Re: [IRCA] 3" FSL Tecsun PL-380 TP-DX for 3-31

2016-03-31 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
--- Begin Message ---
Hi Gary,
Do you have multiple versions/sizes of the FSLs with you in Grayland?  I've 
observed, through posts and a little listening, that some of the small FSLs are 
similar in reception quality to the big guns.  I'm wondering if the RF Zoo in 
Puyallup, as well as a possible elevated suburban noise floor, contributes to 
leveling the playing field, so to speak.  (Also I'd guess it could contribute 
to certain FSLs being the maximum size for some radios to use, due to strong 
local stations like KHHO, KSUH, etc. overloading the front end.)
I'd like to see an FSL comparison in a rural area - like Grayland, for example. 
 (I was thinking Rockwork 4, but I suppose Grayland would work for now since 
you're there.)  Are there any significant differences in the rural area?Also, 
for reference, what is the strongest signal at Grayland on a stock (unmodded) 
Tecsun ULR or Traveler III?
Also, would it be possible to record a video on at least one day of a DX 
session, start to finish, and post it on YouTube? :)
73, Stephen 

On Thursday, March 31, 2016 8:58 PM, "d1028g...@comcast.net" 
 wrote:
 

 While I was still in Puyallup it was a great morning for the NHK big guns and 
1566-HLAZ but certainly lacking the variety of Asians showing up yesterday. 
Except for the usual regular 603-HLSA my results were almost identical to those 
reported by Bruce. A very late rally by the CRI stations on 1044, 1206 and 1323 
around 1345 provided a little variety but the band folded before they could 
come close to yesterday's levels. 
  
At my 1250 start time both 594 and 1566 had very good signals, and these were 
joined by 693, 747 and 774 during the predawn darkness. First daylight around 
1320 didn't change propagation much, except for 603-HLSA and 972-HLCA coming 
out of the noise to reach fair levels in and out. By the 1330 start of the NHK2 
Chinese lessons the signal from 747-JOIB was the strongest that it's ever been 
on these hot-rodded portables, and 594 and 693 weren't far behind.  603-HLSA 
reached a slightly stronger level than yesterday (fair) around 1340, and 
1575-VOA was also slightly improved, keeping steady fair audio during sunrise 
enhancement. The late mid-band CRI rally might have gone somewhere except for 
the band's general collapse at 1350, another example of Puyallup's lackluster 
propagation in comparison to ocean beach areas. That won't be a problem for the 
next 4 days, as a collection of hot-rodded PL-380's, FSL antennas and digital 
recorders is eager to hit the salt water beach next to the Walsh Motel in 
Grayland ($180 for 4 days, as long as you don't set up large external antennas 
or put ground stakes through water lines).   
747  JOIB   Sapporo, Japan   Very good level Chinese lesson start at 1330; 
strongest signal ever on these models 
https://app.box.com/s/0np2hpxk19uw2urh4u3yr5fo1se54wnz   
  
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (temporarily in Grayland, WA) 
Stand-alone 3" FSL Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight 
  
  
  
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Re: [IRCA] "Pest Control" FSL-Powered PL-380-- The Final Local Bites the Dust

2016-01-24 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
--- Begin Message ---
Congratulations, Gary. :)  Any chance you could make a video of the nulling 
ability of the new setup sometime? :)
I have a video from about 5 years ago nulling my local 50kW pest, 1170-KCBQ, on 
the barefoot PL-606.  (Wow where has the time gone?  I find it hard to believe 
I've had that radio that long, and it wasn't the first DSP radio I had.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7fU5hIIuOY

Was the "tilting function" that you used similar to what I used in that video?
Also how is that FSL for keeping the beamwidth narrow?  At night can you select 
multiple stations on 1450 and have clean reception on each as if they were the 
only station on their frequency?
Also I was considering going to Seattle the end of March for a piano 
technician's conference, but a couple things have come up that may make it not 
happen.  (Early on when I was considering the trip, I was also exploring, at 
least in my mind, the idea of driving up & back from San Diego, seeing some 
friends along the way including in Oregon, and trying the Rockwork 4 site, but 
I think that would be a bit much to do. :))
73, Stephen 

On Sunday, January 24, 2016 9:08 AM, "d1028g...@comcast.net" 
 wrote:
 

 Hello All, 
  
A brief note to report that my overmodulated local pest, 1450-KSUH (1 kW at 2 
miles) has finally succumbed to the pest nulling capability of the new "Pest 
Control" PL-380. 
  
Increasing operator skill has allowed use of a "tilting function" when the pest 
is nulled, causing the station to be slapped with a moderate amount of noise. 
It isn't a perfect null, but it's definitely there. So, in this "NFC 
Championship" (nulling's final challenge), I'm ready to declare victory :-) 
  
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 
  
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Re: [IRCA] 3" Bar FSL Tecsun PL-380 Model-- "Heathkit-like" Construction Article

