Messages

1

Huh? / Re: So, what's up with Archive .ORG? Seems back up now, 10/21/2024.

« on: October 21, 2024, 1809 UTC »

Good... Able to get back to   https://archive.org/details/@thadood     again, as well as other archives, like   https://archive.org/details/@splatterbox3200       YEA!!!!

2

Equipment / Re: I bought a shortwave and can't hear sh*t? Ya want good sh*t!

« on: October 21, 2024, 1802 UTC »

Near Pensacola, huh? Almost nightly, I can hear their 1620AM up here in SW West Virginia, usually battling with 1620kHz out of Cuba, and my own Part 15 AM1620 station. Anyway... Couple of things that you can try. Got any unused speaker wire, trashed telephone, or CAT 5, cables, or even an extra power extension cord?  Ideas, for longer Shortwave antennas to clip to that portable's telescopic whip. Are you close to a beach that you can take that portable to? Just be sure that you have some good distance away from the local AM stations, like that 1620AM. Looking at that portable's range, 4.5MHz - 22MHz, from 4.5MHz to like 10MHz, good for most nighttime listening, while 10MHz to 22MHz, mainly daytime. Albeit, about 10AM to mid-afternoon, EST, you could usually hear 40M AM HAM's from 7285kHz - 7295kHz. (That includes me on some Saturdays and Sundays, when I hear a friend calling CQ-CQ there.) After that time, 40M shortwave broadcasters dominate that portion of the HAM Band, like in the evening. Oh.. Got a close-by tree to string a wire up into for an antenna? Oh... In a pinch, even the Dollar Tree should have cheap runs of speaker wire, and a small-gauge spool of what they call 'hook-up' wire. That would work. Hey, I know what it's like to be super cheap. I still dumpster dive. 

3

SDR - Software Defined Radio / The Ultra-Portable ATS25 max-Decoder Receiver? Updated?

« on: October 19, 2024, 1720 UTC »

https://www.elektormagazine.com/review/ats25-max-decoder-receiver-review   Sound intriguing, but I understand that you'd have to pay for the software upgrades.  Anyone tried this SDR yet?

4

General Radio Discussion / Re: Rookie purchase help? I did it the portable way, back in the day.

« on: October 18, 2024, 1746 UTC »

I'll ring-in on this as the way I'd gotten into Shortwave listening was by a birthday gift at, 12-years-old, a new 1978, Radio Shack, Realistic DX-40 AM / FM / two-band, shortwave 3MHz - 22MHz, portable. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14678   At the time, I've really liked it for the decent AM / FM reception, which it did pretty well. However, I did check-out the Shortwave bands on it. Back then, there was a lot more to listen to, but even today it could still receive several shortwave stations still out there, as well as AM HAM's on 1885kHz, 3885kHz, and 7290kHz. It also easily picked-up the time stations of WWV's 5MHz, 10MHz, 15MHz, and 20MHz, and CHU's 3330kHz, and 7850kHz. The thing about having your own radio is that you are so anonymous listening to it. Unlike, listening to on-line KIWI-SDR's. Even, with the telescopic whip antenna, if reception suck at one location, move to another, or go outside. Anyway, that's how I started out. Cheaper radios, with Shortwave, could be had used at junk stores, yard sales, Salvation Army, Good Will, etc. Or, looks for what's on sale for new at like Walmart, even some drug stores, and other local department stores. Ya never know...   

5

Huh? / So, what's up with Archive .ORG? Been down since the start of the month.

« on: October 16, 2024, 1751 UTC »

https://archive.org/details/@thadood      That sucks... Can't access my uploads. WBCQ must be in the same boat.  https://archive.org/details/@splatterbox3200   For now, I can kind of fall-back to my Brighteon.Social page,  https://brighteon.social/@RealFreeRadio   There, non-members can still view TEXT and PIC's, but not .PDF's, or A/V files. Huh...

6

Equipment / User Report: SEPsoniX Brings Big Sound to Small Station? RW rip.

