Messages

616

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: UNID 1620 AM 0120 UTC 1 JUN 2021

« on: June 01, 2021, 1824 UTC »

Sounds like ya heard what I did:   


Offline ThaDood

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Re: UNID 1620 AM 02:00UTC, 6/1/2021.
« Reply #6 on: Today at 07:25 »
On drive to work, heard battling with that 1620 from Cuba classic Top 40 Hits, like Leo Sayer, Janis Japlin, Beattles, Hot Butter, etc. Much fade, but was dominant over Cuba most of the time. decent audio as well. Not around 06:00UTC.

617

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: UNID 1620 AM 02:00UTC, 6/1/2021.

« on: June 01, 2021, 0725 UTC »

On drive to work, heard battling with that 1620 from Cuba classic Top 40 Hits, like Leo Sayer, Janis Japlin, Beattles, Hot Butter, etc. Much fade, but was dominant over Cuba most of the time. decent audio as well. Not around 06:00UTC.

618

Equipment / Re: Best MWDX antenna? The W.O.G....

« on: May 29, 2021, 1930 UTC »

JTA still swears on using the W.O.G., (Wire On Ground.), for RX'ing LF and MW super quiet signals. Hopefully, that may happen this Fall since, thanks, (Or no thanks!), to Biden, all gas line projects around the property here have been put on either a prolonged, or indefinite, hold. I have hundreds of feet of trashed RG-11 rigid coax, with tough PVC outer jacket. Useless as regular coax, but that solid aluminum outer conductor could make for a kick-ass antenna. Stay tuned!!!!!!

619

Amateur Radio / Re: RF Exposure Standards go into effect on May 3, 2021, including Amateur Radio!

« on: May 29, 2021, 1906 UTC »

Additional on this dude, whom called-in to Allan & Angela Weiner World-Wide, WBCQ, and passed-on this info:

http://forum.near-fest.com/index.php?topic=1546.msg3570#msg3570

620

General Radio Discussion / Re: Explosives "Resistant"/ Hardened Antennas

« on: May 26, 2021, 2228 UTC »

What y'all describe sound like the 160MHz antennas mounted on the roof of a train, and other type of railcar. Kind of looked like a large handle than an antenna.

621

Amateur Radio / RF Exposure Standards go into effect on May 3, 2021, including Amateur Radio!

« on: May 21, 2021, 2119 UTC »

I find it interesting that this news was not #1 headlines in various Amateur Radio news! Thus, I'm glad that WB8YST has brought the following to attention:

The FCC has announced that rule changes detailed in a lengthy 2019 Report and Order governing RF exposure standards go into effect on May 3, 2021. The new rules do not change existing RF exposure (RFE) limits but do require that stations in all services, including amateur radio, be evaluated against existing limits, unless they are exempted. For stations already in place, that evaluation must be completed by May 3, 2023. After May 3 of this year, any new station, or any existing station modified in a way that’s likely to change its RFE profile – such as different antenna or placement or greater power – will need to conduct an evaluation by the date of activation or change. http://www.arrl.org/news/updated-radio-frequency-exposure-rules-become-effective-on-may-3

 

http://w5rgv.org/new-fcc-rf-exposure-rules/

 

Results - RF Exposure Calculator (hintlink.com)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65IEvZoXEyo

 

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-19-126A1.pdf

 

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/RFsafetyCommittee/28RFSafety.pdf

 

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/RFsafetyCommittee/RF+Exposure+and+You.pdf

 

The Amateur Service is no longer categorically excluded from certain aspects of the rules, as amended, and licensees can no longer avoid performing an exposure assessment simply because they are transmitting below a given power level.

 

“For most amateurs, the major difference is the removal of the categorical exclusion for amateur radio, which means that ham station owners must determine if they either qualify for an exemption or must perform a routine environmental evaluation,” said Greg Lapin, N9GL, chair of the ARRL RF Safety Committee and a member of the FCC Technological Advisory Council (TAC).

