781
Amateur Radio / Re: 2M FM Simplex
« on: March 27, 2022, 1811 UTC »
Just glanced at the estimated MUF map. Consider giving 6m a try today. I suspect you might find opportunities for TEP DX into South America.
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Signals That Go Bump In The Night
We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations.
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782
10/11 meters / 11m Band Activity 26 MAR 2022
« on: March 26, 2022, 1241 UTC »
1241z - 27520u - DX from French Guinea
783
General Radio Discussion / Re: AM stations listenable via KiwiSDR without other means of online listening?
« on: March 23, 2022, 1124 UTC »
Most AM BCB stations in NA, even the smaller ones, are going to have an Internet stream these days as long as broadband service at the studio, transmitter, etc. site is available. It is quite inexpensive and easy to implement even with open source and freeware software.
Currently I have WTNI from Biloxi playing for background noise this morning using my R-2000 and 31' vertical. It does have an online stream as well, though that option would not include the "authentic" static crashing from regional storms at the moment. ;p
Currently I have WTNI from Biloxi playing for background noise this morning using my R-2000 and 31' vertical. It does have an online stream as well, though that option would not include the "authentic" static crashing from regional storms at the moment. ;p
784
Equipment / Re: Larsen NMO 2/70 antenna deaf on HF
« on: March 23, 2022, 1104 UTC »
All you should need for basic shortwave reception in your deployment scenario is a short simple unloaded whip and perhaps a NMO to 3/8"x24 adapter if required.
Even just like a 3' to 6' whip should suffice, as much longer likely will overload your wideband handheld, which is a common issue with such handhelds at HF and lower frequencies.
Even just like a 3' to 6' whip should suffice, as much longer likely will overload your wideband handheld, which is a common issue with such handhelds at HF and lower frequencies.
785
Longwave Loggings / Re: Receiving LWBC in North America
« on: March 23, 2022, 1037 UTC »
I have not bothered much with LW BCB in quite awhile, but I used to often hear Medi 1 (1.6MW!) out of Morocco at night using my Kenwood R-2000 and 148' LoG antenna. The other usual LW BCBs were occasionally noted, but admittedly they were largely hit or miss in comparison.
My old LoG uses a "shielded" coaxial design, so differential currents should be relatively balanced and common mode currents somewhat mitigated, thus I do not bother with a balun or impedance matching transformer at the feedpoint. There are few snap-on chokes of whatever mix I had in the parts box at the time, so even those are highly suspect at such low frequencies.
I do have KD9SV common mode chokes near the input of some of my receivers, and I suspect the design is mix 7x due to being optimized for lower HF.
My old LoG uses a "shielded" coaxial design, so differential currents should be relatively balanced and common mode currents somewhat mitigated, thus I do not bother with a balun or impedance matching transformer at the feedpoint. There are few snap-on chokes of whatever mix I had in the parts box at the time, so even those are highly suspect at such low frequencies.
I do have KD9SV common mode chokes near the input of some of my receivers, and I suspect the design is mix 7x due to being optimized for lower HF.
786
Amateur Radio / Re: USB trend noticed on both 75M and 40M? As well as C4FM.
« on: March 21, 2022, 2222 UTC »
I am surprised someone running FM on 3880 is not flattened by the usual big-iron AM enthusiasts around 3880-3885. As in legal limit plus PLENTY of "headroom." o.0
I often spot USB ops on 75m when doing a quick skim at night. I wanting to say usually around 3819-3820, but YMMV.
QRM can cause ops on a frequency to just switch to the other sideband instead of QSYing, too.
Also IIRC, older mil-spec PRC radios do only USB for voice on HF, and there are (were?) established nets and meeting spots for them.
I often spot USB ops on 75m when doing a quick skim at night. I wanting to say usually around 3819-3820, but YMMV.
QRM can cause ops on a frequency to just switch to the other sideband instead of QSYing, too.
Also IIRC, older mil-spec PRC radios do only USB for voice on HF, and there are (were?) established nets and meeting spots for them.
787
10/11 meters / 11m Band Activity 27 FEB 2022
« on: February 27, 2022, 1853 UTC »
Appears to be plenty of DX opportunities today. England, Ireland California, Colorado, etc. on 27385l at ~1852z.
788
General Radio Discussion / Re: Voice of Greece Shut Down March 31?
« on: February 23, 2022, 0007 UTC »
Strong unmodulated carrier on 9420 at 0006z 23 Feb 2022. 
