Re: [IRCA] Taking a Double Dip DX Plunge
An just how much was that check you sent? I'll get one at some point, but I'm keeping tabs on the price for now. Jim Renfrew - Original Message - From: "Walter Salmaniw" To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 1:13 AM Subject: Re: [IRCA] Taking a Double Dip DX Plunge At 08:58 PM 7/28/2009, you wrote: I put a check in the mail today to Universal for the Microtelecom Perseus SDR receiver. I still need to choose a portable computer, among the ideas listed on Five Below, plus additional storage ... and a number of different antenna configurations. Any experimentation I do will be of the haphazard variety! My antenna during the glory days of DX 1964-66 consisted of half a TV antenna lead-in to one terminal and a wire under the eaves of my garage apartment to another terminal on my old HQ-160. Had (and may still have, if they haven't deteriorated) tapes of Algiers QRM'ing Colombia on 890, Argentina QRM'ing Australia on 950, Japan QRM'ing Jamaica on 750, etc., with that configuration while DX'ing in Pampa, Texas. I also hold in my hand a Grundig G8. Does this really qualify as a ULR? I'll have to keep separate logs! Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (Krum TX) Congratulations, John. I know you WON'T be disappointed. The Perseus SDR is, to me, the best thing to come along since sliced bread! Walt ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.34/2268 - Release Date: 07/28/09 06:00:00 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Taking a Double Dip DX Plunge
At 08:58 PM 7/28/2009, you wrote: >I put a check in the mail today to Universal for the Microtelecom Perseus SDR >receiver. I still need to choose a portable computer, among the ideas listed >on Five Below, plus additional storage ... and a number of different antenna >configurations. Any experimentation I do will be of the haphazard variety! My >antenna during the glory days of DX 1964-66 consisted of half a TV antenna >lead-in to one terminal and a wire under the eaves of my garage apartment to >another terminal on my old HQ-160. Had (and may still have, if they haven't >deteriorated) tapes of Algiers QRM'ing Colombia on 890, Argentina QRM'ing >Australia on 950, Japan QRM'ing Jamaica on 750, etc., with that configuration >while DX'ing in Pampa, Texas. > >I also hold in my hand a Grundig G8. Does this really qualify as a ULR? > >I'll have to keep separate logs! > >Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (Krum TX) Congratulations, John. I know you WON'T be disappointed. The Perseus SDR is, to me, the best thing to come along since sliced bread! Walt ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] Taking a Double Dip DX Plunge
I put a check in the mail today to Universal for the Microtelecom Perseus SDR receiver. I still need to choose a portable computer, among the ideas listed on Five Below, plus additional storage ... and a number of different antenna configurations. Any experimentation I do will be of the haphazard variety! My antenna during the glory days of DX 1964-66 consisted of half a TV antenna lead-in to one terminal and a wire under the eaves of my garage apartment to another terminal on my old HQ-160. Had (and may still have, if they haven't deteriorated) tapes of Algiers QRM'ing Colombia on 890, Argentina QRM'ing Australia on 950, Japan QRM'ing Jamaica on 750, etc., with that configuration while DX'ing in Pampa, Texas. I also hold in my hand a Grundig G8. Does this really qualify as a ULR? I'll have to keep separate logs! Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (Krum TX) ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Interesting low power station in
Bill, I noticed that the "application status" is marked "dismissed". Patrick Griffith, CBT CBNT CRO Westminster CO http://community.webtv.net/AM-DXer/ http://community.webtv.net/N0NNK/ ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] July 26th Grayland ULR DXpedition-- Aussies Boom In
