Messages

1471

Equipment / Re: Icom IC-705 HF/VHF/UHF QRP Portable

« on: September 17, 2019, 0927 UTC »

Not that I have much use for them, but I have a couple of L-match and T-match manual tuners.

It is just kind of annoying to have to lug around yet another device. On the plus side, at least a (decent!) dedicated tuner should offer more matching headroom than the typical onboard autotuner.

BTW, spare parts bins aside, I just noticed there is a simple QRP T-match tuner DIY kit floating around eBay. Only 30-300 ohms at up to 15w, but only ~$12 shipped as well.

1472

Propagation / Re: Hello Grand Solar Minima?

« on: September 17, 2019, 0227 UTC »

I skimmed through 20m voice on Monday afternoon. Only a couple or so active QSOs. Admittedly I was using the 148' loop-on-ground, which is not exactly a great 20m antenna, but still. o.0 IIRC, 40m voice was not much better.

Further up the HF bands, I used to occasionally talk on 11m SSB back in the day, but I have not bothered in a *long* time. Ideally, just a few watts with a simple dipole or vertical can work much of North America.... if ya' can find actually workable 11m propagation. I am not saying 11m is deserted completely, but even 27.025 has been mostly static here more often than not for quite awhile now.

10m SSB largely is vacant here, too. Further up, has anyone heard 10m FM simplex in recent months... err, years? Last time I even heard one of the now seemingly elusive 10m FM repeaters probably was a year or two ago.

1473

Equipment / Re: Icom IC-705 HF/VHF/UHF QRP Portable

« on: September 17, 2019, 0150 UTC »

I have seen commentary about the $700 or so expected price point. If so, that is not too bad IMO.

Looking at just the receiver aspect, the older and now discontinued R-75 floated around $550 to $600 new. It is a great desktop receiver for the price, but it also is a ~20-year-old design at this point.

For potentially another $100 or so, the IC-705 gets ya' a direct sampling receiver, various DSP-based options, integrated spectrum display, digital recording, rechargeable battery, etc.

Curious if LW/MW performance will be similar or better than the direct sampling receiver in the IC-7300. IIRC, its receiver sensitivity (and/or selectivity?) tends to roll off at the lower frequencies.

1474

Equipment / Icom IC-705 HF/VHF/UHF QRP Portable

« on: September 16, 2019, 0507 UTC »

I am not an amateur operator, but the recently announced Icom 705 looks interesting. Small footprint, 0.5-10w output, spectrum display, GPS with logging, D-star, micro SD recording, direct sampling, etc.

https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/0705.html

It is not exactly a direct Elecraft competitor on some features and outright size, but I suspect... err, hope there would be a substantial price savings compared to a KX2 anyway.
 
Also the use of an off-the-shelf Icom battery pack is welcomed IMO, especially if one already has a compatible Icom handheld. Less hassle and easily swappable compared to an internal battery.

On the potential downside, there is no integrated tuner. Tuned lightweight dipoles and similar are easy enough to transport for most popular bands IMO, but I get the appeal of an internal tuner for portable operation. Got to load up a beach chair, light bulb, unknown length of unknown wire, etc. somehow.

1475

Equipment / Re: New AOR receiver

« on: September 16, 2019, 0430 UTC »

Perhaps the listing should indicate broadcast FM trap filter not included.

I agree about WFM for BCB. It seems like more of an afterthought. I suspect a decently skirted filter or two would take care of desensing concerns; assuming any analog filtering is implemented. ??

NFM support for NOAA and even VHF marine mobile might be more useful IMO. I could imagine those offering more appeal to airband enthusiasts than FM radio.

Might we assume the display as currently presented is for "illustration purposes only?" Admittedly I do not follow much above HF, but I am thinking 208.6MHz probably is very low-power FM or digital for wireless mics and similar instead of an airband allocation.

1476

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6890 AM 0341 UTC 16 September 2019

« on: September 16, 2019, 0342 UTC »

0341z - Music. Sounds way over-modulated into clipping and/or distortion.
0345z - "Cars" by Gary Newman
0351z - Off air?

Decent ~S6 signal, though static crashes and intermittent UTEs are hitting the frequency pretty hard right now.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1477

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Mix Radio International 4960 USB 0125 UTC 16 Sept 2019

« on: September 16, 2019, 0155 UTC »

Peaking S9 and SINPO 45334 at 0150z via the 148' loop-on-ground and preamp.

Some fades and static crashes, but those are common tropical band issues for my location and current season anyway. Otherwise, clean modulation and a good listenable copy.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1478

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Wolverine Radio / WDDR 6935 USB 2341 UTC 14 SEP 2019

« on: September 15, 2019, 0227 UTC »

Still rocking a great signal here. Peaking S9+ at 0228z.

1479

North American Shortwave Pirate / WREC 6955 USB 0010 UTC 15 September 2019

« on: September 15, 2019, 0010 UTC »

0015z - "Owner of a Lovely Heart" by Yes
0017z - WREC station ID
0020z - ID again with skits
0023z - "New Disease" by Spineshank (according to Shazam)

S5 and SINPO 35333 via the 148' loop-on-ground and preamp.  Not especially loud, but decent modulation and a listenable copy.

覧覧

0032z - Skit?

Possible shift in propagation and/or area weather. Still there, but now well down into the static crashes here.

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Thanks for the broadcast!

1480

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Wolverine Radio 6935 USB 2341 UTC 14 SEP 2019

« on: September 14, 2019, 2358 UTC »

S9+10 peaks at 2353z and SINPO 54444 via the 148' loop-on-ground and preamp. Some regional static crashes, which are typical for my location and current season. Strong modulation and armchair copy.

Thanks for the broadcast!

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BTW, a shout-out from Radio Humperdoo (6925USB) to Wolverine Radio (6935USB) occurred at 2351z.

1481

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Humperdoo 6925 USB 1924 UTC 14 Sept 2019

« on: September 14, 2019, 2202 UTC »

Do they take song requests? What is their email address?

Just post your request here in the thread. He played mine earlier.

1482

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Skunk Hole Radio 6933 USB 2110 UTC 14 Sep 2019

« on: September 14, 2019, 2144 UTC »

S9+10 at 2139z via the 148' loop-on-ground and preamp. SINPO 55455. A few regional static crashes, but otherwise strong modulation and easy armchair copy.

2150z - FYI. Noted to be the station's last transmission before dropping the mast.
2200z - SSTV.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1483

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Humperdoo 6925 USB 1924 UTC 14 Sept 2019

« on: September 14, 2019, 2118 UTC »

If possible, a request for "Stone Cold Crazy" by Queen. TIA.

^ at 2136z.

1484

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Humperdoo 6925 USB 1924 UTC 14 Sept 2019

« on: September 14, 2019, 2106 UTC »

2100z - "Sober" by Tool
2108z - Shout-out to me.

SINPO 25333. Around S2 with the 148' loop-on-ground and a preamp, plus plenty of regional static crashes right now, but still a decent copy.

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2308z - Now up to S7 peaks with SINPO 34434. Some UTE or similar interference, though otherwise a good copy.

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2351z - Shout-out to Wolverine Radio.

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Thanks for the broadcast!

1485

Equipment / Re: Square or Bent Dipole for Transmit

« on: June 10, 2018, 1429 UTC »

It is typically feed different than a dipole, but you are essentially describing a square halo. Take a look at a Cushcraft Squalo for example.

You might also be interested in looking at a 1/2-wave halo for ideas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_antenna