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Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: cyberflexx on December 27, 2012, 2121 UTC

Title: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 27, 2012, 2121 UTC
First post here.. Admins, thanks approving my account.

I have been listening off and on to shortwave since about the mid 80s when I was a teenager when my friend showed me his dads radios.  Ever since then, the fascination with CBs, Scanners and Shortwave has hit me and to this day, I still am fascinated in this stuff.  I should just study and get my HAM license to I can actually DX talk to people instead of just listening.

Back in the 90s, my 1st pirate was the Voice of the Purple Pumpkin, I think it was on 7415 and picked it up with my DX392, then during the Y2K scare, I heard Voice of the Pigs Ear and thought those were interesting.  Every year at halloween, i would tune in to try to hear some broadcasts and have failed.  I dont know what I am doing wrong.

I am having trouble with listening to pirates.  I rarely ever hear one and discouraged me from using my radio.  I started trying again with the doomsday garbage, thinking pirates would be really active on that night of the ending of the Myan calendar.  I did not hear anything but maybe some CW in SSB.  I didnt even write that log down as it was just garbage to me.

I know this has probably been asked a blue million times.   But can someone help me with suggestions to my equipment?

Location:  Huntington, WV and yes there are hills in my area and my home is on a slope of one of the hills in a quiet neighborhood.
Radio: Radio Shack DX-392 with BFO
Antenna: Telescopic and also the Radio Shack amplified antenna, and random wire
Time Listening: I normally listen in the evening hours around 10pm until midnight and hours of static is just driving me nuts.
Frequencies: 6.925, 6.955, 6.930, 6.935 SSB

I have been experimenting with random wires off my radio antenna and off the amplified antenna and also from the external jack.  I am not able to run a wire outside the house and normally just run the speakerwire across my room and attach it to the curtain rod.  Still I dont pick up anything at all.  Last night i took 2 dow rods and made a cross and ran wire around it like a squared loop and hung it out on my back deck off of a plant pot holder hook.  the wire attached to it was about 50 or 60 feet long through my dining room and into the living room to the recliner.  The loop was about 7 feet off my deck vertically.  This did prove to give me some gain on my meter of static and when i was tuning other channels, i noticed that my antenna tuner on the external antenna was off by a frequency, i am guessing due to the antenna being in a loop.  I have also tried a slinky and clipping my wire to it when it was stretched out across the room and I still come up blank.  I also check the pirate logs, and there are logs for when I am listening.  For example, the undercover radio log for 12-26-12.  Sometimes when I am listening to hour of static, i think i hear some music but i think its all in my head..

I am wondering if my radio is the problem, but it seems to pick up ham bands and radio cuba havanna just fine.

Would running electric fence wire in my attic and putting a wall jack in that i can just plug into at my recliner location help?  I have 2 spools of that wire available from a friend if you think that would work.

Any help for this old newbie would be great!

Thinking the issue is my radio, I'd be interested in a used R71 if someone had one for sale at a low budget man's price.

Thanks
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: redhat on December 27, 2012, 2146 UTC
First thing first, check and see if you can hear any of the WWV channels, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 MHz.  This is a general check of both propagation and receiver/antenna condition.  Even though my inverted V is cut for 40M, I can hear all these signals quite well.  I also go poking around 40 meters, just over 7 MHz. You should hear lots of code, most LSB traffic starts above 7125.  There are also a few broadcasters in the evening that can be heard around 6885-6890.  Good luck.

+-RH

++PS, I ran an attic dipole for a couple of years with good results.  A little noisy perhaps.  It also couldn't hurt to pick up a cheap portable receiver.  That would allow you to go outside and listen for a while.

+++ Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Beerus Maximus on December 27, 2012, 2209 UTC
I will make a few bullet points that could be helpful.

* You are in a very good geographic location with regards to hearing pirates at night below 10 MHz. So you do have an advantage, there.

* Park your receiver on 6925 KHz. There is where most activity pops up. Be in the IRC chatroom, or watch the logs here on HFU, to see what other people are hearing in real time. Sometimes there will be other frequencies, but 6925 is where you should start. Activity could be in AM or SSB, so be prepared for both.

