31
Amateur Radio / Re: Dumb question RE FT8
« on: June 11, 2024, 0526 UTC »
Thank you for your replies. It really helps.
Boombox
Boombox
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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Thanks for that info!
Both of my radios -- actually, 3 of them, the Panasonic RF-B45, Radio Shack 200629, and DX-390, are basically a BFO, so you can tune to either side of an SSB signal and it will pick it up differently than a real, USB/LSB, Sideband decoder (like in my DX-398 has -- haven't been using it lately because I'm out of AA's). It's kind of like tuning into a Codar with a regular BFO instead of an actual USB/LSB decoder. The pitch shifting reverses when you tune through it using a BFO.
The 'whooping' going from high pitch to lower pitch on the Desert Whooper sounds really haunting.
But yeah, I understand, it's set to go from low to high. I could see that on one of the waterfall pics posted on the DW thread here.
Hunting these low power beacons is pretty cool.
Yeah, those Sonys are good headphones. Sony also has a $25 version that are just as good as the famous MDR-7506's.
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32
Amateur Radio / Dumb question RE FT8
« on: June 10, 2024, 1120 UTC »
Hi all,
Like many SWL's, I've heard a lot of FT8 in the HF ham bands. Sometimes the presence of FT8 can indicate the propagation of certain ham bands... Not having the decoding software, it's just sick ice cream truck sound on my radios, but I still tune into those channels and mark down the presence of FT8 in my logbook.
That said, I'm curious as to what I'm hearing. It seems that the FT8 signals are time governed, and I can hear that. They all start at the same time.
But what am I hearing? 4-5 stations transmitting simultaneously? Or 10 stations transmitting simultaneously? It sounds like I'm hearing a bunch of them, but I'm not sure.
Also, if there are so many transmitting at the same time, how does the receive software determine what it's decoding? Does it decode all 5 or 6 signals simultaneously, all being decoded at the same time? Do some FT8 signals get flooded out by the stronger signals?
And does anyone use JT65 anymore? The FT8 sounds a lot different than it used to sound in the 2010's.
Thanks for your patience.
Boombox
Like many SWL's, I've heard a lot of FT8 in the HF ham bands. Sometimes the presence of FT8 can indicate the propagation of certain ham bands... Not having the decoding software, it's just sick ice cream truck sound on my radios, but I still tune into those channels and mark down the presence of FT8 in my logbook.
That said, I'm curious as to what I'm hearing. It seems that the FT8 signals are time governed, and I can hear that. They all start at the same time.
But what am I hearing? 4-5 stations transmitting simultaneously? Or 10 stations transmitting simultaneously? It sounds like I'm hearing a bunch of them, but I'm not sure.
Also, if there are so many transmitting at the same time, how does the receive software determine what it's decoding? Does it decode all 5 or 6 signals simultaneously, all being decoded at the same time? Do some FT8 signals get flooded out by the stronger signals?
And does anyone use JT65 anymore? The FT8 sounds a lot different than it used to sound in the 2010's.
Thanks for your patience.
Boombox
33
HF Mystery Signals / Re: Unid RTTY/FSK, 14001-14002 kHz, between 0800-1800 UTC, over several days
« on: June 10, 2024, 0514 UTC »
I'll add here that I haven't heard this RTTY on 14001~ for the past several mornings. It's possible it could be some sort of overload, although my Panasonic RF-B45 isn't prone to overload. And I'm not aware of any local RTTY utilities, or ones that would be so strong they'd propagate while overloading my radio.
I'll keep an eye out for it, though.
I'll keep an eye out for it, though.
34
HF Beacons / Re: Poss. Desert Whooper? 4096 kHz 0740 UTC, 'whoop whoop' sounds, + weak CW
« on: June 10, 2024, 0508 UTC »Nice! I think the first beacon that I ever heard was one in Arizona that sent in Morse code the letters TMP and then a 2 digit temperature reading. For DW if you look at the signal on a waterfall display you'll see that the whoop starts low and sweeps high. I'm not sure how your radio is built but it's circuit design is what makes the whoops seem to change when you tune high or low. It can be a useful technique for pulling weak signals to a point that makes it easier for your ears to detect.
