Messages

26776

General Radio Discussion / Re: Operators: consider 6925 alternatives.

« on: July 29, 2013, 1902 UTC »

Years ago 6950 and 6955 were all the rage. I don't recall what caused everyone to move to 6925, but are those reasons still valid? I know that they still get used, although infrequently, and they have had their own interference problems.

IIRC there was a Peruvian on 6955, I also seem to remember a Chinese regional station on or around 6950.

26777

General Radio Discussion / Solar Cycle 24 Update

« on: July 29, 2013, 1352 UTC »

Recently, a number of newspaper articles spoke of the potential of cycle 25 to be   “Weakest Solar Cycle In Almost 200 Years”. “We’re in a new age of solar physics,” said David Hathaway of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.



The F10.7 flux shows that Solar Cycle 24 is quite a weak cycle relative to the ones that have preceded it in the instrumental record. In terms of F10.7 flux, Solar Cycle 24 peaked two years ago.


Full article: http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/07/28/solar-cycle-24-update-2/

26778

General Radio Discussion / Solar Cycle 24 Nears Peak

« on: July 29, 2013, 1347 UTC »

Notice that the peak of solar cycle 24, which we are currently in, is nowhere near the peak of solar cycle 23. Then, compare that to what was predicted. According to NASA, cycle 24 should of been at least as busy, if not busier than cycle 23.

So, the question is: with NASA's prediction that the peak of solar cycle 25 is even lower, do we believe it?

Was it so wrong about solar cycle 24 that we throw out the prediction? Or do we believe the trend that it will go down?

Another wild card is that some scientists are thinking this current solar cycle may see a secondary peak early in 2014. Notice, in the second graph above, the recent trend was that there was a second peak (cycle # 20, 21, 22 and 23) while cycles #18 and #19 did not. The thinking is that #18 and #19 were strong, while the others were not. The fact that this solar cycle is weak plays a role into the thinking that a second peak is possible.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/astronomy/solar-cycle-24-nears-peak/15903420

26779

General Radio Discussion / Re: Operators: consider 6925 alternatives.

« on: July 29, 2013, 1338 UTC »

Yes, I've noted the strong signals from the 6925 LSB pescaodres as well. As Beerus said, they can cause a lot of problems to stations around 6925.

I was just reviewing the SDR recordings from last night:

6930 seemed to be relatively clear, as was 6940. I've noticed pescadores on 6945 LSB from time to time.

There's assorted pescadores and UTEs in the 6950-6960 range.

6970 was clear, although there's two issues with 6970 - Sound of Hope uses it, so Firedrake/CNR1 often turns up here, and there's a nasty spur/mixing product from WWCR that lands here whenever they are on both 6875 and 13945.  

UTEs notes around 6980 with PSK

Going down in frequency from 6925...

6920 had some pescadores on LSB. I know a few stations have made use of 6920 lately, sometimes it is clear enough.

The MARS guys hang out on 6903.5 so it is best to stay far far away from here. I think they've been heard in the 6910/6915 range as well.

Israel of course is on 6885, and WWCR on 6875.  WWCR often throws out an extremely wide signal, sometimes visible on the SDR between 6850-6900.

Not sure how much lower ops can go and still attract listeners. Those of us with SDRs will probably notice anything that pops up in the 6800-7000 range, but others may not.

My gut feeling is 6930/6935/6940 are probably the most clear frequencies. This will probably all change once we get into fall, anyway :-)

26780

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Mysterious Mystic Radio, MMR, 6925.6 AM, 0331 UTC, July 29, 2013

« on: July 29, 2013, 1322 UTC »

SDR catch, very weak signal noted at 0036z, the music at sign on sounded a lot like what I have heard on MMR before.
Lots of t-storms in the area, so high static levels.
Off at 0507.

26781

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Voice of the robots 6925u july 29'13

« on: July 29, 2013, 0104 UTC »

S7 here. Frequent IDs, "the robots are back".

26782

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Man Cave Radio 6925 AM 0003 July 29'13

« on: July 29, 2013, 0040 UTC »

S8 here at 0040z. Transmitter went off and on a few times. ID at 0040.

26783

Equipment / Re: Lazy H Antenna

« on: July 28, 2013, 2206 UTC »

Have you considered a two element wire beam?  Dipole with a director -- aim it towards Europe.

That might be worth a try. 

Yes, I have considered that. I need to check out the tree situation, to see if I have them in the right locations to make it work. I won't be able to get the wires up high enough for good low angle radiation, but I can't do that anyway, so getting some gain toward Europe would certainly help.

26784

General Radio Discussion / Top Ten Reasons Why You Need A Police Scanner

« on: July 28, 2013, 2159 UTC »

Keep up to date on current events
Hear live events as they happen
Listen to NOAA weather reports so you can be prepared
Monitor all FRS/GMRS for activity
Scan your favorite sets of ham radio repeaters
Keep up with relatives activities
Hear local police and fire departments
Marine activity and Coast guard
Hear space shuttle communications
Listen in on your favorite NASCAR teams

Full article: http://www.streetarticles.com/radio/top-ten-reasons-why-you-need-a-police-scanner

26785

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: PPVR 6925 USB 6:00 UTC July 28,2013

« on: July 28, 2013, 1407 UTC »

0553 sign on with laughing ID. Fair signal, S5 to S6, a bit of static.

26786

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6925.35 AM 0357 UTC 28 JUl 2013

« on: July 28, 2013, 1403 UTC »

SDR recording catch: Very weak carrier noted with 0357 sign on.
Off at 0411. No real audio heard.

26787

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio True North - 6940AM 0231 UTC - 28/7/13

« on: July 28, 2013, 1359 UTC »

SDR catch, 0230 sign on with just a carrier. Audio heard starting around 0300, but still quite weak. improving further starting around 0325.

26788

Shortwave Broadcast / CNR1 14980 1335 UTC 28 Jul 2013

« on: July 28, 2013, 1336 UTC »

Strong signal, S8 to S9. Presumed CNR1, Chinese YL.

26789

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Man Cave Radio 6925 AM 02:39 07/28/13

« on: July 28, 2013, 1332 UTC »

SDR catch here, 0238 sign on with an S9 signal.

26790

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Red Mercury Lab 6925 USB 02:04 UTC 07/28/13

« on: July 28, 2013, 1313 UTC »

SDR catch. Very good signal tonight, S8.