* Find and eliminate any egregious sources of RFI in your home. Plasma screen TVs, flourescent lamps, MRI machines, arc welding equipment left on... reducing your noise level will help.

* Antennas... keep it simple. I second Redhat's suggestion that a simple dipole, the largest you can fit (inside our outside) is a really good basic antenna. I only have dipoles here at the Beershack, and they work well! Mine are outside.

* Consider a radio upgrade. The DX-392 is not a bad radio, but is designed for pulling in blockbuster signals. I know that money can be tight, but an upgraded radio could offer you superior sensitivity, selectivity and maybe a useful noise blanker. Current modern ham transceivers (and their related receive-only versions) can have very good noise blankers. If you have a decent computer, consider one of the number of software defined radios (SDR) that have appeared on the market lately. You can get one for $200-$500.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: jFarley on December 27, 2012, 2222 UTC
The advice offered above is solid, and will help you determine if you have a hardware problem which an upgrade might help.

The other piece of advice I would offer would be to read the posted logs religiously.  Chance favors the prepared DXer, and getting a solid feel for what has recently been heard and when and by whom is a powerful tool which can tilt the odds in your favor.

Hang in there and persist!
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 27, 2012, 2233 UTC
Some very excellent advice has been offered. Checking your setup by listening to SWBC stations will let you know how well things are working. Two stations I frequently use are CFRX 6070 from Toronto, and CHU 7850 from Ottawa. These are around the 43 meter pirate band, and provide a good reference as to how good propagation is. If you cannot receive them well during the daytime (they should be quite strong at your location) then you may want to see if you can improve your setup. They will get weaker once it gets to be dark, and 7850 in particular can fade out overnight when the band goes very long. There is also WBCQ from Maine on 7490 in the evenings.

I'll also second what Beerus said, and suggest either logging onto the IRC chat (see the link at the top of the HFU site pages) or at least following the loggings, as they are posted. With numerous listeners on IRC, most pirates are spotted within minutes, if not seconds, of their going on the air. So you'll immediately know when to listen.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: moof on December 28, 2012, 0032 UTC
What has been said already-you must hunt your house for sources of electronic noise.  Go on the hunt with your handheld unplugging each electronic device.  Try the main breaker box as well shutting everything off one at a time until everything is off if needed.  Find the noise.
Dipole is recommended even if you have to bend each arm around the attic.  Other than that just go longest wire you can comfortably fit.  Bigger tabletop radios usually far outperform handhelds.  You can get a used Drake R8 for 400 tops.
If you get your license, the Icom 718 is hard to beat in price.  600 tops new.  400-500 used.  AM filter is a little wide compared to plain receivers.  If you are lucky you will get one with expanded 40meter band with broadcast down to 6900.  But to do so would be wrong.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: thechoat on December 28, 2012, 0059 UTC
Run the longest wire you can fit all the way around your yard in a loop as high as possible and be amazed
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 28, 2012, 0104 UTC
Run the longest wire you can fit all the way around your yard in a loop as high as possible and be amazed

Yes, this is often called a sky loop antenna, and they work extremely well. It's what I use. No need to measure and be exact. As TheChoat said, as long and high as you can. Optionally feed with a balun (probably 4:1).

Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Pigmeat on December 28, 2012, 1331 UTC
Ask Al Fansome. He was known as "Beeper" in his salad day's in that burg.

Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 28, 2012, 1523 UTC
Last night i pulled in jamba international but it was in alot of static.  I tried the WWV stations the strongest was 5mhz and had alot of static, maybe 2 on the meter. static was up in the 5 range.  I didnt use a long wire this time, just the stock telescopic antenna on the radio and on the little portable antenna tuner.  At some times it was a solid signal and other times it was barely audible.

I didnt hunt for noisy electronics, but i did turn off my lamp and my LCD TV.  I am wondering if the neighbors heatpump is the problem as I had both of mine off.   Almost all the lights were off in the house except a couple downstairs and one in the kitchen.  The washer or dryer wasnt running nor was the dishwasher or bathroom vents.  There is a florescent light in the garage that i leave on, so i'll turn it off tonight.  I can't kick off my main breaker box as the wife would really throw a fit then.. LOL..

