Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
I guess it works for you, Chuck, but to me I prefer the higher frequencies even with the mild hiss. For whatever reason, I find it less fatiguing and more intelligible as well. 73, Walt On Monday, December 29, 2014, Chuck Hutton wrote: > Gary - > Intelligibility is almost completely determined by frequencies below 3000 > Hertz, hence the 3400 Hertz upper limit in the phone system. The amplitude > responses of the two receivers is pretty identical below 3000 Hertz. The > noise at 3000 Hertz and above is just a bad distraction in the Skywave. > Chuck > > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:26:22 + > > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > > > <<< I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar > (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big > difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from > that point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. > > Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. >>> > > Chuck > > > > Chuck, I have no doubt that you are correct that the barefoot > "Skywave's" audio response has a huge dose of white noise starting just > below 3000 hertz, and going upward from there. > > > > My point is that for transoceanic DXing, almost nobody is going to spend > the $$ to go to the ocean coast and then try chasing DX with a barefoot > Skywave (or any other barefoot pocket radio, for that matter). When an FSL > antenna inductively couples to one of these pocket radios and provides a > huge gain boost, it typically chops off the higher audio frequencies in the > DX station's audio-- which should make the Skywave's high frequency audio > bias pretty much irrelevant in DX audio MP3's. As for how this presumption > will play out in actual DXing on the ocean side cliffs, only time will > tell. But I do know that the combination of the PL-380's 1 kHz DSP > filtering and the FSL's inductive coupling boost has usually resulted in a > serious loss of high frequency audio in DX station MP3's, making it seem > desirable to try correcting the issue. > > > > Gary > > > > > > - Original Message - > > > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 11:02:55 AM > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > > > Gary - > > I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar > (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big > difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from > that point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. > > Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. > > Chuck > > > > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:54:12 + > > > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime > DX Shootout > > > > > > Chuck, > > > > > > Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used > with extremely high-Q FSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the > high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the > tendency of the FSL's to chop off the higher audio frequencies when they > zero in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the > PL-380's 1 kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have > been kind of a double whammy on DX stations' higher audio frequencies, > resulting in somewhat "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. > Previously, the only way to correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP > filtering on the PL-380, but that usually results in unacceptable splatter > from domestic stations. Time will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio > provides a little more balance in MP3's of DX stations. > > > > > > Gary > > > > > > > > > - Original Message - > > > > > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > > > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM > > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime > DX Shootout > > > > > > I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's > easily visible in a spectrum plot. > > > To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. > > > Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with > audios that sounded identical from the two receivers. > > > Chuck > > > > > > > From: can...@gmail.com > > > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 + > > > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- > Daytime DXShootout > > > > > > > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. > Wow! > > > > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > > > > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side >
Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
Gary - Intelligibility is almost completely determined by frequencies below 3000 Hertz, hence the 3400 Hertz upper limit in the phone system. The amplitude responses of the two receivers is pretty identical below 3000 Hertz. The noise at 3000 Hertz and above is just a bad distraction in the Skywave. Chuck > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 23:26:22 + > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > <<< I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar > (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big > difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from that > point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. > Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. >>> > Chuck > > Chuck, I have no doubt that you are correct that the barefoot "Skywave's" > audio response has a huge dose of white noise starting just below 3000 hertz, > and going upward from there. > > My point is that for transoceanic DXing, almost nobody is going to spend the > $$ to go to the ocean coast and then try chasing DX with a barefoot Skywave > (or any other