2016-01-15 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
--- Begin Message ---
Hi Gary,
The version at the box link looked fine on my PC.  (I saw your post on the 
ultralightdx group mentioning something was jumbled.)  Also of course the 
mediafire version is good too on my end.  I'm running Chrome 47 on Windows 10 
Pro.  I haven't tested downloading & displaying in Libre Office 5.0.2.2 yet, 
and I can't print from here right now due to having network communication 
issues between my computer and the printer.  My dad's laptop running XP and MS 
Office does print, though, but I haven't tried reading the article from there 
using the much older browsers that are on that computer; nor have I tried on my 
laptop, which runs Lubuntu and Firefox now.  (I'm planning to put Windows 7 or 
10 Pro on it in hopefully a month or 3.)
I picked up an Eton Traveler III from Amazon recently for $38 + tax, and I just 
got it yesterday.  So far I'm liking it for the most part, it seems to 
definitely be an improvement over my previous ultralights, even though it 
doesn't have the 1 kHz filtering. :)  Also I got a Sangean SR-35 at Fry's for 
$20, and it seems like it could be promising, I need to do some more tests on 
it though.  A GPX R300B for $12 at Fry's does lack some sensitivity (for 
example 930-KHJ & 1340-KCLU which register about 17/05 on the Traveler III are 
right at the threshold on the GPX), but it seems to have near-DSP-like 
selectivity.  (It does seem to use a wide filter, though, possibly 6 kHz, since 
IBOC hash is still clearly heard 20 kHz off-channel, but I can get 1110-KDIS 
with little to no splash from 1130-KSDO.  Also there's no provision for 9 kHz 
or 1 kHz tuning.)  OTOH, a Naxa NR-921 for $10 is completely dead - even when 
using the SAT + utility pole (which badly overloads 760-KFMB at night on my 
properly-functioning Tecsuns), I still couldn't get any trace of KFMB at all on 
it, and FM is just as dead.
What do you think would be a good solution for a broken ferrite bar in a 
PL-398bt?  (Yes I know it's not a ULR.)  Would a small broadband FSL be good 
(so long as I can make it able to survive significant frequent drops cause I am 
a gigantic klutz), or would a 7.5" or 12" loopstick be more appropriate, or 
maybe even just replacing the stock loopstick internally with something 
slightly better that would still fit?  As it is now, it's about 70 dBµ or so 
less sensitive than if it had its stock antenna.
73, Stephen 

On Thursday, January 14, 2016 11:05 PM, "d1028g...@comcast.net" 
 wrote:
 

 Hello All, 
  
For those who want to experience breakthrough MW-DXing capability in a portable 
receiver, the all-new 3" Bar FSL Tecsun PL-380 model has been designed. With 
the triple advantage of superior FSL antenna sensitivity, razor-sharp DSP 
selectivity and a powerful audio amplifier, this hand-held model has been 
designed to outperform any stock portable on the planet in DXing capability. 
  
Featuring the first hard-wired FSL antenna to be used in a portable 
configuration, the PL-380's internal DSP chip (the Silicon Labs' Si4734) tunes 
the lightweight 3" Bar FSL antenna for maximum sensitivity throughout the MW 
band, freeing the DXer from the need to peak a variable capacitor. The FSL's 
cylindrical shape also provides the bonus function of superior nulling 
capability, as well as greatly improved Longwave performance relative to the 
stock model. 
  
Long-term technical friend Steve Ratzlaff has also built one of these little 
monsters, and has reported that there is "no comparison" between its DXing 
performance and that of either the stock PL-380 model or a 7.5" loopstick 
transplant PL-380 model. For those interested, a full "Heathkit-like" 
construction article (15 pages) with multiple Photoshop-enhanced assembly 
photos is posted at   
http://www.mediafire.com/view/w0gcek56f6aq7kr/3_Inch_FSL_Tecsun_PL.doc   For 
those who can build or obtain one of these breakthrough models (a photo is 
posted at https://app.box.com/s/bpv03wvwpjbicvytw9euicg1hellda3g  ) it should 
be pretty obvious that portable DXing capability is reaching unprecedented 
levels-- and that 2016 should be a very happy new year! 
  
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 
  
  
  
  
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Re: [IRCA] 3.7 Inch "Baby FSL" Receives S9+ TP-DX

2015-12-19 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
--- Begin Message ---
That definitely sounds to me like a moderately significant improvement in 
signal, Gary, considering it was apparently blank without the nano-FSL or 
whatever you want to call it. :)  (Although on my S-rating system based on my 
perceptions of RST, I'd probably rate that signal as an "S4" - my "S9" is 
usually signals that show 88+ dBµ on the Tecsuns without any external antenna 
boost, and anything over S9 is 95+ dBµ.)
I wonder if there's a chance we may someday have a small and inexpensive enough 
FSL so that you could have it and the Sangean DT-400W or CC Pocket both 
contained in a $100 budget and a package the size of the Skywave or PL-380?  
(I'm thinking the radio would be mounted inside the FSL but with the 
buttons/display somehow still accessible, and instead of being round it'd be 
more rectangular (or oval), but would that not work?)
Also what about an FSL that, instead of being fairly wide relative to its 
diameter, is shaped more like the Select-A-Tenna (or oval) but smaller?
Also I was reading other comments on Yahoo and wondering ...
What's the difference in the various versions of the CC Skywave?
What would happen if you used a 330/46 connection to the radio, but made the 
main coil of the FSL with 1162/46?  (I'm guessing the tedious part would be 
individually soldering each strand of one type to the other, or would a single 
bulk-solder work?)
How does the direct-connected FSL compare with the built-in antenna on adjacent 
and off-channel RSSI, blocking, assuming you're using signals of comparable 
strength?  (Meaning a signal that indicates 89 dBµ on the FSL, and another that 
indicates 89 dBµ on the stock loopstick.)  Does the FSL have higher Q, and not 
block stations as much as the stock stick?
Also, Skywave vs Traveler 3 - which do you think I may potentially be happier 
with on AM and FM for the price?  Fry's has the Skywave here but they want $70 
for it and I think that's too much for that model.  I had one briefly but the 
display is terrible outdoors in bright light, also I had some other issues with 
it too.  (Some of my complaints with the PL-380 were improved, though.)
73, Stephen 