I think i will do the attic dipole and feed the coax through the wall to a plate outlet so I can just patch into from there.  I will also make a seperate ground away from the electrical box.  Can anyone suggest a nice kit to buy?  want to make sure I do it right.  seems like all the diy stuff i do lately, doesnt work out for the best. 

oh!  forgot to mention, that I got permission to get that R75 receiver but have to wait until middle of January, when my wife gets her sales bonus.   :)

I am going to do more experimenting, this weekend, around 11pm or later.  Hopefully I can hear more pirate programming..
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 28, 2012, 1534 UTC
I didnt hunt for noisy electronics, but i did turn off my lamp and my LCD TV.  I am wondering if the neighbors heatpump is the problem as I had both of mine off.   Almost all the lights were off in the house except a couple downstairs and one in the kitchen.  The washer or dryer wasnt running nor was the dishwasher or bathroom vents.  There is a florescent light in the garage that i leave on, so i'll turn it off tonight.  I can't kick off my main breaker box as the wife would really throw a fit then.. LOL..

Take a portable SW radio around the house, and hunt for your noise sources. Interference will get stronger as you get closer to the offending device.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Jhkayakr on December 28, 2012, 1537 UTC
The "hours of static" are part of the deal. The ic-r75 will help though. I love mine. Put that antenna as high above the house as possible.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 28, 2012, 1556 UTC
Take a portable SW radio around the house, and hunt for your noise sources. Interference will get stronger as you get closer to the offending device.

OK, thanks.. I'll do that.. does it matter what freq?  or just use 6.925?

I do know there was no static from my lamp, on or off, until i touched it or moved the antenna over top of it.  I would also get alot of static when i would touch the antenna with my hand, I guess I dont make a good antenna. LOL!  ::)
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 28, 2012, 1610 UTC
Take a portable SW radio around the house, and hunt for your noise sources. Interference will get stronger as you get closer to the offending device.

OK, thanks.. I'll do that.. does it matter what freq?  or just use 6.925?

I do know there was no static from my lamp, on or off, until i touched it or moved the antenna over top of it.  I would also get alot of static when i would touch the antenna with my hand, I guess I dont make a good antenna. LOL!  ::)

You can start off by checking for interference on 6925, or other frequencies you listen to.

What type of lamp is it? (Or type of bulb in the lamp?) Incandescent bulbs and other resistive loads are not going to cause interference. The most likely suspects are plug in power supplies that are switchers, as well as electronic devices such as TVs, computers, monitors, etc.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 28, 2012, 1624 UTC
You can start off by checking for interference on 6925, or other frequencies you listen to.
What type of lamp is it? (Or type of bulb in the lamp?) Incandescent bulbs and other resistive loads are not going to cause interference. The most likely suspects are plug in power supplies that are switchers, as well as electronic devices such as TVs, computers, monitors, etc.

Its a 60 watt , I think the bulb is one of those energy savers that looks like a coil.  I don't remember.  I'll look when I get home.  I do remember the PC being on, but it was 30 feet away.  All of my arcade machines in the game room were off, those all have switchers in them.  I'll go on the hunt for RFI tonight..
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Alpha Six Whiskey on December 28, 2012, 1954 UTC
I hope I'm not repeating the valuable info provided previously.  That said:  Try actually unplugging everything, then check for the noise at each step.  It's important to remember that most modern plug-in devices, most especially those with a clock, timer, or remote control are never truly off as long at they are powered.  I had an electronics professor who explained to the class that he did a yearly "audit" of his own home where he would unplug everything and check the Watt-Hour meter.  If it was still turning, he'd go and search for what he missed, repeating the process three and four times until it stopped turning.  "You'd be surprised..." how many things we all have plugged in.  He was also a ham and concerned about noise as well as his monthly bill.

To sum:  you may find many noise sources in your home.  My computer monitor makes all kinds of noise on HF that varies with what's on the display.

