Messages

271

ID and Translation Requests / VLF and LF

« on: October 04, 2019, 1824 UTC »

I've been listening to VLF and LF transmissions today and I am trying to identify some of the signals.  NAA. NML, and NLK seem pretty obvious.  However I am hearing digital broadcasts on the following frequencies that don't seem to appear on any of the lists.  Is anyone else seeing transmissions on these frequencies, or maybe I am just hearing local RFI?

22.75 kHz
45.5 kHz
68.25 kHz
91.0 kHz

One list mentioned that there may be a station, WH2XBA/4, Stanfield, NC, on 45.5 kHz.

272

Equipment / Re: PSA: On Ferrites and their Brittleness

« on: September 28, 2019, 1005 UTC »

I have read that you can super glue them back together with little loss in performance (if they aren’t in too many pieces).

I wrap the larger cores in a layer of Scotch 69 Glass Cloth electrical tape before I add windings.  It protects the winding insulation from cuts on the sometimes sharp edges of the ferrite and provides a little impact protection.  You can also write the core type on the tape if you ever plan to reuse the core.

273

Equipment / Re: Inexpensive VNA

« on: September 18, 2019, 0958 UTC »

There is this case for those who have access to a 3D printer to make it:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3673624

The creator of this case notes there are at least two manufacturers of the nanoVNA with minor variations in the mechanical construction of the VNA.

274

Equipment / Re: New AOR receiver

« on: September 15, 2019, 1129 UTC »

Video with a little more info.  They say it can search the entire VHF air band in less than 1 second.

https://youtu.be/Oh4taFRAL-Q

275

General Radio Discussion / Re: VOA Museum To Hold Anniversary Party

« on: September 14, 2019, 1701 UTC »

I remember a Western Auto store near where I grew up that had a new Hallicrafters HT40 transmitter for sale.  No other ham gear of any sort for sale - just that transmitter.  I imagine it was a special order for someone who failed to pick it up.

276

Equipment / Re: New AOR receiver

« on: September 10, 2019, 0856 UTC »

Yeah, I want one too.  I hope the price is reasonable.

277

Equipment / New AOR receiver

« on: September 09, 2019, 0955 UTC »

New AOR receiver announced for scanning the aircraft bands.  I expect that it won’t be cheap.  I wonder what market they are targeting this for?

https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/1740.html

278

Equipment / Kiwi SDR

« on: August 29, 2019, 1224 UTC »

Some good discussions of some Kiwi SDR limitations and potential solutions here:

http://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2019/08/revisiting-limited-attenuation-filter.html

https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-limited-attenuation-high-pass-filter.html

https://ka7oei.blogspot.com/2018/02/managing-hf-signal-dynamics-on-rtl-sdr.html

279

Longwave Loggings / Re: DXing in the longwave basement one fine August afternoon

« on: August 26, 2019, 0926 UTC »

Can you provide a few more details on how you have the loops and transformer connected?  Why did you decide to remove the preamp?  Are you using RG6 feedline?

280

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: Geiger Counters / Radiation Detectors

« on: August 25, 2019, 1101 UTC »

What is the expected lifetime of the sensor if you have one of these running 24/7?  Will the geiger tube eventually wear out?  If so, are replacement sensors available?

281

Amateur Radio / Re: 3840 khz Bootlegger Net & Jammers (LSB) 05:30 UTC

« on: August 16, 2019, 1254 UTC »

Sadly, this type of behavior goes way back.

http://forum.near-fest.com/index.php?topic=1030.0

Someone once told me that the local hams liked having the one repeater being a “waterhole” for these cretins....it kept them off of all the other repeaters.

282

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: WTB: Skanti R-8003

« on: August 10, 2019, 1547 UTC »

Culpeper is just South of us.  I’m in Fauquier.  Culpeper is just far enough away from DC to miss a lot of the urban blight that flows out from DC.  Fauquier is still holding on to her agricultural roots too.  The other nearby counties have succumbed to the dark side and are well underway in assimilation into the urban mindset.

As you can imagine, the noise floor out here is really low...cows and corn don’t emit much RF.

283

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: WTB: Skanti R-8003

« on: August 06, 2019, 1028 UTC »

I saw you at the hamfest.   Glad to see you got the receiver.

284

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: WTB: Skanti R-8003

« on: August 05, 2019, 0921 UTC »

I saw the same gentleman at the Berryville VA hamfest, but what he had for sale was a R-8001 receiver.  If that is of interest to you I can pass along his contact information.

285

Equipment / Re: AcuRite 02020 Portable Lightning Detector

« on: August 03, 2019, 0944 UTC »

I bought a couple of these too.  I was thinking about how I might use one of them to automatically ground the antenna input on my KiwiSDR receiver...