106
General Radio Discussion / Re: Becker bill to remove police radio encryption picks up support
« on: May 22, 2022, 0428 UTC »
Transparency. What a concept.
Shortwave Pirate Radio In North America And Around The World, And Other Signals That Go Bump In The Night
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According to the BBC website, 12025 Khz is used between 1500 & 1900 UTC to the Middle East. Their website doesn't specify the language used. During the same time period, 12025 Khz is used to broadcast to South Asia, so my guess is that it might be in English.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2x9tqt6mc05vB2S37j8MWMJ/global-short-wave-frequencies
So, my guess is that you heard the BBC, maybe the beam aimed at Iran, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, as it's also roughly aimed over the pole towards the NW US.
You're farther south than I am, so that probably makes a difference. I haven't tuned the CB spectrum in probably a month, but last time I did it was el-deado. The time before that also. No outbanders, no Latin Americans above channel 40 -- nothing, really.
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107
General Radio Discussion / Re: Trends in tropical bands broadcasting 2022
« on: May 18, 2022, 0542 UTC »
Most of the "tropical" stations I heard in the past were PNG, Solomon Islands, Malaysia (Kuching, Sarawak) and a couple Indonesians, and I think most of them were in the 49 and 60 meter bands. I never heard anything lower than that, aside from WWV on 2500 and hams on 80 meters and a couple hams here and there on 160 meters.
60 meters gave up a couple Venezuelans and Colombians in the 80s. Rumbos, and Caracol. The station out of Barranquilla... Radio Barquisimeto I think it was?
Definitely sad that most of it is gone. There was a magic to hearing tropical music and other tropical broadcasts filtering over the airwaves.
60 meters gave up a couple Venezuelans and Colombians in the 80s. Rumbos, and Caracol. The station out of Barranquilla... Radio Barquisimeto I think it was?
Definitely sad that most of it is gone. There was a magic to hearing tropical music and other tropical broadcasts filtering over the airwaves.
108
General Radio Discussion / Re: Trends in tropical bands broadcasting 2022
« on: May 17, 2022, 0347 UTC »
Conditions have been horrible most nights over the last 4-5 years, so that may be part of the problem with the overall loggings of lower band, SWBC stations. Rebelde is still audible on 5025 khz, they're pretty dependable over much of the US.
I personally never heard all that much on the Tropical bands, at least not over the past 25-30 years. For a while there were a couple Brazilians in the 4800-5000 range that I would hear periodically, but not recently.
I personally never heard all that much on the Tropical bands, at least not over the past 25-30 years. For a while there were a couple Brazilians in the 4800-5000 range that I would hear periodically, but not recently.
109
Propagation / Re: Solar Cycle Sunspot Number Progression
« on: May 17, 2022, 0342 UTC »
Looks promising on the graph, but personally I'm not hearin' much of the resulting improved DX, at least not yet.
110
Shortwave Broadcast / Re: BBC (?)
« on: May 17, 2022, 0338 UTC »12.025, 1515gmt., "BBC" interviews with persons about situation in Sri Lanka, also contemporary political history of Philippines.
(additional: maybe some US s.w. station relaying xmit. of BBC? I didn't listen @ top of hr. for confirmation.)
According to the BBC website, 12025 Khz is used between 1500 & 1900 UTC to the Middle East. Their website doesn't specify the language used. During the same time period, 12025 Khz is used to broadcast to South Asia, so my guess is that it might be in English.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2x9tqt6mc05vB2S37j8MWMJ/global-short-wave-frequencies
So, my guess is that you heard the BBC, maybe the beam aimed at Iran, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, as it's also roughly aimed over the pole towards the NW US.
111
General Radio Discussion / Re: Video: More Intercepted Russian Radio Comms
« on: April 07, 2022, 0620 UTC »
At about 7:51 one of the transmissions monitored didn't sound like a native Russian speaker.
Fascinating vid.
Fascinating vid.
112
General Radio Discussion / Re: Voice of Greece extended at least two months
« on: April 07, 2022, 0609 UTC »
Explains why I heard them a couple nights ago.
113
General Radio Discussion / Re: Why Reviving Shortwave is a Non-Starter
« on: April 07, 2022, 0608 UTC »
Yeah, maybe the commentators in the articles have a point. However, China doesn't fund their numerous CRI broadcasts to much of the undeveloped world because the Chinese government is stupid. They target areas where internet access isn't exactly isn't in abundance, only rich people have satellite TV, and China knows the value of soft power. They even target Africa from Mali. Somebody must be listening.
114
Equipment / Re: SW Receiver Recommendations
« on: January 25, 2022, 1146 UTC »
Nothing is wrong with a DX-440. It will pull in most that any other receiver will. The key is an antenna. But make sure you have protection against static electricity if you use an outdoor wire. Two back-to-back diodes from the antenna to ground will work, to bleed off static discharges and save the radio's RF amp transistor from getting zapped.
That said, any modern Tecsun or Grundig portable with a DSP chip will do OK off the whip. I have a Grundig G2, a small digital readout portable with a DSP chip inside. I can hear most everything on it off its whip that my DX-398 will hear using a 30 ft indoor wire.
