Messages

136

Equipment / Re: Looking for suggestions for a circa 4100 kHz directional antenna

« on: May 05, 2021, 1856 UTC »

Some folks have had good luck with the D-Kaz on lower frequencies, especially medium wave.  Perhaps this could be scaled down slightly for 4 MHz?
http://durenberger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/D-KAZ-COOKBOOK-Pt1.pdf

+-RH

137

Equipment / Re: MFJ-209C for medium wave tests?

« on: May 01, 2021, 1512 UTC »

I still have my RigExpert Zero, which I bought on your recommendation Chris.  I bought the 35 Zoom simply so I didn't have to keep dragging a laptop to the base of the antenna every time I was in the field setting up for a show

+-RH

138

Equipment / Re: MFJ-209C for medium wave tests?

« on: May 01, 2021, 0123 UTC »

I never liked the MFJ analyzers; too easy to damage by inadvertent static, etc.  I bought a rigexpert AA-35 Zoom last year, couldn't be happier, and it goes down to 60 KHz.  And yes, I have used it on a psudo-part15 station.

+-RH

139

General Radio Discussion / Re: Objection filed against application for DRM SWBC license

« on: April 23, 2021, 2001 UTC »

With the changing of the guard at the commission, this may have the desired effect.  It is rather satisfying to read such roasting in legalese

Maybe all the racket on 43 meters will go away soon, just in time for the coming of the new cycle.

+-RH

140

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 4180 USB 0130 UTC 20 Apr 2021

« on: April 20, 2021, 0200 UTC »

4180 KHz USB 3KHz audio good reception with a few shallow fades.

0157 Alex Mattson feat. Solamay 'UFO'
0201 UFO 'Cherry'
0204 UNID mumble rap track
0206 Goats screaming over an UNID rock track UFO 'Too Hot To Handle'
0210 OP, sounding very much like DJ Dickweed.  Into a nebulous slow paced track.
0213 'Goat Hearder Radio' ID, OP talking about first class phone.
0218 OP "No, no, no, I'm not dickeed, I'm his evil twin!" into song "Dead Puppies"
0220 'I am the witch doctor'

Thanks for the show!

+-RH

141

Amateur Radio / Re: TX noise figures from today's HF transceivers?

« on: April 19, 2021, 2322 UTC »

The only splatter I hear when surfing the bands are those running dirty linear amplifiers.  It also seems to follow that there is little "intelligence" modulated on these dirty signals.

+-RH

142

The RF Workbench / Re: Building an HF amplifier

« on: April 17, 2021, 2022 UTC »

FWIW, you could buy one of the many kits off ebay such as... https://www.ebay.com/itm/MRF300-LDMOS-600W-HF-LINEAR-AMPLIFIER-1-8-54MHz-BOARD/233929540038?hash=item36774981c6:g:dYMAAOSwwkhgQO9Z

Just supply fets, heatsink, and off you go.  600W fairly simple as all the hard work is done for you.

BTW you can do high level SSB using the kahn method.  Continental and others have been doing it for over 30 years...without DSP, and at hundreds of KW.

+-RH

143

The RF Workbench / Re: Building an HF amplifier

« on: April 17, 2021, 1815 UTC »

I'd stick to the BLF188XR as you can get an easy 800W from 5W driving. The 200W kits with IRF devices are fairly old designs and not the best.

Depends what you're looking for?

Band switching is the most problematic part!

Str.

BLF188/184 are now EOL pending replacement devices which have yet to be released.  I found that out repairing a 5KW FM recently.

Also keep in mind unless you are willing to solder the devices to a heatsink, the newer gemini devices are totally unsuitable for full limit linear service.  Lots of power in a small space, a thermal management nightmare.

+-RH

144

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: X-FM Relay 5185 AM and 4180 USB 2300 UTC 16 Apr 2021

« on: April 16, 2021, 2355 UTC »

Thank you Red Hat. Do you have any Beyond the Horizon or Pusifer???

Yes...coming up!

Special thanks to MRI and RI for making this happen tonight!

+-RH

145

General Radio Discussion / Re: Looking for a Volunteer Or Two

« on: April 11, 2021, 0353 UTC »

Thanks for your efforts Skip!  Also, thanks to Chris for giving us this playground in the first place

+-RH

146

General Radio Discussion / Re: Pirates helping communities during COVID?

« on: April 06, 2021, 0252 UTC »

While not technically a pirate, I was made aware of several temporary tis style stations licensed through Ntia for information about covid testing locations and directions.  Most were associated with hospitals, churches, and community centers.

+-RH

147

Equipment / Re: Interesting Chinesium SI4732 Shortwave/Air/FM

« on: April 02, 2021, 0356 UTC »

Why the interest in this, form factor perhaps?  I would guess this is the chipset used in all the Chinese cc radio clones?

+-RH

148

Other / Re: OTHR on 40 Meters 2339 UTC 29 March 2021

« on: April 02, 2021, 0349 UTC »

I'm sure you know this, but the 7200--7300 Khz spectrum is only available to amateur radio users in ITU region 2, North and South America.  The rest of the world recognizes this segment as a broadcast band.
...just in case some folks don't know that.

+-RH

149

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: Radio Italiano / Throwback 90s ? 0025 UTC 31 Mar 2021

« on: April 02, 2021, 0331 UTC »

Frequency?

+-RH

150

General Radio Discussion / Re: Supreme Court sides with FCC in loosened Media Ownership rules

« on: April 02, 2021, 0329 UTC »

I also heard through the grapevine that ihateradio is making large cuts to engineering and programming.  Some engineers are now tasked with keeping 50 or more signals on.  There is also rumors that the format lab is back again with a new twist....audio will now originate from a system at the transmitter.  All stations running the same format will run the same log, coast to coast.

This comes on the coat tails of a UK company now controlling almost half of the company.  The end is nigh.

+-RH