Topics

1

Equipment / Grounding receiver ??

« on: July 04, 2023, 1418 UTC »

Do you connect some kind of ground wire to your shortwave receivers?
I am currently using an old ICOM ICR71E.  It has a connector for Ground / Earth wire at the back.
I am wondering, if some sort of connection should be made to the Ground post.
But how?  Connection to what.  This was my question I couldn't answer clearly.
What is the reason for grounding your receivers?
Does grounding your radios improve DX reception?

2

Equipment / Do you get RF jolt? What causes it?

« on: May 06, 2023, 0902 UTC »

I was listening to this weak signal on 5955 kHz in the early morning around 7am.  Really quiet outside, all seems asleep because it is weekend.
And at 1:33 and 1:37  of the video, you can see and hear the RF jolt or KICK, of about 59+30dB.
What could caused it?  Do you ever get kick like that during shortwave reception?
I was guessing could it have been thunder and lightening outside? or someone nearby switching on something powerful electrical device?
The RX antenna was Longwire in the garden of about 30 meters long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uC5SKHcA_A

3

Shortwave Broadcast / 5985 kHz Myanmar Radio pt.2

« on: April 21, 2023, 1033 UTC »

Two days after the first copy of Myanmar Radio 5895 kHz, it was heard again on last night with even better signal.
This time using the Lowe HF-225 and 30m + zigzag longwire and ATU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzFAQZmH3AM

4

Shortwave Broadcast / 5985 kHz Myanmar Radio

« on: April 20, 2023, 0802 UTC »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUlyu7adEwo

Tried copy this signal numerous time, but failed.  On the day, it was in copyable signal for the first time.
It sounds like some Buddhist tunes, chanting and singing with commentaries.  More info in the video.

Rx ant. 30+ meter long zigzag wire + atu.
Rig ICOM R71E.

5

Equipment / Can an antenna work while laying on the ground?

« on: March 25, 2023, 1300 UTC »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBS-CNtY2Uk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0WvIxoU0LI

What do you think? Have you tried this type of HF LF MW LW Rxing with the ground lying wire antenna?
What was the result?

6

Equipment / Made in China Wellbrook 1530 Loop Antenna?

« on: February 14, 2023, 1132 UTC »

Any one tried this Chinese Wellbrook 1530 Loop Antenna?
Price is not usual Chinese.  Wonder how the performance would be.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284903184271?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D246214%26meid%3Dce41f24736e54cdcb461588a1c469789%26pid%3D101195%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D115469812469%26itm%3D284903184271%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLv11WebTrimmedV3MskuWithRevOptLambda85KnnRecallV1AndV6ItemNrtInQueryAndCassiniVisualRanker%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101195.m1851&amdata=cksum%3A284903184271ce41f24736e54cdcb461588a1c469789%7Cenc%3AAQAHAAABQPc3I89H0AQHQHV%252FOlsMl254OIifOGpM%252BBEVlem%252B%252B9zqkiF5v06l0lZvmgOKI85oqIQoVeqzX5anW3c2z8VQG1s2EXcLUko1slSTch6KegK80F7vxNzjrgLeB2hzasxLLCJpKd9Z3rrK0H6W9MqOlxUS0uaFgRBsYCj%252FJAgqPc2%252FD28wQ51Wz8BsJftmv1MOyniw%252FyodbzVXlWjxKylhHDqRsypDlNzZ%252FXcIRTjXufo7pEQfHZvRpkMtGZJc6nGW8APfsfQfwykHswavfSirU%252BEL%252F%252FBajB3d0V%252FAjOEluaOdQF9DL4dsKsMhzwt3%252BNkAc29eK%252BY%252FNZ8FcvYy2p0OucLaO1LJYLKbNg2LeJbE7jyCRj3xc9bExxoJ7WCgLkf%252FUWJRlOke%252FhzpxCK2AOkMJOmTa6MSfxi8J8ml3LYcfXIo%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2047675

7

Propagation / The Tropical Band opening up

« on: February 05, 2023, 2324 UTC »

What are the some factors that gets the tropical band 60m open up.  A few days ago, in the early morning, I heard the band opening up, and was hearing the small powered DX stations from Brazil  USA and Cuba on the band. 

