Topics

76

Amateur Radio / Heads-up on AM Marathon and The Heavy Metal Rally this NYD's? And, more...

« on: December 28, 2024, 1700 UTC »

I blew off C2C AM and woke-up listening to the AM'ers on 3885kHz. Anyway, I heard them talk about an AM Marathon for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Then, the annual AM Heavy Metal Rally, for the weekend of 1/4 - 1/5/2025. (Called that since the idea is to use older tube Amateur and military gear, but anyone can get-in on this.) Where to monitor, and, or, talk?

160M - Centered around 1885kHz.

75M - From 3873 - 3885kHz. However, there is AM activity down near 3700kHz, in the Extra Portion of the band.

40M - From 7285 - 7295kHz. (Albeit, later in the day SW Broadcasters still crash this on 40M.)

20M - Call FREQ has been 14.286kHz. However, due to lots of SSB'er there, Timtron, WA1HLR suggested using from 14.320 - 14.345MHz. (I tend to agree with that practice.)

17M - Upper portion of that WARC band.

15M - Suggested 21.420 - 21.445MHz.

12M - Upper portion of that WARC band.

10M - Centered around 29.0000MHz (Calling FREQ.), with activity about every 10kHz up.

6M - Centered around 50.400MHz (Calling FREQ.), with activity about every 10kHz up.

2M - This has been considered a 'Local Option' upon where to operate. However, a suggested Calling FREQ could be 144.300MHz.

222MHz, 902MHz, 1.2Ghz, and up? Well, you could always experiment with AM where the band calls for 'Mixed Modes'.

Regardless, the idea is to have fun on AM. Hear you on? Hope so. OH yeah!!! The AM Rally starts on February 1st, 2025.  http://www.amrally.com/    This page is from this year, but could answer some questions.  https://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/heavy-metal-am-rally.895916/

Hear ya on-air AM? Hope so!!!!

77

North American MW Pirate Radio / UNID 1620 AM 0230 UTC 27 DEC 2024

« on: December 27, 2024, 1632 UTC »

EDM music, battling it out with Pensa Cola, FL's 1620kHz, and Cuba. In between tracks, no ID, but a double blast of a siren, then start of next track. Heard on the truck stereo on the way back from work. Nothing, on 1710kHz, thus far.

78

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / In my area, it looks like VHF MURS, take #2?

« on: December 26, 2024, 1842 UTC »

My scanners not only include HAM FREQ's, but also all five VHF High Band MURS channels, as well as GMRS / FRS. About a decade ago, local CB'ers were trying out the MURS Band, and I joined them, so that they could get away from the Cycle 24 F2 Skip then. What killed that? When Cycle 24 died-out, and the locals thought that they could talk further back on 27MHz CB. And, due to the fact that the terrain here sucks for VHF, and especially UHF, in West Virginia, I could certainly see that. Last week, I was hearing the scanner stop on a QSO on MURS CH2, 151.880MHz FM, and recognized a CB friend of mine. So, I joined-in and asked what's up. Whelp, a bag of douche is trashing the CB locally. So, since some of these dudes still had MURS rigs, they're trying it again. How long will this last? I duh-know... But, it's neat to hear them on again, and get newer folks to try the band with cheap Chinese commercial HT's. Hey... Antennas are easy enough to build for that band. So, what are you hearing on MURS out there?

79

Propagation / Winter Sporadic "E" is back! Well, it was last night for 11M / 10M.

« on: December 21, 2024, 2013 UTC »

Had the CB on at 11PM, EST last night, on CH38 LSB, only to find short-skip Sporadic "E" PROP popping in there from WNY, WI, N. IL, MI, MN, then later moving West to NE, MO, KS, AR, and then Dallas, TX, around 1AM. On 10M, KF0JAY, was just picking them out in pile-ups. (Even I was heard in there with the WV mention.). I didn't check 6M, but now I kind of wish that I did. So, a neat night for 11M and 10M. More to come? Hope so... https://www.dxmaps.com/spots/mapg.php?Lan=E&Frec=50&ML=M&Map=W2LN&HF=N&DXC=ING2&GL=S

80

Propagation / RW write-ups on FM DX'ing Meteor Scatter.

