This morning here at the KDX Monitoring Station the long wave band is very active.
This morning here at the KDX Monitoring Station the long wave band is very active.
On 162kHz an intense digital data transmission is running continuously with a wideband signal whose strongest outer edge is at 171kHz, is reduced at 189kHz, and the fading edge is at 189kHz.
At 207kHz another type of digital transmission is taking place, a continuously repeating upper mid range pitch that sounds like “woot, woot, woot, woot.”
225kHz a repeated morse code transmission sending “F Z.”
This would not be a good morning for KDX-LW, which is only weeks from going on the air.
LW Advisary Update
The strong data transmission reported nearly 2-hours ago is still ongoing in the long wave spectrum.
Does anyone have an estimate what it might be?
We frequently check the LW band, but have not noticed this before.
Long Wave Wonders
These transmissions were never detected before? It could be that your picking up signals due to seasonal changes, or these are brand new LW stations firing up for the first time.
If they have been there all along, they would have been detected at some point.
Continue to monitor and see if they remain for the next few days. I am thinking your picking up these signals due to unusual propagation, perhaps due to the season and temperature changes.
Or maybe its FEMA testing new installations. Kind of strange that suddenly you start picking up LW stations that were not detected before, and so shortly after that miserably failed EAS test nonsense.
RFB
Still Strong
Data transmission at 162kHz still strong and constant. The sender must have a lot of data. Maybe it’s everybody’s e-mail from everywhere.
Sudden Signals
About a year ago, the power utility began installing these odd ball canisters at interval locations at utility poles. Peaking my curiosity I decided to park near one of these canisters with my spectrum analyzer and scanned the spectrum.
Sure enough I found several sets of 3 carriers spaced about 100Khz apart from each other. They were always in groups of 3.
Interesting number..isn’t it.
Anyway I decided to contact Rocky Mountain Power, the electric provider and ask them what all these funny looking white canisters were for. They told me that these are new devices designed to communicate with all of the new electric service meters that were installed over the last 3 years at every service drop and that was still an on-going process in some areas.
The canisters collect electric energy usage data for billing and they also help the electric company identify problems with the electric system, localizing the failure more accurately to save time in restoring power.
They are also meant to save the utility company money in that they no longer need to have people (wow imagine that) go around driving in trucks (using gasoline and paying hourly wages) reading meters. When the new service drop meters were installed, the poor fellas drove around with their little gadget and collected this data.
Now the poor fellas no longer drive around taking meter readings (more unemployment) and the new canister devices do all the work.
Progress..it can be a good thing, but when progress begins to replace people..I find that sometimes progress is not necessary if it shoves people down to the bottom of the totem pole.
RFB
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting
The digital data at 162kHz on my Sangeon radio was still happening when I checked it again, and so I wondered what I’d hear at the other end of the house on the Zenith radio, which goes all the way down to 150kHz.
On the Zenith I got a very loud AC buzz, not like the digital data, which got stronger by tuning lower and was strongest probably even lower in frequency than I could tune. And right at that moment the loud AC buzz stopped abruptly and all was silent on the Zenith.
So returned to the Sangeon and still heard the digital data signal. I noticed right next to the radio was my Zoom Audio Recorder, but it was switched off, but I picked it up and moved it, and found that IT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE DIGITAL SIGNAL. Holding right at the radio it got super loud. Two feet away it was completely silent.
I love the long wave life!
AFTERTHOUGHT: I’ll bet if the Zoom Recorder were set close to a DSL Modem it would wreak havoc, and the Zoom is a USB device so it has been near DSL Modems in the past.
Busy Buzzing Bee
“I noticed right next to the radio was my Zoom Audio Recorder, but it was switched off, but I picked it up and moved it, and found that IT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE DIGITAL SIGNAL. Holding right at the radio it got super loud. Two feet away it was completely silent.”
How long has that Sangeon radio been sitting near that recorder?
Do you remember moving it and placing it near that recorder yesterday?
Was it ever next to that recorder before?
Well in any case, Part 15 does specify that certified devices, including computing devices, cannot cause interference and MUST accept interference that may cause undesired operation.
You just experienced the glory of non-protected.
It is just something Part 15 people have to deal with. At least now you know, keep that thing away from that buzz saw noise jamming zoom zoom recorder!
LOL!!!
BTW, LW reception is prone to picking up switching power supply noise, florescent lighting ballasts (including the small “energy saver” lights) and LCD monitors and big screen TV’s.
Always remember….MUST accept interference which may cause undesired operation.
RFB
And Also
That’s right, but I’m SO glad it’s just a small problem that I discovered and have control over. I was afraid some big new buzz saw transmitter was going to wreck the plans to transmit on long wave with a proud radio station.
I think I’ll name the long wave station FOREST TREE RADIO, named for the tree that falls in the forest but is not heard.
New question: Knowing that the Zoom audio recorder is turned off, WHY IS IT TRANSMITTING and WHAT IS IT TRANSMITTING?
Answer to your question: the Zoom is usually in a brief case not near any radio.
Off..But On Even If Off
“Knowing that the Zoom audio recorder is turned off, WHY IS IT TRANSMITTING and WHAT IS IT TRANSMITTING?”
This is a very old question with a very old answer.
Ever since the early days of microprocessor controlled devices, the microprocessor must have power in order to function. Usually this power is either 5 volts or 3 volts depending on the requirement for the brains of the device.
What confuses people is this. In the “OFF” mode, or more commonly referred to in the microprocessor world as “STANDBY” mode, your device is NOT totally turned off. There has to be power still running to the microprocessor in order to process the command “ON”. This means that the unit’s power supply is still ON and providing that 5 or 3 volts to the microprocessor in order to function from the OFF state, not to mention the retention of memory functions like favorite stations or channels or operational states (volatile memory requiring constant supply voltage to retain the memory).
Every device that uses a microprocessor for functionality, even the simple ON and OFF function, still requires power from the power supply in order to operate at all. That means that your device never really turns off completely, unless it is unplugged from the power outlet or batteries removed.
This also means that the power supply is running anytime a source power is connected to it. It can be the old linear supplies or switching supplies.
In any case, OFF is not the same OFF these days as it was with the old mechanical contact switch, where OFF really did mean OFF. This was a simple task of disconnecting the raw power source..be it 120VAC or battery source.
In devices that use a microprocessor and there is a mechanical ON/OFF switch, that switch does not do any disconnecting of the power supply whatsoever. It merely gives you the same function as a momentary contact switch for ON, except it is not momentary. When turned to OFF, the contacts open and the microprocessor interprets that as the OFF command. Again either way, the microprocessor still needs constant supply voltage to function.
RFB
LW
LW band down here is still dead. Must be some kind of local interference.
LW Signals
Here in Casper, the LW band is incredibly blank with the exception of a constant carrier on 210Khz with occasional data bursts and the common AC power grid noises scattered across the band.
Well as they say…it’s the wide open west.
RFB
A few Comments
I’m glad 162 kHz is clear for you Carl. France comes
in quite often here on the east coast on 162.
RFB is right on the nose – modern equipment
that is turned OFF is really still ON.
I’ll have to go up to the attic and get the ICOM R-70 –
hook it up and tune around. I may have to bring the R-70
outside where it’s really quiet RF wise.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, DOGRADIO STUDIO 2