Messages

61

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 07, 2017, 0217 UTC »

Thanks!  I might actually be able to do this tomorrow.  I have a big roll of RG-6 Quad Shielded since that's what I use for my HF Rx antennas, and I think I have some PVC that I could wind an ugly balun on

Do you think this would work OK in inverted V to make it more omni-directional, or am I pushing the capabilities of the antenna since I'm running barefoot?

62

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 06, 2017, 1809 UTC »

Thanks again for all the suggestions!  I went with the Uniden 980SSB.   I figure the frequencies / power will be close enough out of the box (especially looking at the 11m band with my SDR and seeing all the off freq and spatter).  The older CBs look interesting, but I don't have the time to recap something right now.  Given the price and new components (and decent reviews) this seemed the most cost-effective solution for me.

I tried to use a mag mount antenna with a cookie sheet (this is going to be a base station), but that gave me the results I expected - deaf and and SWR of 2.0 across the band (cookie sheet isn't a big enough ground plane apparently).  Sigh.

I'll need to get a proper antenna up.  I'm thinking of making up a vertical dipole with some wire and PVC for now, and maybe a horizontal wire dipole for SSB.  If anyone has any base station antenna recommendations, they'd be appreciated.  This is just to mess around right now, so I probably wouldn't want to spend more than $50 for an antenna unless I get more serious about it.

63

General Radio Discussion / Re: iHeartRadio adds to suspicion its days are numbered

« on: May 06, 2017, 1724 UTC »

But how will this effect the golden parachutes?

If Marissa Mayer and Yahoo are any indication, failure means a multi-million dollar bonus.

64

General Radio Discussion / Re: iHeartRadio adds to suspicion its days are numbered

« on: May 06, 2017, 1724 UTC »

I'm hoping this will cause radio to go back to niche markets with interesting shows instead of the same playlist give or take a few songs on every station, or the same syndicated talk shows.  I miss the old days of tuning in AM radio in the wee hours and hearing the likes of Dr. Demento, CBS Radio Mystery Theater, and Art Bell.

Even with niche markets, though, it will be tough to compete with podcasts and internet streaming.  When cell phone data costs bottom out, people may not even use radios in their cars any more.

*shudders*

65

Shortwave Broadcast / Re: Probably the weather...

« on: May 06, 2017, 0653 UTC »

I logged Radio Kuwait on 15540 AM at 18:24 UTC, May 5, 2017.  SINPO: 35423  It was in fact a female giving a news report.

66

North American Shortwave Pirate / Re: YHWH 7615am *0232 UTC 5/6/2017

« on: May 06, 2017, 0408 UTC »

S9 out here by me, propagation about 3, but tough to hear because of some local QRM.

I'm about 120 miles SE of Victoria, BC

67

North American Shortwave Pirate / YHWH 7615 AM 0347 UTC 5 May 2017

« on: May 05, 2017, 0349 UTC »

SINPO: 55333

Sermon on the evils of Catholicism and Non-Yahwehan Christianity in general.  Satanism in the military, satanic symbols of the New World Order.

68

Utility / Re: 8.439MHz USB unident??

« on: May 04, 2017, 0752 UTC »

Checked it out from like 0740-0750 UTC but nothing coming in for me.  On 8436 USB, though, I get a faint signal but seems to be Spanish speaking.  Probably unrelated to what you're hearing.

I'll try to remember to check 0700 tomorrow.  Maybe I missed it.

69

Longwave Loggings / Beacon "NY" CAN BC ENDERBY 350KHz 0707 UTC 4 May 2017

« on: May 04, 2017, 0710 UTC »

RST:  395

Fade in and out

70

Shortwave Broadcast / BBC 6005khz 06:48 UTC 4 May 2017

« on: May 04, 2017, 0651 UTC »

SINPO: 53533

Usually can't catch it out here in the Pacific Northwest.  Radio Habana Cuba @ 6000Khz is stomping on it a bit, but adjusting the filter cleaned it up enough to get in.

71

Peskies / UNID Spanish 6900 LSB 03:06 UTC 2 May 2017

« on: May 03, 2017, 0307 UTC »

SINPO: 35222

Two OM having a conversation in Spanish.

72

Equipment / Re: Digitech AR-1733 receiver...

« on: May 02, 2017, 1710 UTC »

Looks suspiciously similar to the CCrane Skywave that's here in the US.  Not an exact match, but I'm betting it's the same radio.  The Skywave has good reviews from what I've seen.  Don't own one myself.

http://www.ccrane.com/Radios/CC-Skywave-AM-FM-Shortwave-Weather-and-Airband-Portable-Travel-Radio

73

General Radio Discussion / Re: FCC considers reform of Part 95 rules for personal radio services

« on: May 01, 2017, 1548 UTC »

Yeah, thanks, Token!  Very interesting!

74

Equipment / Re: 11 meter rig

« on: May 01, 2017, 1542 UTC »

Thanks!  Some of those I can find on eBay (several listings for the 142GTL at $50-$100), but I'd probably have to re-cap them sooner or later.  The 2995DX is still in production (not sure it's the same one, this is a 10m rig).  I looked at that, but it's running about $650 new so that's probably a later upgrade for me assuming I get good use out of whatever I start with.

Yeah, I miss all the great base CBs they had when I was a kid.  I think there's a lot of us that feel that way.  I was reading the other day about how a lot of REACT chapters are just closing down because no one uses CBs even for emergencies these days due to cell phones.

Maybe CB will make a resurgence out of nostalgia!  I'll try to convince some hipsters that CBs are retro cooler than cellphones and start a trend, lol.

75

Other / Re: Dasher 5170 USB 03:27 UTC 26 April 2017

« on: May 01, 2017, 0359 UTC »

Thanks!  Might have been; listening to the audio samples on the link I'm still not sure.

If I run into it again, I'll record it and post it to the ID board.