We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - ThaDood

Pages: 1 ... 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 [43] 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 ... 89
631
In the mid-90's, I paid about $1,100.00 total into 2M SSB. That includes a used Kenwood TS-711A, a Mirage modified 2M 140W repeater linear amp, a Hamtronics 2M GaAS FET preamp kit, LMR-400 coax, and a homebrew copper 5 element HORZ beam. At that time, I knew several people into 2M SSB, and even 432MHz SSB, and that 140W PEP talked weekly into the St Lawrence Seaway, CT, NJ, PA, and even into D.C. off the back of the beam. At the time, I was living near the bottom of the Newtown Creek Valley, my beam was only 30ft up, yet just cleared the rooftops and trees close by. +300 miles, without DX enhancement, seemed to be the norm. It seemed to be about on-par with my 6M SSB system. 432MHz SSB, with 30W and a 3 element beam, got me out to Erie, PA, or about 175 miles. So, was it worth it? At the time, I'd thought YES, plus the experience that I've gained in doing it that I can apply today. Just don't ask how much I've spent on 222MHz FM and 1.2GHz. I probably should include the Astron RS-70M power supply, as well, that powered the rigs and amps.

632
MW Loggings / Re: WQFG689, with CW beacon under it!
« on: April 03, 2021, 1950 UTC »
Work wasn't ready for me Friday night, so I DX'ed MW on the truck stereo. Listening to that Hudson Valley TIS on 1710kHz, at 03:20UTC, I heard CW under the main TIS signal, but not for long. So, I didn't ID that. The TIS provided the carrier, and that CW beacon must have been a couple of kHz off FREQ. So, did I hear one of those Part #15 CW MW beacons? Possible, but it was very short. Anyone else hearing that?

633
Well, since Japan analog TV was also the North American NTSC format, this would have worked pretty well over here. Granted, PAL and SECAM, were superior colour analog formats, but North America was their biggest market. We still have Digital off-air ATSC to analog NTSC converters over here, and I can still show-off a black & white 5 inch portable TV that I have from 1979. So, good chance that Sony TV / radio / cassette combo was not made for a PAL format TV market, but could still play as a novelty here. Interesting insight, thought. Merci & soixante-treize.

634
As an ALT to facebook, Twitter, Tumbr, Instagram, etc., I was told years ago about Minds.com,   https://www.minds.com/      So, I toe-dipped with my page there,   https://www.minds.com/groups/profile/876322093051867136/feed     As you can see, I haven't been too active there, mainly since I weekly hit-up my VK.com page, my ALT to facebook and the de-funked myspace. Anyway, we'll see if this integration that Minds.com is doing is anything neat, or pure BS,   https://www.minds.com/minds/blog/minds-is-now-listed-on-uniswap-here-s-what-it-means-1221912862054379520?__e_ct_guid=876319834726473743&campaign=global&topic=minds_news      So, does anyone know anything about Uniswap? Thought I'd ask...

635
Radio Jay Allen comes again with what was a $10.00 impulse buy for him, the new Yorek #YK-901 pocket AM / FM stereo / SW DSP portable. He got his for around $10.00! Mine, was around $22.00 total with with shipping and WV state tax. Now, why did I buy one? For the SW FREQ coverage of 3MHz - 21.850MHz continuous coverage. I want to use it as an on-air monitor tool of 3885kHz AM, 7290kHz AM, 20M AM, 17M AM, and even 15M AM. So, a handy little tool for on-air monitoring myself on Amateur Radio in AM mode. This thing, in size, is about as big as my now de-funked Sony ICF-SW100S clam shell portable. AM MW is about what you would expect, although more sensitive above 1MHz. That 'lil 15" telescopic whip is indeed short for SW, but at sunset here in WV, I was able to RX CHU 3330kHz, HAM's on 3880kHz AM, WWV's 5MHz, WBCQ's 7490kHz, CHU 7850kHz, WBCQ 9330kHz, WWV's 10MHz, and propagation sucked here above that for the time. The big surprise was the FM RX. This portable RX'ed most of the hard-catches for where I live. My DX portables to compare too are a Sangean ATS-803A, Eton E-10, and a C-Crane Radio +. Unreal!!! Just the 15" Yorek's whip, it pulled-in everything that they did. I expected maybe just the local Charleston, WV major stations, but this thing is pulling-in the not too easy to RX translators, Huntington, WV stations, Beckley, WV stations, a couple of KY and OH stations, and even that 104.1FM from Portsmouth, OH, over +80 miles away! WOW!!!!! I did not expect that. The downside??? The two < > button tuning is tedious, at best, with this wide of a FREQ span to tune. Fortunately, if you preset the 32 Memories to like 1MHz each, you can launch-tune from them. But, don't take my word for it, here's Jay's review:   https://radiojayallen.com/a-10-radio-the-yorek-yk-901-amfm-sw-radio/  Hmmmmmmmmmmm... Now, if you are clever enough to built a 'lil BFO for this portable, for SSB and CW RX'ing, then this would be a treat, indeed, for under $20.00! BTW, I was using 1/2-ass charged NiMH  AA batteries. What will it do with fully charged alkalines in it?