Hi Derek, Thanks for your comments, but I have a long way to go before being anything like a "GO-DX." It does feel neat to design a little trick like a collapsible-frame PVC Loop, however, which suddenly makes a $40 homebrew antenna turn into a seriously sensitive TP-chaser on an ocean beach. I'd like to see every interested DXer have the opportunity to enjoy one of these cheap DXing monsters, and enjoy the same kind of fun I have experienced recently. 73, Gary In a message dated 7/28/2009 4:46:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, eargaz...@aol.com writes: Two words. Great job! I've been listening to the 531 clip all day.. I hope I get the chance to meet you or some of the other GO-DX ((giants of DX)) at grayland this season. Keep up the goodwork and get that info on the monster loops so I can increase the population of loops down here!!! Thank you. Derek Vincent Vmedia360...everywhere On Jul 28, 2009, at 9:49 AM, d1028g...@aol.com wrote: > Hello All, > > Thanks to the Victoria DXers (and their comments about the relative > desirability of Grayland as a DXpedition site), it was with a newfound > appreciation that I started the 2 hour drive to the Grayland Motel's > Room 14 on > Saturday afternoon. When the 93 degree inland heat gradually became > 63 degress > on the cool ocean coast, I was appreciative indeed. > > On Saturday morning, by fortunate coincidence, fellow Puyallup, WA > resident > Guy Atkins had just received the latest DSP-enhanced wonder in the > Ultralight Radio market, the Kchibo D92L. This radio represents a > serious new > effort by Kchibo to manufacture high-quality portables with DSP- > enhanced > selectivity, and has the option of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 kHz > selectable DSP filter > settings. Provoking intense interest in the Ultralight radio > enthusiast > group, this new model (along with its D96L sibling) offers the > possibility of > great AM selectivity without the need to transplant premium Murata IF > filters (in rather tricky modification jobs). The chance to test > out this new > wonder in the ultimate challenge of split-frequency TP-DXing was > irresistible, so Guy and I quickly arranged a transfer operation > with military-like > precision, prior to the Grayland trip. > > Mutual travelers on southbound I-5 gaped in disbelief as they viewed > the > bizarre collection of disassembled PVC-framed monster loops crammed > into my > compact car-- and seemed to give me a little extra space as a > precaution. > Representing my own fanatical contribution to the recent boom in ULR- > related > experimentation, I had taken along a collapsible-frame > 8' (diagonal) PVC > Loop, a collapsible-frame 6.5' model, and an all-PVC altazimuth > support > base. These three items just barely fit in my compact car-- and > probably made > fellow I-5 travelers convinced that I was just barely sane. > > Arriving at the Grayland Motel's Room 14, the 6.5' tuned passive > loop was > set up inside the room next to the window (again, just barely > fitting), but > the 8' loop was left in the car, to be assembled on the ocean beach > at 1100 > UTC (0400 local time) the next morning. Viewing this contraption in > the > car, the curiosity of several of the motel residents was apparently > aroused, > and they couldn't resist asking me what in blazes the thing was. > They must > have thought I was nuts when they heard it was a custom loop > antenna, to > hear Australian stations on the AM band. But when I told them that > this was > really just a small-sized version of the 13-foot fixed frame > version at > home, they seemed convinced that the Room 14 resident was not > playing with a > full deck. > > The first TP to reach audio level was 738-Tahiti at 0815 UTC (0115 > local > time), which had weak French on the 6.5' loop during its sunset > peak. As I > grabbed Guy's new D92L to make a relative selectivity comparison > with the > C.Crane SWP Slider model, 738-Tahiti's audio quickly fizzled out-- > along with > any chance of much sleep before the notoriously early DU dawn > enhancement. > > Arriving at the Grayland Beach Road picnic table in total darkness > at 1100 > UTC (0400 local time), DU heterodynes were plentiful and strong on > the SSB > spotting receiver I was using (a slightly modified ICF-2010, with a > 30" > transplanted loopstick). I wasted no time setting up the 8' passive > loop on > the PVC altazimuth tilting base, and started checking for audio on > the 9 kHz > splits. As usual, the New Zealand big guns (567, 657 and 1035) were > the > first to have much signal strength, around 1150. But with the > mission to > thoroughly compare the selectivity of the new DSP-enhanced Kchibo > D92L against > the Murata CFJ455K5 filter model C.Crane SWP Slider, for the first 30 > minutes of dawn enhancemen
[IRCA] Finally a NEW Log on ULR....540 WETC Wendell-Zebulon, NC 500 Watts Nights!! ULR # 669 Heard.