Good luck and have fun. 
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: weaksigs on December 28, 2012, 2119 UTC
Welcome Aboard!
Its nice to see some new ones interested in the
great website HF Underground and its related topics.

If you can't or don't check anything else make sure
any lamp dimmers are off during reception periods.

Depending on the radio frequency our one lamp dimmer
is the worst noise culprit by far at my home.

Again its great to have you along for the ride!

Arrrr Arrr!

weaksigs
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Beerus Maximus on December 29, 2012, 1451 UTC
Upgrading to an R75 will be a big step up! But a radio like this really deserves an antenna outdoors. I know you said you can't put an antenna outside; I don't know if this is a property restriction, or a wife thing, or just plain logistics... but you may want to research stealth antennas and try to sneak something out there.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 29, 2012, 1516 UTC
What Beerus said is very important - an outside antenna of any sort will be a vast improvement over anything inside. You will get more signal from the stations, and less interference from electronic devices inside the house.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Pigmeat on December 29, 2012, 1631 UTC
It's Christmas light season. See what happens when they're taken down next week.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ff on December 29, 2012, 1730 UTC
Its a 60 watt , I think the bulb is one of those energy savers that looks like a coil.

The PL series and compact flourescent bulbs are notorious noisemakers.  I lived in a mountain cabin for 14 years with only a small solar panel/storage battery system and had to use the aforementioned bulbs for all lighting, to keep the watt usage low.  When radio time came I would have to turn off all lights except one small halogen that I had at the radio desk.  Flourescent tube lighting and switching power supplies (including many wall cubes) are noisemakers also.  It seems as though the drive for efficiency creates all sorts of problems for the DXer.  Good luck in your "noise hunt" Cyberflexx...
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 29, 2012, 1814 UTC
Thanks for all the good suggestions.

I walked around with my DX350 and gound my LCD tv was not noisey neither was the DTV box or my computer.  I found a dimmer/timer switch for my front porch lights was rather noisey ad well as a clock radio in the bedroom.  I didnt venture downstairs to see what was going on with RFI.  Last night was a bad night at the house, the dishwasher running, washer/dryer going strong, and a random episode with the vaccum cleaner. I could barely hear audio in static last night.  After the kids go down for bed, the appliances start to be used since we have to do our cleaning and such after they are out of the way. 

I am going to figure out a way to do a long wire outside wire or that attic dipole.  It has to be something hidden out of site of the wife.

Could I run a wire to the water faucet outsite so it will use the whole piping and get good reception?
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: BoomboxDX on December 29, 2012, 1916 UTC
Re: receivers: I live in the PNW and have heard pirates on my DX-390 with a 25 ft. indoor wire, so your DX-392 (a radio with very similar circuitry to the DX-390) should be capable of receiving them where you live.

Re: antennas: be very careful using your DX-392 with outdoor wire antennas, unless you have some sort of protection against static buildup, which can zap your DX-392's RF amp transistor.  Some guys use back to back diodes (between antenna and ground), others use resistors between antenna and ground.  The other guys here who are more into antennas than I am will have better thoughts on this than I do. I wired two protection diodes inside the back of my radio.

Re: RFI: ditto to the above mentions of devices that emit RFI when they are switched off.  I had all sorts of interference on 20 meters, and finally discovered it was my printer -- it was making all sorts of racket even though it was powered off.  I unplugged it -- instant quiet. 

It was the same thing with one of my DVD players, which was a regular RF generator even when switched off.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: RCCI on December 29, 2012, 2259 UTC
cyberflexx....

Welcome back to the shortwave fold!

My first radio was a Halicrafters S-119 Sky Buddy II three tuber, with a longwire, in 1964. I was 11 and hooked. I had in the 1980's a Yaesu FRG 8800 and a Antenna Supermarket Evesdropper antenna. The Pirate Station listening was plentifu!. I sold the Frog about 7 years ago and deeply regret it. I too am in the market for a new rig, probably a Kenwood R1000, or a FRG-7, or ICOM R-70. Patience and money (at least for me) is the watchword. Be patient for acquiring a rig. Go to EHAM and really study the the "Reviews" under the General Coverage Receivers section. Do try and get some type of antenna OUTSIDE. Getting the antenna outside, helped with my RFI problems and if you look on the WEB there are some novel ideas on how to go stealth, so that landlords are not even aware.