If your radios can switch to a CW mode the narrower bandwidth can help a lot. I maintain a list of active beacons here
https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,9478.0.html
Thanks for that info!
Both of my radios -- actually, 3 of them, the Panasonic RF-B45, Radio Shack 200629, and DX-390, are basically a BFO, so you can tune to either side of an SSB signal and it will pick it up differently than a real, USB/LSB, Sideband decoder (like in my DX-398 has -- haven't been using it lately because I'm out of AA's). It's kind of like tuning into a Codar with a regular BFO instead of an actual USB/LSB decoder. The pitch shifting reverses when you tune through it using a BFO.
The 'whooping' going from high pitch to lower pitch on the Desert Whooper sounds really haunting.
But yeah, I understand, it's set to go from low to high. I could see that on one of the waterfall pics posted on the DW thread here.
Hunting these low power beacons is pretty cool.
35
HF Beacons / Desert Whooper again, 4096 kHz 1120 UTC, 'whoop whoop' sounds, + CW ID
« on: June 07, 2024, 0020 UTC »
Last night I heard the Desert Whooper again, this time on both my Radio Shack 200629 and Panasonic RF-B45, off the same indoor 25 ft wire. There was 1-2 S units of difference between the radios, with the Panasonic naturally bringing the 'whoop whoop whoop whoop' noises in stronger. I heard the DW identifier, and parts of two separate data transmissions in CW, but the fading kept me from reading it all.
Pretty cool to hear. At 4:20 a.m. local time, 1120 UTC, June 6th.
Glad that whoever put this one up on the air did it. So cool to hear such noises on HF.
I noticed with my Panasonic that if you tune to one side of the signal, the whoops go up, and if you tune to the other side, the whoops start high and go down.
Pretty cool to hear. At 4:20 a.m. local time, 1120 UTC, June 6th.
Glad that whoever put this one up on the air did it. So cool to hear such noises on HF.
I noticed with my Panasonic that if you tune to one side of the signal, the whoops go up, and if you tune to the other side, the whoops start high and go down.
36
Amateur Radio / Re: Suggestoins on headphones for listening? Depends, but...
« on: June 06, 2024, 0100 UTC »For me, I am using original AKG #K240 headphones, commonly used buy Baby Boomers in broadcasting time-line period. On a robust Kenwood transceivers, they really bring out great broadcast-quality audio that some AM'er have, as well as ESSB'ers. That's my personal favorite headphones. I also have the Sony studio-standard-like headphones, more prone to what Gen X DJ's used. Anyway, more folks' picks of headphone ratings, here. https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-category?id=9
Yeah, those Sonys are good headphones. Sony also has a $25 version that are just as good as the famous MDR-7506's.
37
HF Beacons / Poss. Desert Whooper? 4096 kHz 0740 UTC, 'whoop whoop' sounds, + weak CW
« on: June 05, 2024, 1938 UTC »
After reading through the loggings here, I actually tried to pick up the sound of one of these beacons early this a.m., just after midnight PDT. I heard a 'whoop whoop whoop whoop' noise (on SSB) on 4096 kHz, 00740-0745 UTC, and then some CW, including what may have been a "W", but there was a lot of fading, with the overall signal strength less than S1 on a scale of S1-S5.
It was on my Radio Shack 200629 (ATS 505) and 25-30 ft. indoor, second story wire.
Pretty cool to hear, either way. I'd tried for some of these beacons years ago and came up with nothing.
(Edit: posted the wrong radio used by mistake)
It was on my Radio Shack 200629 (ATS 505) and 25-30 ft. indoor, second story wire.
Pretty cool to hear, either way. I'd tried for some of these beacons years ago and came up with nothing.
(Edit: posted the wrong radio used by mistake)
38
Amateur Radio / Re: Suggestoins on headphones for listening
« on: June 05, 2024, 0425 UTC »
In my view use a good set of high fidelity headphones, and narrow the audio (if desired) using the controls on the radio or SDR. "Communications" style headphones that were popular in the 1960's and 70's (which accentuated a narrower band of frequencies) can be very midrangy and just give you listener's fatigue.