All that said, just don't expect to hear a ton on SW right now. The sun hasn't been exactly cooperating for about 5 years. Some nights and mornings I do hear a few things on the 25, 31 or 49 meter bands, but most nights and mornings it's WRMI and Cuba, with maybe Marti in the mix.
Sunspots won't really be cooperative for another two years or so. So even a great radio won't bring in a lot if the ionosphere is presenting nothing but static.
If you're in 4-land, you're pretty far south, so you may hear more than those of us in the northern latitudes, even with the sunspot cycle at a lull.
That said, any modern Tecsun or Grundig portable with a DSP chip will do OK off the whip. I have a Grundig G2, a small digital readout portable with a DSP chip inside. I can hear most everything on it off its whip that my DX-398 will hear using a 30 ft indoor wire.
All that said, just don't expect to hear a ton on SW right now. The sun hasn't been exactly cooperating for about 5 years. Some nights and mornings I do hear a few things on the 25, 31 or 49 meter bands, but most nights and mornings it's WRMI and Cuba, with maybe Marti in the mix.
Sunspots won't really be cooperative for another two years or so. So even a great radio won't bring in a lot if the ionosphere is presenting nothing but static.
If you're in 4-land, you're pretty far south, so you may hear more than those of us in the northern latitudes, even with the sunspot cycle at a lull.
115
General Radio Discussion / Re: US CB to get FM
« on: January 08, 2022, 0511 UTC »Who's on CB anymore?
The CB band is full of activity. I hear a lot of local traffic, including quite a bit of business use (primarily trucking companies), and note that I live in a fairly rural area. Those in urban areas report considerable business use. Plus the general chat by hobbyists.
Then when the band is open, it's wall to wall signals.
I am hearing a fair amount of FM, mostly from Latin America, but also domestic. And of course the UK CB band when DX is rolling in, which has always been FM.
You're farther south than I am, so that probably makes a difference. I haven't tuned the CB spectrum in probably a month, but last time I did it was el-deado. The time before that also. No outbanders, no Latin Americans above channel 40 -- nothing, really.
116
General Radio Discussion / Re: US CB to get FM
« on: January 03, 2022, 0048 UTC »
Who's on CB anymore?
That said, I don't see how FM would harm the band. It can really chop up an AM or sideband channel, though. Back in 1990 I was talking to some guy locally on the sideband and he said he had FM on his radio, so I asked him to fire it up. I wanted to hear it. On my AM/Sidebander it was horrific sounding hash.
I think 'export' rigs have had FM for years.
That said, I don't see how FM would harm the band. It can really chop up an AM or sideband channel, though. Back in 1990 I was talking to some guy locally on the sideband and he said he had FM on his radio, so I asked him to fire it up. I wanted to hear it. On my AM/Sidebander it was horrific sounding hash.
I think 'export' rigs have had FM for years.
117
General Radio Discussion / Re: WRTH 2022: The Final Edition
« on: January 03, 2022, 0044 UTC »
Passing of an era, and I'm not feeling happy about it... PopComm, Monitoring Times, Shortwave magazine from the UK, Passport, WRTH, Ferrells UTE book (I still have a copy somewhere), and even the ham mags (most of which I think are gone), it provided something that the internet simply can't.
I haven't bought a WRTH in years, but then, it was because whenever I saw one I didn't have the expendable funds to purchase one. Last time I got an SWL mag was in 2011 or 2012 (?) when Monitoring Times was still publishing.
The lesson overall, I guess, is to enjoy what you've got while you can.
I haven't bought a WRTH in years, but then, it was because whenever I saw one I didn't have the expendable funds to purchase one. Last time I got an SWL mag was in 2011 or 2012 (?) when Monitoring Times was still publishing.
The lesson overall, I guess, is to enjoy what you've got while you can.
118
General Radio Discussion / Re: Favorite SWBC Interval Signal?
« on: January 03, 2022, 0040 UTC »
Mine was always Radio RSA's interval signal with the mellow acoustic guitar and bokmakerie bird. Always sounded cool, especially during the late afternoons when I was usually hearing the station's signal.
Radio Australia's kookaburra and piccolo rich theme music at the top of each hour was always cool to hear, as I tuned them in nightly for several years.
Radio Australia's kookaburra and piccolo rich theme music at the top of each hour was always cool to hear, as I tuned them in nightly for several years.
119
General Radio Discussion / Re: Dumb it down for this crusty, 72 year old fart still, for the most part, living
« on: October 01, 2021, 1303 UTC »
UncleJohn, MW DX has been less than it was early last decade, like SW it began to dip around 2016.
MW still has a lot of DX, but it will pick up as the new solar cycle progresses, so don't lose hope on hearing some good catches. The guys who get the best catches now have beverage antennas or big loops with amplifiers.
In 2011-2014 I was hearing all sorts of stations on my MW DX radios that I don't hear now. Cuba's Radio Rebelde on 1180 (behind a regional station and KOFI Kalispell, used to be heard many nights, although I had to listen through the other signals to ID it. I even heard it on a Realistic TRF with no extra antenna.
