Unusual NDB reception? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

HMV 1120 · 9th Oct 2012, 3:37 pm

I've just recently begun playing with a "Seafix" marine RDF set in the band 200 khz - 400 Khz. This is transistorised handheld with a ferrite antenna for taking bearings to former marine (non directional) navigation beacons (as well as for listening to longwave shipping forecasts).

Whilst marine NDB's have left the band, aircraft still use it and the local beacons CUL (Culdrose) and NQY (Newquay) come through very well. I also managed to receive (at around 390 khz) the callsign "CP" at around 23:00 onwards.

I can't find a "CP" in the UK beacon lists, but there is a "CP" - Constable Pynt - on 386 khz in Greenland. It is listed as a low power (~25 W) station. Is this a likely catch for a ferrite handheld, or is there a better candidate closer to home?

Attatched below is a screenshot (apologies for the quality) showing the repetitive CP and carrier hetrodyne (AM beacon ID being received with BFO).

The Seafix has also proved capable of receiving Differential GPS transmissions around 300 khx, with the furthest catch being Sumbergh Head, Shetlands.

Robs

milairuk · 9th Oct 2012, 4:38 pm

Might be Portugal which is more likely - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5BsTJfkfY
John

KW2000A · 18th Oct 2012, 5:00 pm

Slightly more prosaically: Caparica NDB ( 389 kHz) at N38 38.5 W009 13.3 -south of Lisbon across the Tagus estuary. It's a high power NDB ( greater than 2kW) with a promulgated range of 250 nautical miles. Serves as the holding fix for the instrument approach procedure on to Runway 03 at Lisbon International Airport.

I reckon around 700 nautical miles from Padstow with a relative bearing around 193°....after dusk - depending on propagation - you should get a good ( well, as good as any NDB indication ever was) indicated bearing allowing for all the errors ...but that's a lecture long ago and far away

KW2000A · 18th Oct 2012, 5:44 pm

Correction to my last : 850 nautical miles Padstow - Caparica

Dave757 · 19th Oct 2012, 1:09 am

Hi

I've just been having a listen for CP and it's not
too strong with me in Birmingham tonight. Definitely the
Lisbon NDB with 5 secs between idents.

Kind regards

Dave

9th Oct 2012, 3:37 pm	#1
HMV 1120 Hexode Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Weeting, Norfolk. Posts: 465	Unusual NDB reception? I've just recently begun playing with a "Seafix" marine RDF set in the band 200 khz - 400 Khz. This is transistorised handheld with a ferrite antenna for taking bearings to former marine (non directional) navigation beacons (as well as for listening to longwave shipping forecasts). Whilst marine NDB's have left the band, aircraft still use it and the local beacons CUL (Culdrose) and NQY (Newquay) come through very well. I also managed to receive (at around 390 khz) the callsign "CP" at around 23:00 onwards. I can't find a "CP" in the UK beacon lists, but there is a "CP" - Constable Pynt - on 386 khz in Greenland. It is listed as a low power (~25 W) station. Is this a likely catch for a ferrite handheld, or is there a better candidate closer to home? Attatched below is a screenshot (apologies for the quality) showing the repetitive CP and carrier hetrodyne (AM beacon ID being received with BFO). The Seafix has also proved capable of receiving Differential GPS transmissions around 300 khx, with the furthest catch being Sumbergh Head, Shetlands. Robs Attached Thumbnails __________________ Real radios glow in the dark M6GLD

9th Oct 2012, 4:38 pm	#2
milairuk Pentode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chelmsford, Essex, UK. Posts: 150	Re: Unusual NDB reception? Might be Portugal which is more likely - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC5BsTJfkfY John

18th Oct 2012, 5:00 pm	#3
KW2000A Triode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 40	Re: Unusual NDB reception? Slightly more prosaically: Caparica NDB ( 389 kHz) at N38 38.5 W009 13.3 -south of Lisbon across the Tagus estuary. It's a high power NDB ( greater than 2kW) with a promulgated range of 250 nautical miles. Serves as the holding fix for the instrument approach procedure on to Runway 03 at Lisbon International Airport. I reckon around 700 nautical miles from Padstow with a relative bearing around 193°....after dusk - depending on propagation - you should get a good ( well, as good as any NDB indication ever was) indicated bearing allowing for all the errors ...but that's a lecture long ago and far away

18th Oct 2012, 5:44 pm	#4
KW2000A Triode Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Posts: 40	Re: Unusual NDB reception? Correction to my last : 850 nautical miles Padstow - Caparica

19th Oct 2012, 1:09 am	#5
Dave757 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scratby, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 651	Re: Unusual NDB reception? Hi I've just been having a listen for CP and it's not too strong with me in Birmingham tonight. Definitely the Lisbon NDB with 5 secs between idents. Kind regards Dave