Messages

811

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6924.7 AM 2358 UTC 22 Sep 2017

« on: September 23, 2017, 0022 UTC »

Pretty strong here @ 0021z and about S9+15, but VERY distorted audio.
Pink Floyd 'Money' with CW ID over top.
0022z QRT.

+-RH

812

Equipment / Re: Two New Videos - Preparing for Your Next DXpedition

« on: September 17, 2017, 2324 UTC »

Along those same lines, make sure you have maps of the area you are in, or a GPS.  Bring extra batteries for headlamps.  I like to bring along a toolbox with basic tools and a multimeter.  I also like to carry a wrench and socket set in the vehicle.  Be sure to bring spare cables and RF adapters.  Radioshack is gone in most places so running into town for a spare connector or adapter is usually no longer an option, so plan ahead and bring your own spares.

For ops, I always like to bring a spare microphone, spare headphones, and a spare laptop with the right software to get you through the show.  An antenna analyzer is a good idea too.

If you have meds for whatever condition, make sure you have extra in case you get stuck for a while.  Nothing is worse than being up to your axles in mud, there is no help nearby, and your late in your regiment.

+-RH

813

General Radio Discussion / Re: Home generated RF interference...

« on: September 17, 2017, 2122 UTC »

'Next time we will cut off your johnson!'

+-RH

814

North American Shortwave Pirate / Flashback AM 6940 USB 2110 UTC 16 SEP 2017

« on: September 16, 2017, 2113 UTC »

On with 'Love Me Do' About S7 here.
hiphop piece, then 'Flashback AM' ID @ 2115z
2116z Twenty One Pilots 'Heathens' clip, then Flashback AM ID down to about S6 now.

+-RH

815

FM Free Radio / Re: Low-power broadcasting at bluegrass festivals

« on: September 16, 2017, 2055 UTC »

They could also be playing the odds in their favor.  Most of those things last just a weekend, and even if you were running a few watts, the odds of it catching the attention of the commission is quite small, unless they just happen to be in the neighborhood (it happens).

+-RH

816

General Radio Discussion / Re: "Pirates Beware. Chairman Pai Is Coming For You"

« on: September 16, 2017, 2048 UTC »

It should be pointed out as well that there is a big difference between pirate 'A' that pops up for a few hours on the weekends, and pirate 'B' that is on 24/7 and selling advertising.  Although just because a station is not running 24/7 or selling advertising you don't have the right to use any frequency you choose.  I am for responsible piracy (is there really such a thing?).  Do your research, find a clear frequency, and have fun, but understand there are risks.

+-RH

817

General Radio Discussion / X-FM is headed for dry dock

« on: September 12, 2017, 1210 UTC »

I've been spending a lot of time lately trying to get transmission gear to behave and at the same time trying to pay the bills.  As of late, things have been piling up faster around here than I care to admit, and progress on the transmitters and associated gear has been going far slower than I anticipated.  The looming date of Halloween, this list of things that must be finished beforehand brought me to a conclusion late last night that I didn't really want to admit, but now have to.  For the last six years or so, this has been my hobby, and one of my few remaining ways to blow off steam and have a good time.  Lately its become too much of a burden on my time and finances.  I'll never say I'm not coming back, but without a functioning transmitter and the spare funds to go out and play, it looks like its going to be a while.  Rather than half-ass something together, when we relaunch, it will be bigger and better than ever, even if only noticeable from this side of the mic.

I thank you all for your support over the years, your reports, and sticking through the rough conditions.  Needless to say unless something happens over the next month or so, Halloween is probably off the table, as are any show for the following year.

I'll still be hanging around the boards and helping folks where I can.

Thanks all,

+Redhat, X-FM Shortwave

818

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6955 USB 0119 UTC 9-10-2017

« on: September 10, 2017, 0143 UTC »

0142z Wall of Voodoo Mexican Radio blasting in about S9+10 with CW ID over top.

+-RH

819

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950 USB 0115 UTC 9-10-2017

« on: September 10, 2017, 0132 UTC »

6950 KHz USB, 4KHz audio, a little over S9 on peaks.  Some big band era sounding stuff, started with some light piano and bells before that around 0105z or so.  Nice sounding stuff!!

'Miles Davis's 'So What' was instantly recognizable.  Wonderful track.

+-RH

820

General Radio Discussion / Re: Home generated RF interference...

« on: September 08, 2017, 1838 UTC »

If its inverter drive, sometimes the switching transients get into the frame of the fridge and use it as an antenna.  AC line filters can be had for around $20 USD on ebay, just search for 'AC line filter'.  That will probably be cheaper than going through a parts house.  Fortunately on 240VAC, the fridge shouldn't draw more than a few amps.  Select the filter with the lowest cutoff frequency you can find.  This should help the problem.  If more attenuation is needed, you may have to load up the inverter output leads to the motor with ferrites.

Good luck!

+-RH

821

Equipment / Re: Long/Random Wire with Twisted Pair - Untwist or Not?

« on: September 07, 2017, 2330 UTC »

http://www.mile204.us/PotsdamDan/RubeGoldberg/Ultimate_AM.html

This is the basic idea, except mine was made out of a 3' piece of cat5 with each pair's conductors shorted together and then wired alternatingly to produce a four turn loop.  I just hung mine on the wall with push pins and used another 6' scrap piece of cat 5 with the white/blue pair tied to the output of the loop.  The receiver I was feeding it with had an unbalanced input, so I placed a high permiability ferrite snap-on core at the receive end to make a crude balun.  The transmitter was only a few miles from the building so just about anything would have worked, but I needed to keep the electrical noise out of the AM audio, and a loop is a good way to do that.

+-RH

822

Equipment / Re: This might be the start of something big

« on: September 07, 2017, 2322 UTC »

That falls under TIS rules which I think allow 10-20 watts depending on the license.

*edit*
TIS falls under CFR 47 part 90.242 which says 10 watts with a maximum antenna of ~49 feet.  A basic rundown of this and a search tool from the commission...
https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/travelers-information-stations-search
The actual rules pertaining to this service...
https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/90.242

+-RH

823

Equipment / Re: Long/Random Wire with Twisted Pair - Untwist or Not?

« on: September 07, 2017, 0312 UTC »

Agreed, cat5 although made of the right stuff, is likely too weak to hold itself under tension for long.  The jacket will also break down from the sun's UV and all the insulation will come off in a few years.  I would think you'd be better off with #14 house wire for tension type service.

FWIW, i recently made a small AM receiving loop out of some scraps of cat5 for a radio station so they could monitor their off air feed.  shorting the pair wires together and alternating pairs made for basically a 4 turn loop.  Slap a ferrite on each end of another piece of cat5 using one pair and it worked surprisingly well.

+-RH

824

Equipment / Re: This might be the start of something big

« on: August 12, 2017, 2317 UTC »

You will probably have to rely on the loop wire for support, as PVC has a tendency to snap under tension.  I would also paint it as the UV will cause the plastic to brittle over time.

+-RH

825

Equipment / Re: This might be the start of something big

« on: August 12, 2017, 0442 UTC »

Perhaps this will be incentive to get my MW TX running?

+-RH