On Saturday, December 19, 2015 6:43 AM, "d1028g...@comcast.net" 
 wrote:
 

 Hello All, 
  
The new-design 3.7" FSL is one of several experimental models being tested in 
an effort to design low cost, high performing models for the MW-DXing 
community. The 3.7 inch FSL is of a very tiny size (a photo is posted at 
https://app.box.com/s/e8pv0rh2ydoeyu6rjqewjc8yq3dsd2kr  ), but it uses the 
highest sensitivity Litz wire available on the commercial market (1162/46). 
This is the same high-sensitivity Litz wire used in the monster FSL models on 
Oregon cliff DXpeditions. The 3.7" Baby FSL is designed to be constructed for 
under $100 in parts, but it packs a very powerful performance punch in its tiny 
size. 
  
After completion of the first test model this morning the antenna was tested 
out in the reception of 1566-HLAZ at 1507, and received this Japanese service 
signal at an S9+ level on the CC Skywave (as shown in the photo linked above). 
Without the FSL antenna boost the Ultralight radio had no reception of HLAZ at 
all. 
  
  https://app.box.com/s/8e2c7wuiw8tldq3ov9f3etqrw0jdzjxw 
  
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 
7.5" loopstick CC Skywave Ultralight + 
3.7 inch "Baby FSL" 
  
  
  
  
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Re: [IRCA] CC Radio SW

2015-07-09 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
And someone just snapped up #2 apparently, I was about to buy one. :( Any 
suggestions on where I can find a similar or better price-performance radio 
under $100?  AM is most important to me, especially selectivity next to locals. 
 For example I'd like to be able to hear  10 µV/m signals 10 kHz away from 
5000+ mV/m local signals, without any splatter and without the muddy audio that 
you get when using a 2 kHz or similarly narrow filter.  Better yet if it's the 
size of the CC Pocket or something like that. :) 


 On Thursday, July 9, 2015 1:33 PM, Paul B. Walker, Jr. 
walkerbroadcast...@gmail.com wrote:
   

 Only 1 left.. who just bought one?:)

Paul



On Thu, Jul 9, 2015 at 1:08 PM, Paul B. Walker, Jr. 
walkerbroadcast...@gmail.com wrote:

 C Crane has 2 refurbished CC Radio SW's on sale. Normally $139.95, on sale
 for $79.95.

 I have one of these radios and haven't tested the SW yet, but the audio is
 great and the AM section is hot!


 http://www.ccrane.com/Shortwave-Radios/Refurbished-CCRadio-SW-AMFM-Shortwave-Radio

 Just thought y'all would wanna know!

 Paul



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Re: [IRCA] steel wire fence in Venice, CA (near Los Angeles)

2015-05-11 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Usually I just put my radio on the fence and it boosts reception strength 
significantly.  Unfortunately it'd be untuned, so local stations would likely 
overload the receiver, negating most of the advantage and masking the weaker 
signals that otherwise would be heard.
73, Stephen 


 On Monday, May 11, 2015 3:52 PM, Aaron Kreider aa...@campusactivism.org 
wrote:
   

 I didn't have my radio with me at the time, but there is a steel wire 
fence on a bike path in Venice CA which is around 1000 feet.

Could this work as a pre-made beverage?

Can you tap a beverage with a simple coil around it, or what is the best 
approach?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Venice,+Los+Angeles,+CA/@33.9651082,-118.4505142,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2bac03052685d:0x8f1101b40d5c8d3c

Aaron
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Re: [IRCA] steel wire fence in Venice, CA (near Los Angeles)

2015-05-11 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
I should clarify (in case there's any confusion) that I mean metal fences in 
general, like chain-link fences or other wire fences.  I haven't been to or 
tried that specific fence.  It also works for utility pole ground wires, 
although in those cases you also have the noise from the powerlines to deal 
with.  I've found even that can vary, too.  


 On Monday, May 11, 2015 3:52 PM, Aaron Kreider aa...@campusactivism.org 
wrote:
   

 I didn't have my radio with me at the time, but there is a steel wire 
fence on a bike path in Venice CA which is around 1000 feet.

Could this work as a pre-made beverage?

Can you tap a beverage with a simple coil around it, or what is the best 
approach?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Venice,+Los+Angeles,+CA/@33.9651082,-118.4505142,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x80c2bac03052685d:0x8f1101b40d5c8d3c

Aaron
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Re: [IRCA] Ultralight Radio DXing Takes Off in Japan

2015-05-03 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Hi Gary  Nick,
I'm thinking this hair color thing could belie one's age, maybe? :)  I wasn't 
even born (for at least another decade plus) when Gary was in high school (or 
in the service, if I remember right that he served).  I just had my 34th 
birthday this past Wednesday, yet I believe I have a fair bit more gray, as 
this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUGKb3VjSg - would show, than 
Gary has. :)  (My father, who was in college around when Gary was in high 
school, was mostly gray by his late 30s / early 40s, I think.)
Maybe my early gray has come about from spending a little too much time where 
the signals aren't so weak? :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX5qmaRjXpw
Referencing that first video, am I the only one who has audio pumping issues 
even on somewhat moderately strong local stations (like 910-KECR in my case)?  
I'm suspecting it could be because they (as well as 620-XESS and I think 
1030-XESDD) could be overmodulating their signal, causing the S/N ratio to 
pinch off, so to speak.
Also what type of inexpensive more-compact antenna should I build that would 
get the same gain as that setup, but without the QRN from the powerlines and 
higher-Q tuning for urban areas?  (For example, to hear with the internal 
loopstick the same signal that I heard on 760-KFMB in the 1st video, I have to 
be at the spot in the 2nd video, which was shot at night when KFMB was 
operating at higher power.)  An FSL would be way too expensive (unless I could 
build one AND buy a new SRF-T615 for under the $100 ultralight qualifications 
price limit), but would one of the PVC loops work, or would the 100° summer 
heat here destroy the PVC?
73, Stephen 


