Messages

751

Huh? / Re: Testing a $1000 LED

« on: September 07, 2020, 1819 UTC »

Fascinating, but the infrastructure involved to both power and cooling such an intense LED makes this pretty much impractical. The water cooled mounting plate system can be done with RF Plasma Generator water cooled heatsinks. The one I've seen for 13MHz, 6kW, modual should be enough. Lambda, I believe, makes an adjustable DC industrial power supply that can deliver enough power with ease. However, you are talking multi-thousands of dollars of gear just to do that.

752

Equipment / Radio Jay's AM & FM Mega Shootout 2020 Updates!

« on: September 07, 2020, 1741 UTC »

He does it again this year. Not techie with spec's, but decent 'layman's terms' to share with anyone wanting an AM / FM portable today,   https://radiojayallen.com/2020/09/07/am-fm-mega-shootout-2020-updates/

753

General Radio Discussion / Re: Allan Weiner buys WHRI

« on: September 05, 2020, 1930 UTC »

Well now, he does spend a lot of time in Florida, so there could be something to a Southern move. Guess we'll wait and see. Isn't his current wife from there?

754

General Radio Discussion / Re: Air Force Research Laboratory Tracks Sporadic E

« on: September 05, 2020, 0723 UTC »

Well, here's a 11M / 10M list that I've ripped from someone. Maybe from Chris? Anyway, the Radio and TV station Auxiliary Stations are NBFM, but usually have a telephone-like quality. Still, about the closest to broadcasting in the 11M BC Band today. Hmmmm??? Wasn'r Mexico ding DRM experiment in the 11M BC Band?

A search of the FCC database reveals the following:
Frequency
29.790 MHz
29.770 MHz
29.750 MHz
29.730 MHz
29.710 MHz
27.860 MHz
27.765 MHz
27.655 MHz
27.635 MHz
27.615 MHz
27.555 MHz
27.530 MHz
27.510 MHz
27.490 MHz
27.470 MHz
27.450 MHz
27.430 MHz
25.870 -
26.470 MHz
25.990 MHz
25.950 MHz
25.910 MHz
25.320 MHz
25.300 MHz
25.280 MHz
25.260 MHz
25.240 MHz
25.220 MHz
25.200 MHz
25.180 MHz
25.160 MHz
Remarks
4 active licenses, including one repeater system belonging to Van Pool
Transportation (WQMA652)
4 active licenses, including one repeater system and one high power car service
dispatch system in New York City
4 active licenses, including two repeater systems and one high power school bus
dispatch system
1 active license (WQQX896)
6 active licenses, including a 1000w repeater system and several high power
forestry systems
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
0 active licenses, no previous (expired, canceled, etc) licenses found
3 active licenses, all less than 5 watts power output
2 active licenses, all less than 5 watts power output
63 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
5 active licenses, specified for itinerant use only per FCC rules
5 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
5 active licenses, high power is authorized on this frequency
Hundreds of Remote Broadcast Pickup licenses, often only used for short periods
3 active licenses, including WBAP-AM's STL on 25.99 MHz WQGY434
transmitting 300 watts
5 active licenses
3 active licenses, including WBAP-AM's STL on 25.91 MHz WQGY434
transmitting 300 watts
1 active license (WQVJ608)
2 active licenses, KA6935 and WPTN464
1 active license (WQVJ608)
1 active license (SHELL COMMUNICATIONS, INC callsign: KA6935)
1 active license (WQVJ608, also licensed for 25.28 MHz, 25.32 MHz, 27.45
MHz, 27.47 MHz)
1 active license (SHELL COMMUNICATIONS, INC callsign: KA6935) also
25.26, 25.30
0 active licenses
4 active oil company licenses, 1 marine HF-SSB shore station license
(WPTM574)
0 active licenses25.140 MHz
25.120 MHz
25.100 MHz
25.080 MHz
25.060 MHz
25.040 MHz
25.020 MHz
4 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only
0 active licenses
5 active licenses, oil companies and spill response companies (base stations and
mobiles)
Same licenses as 25.040 MHz / 25040 kHz
5 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only
4 active licenses, including Marine Spill Response Corp WNYA617
5 active licenses, all oil companies, all for mobile operations only

