Messages

1546

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 07, 2017, 2104 UTC »

An inverted V is fine as well IMO. Just note the antenna impedance likely will be closer to 50 ohms as the V angle drops under 60 degrees and approaches 45 degrees. If you use RG-6, use a half-wavelength multiple times the (approximate if the exact spec is not available) coax velocity factor to find an usable length for the coax feedline, and the impedance at the antenna end of the coax should be closely mirrored on the radio end of the coax, thus ideally getting you a decent SWR match.

1547

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: YHWH 7615 am 0232 UTC 5/6/2017

« on: May 07, 2017, 0515 UTC »

The signal with modulation is present at 0500z 5/7/2017 via my 148' loop-on-ground, but it is below S1 and mixing into the noise floor. Audio is intermittently copyable with DSP noise filtering and headphones.

1548

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Free Whatever 6940 USB 0230 UTC 07 May 2017

« on: May 07, 2017, 0327 UTC »

Highly variable reception here at 0322z. From under S1, which is slightly above my current noise floor not counting static crashes, to occasional peaks over S5 with strong modulation.

Mixing well into the noise floor at 0330z. The modulation is there but copy is very minimal, even now with outboard DSP noise filtering enabled and headphones deployed.

Off air or signal fade out at ~0336z here.

Thanks for another broadcast tonight.

1549

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6920 AM 0129 UTC 7 May 2017

« on: May 07, 2017, 0145 UTC »

Tuned in ~0140z. It is not moving the S meter, and there are some S1 static crashes so music ID is unlikely here, but there is still just enough modulation for a casual listen.

Station ID at 0146z.

Improved copy at 0150z using USB ECSS, variable preamp, and preselector.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1550

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 07, 2017, 0102 UTC »

If you are wanting to talk 11m DX, go ahead with a half-wave horizontal dipole at height IMO. It is affordable, easy to build, and straightforward to tune. I suggest adding a modest 1:1 current balun at the feedpoint, or at minimum, roll your own "ugly balun" that is likely better for choking common mode currents than nothing at all.

If you want an affordable source for coax and operating at relative QRP power, you can actually feed a half-wave dipole with common RG-6 cable coax if desired. The antenna at resonance likely will be around 70-74 ohms anyway. Keep the RG-6 length a multiple of the half wavelength times the coax velocity factor. Tune the dipole for SWR as usual. You might not get a flat match, but being realistic, under 1.5:1 should suffice.

All that said, I worked most of my 11m DX back in the day with a half-wave, end-fed vertical. Different propagation conditions now, though, so YMMV.

1551

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Free Whatever 6940 USB 2335 UTC 6 May 2017

« on: May 07, 2017, 0024 UTC »

Averaging S6 via my 148' loop-on-ground (and preamp bypassed) at 0017z with station ID and speeding ticket commentary. Some QRN+QRM and a few fades, but still a good copy with plenty of modulation.

Thanks for the broadcast and shout-out!

1552

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Liquid Radio 6925 AM 0139 UTC 3/12/17

« on: March 12, 2017, 0157 UTC »

Carrier and modulation with undiscernable music, but it is near my current noise floor and falling under static crashes. Some peskies and UTEs as well.

1553

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6945 USB 0141 UTC 3/12/17

« on: March 12, 2017, 0150 UTC »

0144z - "Twilight Zone" by Golden Earring
0150z - SSTV

Peaking S9+ with strong modulation. Thanks for the broadcast!

1554

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 0000 UTC January 30, 2017

« on: January 30, 2017, 0005 UTC »

Averaging around S5 at 003z with electronic music. Strong modulation. Possible ID at 004z?

Thanks for the broadcast!

1555

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WMFQ, 6945 USB, 2249 UTC, 29 JAN 2017

« on: January 30, 2017, 0001 UTC »

S9 at 2359z. Strong signal with good audio.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1556

Equipment / Re: Purchased my first shortwave radio...not sure what to expect

« on: November 05, 2016, 1612 UTC »

If possible, it would be better to source a receiver with SSB tuning. As already noted, it can be used to help ECCS tune AM signals. More importantly, though, it also will allow you access to much more than broadcast AM shortwave radio, such as various amateur radio bands, utility stations, and more. Many pirate broadcasters favor SSB, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-sideband_modulation

