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-   -   are RDF's still usable in todays world. radio direction finding??? (https://www.boatbanter.com/cruising/45794-rdfs-still-usable-todays-world-radio-direction-finding.html)

Me July 7th 05 01:23 AM

In article .com,
"HarryV" wrote:

I believe that the nav beacons are still in service and are used to
transmit GPS WAAS corrections. I may be wrong.

Regards,

Harry


Not WAAS Corrections but DGPS (Differential GPS) and also used
by the FAA for DGPS as well. WAAS is SAT based....


Me

[email protected] July 11th 05 04:11 AM

yes im actually talking about the old school am beacon radios with the
dial ontop of the box you turn...from the 60s-70s etc.
they also usually get fm too

im sure they are still usable etc. but are there radio lists still
printed and or are the transmitters still marked on charts???

im not talking about the newer ones that have a quad array
older battery operated etc

thanx




On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:18:53 GMT, Bruce in Alaska
wrote:

In article ,
Larry W4CSC wrote:

wrote in :

just wondering if they are still usable in the waters around the us
and in other countries??

thanx for any/all input


Sure....but they've moved frequency band from MF-HF to VHF


Well Larry is half right..... They haven't moved anything,
from anywhere. LF/MF/HF DFing is still available to anyone who
has a DF Receiver that covers the LF/MF/HF Frequency Bands.
USCG/FAA still maintain MF/HF Beacons around the US. All MF Broadcast
Stations have known fixed Transmitters that can be used. MF/HF
Marine Private Coast Stations can be DF'ed for position fixing.
The art of using one of the older LF/MF/HF DF Receivers is just about
a Dead Art, but that doesn't stop anyone from learning to do it
like the Radiomen of the past. It is true as Larry states that
VHF DFing is all the rage these days with really neat Hardware/
Software that makes it a lot easier for new guys. All it takes is
time, and will.....


Bruce in alaska one of the LAST of the Alaskan Cannery RadioMen...



Larry July 11th 05 11:37 PM

wrote in :

yes im actually talking about the old school am beacon radios with the
dial ontop of the box you turn...from the 60s-70s etc.
they also usually get fm too


You don't need some expensive "marine" RDF to find AM radio stations. Any
AM portable radio will work as an RDF for this purpose. All you need to
know is how the ferrite rod antenna inside is oriented in the
box...normally the long way to the ends. Open the back and look for the
grey ferrite rod with lots of wire wrapped around it.

The "null" of signal is off the end of this ferrite rod. Just put an arrow
parallel with the rod and use it as a sight across your compass. Rotate
the radio around its vertical axis until the signal is weakest (or nulls
out completely) and the ferrite rod end is pointed towards the
station...that's all the old AM RDF did... Take two station readings not
inline and plot them to find your position on the chart.

If you want to use a station you don't know the position of on the chart,
just call the station on the phone and ask them their antenna's lat/long.
It's printed on the station license from the FCC. Plot it on your chart,
permanently, and you'll have a great reference as far as you can hear them.

There's still lots of room for this simple RDF on anyone's boat. Great way
to get the kids involved with radio navigation, too. Let them find your
position with their pocket radio, probably the first time they've ever had
it on AM any more...(c;

--
Larry

This jerk called my cellphone and was nasty.
Continental Warranty -- MCG Enterprises -- Mepco-
24955 Pacific Coast HWY Suite C303
Malibu California 90265
888-244-0925
Fax: 310-456-8844
Email:

Read about them he
http://www.ripoffreport.com/view.asp...3&view=printer


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