Messages

1

Huh? / Re: 10 Years ago Midnight In The Desert, with Art Bell, on WBCQ and WTWW.

« on: August 18, 2025, 1515 UTC »

Hey Thadood,

I REALLY used to like Art's show. Some of the topics were VERY far out (and maybe total baloney). But Art was the first one to admit this.

Art was a VERY intelligent guy re the technical aspects of RF , all the way up into microwave.

But after he passed away, I never listened to any of the other hosts. It just wasn't the same .

I had never heard Art outside of the AM broadcast band, but had "heard" that other outlets (Shortwave and even pirate ) carried the show at times.

R.I.P. W6OBB/4F1AB/ SK

de NQC

2

General Radio Discussion / Re: Is there anyone around South Carolina listening?

« on: August 18, 2025, 1456 UTC »

Hey Beachlandscaper,

"Is anyone listening in SC " ?

It's hard to say. A lot of the guys do not give a location in their reports.

Rather than specifically looking for someone in SC's results , I'd go into the pirate logging  section and see what  anyone in a a state or two away is hearing.

Or you could go even simpler : Check the known frequencies on your own .I have also used the  pirate logging section "semi live" . If you go in during
"pirate prime time" (ie Fri , Sat and maybe Sun evenings) you can piggyback on what others are hearing while the station is still on the air.

Even on your own, at a good location /good antenna /low noise (blah, blah)  you probably should be able to eventually copy SOMETHING over time either just on your own or by seeing others postings.

(On AM broadcast band pirates, you may be more on your own . You probably need to keep checking.As a side line to pirates, some folks also  DX low powered Traveler's Info Stations)

WAY back in the day, I used to "stand watch" for hours on end during prime time. I copied a BIG bunch of pirates over time.

NQC

3

Huh? / Re: Great Places to Scan the Dial? Mountain Top Cabin! RW rip...

« on: August 17, 2025, 1629 UTC »

Hey Dood,

I  definitely agree that "height is right" for non ducted /normal FM and TV band conditions Dx. I have done plenty of Dx from hill/ mountain tops, particularity on  the V/UHF ham bands.

Ducted signals seem to be much less dependent  on height, but a bit of height to get an open horizon couldn't hurt.Same thing on AM b'cast band or HF.

For broadcast Dx (LW or 530-1710) nothing beats the ocean, especially if working from ie MA to Africa or Europe . But even a partial saltwater path to the US  seems to really help.

And obviously, man made  noise is  REALLY an issue . IMHO, quiet QTH's in forest, mountains or at seaside on ANY band (LW, MW or HF)  using Amplitude Modulation  make a BIG difference ,not mater what the the   desired direction of reception is .

NQC

4

Huh? / Re: Great Places to Scan the Dial? Mountain Top Cabin! RW rip...

« on: August 17, 2025, 1617 UTC »

Duplicate

5

Huh? / Re: China Adopts DRM Standard to Modernize AM Radio Bands? Another RW rip...

« on: August 17, 2025, 1608 UTC »

Hey Dood,

Hmmmm... DRM ( again).  I personally have  NO dog in the fight about DRM  ( knock yourself out if you want to try and sell it-IN CHINA , NOT here). But it seems the world has gone around with DRM a few times and basically the overall opinion  seems  it's a solution in search of  a problem .

Analog AM  on 530 to 1710 Kc ( from a technical -but maybe not COMMERCIAL -standpoint) works well and is fairly forgiving in mediocre (or sometimes WORSE) conditions .Unless conditions are strong and stable, good luck on DRM.

We had a  "regional" station (WSRO) on 650. They  kind of bothered me, since they QRM''ed WSM and couldn't be nulled out. But that was MY problem . SRO  had license and SM is NOT protected up here ( to Boston). Too bad , so sad for me . SRO thrashed around for years trying to find an audience and allegedly didn't reduce power at night either out of "desperation". Then they went ALL digital, despite warnings that their audience would go from ultra low to  to essentially ZERO.

