system still turn up, there was one in a recent VMARS auction, IIRC.

73

Roger

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Thanks for that, Roger: Interesting stuff! There're some pics I took of the Port Erroll site (Cruden Bay) here, for those who like that sort of thing.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

No tears shed here.

Someone came to the farm in the early 90s and asked about putting a mast up for a navigation system for the Forth. They'd picked the spot because of the adjacent trig point.

I asked "What frequency?"

He demurred and said below the TV band.

I said I used radio gear quite a lot and needed the exact frequency and specification of the signals. He'd thought he was dealing with someone non-technical.

He named the frequency, right in 70cms

"Oh, I'm licensed for 400W in that range, and high gain or omni antennae... are you sure this is going to work?"

He went away.

:-) Result!

David

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Hi David,

I was NOT that man! Yes, trig pillars were popular sites, as were lighthouses and coastguard lookouts. I ran a chain covering the Dover Strait. We took power from the CG station at Langdon Battery and used an old gun mount for the Texas Tower mast.

Anyway, this is getting away from the topic, Top Band activity! I listen occasionally, using the G4FPH SDR, and hear quite a bit of AM activity on 1977kHz. I have a KW-160 and a Codar AT5 here so once I finish putting down a few more radials I will give the band a try.

Oh, and if anyone comes across any HIFIX gear, I'd love to get hold of a Low-Power Transmitter!

73

Roger/G3VKM

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Thanks Russell,

There's some interesting photos on that link, must have a closer look.

Cheers

Roger

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Great pictures.Seems I have started something mentioning by saying I did not recognise that 1925khz transmission.

Very enjoyable posts though i add.

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

https://youtu.be/WBeymCP_-xA?list=UU...ZJ2fL8iv3Phamg

I recorded this clip a few years ago. ..... (The trusty old B28 is still giving yeomen service) SORRY! wrong clip appeared.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0MU...ZJ2fL8iv3Phamg

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Hi Cecil,

I think that the second clip is LF Loran? Or, depending when you made it, it could be Pulse/8 another Decca/Racal system that I last saw used in the 90s.

73

Roger/G3VKM

Re: Unknown 160m Transmission
 

Hi Roger, yes the video clip on 100KHz. was I suspect was the Norwegian Loran C. The recording was made in 2013 after the US system was closed down, of course all gone now as the system in Europe has also been closed down. Ironically there is talk of a back up hyperbolic system for the current GPS . The first video clip (VMARS AM net) was posted in error ........... finger trouble!!