Hi,

if you are curious about SWL and DXers gatherings down here in Brazil, have a look at this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF1Ew-Ovhmo

This was the "#10 Lorena DXCamp" organized by DX Clube do Brasil. Although in portuguese, the video has lots of nicely made shots and stills about our favorite hobby :)

73,

Huelbe

Hello all,

Bill (Radio-Timetraveller) has posted an extensive review of the PL-380 on his blog.

http://radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com/

Based on his review, and the earlier review by Gary De Bock, I decided to finally buy one.

Regards,
Gary

Hello all,

I just purchased a PL-380 from anon-co. Joyce sent me a note indicating that the price on the PL-310 has dropped from $39.99 to $34.99.

I decided on the PL-380 because of the reduced soft mute.

Regards,
Gary

Looks pretty neat. It's also interesting that the hardware kits this works with use Silicon Labs' parts for their local oscillator (Si570/670).

-Scott-

Paul:

I agree, the PL-310 is an amazing receiver for barefoot FM DXing. It's the same with the PL-380.

Good DX.

Richard.

Richard Allen
36°22'51"N / 97°26'35"W
(near Perry OK USA)

Hello All,

 

After winding about 24 plug-in 7.5" loopsticks for the PL-360 owners, my supply of 40/44 Litz wire was running out-- so it was time to order another 500' of the great-performing material from Dave Schmarder.

 

Dave is a great hobbyist very well known among the crystal radio enthusiast group, and he provides outstanding service for Litz wire orders, both large and small. He has supplied me with all the Litz wire used to modify countless ULR's, ICF-2010's, ICF-SW7600GR's, etc.-- probably miles of the stuff!

 

Dave was kind enough to provide this link to many interesting articles on his radio-related web site, which I hope will prove useful to many in our Ultralight enthusiast group:    http://www.makearadio.com/qsl/index.php

Thanks for keeping the ULR group well-supplied with hot-rod antenna Litz wire, Dave!! 

 

73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

I have uploaded a updated version of my log in PDF format. There are 439 stations logged with 25 of them at 100 Watts or less. The scoring method I use indicates that 70 stations are in the DX catagory as determined by statistics. For Distance only this equates to about 1268 km. When sensitivity is accounted, its 1092 km at 1000 Watts minimum.

For those interested, the file is in FILES--> Members Loggings & DXpedition--> ULDX.pdf Moderators may request an OpenOffice ver. 2.0 copy for member listings.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

Paul S. in CT

There's more comments below... but I was curious about something.
I don't remember what you said the indicated dBu on the 3 stations were on your PL-380, but I do remember they were all higher than my PL-380's max cap of 63dBu, with 1450 I think showing 79dBu if I remember correctly.

I was wondering... what are the dBu readings on your PL-380 in some of the blank channels across the band? I almost bet that yours, unless it's much better than mine, will be showing 50dBu across much of the 1400s or so, for example.
Also, when you go to Grayland, what are some readings there, either from a few stations you can hear from there, or in the blank channels? My PL-380's minimum is 15dBu when not swamped by RF... and sometimes I've heard stations indicating 15dBu RSSI, 18dB S/N. That same signal would be completely undetectable when swamped by the 50dBu noise floor courtesy of a very strong station 100-200kHz away on my PL-380.

Also, I looked at radio-locator for 47°10'0"N 122°19'45"W, which I guess is probably within a few miles of you or so... and came up with a comparison I wouldn't mind if you could do. You're fairly close to 850 KHHO if I remember correctly, and 860 KPAM Troutdale, OR, shows as having a fringe signal, with you about halfway between the fringe and distant contour. Also, Grayland is in about the same signal range as KPAM, and has no nearby pests. Could you do a comparison of KPAM's reception quality from Puyallup vs. Grayland? Or would KHHO's IBOC wipe it out even on the PL-380?
I will say, though, that your reception of KARR, based on Radio-Locator's maps, is impressive in the face of KSUH, considering how wide you say they spread on the SRF-M37V! I'm wondering... if I had a properly working PL-380... would I be able to hear 1290 KKDD from my grandparents' house in San Gabriel, about 1/3 mile from 23kW 1300 KAZN and 50kW 1430 KMRB? That location is right near KKDD's fringe. KAZN does have a minor lobe toward that location if I remember correctly, but it helps that neither station is IBOC (although there is a 50kW IBOC pest on 1110 5 miles to the east), and KMRB has a null in that direction. Also I believe the ground conductivity is considerably higher here in southern CA than it is there in western WA, not counting the salt water.

--- In ultralightdx@..., D1028Gary@... wrote:

Hi Stephen,

All of the Shootouts are conducted in my generous back yard in the valley
part of Puyallup, WA, a location about 6 miles from salt water Puget Sound.
This is a typical suburban RF environment, with the usual mix of a few
local mega-pests combined with many moderately irritating urban (Seattle)
sloppers.

