RE: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection.
I think you are making this to difficult. FACTS: BPL will cause noise across the entire HF Spectrum. Hams only use selected portions of this spectrum. There is no easy way to digitize the entire spectrum. Radio Jove software will record signal strength based upon the noise level (don't need to know the S meter reading) for as long as you let it run. 1, 2, 10, 24, 100, 1000, etc, (there is no set limit) hours. It hooks up like PSK, rtty, etc to your sound card. Sampling techniques can prove increased noise at one frequency means increased noise at other frequencies Solution. Using the Radio Jove software record 3 to 5 frequencies on each band at , 0300, 0600, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100 for about 1 minute each as a base. Might want to include local emergency frequencies. The output is saved as a data file (read how the software works). Do this again once a week (some periodicity) before BPL is installed to establish a base line. Do this again once a week (some periodicity) after BPL is installed. As it is all relative any radio will do as long as the same (set of) frequencies are used (but the frequency only needs to be close, +/- 1 kHz not +/- 1 Hz). This technique will work with just one frequency. The additional are only needed to show the uninformed. Take the date and put in ACCESS, EXCEL, etc, and plot the before and after. Send graphs to FCC, your congressman. Rich, KE0X ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection.
Perhaps the amateur radio telescope software would work. Look at this web page, http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ they have a kit but why not use a K1 set to one (each for a day) QRP frequencies. More info here http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/radio-telescope.htm Perhaps several of us should do this. Used as conceived this makes a great Science Fair project for budding (existing) hams. Rich, KE0X ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection.
I have been building a collection of DDS receivers for this task, using boards from Elektor Electronics. They are RS232 controlled for frequency. They are good general coverage receivers, though I think they begin to tail off above 15 to 12M, as they use a 50MHz clock. It has been a real chore to put the parts together, as some are oddball (470KHz Murata ceramic resonators, for example). If anyone wants to build one, I recommend buying the board and parts kit for $100 from the Netherlands branch of Elektor, which is the most reliaable source. Leigh. On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 6:25 pm, Rich Lentz wrote: Perhaps the amateur radio telescope software would work. Look at this web page, http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ they have a kit but why not use a K1 set to one (each for a day) QRP frequencies. More info here http://my.integritynet.com.au/purdic/radio-telescope.htm Perhaps several of us should do this. Used as conceived this makes a great Science Fair project for budding (existing) hams. Rich, KE0X ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection.
I have strong opinions about doing the job with the right tool. A better approach is to do wideband surveillance using more appropriate tools. One could use the GnuRadio/USRP widget or the DCP-1/KD6OZH widget to begin this job quite nicely. Since you really want to demonstrate the impact of the interference on regular operations, the goal would be to have the wideband instruments quickly find likely candidate frequencies for interference content and then, through computer control, tune the narrow band resource do the actual evidence (sound file) capture. Since you are not likely to get really accurate frequencies with the wideband equipment, without needing a huge number of samples and very large FFT's on what will probably not be that coherent anyway, I would think a receiver capable of 40Khz to 80Khz bandwidth would be better. While not inexpensive, the SDR-1000 can be used at that bandwidth. Since we are not really after super performance here, I would think we could get away with cheaper receivers but this would have to be thought out carefully since this is the evidence gathering instrument. I would suggest a search strategy doing ham band wide chunks (so you could put some filtering in front of the FPGA based widgets) and have them direct the narrow band resource when and where to record. If we separated antennas sufficiently, and used (say) GPS tamed clocks for the oscillators for the sampling, you could do time difference of arrival geolocation of the emitter. I need ten day weeks and 140 hour days and two more bodies. ;-) Bob N4HY -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jeff Burns Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 1:56 AM To: 'Elecraft List' Subject: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection. I read recently that a BPL trial is starting in my state. The trial is not near my QTH, but it made me think I should document my current noise environment before BPL moves into my community. What is a practical way to get the documentation? I have a few ideas that require programming a computer. I will present them hear in the hope that someone will develop the software. My first thought was to scan through all the HF bands with a camcorder set to look at my transceiver. This way the audio and frequency would be documented. By periodically tuning to WWV, the exact time and date would also be documented. The biggest problem with this is the time required to manually scan the radio. If the process could be automated, data could be collected during all hours of the day, and my time at the radio can be spent making QSO's. - snip -- Jeff Burns AD9T ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Automated BPL Interference Data Collection.
Jeff and all, I have no references to any program that will do the entire job -- but if you can get the audio into the computer soundcard, I can recommend 'Total Recorder' for recording it to a file, if your computer can make any sort of sound, Total Recorder can capture it fo you. See http://www.highcriteria.com/ for the details. In addition to recording, it is a good tool for converting audio formats. I have no relationship other than a satisfied customer. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- ... Since I already have audio routed from the transceiver to the computer sound card, why not let the computer record the data? This would be very helpful to me since I do not have a camcorder of my own. Documenting audio is easy. The only problem is selecting a compression algorithm that gets the audio to a manageable size without losing needed information. Documenting the frequency is a bigger problem. A file format that records both the audio and frequency is needed. ... ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
