VLF Reception at W1VD Burlington CT

VLF reception at W1VD

This waterfall shows the frequency range from about 8 - 30 kHz captured pre dawn on 10/02/11 using the #1 setup described below. A number of the usual stations are clearly visible. While the 'official' VLF frequency range spans 3 - 30 kHz, there isn't much to see below 11.9 kHz - the lowest of the Russian Alpha signals. Other than spherics and harmonics of the power line it's pretty much devoid of signals except for a few amateur radio operators experimenting on or about 8.97 kHz.

A list of stations seen over the last year and a half include:

11.9 kHz - Alpha - Russia - mp3 of Alpha 'beeps'recorded 02/12/11
12.7 kHz - Alpha - Russia
14.9 kHz - Alpha - Russia
16.4 kHz - JXN - Norway
17.0 kHz - VTX2 - India
17.2 kHz - SAQ - Sweden - mp3 of SAQ recorded 07/03/11
17.8 kHz - Tacamo - Airborne
18.1 kHz - RDL - Russia
18.3 kHz - HWU - France
19.2 kHz - VTX4 - India
19.6 kHz - GBZ - England
19.8 kHz - NWC - Australia
20.2 kHz - RJH69 - Belarus
20.3 kHz - ICV - Italy
20.5 kHz - RJH - Russia
20.9 kHz - HWU - France
21.1 kHz - RDL - Russia
21.4 kHz - NPM - Hawaii
21.75 kHz - HWU - France
22.1 kHz - GQD - England
22.2 kHz - JJI - Japan
22.6 kHz - Tacamo - Airborne
23.0 kHz - RJH - Russia
23.4 kHz - DHO - Germany
24.0 kHz - NAA - Maine
24.8 kHz - NLF - Washington
25.2 kHz - NML - North Dakota
25.5 kHz - RJH - Russia
26.0 kHz - DG2 - Israel
26.7 kHz - TBB - Turkey
37.5 kHz - TFK - Iceland
40.0 kHz - JJY - Japan - mp3 of JJY ID recorded 02/02/11
40.75 kHz - NAU - Puerto Rico
44.2 kHz - SWE - Sweden
45.9 kHz - NSY - Italy
51.95 kHz - GYW - Scotland
53.4 kHz - TBG - Turkey
55.5 kHz - NPG - California
57.4 kHz - NRK - Iceland
60.0 kHz - WWVB - Colorado
60.0 kHz - MSF - England
62.6 kHz - FUG - France
65.8 kHz - FUE - France
66.7 kHz - RBU - Russia
68.5 kHz - BPC - China
73.6 kHz - CFH - Nova Scotia
75.0 kHz - HBG - Switzerland
76.2 kHz - CKN - Vancouver
77.5 kHz - DCF77 - Germany
81.0 kHz - MKL - Scotland



The receiving setup here has evolved over the years and a number of receivers, antennas and noise mitigation techniques have been evaluated. The best setups so far are 1) modified Amrad e probe antenna / indoor low noise preamplifier / Delta 44 sound card / Spectrum Lab or Winrad software and 2) modified Amrad e probe antenna / Perseus SDR receiver.

When considering the signal to noise equation at VLF and LF, the problem is seldom gathering enough signal. Most properly designed antennas, even though physically small, supply more than adequate levels such that the background 'band noise' significatly overides the preamplifier/receiver noise. The real improvement in signal to noise comes from reducing man made noise to get down to the 'natural' noise floor. This usually requires a combination of noise mitigation techniques. Once the receiving setup is able to hear a clean 'natural' noise floor directional antennas, such as the large format K9AY, can be used to additional advantage.

Back to W1VD home page