Messages

226

Software / Re: FM broadcast SCA audio from SDR software?

« on: June 29, 2020, 1846 UTC »

Primarily because receivers were not widely available and adding subcarriers does cause degradation to the host stations program audio, as well as loudness loss.  SCA injection needed to run around 20%, and this meant the host stations program audio would have to be reduced by that amount to keep the peaks under 100%.  The commission later added an exception stating that for every percent of subcarrier injection, the peak modulation could be increased by 0.5%.  This means if you are running 20% injection of SCA (or RDS interestingly) your new peak ceiling is 110%.

+-RH

227

Software / Re: FM broadcast SCA audio from SDR software?

« on: June 29, 2020, 0036 UTC »

...I'm wondering if any major FM stations from major metro areas are doing it anymore.

https://youtu.be/fdCkFrde4jQ

When I started in broadcast engineering, some of the local public stations did "books for the blind" using SCA equipment installed at the transmitter sites.

+-RH

228

Equipment / Re: RFI from Recent Installation of Metal Rain Gutters?

« on: June 28, 2020, 1806 UTC »

I'm glad to hear there was a happy ending 

+-RH

229

North American Shortwave Pirate / X-FM 6285 AM 0250 UTC 28 JUN 2020

« on: June 28, 2020, 0324 UTC »

We are on 6285 KHz tonight with some new music.  Come on in, the water is fine

+-RH

230

The RF Workbench / Re: dumb soldering question of the day

« on: June 23, 2020, 1857 UTC »

Over here, I've seen a mixed bag.  Development places working with R&D or grant money see more metcal (where cost IS no object).  The rework folks like myself seem to lean more toward Hakko, Weller, Ungar, and a lot of the cheap Chinese stuff.  I just got a Quick hot air rework station, mainly for doing SMT rework and small run proto's.

Above 50 MHz, SMT inductors can be had in values close enough to suit your needs, and the repeatability will be better.  Not sure I'd use torroids at 300 MHz...

+-RH

231

The RF Workbench / Re: dumb soldering question of the day

« on: June 23, 2020, 1626 UTC »

60-100W is really all you need.  I have an older Hakko 60W I bought on closeout from a large electronics retailer years ago and use it routinely for connector replacement on commercial equipment, and also in situations where I need more heat.  FWIW I used a metcal tweezer for many years, until the probes started leaking and blowing up components.  I then switched to a Hakko base and tweezer to compliment the rest of the bench setup.  Metcal was always way overpriced in my book, even used.

+-RH

232

Amateur Radio / Re: Anyone ready for Field Day 2020?

« on: June 23, 2020, 0404 UTC »

Might be a good time for pirates to wave the flag as well...

+-RH

233

The RF Workbench / Re: dumb soldering question of the day

« on: June 23, 2020, 0025 UTC »

Use a big (60W or better) iron.  Smaller pencil irons don't have enough heat to adequately solder larger metal parts.  Cheaper connectors with non-ptfe dielectric will melt if you use too much heat for too long.

The only stupid questions are the ones not asked

+-RH

234

General Radio Discussion / Re: Toronto police charge 11, say tow trucks have been using encrypted radio

« on: June 22, 2020, 1934 UTC »

See, if dispatch was in the clear (as it should be) this kind of racketeering wouldn't exist.

+-RH

235

General Radio Discussion / Re: Letter to the Editor: AM Stereo Is Still an Option? Sure!

« on: June 21, 2020, 2235 UTC »

I recall hearing the same thing.  A friend of mine had one of those receivers, but we had no signals to test it with, and my test generator was halfway across the country at the time.

+-RH

236

Equipment / Re: RFI from Recent Installation of Metal Rain Gutters?

« on: June 20, 2020, 1835 UTC »

If you are in close proximity to any strong RF fields, the 'rusty bolt' syndrome can cause that, and aluminum is particularly bad about producing oxides.  I would try relocating your loop and see if any improvement is noted.

+-RH

237

General Radio Discussion / Re: CHAZ Free Radio Stations?

« on: June 20, 2020, 0723 UTC »

Oh wow!!!! Thanks for the reminder. I haven't corresponded with these two in years. Maybe, I should again. I even bought the DVD at the time and promoted the schytt out of their movie. I just can't believe that was just 15 years ago. (Here comes the Ben Stein WOW here.)

I bought their DVD too.  It took a lot of work to put together and glad they had the foresight to document all they did.

+-RH

238

General Radio Discussion / Re: CHAZ Free Radio Stations?

« on: June 18, 2020, 0646 UTC »

Seattle had a thriving free radio community back in the 90's.  There was a documentary about it called Pirate Radio USA, the link is here... https://youtu.be/hkQsHHwsj4M

+-RH

239

Bacon, BBQ, Beef, And More / Re: Why is the World Health Organisation Anti-Meat?

« on: June 16, 2020, 1548 UTC »

So where does one get the realistic BMI table?

+-RH

240

General Radio Discussion / Re: Letter to the Editor: AM Stereo Is Still an Option? Sure!

« on: June 14, 2020, 1043 UTC »

You're driving along enjoying the ride in your chick-magnet/road-sofa 89 K car, beige with white snowflake wheels and burgundy interior appointments, the am stereo emitting dulcet tones.

Suddenly bedlam! 

The phase changes and the sound starts rotating slowly one way around the cabin then the other as the signal undergoes fading!

And that, my friend, is part of it's charm...
https://youtu.be/lAMGmtzfwtc

+-RH