They ran all  digital for a few months . OK , if you run legit Co channel AM, fine. But if you operate a  digital noise jammer that near zero  folks can hear ,on a Frq with AM on it as well,  that kind of bothered me .Station folded , went off air. The antenna site land is too valuable.

DRM on HF seems even more of a no go. With fading and who knows what other type of subtle physics problems it seems like a much worse bet than strong local  AM broadcast band DRM . This is why nearly NO big SW stations used it .I can't figure out why ANY of them ever  even tried it .

SW b'casting is down 95% or better from the peak time years ago. The stations that ARE left on the air would be wise NOT to mess with DRM  technology that would render nearly all of the receivers out there obsolete.

NQC

6

General Radio Discussion / Re: Miami Pirate Arrested During Live Broadcast

« on: August 17, 2025, 1546 UTC »

Hey CT Yankee,

They  either never learn or don't care.

1: Don't operate on FM, it is TOTALLY  VERBOTEN and one of the quickest ways to get busted.

Sporadic / "short" transmissions just above the X band or on HF are the way  to go.Admittedly , these are "hobby" stations , that even with advanced notice, may get  6 or 8  listeners (on 1720 or 6950 !!! ) from  primarily HFU  folks ( and probably few or NO other sources).

To ME (anyways) Xband + or HF operating  is 80% about the OP's  engineering skills and the propagation at the time of broadcast. 6 listeners is GRAVY, I would go in expecting even LESS . 1 to 3 IS nice though.

But these guys want to "rebels" and/or attract an "audience" (not sure how many "youngsters" listen on FM radio anymore, probably VERY few).

2: Don't operate continuously from the same location for long periods of time.

3: Don't flip off the FCC after they have busted you the first time, the show is permanently over after that.

Oh well.....


NQC

7

Huh? / Re: It’s Time to Put NOAA Weather Radio in Cars? RW rip... (THANKS Boomer!)

« on: July 29, 2025, 1535 UTC »

Hey Thadood,

Interesting idea .

As for "less than ideal " antennas - I suppose they are better than nothing and would depend on how far you are from the Transmitter.

Almost no one uses CB's anymore . I never had one with NWR built in , so I can't vouch for how well they worked - that was a function that probably came out a LONG time after I dumped my CB.

But obviously there is a second NWR receiver board in the CB, so not sure if the boards themselves stunk or if it was ( again) using the "wrong" antenna.

If I HAD  to make the mistake though, I'd rather use a CB antenna for NWR receive , rather than an NWR antenna for CB receive  .

FWIW I rarely listen to NWR now, I have too many other sources and would only use it in a dire /power out situation.



 


NQC

8

General Radio Discussion / Re: New book on Peruvian shortwave radio history

« on: July 29, 2025, 1457 UTC »

Hey N2AVH,

FWIW I logged R. San Antonio 4940 (good  clear Id's) within the last week via SDR. QTH listed as Villa Atalaya (Departmento Ucayali )   Peru.


Tropicals are now as rare as hen's teeth .

NQC

9

General Radio Discussion / Re: Letter: For DX With SDRs, It’s Not the Same As It Was

« on: July 28, 2025, 1418 UTC »

Hey All,

I am kind of old school and would "prefer" to use my own gear. But being  stuck with an  indoor antenna , so SDR's can really help out at times.

 OT: I am lucky here : my  crystal set can receive several music stations that are actually worth listening to (one of them just got a BIG power increase  ).  Also handy for late  bedside news on WBZ.

NQC

10

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Radio Tarma (Peru) 4775 AM 0130 UTC 19 JUL 2025

« on: July 28, 2025, 1410 UTC »

Hey N2AVH,

Tarma is one of my absolute favorites, although admittedly I have to go to steam 90 % of the time to copy them. FWIW, my wife is from Peru and has actually been to Tarma.

The station op was asked why he continues on shortwave when there is "no one " listening and no money to be made from it.