Rebelde, unfortunately, hasn't been heard here in 5-6 years on MW. KVNS Brownsville on 1700 used to be a regular, although it would mix with XEPE (Baja California). I haven't heard KVNS in a while, either. Periodically, I get a new station, so not all is lost. But yeah, there is a lot of talk and ranchero music on the MW. I'm just glad the signals are there. SW sometimes is mostly empty.
As for choice of radios, I prefer my Superadios or my Panasonic RF-B45, sometimes with a tuned loop next to them, as the slightly wider selectivity (around 6 khz I think) helps ID stations. My PR-D5 has narrower selectivity but it sounds a little muddy, and sometimes you need to hear a bit more to ID a station, even if there is more splash. It's always a flip of the coin, I guess.
MW still has a lot of DX, but it will pick up as the new solar cycle progresses, so don't lose hope on hearing some good catches. The guys who get the best catches now have beverage antennas or big loops with amplifiers.
In 2011-2014 I was hearing all sorts of stations on my MW DX radios that I don't hear now. Cuba's Radio Rebelde on 1180 (behind a regional station and KOFI Kalispell, used to be heard many nights, although I had to listen through the other signals to ID it. I even heard it on a Realistic TRF with no extra antenna.
Rebelde, unfortunately, hasn't been heard here in 5-6 years on MW. KVNS Brownsville on 1700 used to be a regular, although it would mix with XEPE (Baja California). I haven't heard KVNS in a while, either. Periodically, I get a new station, so not all is lost. But yeah, there is a lot of talk and ranchero music on the MW. I'm just glad the signals are there. SW sometimes is mostly empty.
As for choice of radios, I prefer my Superadios or my Panasonic RF-B45, sometimes with a tuned loop next to them, as the slightly wider selectivity (around 6 khz I think) helps ID stations. My PR-D5 has narrower selectivity but it sounds a little muddy, and sometimes you need to hear a bit more to ID a station, even if there is more splash. It's always a flip of the coin, I guess.
120
General Radio Discussion / Re: Dumb it down for this crusty, 72 year old fart still, for the most part, living
« on: September 29, 2021, 0830 UTC »
If you've got an R8, you probably have all the radio you need. Most of the broadcast DX activity is on MW, and the Drake R8 is the standard for MW. SDRs have a fancy display and a few features the R8 might not have, but an R8 is hard to beat.
SW has been mostly half-dead since the solar cycle dipped about 5-6 years ago. Some nights and mornings there is still much to hear, and if you're in the PNW (WA, OR, etc.), you'll hear Asia many (if not most) mornings on 41, 49, and 31 meters -- reception of those stations, of course, will vary because of the low solar cycle. But aside from the occasional nights where SW is actually working well, MW is the place to be for DX.
"SDR", technically, is "software defined radio". In other words, a chip in the radio has software inside it that acts as a radio processor -- these chips that contain this sort of software are also often called "DSP chips". They replace the analog IF chips in radios which were standard from the mid 1970s to the late 2000s. My Sangean AM-FM radio (a PR-D5) that is playing South Asian music from 100-200 km away right now as I type this, has a DSP chip inside. The processing of the signal I am hearing wasn't done via the superhet, analog method that IF chips used. The DSP chip instead is doing all that via digital processing software.
Your average DSP radio chip has an RF amp inside, along with an analog to digital converter; software that tunes, filters, decodes, etc,; which then goes into a digital-to-analog converter, which is sent to an audio chip.
An "SDR" in usual parlance is a computer program that runs on a laptop or desktop computer that uses the same sort of chip but has an interface that puts it all up on a fancy looking screen with virtual buttons and a 'waterfall' display.
Hope this helps in some way.
SW has been mostly half-dead since the solar cycle dipped about 5-6 years ago. Some nights and mornings there is still much to hear, and if you're in the PNW (WA, OR, etc.), you'll hear Asia many (if not most) mornings on 41, 49, and 31 meters -- reception of those stations, of course, will vary because of the low solar cycle. But aside from the occasional nights where SW is actually working well, MW is the place to be for DX.
"SDR", technically, is "software defined radio". In other words, a chip in the radio has software inside it that acts as a radio processor -- these chips that contain this sort of software are also often called "DSP chips". They replace the analog IF chips in radios which were standard from the mid 1970s to the late 2000s. My Sangean AM-FM radio (a PR-D5) that is playing South Asian music from 100-200 km away right now as I type this, has a DSP chip inside. The processing of the signal I am hearing wasn't done via the superhet, analog method that IF chips used. The DSP chip instead is doing all that via digital processing software.
Your average DSP radio chip has an RF amp inside, along with an analog to digital converter; software that tunes, filters, decodes, etc,; which then goes into a digital-to-analog converter, which is sent to an audio chip.
An "SDR" in usual parlance is a computer program that runs on a laptop or desktop computer that uses the same sort of chip but has an interface that puts it all up on a fancy looking screen with virtual buttons and a 'waterfall' display.
Hope this helps in some way.
