Messages

5971

General Radio Discussion / Re: Sputnik-1 Radio Beacon Schematic Found

« on: February 16, 2014, 0542 UTC »

Found in Fansome's storage locker, no doubt.

See what happens when you don't pay your fees, Al.

5972

The RF Workbench / Re: Stereo to mono wiring

« on: February 04, 2014, 0216 UTC »

Go to Rat Shack, buy a stereo headphone to RCA jack. You now have a monophonic output to feed the transmitter with. Plug the stereo end into your audio source and the RCA end into your patch cord. Plug the other end patch cord into your transmitter, switch the tx on and crank the audio, you're on the air. Nothin' to it, and no soldering.

It will cost you about two and half bucks, plus tax.

Invest in a snap-on ferrite for the patch cord while your there, if you don't have a few around the radio room. Give the patch cord about 3 turns around the core and snap it shut. It will stop rf from creeping back into your audio source.

5973

General Radio Discussion / Re: Radio Shack Breaks Campaign In Support of New Positioning

« on: January 29, 2014, 1935 UTC »

Around here it meant each store hired a tech type who actually knew stuff. If he wasn't working you were SOoL.

The guy who put me on to Digikey was a Rat Shack geek from that era. Another one had a guy........make sure you're sitting down for this one........a ham ticket!

5974

General Radio Discussion / Re: Advice or thoughts for beginner on interesting things to do

« on: January 29, 2014, 1407 UTC »

Type "broomstick antenna" into your search engine. I've used these in windows when I've lived in places where outdoor antennas weren't an option.

I find they perform about as well as 10-12 meter long outdoor antenna, which should let you catch some of those stations you barely hear now. They're very easy to make and use.

I heard the BBC African and World services on 6195 last night, around 3:30 utc. Nice signal and I'm on the backside of where they have their antennas pointed.

Happy hunting!

5975

General Radio Discussion / Re: Advice or thoughts for beginner on interesting things to do

« on: January 28, 2014, 2221 UTC »

I heard Radio Havana announce a few nights back they will be using 11880 khz. for their African service. It's generally propaganda, but the music is good.

Look for the US Armed Forces Radio/Television network. The Diego Garcia based broadcasts shouldn't be too hard for you to hear. They're in broadcast in sideband, but your Kaito is equipped to handle that. Not as much propaganda as RH and good music.

Radio Australia is still alive and kicking. 3000 miles with nothing but the Indian Ocean in the way between you and them. Check their schedules.

All India Radio is on a bunch of frequencies. Again nothing but salt water between you and the subcontinent. (Salt water makes for good propagation.) Check their English schedules. With the size of the Indian population in SA, my guess is they're beaming something towards you.

Radio Guyana in South America could be an option for you. They broadcast to the south and they run a lot of BBC World Service news and programming. The problem is they only run about 500 watts.

There are a literal ton of small stations in Indonesia and New Guinea. You could spend years picking through them.

With the presence China is establishing in Africa, they've got to be transmitting your way.

That's all I've got off the top of my head. Good luck.

5976

General Radio Discussion / Re: Somewhat creepy site was once home to a major communications facility

« on: January 27, 2014, 2303 UTC »

I used to listen to the ship to shore traffic on WOO as a kid.

Nice find, Alfy.

5977

General Radio Discussion / Re: What's the final word on what happened to...

« on: January 27, 2014, 2254 UTC »

Choat, be careful what you ask for. He nearly bought it the last time it was up for sale.

FRN = "Fansome Radio Network". It does have nice ring to it.

5978

General Radio Discussion / Re: FCC notice of unlicensed operation

« on: January 27, 2014, 2246 UTC »

If you cease operation after a visit you may not even get a NOUO, it depends on the agent, who's complaining, and most importantly you. Don't give out any info, but don't be a dick about it.

There was an obsessed preacher who ran an FM op about an hour away from me. He'd get a visit, swear he'd never do it again, then be back on the air as soon as he could get a new transmitter. It went on for years before the FCC finally shut him down for good, with a huge fine to boot.

I remember seeing his final bust on the local news.  I could see why the FCC went easy on him for so long. He was harmless,confused older guy living in an ancient trailer perched high on a steep hillside.

I often wonder if he was related to our pal, Al.

5979

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: Radio Free Whatever 6925 KHz AM 0102 UTC 1/22/2014

« on: January 22, 2014, 1725 UTC »

They were up down here. 20 over at times, S-3/4 at others. Noise levels were quite high for late January.

Heard them play one of my favorite Jam songs, "That's Entertainment" and a Cure industrial number from the very early 80's.

I hadn't heard either of those tunes in thirty years.

Nice show.

5980

Shortwave Broadcast / R. Verdad, Guatemala 4055 khz.

« on: January 20, 2014, 1411 UTC »

Armchair copy for the past week in the 10-10:45 utc. range. The radio was a Grundig G5 using only the built-in whip.

They tend to go off the air at 10:30 UTC, but I've found that to be quite variable. Sign-off is normally in Spanish and English.

5981

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WHYP 6875 AM 1539 19 Jan 2014

« on: January 20, 2014, 1357 UTC »

A-yay-yay, A-yay-yay........... Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy." LOL!!!

5982

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Diego Garcia AFN Feed 4319 USB 2245 - 01/12/13

« on: January 14, 2014, 0441 UTC »

Nice catch, Chris.

It's the optimum time of year to hear them. If there is an "optimum" time to hear a signal from an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean halfway around the world.

I wonder if the recent solar flare made auroral propagation possible?

5983

General Radio Discussion / Re: Barbie 2000 Secret Message Computer Center Playset 67278 Rare, Hard to find

« on: January 14, 2014, 0429 UTC »

I knew all along that whoever came up with that screwy pirate code must have used something like this.

Watch it Fansome, you've just earned double secret probation for that crack.

5984

General Radio Discussion / Re: Is this the end of the wire for RadioShack?

« on: January 11, 2014, 1927 UTC »

I'm there with you two fellas.

I've never owned a cellphone either. Nothing but glorified walkie-talkies any jughead with a scanner and the   right software can decrypt and listen in on.

I'm headin' out to the backyard to practice my smoke signals.

5985

The RF Workbench / Re: Can one use a CW transmitter to transmit voice? *edit, added link

« on: January 11, 2014, 0123 UTC »

My FM-10 is good for about a 1/3 of a mile. I bought it built at a hamfest from a real character. He may have modified it.  He's a weird old coot, but he always has interesting stuff under the table for his regulars.

It still drifts a bit until it warms up, but it was heck of a deal for 15 bucks.