barefoot pocket radio, for that matter). When an FSL antenna > inductively couples to one of these pocket radios and provides a huge gain > boost, it typically chops off the higher audio frequencies in the DX > station's audio-- which should make the Skywave's high frequency audio bias > pretty much irrelevant in DX audio MP3's. As for how this presumption will > play out in actual DXing on the ocean side cliffs, only time will tell. But I > do know that the combination of the PL-380's 1 kHz DSP filtering and the > FSL's inductive coupling boost has usually resulted in a serious loss of high > frequency audio in DX station MP3's, making it seem desirable to try > correcting the issue. > > Gary > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 11:02:55 AM > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > Gary - > I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar (identical?) > from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big difference can begin > to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from that point upward, and > it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. > Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. > Chuck > > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:54:12 + > > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > > Shootout > > > > Chuck, > > > > Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used with > > extremely high-Q FSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the > > high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the > > tendency of the FSL's to chop off the higher audio frequencies when they > > zero in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the > > PL-380's 1 kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have > > been kind of a double whammy on DX stations' higher audio frequencies, > > resulting in somewhat "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. > > Previously, the only way to correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP > > filtering on the PL-380, but that usually results in unacceptable splatter > > from domestic stations. Time will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio > > provides a little more balance in MP3's of DX stations. > > > > Gary > > > > > > - Original Message - > > > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > > Shootout > > > > I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's easily > > visible in a spectrum plot. > > To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. > > Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with audios > > that sounded identical from the two receivers. > > Chuck > > > > > From: can...@gmail.com > > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 + > > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > > > Shootout > > > > > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. Wow! > > > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > > > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side > > > comparisons! 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC > > > > > > On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, wrote: > > > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > > > With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time > > >
[IRCA] TP 29 Dec Victoria version
A grim return to the dials this morning, with the Tahiti and JOUB show, and very half-hearted at that. pretty darn good audio (all of it understandable by a native speaker, at least briefly): maybe not until next year (season?)...put perhaps I'll be proven wrong Reasonable audio at times during the period (much of it understandable by a native speaker, though often battling w/splash or noise): nope, nada not so reasonable audio, occasional words or phrases in splash or noise could be understood by a native speaker: 774 JOUB EE lessons 1420UT Burbles in the splatter and noise (if lucky, language might be guessed at by cadence of talk, or parallel established by changes in talk or music) 738 Tahiti, man and woman talking, might have been FF 1435UT Strongish het, no or "near imaginary" audio (either undermodulated or ravaged by splatter) the two above, most of the time from 1400 to 1530UT best wishes, Nick ___ ___ 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] Last Gasp for Graveyarders
Four unIDed graveyarders from the few days prior to Christmas within clips posted online. There's IDs from each, but borderline to the extreme. Before I toss these into the graveyard of broken DX dreams, I'm posting them in case anyone might be able to pull an ID or any info that leads to an ID. I think they're all goners, but, ... 1230 seems to have a "Greatest Hits W..Y" jingle near the end of the clip. I can get no further... 1340 has weather then a jingle at :24 followed by a Beatles song. 1450 starts off the bat with calls sounding like WLCN. 1490 has Christmas music and a jingle at :25 Online at: http://forums.wtfda.org/showthread.php?9457 Any ears are greatly appreciated, and if anyone gets any of these I'll be in awe. Saul ChernosBurnt River ON ___ 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] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX
