Messages

61

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: For Sale: MFJ-959C Receiver Antenna Tuner Preamplifier? Very useful!

« on: November 27, 2023, 2019 UTC »

I already have the MFJ-259D ANT Analyzer, and I can vow that it's very useful for, not just the 222MHz Amateur Band, but the Medium Wave Broadcast Band, for looking at the input of Part 15 AM Carrier-Current Couplers and Part 15 3-meter compliant radiator antennas. So, at the price that is being asked for on that MFJ-259C, well worth it, for a useful piece of measuring gear.

62

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Any X-mas light display stations up, yet? Sort of? Nope...

« on: November 24, 2023, 1933 UTC »

So, has anyone heard any Part 15 Christmas Display stations on-air yet? The usual dude, about a mile away from me, doesn't have his FM station up, yet. And, definitely Part 15. Five houses away, ya lose it.

UPDATE 11/28/2023 :  Actually, that dude that does the fully all-out X-mas display about a mile from me, had his FM TX on 101.3FM, STEREO pilot detected, but just dead-air. So, he hasn't put up the huge light display, yet, but the Part 15 FM TX is on. So, he must be getting ready for warmer weather.

UPDATE 1/2/2024:   Well, that dude, that usually does the light-show-blow-out, didn't do it this year, and his Part 15 FM, at 101.3FM, was just dead-air. I don't know if St. Albans, WV did a Part 15 X-mas Music station for their Annual Park Lights display. So, the only Part 15 stuff, of Christmas stuff, was just my AM stations, I guess.

63

Huh? / An interview with Glenn Hauser?

« on: November 24, 2023, 1925 UTC »

SWL'ing rip. No telling if this includes the 'standard disclaimer'. (Hi-hi...)  https://swling.com/blog/2023/11/an-interview-with-glenn-hauser/#respond

64

Amateur Radio / Re: 3.916 SANTA NET's?

« on: November 23, 2023, 2015 UTC »

It is always neat to tune-in and hear how they coordinate that to make it all happen.

65

The RF Workbench / Dipole vs Vertical: Which Antenna is Better?

« on: November 16, 2023, 2009 UTC »

I guess that this can go here.   https://www.onallbands.com/dipole-vs-vertical%EF%BB%BF-which-antenna-is-better/   Tim, K8RRT shared that. Me??? I've done the best of both worlds, Vertical Dipoles.

66

Equipment / Radio Jay Allen review the Sangean WR-55 MONO, high-powered, Table Radio.

« on: November 16, 2023, 1959 UTC »

https://radiojayallen.com/sangean-wr-55-am-fm-table-radio/     Neat!!! Ya know, I do miss those 1970's, and early 80's, analog, high-powered, table radios from Sony, Panasonic, Realistic, and I had one from RCA, that mysteriously just disappeared on me. (Huh???) Not the best DX'ers, but I did like the warm, rockin', audio from those.

67

Equipment / For those of whom need Ramsey Electronics manuals.

« on: November 15, 2023, 2010 UTC »

Neat find on Archive.org,    https://archive.org/download/ramsey-electronics-manual     Not knowing upon just how long this will be up, you may want to take advantage of this and download as much as possible.

68

General Radio Discussion / Re: Gone for good? Just, an observation.

« on: November 12, 2023, 1914 UTC »

In this day of on-line Kiwi-SDR's, what appears to be happening is stations go on-air as a test to hear themselves, to see if they are heard from Point "A" to Point "B", to hear upon how well they are doing so. There doesn't appear to be an interest to spend the time to announce some sort of ID, or any interests upon QSL INFO, but the times that UNID's are logged-in can be an indications to the op upon who else is hearing the station. For these ops, that appears to be just enough for them. Just, my take here. 

69

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Look out FCC Part 15 devices: AM radio is gonna getcha? Radio Survivor article.

« on: November 10, 2023, 1923 UTC »

https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2014/11/look-fcc-part-15-devices-radio-gonna-getcha/    I read this and say, "HUH???"


BTW, their latest podcast was just released,   https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2023/11/podcast-335-digital-library-of-amateur-radio-and-communications/

70

Amateur Radio / 2M SSB / CW / FT8, gaining momentum, again? maybe...