Hi Guys: Finally a NEW LOG for the ULR Logbook!! Last New Station heard was on JUNE/10th!! Heard on the SONY SRF-T615 Barefoot while laying in Bed last night.. Usually the CBC Station in Windsor dominates this frequency here..but I could hear Spanish Mexican flavoured Music and SS Talk underneath it. I was able to Null Windsor enough to hear a nice ID on the Hour!! Not a New Log for the Overall logbook...but a nice addition to the ULR Logand at 500 Watts nightsa nice catch. (Unless they were on Day Power) ULR Station # 669 Heard. 540 WETC Wendell-Zebulon, NC July/27/09 2256 EDT SPANISH FAIR Lively Spanish Music...Mexican Flavoured. ID by Male DJ @ 2259 in ENGLISH. Mentioned "WETC-AM" and gave more Station Info in EEbut hard to grab it all. Nulled out CBC Windsor to hear this.More Lively SS Music/Vocals. SS Talk and Jingles by Male @ 2303 EDT. RELOGBut NEW ULR # 669 Heard. 4 KW/500 Watts Nights ROSS, ONT. * 73..ROB. Robert S. Ross VA3SW London, Ontario CANADA ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2009 Jul 29 0006 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 28 July follow. Solar flux 69 and mid-latitude A-index 4. The mid-latitude K-index at UTC on 29 July was 1 (07 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 27 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 29 UTC 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 SFlx 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 69 69 A-in 11114333333354 K-in 11211112121111 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] July 26th Grayland ULR DXpedition-- Aussies Boom In
Two words. Great job! I've been listening to the 531 clip all day.. I hope I get the chance to meet you or some of the other GO-DX ((giants of DX)) at grayland this season. Keep up the goodwork and get that info on the monster loops so I can increase the population of loops down here!!! Thank you. Derek Vincent Vmedia360...everywhere On Jul 28, 2009, at 9:49 AM, d1028g...@aol.com wrote: Hello All, Thanks to the Victoria DXers (and their comments about the relative desirability of Grayland as a DXpedition site), it was with a newfound appreciation that I started the 2 hour drive to the Grayland Motel's Room 14 on Saturday afternoon. When the 93 degree inland heat gradually became 63 degress on the cool ocean coast, I was appreciative indeed. On Saturday morning, by fortunate coincidence, fellow Puyallup, WA resident Guy Atkins had just received the latest DSP-enhanced wonder in the Ultralight Radio market, the Kchibo D92L. This radio represents a serious new effort by Kchibo to manufacture high-quality portables with DSP- enhanced selectivity, and has the option of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 kHz selectable DSP filter settings. Provoking intense interest in the Ultralight radio enthusiast group, this new model (along with its D96L sibling) offers the possibility of great AM selectivity without the need to transplant premium Murata IF filters (in rather tricky modification jobs). The chance to test out this new wonder in the ultimate challenge of split-frequency TP-DXing was irresistible, so Guy and I quickly arranged a transfer operation with military-like precision, prior to the Grayland trip. Mutual travelers on southbound I-5 gaped in disbelief as they viewed the bizarre collection of disassembled PVC-framed monster loops crammed into my compact car-- and seemed to give me a little extra space as a precaution. Representing my own fanatical contribution to the recent boom in ULR- related experimentation, I had taken along a collapsible-frame 8' (diagonal) PVC Loop, a collapsible-frame 6.5' model, and an all-PVC altazimuth support base. These three items just barely fit in my compact car-- and probably made fellow I-5 travelers convinced that I was just barely sane. Arriving at the Grayland Motel's Room 14, the 6.5' tuned passive loop was set up inside the room next to the window (again, just barely fitting), but the 8' loop was left in the car, to be assembled on the ocean beach at 1100 UTC (0400 local time) the next morning. Viewing this contraption in the car, the curiosity of several of the motel residents was apparently aroused, and they couldn't resist asking me what in blazes the thing was. They must have thought I was nuts when they heard it was a custom loop antenna, to hear Australian stations on the AM band. But when I told them that this was really just a small-sized version of the 13-foot fixed frame version at home, they seemed convinced that the Room 14 resident was not playing with a full deck. The first TP to reach audio level was 738-Tahiti at 0815 UTC (0115 local time), which had weak French on the 6.5' loop during its sunset peak. As I grabbed Guy's new D92L to make a relative selectivity comparison with the C.Crane SWP Slider model, 738-Tahiti's audio quickly fizzled out-- along with any chance of much sleep before the notoriously early DU dawn enhancement. Arriving at the Grayland Beach Road picnic table in total darkness at 1100 UTC (0400 local time), DU heterodynes were plentiful and strong on the SSB spotting receiver I was using (a slightly modified ICF-2010, with a 30" transplanted loopstick). I wasted no time setting up the 8' passive loop on the PVC altazimuth tilting base, and started checking for audio on the 9 kHz splits. As usual, the New Zealand big guns (567, 657 and 1035) were the first to have much signal strength, around 1150. But with the mission to thoroughly compare the selectivity of the new DSP-enhanced Kchibo D92L against the Murata CFJ455K5 filter model C.Crane SWP Slider, for the first 30 minutes of dawn enhancement my focus was on finding DU's with significant domestic splatter, to run relative reception tests (and record MP3's). This was more challenging than it might appear, since DU's rarely hold their signal levels for minutes on end, and I needed to throw out some tests (and recordings) when DU signal levels dived-- which would have given an unfair advantage to one of the tested radios. Finally, after several attempts, I had good MP3 recordings of 738-2NR and 567-2YA on both radios inductively coupled to the 8' loop, which clearly showed how much they could limit the domestic splatter from KCBS-740 and KVI-570, respectively. Wrapping up the Ultralight testing, I eagerly searched the modified ICF-2010 for DU audio on never-before-logged frequencies, and found that Australian stations were very str
