Messages

226

Equipment / Grounding systems

« on: January 23, 2018, 1312 UTC »

So this spring might be time for “operation permanently mount antennas”.  One big part of that will be installing my station ground.  I need to bond the feedpoint ground to the house’s entrance ground which is pretty much on the other side of the house, so I’ll be running a strip of copper (probably copper) flashing around to make that connection., and adding an extra ground rod about halfway where it goes around the corner of the house.

One question I’ve been pondering is how wide of a strip is sufficient given that it’s a fairly long run (60-feet or so)?

Thanks!

227

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Re: New WR-G65DDCe 'Excalibur Sigma'

« on: January 13, 2018, 2154 UTC »

that's an odd gap for VHF isn't it?

228

Equipment / Loop on ground experiment

« on: January 13, 2018, 1612 UTC »

Finally got off my lazy butt and pulled all the pieces together to try a loop-on-ground antenna.  I've got about 60 feet of insulated solid copper wire haphazardly looped around the backyard and feeding into one of the NooElec 1:9 baluns.  Some RG-59 takes that upstairs to the radio and through the BC filter i've posted about before. 

This is probably not the best time of day to mess around with it...but initial impressions are favorable. On 20 meters there's at least one S unit less background, and the birdies don't appear as bad compared to the H-800. 

Looking forward to this evening and seeing what pops up on 41 meters...if it shows good performance there it might be a keeper, and i'll have to figure out some way to do a more permanent install.  That is one where the local wildlife won't run off with my balun and antenna wire.....

229

North American Shortwave Pirate / UNID 6940 USB 0222 11 JAN 2018

« on: January 11, 2018, 0224 UTC »

Solid S4 signal into Central MD.   Peaking in the S7 range.
~0221Z:  Ministry Psalm 69
~0223Z:  NOFX We Called It America
  0227:  NIN Heresy
  0228: Nirvana Smells like teen spirit
0237:  station ID, signal fading & couldn't catch.  go figure
~0255 or so...off the air

Thanks for a great show! 

230

Software / Re: DX ToolBox 5.0.0 Released

« on: January 08, 2018, 0322 UTC »

Really enjoying the integration with SDRDX. 

231

Peskies / UNID 6933USB 0148Z 08 JAN 2018

« on: January 08, 2018, 0150 UTC »

sounds like old-time music....barely above S5 noise floor

232

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? 

233

Propagation / is it me?

« on: January 07, 2018, 2350 UTC »

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

234

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. 

235

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.

236

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......

237

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?

238

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)

239

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.

240

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