His answer was that if he could bring some entertainment to people in remote areas (even IF they don't spend a lot of money), that was fine.

I believe his father started the station, they have been on for MANY,MANY years.

It's quite the operation : AM, SW, maybe 4 on FM , cable TV , etc.

K

11

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: WBLR-AM 1730 USB 0240 UTC 21 JUL 2024

« on: July 22, 2025, 1501 UTC »

Hey All,

FWIW, "BLR" (Brighton Local Radio) (Without the W) was the name of "A" 25 watt  station running in my area some years back , moving around a bit , but mostly on 1700 .

Good to see folks using 1730 !

de NQC

12

Pirate Radio History / Re: Historical Choice of Frequencies on 40/43 Meters?

« on: July 16, 2025, 0125 UTC »

Hey Charlie ,

I agree.

 An “established “ 200 Kc  range is not a big deal to search, even on a non waterfall receiver.

A waterfall DOES make it better though.

Again, I  guess the other traditional hangouts would also not be too hard to grab either , at a good receive installation.

IMHO , a waterfall may be  even more advantageous outside of 43 M .

NQC

13

Pirate Radio History / Re: Weekend Music Radio WMR Scotland

« on: July 15, 2025, 1438 UTC »

Hey All,

I heard them WAY back in the day.

Nice to hear they are back.

NQC

14

Pirate Radio History / Re: Historical Choice of Frequencies on 40/43 Meters?

« on: July 14, 2025, 1438 UTC »

Hey All,

Yes, I remember the "7415" days.

And ie 6220 for Dun Laoghaire Local Radio Ireland.I had some  other Euros  around 6200 as well.

A LONG time ago !

I see from the most recent HFU  reports that  around 6955  is by far the most popular range to op in.Only a single listing for 6170 and 4185 for  a while .

Is there a (big ?)  "peskie" problem around 6950/6955  ? My QTH  receive set up  is  a  VERY limited -an  indoor antenna "40M"/ square 1/4 wave /33 ft  total length loop. "Well built" ,but still INDOORS- BOO, HISS/ STINKO. I really have to "blessed" with "pretty good" prop, or else it's a "problem".   

 So I  usually only hear the STRONG pirates and if there are pesks , I haven't really copied them as QRM to pirates.

As I have discussed  with Chris, I personally  think it is a bit of a  better idea for pirates to "mostly" cluster around a certain frequency ie +/- 6955 ( and much more critically  on  MW at +/- 1730- NOT in the X band  ). Pirate listening  is something  98% of  folks specifically  search  for. It it generally not stumbled upon by people   causally  tuning over  a large range of frequencies. Pretty much "everybody"  knows where to look and is equipped for the chase (except me- now , HI  ..).

Having other "active" areas (ie the lower end of 6 Mhz  or in the 4100's ) is fine - IF  you are a serious  chaser and know where else to look , aside from  "6955".

 But I  "usually" just check    "6955" though  . My antenna is "best" ( a long stretch and  very subjective term ) in 40 M . The 4100's can also be more noisy.From the transmit side , I feel 6955 is far easier re antennas , prop,  etc -compared to the  4100's  .

(OT, when I was a ham , 40 M was the lowest band I could "pull off" at my QTH)

 I  do  "get"  using  alternative frequencies though . Freedom is part of the experience, so as long as there is no QRM TX/RX, have at it ! .

Re pirate to pirate QRM : Obvious :Listen for a FEW MINUTES   for  somebody else to possibly QSB up. Move  if needed. Easy peasy.

Re Bolivia on 6955, I did a  REALLY quick search , but  came up empty. Anyone have a station name for that one ? Are they still active ?

NQC

15

Pirate Radio History / Re: A.C.E. Association of Clandestine Enthusiasts pirate listeners club, downloads

« on: July 14, 2025, 1352 UTC »

Hey John,

I was in the ACE for quite a while and REALLY enjoyed reading it.

But as mentioned, internet technology eventually replaced print, so that ended  that.

NQC