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Messages - RobRich

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826
Take care!

Fred dropped rain here, but the "core" missed my immediate area.



I know it is a few minutes before the Hurricane Watch Net activates on 14325, but naturally, there are contesters operating currently on 14323.

827
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: August 21, 2021, 2034 UTC »
Oh yeah, thinking about antennas. I finally broke down and ordered a remote receiving antenna switch. I am getting tired of managing multiple coax runs.

It an 8-port model with switching control via WiFi. Could be awhile before arriving, though, as it is coming from Russia.

Depending upon network security, I am thinking it might end up on its own isolated WiFi network.

828
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: August 21, 2021, 2028 UTC »
K. :) About vids, you would need to upload them to a host like YouTube or similar, then link them.

829
Equipment / Re: Interesting Chinesium SI4732 Shortwave/Air/FM
« on: August 19, 2021, 0820 UTC »
Interestingly enough my "ATS-20" still is working, even after shoving 12vDC down the antenna connector by accidentally hooking up a power inserter for an active antenna backwards. :o The inserter simply blew its internal fuse. Not sure it would have been that simple without the ESD mods done.

Also, I have not been tossing it around much like a typical portable radio. It is usually on a shelf or on top of my R-2000 on the nightstand.

Have it tuned to 75m for background noise right now. Current antenna is my 148' LoG.

830
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: August 19, 2021, 0754 UTC »
I have a low inverted L MW transmit aerial here which I've being useing for reception recently. Just inductively coupled to a small transistor radio. Nothing fancy. Works great!

Good stuff. :) Curious, are you inductively coupling with a fixed loop, tuned loop, etc.?

I sometimes plug one my outdoor antennas into a Tecsun AN-200 tuned loop, which in turn is inductively coupled to a portable radio. Naturally the AN-200 losses much circuit Q that way, but there is still enough for a little selectivity.

831
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: August 19, 2021, 0733 UTC »
Take care with placement. AFAIK, counterpoise radials can seriously skew an e-field vertical unless the radials are symmetrically well balanced.

I am considering moving my second active miniwhip closer to the first, then split their feeds to different radio locations in the house. Thankfully I am not dealing with much local RFI, and I can play around with directional phasing later. Moving it also gets the mast out of the edge of my 31' vertical radial field.

About my S9v18 vertical collecting dust, I have ordered an unity voltage gain preamp to eventually deploy it. The circuit is based upon the AD8055 preamp design by W1FV.

http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/topband/2018-11/msg00029.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/YCCC-Hi-Z-preamplifier-for-experimenters-and-RX-antenna-system/203459071504


832
Yeah, AFAIK, it is RG. Been there most (or all?) of today. ;)

833
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: August 10, 2021, 2239 UTC »
I might move one of the active whips. It have not done a full HF scan, but its noise level on upper HF appears a few dB higher than another one located like 30'-40' away. Another example of positional effects on an e-field antenna.



Then again, the one with higher upper-HF noise has a better noise profile on 20m. Linearity? What linearity? ;)



Dropping down to ~40m seems to be about the same so far.

Naturally, storms are rolling now into the local area.

834
Music at 1503z. 31' vertical. Weak signal under S1, but above the noise floor.



Mixing with pesky activity at 1718z. 31' vertical.



Peaking around S5 with some static crashing and moderate fading at 2209z. SINPO 25433. Active miniwhip.

835
My report is in the other thread:

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,84857.0.html

It is not something I enjoy pointing out, but RG being a seemingly near 24/7 broadcast is angling for possible FCC attention. That said, I do appreciate the broadcast and enjoy much of the music. I would just like to keep enjoying it. ;)

836
Music at 0005z. Peaking ~S7 via my 31' vertical ground-mounted over a radial field. SINPO 45444. Some static crashing from local storms, but otherwise good modulation with an easy copy.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

837
Eurythmics at 2036z via the 148' LoG. No preamp needed. Under S1 with some fades and static crashes, so not an armchair copy, but generally listenable. SINPO 15322.



Bon Jovi at 2306z. Peaking ~S7 via the 148' LoG with preamp. SINPO 35344. Plenty of static crashing from local storms, but otherwise a good copy with plenty of modulation.

Thanks for the broadcast! :)

838
Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna?
« on: July 30, 2021, 0514 UTC »
When too much gain presents an issue on MW. Added a SMA 20dB attenuator between the RTL-SDR V3 and NE602 upconverter. It was a quick fix, so I might play with the dB value later.

RTL-SDR V3 + NE602 Upconverter:

https://imgur.com/a/UOA5a5P

RTL-SDR V3 + NE602 Upconverter + 20dB Attenuator:

https://imgur.com/a/cz6luBF

----------------

20dB helps reigns in MW and lower, but 10dB or perhaps no attenuator seems a little better on HF. I suspect adding an attenuator could be helping smooth the impedance match, too.

----------------

No attenuator is acceptable enough on HF for casual listening IMO. Whatever.

Now to get back to my Airspy HF+ Discovery. ;)

839
10/11 meters / Music + Skits 27255KHz AM 0151 UTC 29 July 2021
« on: July 29, 2021, 0154 UTC »
Music, Family Guy skits, trolling, etc. on Channel 23 11m CB at 0151z.

840
Trace in the waterfall. Very intermittent audio recovery. Nearby UTE.

All that said, I am playing with a RTL-SDR V3 and upconvertor at the moment, so far from my usual HF setup.

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