636
Then, there's this. Can I still use my 2007 Sangean WFR-20 wi-fi via this technique? Duh-know, yet, but I'll try it. https://swling.com/blog/2021/03/how-to-give-your-reciva-wifi-radio-a-second-life-before-the-service-closes-on-april-30-2021/

637
I know that when I was a Test Tech for testing the radios on the Atlanta, GA MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rail Transit Authority.), they had Motorola 800MHz, Israeli made,  rigs installed. In order to test the radios, we requested an HT programmed for the MARTA FREQ's and PL tones. They did, but no charger! Needless to say, my tests were brief. Still, interesting insights there.

638
General Radio Discussion / Re: George Zeller, lead story on ARN!
« on: March 26, 2021, 1955 UTC »
Yep, they lead with that. (Thanks Caryn, KD2GUT!!!!!!)    https://www.arnewsline.org/

639
For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Sell diodes, and save the USCG!
« on: March 26, 2021, 1952 UTC »
There ya go. Sell stuff to the US Coast Guard!  https://hackaday.com/2021/03/14/rare-diode-threatens-coast-guards-arctic-ambitions/    I kindda' know what they're going through... Read my $0.02 worth way down below.

640
With the OBIT out now on George Zeller, Amateur Radio Newsline should have all that they need for their report for what should be report #2265, released on Fridays.   https://www.arnewsline.org/       Just FYI...

641
General Radio Discussion / Re: George Zeller
« on: March 21, 2021, 0447 UTC »
WOW!!! That was a hard TEXT to get while at work today. Known George since an ACE get-together in 1990. Then, when the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame opened in Cleveland, I went to his house. He had some serious gear back in the early 1990's. Never made it to a Winterfest to see him talk at one of those, but thanks to those that posted downloadable links on The FRN, I have several of his talks. (Hmmmmmm... As a tribute this Easter coming up, I should air them.) And, of course, I remember reading his columns in The A.C.E. Newletter and Monitoring Times. May George catch the ultimate DX. (Yes... I've written the same in The FRN.)     http://www.frn.net/vines/read.php?1,8843,8843#msg-8843        And, here's what SWLing Posted,     https://swling.com/blog/2021/03/rip-george-zeller-losing-a-giant-in-our-shortwave-radio-world/#comment-663953
Additional: George's site,     http://georgezeller.com/

642
You stall have CA (DT) classed TV stations broadcasting from channels 2 - 6 on VHF low band in the USA. Few today, but still some, like WDTV, CH5, (And yes, RF CH5.), in Clarksburg, WV is one of them. Yet, back in the 70's, the FCC let commercial two-way dispatch station exist in what's know to be the UHF "T" band from 470MHz - 512MHz, or the lower portion of the UHF TV band, if a UHF TV station didn't exist in that city of operation. I do agree though, that better spectrum usage from 54MHz - 88MHz could be had. There's still R/C (Voiceless.), usage around 74MHz. The big problem that's feared though is Sporadic "E" interference that this part of VHF exhibits. It's just the nature of the beast. (To take a cue from April Wine tunage.) Japan certainly doesn't seem to have a problem with FM stations there, as evidence of radios meant for that market that still make their way here. Certainly, would be good down there for lower powered stuff, like more LPFM, translators, and non-commercial stations under 1kW. Sure... They'll still skip in the Summer, but not like a 50kW station. Hmmmmmmmm... Does anyone know just what the N.A.B's stance is on 54MHz - 88MHz? I wonder...  Anyway, my take, and $0.02 worth.

644
Doesn't this SWLing rip bring you back to 1978?     https://swling.com/blog/2021/03/the-sony-fx-300-jackal-a-holy-grail-technological-marvel-of-the-late-70s/     Actually, the Sony that I'd like to have in my collection is that rare mid-70's, large AM / FM / SW , with SSB / CW, portable with LED digital read-out. Model # escapes me. Anyway, I've taken TV portables, like the preceding, to hilltops and did some neat TV DX'ing +30 years ago. +120 miles away, even on UHF, could be had. I still have a knock-off, Unisonic 5" B&W TV only portable from 1979, that I like to show-off to kids today. Many of them, seeing B&W TV for the very 1st time. Damn... I still remember when having a color TV was a big deal. 

645
Amateur Radio / RUSSIAN DX CONTEST - 2021, Weekend of 3/21.
« on: March 15, 2021, 1857 UTC »
Could make for some neat, rare, contacts this weekend:           http://www.rdxc.org/asp/pages/rulesg.asp?fbclid=IwAR13N0guKg6aQtxbuYL5q3IDv8WlrJrBhrMqyhxTjzxMe2pUQTQfG4JPL3Q

Pages: 1 ... 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 [43] 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 ... 89
HFUnderground Mug
HFUnderground Mug
by MitchellTimeDesigns