« on: October 16, 2024, 1745 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/buyers-guide/user-report-sepsonix-brings-big-sound-to-small-station     COOL!!!! That would be neat for either LPFM, or Part 15, stations. Always good to know what's out there. (THANKS, Boomer!)

7

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / A look at an LPB, Inc., 25C Tube Transmitter and Coupler from 1975.

« on: October 14, 2024, 1848 UTC »

https://steampoweredradio.com/pdf/lpb/manuals/LPB%20Model%2025C%20AM%20Broadcast%20Transmitter%20Manual.pdf    COOL!!! I'd still would take both today.

8

Equipment / Anyone tried the Sirio re-issued Starduster 11M / 10M Antenna? Just ordered one.

« on: October 10, 2024, 1809 UTC »

I was trying to build a better, lower-gain, antenna for 11M CB and 10M local Chit-Chat, that goes on in my area on 28.415MHz USB. Being in this valley bottom, low-gain antennas seem to be the best way on VHF / UHF to talk out of here. Currently, I'm using a free Cushcraft AR-10 10M 1/2-Wave GND-Plane, which does pretty good, at +2dbd gain, but I believe that I could do better in my geographically challenged areas to my South and East. Anyway, by the time I get the parts together, and the time to do it, I might as well pay for an old tried & true antenna that the Italian company Sirio has re-issued, the old antenna design from Antenna Specialist, The Starduster.  https://www.sirioantenne.it/en/products/hf/starduster-m-400   I ordered mine from Copper Electronics.   https://www.copperelectronics.com/cart/M400-10-11-Meter Thus far, I've had good luck with them and they still have my INFO. So, an antenna that was all-the-rage in the late 70's and early 1980's with the CB'ers of the time. Quite a few friends of mine, back then, had one and loved them. So, a pretty Unity-Gain, 1/4-Wave, antenna for the upper HF band, with a higher angle of radiation, to take better advantage of Knife-Edge-Refraction and even Sporadic E propagation. The down-side that I've observed of this original antenna is that it may easily brake in wind storms. However, they seemed to be easily repairable and most were put back up. So, I have to ask, have any of you tried the 'ol Starduster, or even the newer Sirio version? What do you think? 

9

General Radio Discussion / Re: World Music Radio on 25.800MHz AM, in the 11M Int Band? Oooops!!!!!

« on: September 28, 2024, 1738 UTC »

Well, if there's anything that will teach me not to post anything, before coffee, then this does. Um, yeah... World Music Radio. I'm kind of surprised that they didn't correct me on that. I must have had that Irish station stuck in my head. So, oooooooooooooooooops...

10

General Radio Discussion / Weekend Music Radio on 25.800MHz AM, in the 11M Int Band?

« on: September 27, 2024, 1715 UTC »

Huh??? This is the 1st that I've heard about anyone, but CB Outbanders, using the 11M International Broadcast Band, from 25.670MHz - 26.100MHz, since for decades, that band has been pretty much abandoned. So, when I heard about Weekend Music Radio, (WMR), operating 24/7 on the FREQ of 25.800MHz AM, I had to inquire. So, here was their reply:

"Thanks for your e-mail.

What do you mean “Are you relay on the 11M band”?? Yes, of course we are. And have been there since June 2021 - running 24/7.

 

From the beginning the power was 60 Watts. Now it is 150 Watts (AM carrier). The transmitter is a Dutch built 300 Watts transmitter. We are using wide bandwidth – so excellent audio locally. We have a license for 25795, 25800, and 25805 kHz J

 

The antenna is a vertical half wave dipole on top of a 110 meter tall tower. On a hill top a bit south of the Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. Giving a really good local coverage.

 

But the signal also propagates worldwide when conditions are good. Very often in No. Africa and So. Europe. Sometimes in the Americas (usually late afternoons UTC). Occasionally in New Zealand and Australia. And audible almost daily in Japan:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/fJKgWqKobNGBik3s/

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/vnZkDFvohzyKdZqG/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/EKDo7ZJ234G99VBq/

 

I am attaching two photos of the antenna tower.