 On Wednesday, April 29, 2015 8:26 AM, d1028g...@comcast.net 
d1028g...@comcast.net wrote:
   

 
Hi Nick, 
  
Thanks for your generous comments on the Japanese adaptation of the 
supercharged Tecsun PL-380 model. 
  
   And those Japanese DXers, X, Y, Z -san, seem by 
virtue of their hair color, a little, ah, younger 
than the DXer genus in North America, hi.    
  
Yes, when I told the Japanese DXers that I was a high school student in Japan 
from 1967-69, they sent me back an email saying that they were only babies at 
that time. I estimate that they are in their mid 40's-- and they seem to have 
enough enthusiasm to inspire even younger Japanese to join the DXing party :-) 
  
73, Gary 
  
  
   
  
   
- Original Message -

From: Nick Hall-Patch n...@ieee.org 
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America 
irca@hard-core-dx.com 
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2015 8:07:53 AM 
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Ultralight Radio DXing Takes Off in Japan 

That must be a proud moment in your technical 
career Gary.   It's always good to see your 
innovations striking a chord somewhere else altogether.   Congratulations. 

And those Japanese DXers, X, Y, Z -san, seem by 
virtue of their hair color, a little, ah, younger 
than the DXer genus in North America, hi.   Good 
to see that the Japanese tradition of DX and 
eating / drinking continues. (although I 
understand that some of the Scandinavians are pretty good at that also) 

best wishes, 

Nick 


At 05:35 29-04-15, you wrote: 
Hello All, Â  Although most of us associate 
Japan with the export of Ultralight radios like 
the Sony SRF-T615, SRF-M37WÂ and SRF-39FP, there 
has recently been a North American export which 
has caught on like wildfire in Japan-- 
Ultralight radio DXing. Â  Based on the export 
of two 7.5 loopstick Tecsun PL-380 models and 
two 7.5 loopstick CC Skywave models to several 
Japanese DXers in the Tokyo area (Hiroyuki 
Okamura, Satoshi Miyauchi and Shinya Hasegawa), 
the popularity of chasing DX with these modified 
DSP Ultralights has started a boom similar to 
what we experienced here in North America in 
early 2008. Other Japanese DXers have seen 
these modified radios, and like here in North 
America, the demand for them is far greater than 
the supply. The interest in having a local 
version was so great that a group of Japanese 
DXers commissioned a local engineer to design a 
home-grown substitute, based on the PL-380 
Supercharging article (described in the Japanese 
Yahoo blog posted at 
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/sawapon308/13192201.html 
  ) The Japanese DXers who have already received 
their modified Ultralights have posted some 
excellent You Tube videos with them, such as the 
amazingly strong reception of 1134-AIR (India) 
near Tokyo, Japan on a modified PL-380Â (at 
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68iKwz3gLFw  
) and 666-DZRH (Philippines,, at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8ZdbKitcI Â ). 
  Recently Japan Customs passed the smoke 
test by successfully allowing the import of a 
5 FSL antenna into the country. Satoshi 
Miyauchi recorded this very strong MP3 of 
630-4QN (ABC in Townsville, Australia) received 
near Tokyo on his 7.5 loopstick C.Crane Skywave 
and 5 FSL 
antennaÂ

Re: [IRCA] IRCA Convention West

2015-04-24 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Oh, and maybe I should consider a challenge of attempting a TP DX session at 
Columbia Park in the morning, especially near the southwest corner?  Or am I 
the only one who would dare attempt it?  (Maybe a FSL might help, instead of my 
SAT.)
I've been planning for about a month or two now to go by there and test 
selectivity on some portable radios I have, but so far haven't been able to.  
This past 2nd Sunday I didn't get enough sleep the night before and was busy 
all day (I would have been available before 10am), and I was wanting to go to 
the RDMAs tomorrow (hadn't bought tickets yet cause I wasn't going to know 
until tomorrow noon or later if I'd be able to go; would have stopped by 
Columbia Park earlier in the day on the way) but there's no tickets available 
unless I want to be scalped.

Speaking of selectivity, I've noticed something on IBOC stations on radios with 
relatively wide selectivity.  I'm wanting to do more experiments to confirm, 
but on some of my non-DSP radios, I hear the analog splatter pretty far beyond 
where I hear the IBOC hiss on strong stations.  Hmm 


 On Friday, April 24, 2015 5:21 PM, Scott Fybush sc...@fybush.com wrote:
   

 On 4/24/2015 4:01 PM, Mike Sanburn wrote:
 I want to take an informal poll and ask of the people on this list,
 who is planning on attending the IRCA West Convention in Torrance
 this September? I know it is still early but so far we have received
 no registrations or reservations which makes a host very nervous. 73
 Ms

And while we're at it, it would be helpful to me to have some heads-up 
on who from IRCA is planning to be at the joint Fort Wayne convention, 
July 10-12...

s
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Re: [IRCA] IRCA Convention West

