(meteorobs) Possible alternate meteor monitoring frequencies

[Paul Goelz]

Not sure how much this applies to any particular area, but the last 
couple days I am getting weak but very detectable carriers on 
55.255.9 and 55.271.6.  These are the actual carrier frequencies, so 
for a 1KHz beat note, tune to 1KHz lower (for USB reception).  These 
are in between the "standard" channel 2 analog video carrier 
frequencies, so I am not sure what they are.  On both frequencies, I 
detect obvious propagation flutter as well as airplane tracks.  I 
have seen a couple possible meteor returns, but the last day or two 
has been very quiet on the standard frequencies as well.

I found these frequencies using a software defined radio ($16 TV 
tuner dongle and HDSDR software receiver) so I was initially 
suspicious that these were images or other spurious signals.  But 
they are present using my TS480 on a different antenna so they would 
appear to be genuine.  Using an SDR makes finding weak signals 
child's play.  Simply look at the waterfall in the area of 
interest.  Spurious or local signals will show as continuous lines 
with no width or variation.  Signals arriving via ionospheric skip 
will show as lines of variable intensity.  Tune to one and if you 
observe airplane tracks, you have a potential meteor-useful 
signal.  Signals that would be difficult to detect simply by tuning 
around with a conventional receiver are easily found this way.

My best guess is that these signals are either very low power analog 
TV repeaters, or possibly European TV.  The 10M ham band has been 
very active recently, and I am unsure how high the MUF has been.

A possible explanation for the lack of meteor returns (aside from low 
meteor activity in general) might be that these signals arrive via 
more than one hop, making meteor enhancement less obvious.  ??

Paul

Paul Goelz
pgoelz at comcast.net
Rochester Hills, MI
www.pgoelz.com