755

Equipment / Re: Icom AH-705 Compact Antenna Tuner

« on: September 05, 2020, 0712 UTC »

Neat, but if that portable SDR rig really takes-off in sales, then LDG will make a nice competing tuner for this as well, just as they did for the Yaesu FT-817, Icom's IC-706 and IC-7000, (I have the LDG for the IC-7000, and that tuner works sweet.). The LDG IT-100 may already be compatible, now. I also have the IT-100Pro, and that even tunes 4W CB's with no problem, so the IC-705's 10W will work with it. So, depending upon what Icom charges for this tuner for the IC-705, (And that does indeed look like a sweet portable.), no doubt there will be other options out there.

756

Huh? / FCC Chair: New LPFM & Noncomm License Opportunities Coming Soon?

« on: September 04, 2020, 2032 UTC »

From Radio Survivor,     https://www.radiosurvivor.com/2020/08/10/fcc-chair-new-lpfm-noncomm-license-opportunities-coming-soon/     As if the FM band isn't crowded enough.

757

General Radio Discussion / Re: Letter to the Editor: AM Stereo Is Still an Option? Sure!

« on: September 03, 2020, 1930 UTC »

Actually, there are a couple of AM Stereo C-QUAM stations that take the internet stream feed off-air from their AM Stereo receiver, using a Carver TX-11b tuner. (I have to go back and re-find who that is again.) I couldn't believe the audio quality from the Sean Cuthbert AM Stereo transmitter kit, especially when I listened to that on a modified McIntosh MR7084 tuner from 1995. That sounded amazing with the Meduci Kit installed. BTW, you can see that, and other AM Stereo MOD's done at   http://meduci.com/   .     

758

Amateur Radio / ISS with Crossband repeater!

« on: September 03, 2020, 1910 UTC »

I wasn't too sure to either put this under Satellite, or here, in Amateur Radio. So, I tossed a coin, and here it is:

ARISS News Release No. 20-13


September 2, 2020—The ARISS team is pleased to announce that set up and installation of the first element of our next generation radio system was completed and amateur radio operations with it are now underway. This first element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio System (IORS), was installed in the International Space Station Columbus module. The IORS replaces the Ericsson radio system and packet module that were originally certified for spaceflight on July 26, 2000.

Initial operation of the new radio system is in FM cross band repeater mode using an uplink frequency of 145.99 MHz with an access tone of 67 Hz and a downlink frequency of 437.800 MHz. System activation was first observed at 01:02 UTC on September 2. Special operations will continue to be announced.

The IORS was launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 6, 2020 on board the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission. It consists of a special, space-modified JVC Kenwood D710GA transceiver, an ARISS developed multi-voltage power supply and interconnecting cables. The design, development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORS was an incredible five-year engineering achievement accomplished by the ARISS hardware volunteer team. It will enable new, exciting capabilities for ham radio operators, students, and the general public. Capabilities include a higher power radio, voice repeater, digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities and a Kenwood VC-H1 slow scan television (SSTV) system.

A second IORS undergoes flight certification and will be launched later for installation in the Russian Service module. This second system enables dual, simultaneous operations, (e.g. voice repeater and APRS packet), providing diverse opportunities for radio amateurs. It also provides on-orbit redundancy to ensure continuous operations in the event of an IORS component failure.

Next-gen development efforts continue. For the IORS, parts are being procured and a total of ten systems are being fabricated to support flight, additional flight spares, ground testing and astronaut training. Follow-on next generation radio system elements include an L-band repeater uplink capability, currently in development, and a flight Raspberry-Pi, dubbed “ARISS-Pi,” that is just beginning the design phase. The ARISS-Pi promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTV operations.

ARISS is run almost entirely by volunteers, and with the help of generous contributions from ARISS sponsors and individuals. Donations to the ARISS program for next generation hardware developments, operations, education, and administration are welcome -- please go to  www.ariss.org  to contribute to these efforts.
(Cool!!!! I have the same dual band rig. Happy ISS DX'ing!!!!)