Re: [IRCA] Kchibo D96L DSP Ultralight Received
Ditto, Gary! I spoke with my wife during my lunch hour today, and she said a strange package from China arrived (my luck with spousal absenteeism when radios arrive apparently isn't as good as Kevin S., who has a perfect track record so far :^) Rochelle mentioned that on a customs slip on the package, "electronics" was scratched out and the word "TOY" written on top of it! Ha-- indeed, any new radio at the house is invariably classified as a new "toy" for Dad or hubby. (What are they talkin' about? These are scientific research tools...) Some photos and machine-translated English description of the D96L can be seen here: http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://bbs.kchibo.com.cn/bbs/showtopic-2439.aspx&ei=AYZvSpnlDoSQsgOL8MT3Ag&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=4&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DKchibo%2BD96L%2Bmanual%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us I've been trying to find a D96L manual online the last few days, but have only come across a D92L manual. Guy Atkins Puyallup, WA www.perseus-sdr.blogspot.com --- > Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:51:36 EDT > From: d1028g...@aol.com > To: ultraligh...@yahoogroups.com, irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: [IRCA] Kchibo D96L DSP Ultralight Received > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" > > Hello All, > > After an 8-day shipping delay, my Kchibo D96L ordered from the Chinese > seller (through ecrater.com) arrived today for initial testing. This > source, > discovered by Guy Atkins, was the primary outlet for orders recently. Since > many other ULR group purchasers apparently ordered the radio at the same > time as me, other DXers may now be receiving their packages. > > It's quite obvious that this radio isn't suitable for everybody. Unless you > can read Chinese, the owner's manual will be of very limited value. All > the radio's labels are in Chinese also, with the exception of the main > logo, > the strangely misspelled "DSP-Rado." The batteries are of a proprietary > type, and are charged within the radio when the AC adapter is hooked up. > As > Guy mentioned with his initial comments on the D92L, the 120V house wiring > typical in North America may not fully charge the D96L batteries, which > are > designed to charge with the 240V system in China and Hong Kong. > > Apparently there is no effort underway to translate the Chinese manual into > English, at least from the comments I have heard in emails. A native > Chinese speaker resides with me, who may possibly help me figure out the > basics > (if she is in a good mood). The "DSP Rado" battery is currently undergoing > its initial charge, which may fall short of the full level due to the 120V > house wiring. After some hours of charging, I'll attempt to give it an > initial DXing test this evening. Thanks again to Guy Atkins for his > investigation and promulgation of the ordering source for this new radio, > the > top-of-the line Kchibo DSP portable. And yes, it does look, feel and > (apparently) > act as an Ultralight. > > 73, Gary DeBock (in 100 degree Puyallup, WA) > > ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] Kchibo D96L DSP Ultralight Received
Hello All, After an 8-day shipping delay, my Kchibo D96L ordered from the Chinese seller (through ecrater.com) arrived today for initial testing. This source, discovered by Guy Atkins, was the primary outlet for orders recently. Since many other ULR group purchasers apparently ordered the radio at the same time as me, other DXers may now be receiving their packages. It's quite obvious that this radio isn't suitable for everybody. Unless you can read Chinese, the owner's manual will be of very limited value. All the radio's labels are in Chinese also, with the exception of the main logo, the strangely misspelled "DSP-Rado." The batteries are of a proprietary type, and are charged within the radio when the AC adapter is hooked up. As Guy mentioned with his initial comments on the D92L, the 120V house wiring typical in North America may not fully charge the D96L batteries, which are designed to charge with the 240V system in China and Hong Kong. Apparently there is no effort underway to translate the Chinese manual into English, at least from the comments I have heard in emails. A native Chinese speaker resides with me, who may possibly help me figure out the basics (if she is in a good mood). The "DSP Rado" battery is currently undergoing its initial charge, which may fall short of the full level due to the 120V house wiring. After some hours of charging, I'll attempt to give it an initial DXing test this evening. Thanks again to Guy Atkins for his investigation and promulgation of the ordering source for this new radio, the top-of-the line Kchibo DSP portable. And yes, it does look, feel and (apparently) act as an Ultralight. 