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Topics - JustGreg

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46
HF Mystery Signals / Another Version of the Hump near the WBCQ 4790, 0050 UTC 24 Feb. 2022
« on: February 24, 2022, 0049 UTC »
This seems to be very short pulses of RF.  In AM mode, the audio is a buzz.  It is just below WBCQ 4790.  Maybe another HFT signal?  Here is the screen shot of my AirSpy HF +



Thanks for any help on this one.

It is strong and buzzing away at 2344 UTC 24 Feb.  2022.  WBCQ may have an interference problem.

47
North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6917 USB 2155 USB 15 FEB 2022
« on: February 15, 2022, 2156 UTC »
Got it with a good signal.  Music not recognized.  Female announcer said one word.
Beatles, Back in USSR. 2156Z
2159Z, Beatles Dear Prudence
2206Z Elton John, Rocket Man
2218Z, Pet Shop Boys
2222Z Jethro Tull
2226Z Signal dropped.  Thanks for the tunes.



48
North American Shortwave Pirate / Mix Radio International 6955 USB 2322 13 Feb. 2022
« on: February 13, 2022, 2327 UTC »
Mix Radio International with a good signal.  Doing a smooth jazz show.  ID at 2325Z

49
North American Shortwave Pirate / Radio Pushka 6920 AM 0043 UTC 13 Feb. 2022
« on: February 13, 2022, 0045 UTC »
Carrier with weak audio, poor signal.  Sounds like electronic music.
0045Z, faded with only carrier.  Audio is gone.


50
North American MW Pirate Radio / Undercover Radio 1720 AM 0054 UTC 7 Feb
« on: February 08, 2022, 0059 UTC »
I saw the carrier pop and then came on with an instrumental music piece (Modern concert?). Poor to fair signal
0100Z, ID as Undercover Radio, with male voice saying Don't let them see us or tell them what we were doing.
0104Z, Pirate Radio broadcasting from the middle of nowhere.  Propagation is not as good as last night, but seems to getting better.
0110Z, Iron Man by Black Sabbath, a tune that I know.  Experimental YouLoop is better than the wire!
0114Z, ID with email, into Hells Bells AC/DC
0123Z, OZZY!
0127Z, Motorhead Ace of Spades
0130Z, ID into Crazy Train.  Show is the same as last night. I wonder if Throwback 90s is next in line.
0151Z, Off the air, Carrier gone.  That was a great show.



51
Equipment / Weekend YouLoop Experiment
« on: February 07, 2022, 2319 UTC »
I have been looking at various small antennas.  Soon to be 72, I know a change will come in the future that will not allow me to have an outside wire antenna.

I have looked at the MLA-30, which is Okay if one wants to listen to shortwave broadcasters.  I tried the "mini-whip", which is an excellent antenna for listening to electronic noise.  When I got my AirSpy HF + Discovery, I also got the YouLoop. 

Using the YouLoop even with the HF + Discovery, it was clear that a preamplifier was needed.  I tried several ideas such as increasing the loop size.  The larger loop size was a help but a preamplifier was needed.  Going through my radio  stuff, I did not find a preamplifier that did the trick.

For another other idea, I purchase Nooelec LaNA preamplifier.  Another idea bit the dust.  This week stuck in the house due to the cold weather and COVID, I decided to try the YouLoop and the Nooelec LaNA preamplifier.

I was pleasantly surprised to find they were almost as good as my outside wire antenna in limited frequency ranges.  The YouLoop/LaNA work well from about 1 to 4 Mhz and in the FM broadcast band up to about 106 MHz.  I used 2 meter pieces of
cable for the loop elements, which are long and reduced the VHF performance.  The longer cable elements did help in the lower bands. 

The YouLoop/preamplifier in the 1 to 4 MHz range produces signals that are clearer due to less noise pickup and a lower noise floor.  Over the rest of the HF band, the wire is better.  But for listening to shortwave broadcasters, the YouLoop/LaAA is usable up to about 12 MHz. 

It seems to be hit or miss above 12 MHz.  I am not sure what is going on.  I tried using an antenna analyzer to determine the impedance of the YouLoop by itself as function of frequency.  I got inconsistent results, especially above 12 MHz.

I now have a good small antenna for listening in the house.  Below is a picture of the YouLoop and preamplifier on a wooden frame.  The loop dimensions are 48 inches wide by 45 inches high.  I hope this is a help for others.



52
HF Mystery Signals / White Noise Hump 6890 K 2/5/2022 0017UTC
« on: February 05, 2022, 0056 UTC »
I get this signal after dark in the 41 meter band at different frequencies around 6900 KHz.  It is present for about 10 minutes.   It is fairly wideband.  Attempts to demodulate it only produces white noise.  As can be seen from the screen shot of my AirSpy HF + Discovery.   It was taken on 2/5/ 2022 0017 UTC.  Sometimes there are several MSFK signals near it.  When the hump goes  away, the MSFK  signals seem to disappear.  Any ideas on what it might be.