« on: November 05, 2023, 2009 UTC »

Interesting. You would have thought that interest in 2M Weak Signal Modes would have gained momentum during Solar Cycle Minimum. However, in West Virginia, there's been more talk from ops being interested in doing so, now. Part of this interest stems from the fact that when crap hits the turbines, and power is not there to maintain FM repeaters, a reliable alternative option for regional communications isn't a bad idea. 25W TX, +20dB RX preamp, and a well-tuned 4 element HORZ beam can bring good, reliable results of +150 miles, day and night, routinely. Add a little Tropo enhancement, and double, or triple, the range. And, with today's SDR tech, you can look beyond just sitting on the call FREQ of 144.200MHz. There are actually more, newer multi-band rigs out there that include 2M multi-mode, like the Yaesu FT-817 / 818, FT-991A, Kenwood TS-2000, the Icom IC-9700 and the portable IC-705, etc. About the only folks that I hear on 2M Weak Signal today are contestants and FT8 / 4 users. I am hearing the slow digital modes around 144.140MHz. Here, in West Virginia, unless you are a hill topper, 432MHz, and higher, are just not practical, but 2M seems to be. Get that beam above the foliage, or in a clear area, and it will travel. TV antenna rotors work well with the smaller 2M beams as well, 7 elements and smaller. So, what are you hearing out there in the Weak Signal portion of 2M, where you are? 

71

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: Signature Radio 1709 AM 0143 UTC 1 NOV 2023? WTOU???

« on: November 01, 2023, 1756 UTC »

That could be. Heard it again, on the drive home, last night. This time, very distorted audio. I could not even understand the announcer.  And, again deep fades, and signal perking to an S2, when I did check it back out at the home QTH. So, someone hearing other stuff on 1710kHz?

72

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: Signature Radio 1709 AM 01 10 UTC 28 OCT 2023?

« on: October 28, 2023, 1739 UTC »

Heard it again, last night. This time, used the Sangean ATS-803A portable to my W.O.G. antenna. And, just mellow R&B, with a female announcer mentioning 103.5FM W???. So, didn't get that ID, but it sounds like some dude testing an AM transmitter by dumping audio from a local FM station as a test. Yeah, speculating here on that, but that's what it sounds like to me. It did have less fading, but signal was weaker, with DSL garble noise in there. Hmmmm... This weekend might be a neat one for MW pirate listening.

73

North American MW Pirate Radio / Signature Radio 1709 AM 0136 UTC 27 OCT 2023

« on: October 27, 2023, 1905 UTC »

With deep, long, fades, but heard what sounded like Earth, Wind & Fire, then announcement of 'Signature Radio' followed by old-school Hip-Hop. 1st, heard on a truck stereo, but at home, DSL noise was in there with this. Still, good to hear some activity up there and not the usual NJ TIS pest of a station.

74

Equipment / Radio Jay restores, then reviews, the Hitachi TH-812 AM Portable Radio. And???

« on: October 24, 2023, 1901 UTC »

Never seen one, but looks like a neat 1960's luchbox radio.   https://radiojayallen.com/hitachi-th-812-am-portable-radio/    Huh... The only things that I have that are Hitachi are their early 1980's CrO2 Cassettes.



While we're at it, how about Radio Jay's review of the  Sony TFM-7300?    https://radiojayallen.com/sony-tfm-7300-super-sensitive-am-fm-portable/

Looks like another really neat portable.

75

Weather / Late October High Pressure to enhance VHF / UHF propagation? Maybe...

« on: October 23, 2023, 1900 UTC »

That cold spell, once those T-storms moved out, was nice for the HF Low Bands, but this full week of High Pressure, and above average warm weather, could make for some neat Tropo Propagation for VHF / UHF, for the Eastern Part of the USA and Canada. https://vhf.dxview.org/    (You'll need to scroll-over to view North America.) So, could be Scanner's, TV, FM'ers, and VHF / UHF weak-signal deluxe. If anything, it's borrowed time to get those antenna projects done, before that snow flies. (That, includes me as well.) For a quick check of that, just tune through those NOAA Weather Radio 162MHz channels for those distant stations popping though. HAPPY DX'ing, on those higher bands!!!!