2015-04-24 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
I'm not sure yet, I might like to go though as long as it isn't too expensive. 
:)  Depending on what's going on, I may consider coming up just for one day, 
idk yet if I want to spend $ on a motel, and if I do it'd be offsite so I could 
hopefully get it for under $45/night.  Also another possible factor in my 
coming, I'd love to meet some DXers who are outside KNX's 0.25mV/m-10% skywave 
contour.  I guess it'd be the wrong time of the year to buy a tower site 
calendar, but maybe I could see some FSL antennas and hot-rodded ultralights? 
:)  Sorry Scott but I don't plan on going to a convention this year that would 
benefit from flying there.  (I'm not afraid of planes, just don't want to spend 
the $ and I'm already tentatively thinking of going to another trade (piano 
technicians guild) convention in Denver in summer but haven't decided yet.)
73, Stephen 


 On Friday, April 24, 2015 5:21 PM, Scott Fybush sc...@fybush.com wrote:
   

 On 4/24/2015 4:01 PM, Mike Sanburn wrote:
 I want to take an informal poll and ask of the people on this list,
 who is planning on attending the IRCA West Convention in Torrance
 this September? I know it is still early but so far we have received
 no registrations or reservations which makes a host very nervous. 73
 Ms

And while we're at it, it would be helpful to me to have some heads-up 
on who from IRCA is planning to be at the joint Fort Wayne convention, 
July 10-12...

s
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[IRCA] PR-D15 AM Bandscands in AZ PL-606 + Eton T3 by KUAZ Sunrise 3-30

2015-04-01 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Hi all...
This past weekend I was participating in a friend's wedding near Tucson, AZ, 
with my parents.  I had a little free time a couple days to do a little radio 
stuff, so I recorded a few videos. :)
First, an AM bandscan near Vail, AZ, on the Sangean PR-D15 around 3pm MST on 
the 29th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vTn3VaCJgo

Next, a PR-D15 AM scan in Gila Bend, AZ, on the 30th around 2pm MST:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_kOzFSb4o

Also, I knew that being in Tucson would be a great opportunity to demonstrate 
what happens when DSP radios are desensed by a strong signal.  KUAZ, on 1550 
kHz, is licensed for 50 kW non-directional daytime only, into an almost 
5/8-wave antenna.  So, I was able to take a few radios by their transmitter 
site this past Monday morning (the 30th), and record video  audio of what 
happens on the Tecsun PL-606 and Eton Traveler III to a semi-local signal when 
KUAZ powers up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PmDZNgVe1w
I wasn't quite able to set it up exactly how I wanted, but you should get the 
basic idea.  One second, you hear 1490-KFFN's signal fairly well (it would have 
been better if I'd positioned the radio right), the next section it's 
completely gone.  Unfortunately I was unable to add other radios (like the 
PR-D15, CC Pocket, Sony SRF-59) to the demonstration due to recording equipment 
limits, and the PL-606 drowned out my attempt to use the Zoom H2n's stereo 
recording mid-side mikes to also include the PL-380.  Also I wanted to do the 
demonstration at sunset, but scheduling conflicts prevented it both evenings I 
was there (the 28th and 29th).
Does anyone have recommendations on portable ultralight radios that don't 
suffer from that issue, and have the selectivity of DSP radios with the 
internal noise immunity and sensitivity of the newer ones like the Traveler III 
and the (not yet tested/purchased by me) CC Skywave?  A vertical form factor 
would be preferred so I can slip it in my pocket while doing other activities, 
although horizontal would be okay if it has a decent belt clip like the Sony 
SRF-M37W (which fails on selectivity).
73, Stephen
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Re: [IRCA] KNX IBOC off

2014-12-20 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
I was just up in L.A. for a couple days, and was a bit surprised (but of course 
pleasantly so) to hear 1070's IBOC off. :)
Come to think of it, though, I forgot to check the bandwidth of their signal, 
to see if they've opened it up.  They did sound better than IBOC would have 
made them, so maybe they do have it opened beyond +/- 6k?
I was also going to try to get a recording of KDIS's daily switch (they go from 
wideband analog AM at night, but unfortunately not stereo as confirmed with my 
SRF-42, to IBOC in the daytime), but I fear the recording may not have come out 
well.  (This is mostly because I cut it too close getting everything ready by 
the switch time.  I was recording during the switch, but. :( ) 

 On Friday, December 19, 2014 11:56 PM, Mike Sanburn 
mikesanb...@hotmail.com wrote:
   

 I've heard that from a couple sources tonight. Let's hope it is permanent. I'm 
sitting on 1340 right now listening to the stew of stations. 73. Mike

Sent from my iPod

 On Dec 19, 2014, at 11:51 PM, Martin Foltz martinfo...@cox.net wrote:
 
 KNX-1070 has their IBOC off right now, 11:50 PM PST 12/19/2014.
 
 Martin Foltz
 Mission Viejo CA
 
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Re: [IRCA] XEUT-1630

2014-12-14 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---

The two named early on in this thread are locals for me, with XEPE being 
slightly stronger than XEUT.  Their sites are about 15 or so miles south of me.
Before XEUT signed on, I remember hearing KCJJ (i think that's their call?) 
from Iowa.  Some time ago when XEPE was off during a blackout, I heard the 
Brownsville, TX station, and on 1630 the Wyoming station was heard then as well.

73, Stephen



--
On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 10:02 AM PST Barry McLarnon wrote:

On 12/14/2014 01:35 AM, Dennis Gibson wrote:
 Is XEUT the only Mexican station in the expanded band?

