Messages

811

Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?

« on: February 06, 2022, 2041 UTC »

Ya' had to go there. :p I do not even have a home office anymore. I think about doing a radio room or area of sort, but then I think about how often I would actually use it.

812

Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?

« on: February 06, 2022, 0433 UTC »

Yeah, I ageee the smaller HP Aligent supplies are good options, especially for the price compared to their larger siblings.

I have various power supplies, but I still would not mind a programmable lab supply like one of the Amrel units from years ago. However one of my concerns is getting a supply with a failed unobtanium part.

An example:

http://www.kerrywong.com/2015/05/06/amrel-pps-2322-programmable-power-supply-teardown/

813

Equipment / Re: HF Transceiver/Computer oddity

« on: February 05, 2022, 1524 UTC »

Sounds like common mode. Ferrites on the interface cable, and ferrites on the keyboard cable since this appears to be an input-related issue.

In the meantime, do you perhaps have a different keyboard to try?

814

10/11 meters / Re: 10m/11m/12m Band Activity 5 Feb 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 1520 UTC »

Around 17' to 17.5' of whatever wire divided by two elements, and pretty much whatever 50- or 75-ohm coax ya' have. ;)

....or....

A magnet mount CB mobile antenna tossed on a car in the driveway and some coax.

....or....

A randomwire thrown out a window into a tree and using an outboard tuner. As short as 29' probably should get ya' on 10/11.


Congrats on the nice contact on 12m. :) Upper HF is looking promising today.

815

Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?

« on: February 05, 2022, 0806 UTC »

I would not mind an used programmable lab power supply, but shipping for the heavy units usually ends up being quite expensive, plus assuming a seller even bothers to actually check it beyond a power-on test. o.0

Like when I once scored a new Eaton 5PX 1500 UPS on eBay for under $50 with free pickup from an area electronics recycler. It was an ~$1000 UPS, but I suspect few people bid due to how shipping costs were calculated and listed in the auction.

816

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UnID 6950 kHz USB 03:30 UTC 4 Feb 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 0349 UTC »

Carrier noise and maybe very faint intermittent modulation between UTE activity.

817

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 4185 USB. 00:05 UTC 5 FEB 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 0247 UTC »

Intermittent modulation in the noise floor at 0247z.

818

Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?

« on: February 05, 2022, 0204 UTC »

Playing around with the Airspy HF+ SDR setup tonight since I am in the den away from my usual radios.

I already had a KD9SV SV-CMC choke just upstream of my bias tee, plus some snap-on chokes at the mast base of the active minwhip antenna. I just added six turns of RG-316 on a Fair-Rite likely mix 31 or 43 snap-on choke between the bias tee and SDR. I did not measure actual numbers, as the noise floor was already decent IMO, but the waterfall looks a little cleaner in quick skim.

I suspect it was slight noise from the bias tee, as it is powered currently by a wall-wart. The wall-wart is a linear transformer, but it probably could use extra filtering. I have bias tees to which I added filtering caps, but I think this one is still stock.

I might change the bias tee for a filtered one and go back to a regulated linear PSU later tonight. I was trying to clean up some of the clutter by ditching the bigger PSU, but I suppose "oh well."


Went ahead with the components swap to a bias tee with filter caps and a regulated linear 13.8v PSU. Probably not much difference, at least regarding the HF noise floor, but ideally it should be the technically "better" configuration. Anyway.

819

10/11 meters / 10m/11m/12m Band Activity 5 Feb 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 0122 UTC »

Airspy HF+ Discovery with active miniwhip antenna. SDR preamp enabled.

0121z - 27285a NA DX
0123z - 27395l qso.... locals?
0124z - 27405l qso.... locals?
0126z - 27305a usual locals
0127z - 27025a usual Ch6 DX
0128z - 27165a NA DX
0129z - 27205a qso.... locals?
0132z - 27680l qso

0135z - 28310u qso.... about haircutting o.0

0207z - 27205a locals?
0208z - 27285a NA DX ongoing
0208z - 27135a NA DX
0209z - 27185a usual Ch19 activity
0210z - 27225a CB cq.... likely NA DX
0212z - 27395l local qso(s)
0214z - 27355l qso.... locals?

0258z - 27025a ongoing Ch6 DX
0302z - 27385l mixed activity.... sounds maybe local + DX
0303z - 27445l qso.... locals?

0342z - 27135a intermittent modulation in noise floor
0345z - 27185a usual Ch19 activity
0345z - 11m DX propagation window closed

1209z - 27285a weak signal activity.... likely NA DX starting
1211z - 11m DX propagation window slowly opening
1214z - 26965a intermittent activity.... locals?
1311z - 27305a locals
1312z - 27555u Caribbean DX?
1315z - 27287a music.... likely off frequency
1316z - 27550u European DX
1319z - 27540u sounds like European DX
1320z - 27025a usual Ch6 DX starting up

1424z - 11m DX propagation window open
1425z - 28450u activity noted.... Israel DX?
1425z - 28075 digital
1431z - 28026 cw
1432z - 28560u weak signal, European DX?
1434z - 27455u European DX.... and maybe Central American DX?
1436z - 27600u European DX.... Italy

1439z - 24951u European DX.... Italy
1440z - 24971u European DX.... Italy
1441z - 24915 digital
1442z - 24935u European DX
1442z - 24947u European DX.... UK
1445z - CW on multiple 12m frequencies

1449z - 26570 digital
1453z - 26055a weak signal noted
1455z - 26585a European DX.... Italy
1457z - 26965a European DX activity.... France?

1500z - 11m DX is hopping, able to drop the SDR preamp

820

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

« on: February 05, 2022, 0118 UTC »

AM activity on 7285 and 7290 at at ~0117z.


Figured I might see a little AM activity on 160m tonight. CW, digital, and SSB activity noted currently on 160m, but no AM thus far. Maybe later.


AM activity on 3880 and 3890 at 0513z, though QSOs instead of the contest.

821

Equipment / Re: MLA-30+ Experiment

« on: February 05, 2022, 0029 UTC »

An YouLoop hanging in a window with a Nooelec LaNA HF preamp inline is sometimes my fallback antenna when disconnecting outdoor antennas due to large storms or whatever. It is definitely not a weak-signal solution inside the concrete-block-stucco house here, but it works fine for casual listening of the usual powerhouse HF BCB broadcasters and even the 80/75 amateur band at night.

822

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: unid 6915 USB 0014 UTC 05 FEB 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 0019 UTC »

A Genesis track at 0012z on 6915u via one of my active miniwhips. SINPO 25443. Not a strong signal, but plenty enough modulation for a decent copy.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

823

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6925 USB 2355 UTC 4 February 2022

« on: February 05, 2022, 0011 UTC »

Music near the noise floor at 0008z via one of my active miniwhips. SINPO 15442. Very faint signal, but enough modulation for a copy.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

824

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

« on: February 04, 2022, 0607 UTC »

Around ~3775KHz to ~3885KHz has AM activity most nights.

Unlike quick contacts in a contest, when it comes to some of the 160/80 AM crowds, be prepared for lengthy broadc… er, I mean transmissions. ;)

825

General Radio Discussion / Re: AFN on shortwave still exist?

« on: February 04, 2022, 0412 UTC »

Wiki suggests the Navy still does (occasional?) AFN shortwave broadcasts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Forces_Network#Shortwave_radio

I have not heard AFN on HF in a long time. AFAIK, several years now.

Moving down the bands, AFN does a mediumwave broadcast from Cuba on 1340AM. I have no real idea regarding power. Probably not much since it is supposed to be for the naval base.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Forces_Network#Cuba