53
Equipment / MLA-30+ Experiment
« on: January 29, 2022, 2212 UTC »
While storm Bob kept me in the house, I decided to do an experiment with the MLA-30+.  I found two old whips from an old TV rabbit ears antenna.  They were about 34 inches when extended.  I used them to see how the MLA-30+ would work as an amplified short dipole, similar to a mini-whip.

I was surprised by the combination.  I thought it would be terrible.  However, from about 1 to 4 MHz, the MLA-30+ was comparable to my 50 foot end fed random wire.  I used the S/N estimator of the AirSpy HF + Discovery to measure the difference between the two antennas.

Here are some of the results (frequency in KHz, S/N difference in dB):
880 -12, 1080 -9, 1310 -5,  1420 -6, 1550 0, 1700 -5, 3330 0, 3870 -5, 3885 -10, 5025 -17, 5950 -18.

The MLA-30+ in this configuration is still no weak signal antenna.  The test signals were all relatively strong signals.  But, it was nice to see the idea did work.

Here are my thoughts on why the MLA-30+ compares to the EFRW over the limited frequency range;
a. Below 3 MHz, the matching transformer is not working very well  to match the EFRW,
b. Also below 3 MHz, both are a short dipole,
c. The frequency region the S/N value is set by the environment noise and the high noise figure of MLA-30+ amplifier is not a problem.

Once you get above 6 MHz, this MLA-30+ configuration performance quickly becomes bad.  It is the self noise of MLA-30+ that does this. 

I wish I lived in an area with less noise sources in LF range.  I suspect with 6 foot elements, the MLA-30+ might perform reasonable well.

I am open to hearing other peoples thoughts.  Being married with children, I am used to be told I do not know what I talking about  ;)

Added, last night I tried it on the AM broadcast band.  Even the signals were not as strong as the EFRW, the stations audio was better.  It appears the balanced input of MLA-30+ amplifier is rejecting some of the local noise sources.    I also found I can orient it for the best signal.  I will be keep this around for future  listening.

54
Shortwave Broadcast / 6865 Chinese Station
« on: January 21, 2022, 2208 UTC »
I have this Chinese station on now with a fair signal.  Usually, it can be heard for a half hour or so.  The Shortwave Broadcast Schedule data bases gives for this frequency, SOH X, Wong Zi Sheng.  Male/Female announcers giving the news, I think.  This is a good example of gray line propagation since it is sunset for me and sunrise for the station.  It is listed as 1 Kilowatt station.

55
North American MW Pirate Radio / Unidentifed 1720 AM 0036 14 Jan. 2022
« on: January 14, 2022, 0038 UTC »
I got a poor signal on 1720, just a little stronger than the Hudson County NJ station on 1710.  Playing a female vocalist popular tune.
0040, another song by same vocalist.

56
Shortwave Broadcast / Unidentifed 6865 AM 2335 12 Jan 2022
« on: January 12, 2022, 2338 UTC »
I have a weird one on 6865.  It is a good signal in either Chinese or Japanese language.  There should be no broadcast stations based on quick check of the broadcast data base.  It may be a spurious product.  If you could check and tell me if it there or not there then it would be a help for me.  Thanks in advance for any help.

57
Equipment / Steps to set the internal clock on a Malachite SDR
« on: September 07, 2021, 2232 UTC »
The Malachite SDR has an internal clock that is displayed.  However, there are no instructions on how to set it.  I have
found how to set the clock by accident.  Here is how to do it:

Long press HARD button to enter the time setting, then rotate the volume encoder to increase or decrease the number, and press inward to switch which moves to the next entry value.   When finished, press and hold the encoder, and release it when the beep sounds.

I hope this is a help to others that have the Malachite SDR.  It is a nice receiver, but, the documentation for it is limited.

58
North American Shortwave Pirate / Choir Boy Radio 6925 USB 0011 UTC 22 Aug 2021
« on: August 22, 2021, 0017 UTC »
Got it here in CT with fair signal.  Id at 0014.  Playing heavy metal tunes. Thanks for the show.
Just said playing Nashville Puppies 0018

59
North American Shortwave Pirate / WDOG 6965 AM 0110 UTC 27 Jun 2021
« on: June 27, 2021, 0112 UTC »
Playing Mo Town tunes, cover of Tears of a clown (Michael Jackson).  S9 signal with some fading
0114 Just my imagination.

60
North American MW Pirate Radio / Throwback90s 1720 AM 0212 UTC 9 May 2021
« on: May 09, 2021, 0215 UTC »
I have a weak signal on 1720 playing dance music with female singer.  Found it at 0150 and hope it would Id at 0200, no luck.  I check to see if it was a harmonic of a AM broadcast and appears not to be either second or third.  Same female singer on all songs.  Songs are English language.  Off at 0222  Thanks Throwback90s for the ID.  Your signal was getting better at sign off.

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