Fred Cantu lists a total of five.  See 
http://www.mexicoradiotv.com/frec_am_1400-1700.htm

Barry

-- Barry McLarnon  Ottawa, ON

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Re: [IRCA] November 8-10 Grayland DXpedition Report

2014-12-02 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
I enjoyed reading your report as usual, Gary. :)
Something I've been thinking about re: your reception reports...Signals that 
pegged the meter at 25 dB S/N ...
I'd like to see some distinction if possible (especially on future reports) 
between stations that merely flash 25 dB briefly once or a few times during the 
session when you're in the +/- 1 kHz BW setting, versus stations that have it 
solidly pegged at 25 dB S/N even in the +/- 6 kHz BW setting, or something like 
that. :)
Also, while the giant FSLs are interesting, I'm also interested in learning 
more about smaller affordable FSLs.  I'm especially interested in ones such 
that the FSL *AND* ULR combined fit within the 20 cubic inches and $100 cost of 
ULR definitions. :)  Also what about using ultra-short rods to build an FSL 
around the perimeter of a hollowed-out ULR, for example taking the shell of a 
DT-400W, putting an SRF-59's guts in it and putting an FSL around its 
perimeter?  At what point, when going ultra-small/cheap with an FSL, is it 
better to just use a comparable-size/price ferrite bar or a simple air-core 
loop or something like that?
73, StephenEl Cajon, CA (haven't really done any TP DXing this fall, but based 
on your reports from Puyallup, I guess I haven't missed out on much.) 

 On Sunday, November 30, 2014 10:33 PM, d1028g...@comcast.net 
d1028g...@comcast.net wrote:
   

 Hello All, 
  
For those interested, a full article describing the 3-day Grayland Ultralight 
DXpedition conducted with the new 17 FSL antenna on Veterans Day weekend has 
been uploaded at 
http://www.mediafire.com/view/k7boymq62q2p5v1/November_2014_Grayland_Ultralight_DXpedition.doc
  , and will shortly be uploaded to the Yahoo Ultralightdx file site.  
  
Describing the rare chance to take oversized items like the 17 FSL antenna and 
the 30 loopstick Sony ICF-2010 model to the ocean coast, the article includes 
multiple photos of the TP-DXing setup at the end of Grayland Beach Road, along 
with MP3 links for 39 Asian DX recordings made at the site. Thanks very much to 
Phil Bytheway for already posting summary articles of the DXpedition to the 
club bulletins-- this full DXpedition article was something that I had not 
planned to write, but suddenly decided was more interesting to complete than 
chasing wispy TP audio during dreary sunrise DXing sessions at my landlocked 
home location :-) 
  
73 and Good DX, 
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
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Re: [IRCA] 1390 WSPO Charleston, SC DX Test imminent

2014-11-09 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---

Good work, Patrick.

So far I've heard nothing of the test here near San Diego, CA.  I'm just using 
a SRF-M37W and Select-A-Tenna, and also having XEKT  KLTX practically in my 
back yard doesn't help. (I also got a late start  didn't start listening til 
about 15 past.)
I was hoping I'd at least hear sweep tones, but one of my two SS pests is 
sometimes playing effects that sound a bit like rapid sweeps, like 6 or 8 per 
second for a couple seconds a couple times.

73, Stephen



--
On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 9:27 PM PST Patrick Martin wrote:

Sweep tones at 0001.30 followed by short bursts of tones. Then another set of 
sweep tones at 0019.15. Nothing else noted so far from the test as far as I 
can tell, but 1390 is an interesting frequency tonight with a UC Gospel, two 
SS, a station playing old Christmas music with Bing Crosby and Jimmy Durante. 

Drake R8
1500' Eastern Beverage

Patrick Martin
Seaside OR
KGED QSL Manager

 Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 00:22:48 -0500
 From: radion...@earthlink.net
 To: irca@hard-core-dx.com; a...@nrcdxas.org; nrcdxn...@gmail.com
 Subject: Re: [IRCA] 1390 WSPO Charleston, SC DX Test imminent
 
 Sweep tones at 0012, and Price is Right theme at 0015-16. Not able to get a 
 code ID. CBS Sports Network talk and a music station strong here
 
 Bob Antoniuk N2SU
 Clifton NJ
 Sony 2010 barefoot
 
 -Original Message-
 From: Brandon Jordan swl.tn@gmail.com
 Sent: Nov 10, 2014 12:11 AM
 To: irca@hard-core-dx.com irca@hard-core-dx.com, a...@nrcdxas.org 
 a...@nrcdxas.org, a...@yahoogroups.com, d...@yahoogroups.com 
 d...@yahoogroups.com, Fred Vobbe fvo...@realoldiesradio.com, 
 nrcdxn...@gmail.com
 Subject: Re: [IRCA] 1390 WSPO Charleston, SC DX Test imminent
 
 Audible here in western TN under/equal presumed WHMA Anniston with
 code/tones/phone signal, Price is Right theme.
 
 On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 5:50 PM, Brandon Jordan swl.tn@gmail.com wrote:
 
  1390 WSPO Engineer has confirmed tonight's DX Test is a go!
 
  *1390 WSPO Charleston, SC DX Test*
 
  *Time/Date:* 0500-0600 UTC, November 10, 2014
   EST: Midnight - 1 AM, November 10, 2014
   CST: 11 PM - Midnight, November 9, 2014
   MST: 10 - 11 PM, November 9, 2014
   PST: 9 - 10 PM, November 9, 2014
 
  *Mode of Operation:* 5 kW, daytime NDA non-directional pattern. The test
  will consist of distinctive audio clips, morse code and sweep tones.
 
