CLE 164
For the first of our two Holiday listening events, the University of Twente
(at Enschede in The Netherlands) can allow all of us (!) to use their
receiver and its high mini-whip aerial to listen for the NDBs audible there.
It is amazingly easy to access their excellent receiver via the Web
( just enter
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ into your browser )
In seconds you are given all the receiver's controls. Tell it a frequency
of interest and you will immediately hear what is going on there.
(If you don't have Java installed it will tell you. That is easily
downloaded in a few minutes from
www.java.com )
Days: Tuesday 25th December - Monday 31st December
Times: 12:00 UTC on 25th to 12:00 UTC on 31st
QRG: Normal LF/MF frequencies (190 - 1740 kHz)
NDBs: A MAXIMUM of 50 normal NDBs (not DGPS, Navtex, Amateur)
If you want to show more than 50 NDBs in your log, please choose the
most interesting ones and show them FIRST in a separate group of 50.
The remaining loggings will NOT appear in the Combined Results.
Some Q&As about our use of the University Radio Club's receiver:
1. Can several of us all listen at the same time?
Yes. There are always listeners from round the World, each using it
as though they are the only one. It can cope with about 250 all at the
same time!
2. Do I have to register or 'log in'?
No. Just use it! If you wish you can type your identification in the
'Name or Callsign' box. (I'll use 'NDB bk')
3. How can each listener appear separately in the Combined Results?
Results will all be treated as from HOL. ( e.g. I'll be 'HOL bk',
Alan would be 'HOL ag', Dan in WA would be 'HOL de', etc. )
4. What is a good frequency to try?
Some of the stronger local NDBs are on 371, 401.5 and 406.5 kHz
(Give it a try right now?).
CLE 165
For our main holiday CLE we are returning to an old favourite -
one of our much-enjoyed Pyramid CLEs.
Days: Tuesday 25th Dec. to Monday 7th Jan.
Times: Midday - Midday, your LOCAL Time
QRG: 190 - 1740 kHz
Beacons: Normal NDBs (not DGPS, Navtex or amateur)
The challenge is to build a size 10 pyramid from bottom to top by logging:
10 different NDBs from any radio country of your choice,
9 different NDBs from any other radio country,
8 different NDBs from any other radio country,
- - - etc., all the way to:
2 different NDBs from any other radio country
WITHOUT leaving any gaps in the numbers.
Your pyramid should also have a vertical aerial on top of it, made with
just 10 NDBs, each one of them from another DIFFERENT radio country.
Here is an imaginary example, maybe for a listener in Germany.
Each B is a different Beacon:
B PTR 1 ndb
B RUS 1 ndb
B ITA 1 ndb
B LUX 1 ndb
B FRO 1 ndb
B BEL 1 ndb
B ESP 1 ndb
B SCT 1 ndb
B SVK 1 ndb
B AUT 1 ndb
B B POL 2 ndbs
B B B HOL 3 ndbs
B B B B SWE 4 ndbs
B B B B B ENG 5 ndbs
B B B B B B DNK 6 ndbs
B B B B B B B CZE 7 ndbs
B B B B B B B B FIN 8 ndbs
B B B B B B B B B FRA 9 ndbs
B B B B B B B B B B DEU 10 ndbs
NB: It must be a DIFFERENT country at every level
and NO DISCONTINUITY (gap) in the pyramid.
A 'country' means a radio country as defined in our Countries List (Select
'NDB LIST AWARDS SCHEME' from our Information page, or go direct to
http://www.ndblist.info/info/countrylist.pdf )
Each USA and Australian State and each Canadian Province is a separate
radio country. It doesn't matter in what sequence your NDBs are logged
during the CLE period.
Making a size 10 pyramid (with its size 10 vertical aerial on top) may sound
easy, but it could be a real challenge for some of us.
However, you don't HAVE to stop there. If you have enjoyed it so far, and if
time allows, you could go on to build your pyramid as big as you are able.
You might finish with a size 15 pyramid, with 15 NDBs heard in the 'bottom'
country and with its vertical aerial of 15 extra countries on the top.
Some of us may reach size 20 - even 30 is possible, but that would be really
tough!
You might also enjoy planning how to go about your pyramid listening.
A high number country - maybe your own or an adjacent radio country -
will be easy to get. However, the 'no gaps' rule will probably mean that
some of the other numbers are quite difficult.
You will find you have too many loggings from some countries. If you
wish, tell us about those 'rejects', but show them at the end of your log
in a non-CLE section, or in a separate email.
Our last Pyramid CLE was No. 138 (Dec 2010).
For further advice please look out for my Final Details email in a few days.
WARNING! You might get seriously hooked on listening during this CLE.
Good listening
Brian