73, Gary DeBock (in 100 degree Puyallup, WA) **A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377107x1201454434/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=115&bcd =JulystepsfooterNO115) ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2009 Jul 28 1806 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 27 July follow. Solar flux 68 and mid-latitude A-index 3. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 28 July was 1 (8 nT). No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 UTC 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 SFlx 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 68 A-in 11111143333333 K-in 11112111121211 ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
[IRCA] July 26th Grayland ULR DXpedition-- Aussies Boom In
Hello All, Thanks to the Victoria DXers (and their comments about the relative desirability of Grayland as a DXpedition site), it was with a newfound appreciation that I started the 2 hour drive to the Grayland Motel's Room 14 on Saturday afternoon. When the 93 degree inland heat gradually became 63 degress on the cool ocean coast, I was appreciative indeed. On Saturday morning, by fortunate coincidence, fellow Puyallup, WA resident Guy Atkins had just received the latest DSP-enhanced wonder in the Ultralight Radio market, the Kchibo D92L. This radio represents a serious new effort by Kchibo to manufacture high-quality portables with DSP-enhanced selectivity, and has the option of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 kHz selectable DSP filter settings. Provoking intense interest in the Ultralight radio enthusiast group, this new model (along with its D96L sibling) offers the possibility of great AM selectivity without the need to transplant premium Murata IF filters (in rather tricky modification jobs). The chance to test out this new wonder in the ultimate challenge of split-frequency TP-DXing was irresistible, so Guy and I quickly arranged a transfer operation with military-like precision, prior to the Grayland trip. Mutual travelers on southbound I-5 gaped in disbelief as they viewed the bizarre collection of disassembled PVC-framed monster loops crammed into my compact car-- and seemed to give me a little extra space as a precaution. Representing my own fanatical contribution to the recent boom in ULR-related experimentation, I had taken along a collapsible-frame 8' (diagonal) PVC Loop, a collapsible-frame 6.5' model, and an all-PVC altazimuth support base. These three items just barely fit in my compact car-- and probably made fellow I-5 travelers convinced that I was just barely sane. Arriving at the Grayland Motel's Room 14, the 6.5' tuned passive loop was set up inside the room next to the window (again, just barely fitting), but the 8' loop was left in the car, to be assembled on the ocean beach at 1100 UTC (0400 local time) the next morning. Viewing this contraption in the car, the curiosity of several of the motel residents was apparently aroused, and they couldn't resist asking me what in blazes the thing was. They must have thought I was nuts when they heard it was a custom loop antenna, to hear Australian stations on the AM band. But when I told them that this was really just a small-sized version of the 13-foot fixed frame version at home, they seemed convinced that the Room 14 resident was not playing with a full deck. The first TP to reach audio level was 738-Tahiti at 0815 UTC (0115 local time), which had weak French on the 6.5' loop during its sunset peak. As I grabbed Guy's new D92L to make a relative selectivity comparison with the C.Crane SWP Slider model, 738-Tahiti's audio quickly fizzled out-- along with any chance of much sleep before the notoriously early DU dawn enhancement. Arriving at the Grayland Beach Road picnic table in total darkness at 1100 UTC (0400 local time), DU heterodynes were plentiful and strong on the SSB spotting receiver I was using (a slightly modified ICF-2010, with a 30" transplanted loopstick). I wasted no time setting up the 8' passive loop on the PVC altazimuth tilting base, and started checking for audio on the 9 kHz splits. As usual, the New Zealand big guns (567, 657 and 1035) were the first to have much signal strength, around 1150. But with the mission to thoroughly compare the selectivity of the new DSP-enhanced Kchibo D92L against the Murata CFJ455K5 filter model C.Crane SWP Slider, for the first 30 minutes of dawn enhancement my focus was on finding DU's with significant domestic splatter, to run relative reception tests (and record MP3's). This was more challenging than it might appear, since DU's rarely hold their signal levels for minutes on end, and I needed to throw out some tests (and recordings) when DU signal levels dived-- which would have given an unfair advantage to one of the tested radios. Finally, after several attempts, I had good MP3 recordings of 738-2NR and 567-2YA on both radios inductively coupled to the 8' loop, which clearly showed how much they could limit the domestic splatter from KCBS-740 and KVI-570, respectively. Wrapping up the Ultralight testing, I eagerly searched the modified ICF-2010 for DU audio on never-before-logged frequencies, and found that Australian stations were very strong-- but the NZ stations and Pacific Islands were pretty anemic. I quickly made new Ultralight loggings of 576-2RN, 594-3WV, 684-2KP and 1008-4TAB, with a couple of UnID's on 531, to make things interesting. The full log was as follows, all received on the C.Crane SWP 7.5" Slider loopstick model (with Murata CFJ455K5 filter) inductively coupled to the 8' tuned passive loop: 531- Two UnID's mixing at 1230, including
