Topics

1

Huh? / RadioGPT can talk. It can research. It can take your calls. And it could be HERE

« on: March 12, 2023, 2041 UTC »

 While I was on SWL'ing, came across this: OK... We all knew that this was coming. https://slate.com/technology/2023/03/radiogpt-artificial-intelligence-dj-futuri-interview.html

2

Huh? / SWL'ing Survey? Eh... Why not???

« on: March 12, 2023, 1940 UTC »

Huh... Been a while since I've seen any surveys on radio gear. Just some heads-up that you have to scroll down to about mid-page for the survey choices and those DOT's to fill in.   https://swling.com/blog/2023/03/survey-what-type-of-radio-is-your-daily-driver/

3

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Greg's Sandbox Carrier-Current INFO?

« on: March 03, 2023, 2052 UTC »

I don't think that this was posted before here, but it is now.  http://www.gregssandbox.com/wocr/carrier.htm 
This next link may have been talked about, but it is a neat read.  https://johnbrashear.tripod.com/wlcr.html

4

Huh? / SWL Fest 2023 INFO?

« on: March 03, 2023, 2041 UTC »

Not going, (Maybe, the next decade.), but here's this years INFO. https://swling.com/blog/2023/03/still-time-to-register-today-36th-annual-virtual-winter-swl-fest-this-weekend/

5

Equipment / Radio Jay Allen's AM and FM Mega Shootout Lists Updated!

« on: February 17, 2023, 1847 UTC »

Still, fun reads, for sure. For AM:     https://radiojayallen.com/am-portables-mega-shootout-2019-update/

For FM:    https://radiojayallen.com/fm-portables-mega-shootout/

6

The RF Workbench / A USA based company with lots of AM projects to check out.

« on: February 09, 2023, 1844 UTC »

https://www.kintronic.com/resources/technical-papers/       Boomer FWR me the link to this company. Some neat reading here indeed. Question is, will they be able to run with any of these ideas?

7

Equipment / Fiberglass whip – short vertical antennas for MW broadcasting by Valcom?

« on: January 26, 2023, 1826 UTC »

https://labsdl.wordpress.com/2018/09/06/interesting-am-broadcast-antennas-part-1-wiry-and-wzbr/

I think that these were covered before, but they are intriguing. Hmmmmmmmmm... I wonder how were they'd work for the 160M band?

8

Huh? / Radio World Letter: AM Ain’t Done Yet! And then, Ford. Plus, more AM gripes?

« on: January 25, 2023, 0743 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/readers-forum/letter-am-aint-done-yet    Still, the amount of noise on the MW band just sucks.
And then, there's this:   https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/did-am-radio-just-get-hit-by-lightning

Hey Pigmeat! Don't forget the Ford Feista, a.k.a. their answer to the Dodge Horizon, or the Chevy Chevette, (Or as we called it, the Shove-It!).

More AM Gripes ripped and linked from SWL'ing:  https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/who-benefits-by-removing-am-from-cars

Speaking of Ford... More of this:  https://www.techspot.com/news/97807-ford-dropping-radio-2024-mustang.html

9

Amateur Radio / Will SSB Radio Return To The US Naval Academy? HAM FREQ´s involved.

« on: January 12, 2023, 1835 UTC »

I´ve 1st seen this from SWL´ing, but a friend of mine FWR the direct link.   https://gcaptain.com/will-ssb-radio-return-to-the-us-naval-academy/

10

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / 49MHz Part 15 re-re-visited? Still usable, today.

« on: January 09, 2023, 1956 UTC »

Boomer FWR me this:   http://kdxradio.com/gallery_files/Brownwood_Bulletin_Fri__Nov_18__1977_hobbyist.pdf A 1978 article on 49MHz Part 15 band. And then, this VID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPf6_v21xds     WOW!!!! Does all this bring back memories of 49MHz stories of, walkie-talkies, cordless phones, and baby monitors. Certainly, made it worth having a scanner, with a good VHF Low antenna, in the 1980´s. (Hi-hi...) Still, this band could be great to use, now. Like this dude did:  http://www.fordyce.org/scanning/scanning_info/babymon.htm      Years ago, I´ve audio modified a Safety dual-channel 49MHz Baby Monitor, 49.850MHz and 49.870MHz, NBFM. I went a step further by adding a POT for audio adjustment and an extra resistor, in series. (Like 10k-Ohm, or higher.) And??? As a bonus, this Baby Monitor´s transmitter came with a built-in audio ALC unit that was really effective. Audio wise??? A little better than telephone-like, really. Then again, if you are going to use scanner radios to receive this, hi-fi audio quality isn´t a concern.

11

Amateur Radio / January VHF / UHF Sweepsteaks, then Winter Field Day 2023!

« on: January 08, 2023, 1906 UTC »

Uh-huh... Tis that time for this one:  http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf    Lack of foliage helps out on 2M, on up, to get out. And, maybe 6M F2 this year. Then, the following week:   https://www.winterfieldday.com/    Now, the question is whether those Southern T-storms will settle down by then, and not rip-up the lower HF bands with crashes at night. And then, AM Rally:   http://www.amrally.com/

12

10/11 meters / Rare, late night 11M Sporadic ¨E¨ pipeline from Texas!

« on: December 30, 2022, 2058 UTC »

Wow!!! 27MHz CB was hoping, especially CH38LSB, from midnight to 2:30AM, (0500UTC - 0730UTC, 12/30/2022), with a direct pipeline to Texas. On 10M??? Just a beacon, or two, but no operating stations. All, on 11M. So, was 6M open last night?

13

Huh? / HAARP to bounce signal off asteroid in NASA experiment? More INFO.

« on: December 24, 2022, 1903 UTC »

https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/haarp-bounce-signal-asteroid-nasa-experiment    I say, let HAM´s do it. Then, we can get credit for ultra rare DX. (Hi-hi...) At least, this helps them to focus upon not burning holes in the atmosphere, or trying to change the weather, so they can have at it. Huh... Looks like we need to bug them for what frequencies they are going to use.

UPDATE:    Ah... Hereś more details on date and FREQ´s.   https://swling.com/blog/2022/12/haarp-to-ping-passing-asteroid-with-shortwave-signals/

14

Amateur Radio / 10 Meter Beacon DXing? See if you can hear what this dude has.

« on: December 23, 2022, 2002 UTC »

If Auroras don´t kill 10M propagation, maybe we can hear what this dude did.  https://swling.com/blog/2022/12/guest-post-10-meter-beacon-dxing/

15

The RF Workbench / Simple and better circuit for MiniWhip antennas?

« on: December 20, 2022, 1812 UTC »

Boomer FWR this to me. Looks easy enough, and if I was stuck as an apartment dweller, I´d build and try it. http://www.pa3fwm.nl/projects/miniwhip/