Re: [Spooks] SWLing and portables
Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list On Oct 6, 2013, at 3:57 PM, john wrote: >> > Is it a wire that attaches directly to the built in whip? >> >> No. > > Does it plug into a jack then I take it? Yes, there’s an ANT jack just below where the whip is attached. >> > What happens if you moisten your finger tips and touch the whip? does the >> > background noise jump up some? >> >> It doesn’t appear to make any difference. > > What happens if you connect and disconnect the long wire antenna while you > have a shortwave signal tuned in? Does the level go up and down? On most frequencies, it makes no difference. On a few frequencies, there’s a fluctuation in clarity. > Nope... 5 , 10 or 15 Mhz should bring you the tick tock of WWV Right, I’ve seen vids of that on YouTube, but I’m no picking up anything on those frequencies with or without the wire, only very faint signals that I can’t really make out. > (where are you located by the way...US?) Yes, the Metro Washington DC area. __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Spooks] SWLing and portables
Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list I was starting to experiment with your suggestions below, but I noticed that the batteries are almost dead, so I stopped. Let me replace them and get back to you again in a little bit. Yes, the long antenna goes into a separate jack on the side… my radio is a Grundig G5 if you care to look up the specs. On Oct 6, 2013, at 3:57 PM, john wrote: > Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this > list > > > > At 02:50 PM 10/7/2013, you wrote: >> Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from >> this list >> >> On Oct 6, 2013, at 2:43 PM, john wrote: >> > If you don't notice a significant difference in background noise levels >> > and signal strengths of stations when you attache a long wire to the >> > receiver, there's something wrong with the radio, or the way the antenna >> > is being attached. >> >> OK, thanks — I’ll pull the wire back out and give it another try. >> >> > Is it a wire that attaches directly to the built in whip? >> >> No. > > Does it plug into a jack then I take it? > > >> > Most "long wires" that come with receivers aren't very long. >> >> I haven’t actually measured this one, but it’s probably around forty feet. > > > That should be plenty long enough > > >> > What happens if you moisten your finger tips and touch the whip? does the >> > background noise jump up some? >> >> It doesn’t appear to make any difference. > > What happens if you connect and disconnect the long wire antenna while you > have a shortwave signal tuned in? Does the level go up and down? > > > > > >> > Do you hear WWV at 5/10/15 Mhz at any time? >> >> (I assume you mean Khz, not Mhz.) I’m not getting them right now, no. On >> 15, I’m picking up a faint sporadic “blooping” type noise, nothing more. >> Let me try attaching the wire again and see whether that makes any >> difference. > > > Nope... 5 , 10 or 15 Mhz should bring you the tick tock of WWV (where are you > located by the way...US?) > > John > > > > >> Government furloughs definitely leave you with a lot of time on your hands… >> even with all the TV that I have to watch and the schoolwork that I have to >> do, I’m still a man of leisure right now, albeit an involuntary one. >> __ >> Spooks mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > III > __ > Spooks mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Spooks] SWLing and portables
Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list At 02:50 PM 10/7/2013, you wrote: Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list On Oct 6, 2013, at 2:43 PM, john wrote: > If you don't notice a significant difference in background noise levels and signal strengths of stations when you attache a long wire to the receiver, there's something wrong with the radio, or the way the antenna is being attached. OK, thanks Ill pull the wire back out and give it another try. > Is it a wire that attaches directly to the built in whip? No. Does it plug into a jack then I take it? > Most "long wires" that come with receivers aren't very long. I havent actually measured this one, but its probably around forty feet. That should be plenty long enough > What happens if you moisten your finger tips and touch the whip? does the background noise jump up some? It doesnt appear to make any difference. What happens if you connect and disconnect the long wire antenna while you have a shortwave signal tuned in? Does the level go up and down? > Do you hear WWV at 5/10/15 Mhz at any time? (I assume you mean Khz, not Mhz.) Im not getting them right now, no. On 15, Im picking up a faint sporadic blooping type noise, nothing more. Let me try attaching the wire again and see whether that makes any difference. Nope... 5 , 10 or 15 Mhz should bring you the tick tock of WWV (where are you located by the way...US?) John Government furloughs definitely leave you with a lot of time on your hands even with all the TV that I have to watch and the schoolwork that I have to do, Im still a man of leisure right now, albeit an involuntary one. __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html III __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Re: [Spooks] SWLing and portables
Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list On Oct 6, 2013, at 2:43 PM, john wrote: > If you don't notice a significant difference in background noise levels and > signal strengths of stations when you attache a long wire to the receiver, > there's something wrong with the radio, or the way the antenna is being > attached. OK, thanks — I’ll pull the wire back out and give it another try. > Is it a wire that attaches directly to the built in whip? No. > Most "long wires" that come with receivers aren't very long. I haven’t actually measured this one, but it’s probably around forty feet. > What happens if you moisten your finger tips and touch the whip? does the > background noise jump up some? It doesn’t appear to make any difference. > Do you hear WWV at 5/10/15 Mhz at any time? (I assume you mean Khz, not Mhz.) I’m not getting them right now, no. On 15, I’m picking up a faint sporadic “blooping” type noise, nothing more. Let me try attaching the wire again and see whether that makes any difference. Government furloughs definitely leave you with a lot of time on your hands… even with all the TV that I have to watch and the schoolwork that I have to do, I’m still a man of leisure right now, albeit an involuntary one. __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
[Spooks] SWLing and portables
Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list If you don't notice a significant difference in background noise levels and signal strengths of stations when you attache a long wire to the receiver, there's something wrong with the radio, or the way the antenna is being attached. Is it a wire that attaches directly to the built in whip? Most "long wires" that come with receivers aren't very long.What happens if you moisten your finger tips and touch the whip? does the background noise jump up some? Do you hear WWV at 5/10/15 Mhz at any time? John At 02:37 PM 10/7/2013, you wrote: Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this list The Grundig came with a wire, but I've tried the Grundig both with and without it, and even with both antennas attached, and haven't had any luck picking up anything but fairly strong local stations. Thank you for the suggestions about gear, I'll take a look at those. Hmm. If a small portable is so problematic, I wonder how it is that spies use them. Or maybe the don't use them? Dunno. (Obviously.) On Oct 6, 2013, at 2:35 PM, john wrote: > ITed, it's probably both. > > Even a cheapish table top used SW receiver with a random wire will pick up numbers stations , hams, SWBC stations, etc. A budget portable with a whip MAY be able to pick them up if you have experience with SW listening and are patient, but you'd do much better to get an Icom R71, or a Kenwood 2000, or something affordable like that, and run a wire as far as you can (even if it's just tacked to the ceiling down the hallway). > > A whip and an inexpensive portable is not going to be easy! __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html III __ Spooks mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Spooks@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