Need any more infos – pse get in touch again.

 

Best regards
Stig

 

www.wmr.radio     "

 COOL!!!!!!! Anyone out there heard them?

11

Huh? / FCC approves order to fast-track George Soros' purchase of over 200 radio statio

« on: September 25, 2024, 1726 UTC »

Yeah, WTF there, huh??? Gee... No favoritism here, right?    Actually, I heard this Monday, but since no one else posted it, here it is.   https://thepostmillennial.com/fcc-approves-order-to-fast-track-george-soros-purchase-of-over-200-radio-stations-report   HAM's are certainly talking about it on 75M.

12

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Part 15 preemphasis and compression?

« on: September 23, 2024, 1553 UTC »

Boomer, ran into this discussion:     https://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=441388&sid=2089fe7c284211d0cc4e5ef8d5c97a66     It's been asked and talked about before. Me??? I'm very cheap. Since 2005, I 1st run into a TERK VR-1 original DSP based Audio AGC, (Not the stupid Audiovox version that replaced that for cheaper.), then run into a ART CS2 compressor, set at 4:1 COMP, then run that into a 32-Band EQ. Why??? To me, it seemed to sound the best over-the-air that way to me, and less harsh. The EQ also helps control bad sibilance, (S's & T's.), from podcasts that do not use a de-essing unit in their audio chain. Believe me, it was done with lots of trial & error over the years, but my AM stations sound better than any of the commercial stations around here locally. One advantage about what I have for audio processing? No software updates. Also, when something goes wrong, I like the idea of separate components to repair, and, or, swap-out.    Basically, I'm doing what seems to work best for what I have setup here. You, may have a completely different setup that works for you.

13

General Radio Discussion / Re: Art Bell (Somewhere in Time) is talking about Pirate Radio? M.I.T.D.?

« on: September 21, 2024, 1535 UTC »

Well, here's the very 1st Test-Broadcast that Art did with WBCQ. Um... I may have had something to do with Keith Roland talking to Allan. (Hi-hi...) https://archive.org/details/art-bell-midnight-in-the-desert-rec-test-boadcast-via-wbcq-7490k-hz-off-air-7-19-2015-edited   

14

General Radio Discussion / Latest ARN # 2447, 9/20/2024, has Icom statement on HT's blowing up!

« on: September 20, 2024, 1935 UTC »

https://www.arnewsline.org/    Actually, Icom talks about a counterfeit version of their HT's copied in the wake of the Walkie-Talkie explosions in the news in Lebanon. (THANKS, to Caryn, N2GUT, for keeping me posted on this!)

15

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Sources for T.O.T.H. News Minutes and Special Reports for Part 15 and LPFM's?

« on: September 19, 2024, 1710 UTC »

I was asked the following, from an LPFM licensee, what do I run for Top Of The Hour, (T.O.T.H.), News 'Headlines / Special Reports'? I answered, "Good question!", since I'm in the same boat. I'd like to find a non-biased, (Practically impossible today.), news brief and, or, special reports. The LPFM'er was contemplating AP News, but aren't they commercial, with possible ads and fee-spots? That, would be fine for Part 15, but not non-commercial LPFM's.  Boomer, of WAG AM690, posed a couple of ideas, like FSN,   https://www.featurestorynews.com/subscribe-now/  that requires monthly subscription, and  USA Radio,  https://usaradio.com/shows/usa-radio-news/   . Many news services are just gone, like the nice, 5 minutes, MP3 downloads from Media Minutes, but that went bye-bye over 15 years ago. Say what you will, about The Christian Science Monitor News Service, but they did have an excellent news service department for decades, but also are gone. So, the question is out there, what very cheap, and, or free, news service is out there that LPFM's and Part 15 stations can, link / download, to for either T.O.T.H. Headlines, or breaking new flash events? LPFM's would have to be non-commercial, but Part 15 Stations could run pretty much anything. Hmmmmmmmmmmm... This might be a nice subject to suggest to Radio Survivor.