Messages

316

Amateur Radio / Re: Xiegu G90? Very, very tempting rig.

« on: November 05, 2021, 1854 UTC »

I'd seen that link before as well. The power connectors and cables is an idea that helped-out rigs like the 10M, RCI-2950, since it came with a chincy small-gauged power cable. That did indeed bring that rig to full RF OUT potential on both SSB and AM modes. Still, this Xiegu G90 fills the desire that I have, a stand-along SDR rig and not type up yet another computer for radio crap. I have more than enough of that. So, I'm looking to get one myself, since I can't justify diving $$$$$-wise for an IC-7300, or the new IC-705. The rig that I really want is that new TS-890S. That's not happening too soon with me.

317

The RF Workbench / Ferrite Toroids Can Be an Engineer’s Best Pal? Oh yeah!!!!

« on: November 05, 2021, 1831 UTC »

Boomer FWR this to me, and I have Ferrite clamps and toroids everywhere at my locations.  https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/tech-tips/ferrite-toroids-can-be-an-engineers-best-pal

318

Equipment / Re: Linear amplifier build? Listen for DIY by HAM's!

« on: November 04, 2021, 1932 UTC »

Sounds like you'd like what they talk about on 3885AM, 7290AM, and if you can ever catch 'em on AM in the 160M band, like around 1885kHz. (All +/- 12kHz.) A lot of those dudes are runnin' homebrew linears, some capable of 2kW, or more. And, not just HF, but Tuesday after on 7290AM I heard about a 2M SSB freak whom built his own 2M 2kW linear amp. And, if you go on there to QSO and ask these dudes about what they build, most of them are more than glad to share that info with ya. I've yet to do this, since my linear is an Ameritron AL-811A amp, that I bought from a silent key's family estate sale. Question is, when ever I wanna' attempt to do DIY linear amp building, do I want to go 'old school' tubes, or paralleled MOSFET's? Oh yeah... With F2 propagation coming back, 29.0000MHz AM in 10M is another FREQ to listen for that talk, +/-20kHz.

319

MW Loggings / GND-Wave continuity must be better now for local MW stations.

« on: November 03, 2021, 1738 UTC »

Huh... Where I am in WV, I won't hear 1020KDKA Pittsburgh during the summer months during the daytime, but do during the mid-day in the dead of winter. Well, on the work drive, KDKA was in there with a decent, steady, signal just before 5:30PM yesterday afternoon. With no fading, I've counted out skip. So, looks like this cold snap has given this a plus.

320

Amateur Radio / Long Haul 75M AM! WA to ME...

« on: November 02, 2021, 1827 UTC »

Whoa!!! Heard Timtron, WA1HLR, on 3885AM last night around 06:00UTC, workin' a station West of Seattle, WA. That's a good haul on 75M in any mode, let along AM, from ME to WA. I was hearing that dude at S20/9 with some kick-ass hardware on his end, a commercial Harris TX and a dipole at 160ft up! (No wonder I heard him that well.) Timtron, was bangin' into my QTH in WV at S40/9. Maybe, this weekend, I'll bring back a transceiver on-line and try and join them. 

321

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WDOG 6930 USB 2347 UTC 31 October 2021

« on: November 01, 2021, 0419 UTC »

Banged in with S30/9 signal. Thomas Dolby, ELP, male announcer with French accent. Off by 000:25UTC.

322

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / Re: 162 Mhz NWR distance?

« on: October 31, 2021, 1849 UTC »

Well, they are great VHF High Band Propagational 24/7 Beacons, fo' sure. I've heard them +200 miles when tropo enhancement happens. Hey... Our taxes pay for these, so might as well use them.   https://www.weather.gov/nwr/ 

323

Peskies / Russian-like Woodpecker on 6925kHz last night?

« on: October 31, 2021, 1830 UTC »

Eh??? Got back from work and kicked the HF rig on to troll for pirates, only to hear what sounded like the 1970's - 1980's Russian Woodpecker on 6925kHz, +/-12kHz either side, 04:30UTC. Not that strong, peaking at an S5, but certainly obliterated anything that could have been there. That was gone 2hrs later. Tell me that this wasn't deliberate.

324

Propagation / Re: X1 solar flare & radio blackout ~1530 28 OCT 2021

« on: October 30, 2021, 1815 UTC »

SUN DAY Halloween solar flare headed for Earth could trigger Northern Lights this weekend – and disrupt power grid?      https://www.the-sun.com/news/3957750/halloween-solar-flare-headed-earth-power-grid/      Yeah... I had this posted in WEATHER just minutes before, but moved this up here when I'd seen the preceding posts. (My bad...)

325

10/11 meters / 11M pipeline from Idaho? Apparently...

« on: October 30, 2021, 1811 UTC »

On CB CH 38LSB, I QSO'ed with Idaho yesterday, but today, Idaho just dominates with stations there! Huh... Sellin' potatoes has these ops to be able to afford SSB CB rigs? (Nah... I'm not stereo-typing here. Hi-hi...) Neat, to hear all of them from that state. Must be a nice F2 pipeline to there from WV.

326

Pirate Radio History / Radio Survivor covers the 1987 zine, Radio Is my Bomb!

« on: October 29, 2021, 1910 UTC »

Huh... Never heard of this then. My go-to zine at the time was Ernie Wilson's EBN from Panaxis.     http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2021/10/radio-is-my-bomb-zine-is-a-still-relevant-snapshot-of-free-radio-in-the-1980s/

327

Huh? / Re: 1560AM going bye-bye in NYC? Here's why. They are back???

« on: October 28, 2021, 2007 UTC »

UPDATE: JTA heard it on a couple of night ago, and it sounds like I heard it on the drive home at 04:25UTC last night, playing a slow, acoustic guitar, music. No announcements. So, did anyone miss 'em?

328

Huh? / Jessica Rosenworcel nominated to become 1st woman to lead FCC?

« on: October 28, 2021, 2004 UTC »

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/jessica-rosenworcel-nominated-to-become-1st-woman-to-lead-fcc/ar-AAPZ0YV?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBnb7Kz            Seen this coming out of my OUTLOOK mail. Hmmmmmmmm... Good, bad, indifferent???

329

10/11 meters / Re: 11 meters 26 OCT 2021?

« on: October 26, 2021, 1952 UTC »

A actually have the Cherokee AH-100 SSB HT of that same Magnum portable. More of a concept portable really, since various features are limited in performance, but still a neat radio. Just, don't try and drive and operate with one. (Hi-hi...)

330

Weather / Re: Stormy Monday....... And beyond???

« on: October 26, 2021, 1917 UTC »

I just want these T-storms to hurry up and get outta' here. Testing out a repaired Windom and hearing like S+20/9 of lightning crashes just sucks. That, and I don't want lightning to QSL me, since ya know what happens when it really does. Now, if we can just clear all these storms out just in time to DX the Halloween pirates on MW and SW this weekend. BTW, might be a good time to cruise around any empty spots in the FM band as well. Ya never know...