Messages

1501

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: RPDT2 Indonesia 2960 AM 0725 UTC 14 March 2018

« on: March 16, 2018, 0216 UTC »

I thought about AM BCB as well, but I have a rather sharp BCB high-pass filter inline, so 2960 would have to be generated at the source instead of overload or a spur on my side.

I will check again tonight. Could be something worth reporting to a BCB station if an ID is heard.

1502

Equipment / Re: Best broadband receiving antenna below 500khz (longwave, NDB, DGPS)

« on: March 14, 2018, 0800 UTC »

I used to routinely listen to European longwave broadcasters using my 148' loop-on-ground antenna.

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,29940.msg114696.html#msg114696

"Used to" because many of the LW broadcasters have shut down.

1503

Shortwave Broadcast / RPDT2 Indonesia 2960 AM 0725 UTC 14 March 2018

« on: March 14, 2018, 0739 UTC »

^To be techical, I have nothing else listed for the frequency, so....

Music below S1 to S2 with fades via the Kenwood R-2000 and 31' vertical. I have a rather low noise floor on the tropical bands tonight.

1504

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 0115 UTC 9-10-2017

« on: September 10, 2017, 0206 UTC »

Caught a few seconds on 6950USB. Sounded good, but it was too quick to get a signal report.

Moved to 6925AM? Sounds the same at ~S3 on the 148' loop-on-ground, though under considerable noise, as I am currently dealing with freebanders, peskies, utes, and static crashes.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1505

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Laser Hot Hits 6220 AM 0020 UTC 28 Jun 2017

« on: June 28, 2017, 0157 UTC »

0154z - "Jailhouse Rock" right near the noise floor. ECSS USB tuning and 31' vertical.
0155z - ID and/or DJ? - tough copy.

1506

European Pirates and Private Stations / Re: Johnny Tobacco 6290 AM 2322 UTC June 27, 2017

« on: June 27, 2017, 2336 UTC »

Noted at ~2328z using ECSS USB tuning and the 31' vertical. Hearing modulation (music+dj) right at the noise floor, not counting the usual summertime stagic crashing.

1507

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Clever Name Radio 6940 kHz USB 2055 UTC 27 June 2017

« on: June 27, 2017, 2306 UTC »

ID at 2301 into Lady Gaga. Peaking over S9+10 on the 31' vertical. SINPO 55445.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1508

General Radio Discussion / Re: Some interesting propagation data for a pirate transmission

« on: June 07, 2017, 0359 UTC »

Directional gain could be worth consideration if an East Coast pirate did want to try extending listener demographics further into the western states. Even a basic wire yagi with just a reflector (and maybe a director if possible) could get more of the signal into continental North America instead of the Atlantic Ocean. With only 2-3 elements, beamwidth still should be wide enough to cover the eastern states.

With my location in Florida, I have considered tossing up a ~40m inverted-v wire yagi pointing approximately NNW for pirate listening. Now if I actually felt like building and installing it....

1509

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: Kenwood R-600

« on: June 06, 2017, 0646 UTC »

Some of the latest portables have features not available on older desktop receivers, such as numerous filter bandwidths, sync detection, etc. For example, the Tecsun PL-880 comes to mind.

The R-600 also was rather basic on features, even during it era. I am not kicking it, as I have one, but I am trying to be realistic with the progress of technology. I hold on to my Kenwood receivers, as they suit my casual HF listening needs. I have worked in computers for most of my professional career, so sometimes it is good to just to turn off the computers, turn on a radio, and spin the dial.

Also note the risks of buying an older desktop receiver. Capacitors can leak, resistors can drift, solder joints can break, and a myriad of other concerns. Be prepare to fix them, or have them fixed. A prime example, solder joints at the attenuator in my R-2000 needed reflowing awhile back. It is not a difficult fix - well, for my hands these days it is a challenge (another topic) - but it is annoying ongoing maintenance of aging radios nonetheless.

1510

General Radio Discussion / Re: Some interesting propagation data for a pirate transmission

« on: June 06, 2017, 0626 UTC »

I am seeing another topic here beyond just propagation, too. SNR is the "real deal" as indicated, and from a technical standpoint, it could be beneficial to note signal and noise levels when logging a station. S7 over a S1 noise floor can be a dramatic listening difference from S7 over a S6 noise floor.

Chris, I suspect this is why IIRC you mostly log in SIO format, correct?

I used to do logging in SINPO, and I might go back to it or SIO as well.

1511

General Radio Discussion / Re: C-QUAM

« on: June 06, 2017, 0557 UTC »

Yes, the vintage sound. Shortwave powerhouses like Radio Rebelde (even with its often extreme dynamic compression) playing music at night can sound superb on my National NC-125 and matching speaker.... and I am the type of person that usually cooks music through a DSP declipper when listening via computer.

1512

Equipment / Re: Tecsun PL 660 frequency display problems

« on: June 06, 2017, 0533 UTC »

Dxman, it appears you have a lemon. I have had a couple of PL-660 portables over the years, and what you are describing is not normal operating behavior. Possible lomg-term reliability aside, it is a better radio than your descibed example.

Boombox, speaking of Japanese radios, there still is new stock of the Sony 7600GR on the market despite having been discontinued for quite awhile now. Goes for around $120 to $150. I had one or two several years ago as nightstand HF/SWL receivers. Not much on features compared to a modern portable like he PL-880, but great made-in-Japan build quality and performance. The sync detector even worked decently on weak signals once I did the needed modification, though admitedly, I am not sure the mod is worth the effort when ECSS tuning often can accomplish similar results.

1513

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 AM 0052 UTC 03 Jun 2017

« on: June 03, 2017, 0111 UTC »

Heard music above the noise floor at 0108z, but it was still well under static crashes and ute activity.

Gone now, or at least too far into the noise floor for a copy here.

1514

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6955 LSB/USB 0033 UTC 6/3/17

« on: June 03, 2017, 0058 UTC »

S5 at 0053z. Sounds like the audio feed could be occassionally dropping, plus there is utility activity.

Off air at ~0058z?

1515

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Free Whatever 6940 USB 2345 UTC June 2, 2017

« on: June 03, 2017, 0003 UTC »

Short ID into "Fight the Power" at 2357z. Averaging S6 with strong modulation. Some static crashing and occasional interference, but still an armchair copy.

Thanks for the broadcast and shoutout!