Amateur Radio Station WB3ANQ
Operational mode QRPp QRSS Running as an MEPT. Manned Experimental Propagation Transmitter. Test Frequency 10.140.065 TO 10.140.070 MHz. GPS Disciplined. Location is Pasadena, Maryland FM19rc 39.07 North 076.32 West
* August 24 OFF The Air 10.140.065 Mhz 200 mW Snake Format *
* March 12 2011 ON The Air 10.140.065 Mhz 200 mW Snake Format *
MEPT Will Cease Operations During Local Thunder Storms
Now using RIGOL DG1022 Function Generator
And Trimble Thunderbolt Frequency Standard
5 hz rise 30 second period
Antenna Force12 40XK Vertical dipole ground mounted COAX 25′ RG8 Mini
MEPT Will Cease Operations During Local Thunder Storms
Now using new antenna by ZEROFIVE-ANTENNAS
10-40 METER MULTIBAND GROUNDPLANE VERTICAL ANTENNA
NEW March 23 2008 Now testing with WSPR
WSPR (pronounced “whisper“) stands for “Weak Signal Propagation Reporter.” This program implements transmitting and receiving for a digital soundcard mode called “MEPT_JT”, an acronym for “Manned Experimental Propagation Tests, by K1JT”.
Between March 17 2008 and As of November 26 2009 – 1255 WSPR Stations heard by WB3ANQ FM19rc Pasadena, MD.
Over 2000 Stations That Have Copied The WB3ANQ WSPR Signal (Updated August 11 2010).
70 Countries with stations That Have Copied The WB3ANQ WSPR Station At 1 Watts Or Less.
Received in all 7 Continents including 2 stations in Antarctica.
A Lot of STations that Have Copied The WB3ANQ WSPR Signal
50 US States WAS Using WSPR Mode as of April 28,2009
46 US States 44 Countries As Of October 31 2008
45 Stations in Australia that have copied my WSPR signal as of December 22 2009
On March 4 2009 VK6DI Near Perth West Australia Was Able To Copy My WSPR Signal At Only -1 dBm = 794.33 MicroWatts. Thats about 14,444,979 Miles Per Watt.
On November 20 2008 VK6DI Near Perth West Australia Was Able To Copy My WSPR Signal At Only 1 Millawatt!
July 8 2009
WSPR Stations that copied my Signal at 1 Milliwatt
July 8 2009
WSPR Stations that copied my Signal at 2 Milliwatts
02/01/2006
My less then 500 Microwatts signal was received by David Isele VK6DI OF88cd Mount Helena West Australia!
signal was received by David Isele VK6DI
QSL for 10 milliwatts from WB3ANQ to VK6ALY
The heart of the MEPT transmitters are an old surplus HP-3336B Synthesizer/Level Generator and also an HP 3325A Function/Level Generator. This equipment was used back in the early 1980’s
The HP 3336B unit has the precision attenuator option and the output levels can be varied between -72.99 dBm to +7.00 dBm with +/-0.07 db accuracy. The output of the HP is feeding a 50 Ohm half wave dipole in the inverted V configuration with the apex at 50′ and 100′ of 9096 ExtraFlex Low Loss Coax.
Capable of running 1 watt of power from a power amp Designed and constructed by Peter DL6NL I am now able to vary my power levels from -72 dBm up to +30 dBm (1watt)
The HP 3325A also has an accurate attenuator and has an RF output that ranges from 0 dBm up to +26 dBm
The HP 3586C can accurately measure the frequency to .1 Hz resolution and has a power meter that can measure signal levels with up to ± 0.2 dB accuracy down to –80 dB, with 0.01 dB resolution .
All of the equipment below is referenced to the HP Z3801A
The HP Z3801A GPS Receiver provides highly accurate time and frequency outputs Especially useful to weak signal radio enthusiasts who require the highest frequency accuracy.
Equipment
1 Watt PA by Peter DL6NL Known as the “Sharky Booster”
1 Watt PA by Peter DL6NL Known as the “Sharky Booster”
Elecraft Logo
Elecraft K3 Serial # 661
-15 dBm to 12 Watts
Elecraft K3
Transmit Antenna Force 12 Sigma-40XK Vertical Dipole
Transmit Antenna Force 12 Sigma-40XK Vertical Dipole
I use the sweep function of the HP-3336B to sweep between 10.140.065 and 10.140.070 MHz at a 30 second rate to give me a SNAKE pattern that is easy to see under poor conditions.
THE SNAKE FORMAT
This capture is courtesy of
“The VE1VDM Greenfield Grabber”
FN85ki
Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
First reception of my 30 meter MEPT was by David Isele VK6DI
Near Perth West Australia
Reports and Screen Captures received from all that have copied my Beacon 63 Receptions Updated 9/13/2007
Previous Hifer Operations(22 meters Part 15)
Best Reception at 100 Microwatts 3868 Miles by Peter Knol PA1SDB
Summary of Receptions Updated September 6 2005
Details of receptions, and captures. Updated July 13, 2004
Map showing locations of stations that have copied HiFER LP Updated September 6 2005
LF Beacon Hunter
NDB Reception Logs and Maps Updated 12/24/2006
Most Recent Mid Day NDB Band Scan Sept 15, 2007
Stats
Stats
As of 2/3/2008
Antennas Used For Receptions
Now using a Wellbrook ALA100 Large Aperture Active Loop Antenna
Wellbrook ALA100 Large Aperture Active Loop Antenna
Also using a Welbrook K9AY Receive Antenna for VLF, LF and HF Wellbrook K9AY Loop
Information On My K9AY Setup
Without a doubt my Wellbrook Loop Antennas receive even on 30 meters better then any of my other antennas!!
17db Very Low Noise Amp/Control Box.
Software used to process and display the QRSS signals Provided By Alberto di Bene
Links
David VK6DI
Peter PA1SDB
ON7YD
WSPR Spot Database
Elecraft
73 de WB3ANQ
QRPLabs.com in the UK makes a great single-band, low-pass filter for LF, MF, and all of the HF bands. They are inexpensive and it appears that you really need one. That saw-tooth waveform is full of harmonics. They also make a relay selectable pc-board kit for these filters.
I love how you have set up that test equipment to work as a truly weak signal transmitter. That is really in the spirit of what WSPR was created for.
Hal W5GHZ