[IRCA] TP DX signs 28 July
my main antennas are down due to a reroofing job on the house, but the little ALA100 is still in action. 279 noted with weak audio around 1200UT as was 774, presumed to be JOUB due to direction. At 1230UT, 702, 774 and 1575 had weak DU sounding audio, and quite a number of carriers were notedso there's DX lurking there. best wishes, Nick * Nick Hall-Patch Victoria, BC Canada ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Interesting low power station in
That is pretty much what I found on the internet. I was wondering if I had missed something. Did this station ever have call letters? Although it was broadcasting as a TIS, the license was not for a normal TIS. I wonder why. Bill Harms Paul B. Walker, Jr. wrote: I don't see any call letters listed for the station and it looks like the station license may have expried. ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com
Re: [IRCA] Vintage receiving station with loops
Bob, Thanks Bob for the information on the Navy's Shaggs Island receiving station. The history of the base is very interesting and you did a great research job in finding the website. I believe the Navy has a huge antenna near the VOA site in Dixon, California. A small naval site where navy personnel live. Dennis, Salmon Creek, WA - Original Message - From: "Bob Coomler" To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 11:56:23 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [IRCA] Vintage receiving station with loops Dennis and all, it is Skaggs Island and is actually closer to the Sonoma/Solano county line. Have a look here: http://www.navycthistory.com/skaggs_decom_book.html If you go to the home page for this site and wander around a bit, you will find additional routes to go for Skaggs Island information and pictures (among many other locations). It is an interesting site. On Google Earth, punch in 38.189188N, 122.39592W. This shows the water tower that is very visible from Highway 37 and what I believe is the last remaining building (also visible from the highway). Bob Coomler Cloverdale, CA --- On Fri, 7/24/09, vroom...@comcast.net wrote: > From: vroom...@comcast.net > Subject: Re: [IRCA] Vintage receiving station with loops > To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" > > Date: Friday, July 24, 2009, 6:48 AM > > > > Bob, > > > > Thanks for the information on receiving site near the > Sonoma/Napa county line. > > I have found nothing on the Internet about this site. > Hope your able to come up > > with information when you return for Tucson next week. > Congratulations on the > > new home. > > > > Best regards, > > > > Dennis, > > Salmon Creek, WA > > > > > - Original Message - > From: "Bob Coomler" > > To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of > America" > > Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 9:25:46 PM GMT -08:00 > US/Canada Pacific > Subject: Re: [IRCA] Vintage receiving station with loops > > > Dennis, I believe what he was talking about is just north > of Highway 37 very close to the Sonoma/Napa county line. I > know there is still a two or three story building there, but > no antennas, etc. I'm in Tucson at the moment (which > will be our new home this fall), but will try and dig a > little deeper when I'm home next week. > > Bob Coomler > Cloverdale, C > > --- On Thu, 7/23/09, vroom...@comcast.net > > wrote: > > > From: vroom...@comcast.net > > > > Subject: [IRCA] Vintage receiving station with loops > > > To: "IRCA" > > > Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009, 12:58 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Horacio, > > > > > > > > Thanks for sharing the photo of the receiving station > in > > Daily City. Does anyone know of a government > > > > receiving station that was located in the Napa Valley > of > > California during WWII? I was listening to a ham > > > > operator and he mentioned the receiving station > located > > on many acres of land. I did a search on the > > > > internet and found nothing about the government site. > > > > > > > > > Dennis, > > > > Salmon Creek, WA > > ___ > > IRCA mailing list > > IRCA@hard-core-dx.com > > > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list > are > > those of the original contributors and do not > necessarily > > reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, > publishing > > staff, or officers > > > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > > > To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > > > > > ___ > IRCA mailing list > IRCA@hard-core-dx.com > > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are > those of the original contributors and do not necessarily > reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing > staff, or officers > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > ___ > IRCA mailing list > IRCA@hard-core-dx.com > http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca > > Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are > those of the original contributors and do not necessarily > reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing > staff, or officers > > For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org > > To Post a message: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > ___ IRCA mailing list IRCA@hard-core-dx.com http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect t