  *QSL Information:* The station has requested that the IRCA/NRC DX Test
  team handle reception reports for this DX Test. All reception reports must
  include verifiable details.  Snail mail reports with return postage for a
  paper QSL should be mailed to:
 
  IRCA/NRC DX Test Committee
  WSPO DX Test
  c/o Brandon Jordan
  PO Box 338
  Rossville, TN 38066
 
  Email reports for an eQSL, recordings and comments can be submitted to
  amdxtests[at]gmail[dot]com.
 
  *Credits:* Many thanks to JD Stephens of Hampton Cove, AL for arranging
  the test, Paul Walker, Jr. of Redding, CA for audio engineering assistance
  and WSPO Engineer Bruce Roberts, KI4YST, for making this test possible!
 
  73,
  Brandon Jordan
  IRCA/NRC DX Test Committee
 
 
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Re: [IRCA] KFWB 980 LA is moving to CBS Sports Radio

2014-08-19 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Patrick, KFWB has been a talk station for at least a few years now.  KNX is the 
only all-news station in SoCal and has been for the last few years or more.


On Monday, August 18, 2014 12:47 PM, Patrick Martin mwd...@webtv.net wrote:
 


I just heard this morning that long time All News station KFWB 980 LA is moving 
to CBS Sports Radio on Sept 1st. I am sad to hear this as the station has been 
an icon in LA News Radio for a long time. Bob and I interviewed their news 
director and CE years ago for an article in RW. But I guess KNX will now own 
the market in all news.

73,

Patrick

Patrick Martin
Seaside OR
KGED QSL Manager                           
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Re: [IRCA] Oregon Cliff (Rockwork 4) Ultralight DU's for 7-16

2014-07-17 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Hi Gary,

I'm enjoying your recordings so far. :)

Hey if you're still there today, unless you already did and I missed it, have 
you ever done a midday bandscan video with the PL-380 and FSL at the cliff?  
I'd love to hear (and see on the display) what signals you receive there in the 
daytime.
Also have you done a gain comparison / shootout video of a stock PL-380 (no 
7.5 loopstick) vs. the FSL + 7.5 loopstick?  I'd like to get some idea of the 
gain it gives, and I think it'd help if it's done with a signal that's weak but 
readable on the stock radio, for example one reading 17/04 or something like 
that.


I'd love to be able to try DXing some DU stations myself, but is it possible 
from my inland location (32.76065, -116.94585) with just a ULR and 
Select-A-Tenna?
My ULRs are:
• PL-380 (busted volume knob)
• 2x PL-606 (1x busted display)
• SRF-59 (audio out left side only)
• SRF-M37W (with aftermarket filter, but at least 1 local is still heard 200+ 
kHz away)
• CC Pocket (but considering sending it back due to some issues like low volume 
on some signals)
• SRF-42
and a few others with much inferior performance.  Also my 60+ dBµ pests are on 
600, 690, 760 (80+ night), 910 (70+ night), 1130 (70+), 1170 (80+ day) and 
1360, with runners up (50+) including (but not limited to) 540, 660 (night), 
720 (night), 740 (night), 800, 810 (night), 840 (night), 860, 950 (day), 1040 
(day), 1070 (night peaks), 1090, 1110 (SR/SS), 1210, 1240, 1470, 1530 (night), 
1580 (night), 1670 (night) and 1700.
My next confirmed DU reception would be my first, although there's been a few 
times I've wondered if I had something but couldn't get enough audio to ID.

I've been looking at the lists on mwlist.org trying to come up with a list of 
targets, but that project is no where near done yet.


A few comments on some of your recordings so far this week ...

7-13 - 603 Radio Waatea - nice nearly-QRM-free signal. :) This would be tough 
for me, as I have a local on 600 just 7.7 miles west of me.  Although, I wonder 
if it would be possible?  I *have* heard 594 JOAK here once, and 600-KOGO (~68 
dBµ on PL-606) was running IBOC at the time and they aren't anymore.

7-13 - 1503 Radio Sport - is there some nearby local interference/station here? 
 The character of the noise/hiss sounds a lot like what I hear when there's a 
strong local signal (like 75+ dBµ 20-40 kHz away or 87+ dBµ 100+ kHz away; 
blank-channel dBµ readings nearby would typically be 41-49, or sometimes 50) 
near a semi-weak-to-medium target signal.

7-14 - 594 NZ Rhema - think I have a chance at this?  (see above on 7-13 603 
re: KOGO)

7-14 - 675 RNZ - is the splatter from 670-KBOI or 680-KNBR (guessing this one)? 
 And I would have thought the ±1 kHz filter should have eliminated all traces 
of it from 5 kHz away?

7-14 - 684 NZ Rhema - what was that noise from at the beginning that quieted 
down after a couple seconds?  Also I'm guessing the splatter is KNBR?

7-14 - 738 R Polynesie - I would have liked to hear a few seconds of the 
splatter they were putting on KCBS. :)

7-14 - 765 R Kahungunu - would my strongest nighttime local (760 KFMB, 7.3 mi 
NW, 50 kW DA, 81 dBµ) be too much for this to overcome?

