Messages

691

General Radio Discussion / Updated LPAM info site.

« on: September 22, 2020, 0543 UTC »

The sit that had a proposed LPAM station availability map on www.lpam.ws is now,       https://recnet.com/lpam

I doubt that anyone will actually try to move on this subject now, but we can dream, right?

692

MW Loggings / WNRP 1620 Pensacola, FL now heard over Cuba at night?

« on: September 18, 2020, 1833 UTC »

For at least the last week and a half now, I've heard 1620 WNRP in there at night, battling it out with Cuba. I've even heard their EAS tone-out for Hurricane Sally. So, has this station either changed power, or radiation patterns, at night? The only other time that I've heard this station is at sunrise.       https://radio-locator.com/info/WNRP-AM

693

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: FCC vs God

« on: September 18, 2020, 1743 UTC »

Here's a case where folks need to understand the other alternatives out there.  I no longer will do Part #15 FM, except maybe to test a transmitter, since anything unlicensed FM where I am is so bastardized, due to the political climate today. So, I'm doing both the permissible Part #15 AM ways, radiating 100mW MAX OUT, (If not less.), to a 10ft antenna and Carrier-Current, coupling to the power lines. Unfortunately, with Radio Systems and LPB, Inc., both gone, there's few alternatives to what's out there in Carrier-Current, except to roll your own gear. (It's been done.) At least, there are several radiating AM transmitters out there that are FCC approved, albeit not cheap. (Some have rolled their own here as well.) For FM, the market is just littered with these cheap Part #15 transmitters, most being used to transmit net streams and satellite radio. (87.9FM seems popular for that when you drive around.) However, there range is from about 200ft with a decent car stereo, to maybe 50ft to a crappy portable.
            Anyway... Looks like there certainly a market out there for Part #15 radio transmitters, but folks need to be aware of just what's out there. However, there seems like there is nothing on mainstream media that points out AM Part #15 gear, just some FM stuff, like C Crane, par example.

694

Amateur Radio / Re: ISS with Crossband repeater!

« on: September 14, 2020, 1852 UTC »

If you need more gain on 437MHz, as long as you are using a separate antennas for VHF / UHF, cheap TV receiver preamps work well there. Just make sure that they are spec'ed for UHF, as there are a lot of 'VHF Only' preamps as well. And, as long as you are not near a noisy-ass 450MHz pager, (Yes, they still exist where I am.), that should work well. 

695

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: Wanted: Icom OPC-023C DC power cable

« on: September 09, 2020, 1831 UTC »

Awh yeah... You're probably right. Maybe better for him to 'roll his own' here.

696

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: Talking House transmitter audio upgrade? Youtube VID and thread!

« on: September 08, 2020, 1808 UTC »

Yeah, really nice Youtube VID on how to stop audio distortion above 2kHz and to improve the auto-tuner. But, what I wanna' know is where did this guy get the schematic for the I Am Radio / Talking House transmitter? I've been wanting that for years. And, of course he's using a nice 100MHz o'scope and what was a $15k Orban optimod.         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSZn5cPX5E&feature=youtu.be
UPDATE: Boomer just linked me into the thread for that here,     https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=131621

697

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: Wanted: Icom OPC-023C DC power cable

« on: September 08, 2020, 0538 UTC »

I believe that Tower Electronics carry those at    http://www.pl-259.com/page4.html     And, or e-mail Scott & Jill at   sales@pl-259.com   to inquire. Hope that helps.

698

Huh? / Re: Testing a $1000 LED

« on: September 07, 2020, 1819 UTC »

Fascinating, but the infrastructure involved to both power and cooling such an intense LED makes this pretty much impractical. The water cooled mounting plate system can be done with RF Plasma Generator water cooled heatsinks. The one I've seen for 13MHz, 6kW, modual should be enough. Lambda, I believe, makes an adjustable DC industrial power supply that can deliver enough power with ease. However, you are talking multi-thousands of dollars of gear just to do that.

699

Equipment / Radio Jay's AM & FM Mega Shootout 2020 Updates!

« on: September 07, 2020, 1741 UTC »

He does it again this year. Not techie with spec's, but decent 'layman's terms' to share with anyone wanting an AM / FM portable today,   https://radiojayallen.com/2020/09/07/am-fm-mega-shootout-2020-updates/

700

General Radio Discussion / Re: Allan Weiner buys WHRI

« on: September 05, 2020, 1930 UTC »

Well now, he does spend a lot of time in Florida, so there could be something to a Southern move. Guess we'll wait and see. Isn't his current wife from there?

701

General Radio Discussion / Re: Air Force Research Laboratory Tracks Sporadic E

« on: September 05, 2020, 0723 UTC »

Well, here's a 11M / 10M list that I've ripped from someone. Maybe from Chris? Anyway, the Radio and TV station Auxiliary Stations are NBFM, but usually have a telephone-like quality. Still, about the closest to broadcasting in the 11M BC Band today. Hmmmm??? Wasn'r Mexico ding DRM experiment in the 11M BC Band?

