Messages

166

Huh? / Another DX Test, WBOB 600AM, Florida, 04:00 - 07:00UTC, 5/15/2022!

« on: May 13, 2022, 1808 UTC »

Just got SWL'ing news about this:   https://swling.com/blog/2022/05/wbob-last-minute-50-kw-dx-test-on-600-khz/   Having a Carrier-Current station on 610AM, I'm not likely to hear this, except on the road. Should be a clearer FREQ than 1100AM was.

167

10/11 meters / Sporadic "E" open to about 03:00UTC last night on 10M.

« on: May 09, 2022, 1802 UTC »

After sunset, a dude in N. MI was working "1"-land, yet I hear him in Southern "8"-land. He wasn't hearing me, but worked a bunch of New Englanders, and occasionally I could hear them. Tis the season for Summer "E"'s.

168

Equipment / Re: Shortwave car stereo (Sony CDX-G1200U)?

« on: May 08, 2022, 1806 UTC »

I don't remember what year it was, but 'Passport To World Band Radio' covered this very subject, when they reviewed the The Becker Mexico car stereo, with SW bands on it. As it was back then, still seems true today, that since shortwave listening is a hobby in North America, and not seen as a necessity, they are just not offered over here. So, interested enthusiasts have to order from overseas and pay stupid money to do it. Me??? I'd love to have MW - HF available on the road, and not have to rig-up a portable, or HF rig, to do it. It's mainly about supply and demand. And, I also suspect, with today's wacky political climate, it may also be a way to keep the public from hearing alternative news sources from around the world that across radio unfiltered and uncensored. Just my $0.02 there.

169

Equipment / Re: Sometimes a blob is better.

« on: May 07, 2022, 1822 UTC »

A blob-like radiation pattern is how I talk out of this river valley bottom. Certainly, not an ideal place for radio hobbies, but it does pose a challenge, at the very least. Especially, in the VHF / UHF bands.

170

Amateur Radio / JW4D – Svalbard station DX event?

« on: May 02, 2022, 1908 UTC »

Word from K8RRT on this event:     https://www.dx-world.net/jw4d-svalbard/    Happy DX'ing!!!! 

171

The RF Workbench / Re: C-Crane tells how to build a free AM RX'ing antenna? Um, ok...

« on: May 02, 2022, 0527 UTC »

I agree!!! That follows the KISS idea right to a "T". Good deal. THANKS!!!!!

172

Huh? / Re: DX Test of WCGA 1100, 5/1/2022! Heard it, recorded it, uploaded it!

« on: May 01, 2022, 1946 UTC »

NICE!!! Heard the test on the drive home from work, then recorded the last 49min, and uploaded to archive.org.  https://archive.org/details/wcga-1100-am-woodbine-ga-dx-test-5-1-2022-0111-am-211-am-heard-under-wtam-1100-am    I may add more. Enjoy!!!!!

173

Huh? / Re: Why is there so little interest in MW pirates?

« on: April 29, 2022, 1729 UTC »

The other thing is that not that many people today have the real estate to string up a +100ft antenna. And, for gorilla tactics of pirating, loading up a portable station to take out in the middle of nowhere, build, test, broadcast for a couple hours on around 20W on 3, 4, 5, 6, 7MHz, can get the job done of getting you out there. Then, tear down and get out. With MW, not as easy. And as Chris mentioned, winter, when the noise levels are lower, and holidays are around, are pretty much going to be the norm for MW pirates in North America. With that said, there still may be some neat catches to get over here. 20 years ago, it was reported that there was a station on 1710kHz from an Indian Reservation that I even caught on a car stereo, then logged in to The ACE. So, you just never know.

174

Huh? / DX Test of WCGA 1100, 5/1/2022!

« on: April 29, 2022, 1717 UTC »

Another SWL'ing rip, but a heads-up:     https://swling.com/blog/2022/04/special-dx-test-via-wcga-may-1-2022-at-0400-utc/

175

Equipment / Nice set of mostly vintage rigs that this dude tests-out!

« on: April 26, 2022, 1922 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2022/04/matts-2022-rooftop-receiver-shootout/       I'd still take either Drakes and that Panasonic. Electronics class in college had the Panasonic to try out, and it was used to listen to the oscillators that we've built in labs.

176

The RF Workbench / C-Crane tells how to build a free AM RX'ing antenna? Um, ok...

« on: April 26, 2022, 1744 UTC »

Huh... Interesting, that a company that normally sells commercially made AM receive antennas is showing how to make one. But, that's cool...     https://news.ccrane.com/2018/04/09/how-to-make-a-simple-powerful-am-loop-antenna-for-free/?trk_msg=BHEDMVC34C24FF424ATVLC7V4O&trk_contact=5NJV72NF7SL66QTELJC5E5H0IG&trk_sid=55NP9H1QCA9KTKICDNSF322SH0&trk_link=F3QPVLR57VKK50PH5U7OQNFHR0&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=For+Your+FREE+DIY+Guide+on+How+to+Build+An+AM+Antenna+CLICK+HERE&utm_campaign=How+To+Make+Your+Own+AM+Antenna

177

The RF Workbench / Pyrite Radio, Dispatch? Radio, from a piece of iron pyrite? Yep...

« on: April 20, 2022, 0627 UTC »

From Radio Survivor, https://hii-mag.com/article/sound-design-a-feast-for-the-eyes-and-ears-at-pyrite-radio-dispatch    And the rest of the RS podcast #326 read,   http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2022/04/podcast-326-the-state-of-listening-and-broadcast-radio-in-2022/

178

General Radio Discussion / Re: Trends in tropical bands broadcasting 2022? Gained one!

« on: April 19, 2022, 1915 UTC »

In a bit of irony, we've actually gained a station in this FREQ region, if you want to include WBCQ's 4790kHz.

179

The RF Workbench / Wanna' communicate, and broadcast, with light? It can be done!

« on: April 15, 2022, 1844 UTC »

I've experimented with IR and white light LED's. Even thought of this as a station STL. However, this is Line-Of-Sight, so snow fall, heavy rain, even birds, will block this.   http://www.modulatedlight.org/optical_comms/optical_index.html     and    https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/optical      All neat, and legal to do.

180

SDR - Software Defined Radio / Wanna' build an SDR? This book could tell ya how?

« on: April 14, 2022, 1719 UTC »

https://www.amazon.com/Software-Defined-Radio-Transceiver-Construction/dp/B09WYP1ST8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Software+Defined+Radio+Transceiver&amp&qid=1649851795&amp&s=books&amp&sr=1-3&amp&tag=swlcom01-20         Well, sounds intriguing. I've bought books like this before, and they are a nice resource to keep around.
 Yeah... Another SWL'ing rip.