7-14 - 891 5AN - wow that's a pretty nice signal for the distance! :)  I think 
midway through I'm hearing another station in the background - is that 
something else on 891 (which I'm guessing due to the rhythmic fade that you get 
when you have two near-frequency stations coming in), or off-frequency 
reception of a domestic on 890 (guessing not this cause the het would be much 
louder, unless you tamed it in an editor before you posted it)?

And I must have a different definition of crunch test than you do? :) Here's 
a couple videos of me doing crunch tests on my PL-606 on 1170 KCBQ, going from 
barefoot to boosted with SAT + utility ground, including some shortwave 
harmonics:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE2n94DLDak - 9.2 miles S of transmitter
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEMLcEqCu3E -  0.1 mi SW of transmitter
I would assume that receiving 2CH Sydney from that 2nd video's location would 
be very tough. ;)
You may notice that the signal with the SAT + utility wire from 9 miles away is 
stronger than the barefoot signal from a few hundred feet away.  Does the 15 
FSL give a comparable level of boost?

7-15 - 657 Southern Star - this would be at least one station I'd like to be 
able to listen to from here, as I like Christian music.  (Speaking of which, 
could you confirm whether 1460-KARR is off the air?  I heard they were going to 
go off.)

7-16 - 531 PI - this would be another desired target (I like the music, also in 
the 7-13 recording - is it a Christian station? although I don't know the song 
 don't understand the language).  I have a local on 540 (XESURF) but at only 
~55 dBµ or so it shouldn't be too much of a pest hopefully?  Although, it does 
hamper my reception of the fringe TIS I sometimes receive on 530,

Re: [IRCA] Oregon Cliff Booby Prize

2014-05-07 Thread Stephen Airy via IRCA 
---BeginMessage---
Haha nice one, Gary :)

Reminds me of a few times I've been fooled on my DSP portables. :)

For one, several times I thought I could hear weak talking on 1560 in the 
daytime, with the aid of the SAT.  I thought for a while I had KNZR from 
Bakersfield here in the east county San Diego area!  Turns out, though, that it 
was a spur transmitted by 1700 XEPE!
Another one was hearing threshold-level music on 660, making me think I had 
KTNN in the daytime, at a distance of nearly 500 miles.  Lo and behold, it was 
yet another spur from a Mexican, with 540 XESURF being the guilty party.
On my local Family Radio affiliate 910 KECR, I heard another talk station under 
it in the daytime.  I was wondering what on earth am I hearing midday on 910?  
San Francisco and Phoenix shouldn't be making it here.  Turns out it's 1170 
KCBQ, which shares the same transmitter site.
Also, I was doing some experimenting once, inductively coupling to the utility 
groundwire out front with the SAT tuned to my strongest local station, 760 
KFMB, at night.  Of course it was overloading severely, with 760 reading 98/25 
and having just brief blips of audio, nothing intelligible, and 1520 in the 
upper 70s / low 80s or so.  I tuned to 750 and heard music.  At first I thought 
I had KHWG from Fallon, NV, and was temporarily excited about the halfway 
decent selectivity.  Unfortunately, it turned out to be an image from the 
aforementioned 910 KECR.

Also, my DSP portables' internally-generated squeals, hets, etc, have fooled me 
a few times too.  I heard one on 1107 mixing with 1110 KDIS, thinking I had a 
TA around sunset one late afternoon.  When I checked at a different time of 
day, though, when TA/TP signals should not reach here, I still heard the het, 
revealing it was internally generated. :(  What do you do when DXing barefoot 
to step around those internal hets that happen to be on the same frequency as 
TP/TA targets?

73, Stephen
On Thursday, May 1, 2014 1:32 AM, Gary DeBock via IRCA irca@hard-core-dx.com 
wrote:
 




Hello All,

Sometimes DXing failures are so funny that they are almost as memorable as 
DXing successes.

Three weeks ago on the Rockwork 4 ocean side cliff I had decided to seek 
elusive South Pacific DX by setting up at the highly exposed Highway 101 
location at 0800 UTC (0100 local time), in the face of a freezing overnight 
wind chill. I was convinced that such a bizarre strategy was the key to more DU 
loggings, and was prepared to pay the price in stiff fingers, toes and other 
appendages.

It seemed like the strategy would pay immediate dividends on the very first 
frequency (531 kHz), as not only the New Zealand 5 kW Samoan language station 
531-PI was received around 0836 UTC with female voice conversation (for the 
second time during the DXpedition), but also an apparent exotic co-channel 
along with it  
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/3iy924gcvacw1yi/531-PI-0836z041114SWP.MP3

DU co-channels with 531-PI are almost always the eastern Australian 5 kW 
stations, but no Aussie stations had shown up with any strength during the 
entire DXpedition. Besides, this co-channel had very heavily accented English-- 
unlike anything that had previously shown up on 531. Maybe the elusive 531-More 
FM in Alexandra? Its strength was weak, so it took quite a while staying on the 
frequency (fighting the punishing wind chill the whole time) until 531-PI 
slowly faded down enough to make sense of the co-channel's speech  
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/6xcni9k3t8avrsa/530-UnID-TIS-0838z041114SWP.MP3

After hearing this bizarre English weather report multiple times I knew that I 
had been duped-- this wasn't an exotic DU at all, but some local Oregon TIS 
station on 530 kHz-- using a heavily accented announcer just to throw off an 
overly optimistic DU DXer fighting a severe wind chill at 0138 local time on a 
highly exposed Oregon ocean side cliff! Tuning the frequency down to 530 kHz 
(at 36 seconds into the MP3 recording, above) confirmed the fiasco.

It wasn't very funny at the time, but now it seems pretty hilarious.

73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

    




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