“Ham stations previously excluded from performing environmental evaluations will have until May 3, 2023, to perform these. After May 3, 2021, any new stations or those modified in a way that affects RF exposure must comply before being put into service,” Lapin said.

 

622

General Radio Discussion / Re: Short Commercial AM Broadcasting Antennas

« on: May 18, 2021, 1818 UTC »

Well... TIS Stations come to mind, with antennas from 10ft to 20ft in length. However, most of them have large capacitive Tophats. I remember when Rochester, NY downtown got a TIS station on 970kHz around 2000. I was actually able to hear that all the way to the town of Wheatland, a.k.a. the Monroe / Livingston Co. border. That's considerably more than 10 miles. Then, you still have Part #15'ers trying to push the distant limit with flea-power by making those 10ft antennas, or shorter, more efficient with heavy gauge load coils, large diameter pipe, and capacitive Tophats. Some of these dudes boast up to 3 miles! They also must have great GND conductivity to make that. Super-weak, I've heard my AM1620 that far, but on a cold winter day and in a lot with virtually no noise. Any bit of electrical buzz would wipe that out. So, how low, or short, can you go?

623

Huh? / Comb Stereo on Shortwave? No hair brush required.

« on: May 16, 2021, 1922 UTC »

I'm out, if style gels and moose are required. But, um, yeah... Another SWLing rip here. http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~daz2002/tech/CombStereo/
and   https://swling.com/blog/2021/05/guest-post-listening-to-comb-stereo-on-shortwave/

624

Amateur Radio / Listing of Eastern Hamfests 2021.

« on: May 13, 2021, 1826 UTC »

Courtesy of WB8YST for this info. All subject to possible change:
This is a 2021 COVID version – most confirmed by www “?”

 

?Canceled 2021 | Breeze Shooters Hamfest and Computer Show

 

Canceled 2021 | Manassas Hamfest & Maker Technology Show

 

07/10/2021 | Mansfield InterCity ARC Trunkfest

Location: Mansfield, Ohio -
Type: 2019 ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: InterCity Amateur Radio Club

Website: : http://www.iarc.club

 

07/10/2021 | 37th Annual Firecracker Hamfest (facebook page seems iffy 2021)

Location: Salisbury, NC
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Rowan Amateur Radio Society
Website: http://www.rowanars.com/events

 

08/07/2021 | (Columbus Hamfest)

Location: Columbus, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest - Aladdin Shrine Center
Sponsor: Voice of Aladdin ARC http://columbushamfest.com

 

???unknown 08-07-2021 Although not set yet, this should be the Huntington Hamfest

 
08/21&22/2021 | Alabama, Huntsville Hamfest
Location: Huntsville, AL      700 Monroe St SW, Huntsville, AL 35801

Type: ARRL Southeastern Division Convention
Sponsor: Huntsville Hamfest

Saturday Grand Prize,  Yaesu FTdx-10 Sunday Main Prize,  MUST be present to win.

Yaesu FT-991A additional Sunday Main Prize, donated by Shack-in-a-Box
Website: http://www.hamfest.org

 

08/27,28,29/2021 | West Virginia State Convention

Location: Flatwoods, WV - Days Inn
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: WV State Radio Council
Website: http://qsl.net/wvsarc

 
08/28/2021 - Cincinnati Hamfest℠

Location: Owensville, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Milford ARC
Website: http://CincinnatiHamfest.org

 

SUNDAY AUGUST 29, 2021 SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY SWAP N SHOP

Location: New Kensington, PA 2335 Turkey Ridge Road

Type: ARRL Convention

Sponsor: SKYVIEW RADIO SOCIETY

Website: http://www.skyviewradio.net/ham-fests/

 

09/03, 09/04 09/05, /2021 | Shelby HamFest

Location: Shelby, NC
Type: ARRL Convention
Sponsor: Shelby Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://shelbyhamfest.org

 
09/11/2021 - Greater Louisville Hamfest 2021 - 60th Anniversary

Location: Shepherdsville, KY
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Greater Louisville Hamfest Association
Website: http://LouisvilleHamfest.com
 