789
Equipment / Re: Question about ordering aluminum tubing
« on: February 22, 2022, 2350 UTC »
Most of us are rather easy going here, so we (including the OP) routinely bounce ideas back and forth, particularly based upon our own experiences. 
For example, Elf and I share similar operating environments, so I am glad to tell him based upon my experience with a S9v31 that a suitable fiberglass telescoping antenna or mast should work fine for a simple 30m 1/4-wave vertical; short of encountering hurricane-force winds.
More importantly, he can accomplish what he wants - to operate on 30m - for a potentially more cost effective value. That is more resources he could perhaps put towards the mobile HF setup he has been considering.
For example, Elf and I share similar operating environments, so I am glad to tell him based upon my experience with a S9v31 that a suitable fiberglass telescoping antenna or mast should work fine for a simple 30m 1/4-wave vertical; short of encountering hurricane-force winds.
More importantly, he can accomplish what he wants - to operate on 30m - for a potentially more cost effective value. That is more resources he could perhaps put towards the mobile HF setup he has been considering.
790
Equipment / Re: Question about ordering aluminum tubing
« on: February 22, 2022, 0901 UTC »
1/4-wave vertical over radials? Considered fiberglass or PVC supporting a wire instead of aluminum. You could run a wire up a fiberglass telescoping pole used for fishing or a flag mast.
My S9v31 31' fiberglass vertical is freestanding, and it has help up okay in Florida weather. I have taken it down maybe twice when hurricanes were approaching the area.
My S9v31 31' fiberglass vertical is freestanding, and it has help up okay in Florida weather. I have taken it down maybe twice when hurricanes were approaching the area.
791
Amateur Radio / Re: 15/20 Meters packed with CW signals
« on: February 20, 2022, 1722 UTC »
Considerable 10m CW activity right now, too.
https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,93319.0.html
https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,93319.0.html
792
10/11 meters / 10m Band Activity 20 FEB 2022
« on: February 20, 2022, 1711 UTC »
CW, digital, and voice activity today on the 10m band. A quick screenshot:
793
Equipment / Re: Mixing tubes in Ameritron
« on: February 17, 2022, 1524 UTC »
There are slight capacitance differences and distinct gain differences between an 811a and a 572b. I would suggest not mixing them, as there could be a resulting distributed loading imbalance between the mixed tubes.
794
Utility / Re: Shannon VOLMET 13264 USB 1942 UTC 15 FEB 2022
« on: February 17, 2022, 0452 UTC »
Send in your reception report via the below online form, and the IAA will likely send you a QSL card.
https://www.iaa.ie/air-traffic-management/north-atlantic-communications/reception-report-1
The IAA sent me a card for reporting Shanwick ATC a few years ago.
https://www.iaa.ie/air-traffic-management/north-atlantic-communications/reception-report-1
The IAA sent me a card for reporting Shanwick ATC a few years ago.
795
Equipment / Re: 'CB' amplifier for HF
« on: February 17, 2022, 0307 UTC »
Harmonics and IMD are the big issues. Most 11m amps do not even have low pass filtering for 11m, less long any other band. You might put a cheap 30MHz lowpass filter after the amp, keep the output far below spec, and get away with a CB amp on 10m.
HF is already populated with plenty of "all knobs to the right" radios splattering harmonics across wide swaths of spectrum. Please do not add to it.
My thoughts on mobile? Unless you want to run QRP, opt for an 100w radio. Next look at the real issue with mobile setups… antenna efficiency. I would rather spend money on a decent screwdriver antenna and effort on proper tuning and ground bonding than deal with a costly amateur mobile amp plus the usual amp-related power delivery issues. For most amateur purposes, dBs are dBs, regardless if you are obtaining them from antenna gain/efficiency or watts.
Not to be confused with its 11m product line, RM Italy does offer HF amateur radio amps with selectable band filters.
HF is already populated with plenty of "all knobs to the right" radios splattering harmonics across wide swaths of spectrum. Please do not add to it.
My thoughts on mobile? Unless you want to run QRP, opt for an 100w radio. Next look at the real issue with mobile setups… antenna efficiency. I would rather spend money on a decent screwdriver antenna and effort on proper tuning and ground bonding than deal with a costly amateur mobile amp plus the usual amp-related power delivery issues. For most amateur purposes, dBs are dBs, regardless if you are obtaining them from antenna gain/efficiency or watts.
Not to be confused with its 11m product line, RM Italy does offer HF amateur radio amps with selectable band filters.