Re: New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380 Wow, I'm convinced! Many thanks for the comparison filesthey are the proof in the pudding. Glad they elim the birdies and improved the audio quality for these mature ears! I ordered from amazon today and they already shipped. I'm looking fwd to taking this little rx to Coopers Rock State Pk (Morgantown area, northern WV), up on the mountain, where it is ELECTRICALLY QUIET, and see what it will do at lunchtime in January! Obrigado Fred Schroyer Violonista Canhoto Freelance Writer/Editor/Book Developer Waynesburg, PA 15370 ibfredi...@gmail.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] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2014 Dec 30 0010 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 29 December follow. Solar flux 132 and estimated planetary A-index 23. The estimated planetary K-index at UTC on 30 December was 5. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are expected. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 30 UTC 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 SFlx 134 134 134 134 133 133 133 133 133 133 133 133 132 132 A-in 777710 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 20 23 K-in 11124323234545 Current Solar information available at http://www.am-dx.com/wwv.htm ___ 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] Radio Kiribati
As a bit of a holiday gift to everyone, I want to share 3 one hour long airchecks I got of Radio Kiribati 1440. They were recorded in the studio by the station, at a cost to me of $10AUD for each one. Very worth it, if you ask me. http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribati.mp3 (Encoded at 128K/44hz stereo, 60 mins 59 seconds long) http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribatiAM1440_June2013.mp3 (Encoded at 56K/22hz, 58 minutes 35 minutes long) http://www.onairdj.com/RadioKiribati_1440Khz_August2013.mp3 (Encoded at 96k/44hz, 49 minutes 36 seconds long) Feel free to share these links or post them elsewhere, just give me credit for them and link to my website, www.onairdj.com if possible. Happy Holidays! Paul ___ 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] 1710 Springfield Ma Armory TIS
Dominant tonight over SS pirate, this TIS has been logged in Scotland, Loop giving directions and other info, Bob Young Millbury, Ma RCA 816K BCB 1/2 wave dipole ___ Get your copy of the 35th Edition of the AM Radio Log http://www.nrcdxas.org ___ 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] 1710 Springfield Armory TIS
Dominant tonight over SS pirate, this TIS has been logged in Scotland, Loop giving directions and other info, Bob Young Millbury, Ma RCA 816K BCB 1/2 wave dipole ___ 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] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
<<< I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from that point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. >>> Chuck Chuck, I have no doubt that you are correct that the barefoot "Skywave's" audio response has a huge dose of white noise starting just below 3000 hertz, and going upward from there. My point is that for transoceanic DXing, almost nobody is going to spend the $$ to go to the ocean coast and then try chasing DX with a barefoot Skywave (or any other barefoot pocket radio, for that matter). When an FSL antenna inductively couples to one of these pocket radios and provides a huge gain boost, it typically chops off the higher audio frequencies in the DX station's audio-- which should make the Skywave's high frequency audio bias pretty much irrelevant in DX audio MP3's. As for how this presumption will play out in actual DXing on the ocean side cliffs, only time will tell. But I do know that the combination of the PL-380's 1 kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's inductive coupling boost has usually resulted in a serious loss of high frequency audio in DX station MP3's, making it seem desirable to try correcting the issue. Gary - Original Message - From: "Chuck Hutton" To: irca@hard-core-dx.com Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 11:02:55 AM Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout Gary - I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from that point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. Chuck > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:54:12 + > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > Chuck, > > Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used with > extremely high-Q FSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the > high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the > tendency of the FSL's to chop off the higher audio frequencies when they zero > in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the PL-380's 1 > kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have been kind of a > double whammy on DX stations' higher audio frequencies, resulting in somewhat > "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. Previously, the only way to > correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP filtering on the PL-380, but > that usually results in unacceptable splatter from domestic stations. Time > will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio provides a little more balance > in MP3's of DX stations. > > Gary > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's easily > visible in a spectrum plot. > To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. > Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with audios > that sounded identical from the two receivers. > Chuck > > > From: can...@gmail.com > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 + > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > > Shootout > > > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. Wow! > > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side > > comparisons! 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC > > > > On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, wrote: > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time > > > for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the > > > new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were > > > checked out for normal operation before the contest, with new batteries > > > and > > > an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon.. > > > > > > The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (see > > > photo > > > at > > > http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg > > > > > > ), and at $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun > > > PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the > >