« on: December 10, 2024, 1810 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/global/the-geminids-on-fm-a-celestial-symphony-you-can-hear     Huh... The longest FM burst that I've heard was about 2sec. Not exactly good to station ID'ing. However, there were, and still are, FM DX Freaks, out there, that leave-on for like +24hrs a slow recorder to try and catch a Meteor Burst with an ID. In the 70's and 80's, slow Open-Reel decks did that, then those C Crane slowed-down cassette recorders in the 90's. Today, a low bitrate MP3 recorder. So, if you can't see meteors, due to cloud cover, you could still listen for them. 

81

Huh? / Progressive Concepts Acquires Norwalk Electronics? Another RW rip...

« on: December 07, 2024, 1655 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/progressive-concepts-acquires-norwalk-electronics    Hey... Progressive Concepts still puts out mini zine-like catalogs. https://progressive-concepts.com/request-a-printed-catalog/

82

Equipment / Useful audio DSP gear? Could be. Taramps Pro 2.4D Dynamic Peak (audio DSP)

« on: December 04, 2024, 1805 UTC »

https://tarampsusa.com/products/taramps-pro-2-4d-dynamic-peak-audio-processor    Not too sure that it could be like a BHI Audio DSP, but the price of this thing look attractive and could be useful somewhere.

83

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Radio World interview of Bill Defelice, “Wannabes” Should Consider Part 15?

« on: December 04, 2024, 1612 UTC »

You may have heard Bill on an early podcast of Radio Survivor. Well, here he is on a Radio World interview.  https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/wannabes-should-consider-part-15     (I'll see if I can re-post the Radio Survivor podcast link that he was on a few years back.)   BTW, who asked about 'Bleeder Cable FM"? This article, Bill talks about that as well. (Oh yeah... THANKS Boomer, for alerting me to this!) 
(UPDATE):   That Radio Survivor, with Bill Defelice is RS podcast #120,   https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2017/12/podcast-120-tiny-radio-station/    Enjoy!!!!

84

Equipment / A 'Poor Man's Optimod'? Um, maybe.... Meant for HAM and Part 15.

« on: December 01, 2024, 1650 UTC »

https://www.internetwork.com/MAX/    Boomer found this. Looks cool.

85

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Tis the season for Part 15 'Light Display' stations?

« on: November 27, 2024, 1754 UTC »

Anyone seen these out yet? Signs that say, "TUNE IN TO ----" for music to various X-mas light displays. Most seem to be those FM ones, but someone might try AM as well. Usually, you will see them at an event like this,   https://salights.com/   However, folks that have their houses decked-out might display a sign for accompanying music.

86

Huh? / Bose Speakers buys out McIntosh Audio?

« on: November 20, 2024, 2116 UTC »

https://www.bose.com/pressroom/bose-acquires-mcintosh-group-announcement?srsltid=AfmBOooVHe196sDv1GzzGCBkZHtsCBTa-PJBeQMq69IeTwek4D4SyKPE     Well, that's different. I have audio from both. I was sad, when Clarion acquired McIntosh 20-some years ago. Hopefully, this is a good thing.

87

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / 35,000 Watts, the podcast, free to air for Part 15'ers!

« on: November 19, 2024, 1911 UTC »

Actually, I've known about Michael Millard's, 35,000 Watts, College Radio INFO Podcasts, for months now, but griped to him that I couldn't download it. https://www.35000watts.com/podcast/   The tricks, hit SHARE, then you'll see that download arrow / line icon, and it should take. Or, right-click on it, and hit 'SAVE LINK AS', and label and put the download where you want it. Worked, for me. COOL!!!!! (THANKS Michael!!!!)

88

Huh? / SWL'ing hits-up Franken FM, 'ol CH6's.

« on: November 10, 2024, 1748 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2024/11/channel-6-fm-radio-stations/    Question is, how much longer can they exist?  They are certainly not bothering anyone where they are, at 87.750MHz. Well, with the exception of envy from some commercial broadcasters that want to see them squashed. Uh-huh.

89

General Radio Discussion / Are Internet Radios Still a Thing? RW rip...

« on: November 08, 2024, 1851 UTC »

https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/are-internet-radios-still-a-thing     I still use it, and use that Grace Digital Mondo Elite as a stream link for programs. BTW, it does seem to work well with Starlink Internet. (Thanks for referring this Boomer!)

90

SDR - Software Defined Radio / The Ultra-Portable ATS25 max-Decoder Receiver? Updated?

« on: October 19, 2024, 1720 UTC »

https://www.elektormagazine.com/review/ats25-max-decoder-receiver-review   Sound intriguing, but I understand that you'd have to pay for the software upgrades.  Anyone tried this SDR yet?