Messages

121

Equipment / Re: ICOM ICR-75 vs. TECSUN S-2000

« on: August 28, 2020, 2216 UTC »

Yeah, I thought that was the case. The receiver is not really going make too much difference once they are reasonably good ones.  Whether it was a 2k - 5k AOR or JRC radios, or a cheap Tecsun or old Sangean or dirt cheap XHData, they will all be copying the signals in similar way on the same antenna? I am not able to comment on the SDRs, as I have never owned or used it.

The antenna makes the signal heard or missed. So if one is into hunting that weak DX signals, then the first most important thing is a good antenna.
And as you say, your location and RFI situation will kick in.  The receiver will come next provided also there were the propagation.

My yard is not too big, it is about 15m x 15m, so I have a wire loop about 30m long in delta shape horizontally hung on the washing pole.  And I have a MLA30 now in the patio.  Not really great for DX, but then the band condition is not the best now is it?  I am thinking of putting out a vertical antenna, and add more wire to the wire loop. Trying to get more DX signals logged.

Provided all these elements got right, I am sure  good receiver will further help.

122

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 28, 2020, 2203 UTC »

I have a W6LVP.  From my research, I mounted it about 10 feet off the ground, vertically.  Hope this helps.

Thanks for your info.

This evening I moved the MLA30 and put it on the ladder shaped as a long A.  On the top of the A shaped ladder, I could VERTICALLY hang the MLA30 element made of hula hoop with thick earth wire all around it kindly donated by my xyl.  The height is now about 7ft off the ground.

It seems working really powerfully well on 11 - 15Mhz.  But from 9Mhz and below is full of MW stations breaking in. The worst is 4Mhz.  On 6, 7 and 9 Mhz it is sparse break through from the MW stations. But on 4 Mhz, every part of the freq is filled with some strong MW stations.

I am not sure if that is due to the fact that the hula hoop is a about twice of the diameter of the original wire element, and also the supporting ladder is made of aluminium, and it is making the MLA30 about 4 - 5 times larger element than the original one, and causing horrendous overloading on 4 - 9 Mhz?  Worst being the 4 Mhz.

Will keep experimenting with this trying to get best from the MLA30, but I am not sure if that is the limit.

123

Equipment / Re: Finally!!! Radio Jay Allen covers the Realistic DX-440/Sangean ATS-803A portable

« on: August 28, 2020, 2153 UTC »

Thanks BB for your advice and info.

No there is no reset button with my 803A. And I left it without power or batteries for days.  I powered it on tonight, and it sounded a lot better.
But when I tried FM, the received FM station was very strong - end stop signal.  The whining problem returned.  It is a very loud carrier with the incoming signal.  It was happening with AM signals as well. But like before when the signal is weak, the whining carrier disappears.
So, I could set it to monitor a DX freq. on 4 Mhz tropical band.

Not sure what is causing it. BFO for the CW and SSB sounds distorted too. There is definitely some problem with this 803A.

124

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 28, 2020, 1337 UTC »

I am gonna try vertically setting the MLA30 up this weekend.
I will need a pole and some tripod type stuff making it stable.

I didn't know that RX antenna will suffer from the ground loss. Is it not the case for TX antennas only?
But maybe it does. The MLA30 horizontally lying on the plastic box 2ft above the ground, was not copying any DX signals at all.

On the tropical bands at night, the band noise increased with the MLA30, but no signals were heard.

I had to switch back to the long wire, and it sounded more pulling the weak signals than the MLA30.

125

Equipment / Re: ICOM ICR-75 vs. TECSUN S-2000

« on: August 28, 2020, 1253 UTC »

So, 16bit SDR has been in the marker for many years?  It is just it was first time I saw the 16bit 32Mb SDR on eBay for sale. Before it was always either SDRPlay or AirSpy and their clones, or the cheap dongles for 20 box.

I was interested in the new RX666 and RX888 when I saw them a few days ago. I even almost bought it too. I am glad I didn't

And then there are many of the Malachite stand alone SDRs which look also very attractive too.  Interesting times

My question is whether these new tech SDRs will be able to copy the weak DX signals from South America on the tropical bands with their low power transmitters on the same antennas I am using now?  All my radios have been struggling copying the signals, and some days I stayed up until 2am in the morning trying to copy them, no joy.

