(meteorobs) US Air Force Space Surveillance Radar - tuning in?

[bob71741]

Thomas - I am surprised that the NAVSPASUR signal is that strong at
your location to be received continuously. 

I would choose CW reception at 216.98 MHz and set the BFO for ca. 1
KHz offset with an IF bandwidth of from 7 to 15 KHz for normal reception. 

If the carrier is still bombing through, you may want to try to point
your antenna towards Phoenix and tune to 216.97 MHz for the Gila River
Transmitter.The power at this frequency is much lower that the Texas
Transmitter, and I believe that the antenna pattern extends towards
the Western US, but you should still get meteor scatter from it. The
Gila River carrier is too strong for me to try locally.

You may also want to tweak your antenna to 45 degrees or more
vertically to try and reduce the carrier, but still be able to receive
meteor scatter.

As I write this I am listening in to NAVSPASUR on
spaceweatherradio.com and just got a meteor return for over a minute
and a half, which is a big one for this frequency. MY station is off
the air at the moment as I am switching over to SNOTEL, and Mexican TV
stations after the February cutoff of US analog TV stations.

Best Regards
Bob
--- In meteorobs at yahoogroups.com, Thomas Ashcraft <ashcraft at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> 
> Can anyone give me advice on tuning into the US Air Force Space 
> Surveillance Radar in Texas?
> 
> I am using an ICOM PCR1000 radio with a tv antenna pointed towards 
> Archer City, Texas and am tuned at 216.980 MHz.  Using USB I get a very 
> strong tone. Is this the tone of the radar?  Any advice as to
settings ( 
> USB/LSB/CW ? ) and what filtering combination is best is welcome.  I 
> wonder if you can receive meteor scatter without having the constant 
> tone in the background?
> 
> Thank you in advance for your reply.
> 
> Clear skies,
> Thomas Ashcraft
> ashcraft (at) heliotown.com
> New Mexico
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