Messages

91

Amateur Radio / AM'er's delight, last night, on 3880kHz!

« on: August 19, 2023, 1834 UTC »

With this rare cooler-spell, for SW WV, and C2C AM not being anything that I'd want to care about, (Sorry Connie Willis, but I'm pretty much Big Footed out.), I'd thought that I'd try putting the W.O.G. to the 'ol Sangean AST-803A portable, at bedside, and crash-out to that. And??? Lightning crashes were in there, but not pegging the "S" meter, like what's been the norm this Summer 2023. 'W5'-land was very much alive with a great roundtable of dudes from TX, LA, and AS, from about 02:00UTC to about 05:45UTC, when everyone signed-off for the night. If I wasn't too tired from working outside, until dark, I probably would have joined them. Anyway, a neat, and rare Summer AM treat for sure. Probably won't hear these conditions again, until like October. 

92

Huh? / FCC Advances FM HD Power Proposal? Oh boy...

« on: August 05, 2023, 1818 UTC »

Yeah, another SWL'ing 1st-peak-at, but I don't think that anyone is really looking for a +10dB increase in HD FM signals. https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/digital-radio/fcc-advances-fm-hd-power-proposal?utm_term=61A8488F-378C-452E-8F94-297BD9CB8D3A&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=DD523C78-8571-4126-94F2-5CC028EECA16&utm_source=SmartBrief As if FM DX'ing wasn't hard enough today. This may about kill that hobby.

93

VHF/UHF Logs, including satellites and radiosondes / What's up with the local chatter on Aviation Emergency FREQ 121.500MHz AM in WV?

« on: August 01, 2023, 1804 UTC »

As long as I have had scanner radios, capable of RX'ing Aviation VHF AM, I have always had two FREQ's programmed, the chit-chat FREQ 123.450MHz, and the Emergency FREQ 121.500MHz. For decades, I wouldn't hear anything on 121.500MHz. Well, about 15 years ago, in WNY, I heard what sounded like a teen beat-boxing on there. (Some kid got Daddy's Aviation HT?) I've always heard chatter on 123.450MHz, some of that being pretty entertaining to listen to. However, this year, I am hearing all sorts of number exchange chatter on 121.500MHz. None of it sounding emergency-like to me. I would assume that these numbers are flight numbers, but why use a known Emergency FREQ to do so? This is SW West Virginia. Is anyone else hearing these? 

94

Huh? / A 1MW MW transmitter coming to Pakistan? Looks like it.

« on: July 30, 2023, 1748 UTC »

So, how many teeth fillings and fluorescent lights will this light-up?    https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-07-2023/marriyum-aurangzeb-performs-groundbreaking-of-pbcs-digital-transmitter-in-rawat     Yeah... Another SWL'ing rip. Interesting, that it's going to be DRM. I wouldn't mind seeing a VID tour of this station.

95

Huh? / Re: FCC ISSUES NINE WARNINGS TO MIAMI AREA LANDOWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.

« on: July 27, 2023, 1954 UTC »

Huh??? Maybe, my grammar is bad, in this case. But, I am referring to the tactics of going in to a location, set-up to do a temporary broadcast, tear down, and get-out, before anyone comes to look for the station. And, I've just looked it up. Looks like you are correct, as in 'Guerilla Warfare'. Not a term that I have used often, at least not since the Contra and Sandinista ordeal in El Salvador. (Am I dating myself by saying that?) So, thanks for asking.

96

Huh? / FCC ISSUES NINE WARNINGS TO MIAMI AREA LANDOWNERS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS.

« on: July 24, 2023, 1701 UTC »

Another SWL'ing rip, and nothing new under the Sun, of course. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-395376A1.pdf   At this rate, FM piraters might have to do what shortwave pirates have done, 'gorilla warfare' style of broadcasting. Go mobile, broadcasts at a temporary location, and get-out. It's been done before.

97

The RF Workbench / Building a Simple Faraday Cage, by OhioGalt? Why, when you might have one?

« on: July 22, 2023, 1801 UTC »

Another SWL'ing rip. Good to know, but why build something that just about everyone already has? https://survivalblog.com/2023/07/16/building-a-simple-faraday-cage-by-ohiogalt/

Just about everyone has a microwave oven, maybe even a couple of old, trashed, ones kickin' around. Cut off the power cord, take out the rotator and plate, (If any...), and clean out the food junk inside. Voila!!!! Faraday Cage, right there.

