As a normal DXer it was time to check the LW band and a discovery was found at 225kHz. A code signal is coming in with fair strength, consisting of two Morse code figures being repeated over and over and over. I will put them down here, and perhaps you can translate them and explain their meaning
dot dot dash dot
dash dash dot dot
Beacon
This is probably an airport VLF beacon. Its ID is FZ and there is one listed for St. Louis at 227 kHz with this ID at:
http://www.dxinfocentre.com/ndb.htm
Neil
LW Interesting
Interestingly, the Sangeon ATS 505 has LW band including 225kHz, but the next frequency up is 234kHz. The radio is unable to get to 227kHz, therefore I’m hearing an “edge” of the true center frequency of the FZ beacon.
I’d never before spent any time thinking about the LW feature of this radio which covers 153kHz to 279kHz, with obvious gaps.
The Zenith Transoceanic covers 145 to 400kHz.
Apparently “long wave” means different things on different radios.
NDB/ADF
Non-directional Beacons and the airborn receivers (ADF) have frequency spacing of 1 kHz.
Push the tuning knob to step it down to 1 kHz spacing.
Look At That
I pushed the tuning knob and found 1kHz spacing!
Great, Ken. The radio is alive!
Noise From Low On Up
The static on long wave has been super intense all morning. Yes, there is storm activity within the general region. But, up on the extended medium wave band, the static is very slight, almost quiet.
What conditions can result in very low frequency static from lightning?
RE: Noise From Low On Up
Static from lightning will affect both LF and midband. It may have a stronger affect over longer distances, the LF bands having longer wavelengths.
Also, generators at construction sites and high-powered welding equipment can cause a great deal of noise at LF’s.
LW beacons
Try The Beacon on 420 KHZ,
I get that one day and night.
Longwave Is Cool!
I have received several longwave broadcast
stations on an old portable boat radio.
The radio has to be taken outside away from
the house RF noises to be effective. It has a
great LW directional antenna.
One of my favorite stations is Iceland on 189 kHz.
Folk music is there and the language of the announcers
sounds really cool.
Carl – you mentioned the static was loud down at LW
frequencies, but fairly weak or not there at all on
medium wave. I guess that’s the nature of the thing.
Since static comes from a big RF spike (lightning)
the harmonics
will be stronger at the lower frequencies, I think.
Best Wishes,
Bruce, MICRO1690/1700