39
HF Mystery Signals / Unid RTTY/FSK, 14001-14002 kHz, between 0800-1800 UTC, over several days
« on: June 05, 2024, 0353 UTC »
Over the past couple weeks I've heard a usually strong RTTY / FSK signal around 14001-14002 kHz in the 20 Meter Ham band. I don't have any radio that tunes more precisely, and even at that I'm not really great at zeroing an FSK signal, as I am never sure where to 'zero' it.
I'm sure it's not an overload product, and the signal propagates. It's varied in strength from S3 to S5 (on a scale of 0-5), and one morning it was MIA (which was during a morning when the 20M band was mediocre, propagation wise). I generally do my HF monitoring in the a.m., Pacific time, so that's when I hear it. I don't have an SDR so I can't post a waterfall or anything like that.
I was just curious as to whether anyone else in the Western US is hearing this during the morning hours. Obviously, it's an intrusion into the 20 M ham band, because the band plan calls for RTTY much higher in the band.
I have it logged in my most recent logbook starting May 26th, but I know I heard it before then. Anyone else hearing this, and any idea what the source of the signal is? Here in the NW US we sort of have a pipeline to Asia during the mornings, so my instant guess is that it's coming from Asia somewhere, but I could be way off in my guess....
It's sort of odd that the ham forums never mention intrusions like these much.
Monitoring equipment is a Realistic DX-390, Panasonic RF-B45, 30 ft. indoor wire up 20-25 feet. NW US.
I'm sure it's not an overload product, and the signal propagates. It's varied in strength from S3 to S5 (on a scale of 0-5), and one morning it was MIA (which was during a morning when the 20M band was mediocre, propagation wise). I generally do my HF monitoring in the a.m., Pacific time, so that's when I hear it. I don't have an SDR so I can't post a waterfall or anything like that.
I was just curious as to whether anyone else in the Western US is hearing this during the morning hours. Obviously, it's an intrusion into the 20 M ham band, because the band plan calls for RTTY much higher in the band.
I have it logged in my most recent logbook starting May 26th, but I know I heard it before then. Anyone else hearing this, and any idea what the source of the signal is? Here in the NW US we sort of have a pipeline to Asia during the mornings, so my instant guess is that it's coming from Asia somewhere, but I could be way off in my guess....
It's sort of odd that the ham forums never mention intrusions like these much.
Monitoring equipment is a Realistic DX-390, Panasonic RF-B45, 30 ft. indoor wire up 20-25 feet. NW US.
40
Equipment / Re: Don't pass up those 1980's Radio Shack Mixers!
« on: May 29, 2024, 2328 UTC »
I used the $24 to record three demo CDs back in the day. I had two of them. One set up permanently for the drum set mics. The other one was to mix front mic / room mic for vocals and guitars. Very handy little devices.
41
Equipment / Re: WQVR(AM) Is Granted CP to Use HEBA Antenna at Night. RW rip...
« on: May 18, 2024, 1047 UTC »
Wow. Very cool. Might keep a few AM stations on the air a bit longer -- at least those that could afford such an installation.
42
General Radio Discussion / Re: Me??? Several radios...
« on: May 07, 2024, 1203 UTC »
My radios are listed in my byline, although I've added to them. Sangean PR-D5, PR-D4W, Tecsun PL-398, Grundig G2, XHDATA D-328....
I'm becoming a fan of DSP chipped radios anymore, although I won't stop using my analog Superadios, RF-B45, or Radio Shack 200629 any time soon.
My antennas are an indoor wire (works reasonably well) and a milk crate loop for MW.
I also have a DX-440, but don't DX with it much. I do fire it up weekly to ensure it's still working, though.
I'm becoming a fan of DSP chipped radios anymore, although I won't stop using my analog Superadios, RF-B45, or Radio Shack 200629 any time soon.
