Messages

871

Amateur Radio / Re: Satellite attempt

« on: September 28, 2020, 1817 UTC »

Being that you are in FL, that flat land allows most horizon to horizon sky for you. Unlike for me, where valley walls block better than 30% of the sky. So, I'd suggest that to aim straight up. When you hear the various calls coming in, like 8-land, 9-land, 3-land, 4-land, etc., that will give a clue where to point the beam at. Just the other night, I heard the ISS X-band Repeater, 437.800MHz FM, with an indoor 3 ele 440 beam, pointed at our local FUSION repeater. Hearing all those 9-land calls then, lead me to believe that I was RX'ing off the rear of the beam with an S2. 

872

Huh? / Mystery leak investigation continues on International Space Station

« on: September 27, 2020, 0455 UTC »

Well, this sucks...      https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2020/09/25/mystery-leak-investigation-continues-on-international-space-station/           This could also explain why I haven't heard the ISS Cross Band HAM Repeater on 437.800MHz FM in the last week.

UPDATE 9/26/2020: Huh... The night after I posted the preceding, before bed about 2AM EST, I programmed in 437.800MHz in to a Yaesu FT-70DR Fusion HT, and immediately, 9-landers were in there calling and making grid exchanges. So, that X-banding repeater is still rockin'.

873

General Radio Discussion / Re: Fast food drive through frequencies

« on: September 27, 2020, 0418 UTC »

I'm going back about 33 years, but the Golden Haunches in the town that I grew up in was heard on 35.020MHz FM. I just happen to catch it while doing a FREQ scan with the scanner. It would be dead-air for minutes at a time, then you'd hear a BOING sound, (Like a Mac Computer being booted up.), then a, "Hi!!! Welcome to McDonalds. May I take you order Please?" And, you heard both sides of the conversation. That was with a GND-plane antenna about 30-some feet in a pine tree and this McDonalds was over 3 miles away. However, I was living up on a hill, almost line of sight of the place. I've always wondered about the power of those Drive-In radios, but where I was, even 100mW wouldn't be a total stretch.

874

Equipment / Re: Scanner beam

« on: September 26, 2020, 1900 UTC »

Or, find a trashed TV antenna on a curb-side, junk store, or even a dumpster, and drill-out the holes in the boom to make it VERT, for next to nothing. Yeah... I'm that cheap, but this does work. Even some successful TV antenna MOD's for 6M, 2M, 222MHz, and 432MHz, Amateur Radio RX / TX.

875

Weather / Re: Very cold mornings with frost here in MD

« on: September 23, 2020, 1830 UTC »

The 'ol box-drop, P.O. Box 452-land, has been getting frosty nights, since the weekend. It's safe to say that their growing season is done. Not unusual for up there, since I remember frosty late August nights in 1982. I still remember the then 97ROCK Bearman & Snortin' Norton Morning Sickness Show screaming, "If you have a convertible, sell it!" (Damn, I feel old typing that.) 

876

Huh? / Re: Internet: Old TV caused village broadband outages for 18 months

« on: September 23, 2020, 1821 UTC »

Huh??? Well, as much as I like Panasonic gear, they are known to be spurious generators, but what did this guy's TV have for FREQ crystals? Spark gap generators? I do remember in the mid-80's RX'ing the IF FREQ's from my parent's TV from +80ft away with a scanner. 

877

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: FCC vs God

« on: September 23, 2020, 0719 UTC »

Oh yeah... As soon as I read your initial post on this, I've FWR that to Paul. His e-mailed RSVP was, "Very interesting." .  And, they do cover Part #15 stuff on Radio Survivor, on occasion. 

878

Huh? / FCC site on domestic SW stations.

« on: September 23, 2020, 0710 UTC »

Yeah... I found this totally by accident,      https://www.fcc.gov/general/fcc-high-frequency-stations        Of course, I was looking for something else on WHRI's website, (Which really sucks!), but this is usually how I find things from the FCC, almost never from their own site search, but via off the wall and none related. Your Tax $$$$$$'s at work.

879

General Radio Discussion / Updated LPAM info site.

« on: September 22, 2020, 0543 UTC »

The sit that had a proposed LPAM station availability map on www.lpam.ws is now,       https://recnet.com/lpam

I doubt that anyone will actually try to move on this subject now, but we can dream, right?

880

MW Loggings / WNRP 1620 Pensacola, FL now heard over Cuba at night?

« on: September 18, 2020, 1833 UTC »

For at least the last week and a half now, I've heard 1620 WNRP in there at night, battling it out with Cuba. I've even heard their EAS tone-out for Hurricane Sally. So, has this station either changed power, or radiation patterns, at night? The only other time that I've heard this station is at sunrise.       https://radio-locator.com/info/WNRP-AM

881

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: FCC vs God

« on: September 18, 2020, 1743 UTC »

Here's a case where folks need to understand the other alternatives out there.  I no longer will do Part #15 FM, except maybe to test a transmitter, since anything unlicensed FM where I am is so bastardized, due to the political climate today. So, I'm doing both the permissible Part #15 AM ways, radiating 100mW MAX OUT, (If not less.), to a 10ft antenna and Carrier-Current, coupling to the power lines. Unfortunately, with Radio Systems and LPB, Inc., both gone, there's few alternatives to what's out there in Carrier-Current, except to roll your own gear. (It's been done.) At least, there are several radiating AM transmitters out there that are FCC approved, albeit not cheap. (Some have rolled their own here as well.) For FM, the market is just littered with these cheap Part #15 transmitters, most being used to transmit net streams and satellite radio. (87.9FM seems popular for that when you drive around.) However, there range is from about 200ft with a decent car stereo, to maybe 50ft to a crappy portable.
            Anyway... Looks like there certainly a market out there for Part #15 radio transmitters, but folks need to be aware of just what's out there. However, there seems like there is nothing on mainstream media that points out AM Part #15 gear, just some FM stuff, like C Crane, par example.

882

Amateur Radio / Re: ISS with Crossband repeater!

« on: September 14, 2020, 1852 UTC »

If you need more gain on 437MHz, as long as you are using a separate antennas for VHF / UHF, cheap TV receiver preamps work well there. Just make sure that they are spec'ed for UHF, as there are a lot of 'VHF Only' preamps as well. And, as long as you are not near a noisy-ass 450MHz pager, (Yes, they still exist where I am.), that should work well. 

883

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: Wanted: Icom OPC-023C DC power cable

« on: September 09, 2020, 1831 UTC »

Awh yeah... You're probably right. Maybe better for him to 'roll his own' here.

884

Part 15 AM and FM Station Operation / Re: Talking House transmitter audio upgrade? Youtube VID and thread!

« on: September 08, 2020, 1808 UTC »

Yeah, really nice Youtube VID on how to stop audio distortion above 2kHz and to improve the auto-tuner. But, what I wanna' know is where did this guy get the schematic for the I Am Radio / Talking House transmitter? I've been wanting that for years. And, of course he's using a nice 100MHz o'scope and what was a $15k Orban optimod.         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSZn5cPX5E&feature=youtu.be
UPDATE: Boomer just linked me into the thread for that here,     https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=131621

885

For Sale / Wanted / Barter / Re: Wanted: Icom OPC-023C DC power cable

« on: September 08, 2020, 0538 UTC »

I believe that Tower Electronics carry those at    http://www.pl-259.com/page4.html     And, or e-mail Scott & Jill at   sales@pl-259.com   to inquire. Hope that helps.