126

Equipment / Re: ICOM ICR-75 vs. TECSUN S-2000

« on: August 28, 2020, 1131 UTC »

By the way, my S2000 is working great.  It is not a perfect or high grade radio, but it is adequate for hobbyist DXing.
It lacks various filters for QRM, that is only problem. But then, if the signal is that bad with QRM, how many radios with various filters can make it noticeably better, so that it becomes clearly readable from non readable?

127

Equipment / Re: ICOM ICR-75 vs. TECSUN S-2000

« on: August 28, 2020, 1127 UTC »

I read good things about AirSpy.  I was contemplating buying one at one time, but am told that now 16bit 32Mhz 64Mhz SDRs coming out into the market. Maybe it is still  time to hold for the newer technology in SDR?

128

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 27, 2020, 2023 UTC »

Thanks Dood.

Well, I have a few trees in the garden, but they are far away from the house. The feeder of the MLA30 is not very long about 3-4meters? My radio room is upstairs in the house, and when the feeder comes out the window, it really does't stretch far away until it runs out. So, it is sitting on the patio on the plastic box 2ft above ground.

But you know what? I saw a DXer who uses Wellbrook loop and his loop is actually hammered into the ground, and he catches all the good DX with it. So I was under impression that with the loop antenna, they don't need much height.

But my MLA30 was not copying great DX.  It copies very nice if the signal is not DX and in good strength from all over Europe. It copies beautifully.  But I was trying to copy the weak DX signals Txed with 1 - 10 KW from South America, and they are not heard.
I know the signal is there under the noise, but cannot read what it is with this MLA30.  So, I thought maybe it needs height? And would it be better with vertical polarisation? I was asking these questions to myself, but wondering how other DXers use the MLA30 for their DXing. 

I now concluded that one thing definite in this game is that, it doesn't matter what radio you have. It is the antenna which will make it or break it as far as DXing is concerned.  I think your DX-440 or my D-808 will copy that DX signal no other radios costing 20 - 30 times more can hear, if they were fed with good efficient DX antenna set up with right height and location.

129

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 27, 2020, 1904 UTC »

Anyone using MLA30 and how high is it set up? And how does it perform on DX on SW?
I noticed last night and this evening that my 20 meter long wire in the garden was performing far better than the MLA30+ horizontally mounted and 2ft above the ground level for copying KBS WORLD Radio.

130

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR recommendation......

« on: August 27, 2020, 1901 UTC »

The 16bit SDR RX666 and RX888 were quite impressive with 32Mhz reception on SW.

They sounded like FM quality reception on SW.
It looks worthwhile that we keep watching how they actually compare and perform.

131

Equipment / Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 27, 2020, 0008 UTC »

I have put out my MLA30 outside in the garden. I also replaced the stock wire like element to thick earth wire type element and made it into a perfect circle.  And I put it horizontally for the omni directional reception, but about 2ft from the brick patio on the plastic box.

I have been monitoring the usual DX signals on various freq. and bands, but DX performance from that MLA30 in that location and position and height is disappointing.  I couldn't hear any signals from South America on the tropical bands.

But it seems working better for 6065kHz Voice of Hope signal from Lusaka Zambia. This is one of a good DX signal to catch, and on this new setup of MLA30, that was the only signal which was a little better than before.  But the rest was all very dismal.

I am wondering if there is ideal height and polarisation for better DX performance for the MLA30, or any active loop antenna in general.

Previously, the MLA30 was vertically polarised and was tied into a defunct coat hanger in the radio room upstairs. It was not the best, but about similar to what it is now = in the garden outdoor horizontally polarised on the plastic box 2ft above the ground.

132

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR recommendation......

« on: August 23, 2020, 2358 UTC »

Yeah, I will stick to my good old cheap analogue radios for another year or two, while the market settles for more certainty, and the price will drop for another 50%.

133

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR recommendation......

« on: August 23, 2020, 1035 UTC »

Too uncertain on their performance and reliability as yet?

RSP1 clones now going for about $50, and they are 14bit SDR the same spec as SDRPlay RSP1.
Safe to go with something like this? Cheap, tried and tested?

134

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR on iPads?

« on: August 21, 2020, 0802 UTC »

I think it goes between $130 - $180.  That's quite reasonable I would have thought.

135

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR on iPads?

« on: August 20, 2020, 2337 UTC »

KiWi SDR sounds great, but now it is hard to find, and the price seems too high.
Are they still in production and being marketed?

What is the data rate?  Recently 16bit SDR RX888 seems storming the SDR market.