BC to Quebec transmission of low power 2200m digital signals confirmed

Scott Tilley, VE7TIL sends us the following story:

The first confirmed long distance reception of a weak signal digital signal between two Canadian amateurs operating on the 2200m band occurred on the morning of November 23, 2005.

The reception made by Bill de Carle, VE2IQ is the first viable demonstration that trans-Canadian communication should be possible in reasonable time frames on the 2200m band.

What makes this feat remarkable is that Scott Tilley, VE7TIL was transmitting with an input power of only 50W into a very inefficient antenna system resulting in less then 25mW EIRP. The distance between VE2IQ and VE7TIL is approximately 3400km.

The operating mode used is known as WOLF (Weak-signal Operation on Low Frequency) which is a very robust experimental weak signal mode developed by Stewart Nelson, KK7KA. WOLF uses forward error correction encoding techniques similar to those used by deep space probes but has been adapted to the rigours of weak signal low frequency operation. Unlike other modes commonly used on 2200m, WOLF sends data at a relativity fast rate, which can allow reception of a 15-character packet of text in as little as 24 seconds under ideal conditions.

VE2IQ’s reception of VE7TIL’s complete message occurred after 14 minutes with 100% certainty. Other modes such as slow speed CW that are normally employed to span such distances on 2200m would have taken in excess of an hour to send this amount of data without any certainty in the decoding at the receiver Signals can in theory at least be spaced 10 Hz apart

VE7TIL is operating under an experimental authorization issued by Industry Canada in support of RAC’s initiative to have the 2200m band become an amateur allocation following WARC-2007. VE2IQ is an avid developer of experimental weak signal communication modes, he can often be found lurking in the shadows under 160m.

Source: Radio Amateurs of Canada