My antennas are an indoor wire (works reasonably well) and a milk crate loop for MW.
I also have a DX-440, but don't DX with it much. I do fire it up weekly to ensure it's still working, though.
43
General Radio Discussion / Re: A great great read on solar flare activity and comparisons to previous cycles!
« on: May 07, 2024, 1159 UTC »
Stands to reason. The new Solar uptick is welcomed, but it's not like 2012 at all. I'm not hearing it on my radios, and I hear hams on 20 M talking about the high bands being nowhere as good as they should be at this stage in the Cycle.
And then there is the gradually dropping eUV irradiance, which is what makes the ionosphere work. So the new cycle is great that it's here, and I'm glad that it's better than it was in 2019 when HF sounded like nuclear winter every other night, but it remains to be seen just how things will play out when this cycle actually peaks.
And then there is the gradually dropping eUV irradiance, which is what makes the ionosphere work. So the new cycle is great that it's here, and I'm glad that it's better than it was in 2019 when HF sounded like nuclear winter every other night, but it remains to be seen just how things will play out when this cycle actually peaks.
44
General Radio Discussion / Re: What radios are remaining domestic HF listeners using?
« on: April 06, 2024, 0941 UTC »
Tecsun, XHDATA, and the Sangean 909X2 are most of what I see being mentioned. Having two of the small XHDATA's (the D-219 and D-328) and a Tecsun PL-398, I understand why these portables with DSP chips are so popular. Relatively inexpensive, and good performance as well.
Much better than the equivalent that was available in the 1970's and 80s (often Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese made transistor multibanders that had varying performance. The modern DSP portables are terrific comparatively, especially when considering the price point. DSP really sounds good, for the most part. Although if the AGC is tight, yeah, it can get pumpy. But then, so is my DX-398.
When i first heard Radio Australia in the very late 1970s it was on a three band portable, using a 60 ft wire. It was heterodyne city. If I'd had a Tecsun, or the digitally tuned XHDATA back then, I would have heard so much more.
So even though there are less stations, varying propagation, etc., the receivers available are really good for the hobby.
The other receivers getting a lot of mention are the various SDRs, and small radios that seem to resemble SDRs, like the Malahit and Belka-DX ones. I see them being mentioned a lot. There's a relatively new radio based on an NXP 'TEF' chip that is getting popular, the Qodosen something or other.
There really are no affordable tabletop / portatops anymore. That ship seems to have sailed. But I would stack my XHDATA D-328 against my FRG-7 for raw, SWBC receive performance any day -- especially when one looks at the cost of each one, accounting for inflation.
Much better than the equivalent that was available in the 1970's and 80s (often Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese made transistor multibanders that had varying performance. The modern DSP portables are terrific comparatively, especially when considering the price point. DSP really sounds good, for the most part. Although if the AGC is tight, yeah, it can get pumpy. But then, so is my DX-398.
When i first heard Radio Australia in the very late 1970s it was on a three band portable, using a 60 ft wire. It was heterodyne city. If I'd had a Tecsun, or the digitally tuned XHDATA back then, I would have heard so much more.
So even though there are less stations, varying propagation, etc., the receivers available are really good for the hobby.
The other receivers getting a lot of mention are the various SDRs, and small radios that seem to resemble SDRs, like the Malahit and Belka-DX ones. I see them being mentioned a lot. There's a relatively new radio based on an NXP 'TEF' chip that is getting popular, the Qodosen something or other.
There really are no affordable tabletop / portatops anymore. That ship seems to have sailed. But I would stack my XHDATA D-328 against my FRG-7 for raw, SWBC receive performance any day -- especially when one looks at the cost of each one, accounting for inflation.
45
General Radio Discussion / Re: AM Radio and Eclipse
« on: April 06, 2024, 0928 UTC »
Also, if you live a couple hundred miles to either side of the path of totality, switch your radio on and tune around anyway. I was a couple hundred miles north of the path of totality of the last one, and heard DX from a couple hundred miles south of the path.
No harm in switching it on, seeing what's there.
No harm in switching it on, seeing what's there.