As far as not being able to hear any pirates:

My current setup is a KAITO KA1103 portable, with a 30' longwire up about 10 feet and slopes from an outside porch to a pine tree,8' at the end. That's it. No tuners, antenna Loops, Rhombics, etc. (at least for now hihi)

//////  I maintain the secret is "HOW" you listen.   /////

1)  Headphones are a must! I use ear-buds which double for my computer.

2)  GO SLOW. It's interesting to see You Tube videos of SWLer's with their equipment, and rotating the frequency dial like a pinwheel. Slow dialing has always helped me. Can't stress that enough.    S   L   O   W     D   I   A   L   I   N   G. I will usually put the radio on SSB to find the carrier, and switch to AM if needed. If you start off on AM you may miss the Pirate just barely above the noise level. So many factors play a part, finding a Pirate at an S8 -S9+ signal level is a gift. As you can see by the plentiful loggings, many times one can hear the broadcast as just a whisper above the noise floor.

Because Pirates have their own schedule, relax, read, play on the computer---but keep your radio ON. If you are constantly hunched over the radio, you're going to get frustrated, eventually getting up, turning off the radio and leaving. That's when the Pirate comes on---usually after you've left the room! As far as the hours are concerned---they arrive anytime! Don't just listen after 10:00pm. Many times I have come home from work during the weekday, after 5:00pm (CST) and have found new loggings while I was away.

3)   Look and review the message board and see whe some of the Pirate broadcasts occur. Sometimes the Pirate broadcaster is on for such a short time, if you sneezed, you'd miss them. :D

Patience  ---Good luck to you and Happy Listening!


...Steve - RCCI
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Pigmeat on December 31, 2012, 0116 UTC
Head to Rat Shack and buy some magnet wire for the antenna. The stuff is tough to see if you don't know where it is.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on December 31, 2012, 1645 UTC
I do listen with sony studio headphones so I can hear everything. 

I'll look into that magnet wire. 

I scored me a good deal on a R75 this weekend..  I don't have it yet, but maybe by the end of the week.  $350 shipped for used.. not sure what filters or if it has a DSP.  I guess that was a good deal..

I think I can run a long wire from my deck to a tree about 12 feet away.  I have to be careful, there is a power line that runs behind my home.

Could hooking the receiver up to the cable TV coax work as a really long wire?  I just have a cable modem on it, and my other tv service is DirecTV, so I can't use that coax to the LMBs on the dish.

Radio Shack is not much of a place for radios.. its more of a Cellphone shop cheap RC toy store anymore.  I went over the weekend to look for an anteanna kit that I knew they had sold, and they have nothing like that anymore..



Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on December 31, 2012, 1706 UTC
I scored me a good deal on a R75 this weekend..  I don't have it yet, but maybe by the end of the week.  $350 shipped for used.. not sure what filters or if it has a DSP.  I guess that was a good deal..

I know listeners with the R75 and they seem happy with it.

I think I can run a long wire from my deck to a tree about 12 feet away.  I have to be careful, there is a power line that runs behind my home.

Be sure to stay far away from power lines. Most importantly for safety, but also because you're more likely to get interference from them.

12 ft is not much of a "long wire" at these frequencies, unfortunately. You might want to consider some sort of an amplified loop antenna.

Could hooking the receiver up to the cable TV coax work as a really long wire?  I just have a cable modem on it, and my other tv service is DirecTV, so I can't use that coax to the LMBs on the dish.

That is not likely to work well at all.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: John Poet on December 31, 2012, 1818 UTC
The worst noise-maker I have is a cellphone charger.  Nasty.

Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: moof on December 31, 2012, 2050 UTC
Yes what Pigmeat says-magnet wire is great.  You can even transmit through a dipole made with it after you get your license.  The only person ever to notice mine was a foot or two under it on a sunny day all afternoon.
Rat shack should have it in an ok gauge.  Not hair thin, not mechanical pencil lead thick, just like sewing thread thick.  I can't remember the gauge number-maybe 28 or 30.  Toss it up over something at least head level and weigh it down with a nut or bolt on the far end and stay far away from the power or comm lines.  Count on it breaking once in a while or getting knocked down by birds.
Really you might want to try some wire around the top of a room.  I had decent reception with an R8 with 30 feet of wire running around the top of 3 walls when I was in a first floor apartment, but there was very low noise at that place.  Now I live in electronic hell subdivision.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: RCCI on December 31, 2012, 2145 UTC
The 30 foot antenna I use, is just simple heavier duty 18 gauge speaker wire. Home Depot is a great place for wire! The Depot near my home has an "odd and ends" bargain bin. Just bring your measure tape and have at it. With homemade painted wood insulators, about 4" of nylon cord, I paid about $5.00 for the entire sha-bang.

BTW.... Did you buy the R-75 from tibbspawn 12/30 on Ebay?

...Steve
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 01, 2013, 0257 UTC
Lol..yeah i it from tibbspawn on ebay..looked dusty in the picture.  I hope it has a dsp.  He said it worked when i asked him the question.  I hope it was a good buy.

Wow not mich rfi tonight!!  I hear an uninident on 6925 played owner of a lonley heart song.  Fading in and out with stock antenna..

Im going to try to rig up something tomorrow for better signal.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 01, 2013, 0717 UTC
I had alot of success tonight with a speaker wire dipole connected to my telescopic antenna on my radio.
It wsd about 8 feet on each section.  I was pleased.  My ratshack amplified antenna only added noise to the equation so i removed it..
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: Beerus Maximus on January 01, 2013, 1930 UTC
Lol..yeah i it from tibbspawn on ebay..looked dusty in the picture.  I hope it has a dsp.  He said it worked when i asked him the question.  I hope it was a good buy.

The seller looks like a pawn shop. Not necessarily a bad thing. If it arrives safely, works, and cleans up nicely, it should be a good buy. Icoms are durable radios. I'd be surprised if it was DOA.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: L Cee on January 02, 2013, 0157 UTC
You say you have a tree about 12 feet from your window. You could put together a end-fed wire antenna and mount one end as high up in the tree as you can get it. Coil the rest of the antenna and lead together and conceal them at the base of the tree or hanging from a low limb. When it is dark at night, you can go out and attach the other end of the antenna to another object in your yard (tree, fence post, deck rail, etc.) and feed the lead through your window. Even though the antenna might not be high above the ground, the extra length (and just being outside the house) should make a big difference. Maybe a lot of trouble....but it might be worth the effort   :)
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: glimmer twin on January 03, 2013, 1358 UTC
Congrats on scoring an R 75. I hope it works out for you. I am sort of renewing my dx'ing hobby & bought a new R75 & a Satellit 750 last month & I am very pleased with both of them.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 04, 2013, 2259 UTC
Got my receiver after work today..its very clean, the knob rubber is a little dirty but no biggie. It looks lightly usdd, a couple minor scratches on the top plastic, no big deal. The power supply was not nasty either.  It does have the DSP installed!! That sweetened the deal.

How can i tell if it has filter upgrades?  I can tell the screws have been removed as tthey are a little scuffed in the phillips notches.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: moof on January 04, 2013, 2327 UTC
Go to usb mode and try pressing the filter button FIL-see if there is more than one option available. Try AM as well.  There may be a stock narrow filter there...not sure.  That will tell you how many filter deals you have going on.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 04, 2013, 2347 UTC
Go to usb mode and try pressing the filter button FIL-see if there is more than one option available. Try AM as well.  There may be a stock narrow filter there...not sure.  That will tell you how many filter deals you have going on.

There are N and W on AM and USB..are both of these stock?  What other upgrades could i check for?
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 05, 2013, 0005 UTC
Looks stock other than DSP and its clean.  FL 272 9.0115 filter and a free slot and no option filter2 in the slot for it.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: RCCI on January 05, 2013, 0016 UTC
Cyberflexx - Congrats on getting the "New" receiver!  I'm still looking to snatch up a good deal on Ebay. Had bids on FRG-7 Kenwood R-1000. I just have to be patient. How's with the antenna? Hope that situation works out for you!  

