Messages

226

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: Two new SDRPlay RSP's! RSP2 and RSP2-Pro

« on: January 07, 2018, 2359 UTC »

Because i'm lacking all sense, I'm giving consideration to adding a SDRplay receiver to my stable.  The 10MHz bandwidth is a primary driver since I like playing around on the VHF bands.  There are two things that give me pause....1) Mac OS support, and 2) deciding between the RSP2 vs. RSP1A.  The first issue is my primary concern; it looks like the only software i could use to drive it without some hassle would be CubicSDR (which may be an adventure in its own right).  Has anyone (looking at you, Chris) played around with CubicSDR on the Mac? 

227

Propagation / is it me?

« on: January 07, 2018, 2350 UTC »

Or is propagation around 41m or so reallly bad this evening? 

228

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6945 USB 2115z Dec 22, 2017

« on: December 22, 2017, 2201 UTC »

S7 but very deep fades here in MD. 

229

Equipment / Re: cheap amazon BCB AM filter....

« on: December 16, 2017, 2113 UTC »

OK here's the clean +/- comparison i promised.  No smoothing or noise reduction and all the auto-adjustments on the waterfall turned off.  The top panel is filter in-line between the H800 and the Afedri, the middle panel is with the filter removed, and the bottom panel is the filter put back.  The strong signal you see is 930 kHz.  Not shown is the trace on the S-meter; baseline noise went from S2 with the filter on to S5-6 with it off. 

So...for $20 bucks you can get some BCB relief.  Does it solve all my intermod problems?  No...perhaps in part because the BCB filter is working on the amplified signal from the antenna.  Turns out the H800 has the preamp IN the antenna probe, and the little box is just the power supply for that. 

Next step is to lay out my LOG and try that +/- the filter.

230

Equipment / cheap amazon BCB AM filter....

« on: December 14, 2017, 0203 UTC »

Just received my cheapo Chinese BCB AM filter from Amazon.  The good news...it doesn't make the radio (Afedri SDR-net) deaf.  The bad news...it doesn't completely deal with my intermod problem.  I'm just going by eyeball right now, i'll try and do some direct comparisons +/- filter later this week or weekend and post some data.  I do wonder if it would be possible to stick it between the antenna probe and the amplifier on my H800, however....logically it seems to me at least it would make sense to remove as much unwanted signal before the amp......

231

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6930 USB 1906 UTC 02 Dec 2017

« on: December 02, 2017, 1907 UTC »

Someone broadcasting tones, sounds like Xmas music?

232

Other / "preacher" 7185 kHz LSB 1800 02 DEC 2017

« on: December 02, 2017, 1801 UTC »

Assuming this is considered a pirate since he's blabbing on 40m....mods, feel free to move if otherwise.
Good signal and copy (S6)

233

Other / What is up on 6944 kHz 2320 29 Nov 2017???

« on: November 29, 2017, 2324 UTC »

See screenshot...not sure what mode this is, but it's the first time i've seen it pop up in the 43m pirate band.

234

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: RFW 4065 was 6965 USB 2135 UTC 19 Nov 2017

« on: November 19, 2017, 2228 UTC »

Excellent copy here on 4065 kHz USB.  S7-8..."Black belt eagle scout".  Station ID at 22:28Z

235

SDR - Software Defined Radio / intermod weirdness

« on: November 19, 2017, 2205 UTC »

So I'm sitting here monitoring the 43m band for this evening's entertainment....everything is nice and quiet until BLAM.  I see a carrier pop up on 6935kHz which rapidly develops into severe intermod (local AM station, sounds like).  It lasted a couple of minutes, and then died down to a barely visible carrier signal.  I didn't touch a thing....

236

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: RFW 6965 USB 2135 UTC 19 Nov 2017

« on: November 19, 2017, 2143 UTC »

Argh I need a better antenna.  I saw the carrier, but just briefly....

237

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6950.5 AM 2123 UTC 19 NOV 2017

« on: November 19, 2017, 2126 UTC »

seeing the carrier here in MD, but no joy on the music.  Seemed to drift up toward 6950.6 toward the end of the broadcast

238

Utility / OTHR 60m 0158Z 18 NOV 2017

« on: November 18, 2017, 0202 UTC »

Seeing OTHR on 60m...two distinct signals, a strong signal centered at ~ 4750kHz, and a weaker signal centered at ~4820kHz.

239

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6935 kHz AM 2240 UTC 05 Nov 2017-suspect Radio Appalachia?

« on: November 05, 2017, 2242 UTC »

S7 with some strong fades, good sound quality otherwise.  Also hearing another signal mixed in, not sure if that's on my end or in the broadcast. 

240

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: UNID 6945 USB 2124 UTC 5 Nov 2017

« on: November 05, 2017, 2130 UTC »

S5-6 in central MD