Messages

1

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDRPlay RSP1B

« on: January 31, 2024, 2000 UTC »

I just watched TechMinds' YouTube video demo of the RSP-1B on longwave, compared to the '1A.  The lower internal noise was quite audible on weak NDB stations. Not bad at all. It would be nice to know how different the B model is from the A version on the upper end of HF. 

2

Software / Re: FLdigi Question

« on: January 31, 2024, 1903 UTC »

Any FLdigi users know if there's an "Insert Marker" keyboard shortcut?...

I haven't seen it, but there might be a way to set up a macro or manually created keybind to do that.

3

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: Recommended Linux distros, for SDR. Overall Linux OS for communications

« on: January 31, 2024, 1855 UTC »

I want to use my spare laptop, for communications purposes only. I would to run all things related to our hobby on my system. SDR came to my mind first...

Hi JACE26,

I'm the person who makes Skywave Linux.  You might like the latest version, which went up on SourceForge yesterda: it is now based on Debian Sid, with emphasis on connecting to networked KiwiSDRs, WebSDRs, and Spyservers.  For digimodes, Fldigi is installed along with SatDump for weather satellites. The system has a lot of hardware drivers for popular devices: RTL-SDR, AirSpy, HackRF, etc.

I dropped support for SDRPlay due to their drivers being closed source and non-free.  They are quite unhappy about clone devices being bought and used with the SDRPlay API...  I dropped Gqrx too, as the GNU Radio drivers were adding a lot of weight to the iso image. For just running plug in SDRs, SDR++ and CubiSDR work nicely, without being so heavy.

Aside from Skywave Linux, Dragon OS is really good, especially if you want to do more analytical tasks involving SDRs. I believe Dragon OS has the SDRAngel gui installed, and that can do all sorts of interesting things.

4

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: SDR++

« on: January 31, 2024, 1837 UTC »

...the last thing I want to do is develop more code 

Hi Chris! 

You run a nice set of KiwiSDRs over there in Md. I'm an ex Baltimorean; haven't been back in a long time.

The good news on SoapySDR is this work should be pretty painless.  RobRich is onto something here. I'm just a lowly RTL-SDR user, but just finished setting up a bunch of SoapySDR drivers for the new Skywave Linux 5 / Debian Sid. With the cloning and building commands in a Bash script, Soapy goodies installed faster than I could go and pour a cup of coffee and come back to the machine.

SDR++ is developing well, with plenty of updates coming out on the nightly branch.  The last time I checked, the focus was on getting the PlutoSDR module running better. I use 'plusplus often for tuning my RTL dongle and also playing KiwiSDR IQ recordings.

5

Amateur Radio / Northeast Extremists on 3844 kHz (Awaiting Jammers)

« on: January 27, 2024, 0226 UTC »

Here we go with the Friday night antics on 3844 kHz... Livestream Running (as long as it lasts).

6

Amateur Radio / Friday Afternoon 7200 kHz 2024-01-19

« on: January 19, 2024, 2135 UTC »

After bad propagation during the early afternoon, the band has opened and jammers galore on 7200 kHz.  Livestream in preogress. There are recordings, squealing pigs, belches, and other fun sounds.  The guys trying to talk through it are hanging tough.

7

Amateur Radio / Wild Thursday Afternoon 7200 kHz 2024-01-18

« on: January 18, 2024, 2158 UTC »

Thursdays are almost as wild as Fridays on 7200 kHz. Livestream in progress. Drunks, sweeping carriers, sound effects, and economic commentary.

8

Amateur Radio / Sunday Afternoon on 7200 kHz - Midwest USA

« on: January 14, 2024, 2047 UTC »

A livestream of the usual afternoon crew: AC1DD (Joe) and a rogues gallery of music and snippet players.

9

Amateur Radio / Sunday Afternoon Drunks and Music Jammers on 7200 kHz

« on: January 07, 2024, 1757 UTC »

Sunday afternoon on 7200 kHz; drunks vs each other, with music jammers instigating. Livestream

10

Amateur Radio / Friday Night Music Jammers on 3860 kHz

« on: January 06, 2024, 0517 UTC »

Booze, culture war, and music all in one place.  Here's the livestream...  https://youtube.com/watch?v=Nvy24D78Mbk

11

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: KiwiSDR future/replacement?

« on: August 31, 2023, 0904 UTC »

A few minutes ago, I tried a fun test with a pair of KiwiSDRs, one of the W3HFU receivers and K1VL Vermont. Instead of looking for a zero beat, I had two browser tabs open and went to upper sideband mode, tuning 1000 Hz below CHU. I could then listen for the beat between two tones at 1000 Hz.

Without using the 1hz url parameter, I could not tune arbitrarily between the 10 hz increments on the K1VL receiver. It would round and tune to the nearest 10 Hz. With 1 Hz tuning enabled, I could tune in 1 Hz steps with ease. After having fun doing it by ear, I went to SAM mode and did indeed notice the audio panel's sync offset display respond to those 1 Hz steps (or not, if I didn't have 1 Hz tuning enabled).

That sync offset is a pretty slick way to compare receivers, if you tune them both to the same station! After picking and poking around on several receivers, checking then against WWV, I can say that most are within a couple of Hz and some are dead nuts on frequency - within a few tenths of a Hertz, plus or minus some QSB effects.

12

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: K2000 via NAPRS 6935 AM 0200 UTC 5 JUL 2023

« on: July 05, 2023, 0311 UTC »

K2000 was fun listening; I got a kick out of the show. Reminds somewhat of Negativland's jammer radio parody, and a bit of the UAN oddysey (based on the 75 meter AMmers and Jeff WA3UAN).

Nice reception on the KiwiSDRs from Western Maryland through New Hampshire. There was a lot of static from thunderstorms off the coast and the midwest, but still pretty good.

13

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Static 6930 USB 0040 18 June 2023

« on: June 21, 2023, 0607 UTC »

Here is some video taken between 0105 and 0220 UTC, with some of Radio Static's broadcast. The receivers used were getting a weak but readable signal, but the programming was fun to hear. IQ spectrum recording was good enough for some SSTV capture near the end of the video.

https://youtu.be/NZO3rJjPl4Y

14

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: YEAH MAN RADIO 6925 USB 0026 UTC 18 JUNE 2023

« on: June 21, 2023, 0552 UTC »

Here is some video of the latter part of the broadcast, where Yeah Man Radio plays some Beatles, wishes Paul a happy birthday, and signs off with some Jimmy Hendrix:  https://youtu.be/NZO3rJjPl4Y.

Yeah Man Radio had a nice signal in the Upper Midwest and southern Ontario, out to Cape Cod. 

15

Pirate Radio History / Re: Radio Newyork International (RNI)

« on: June 17, 2023, 1311 UTC »

Those were some fun times, when RNI was on and Johnny Lightning was doing his thing. There was a whole movement of radio and TVRO satellite nerds, including myself, who were followers of the shows on shortwave and unencrypted subcarrier downlinks. This was big before the Web.