98

The RF Workbench / Protect Your Transmitter Site Phone Line? RW rip.

« on: July 16, 2023, 1823 UTC »

FWR'ed from Boomer. Not only could this protect landline phones from getting ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAPPED at tower site locations, but could help take out RFI from close AM TX sites, or if you have a Carrier-Current station on-site. I wouldn't use this for Ethernet connections, unless you want a really slow BIT Rate.
https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/protect-your-transmitter-site-phone-line

99

Huh? / Market Makers” Want to Expand Their Use of Shortwave?

« on: July 13, 2023, 1757 UTC »

Seen on SWL'ing, but on RW as well.   https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/market-makers-want-to-expand-their-use-of-shortwave   Interesting PROP Maps there.

100

General Radio Discussion / 2002 11M Broadcast Auxiliary List.

« on: July 11, 2023, 1735 UTC »

I originally ripped this list, seen on The FRN, over 20 years ago. How many of these are still active? BTW, these are all FM mode, and audio is about that of a telephone, so no Hi-Fi sound here:



11m Broadcast Auxiliary Stations





25870 – WFLA, Tampa, FL/KLDE, El Dorado, TX/unknown “KC..”

25910 – WJFP, Ft Pierce, FL/WBAP, Ft Worth, TX

25950 – KKSN/KNRK, Portland, OR/KIRO, Seattle, WA/KOA, Denver, CO

25990 – KSCS, Arlington, TX

26110 – KOVR-TV, Sacramento, CA

26130 – WIBC, Indianapolis, IN

26190 – KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA/KSL, Salt Lake City, UT

26250 – WTVN, Columbus, OH

26370 – WHOO, Orlando, FL

26390 – KABC-TV, Los Angeles, CA

26410 – WLIO, Lima, OH

26450 – WLW, Cincinatti, OH/WTVT, Tampa. FL/Heftel BCing, HI

26470 – WJFP, Ft Pierce, FL

101

10/11 meters / Re: CB Repeaters + Internet Gateways 11M Repeater 27MHz Repeaters Updated?

« on: July 09, 2023, 1841 UTC »

Over 20 years ago, https://www.alfalima.net/  posted a list like this. I even e-mailed a Russian 27MHz repeater op. In Russia, with such territory to cover, a well-built 27MHz repeater can indeed cover a lot of area in ruff, heavily foliage, terrain. So, it's needed there as a necessity, where as the closest thing to that here in North America are 10M FM, 29MHz, repeaters. Here, they are more designed for skip propagation, than covering large, local, areas. So, THANKS for posting that list.   

102

Huh? / TX Factor #29 is back, and visits the last UK operating SW Station.

« on: July 09, 2023, 1804 UTC »

Yes, this is normally an excellently produced show for Amateur Radio ops. However, they visit the UK's last remaining shortwave station. So, looks like an interest for all SWL'ers. Enjoy.  https://swling.com/blog/2023/07/tx-factor-episode-29/

103

Huh? / Shortwave Modernization Coalition: Public comment period on new proposal? SWL'in

« on: July 05, 2023, 1702 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2023/07/shortwave-modernization-coalition-public-comment-period-on-new-proposal/   This might be of concern. Interesting comments afterwards.

104

Equipment / Re: Grounding receiver ??

« on: July 04, 2023, 1811 UTC »

The best grounding that I've ever had was when I pounded an 8ft GND Rod in the Genesee River. Below 10MHz, that seemed to really help, and during drought conditions, being pounded in a river bank, was nice. It was also superb for grounding the AM Carrier-Current station, AM600, years ago. That spoiled me, compared to the very poor soil continuity of West Virginia today. So, if you happen to be next to a stream, creek bed, pond, river, lake, or even the ocean, pound-in as close to the water line as possible, and water tighten those connections. You'll love the low-band performance.

105

The RF Workbench / Sometimes simple works . . . really well! Exploring the CCrane EP PRO! SWL'ing.

« on: July 04, 2023, 1759 UTC »

https://swling.com/blog/2023/07/sometimes-simple-works-really-well-exploring-the-ccrane-ep-pro/         This could be the GE Super Radio of today?