Before that, the band had been dead quiet for months.  I thought my antenna or radio has some problems.  But no, it was great band condition.
It has gone quiet again.

Are there any tell tale signs that can be checked and predicted the tropical band will be opening?  When it opened up, it was the early morning just before sunrise in here - northern UK.

8

Equipment / Using ATU with SDR or Portable Radios?

« on: January 31, 2023, 1004 UTC »

Is it possible to enhance the reception quality (to improve weak DX signals on LW MW SW) plugging in Antenna Tuning Unit or Antenna Matcher to SDRs or portable radios with antenna input socket such as XHDATA D-808?

At what impedance do typical SDRs and portable SW radios with telescopic antennas and external antenna input socket operate best?

9

Equipment / Best MWDX antenna?

« on: April 11, 2021, 2133 UTC »

What would be the best MWDX antenna?
I have been using MLA30, and it does work well sometimes when the band condition is good.
But on other nights, it is not great.

Which antenna will work best in MW and HF Low Band DXing?
What are you using for these band DXing?

Thanks

10

Shortwave Broadcast / R. Dunamis Shortwave 4750 kHz from Uganda

« on: January 02, 2021, 1810 UTC »

https://www.short-wave.info/index.php

This site is saying everyday it is On AIR on 4750 kHz from 15:00-19:00 UTC.
But I cannot verify that it is.  The new copy of WRTH 2021 does not list the station for 4750 kHz.
Only Bangladesh Betar and Voice of Indonesia are listed for 4750 kHz.

So anyone ever heard the R. Dynamis from Mukono Uganda on 4750 kHz?
Or has information on the station?

11

The RF Workbench / ICOM AD-55 power supply output voltage adjustment

« on: October 14, 2020, 1808 UTC »

Hi All

I checked my ICOM AD-55 output voltage, and it is 20V.
This is too abnormally high voltage I thought.

Is there ways to lower the voltage on the AD-55?

12

Equipment / Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 27, 2020, 0008 UTC »

I have put out my MLA30 outside in the garden. I also replaced the stock wire like element to thick earth wire type element and made it into a perfect circle.  And I put it horizontally for the omni directional reception, but about 2ft from the brick patio on the plastic box.

I have been monitoring the usual DX signals on various freq. and bands, but DX performance from that MLA30 in that location and position and height is disappointing.  I couldn't hear any signals from South America on the tropical bands.

But it seems working better for 6065kHz Voice of Hope signal from Lusaka Zambia. This is one of a good DX signal to catch, and on this new setup of MLA30, that was the only signal which was a little better than before.  But the rest was all very dismal.

I am wondering if there is ideal height and polarisation for better DX performance for the MLA30, or any active loop antenna in general.

Previously, the MLA30 was vertically polarised and was tied into a defunct coat hanger in the radio room upstairs. It was not the best, but about similar to what it is now = in the garden outdoor horizontally polarised on the plastic box 2ft above the ground.

13

SDR - Software Defined Radio / SDR on iPads?

« on: August 20, 2020, 1630 UTC »

I am thinking buying a SDR, but wondering, if my iPad could run with a SDR.
It is an old iPad about 10 year old.  But it still works fine on most apps.

Failing that, I have an IMac OSX 10.11.

If none of them works with SDR, does it mean that I must buy a new PC too?
I have an old Android pad too, but that is about the same age as the Macs.

14

Equipment / ICOM ICR-75 vs. TECSUN S-2000

« on: August 06, 2020, 1305 UTC »

Which one is better for DXing weak signal digging out from the noise etc?
Which one would you go for?

Do you own either one of these or both? How do you find them?

15

General Radio Discussion / Vintage analogue/ tube receivers for BCL/SWL DXing?

« on: August 03, 2020, 1211 UTC »

Can vintage analogue / tube radios be used for SWL BCL Dxing?
Do you use one? What are they? How do they perform?

Any advantages or disadvantage for BCL/SWL DXing using one of those vintage analogue radios?