Messages

5026

Longwave Loggings / Re: recent longwave logs

« on: January 15, 2013, 1254 UTC »

Congrats on Raize!

Here's a short blog about Raize:
http://www.kg0vl.com/?p=427

You'll like our Minnesota beacons. Some of the nicest beacons around. 

One of my favorites is AA, Kenie, in Fargo, ND on 365 kHz. That one has been going strong since I first heard it (and used it while flying) in 1988.

We have one lone NDB left in Minneapolis, PPI on 400. Used to have a couple of others, but they've disappeared.

5027

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: ADS-B aircraft transponders

« on: January 15, 2013, 0145 UTC »

NICE!

I was playing with that last night. Saw the "interactive" option, but never bothered to actually try it.

That's a ton better than the non-interactive mode. Finally got a couple with a flight number. They must come in the packets and guessing the pilots probably program them in if they feel like it (have seen reports of interesting ACARS callsigns). I think the hex code & the tail number are in there more or less permanently.


BTW: Once the flight number is known, can track them at
http://flightaware.com
http://planefinder.net
http://www.flightradar24.com

The latter two also do ADS-B tracking. Non-ADS-B tracking is delayed about 5 minutes from the FAA data.


Seeing DAL264 on dump1090 and saw it on the PlaneFinder map. Unsurprisingly, the data was consistent.

DAL264 departed KMSP and enroute to Amsterdam. In a little while, it should be on HF. Wish I was on that flight.

Planefinder has a database where you can lookup the hex code and get the tail number.

5028

Equipment / Re: An SDR for $17 - The R820T USB SDR DVB-T Dongle

« on: January 15, 2013, 0138 UTC »

The ideal thing would be a map of the local area (zoomable) with live plotting of received aircraft and their track and an arrow of direction. Have them plot in some color (green?). When nothing is heard from an a/c in some amount of time, it turns yellow then a little bit later goes away. Some vertical tracking would be nice too. The aircraft icon could have the same data to look like an ATC radar.

Haven't looked at the other s/w packages and see what they have.


The antenna I was using was a little UHF stub that came with the radio. At the moment, have it stuck (magnetic) to my NC-183D in the basement (of a split level house, so about right at ground level). Also tried a horiz FM BC dipole which worked fine too. Not sure if one was better than the other.

Did notice a few aircraft coming into KMSP disappeared from my view under 7500'. But will have to watch that better.

5029

Shortwave Broadcast / Firedrake Jan 15, 2013 0040-0101Z

« on: January 15, 2013, 0100 UTC »

Firedrake:
16100 25322 S7
14980 35333 S7
14800 35433 S8
14700 15321 S5 In the noise.
13820 35432 S7
12500 35432 S8
12320 25432 S7

Found nothing above 16100 nor below 12320.

All of these went off at 0100Z.

15610 came on at 0100Z. 35333 S6. Couldn't find any others.



_{Perseus SDR with Wellbrook ALA1530S+ loop}

5030

Equipment / Re: An SDR for $17 - The R820T USB SDR DVB-T Dongle

« on: January 14, 2013, 0230 UTC »

Have dump1090 running as well on my MBP.

Now decoding the a/c. Although having only their ICAO address is not all that interesting.

Searching for one of them finds that A8B848 is N661DN, a Delta Airlines 757.

In watching his reported altitude, looks like he's arriving here at KMSP. Looked up arriving Delta 757s around this time and there's one from Los Angeles and one from Phoenix. Welcome to Minneapolis, enjoy the cold.

5031

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: 25 meter band hit by broadband noise, possible jammer

« on: January 14, 2013, 0101 UTC »

Doing plenty of damage here tonight.

5032

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: V.O.R.

« on: January 13, 2013, 0125 UTC »

I've been listening to R Aus since 1988 when I started with shortwave. In recent years, its been 9580 in our morning (CST). A few weeks ago, discovered them on 7240 when they leave 9580 and its usually pretty strong for a little while, then it fades as the sun continues to rise.
 
Used to be on in our evenings in 19m. Haven't had much luck lately with them there. We'll see if success on 19m returns in the summer.

While it may not be specifically NAm, they shoot it out to the Pacific and since we're on the other side of it and the signal is strong here, that's close enough.

5033

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WFMT Family Radio 6924.53 AM 0025 UTC 13 Jan 2013

« on: January 13, 2013, 0121 UTC »

0120Z 45444 S9 ID




_{Kenwood TS-690S with 102' G5RV @ 25'}

5034

North American Shortwave Pirate / Liquid Radio 6925 AM Jan 12, 2013 2115Z

« on: January 12, 2013, 2126 UTC »

2115Z 45444 S9 ID Liquid Radio, followed by music.





_{Kenwood TS-690S with 102' G5RV @ 25'}

5035

Equipment / Re: An SDR for $17 - The R820T USB SDR DVB-T Dongle

« on: January 12, 2013, 2048 UTC »

Last fall, I picked up a Newsky DVB-T (with the E4000 tuner).

It gets the job done and for its price, can't complain. Does seem like there's images all over the place with it, but could be overloaded by the GP-15 on the roof.

Have listened from the FM BC band up through 900 MHz. Not much to listen to on the 800 MHz around here since the large public safety system is APCO-25 and of the few services on FM 800MHz, they're trunked.

5036

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: V.O.R.

« on: January 12, 2013, 1646 UTC »

Off the top of my head, the remaining broadcasts to the U.S.: Australia, Romania, China, Cuba. New Zealand used to come up here in the evenings, but haven't heard them lately (could be conditions). Spain comes in well here, but don't know if they're sending to us.

Greece still comes in pretty decent, but don't know if they're sending that to us.

Past few weeks have been picking up Deutsche Welle broadcasting from Africa.

Haven't had much time lately to take a survey of the bands.

5037

General Radio Discussion / Re: An alternative to Coast To Coast AM

« on: January 11, 2013, 0110 UTC »

On Sunday nights from 11:00pm to 1:00am EST (Monday mornings 0400-0600Z) on AM 740 CFZM Toronto is The Conspiracy Show with Richard Syrett.

5038

Utility / Re: Alaska on 518 kHz NAVTEX 0935 UTC 1/5/2013

« on: January 08, 2013, 0344 UTC »

Nice.

Tried for Hawaii recently, but no luck.

5039

MW Loggings / Re: MW monitoring

« on: January 08, 2013, 0343 UTC »

For decoding NAVTEX, I use YaRD. Its pretty slick.

5040

General Radio Discussion / Re: A UNIVAC as a Morse Code practice oscillator

« on: January 03, 2013, 0339 UTC »

Hahaha... Lilek's site is great. Minutes turn into hours. Hours turn into days.

However, haven't looked at it in a while and appears some major changes.

He used to have a podcast called The Diner. Wish he'd start that up again.