If you like Eton for whatever reason, the Eton Satellit comes to mind, though I tend to suggest the Tecsun 660 (or 880) to new shortwave enthusiasts. Lots of features for the price, and rather good performance for portable-class receivers IMO. Being realistic, the Tecsun 880 has more features than some of the desktop-class receivers many of us here use.

http://swling.com/db/2011/01/tecsun-pl-660/
http://swling.com/db/2013/11/tecsun-pl-880/

As noted, a basic "random" wire antenna - even just 15' or so - should suffice for many of the large broadcasters on shortwave. For a quick fix to check reception, take your radio outside on battery power away from from the house to help limit electrical noise, get a piece of wire deployed across a tree limb or two in the yard, and hook it the radio's existing antenna with an alligator clip or similar.

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

As you gain experience, then start considering upgrading your antenna solution(s). Dipoles, beverages, loops, etc.

1557

Equipment / Re: LoG receive antenna, Loop on Ground!

« on: October 24, 2016, 0020 UTC »

I have an 148' square loop on the ground. It is a "shielded" coaxial loop design. Why shielded? I have lots of RG-6 coax available, so I figured why not? Likely does not matter much, if at all, but anyway.

Interestingly enough, it is my primary LW, MW, and HF receiving antenna. I sometimes use a preamp, though it is rarely needed for frequencies under 15MHz.

I have attached my extraordinarily basic - as in Paint.NET - antenna details below. I went for a loop size slightly larger than a wavelength at the 40M band, but being on the ground, the actual resonance could be (and probably is) much lower.

There used to be a dedicated balun at the feedpoint, but it offered little to no discernible difference, so it was replaced with a direct coaxial feed as depicted and several snap-on ferrites on the feedline. I do use a common mode choke (~3000-ohms rating at HF) back near the attached receiver, though it is not really needed either IMO.

1558

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 USB 05 July 2016 0434 UTC

« on: July 05, 2016, 0440 UTC »

Jazz music, big band, or similar again, though now down a KHz from the previous loggings earlier today.

http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,28932.0.html

Below S1. Right above my current baseline noise floor, though mixed with static crashing. SIO 122.

1559

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 0344 UTC 05 Jul 2016

« on: July 05, 2016, 0356 UTC »

S9+10 (with preamp) at 0354z. Strong modulation. SINPO 55445.

0354z - "Sure Shot" by Beastie Boys
0358z - "Sigma Fortress 2"
0400z - XLR8 ID
0401z - Sounds like more video game tracks.
0410z - Inspector Gadget snippet. lol
0415z - "Information" by Jeff Hudson and Jane
0418z - XLR8 ID
0422z - XLRD ID
0425z - "Something Came Over Me" by Throbbing Gristle
0448z - "My America" by F.U.'S
0452z - "This Man" by Phill and The Friends
0503z - XLR8 ID
0513z - XLR8 ID
0525z - "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who
0533z - "Burn" by Iggy and The Stooges
0538z - "No F'n War" by Dicks
0542z - "I Hope You Get Drafted" by Dicks
0543z - XLR8 ID
0544z - "Sidewalk Begging" by Dicks
0551z - "Eye of The Hurricane" by Half Japanese
0554z - "Touch and Go" by Magazine
0558z - "The Light Pours Out of Me" by Magazine
0600z - XLR8 ID
0605z - CW transmission by ute, freebander, etc. Underneath music here.
0606z - "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's
0610z - "Turn to You" by The Go-Go's
0611z - XLR8 ID
0611z - CW station still underneath music.
0612z - "Love Resurrection" by Alison Moyet
0615z - "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Tommy James and The Shondells
0618z - Sounds like freebanders, peskies, etc. underneath music.
0619z - "Carve That Possum" by Uncle Dave Macon
0621z - XLR8 ID
0622z - "A Dream Away" by The Cars
0626z - XRL8 ID
0627z - "Fireworks" by The Whitest Boy Alive
0630z - "How Bizarre" by OMC
0633z - XLR8 ID
0634z - "Gloria" by The Doors
0641z - Large signal drop. Right above the noise floor here.
0643z - Lost signal or off air.

Thanks for the broadcast!

1560

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6926 USB 0335 UTC 05 Jul 2016

« on: July 05, 2016, 0341 UTC »

S2 here. Copyable, but with the usual summertime static crashing.

ID at 0350z?