[IRCA] WWV Solar Report
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt :Issued: 2014 Dec 29 1805 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # # Geophysical Alert Message # Solar-terrestrial indices for 28 December follow. Solar flux 133 and estimated planetary A-index 10. The estimated planetary K-index at 1800 UTC on 29 December was 5. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Trends -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Date 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 UTC 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 2100 0300 0600 0900 1200 1500 1800 SFlx 134 134 134 134 134 134 133 133 133 133 133 133 133 133 A-in 77777710 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 K-in 32111243232345 Current Solar information available at http://www.am-dx.com/wwv.htm ___ 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] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
Gary - I don't think so. The audio response for the two is very similar (identical?) from 100 - 2500 Hertz. It's just below 3000 that a big difference can begin to be noted. There's about a 15 dB difference from that point upward, and it'd sue to "wideband" white noise. Take a look at a frequency plot and you'll easily see what I mean. Chuck > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 08:54:12 + > From: d1028g...@comcast.net > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > Chuck, > > Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used with > extremely high-Q FSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the > high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the > tendency of the FSL's to chop off the higher audio frequencies when they zero > in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the PL-380's 1 > kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have been kind of a > double whammy on DX stations' higher audio frequencies, resulting in somewhat > "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. Previously, the only way to > correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP filtering on the PL-380, but > that usually results in unacceptable splatter from domestic stations. Time > will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio provides a little more balance > in MP3's of DX stations. > > Gary > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Chuck Hutton" > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's easily > visible in a spectrum plot. > To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. > Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with audios > that sounded identical from the two receivers. > Chuck > > > From: can...@gmail.com > > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 + > > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > > Shootout > > > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. Wow! > > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side > > comparisons! 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC > > > > On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, wrote: > > > > > Hello All, > > > > > > With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time > > > for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the > > > new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were > > > checked out for normal operation before the contest, with new batteries > > > and > > > an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon.. > > > > > > The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (see > > > photo > > > at > > > http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg > > > > > > ), and at $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun > > > PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the > > > favorite of Ultralight radio Transoceanic DXers, with a generous range of > > > functions combined with "toned down" soft mute. Its stock loopstick > > > places > > > it near the top of the ULR class in sensitivity, and with DSP filtering > > > down to the 1 kHz level it provides fairly representative performance of > > > all the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip Ultralights. > > > > > > Rather than tell you immediately how the Shootout went, I will let you > > > form your own opinion by posting six MP3's of the relative reception by > > > the > > > PL-380 Vs. the Skywave in receiving the daytime DX fringe stations. In > > > each > > > MP3 both the PL-380 and the Skywave were set on the 1 KHz DSP setting, > > > and > > > both were pointed in the same direction. In each MP3 the PL-380 receives > > > the fringe station for the first 20 seconds, and the Skywave receives the > > > same fringe station for the final 20 seconds. > > > > > > 550 KARI Blaine, WA (5 kW at 127 miles) > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dd8dok6ujeh50cz/550-KARI-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > > > > 690 CBU Vancouver, BC (50 kW at 148 miles) > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/hj3khn0zjep3pxc/690-CBU-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > > > > 750 KXTG Portland, OR (50 kW at 117 miles) > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/06uc2a15yas4y57/750-KXTG-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > > > > 1070 CFAX Victoria, BC (10 kW at 100 miles) > > > > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/44vpx852aa7pwn4/1070-CFAX-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > > > > > > > 1420 KITI/ KUJ Centralia and Walla Walla, WA (5 kW at 4