If the receiver didn't come with an operator's manual, those are usualy found on the internet free of charge  

BTW... If you're in need of a great UTC clock go to GOOGLE and type in HAM TIMER. Ham radio operator WF0GM created a nice 32 bit Windows program for UTC / Zulu readings. I use it to put in real time loggings at HFU on the computer. One nice feature, is that you can downsize it to work in the background on your bottom toolbar. There is even a 10 minute audio timer, for hams, to remind them of an ID check. It's FREE and virus free.

 ...Steve
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 05, 2013, 0131 UTC
Keep looking, you will find one.. ALso set a timer for ebay aution end time and watch it the last 5 min.  thats how i got this one at the last 3 seconds.

I have the operating manual and service manual as wel as the manual for the software and I have the software that I found on a webpage.  I also have Phils R75 cookbook.  I plan on reading those tonight.

Right now i just use about 24 foot dipole made from speaker wire, that i put up in my living room.  Not exactly sure how i am going to be able to do an outside one without the wife complaining about holes, wires and such. 

I have a UTC clock on my cell phone and set my radio to UTC time.  Thanks for the information on the program, I'll look it up. 

I also found in my old box of scanner stuff, two Hamcom paralllel port devices that have a headphone jack on the end.  I guess I can use that to decode CW and RTTY. 

I am going to have to make a place for my radio gear and build up a computer from the parts I have laying in storage.   Not sure where I am going to make my listening station though.  Can't wait till we move to a bigger home, 2400sq feet just isnt enough with 3 little kids.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: BoomboxDX on January 05, 2013, 1702 UTC
One way to connect an outside wire antenna to your radio indoors without drilling holes, or keeping your window cracked is to use alligator clips (only works if you have metal or aluminum window frames). 

Clip the outside antenna wire to the outside of the window frame, clip the indoor lead (that goes to your radio) to the inside of the window frame.  When you're done listening, you can unclip the leads from each side of the window.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 05, 2013, 1744 UTC
Awesome idea!!! Thanks..i will do that today!!  I can run wire from my sliding glass door frame around the top of my deck posts. That will give me a good 30feet outside about 20 feet off the ground.  Then another 20 or 30 feet from the inside frame to my recliner.  It wont be dipole though.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 05, 2013, 2059 UTC
Made my connections out on the deck and hooked it onto my sliding glass door.  Made another wire with clip to attach on the inside.  I wait for kids to go to bed so it will be quiet in the house before i can test it.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 06, 2013, 2012 UTC
I had so much noise last night and couldnt pull in much in the pirate bands.  I messed around with the anteanna some and disconnected my outside clip, and ran the wire down my hall way and made another wire the other direction to my window curtain.  The noise dropped way down to 1 or 2.  I went through the house turning off things like the fish tank pump, laptop charger, made sure my lamps were off and the heatpumps were off.  I couldnt isolate it in my home.  I did notice my outside line was running parrallel with power lines that were 50 feet behind the house.  I am wondering if that might have been the issue.  I changed my antenna routing a few minutes ago to make the wire perpendicular to the power lines and i ran the speaker wire into my tree about 8 feet off the ground. 

With my indoor anteanna tinkering, Glimmertwin, and KiloKat and Light Keeper were hearing numbers on 6.0165 ( i think it was) and this was suppose to be Havanna Cuba english time slot.  There were data streams in the signal as well.  very interesting night with that, anyway. 

LightKeeper suggested a loop anteanna.  I'll have to dig around and see what I can find out.

Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: mrsmiley on January 08, 2013, 0134 UTC
Actually, I found a great way to enjoy radio again despite living in an apartment and its been quite successful for me at this location and ironically also in the city. What I did, was to take my spare bedroom and put all my ham gear, SW radios, etc in and have a variety of portable antennas say for 10, 15, 20, 40 meters. But what I also found to be a great antenna for me was to buy some speaker wire. Generally the medium thickness version which is about maybe 14 gauge instead of the 18 gauge version. Anyway, in my experience being here in the lower midwest was that using this about 200 foot loop which goes along the four walls of this 180 sq foot room works very well. I've been able to work as far away as Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Western Europe, Northwest Territories, Alaska, Hawaii, etc just using 100 watts transmitted power and of course an antenna tuner with a JPS ANC 4 for additional filtering of received signals. Usually in regard to 43 meter activity around 6925, I often receive stations as good as S9 and sometimes even better depending on their setup.

If you've got an attic to work with or can put it outside it would be better. Especially if one could get it up into a tree or support poles depending on your outside situation and whether you want to broadcast what you are doing. I personally can't put up anything outside because of contractual and other obligations but what they can't see isn't going to hurt them. At one time, I lived at a place with several acres and was able to put up about 2000 feet of longwire number 12 gauge coated copper stranded. Which to say the least back in the mid 90s or so always netted me hundreds of stations around the world from even backwoods provincial stations in China, North Korea, Vietnam, and elsewhere including most of Africa. Which was really neat working Reunion Island a number of years ago. It can be done on small scale in an apartment or townhouse just provided you can filter out the electronic trash of Plasma TVs, Laptops, Adaptors, etc.
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: desmoface on January 08, 2013, 1503 UTC
+1. A great, quiet, multi-band antenna.  If you plan to get your license, and have the real estate, a horinzontal loop, ~ 275 ft long, up as high as you can get it, fed with plain ole 50 ohm coax will get you on most bands below 80 meters, using a tuner.  I think you'd be suprised at the difference a good antenna will make.  Good luck.

Steve

Run the longest wire you can fit all the way around your yard in a loop as high as possible and be amazed
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: cyberflexx on January 10, 2013, 0516 UTC
Thanks for the information. 

I havent had a chance the past few days to tinker with my antenna. 

This thread did get mentioned on the pirateweek episode for 1/6/13  which was really cool, Thanks Ragnar, that made my day.


Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: RCCI on January 25, 2013, 2144 UTC
cyberflexx

Just following up on your antenna situation. I recently came across information regarding a possible solution. It is an HF frequency gain probe 26" active antenna that can be used either outdoors or indoors. So far, there are rave reviews and has been in market for years.

GOOGLE:  LF Engineering and look up their H-800 and H-900 models. Price is OK. $149.00 new. There may be some used offered in the secondary market. One reviewer remarked it equaled a 50' outside dipole.

73's  ...Steve
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: weaksigs on January 27, 2013, 0135 UTC
One more thought on hidden antennas-

The magnet wire, perhaps 18-20 gauge can sometimes be hidden
around and on the outside of the house. If your abode has painted
trim, or eves than it may be possible to install the magnet wire
under a coat of latex paint. First install using tape or some other
adhesive and then to "pretty up" the house by simply painting over
the magnet wire hiding it from all "inspectors". Your own particular
circumstances will dictate, however let you imagination go to work.
Magnet wire can also be hidden by using other parts of typical house
construction. Aluminum or other metal gutters can also be an effective
antenna depending on particular circumstances.

Peace!  weaksigs
Title: Re: Help pulling in Pirate radio stations
Post by: kmorgan on January 28, 2013, 0300 UTC
MrSmiley I am in the same situation with similar troubles. What I did was put up an unobtrusive random wire on the roof using speaker wire 14gauge, about 75/80ft which is what I had spare. There was already coax coming down to my unit from the roof from a previous satellite system the last tenant had. The only thing lacking is a tuner. If you are in a hi rise and can get roof access you're in business. By law FCC they must allow you access to put up a satellite dish or TV antenna. You can always add a bit extra something up there while you're attending your "TV" antenna ;) as I did. There is so much noise here it's not funny. That is the only problem I've had in a multi unit dwelling, otherwise it's' worked in my benefit as I have vertical height to work with for free as opposed to investing in a tower. I tried putting antennas on my balcony but the noise was too much. Lucky I could get on roof with no interruptions or questions.

Maybe you can see about that if you have a flat roof that can be walked on easily.