Messages

796

Amateur Radio / Re: Consensus of average 40M noise level

« on: February 14, 2022, 0820 UTC »

Tractor Supply Co. is a somewhat similar store concept, though usually not as big of stores. There are a couple of TSC stores near Orlando, too.

Rural King is kind of like the above mentioned TSC, a Harbor Freight, and an Ace Hardware rolled into a single large store. I have been to an area store a few times over the years.

I know you can get several common car battery sizes, like a group 24, at RK for around $50 to $60 with core. AFAIK, RK batteries are manufactured by Exide. They seem okay in my experience.

Do not forget your free popcorn, plus free coffee if you drink the horrible stuff :p, if visiting a RK store.

797

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meter activity 13 Feb 2022

« on: February 13, 2022, 2214 UTC »

Californian and Canadian DX on 11m CB. Spanish-language DX above the CB band.

798

General Radio Discussion / Re: Voice of Greece Shut Down March 31?

« on: February 13, 2022, 2209 UTC »

IIRC, during the last station shutdown, the Voice of Greece has done at least one period of broadcasts even without an active government license. YMMV.

799

Equipment / Re: NanoVNA battery question

« on: February 13, 2022, 2158 UTC »

You might need to replace the FM9688 IC, or just keep using an external power supply.

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,91171.0.html

Apparently it is a common fail part on some NanoVNA models.

800

Equipment / Re: Weekend YouLoop Experiment

« on: February 13, 2022, 2154 UTC »

I was going by the comment: "I tried the "mini-whip", which is an excellent antenna for listening to electronic noise."

I use active miniwhips, but they are away from the house and RF grounded.


I have used the YouLoop with an antenna tuner to improve the match with a portable receiver, thus improving the usable signal transfer enough to not need a preamp. Also the tuned circuit can serve as a passive preselector.

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,71326.msg241978.html#msg241978

801

General Radio Discussion / Re: Power Outage Dilemma

« on: February 10, 2022, 0224 UTC »

Noise can travel for miles on HF and lower frequencies, so an outage oftentimes has to be rather larger for a significant noise floor change, at least in the experiences for my own immediate area.

As for an example, AFAIK, the only time I have ever actively heard a 120m broadcaster here other than WWV(H) was during a power outage. It might have been after a tropical weather event, but it was years ago, so the finer details are a little fuzzy.

802

Equipment / Re: Weekend YouLoop Experiment

« on: February 10, 2022, 0213 UTC »

If an e-field probe - i.e. an active miniwhip - returned mostly electronic noise, then you are likely testing these antennas in an EMI/RFI-rich location. No preamp is going to help. In fact, most will make it worse, especially with these various untuned small fractional-wavelength antennas.

Getting an antenna even just a few feet outside and/or above your residence can dramatically improve SNR.

803

Amateur Radio / Re: Consensus of average 40M noise level

« on: February 07, 2022, 2236 UTC »

Current estimated FoF2 for central FL is ~7MHz.

https://prop.kc2g.com/fof2/

That means NVIS is likely possible on 40m at the moment, and it could be providing another propagation route for band noise, RFI, EMI, etc.

804

10/11 meters / UNID 27285 AM 1129 UTC 7 FEB 2022

« on: February 07, 2022, 1141 UTC »

I have logged this Ch28 music in the morning for a couple of days now, plus IIRC, I have heard it other mornings in recent times during casual 11m skims.

I suspect it originates from here in Florida, as it seems like groundwave, but it is low power and/or distant enough to barely be above any DX present.

805

10/11 meters / 10m/11m/12m Band Activity 7 Feb 2022

« on: February 07, 2022, 1118 UTC »

Airspy HF+ Discovery. Active miniwhip antenna. SDR preamp enabled.

