Messages

691

Longwave Loggings / Re: Fall 2018 NDB logs

« on: August 05, 2018, 1714 UTC »

The variability of morse speeds, and even actually following the symbol and spacing rules (which most beacons don't seem to) makes it a challenge to automate.

Dash 3X duration of a dot.  Dot .1 - .125 sec.  Time between dots and dashes = dot.  Time between letters = dash.  ID 3X equally spaced within 30 sec. 
That's in the ideal world, in the real world... maybe not so much.  (Not to mention those beacons that miskey year after year).

692

Equipment / Re: Icom IC R-75 comms receiver performance...

« on: August 02, 2018, 2050 UTC »

This is reminiscent of a study done by USN on hf rx antenna traits, they determined that a 6ft vertical over a good ground plane (ie a ship) matched to the line was just about all one needed in many cases.

Josh,
Do you recall the name of the study or the source for this ?

Wish I did, I fear it was in one of the myriad 1950s thru 60s qst issues I bought by the box from Ladd Electronics at 41st and Dodge in Omaha during the 90s. I miss that place and the cheap reading! Frank was a great guy. More on topic, it was just a statement that was profound enough for me to memorise it, and it seems to be fairly accurate.

Got an ApexRadio vertical here, works amazingly well for basically a 6' piece of wire.

693

Equipment / Re: Icom IC R-75 comms receiver performance...

« on: August 02, 2018, 2045 UTC »

Yes, I couldn't believe how noise free the band was while the juice was off while I was on the battery powered Tecsun-2000.



Noticed on Saturday the lethal amount of RF generated through HF from the Fisher & Paykel washing machine too, not to mention the crap from the new Samsung "Digital Technology" refridgerator.

Just when you think you have solved the noise issues, a new piece of digital garbage shows up …

694

Equipment / Re: Icom IC R-75 comms receiver performance...

« on: August 01, 2018, 2147 UTC »

This is reminiscent of a study done by USN on hf rx antenna traits, they determined that a 6ft vertical over a good ground plane (ie a ship) matched to the line was just about all one needed in many cases.

Josh,
Do you recall the name of the study or the source for this ?

695

Longwave Loggings / Re: weak signal reception

« on: August 01, 2018, 2142 UTC »

"Those are some tether dynamics we did not want to see".   

696

Longwave Loggings / Re: weak signal reception

« on: August 01, 2018, 1120 UTC »

Similar to exalted carrier reception with crystal radios. Here's a better explanation than I could do.

http://www.crystalradio.net/crystalsets/bfo/

Thanks...  interesting stuff. 
Have heard about exalted carrier reception on AM using SSB mode, apparently a similar situation.

697

Longwave Loggings / weak signal reception

« on: July 31, 2018, 2146 UTC »

Been noticing an interesting affect when tuning around on the NDB band.  If a strong local beacon is tuned in, it seems to pull up weaker signals on the same or adjacent channels.  Is there a name for this or is it just my imagination. 

698

Longwave Loggings / Re: Michigan NDB logs

« on: July 28, 2018, 2147 UTC »

Been hearing 257 MB Saginaw again the past couple of days.
If it was out of service, it got a new lease on life. 

699

Equipment / Re: Grounding systems

« on: July 28, 2018, 2135 UTC »

IIRC, aluminum grounding electrode conductor not permitted in direct contact with earth  or masonry and not to be connected to the grounding electrode within 18" of the earth.

700

Equipment / Re: Icom IC R-75 comms receiver performance...

« on: July 27, 2018, 1151 UTC »

Pinto Vortando:   Good on the 12 volt battery, bit cumbersome here, by the way, what hours do you get off one full charge of the battery?

Actually have a couple of 12 volt batteries here in the shack under the bench.  They get charged once or twice a week depending on usage for several hours with my small  1 amp charger.
Once a month they get an equalizing charge with the big charger.  The smaller battery of the two is a garden tractor battery that gets replaced every year or two in the springtime when the tractor batteries go on sale and can be had for less than 20 bucks.  The larger battery is from my car.  My car batteries  get replaced every 3 years.  The car battery goes into the shack and the shack battery gets turned in at the auto parts store.   The key thing is to not let the batteries get discharged too far.  Deep discharge and not recharging promptly is a good way to quickly kill a SLI type battery. 

701

Longwave Loggings / Re: Illinois NDB Roundup

« on: July 27, 2018, 0148 UTC »

The 5 letter names associated with some NDBs are intersection designators.  An intersection being navigational fix.  In some cases, the 5 letter name may be associated with a local point of interest or person.  For example, near Detroit there are intersections PISTN ( Detroit Pistons) and HARWL (long time Detroit Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell).

In the case of 385 JD GOOEY, it is the intersection at LOM (outer marker locator) on the  ILS/LOC approach for RWY 32R at Scott  / Mid-America (BLV) off the 273 radial of the Centralia VORTAC ENL 115.

The actual beacon site is in a field about 3 miles S.E. of the small town of Mascoutah.  Why they call it "gooey" is perhaps with regard to a regional specialty known as a gooey cake.

702

Equipment / Re: Icom IC R-75 comms receiver performance...

« on: July 26, 2018, 0904 UTC »

Good to hear you are happy with your new R75.   

A real analog S-meter beats the bar graph any day.

A comfortable headphones is my choice for weak signal listening.  IMHO, the small speakers on most radios are inadequate.

All my stuff runs off a 12 volt battery...  no power supply noise.

Enjoy your new radio.   

703

Equipment / Re: Retro bring-back, an FM to AM converter! Another Cuthbert Kit.

« on: July 24, 2018, 1932 UTC »

Had a couple of Audiovox FM converters in our cars (mine and the XYL) back in the 70s.  IIRC the output was on 1400kc.  Wish we still had the cars.    Anyway, still have the XYL.   

704

Longwave Loggings / Re: Take Off to the Great White North

« on: July 22, 2018, 1455 UTC »

Quebec in here this morning 1 1/2 hours before sunrise:

338  ZEM   Eastmain  QC
340  YY     Mont Joli   QC
344  YGV   Harve St. Pierre  QC
351  YKQ   Ft. Rupert  QC
366  YMW  Maniwaki  QC
373  2Q     Mt. Laurier  QC

edit:  just occurred to me that YY and YGV would have been in daylight

Couple more early this morning 7-23-18:

360  PN    Port Menier  QC
373  YXK  Rimouski  QC

705

Equipment / Re: MFJ noise filters for NDB DXing...

« on: July 22, 2018, 0954 UTC »

Here is an example of the MFJ 722B filter in action.  Early this morning was tuning around looking for NDBs.  Conditions were noisy as usual per summertime listening but there was also an annoying power line buzz on top of the usual summer static.  Switched in the 722B and it took the edge off of the buzz.  Heard a faint signal, turned out to be 344  YGV  Harve St. Pierre  QC.
That is located on the Gulf of St. Lawrence over 1000 mi from my QTH...  pretty good DX for this time of year.  The signal was not audible with the 722B out of line.  Heard a jumble under the buzz at 382.  Switched in the 722B and was able to knock down the buzz and separate the mixing signals...  YPL  Pickle Lake  ON and  XU  London  ON both on 382.  The band fell apart about an hour before sunrise so that was the end of it.