09/18/2021 - Richmond Hamfest

Location: Richmond, KY
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: CKARS
Website: http://www.ckars.org/hamfest

 

09/12/2021 | Butler SwapFest

Location: Butler, PA
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Butler County Amateur Radio Association
Website: http://w3udx.org

 

 

Is this Canceled ?09/19/2021  | Coal Country ARC Hamfest 

Location: Madison, WV
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Coal Country Amateur Radio Club
Website: http://www.wv8ccc.org/?page_id=118

 

 

09/26/2021 | Cleveland Hamfest and Computer Show

Location: Berea, OH
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Hamfest Association of Cleveland
Website: http://www.hac.org

 

 

?10/09/2021  | Parkersburg - Wood County Hamfest 

Location: Wood County 4-H Campground
Type: ARRL Hamfest
Sponsor: Wood County Emergency Communications

Website: http://wc8ec.org

 

11/13-14/2021 | Fort Wayne Hamfest and Computer Expo

Location: Fort Wayne, IN (4000 Parnell Avenue)

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and Exposition Center

Type: ARRL Convention

Sponsor: Allen County Amateur Radio Technical Society

Website: http://www.fortwaynehamfest.com/clubmain.htm

Went to this hamfest in 2019, I will highly consider going to more

 

625

Equipment / Re: MFJ-209C for medium wave tests? Ended up ordering the MFJ-259D instead.

« on: May 12, 2021, 1932 UTC »

Huh... MTC later found that, not only didn't they have anymore MFJ-209C's in-stock, but couldn't order anymore from MFJ. (Gee... Even I could have told them the later.) So, they had three MFJ-259D's in-stock, so I ordered one of them instead. That goes down even lower, but misses the 1750M Experimenter's Band, which I've done only via Carrier-Current. Still, if I want to try something on the newer 472kHz HAM Band, I now could. https://www.mtcradio.com/mfj-259d-swr-antenna-analyzer-hf-vhf-and-220-280kghz-230-mhz/

626

Amateur Radio / Bill Introduced to Designate April 18, 2022, as National Amateur Radio Operators

« on: May 09, 2021, 2139 UTC »

From ARRL.org,     http://www.arrl.org/news/bill-introduced-to-designate-april-18-2022-as-national-amateur-radio-operators-day    Huh... Wonder why they didn't pick the ARRL Field Day date?

627

Software / DRM for Android? Sounds more practical.

« on: May 09, 2021, 1959 UTC »

I don't have a smartphone, but I do have one of those cheap-ass Polaroid tablets that's Android driven. Hmmmmmm... Wonder if this would work with my RTL-SDR dongle?    https://swling.com/blog/2021/05/starwaves-drm-softradio-app-for-android-now-released/

628

North American MW Pirate Radio / Re: Unidenfied 1720AM 0212 UTC 9 May 2021

« on: May 09, 2021, 0453 UTC »

Any chance that you could try 1710kHz? It would certainly be a change from those 1/2-ass TIS stations. Hey... 1560kHz is kind of free(er) now, albeit that would be quite a retune of the TX and antenna. But, good to hear about AM'er on medium wave still out there, especially this time of year.

629

Huh? / Saturday night’s NASA rocket launch may produce high energy auroras? Really???

« on: May 08, 2021, 1857 UTC »

Damn... Gotta' miss this one.    https://www.news4jax.com/weather/2021/05/06/friday-nights-nasa-rocket-launch-may-produce-high-energy-auroras/?fbclid=IwAR2tSLEl4wlAZuXLtDkX6H8oO25vZ2z6wu-df4bLnUcQLpd4ZfUG1p4s2so

630

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: WBOG 6865 AM 0159 UTC 8 May 2021

« on: May 08, 2021, 1848 UTC »

Is that what that was??? I heard it on 23:30UTC in LSB at a nice S+10/9 signal, but could figure out what the hell that creepy voice was announcing.