27 Jun 2025

VLF earth-mode beacon

 

Some years ago I really enjoyed experimenting with earth-mode VLF at 5W. I built a beacon TX and went out in the Fens trying to receive it. My best DX was about 6km, although I remain convinced much further would have been possible with more power and a bigger TX baseline.

Of course with hundreds of watts and a bigger earth-electrode baseline some radiation is likely, so hundreds of km becomes possible. With earth-mode most of the signal is conducted through the ground.

I had to stop when I had my stroke, which stopped me doing all sorts of field experiments. These days I hope others are carrying on where I stopped. Meanwhile I experiment, on something else, at home.

1 comment:

Keith said...

There is, of course, the Facebook group covering earth probe communications and I believe you are a member of that. It’s interesting to see that there has been success even at higher frequencies into the HF bands.

I am currently reading the new RSGB book “Cave Radio” which deals with surface-to-underground communications through rock as well as totally-underground comms. There’s no way you would get me exploring small caves but nevertheless the communications technology employed is really fascinating and there’s plenty of opportunity for experimentation.

Regards,
Keith G0RQQ
Lincoln