759

SDR - Software Defined Radio / A review of the Xiegu G90 general coverage transceiver

« on: September 02, 2020, 1908 UTC »

The Chinese stuff is making more attractive head-ways. And for around $470.00, it's hard to turn something like this down. https://swling.com/blog/2020/09/a-review-of-the-xiegu-g90-general-coverage-transceiver/
Question is, how does it do to fight IMD and strong signal overload? I don't like that it doesn't really have a convenient RF Gain Control up front, but that's nit-pickin'. Even for under $500.00, I'd want to wait and find out if it can take the test of time.

760

Equipment / Re: Finally!!! Radio Jay Allen covers the Realistic DX-440/Sangean ATS-803A portable

« on: September 02, 2020, 0714 UTC »

Uh-huh... The Sangean ATS-818ACS ,    https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/1069.html    I knew several friends that had that. And, you are right about it being the DX-440 / ATS-803A with a cassette recorder. Pretty much did everything that my Sangean portable does, plus folks could record a 40M pirate off-air to boot. You don't seem to see those around anymore. And, at a time when cassettes are now starting to make a somewhat come-back now. (Yeah, go figure.)

761

General Radio Discussion / Re: Vintage analogue/ tube receivers for BCL/SWL DXing?

« on: September 01, 2020, 1810 UTC »

Another idea for a make-shift GND? Do you have a bed with a pretty solid steel bed frame? It will act as a counter poise, but how much so is anyone's guess. And rejecting MW band better? You could roll your own Passive High Pass Filter,   http://www.learningaboutelectronics.com/Articles/High-pass-filter-calculator.php#answer2    Try 820 Ohms for the resistor, and 100pF for the capacitor.  The FREQ Cutoff on that site calculator is 1.942MHz, so anything above that should pass through, while anything below that should be attenuated. If anything, it's neat to try.

762

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 29, 2020, 2150 UTC »

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, yeah... I could see not wanting to spend time on kits, when you could be DX'ing. Then again, look at the experience that you gain 1st hand from building your own stuff, then document it to either repair later, (When necessary.), or to add a modification to it. BTW, using that "S" meter in that FRG-7, (Or as we use to call it, The FRoG-7.), is a nice visual indicator to use. So, I'm with Chris on that one. That, and if I remember right, the RF Gain is very useful there as well for incoming signal tests on that rig.

763

Amateur Radio / Re: FCC Proposes to Reinstate Amateur Radio Service Fees

« on: August 29, 2020, 2140 UTC »

Here's another link about that,    https://swling.com/blog/2020/08/fcc-proposes-50-fee-for-new-ham-radio-licenses-upgrades-and-vanity-applications/

 Well, we have time to give our $0.02 worth about this. But, ya know just what's weird about this? The FCC knocked off -$10.00 from the GMRS license, from $80.00 to now $70.00, and it went from a 5 year license to a 10 year one. I know this from renewing my GMRS license last month.

764

Huh? / Re: Here's my bitch. The broadcast industry wants HD Radio, but where's the push?

« on: August 28, 2020, 0740 UTC »

Well, at least the Segway got Hollywood exposer in various movies and TV shows. Anyway, I have been corrected in AM Stereo radios promotion. Apparently, a station in New England did give-aways to Sony AM Stereo Walkmans. (They certainly did not do that where I was living at the time.) The point is, promoting a new broadcast digital format will at least give the average, casual, listener an idea that there are actually radios that can receive this HD Radio thing. Despite what we may think about the method of this digital broadcasting format, having the public schooled on this format appears to be a bit of a disconnect. I've mentioned before that this was 'My bitch', but it's more like an observation of the whole thing. 

765

Equipment / Re: Ideal height and polarisation of MLA30 for best DX performance?

« on: August 27, 2020, 1948 UTC »

Well, not having one myself, so I doubt that I could really answer this. So, I'll ask, do you have a tree that you can put that loop in? Maybe try 10ft, (3 Meters), up it. Do you have a very low S/N Ratio with that antenna? If so, can you try a MW and HF preamp? Just some passing thoughts there, since a smaller loop antenna is almost always a compromise to a 1/2-wave dipole, or even a random length wire antenna.