Messages

4216

Equipment / Re: XLR8 7/14/15 receiving antenna comparison: PA0RDT vs RF Systems EMF via Palstar

« on: July 21, 2015, 0435 UTC »

Call 'em art and charge $10,000

I like it. Need to make more and bring one into work and see what happens. Hopefully will get some that will buy them for some outrageous amount.

I'll try hanging some wire off of it and see if that helps. Tried to ground it to my gutter, but no effect at all.

Also have a Wellbrook loop. Works very well, but it also picks up stray noise (even though its ~80 from the house in the shed). I'm using 100+' of TV cable as well, but its direct bury for part and quad-shielded for above ground/indoor. TV cable seems to work fine and far cheaper than 50-ohm stuff (and I want to say that Wellbrook recommended the 75-ohm, maybe).

4217

Shortwave Broadcast / Art Bell July 21, 2015 0403 UTC

« on: July 21, 2015, 0407 UTC »

0403Z
WTWW: 5085 55555 S9+40 Very strong signal. Started about a minute late (but they started from the beginning)
CFRX: 6070   42233 S7 Can hear the show, but strong splatter from 6060.
WBCQ: 7490  45544 S9+ Good signal, a little noise.
WBCQ: 9330  35343 S7 Ok, but not great. A fair amount of noise.




_{Yaesu FT-847 with homebrew PA0RDT Mini-Whip}

4218

Equipment / Re: XLR8 7/14/15 receiving antenna comparison: PA0RDT vs RF Systems EMF via Palstar

« on: July 21, 2015, 0356 UTC »

I made a Mini-Whip according to Roelof's design last fall, incl running power up the coax. Its been mounted in a short PVC pipe with end caps. Even survived our winter without a problem. Used to have a ~80' random wire running out back, but that was always mediocre.

Comparing the two, the Mini-Whip is vastly superior on MW & lower part of HF. It has a bit less noise than the wire.

Been listening to it tonight- was listening to MW earlier (WXYG 540 kHz, 250W station about 50 miles away) and now WTWW on 5085, waiting for Art Bell to start the new show.

I made a second one that I put in a glass jar. A friend thinks its really cool electronic art. I said its a real antenna... friend insisted its art. Compromise: Its living art.   Still need to make a power supply for that one (I think, unless I already did and forgot where I put it).

Have enough parts to make another 4-5 of them. The plan was to make them and put them all around the house to have for nearby rooms. The current problem is that don't have a good ground plane and there is stupid noise coming from neighbors and underground services. A month ago one noise went away, but then a week or two ago, a new noise showed up. Just can't win. Ever.

Dear Uncle Charlie, want to save radio? CLEAN UP THE NOISE.  

4219

General Radio Discussion / Re: Tonight's the night...

« on: July 21, 2015, 0027 UTC »

Thanks for the reminder. I wanted to catch it, but forgot.

The correct time (from his website) is M-F 9p-12am PT (Tues-Sat 12am-3am EDT; 0400-0700 UTC)

Shortwave stations carrying it:
http://artbell.com/radio-stations/

Tennessee - WTWW - 5,085 kHz
Maine - WBCQ - 7,490 & 9,330 kHz
Toronto - CFRX - 6,070 kHz


And good thing its on SW, as no local stations here nor any MW DX stations within range.

4220

General Radio Discussion / Playing The Lower Keys: Concert Piped Underwater In Florida

« on: July 11, 2015, 2048 UTC »

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNDERWATER_MUSIC?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-07-11-13-43-45

4221

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: TCS 6876 kHz AM 0042 UTC 06/29/2015

« on: June 29, 2015, 0112 UTC »

0110Z 25422 S5 Music. A bit above the noise to be able to ID the songs, but not strong.
0126Z 45444 S7 Steely Dan. "Deacon Blue"  - Signal jumped way up for about 30 second, then back to 25422
0128Z 25422 S5 ID
0129Z 25422 S5 Bruce Springsteen "Spirit In The Night"




_{Yaesu FT-847 with homebrew PA0RDT Mini-Whip}

4222

Huh? / Re: I leave the country for a week and what happens?

« on: June 29, 2015, 0110 UTC »

Next year, can you set up a shortwave transmitter with several strategically places microphones?

I'd do it, but my invitation must've been lost in the mail.

4223

Huh? / Re: I leave the country for a week and what happens?

« on: June 28, 2015, 2359 UTC »

A question that has been avoided and not pre-emptively answered (which is suspicious), what country(ies) did you go to?

4224

Software / Re: What Radio related software would YOU like to see?

« on: June 28, 2015, 2318 UTC »

Following onto what rwfisheriv said, an app that you enter the frequency, it would plot (with (near) real-time data) the ground, NVIS, skip, DX, other(?) zones?

Primarily for HF, but would be interesting if it could get down to MW.

4225

Huh? / Re: FCC Approves Same Sex Cable Connections

« on: June 28, 2015, 2308 UTC »

I wish connectors were like Tribbles, so that I only need to buy one and then would have plenty forever.

And vacuum tubes too...

4226

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio New Zealand International 15720 kHz AM June 23, 2015 0332 UTC

« on: June 25, 2015, 0214 UTC »

June 25, 2015:
0212Z 25422 S3 Frequent fading, but can catch most of the talking.  Have heard better, but also have heard worse.
0354Z 55545 S9 Now quite strong & sounding great. Playing music.
0400Z 55545 S9 News




_{Yaesu FT-847 with homebrew PA0RDT Mini-Whip}

4227

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Romania International 9730 kHz Jun 23, 2015 0000 UTC

« on: June 25, 2015, 0212 UTC »

Both freqs were a bit better tonight (Jun 25, 2015, 0000-0100 UTC). Still a fair amount of noise, but at least can understand what they're saying without problem.

SINPO = 25432





_{Yaesu FT-847 with homebrew PA0RDT Mini-Whip}

4228

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Romania International 9730 kHz Jun 23, 2015 0000 UTC

« on: June 24, 2015, 0001 UTC »

June 24, 2015
0000Z
9730, 11800 kHz 15331 S5 Can hear IS & voice, barely above the noise. Still pretty bad reception tonight and slightly better than last night.

4229

Shortwave Broadcast / Radio New Zealand International 15720 kHz AM June 23, 2015 0332 UTC

« on: June 23, 2015, 0334 UTC »

0332Z 35423 S5 Noise low, signal is decent, but unusually very fluttery (little doubt due to large CME).





_{Sony ICF-2010 with built-in whip}

4230

General Radio Discussion / Re: Art Bell’s Midnight in the Desert Sets a Premiere Date of July 20th

« on: June 23, 2015, 0102 UTC »

He's also going to on WBCQ:
http://www.wbcq.com/?p=781

Art Bell, American broadcaster and author known as one of the founders and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM, is is returning to broadcasting on the Internet on July 20, 2015 on the Dark Matter Digital Network. Art’s show will also be broadcast live on international shortwave via WBCQ The Planet, from Monticello, Maine, USA.
We will provide more details as they become available.

WTTW:
http://tedrandall.com

Art Bell will be airing on WTWW starting July 20, 2015.
He will be on Transmitter #2 5085 KHz 9pm - Midnight Pacific