(meteorobs) WWV as radio scatter source - update

[Thomas Ashcraft]

Nov 26 2015

I have been experimenting further with WWV, the time station, 
broadcasting from Fort Collins, Colorado, at 25 MHz and 20 MHz and feel 
it should serve as an excellent radio meteor scatter transmitter for 
most of the western USA, western Canada and even down into northern Mexico.

All it might require is a short wave radio and half wave dipole antenna 
or other sort of antenna. ( You just have to experiment. Possibly even 
an old tv antenna. )

Here is a nice fireball recorded on two separate short wave radios last 
night at 25 MHz AM and 25 MHz CW. Note that both WWV AM and CW modes 
work well as meteor ionization reflectors. My antenna is a dual dipole 
cut for 20 MHz.

Audio file:
http://www.heliotown.com/WWV_Nov262015_1055ut_25MHzamcwAshcraft_01.mp3

Audio visual spectrogram of the above sound file.
http://www.heliotown.com/WWV_Nov262015_AM_CW_Ashcraft10in.jpg

I would be interested in any reception reports.

The transmitters may be mostly useful after dark when the ionosphere 
opens up until dawn. After dawn reception of the station itself may 
obscure any meteors that occur. ( But 25 MHz might still be useful for 
meteors after dawn. Not sure.)

Every observing location is site specific and some may have success and 
others may not.  Good luck if you try.

Clear skies,
Thomas Ashcraft - Radio Fireball Observatory - New Mexico