Re: [IRCA] new log WEEF 1430
These guys are very local to me and more of a nuisance this season that past ones although they've had some upgrades in power over the years I think. I will have to check if they are running day rig at night. What time did you log them? Great catch !! 73 KAZ -Original Message- >From: Jim Balle >Sent: Dec 29, 2014 8:53 AM >To: abdx , "irca@hard-core-dx.com" > >Subject: [IRCA] new log WEEF 1430 > >Last week some one mentioned recording mw using audicity so I down loaded >and installed it. So today it really paid off as I got a nice id of "1430 >WEEF serving NW Chicago". I thought I heard "EF NW Ohio" while listening, >but the recorded audio was good enough to positively id it. So now I keep >playing it over and over as it's one of my best logs. Jim Springfield Ma. > >-- >www.fhu.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] new log WEEF 1430
Last week some one mentioned recording mw using audicity so I down loaded and installed it. So today it really paid off as I got a nice id of "1430 WEEF serving NW Chicago". I thought I heard "EF NW Ohio" while listening, but the recorded audio was good enough to positively id it. So now I keep playing it over and over as it's one of my best logs. Jim Springfield Ma. -- www.fhu.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
Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
<<< Does the possibility exist that the other receivers will upgrade to the si4736 chip Ms >>> Even if the Si4736 chip provides superior performance, Mike, that doesn't mean that Chinese companies like Tecsun will find it desirable to upgrade. The Tecsun DSP pocket radios are made primarily for the Chinese market, and North American DXers are probably not high on their priority list. As long as they are making a reasonable profit with their current models, they probably won't see any reason to spend more money on a DSP chip upgrade. Gary - Original Message - From: "Mike Sanburn" To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:47:57 PM Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380--Daytime DXShootout Does the possibility exist that the other receivers will upgrade to the si4736 chip Ms Sent from my iPod > On Dec 28, 2014, at 10:43 PM, d1028g...@comcast.net wrote: > > Walt and Mike, > > Thanks for your generous comments on the PL-380 Vs. Skywave comparison. > > I'm pretty sure that this new model will become quite popular for the DXers > who don't mind the $89.95 cost. A full disassembly of the Skywave model > (performed for the Ultralight radio group) revealed that the radio was > custom-built in China for C.Crane, probably by the Redsun Company. The RF and > Digital circuit boards are C.Crane designs, stamped with the C.Crane name and > Revision number. As such, the model does seem to be unique at this time, and > is the only pocket radio found so far to have the new Silicon Labs' Si4736 > DSP chip. > > 73, Gary > > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Walter Salmaniw" > To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" > > Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:04:16 PM > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. Wow! > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side > comparisons! 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC > >> On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, wrote: >> >> Hello All, >> >> With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time >> for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the >> new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were >> checked out for normal operation before the contest, with new batteries and >> an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon. >> >> The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (see photo >> at >> http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg >> >> ), and at $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun >> PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the >> favorite of Ultralight radio Transoceanic DXers, with a generous range of >> functions combined with "toned down" soft mute. Its stock loopstick places >> it near the top of the ULR class in sensitivity, and with DSP filtering >> down to the 1 kHz level it provides fairly representative performance of >> all the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip Ultralights. >> >> Rather than tell you immediately how the Shootout went, I will let you >> form your own opinion by posting six MP3's of the relative reception by the >> PL-380 Vs. the Skywave in receiving the daytime DX fringe stations. In each >> MP3 both the PL-380 and the Skywave were set on the 1 KHz DSP setting, and >> both were pointed in the same direction. In each MP3 the PL-380 receives >> the fringe station for the first 20 seconds, and the Skywave receives the >> same fringe station for the final 20 seconds. >> >> 550 KARI Blaine, WA (5 kW at 127 miles) >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dd8dok6ujeh50cz/550-KARI-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> 690 CBU Vancouver, BC (50 kW at 148 miles) >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/hj3khn0zjep3pxc/690-CBU-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> 750 KXTG Portland, OR (50 kW at 117 miles) >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/06uc2a15yas4y57/750-KXTG-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> 1070 CFAX Victoria, BC (10 kW at 100 miles) >> >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/44vpx852aa7pwn4/1070-CFAX-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> >> 1420 KITI/ KUJ Centralia and Walla Walla, WA (5 kW at 46 miles and 202 >> miles) >> >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/b2apvjdi5uwhksw/1420-KITI-KUJ-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> >> 1470 KELA Centralia, WA (5 kW at 46 miles) >> >> http://www.mediafire.com/listen/glppgdt26jzcnlc/1470-KELA-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 >> >> Comments: The Si4734 DSP chip in all of the Tecsun Ultralights tends to >> clip off the higher audio frequencies in the 1 kHz DSP setting, leaving the >> audio with some
Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout
Chuck, Given the likelihood that these new "Skywave" portables will be used with extremely high-Q FSL antennas during actual transoceanic DXing, the high-treble audio of the "Skywave" may help to compensate a little for the tendency of the FSL's to chop off the higher audio frequencies when they zero in on DX with their razor-sharp tuning system. Up until now the PL-380's 1 kHz DSP filtering and the FSL's razor sharp tuning system have been kind of a double whammy on DX stations' higher audio frequencies, resulting in somewhat "muddy" sounding audio during typical MP3's. Previously, the only way to correct this issue was to switch to 2 kHz DSP filtering on the PL-380, but that usually results in unacceptable splatter from domestic stations. Time will tell if the "Skywave's" high-treble audio provides a little more balance in MP3's of DX stations. Gary - Original Message - From: "Chuck Hutton" To: irca@hard-core-dx.com Sent: Sunday, December 28, 2014 10:42:15 PM Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX Shootout I was somewhat bothered by a lot of hiss in the Skywave audio. It's easily visible in a spectrum plot. To a lesser degree, the 380 audio had too much low frequency rumble. Doing a good lowpass and highpass filtering on both, I was left with audios that sounded identical from the two receivers. Chuck > From: can...@gmail.com > Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 06:04:16 + > To: irca@hard-core-dx.com > Subject: Re: [IRCA] New C.Crane "Skywave" Vs. Tecsun PL-380-- Daytime DX > Shootout > > Impressive results, Gary. I was very impressed with the 550 clip. Wow! > As for the others, the C Crane receiver was so much less fatiguing to > listen to. Great audio, for sure! Thanks for doing the side by side > comparisons! 73,...Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC > > On Mon, Dec 29, 2014 at 5:40 AM, wrote: > > > Hello All, > > > > With clear weather and lots of open space in our back yard, it was time > > for a full Shootout between the Si4734-chip-powered Tecsun PL-380 and the > > new Si4736-chip-powered C.Crane Skywave portable. Both stock models were > > checked out for normal operation before the contest, with new batteries and > > an equal chance to receive six fringe MW stations just after local noon.. > > > > The new Skywave is significantly smaller than the Tecsun PL-380 (see photo > > at > > http://www.mediafire.com/view/8o5mdtt1bc1rfik/CCraneSkywaveDisassembly-04_(Large).jpg > > > > ), and at $89.95 (before shipping) costs about twice as much. The Tecsun > > PL-380 stock model was chosen for this Shootout because it has become the > > favorite of Ultralight radio Transoceanic DXers, with a generous range of > > functions combined with "toned down" soft mute. Its stock loopstick places > > it near the top of the ULR class in sensitivity, and with DSP filtering > > down to the 1 kHz level it provides fairly representative performance of > > all the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip Ultralights. > > > > Rather than tell you immediately how the Shootout went, I will let you > > form your own opinion by posting six MP3's of the relative reception by the > > PL-380 Vs. the Skywave in receiving the daytime DX fringe stations. In each > > MP3 both the PL-380 and the Skywave were set on the 1 KHz DSP setting, and > > both were pointed in the same direction. In each MP3 the PL-380 receives > > the fringe station for the first 20 seconds, and the Skywave receives the > > same fringe station for the final 20 seconds. > > > > 550 KARI Blaine, WA (5 kW at 127 miles) > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dd8dok6ujeh50cz/550-KARI-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > 690 CBU Vancouver, BC (50 kW at 148 miles) > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/hj3khn0zjep3pxc/690-CBU-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > 750 KXTG Portland, OR (50 kW at 117 miles) > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/06uc2a15yas4y57/750-KXTG-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > 1070 CFAX Victoria, BC (10 kW at 100 miles) > > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/44vpx852aa7pwn4/1070-CFAX-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > > > 1420 KITI/ KUJ Centralia and Walla Walla, WA (5 kW at 46 miles and 202 > > miles) > > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/b2apvjdi5uwhksw/1420-KITI-KUJ-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > 1470 KELA Centralia, WA (5 kW at 46 miles) > > > > http://www.mediafire.com/listen/glppgdt26jzcnlc/1470-KELA-PL380vsSkywave.MP3 > > > > > > Comments: The Si4734 DSP chip in all of the Tecsun Ultralights tends to > > clip off the higher audio frequencies in the 1 kHz DSP setting, leaving the > > audio with somewhat of a "muddy" sound. Obviously, the Si4736 chip in the > > Skywave not only solves this issue, but solves the heterodyne issue > > (audible in the 1420 kHz MP3) as well. As for why the Skywave seems to have > > a slight sensitivity edge over the PL-380 (except on 550, where it smokes > > the PL-380), it could eithe
