Messages

61

Equipment / Re: What Radio Did you start your listening hobby with?

« on: October 17, 2013, 2047 UTC »

I actually got started with a crystal controlled 10 channel scanner listening to my hometown police.  As for SWL and what I chose on the poll, a Grundig G3.

62

General Radio Discussion / What Specific Info do you Log

« on: October 17, 2013, 1427 UTC »

Back in March I posted a question asking about how members log their receptions. http://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,10294.msg30202.html As I am now getting closer to being actually able to hear something, (my AFREDI SDR is currently in the hands of USPS here in Texas  and I am working on getting an antenna put up) I would like to get more specifics about what exactly is logged.  My only logging to date was when I was active on the Amateur Satellites several years ago so I have a general idea. What I am interested in is things more specific to SWL.  Since I'm just beginning I'll probably be trying to find just about everything, but I think my interests will tend more toward the utility/number/oddity type stations. 

I'm trying to create a spreadsheet or maybe get really ambitious and try a database like Token mentions in above mentions thread.

Thanks,

Kent

63

Equipment / Re: Help with Antenna Location

« on: October 16, 2013, 1641 UTC »

moof: I like KISS, I'll try going to the chimney first.

Pigmeat:  I'm guessing the 9:1 Unun is something I can build?

Sorry, but I don't have much experience with antennas. My only ham rig is a 2m/70cm mobile in my car.

64

Spy Numbers / Re: XPA 10868 USB 06:00z-06:02z & 13368 USB 06:40z-06:42z 10-16-13

« on: October 16, 2013, 1636 UTC »

Interesting. What software/hardware are you using to get the images?

65

Spy Numbers / Re: Not A log, But...

« on: October 16, 2013, 1359 UTC »

Cool.  The website appears to be a Russian language radio hobbyist forum.

66

Equipment / Re: Help with Antenna Location

« on: October 15, 2013, 2100 UTC »

Are you going to be using this as a transmitting antenna also?  If so, you may have issues with placement on the fence and also length will become critical.

Steve

No plans to transmit.  At the moment I only have a 2-meter/440Mhz Dual band mobile and it is currently in storage.

The loop sounds interesting, but the breaker box is located on the outside just below where the power line comes to the house. I'm not too sure about getting antenna wire around that.

67

Equipment / Re: Help with Antenna Location

« on: October 15, 2013, 1810 UTC »

Thanks. It is good to know I was on the right track thinking that the back yard is no-go due to the power line bisecting it.  I'll take a closer look at routing a line to the shed.  I'll try to get twine to run a test this weekend.

Kent

68

Equipment / Help with Antenna Location

« on: October 15, 2013, 1436 UTC »

OK. I've been convinced that I need to get an outdoor antenna. I just having trouble figuring out how to best place one keeping the cost to a minimum. So, again, I'm asking for help.

Below is a overhead photo of my home, courtesy of Google Maps. I've rotated the image so North is up. The black line at the top is the power line. The blue dot is the air conditioner and the red dot is the location of the window to the room my computer and radio are located. The green trees in the lower right are the neighbor's.  The front of the house faces South. The white "V" shape is tree limbs I erased as they are no longer there. The structure in the upper right is an un-insulated storage shed. There are two Mesquite trees in the backyard. One located in the upper left corner and the other by the shed at the top point of the "V".  the back yard is surrounded by a 8' wooden privacy fence.  Sorry, but I don't have dimensions.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

69

Equipment / Re: Long Wire Antenna Questions

« on: October 15, 2013, 1355 UTC »

Thanks for all the good suggestions!  I have a lot to consider now.

70

Equipment / Re: Could No Signal Indicate a Bad Oscillator

« on: October 14, 2013, 1459 UTC »

I have ordered an AFREDI SDR-net this weekend so I am not going to worry about getting this up converter to work. 

71

Equipment / Long Wire Antenna Questions

« on: October 14, 2013, 1458 UTC »

Hi all,

I recently ordered an AFREDI SDR-net and following suggestions for some of you on the WUNCLUB chat Saturday I'm going to try the outdoor long wire antenna when I get the radio.  The room the radio will be in is in the southeast corner of the house with a window in the south wall. My location is San Angelo, Texas (West Texas).

1. Should I run the antenna along the south side of the house or around the corner and along the east side? Our neighbors are to the east and west and the air conditioner is also on the east side of the house.

2. What gauge of wire would be best? Stranded or solid?

3.  I'm concerned about the wire breaking when closing the window. Drilling is not an option at this time. 

Thanks for all the help and I hope to be contributing here in the near future.

Kent

72

General Radio Discussion / Why are HF frequencies listed in Kilohertz?

« on: October 11, 2013, 2112 UTC »

I'm curious as to why HF is listed in kilohertz as opposed to megahertz?  I tried a Google search, but couldn't find an answer.
Coming from a VHF/UHF background I'm finding it difficult to get the conversions down.

73

General Radio Discussion / Re: Make your own Enigma Replica

« on: October 11, 2013, 2104 UTC »

That is COOL!!! Way beyond by current abilities however. 

74

Equipment / Could No Signal Indicate a Bad Oscillator

« on: October 11, 2013, 1834 UTC »

I recently found my NooElec Ham it Up converter that had been put away in April. The converter had yet to be used so I thought I would connect it up and see how it worked. I still had SDR# installed on my Windows 7 VM running on my iMac that I have been playing with using the NooElec R820T dongle.

After getting everything connected and using a Kaito KA31 amplifed active loop antenna I first tried listening to the local weather radio (162.5MHz) and I was receiving a strong signal with the upconverter switch in the bypass position. I then used an old Radio Shack shortwave receiver I have to locate a shortwave signal. I was able to hear WWV on 15MHz so I tried to tune the SDR to that.   After moving the switch to the enabled position I lost all signals appearing on the display.  The upconverter power indicator is on.  When I picked it up the oscillator fell out. I noticed that there was no change in the SDR display with the oscillator in or out.  I replaced the oscillator making sure the dots were aligned (I also checked this when I first connected the upconverter). 

The oscillator fits very loosely in the socket, so I'm not really sure if it is making proper contact.

Could this be why I'm not getting any signal or would this be caused by other issues?

Thanks,

Kent

75

General Radio Discussion / Re: Northern Spy Lifts Cloak on Koreas’ Deadly Rivalry

« on: October 02, 2013, 1523 UTC »

Thanks Chris.

That was an interesting read!