1113z - 27445l ongoing qso
1114z - 27185a Ch19 activity including NA DX
1117z - 27025a Ch6 NA DX slowing picking up
1119z - 27015a Ch5 activity.... local?
1121z - 27395a Ch39 activity + qrm.... local?
1123z - 27205a Ch20 faint activity
1127z - 27545l ongoing qso.... local/regional?
1129z - 27385l Ch38 activity.... local/regional?
1129z - 27285a Ch28 music/qrm over faint NA DX
1142z - 27385l Ch38 local splatter with *multiple* harmonics
1145z - 27385l Ch38 NA DX slowly picking up
1129z - 27285a Ch28 explicit qrm
1159z - 27075a Ch10 sounds like truckers.... local?
1209z - 27305a Ch30 locals
1219z - 27165a Ch10 sounds like truckers.... local?


Took a look at the other side of the big pond via Twente SDR at ~1200z. Various 11m FM activity noted, including an op on 27205 outside of Moscow.


Switched over to an Antron 99 18' vertical mounted at ~20' with four ~8.5' radials. I still need to tune it down like 400-500KHz or so, but "whatever" for receiving purposes.

1306z - 27185a Usual Ch19 activity
1306z - 26975a Ch2 weak signal
1311z - various 12m band CW + digital activity
1314z - 27075a Ch10 locals

1314z - 27505u DX.... Brazil
1316z - 27465l locals including splattering
1330z - 27335a Ch33 intermittent weak signal.... sounds like Spanish or Portuguese

1410z - 27025a Ch6 NA DX
1410z - 27085a Ch8 op tuning up
1412z - 27095a Ch9 DX.... sounds like Spanish
1413z - 27515l weak signal DX.... sounds like Spanish or Portuguese

1440z - 27515l European DX.... England
1441z - 27385l Ch38 Caribbean DX
1443z - 27395l Ch39 DX..... Brazil?
1444z - 27375l Ch37 European DX.... England
1446z - 27555u DX.... Europe? French language
1446z - 27520u European DX.... multiple ops
1447z - 27595u European DX.... France
1449z - 27175a Ch18 sounds like truckers
1451z - 27265a Ch26 activity.... sounds like NA DX of a local(s) group
1453z - 27135a Ch15 likely NA DX.... over-modulated with echo
1455z - 27050a Ch4 DX qso about antenna.... Caribbean?
1457z - 26965a Ch1 Panama DX.... op with lots of echo

1500z - It is now exactly wall-to-wall signals, but 11m DX is open for business here.
1501z - various 12m band digital and SSB activity
1503z - 28400u European DX.... Scotland
1507z - 27765u weak signal DX.... Europe?
1507z - 27550 digital
1510z - 27545u weak signal DX.... mobile? Europe?





2242z - various 10m SSB activity noted
2243z - just noticed the SDR preamp is enabled; now disabled and the noise floor looks better ;)

806

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6955 USB 2136 UTC 6 FEB 2022

« on: February 06, 2022, 2145 UTC »

Instrumental chill-out music at 2140z. SINPO 35344. Some band noise at the moment, but nonetheless a plenty listenable copy.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

807

North American Shortwave Pirate / Philo Radio (Zeeky) 6927 USB 2135 UTC 6 FEB 2022

« on: February 06, 2022, 2135 UTC »

"Book of Love" by The Monotones at 2137z. SINPO 45455. Good modulation.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

808

FM DX Loggings / Re: Maryland FM Broadcast Band Question

« on: February 06, 2022, 2111 UTC »

W261CD 100.1MHz is a low-power relay of WZBA 100.7MHz. ;)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WZBA

809

Amateur Radio / Re: AM Rally this weekend 2/5-7/2022!

« on: February 06, 2022, 2048 UTC »

Anyone here participate or even spot rally activity? I have not followed the lower amateur bands, where I suspect more of the AM activity was, much at all this weekend.

810

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meter activity 6 Feb 2022

« on: February 06, 2022, 2045 UTC »

Moderate 11m activity today.




Some 10m SSB activity at ~2057z. Currently listening to a Canadian op from Vancouver Island on 28320u working the British Columbia QSO Party.