A search of the FCC database reveals the following:
Frequency
29.790 MHz
29.770 MHz
29.750 MHz
29.730 MHz
29.710 MHz
27.860 MHz
27.765 MHz
27.655 MHz
27.635 MHz
27.615 MHz
27.555 MHz
27.530 MHz
27.510 MHz
27.490 MHz
27.470 MHz
27.450 MHz
27.430 MHz
25.870 -
26.470 MHz
25.990 MHz
25.950 MHz
25.910 MHz
25.320 MHz
25.300 MHz
25.280 MHz
25.260 MHz
25.240 MHz
25.220 MHz
25.200 MHz
25.180 MHz
25.160 MHz
Remarks
4 active licenses, including one repeater system belonging to Van Pool
Transportation (WQMA652)
4 active licenses, including one repeater system and one high power car service
dispatch system in New York City
4 active licenses, including two repeater systems and one high power school bus
dispatch system
1 active license (WQQX896)
6 active licenses, including a 1000w repeater system and several high power
forestry systems
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
3 active licenses, all less than 5 watts power output
2 active licenses, all less than 5 watts power output
63 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
5 active licenses, specified for itinerant use only per FCC rules
5 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
5 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
Hundreds of Remote Broadcast Pickup licenses, often only used for short periods
3 active licenses, including WBAP-AM's STL on 25.99 MHz WQGY434
transmitting 300 watts
5 active licenses
3 active licenses, including WBAP-AM's STL on 25.91 MHz WQGY434
transmitting 300 watts
1 active license (WQVJ608)
2 active licenses, KA6935 and WPTN464
1 active license (WQVJ608)
1 active license (SHELL COMMUNICATIONS, INC callsign: KA6935)
1 active license (WQVJ608, also licensed for 25.28 MHz, 25.32 MHz, 27.45
MHz, 27.47 MHz)
1 active license (SHELL COMMUNICATIONS, INC callsign: KA6935) also
25.26, 25.30
0 active licenses
4 active oil company licenses, 1 marine HF-SSB shore station license
(WPTM574)
0 active licenses25.140 MHz
25.120 MHz
25.100 MHz
25.080 MHz
25.060 MHz
25.040 MHz
25.020 MHz
4 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only
0 active licenses
5 active licenses, oil companies and spill response companies (base stations and
mobiles)
Same licenses as 25.040 MHz / 25040 kHz
5 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only
4 active licenses, including Marine Spill Response Corp WNYA617
5 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only

702

Equipment / Re: Icom AH-705 Compact Antenna Tuner

« on: September 05, 2020, 0712 UTC »

Neat, but if that portable SDR rig really takes-off in sales, then LDG will make a nice competing tuner for this as well, just as they did for the Yaesu FT-817, Icom's IC-706 and IC-7000, (I have the LDG for the IC-7000, and that tuner works sweet.). The LDG IT-100 may already be compatible, now. I also have the IT-100Pro, and that even tunes 4W CB's with no problem, so the IC-705's 10W will work with it. So, depending upon what Icom charges for this tuner for the IC-705, (And that does indeed look like a sweet portable.), no doubt there will be other options out there.

703

Huh? / FCC Chair: New LPFM & Noncomm License Opportunities Coming Soon?

« on: September 04, 2020, 2032 UTC »

From Radio Survivor,     https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2020/08/10/fcc-chair-new-lpfm-noncomm-license-opportunities-coming-soon/     As if the FM band isn't crowded enough.

704

General Radio Discussion / Re: Letter to the Editor: AM Stereo Is Still an Option? Sure!

« on: September 03, 2020, 1930 UTC »

Actually, there are a couple of AM Stereo C-QUAM stations that take the internet stream feed off-air from their AM Stereo receiver, using a Carver TX-11b tuner. (I have to go back and re-find who that is again.) I couldn't believe the audio quality from the Sean Cuthbert AM Stereo transmitter kit, especially when I listened to that on a modified McIntosh MR7084 tuner from 1995. That sounded amazing with the Meduci Kit installed. BTW, you can see that, and other AM Stereo MOD's done at   http://meduci.com/   .     

705

Amateur Radio / ISS with Crossband repeater!

« on: September 03, 2020, 1910 UTC »

I wasn't too sure to either put this under Satellite, or here, in Amateur Radio. So, I tossed a coin, and here it is:

ARISS News Release No. 20-13


September 2, 2020—The ARISS team is pleased to announce that set up and installation of the first element of our next generation radio system was completed and amateur radio operations with it are now underway. This first element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio System (IORS), was installed in the International Space Station Columbus module. The IORS replaces the Ericsson radio system and packet module that were originally certified for spaceflight on July 26, 2000.

Initial operation of the new radio system is in FM cross band repeater mode using an uplink frequency of 145.99 MHz with an access tone of 67 Hz and a downlink frequency of 437.800 MHz. System activation was first observed at 01:02 UTC on September 2. Special operations will continue to be announced.

The IORS was launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 6, 2020 on board the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission. It consists of a special, space-modified JVC Kenwood D710GA transceiver, an ARISS developed multi-voltage power supply and interconnecting cables. The design, development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORS was an incredible five-year engineering achievement accomplished by the ARISS hardware volunteer team. It will enable new, exciting capabilities for ham radio operators, students, and the general public. Capabilities include a higher power radio, voice repeater, digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities and a Kenwood VC-H1 slow scan television (SSTV) system.

A second IORS undergoes flight certification and will be launched later for installation in the Russian Service module. This second system enables dual, simultaneous operations, (e.g. voice repeater and APRS packet), providing diverse opportunities for radio amateurs. It also provides on-orbit redundancy to ensure continuous operations in the event of an IORS component failure.

Next-gen development efforts continue. For the IORS, parts are being procured and a total of ten systems are being fabricated to support flight, additional flight spares, ground testing and astronaut training. Follow-on next generation radio system elements include an L-band repeater uplink capability, currently in development, and a flight Raspberry-Pi, dubbed “ARISS-Pi,” that is just beginning the design phase. The ARISS-Pi promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTV operations.

ARISS is run almost entirely by volunteers, and with the help of generous contributions from ARISS sponsors and individuals. Donations to the ARISS program for next generation hardware developments, operations, education, and administration are welcome -- please go to  www.ariss.org  to contribute to these efforts.
(Cool!!!! I have the same dual band rig. Happy ISS DX'ing!!!!)