KSUH-1450 (a Korean-language station cited by the FCC for poor tower
maintenance) is about 3 miles away, and covers a huge part of the AM band on
Ultralights with poor selectivity (SRF-M37V, etc.). In the very early days of
the ULR boom, I was sure I had logged 1566-HLAZ (Korea) on the barefoot
SRF-M37V shortly after local midnight... until I followed the Korean-language
program all the way back to KSUH-1450 :-) The station can be nulled at
night, however, on ULR's with 1 kHz DSP selectivity like the PL-380. The same
ULR's can receive 1460-KARR in Kirkland, WA during the daytime-- a superb
show of sharp selectivity.

Wow... that's quite a spread. I can get signals on my PL-380 to spread that much, too, and farther... IF I'm close to their transmitter like in the photo at the link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/PianoPlayer88Key/TecsunPL380#5483998330737401682
The frequency indicated on the PL-380 is the 18th harmonic of one of the stations broadcasting from the towers in the background, and I was right in the middle of 50kW 1170 KCBQ's main lobe. (The other station is 5kW 910 KECR which is basically the ONLY other station I can hear there (and MAYBE 600 KOGO or 760 KFMB but that's doubtful), other than 89.5 KBPS and maybe a couple other FMs that I didn't check.)

There is a 10kw IBOC monstrosity in Tacoma only about 5 miles from here
(KHHO-850) which covers 830-870 kHz in the daytime, but is not bad at night
(apparently protecting Denver, which is in the same SE direction as my
location). KKOL-1300 is a major 50 kw daytime pest only about 7 miles from here,
and usually wipes out 1290-1310 kHz, except on the 1 kHz DSP Ultralights.

My local IBOC monstrosity is a 5kW on 600, KOGO, about 7.5 miles west. On my PL-380 it's 40dBu from about 585 to 615 kHz or so in 1kHz mode, and 63dBu on the 600kHz main carrier.
My major 50kW daytime pest is 1170 KCBQ, 9 miles away. It is 63dBu on 1170, 43dBu with slight chatter on 1160 and 1180, and 41dBu with just static (but quieter static than normal) on 1150 and 1190. 1130 KSDO, despite being only 10kW, is about 6 miles away in the same direction as KCBQ, and is 63dBu on 1130, 40-41dBu on 1120 and 1140, and about 39-40dBu on 1110, nearly blocking reception of KDIS, a station I wanted to listen to without having to use an external antenna, and one of the original reasons I sought a different radio than what I had before.

It would be nice to run a few comparison tests close to the 50 kw pests,
Stephen, but the Shootouts are really only designed to give "relative"
performance information on how the ULR's compare with each other. Here in the
Puyallup suburban environment, all the models are tested for relative AM
sensitivity, selectivity, nulling ability, spurs/defects, etc., and the top
models always have a decent opportunity to excel in each category. The
relative performance results would probably not change, even adjacent to 50 kw
sloppers. Regarding your individual PL-380 unit's adjacent-channel rejection,
my own impression (along with that of Scott, and others who have analyzed
your situation) is that the model is probably defective. A normal PL-380
should provide excellent 1 kHz DSP selectivity to limit the splatter from
local pests, and if you are not satisfied, I would certainly recommend
replacement of the model.

Yeah... I've been thinking mine's probably defective. I can understand having signals spread all over the place when I'm near a transmitter site like in the picture linked above, but not when the nearest transmitter is 6 miles away! How would you suggest going about replacing it? I don't know that I can really afford to buy another one right now... and last time (a few months or so ago - would need to check my sent folder) I emailed Joyce about something else semi-related I don't recall getting a response.

For those interested in the detailed Shootout radio reviews from previous
seasons, links are provided below.

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)


December 2007 "Round One" Shootout
_http://www.dxer.ca/latest/56-ultralight-radio-am-dx-shootout-round-one_
(http://www.dxer.ca/latest/56-ultralight-radio-am-dx-shootout-round-one) (SRF-59, SRF-M37V, DT-200VX, ICF-S10Mk2)

2008 Spring Shootout _http://www.mediafire.com/?zijl1lqtznn_
(http://www.mediafire.com/?zijl1lqtznn) (SRF-T615, SRF-39FP, DT-180V, DT-210V, C.Crane
SWP

2008 Summertime Shootout _http://www.mediafire.com/?2t5godzzyaw_
(http://www.mediafire.com/?2t5godzzyaw) (SRF-M97, SRF-S84, E100, DT-400W, SRF-M37W

2009 Shootout _http://www.mediafire.com/?nokcjzwtyzt_
(http://www.mediafire.com/?nokcjzwtyzt) (DE1123, R911, R9012, PL-300WT/ G8, D92L, D96L,
C.Crane SWP)

Tecsun PL-310 _http://www.mediafire.com/?yennzd1iu0i_
(http://www.mediafire.com/?yennzd1iu0i)

Tecsun PL-380 _http://www.mediafire.com/?w4yuzhj2kyz_
(http://www.mediafire.com/?w4yuzhj2kyz)





In a message dated 6/18/2010 3:03:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
pianoplayer88key@... writes:






Gary, when you do the shootouts, where approximately do you do them? From
your home in/near Puyallup, or near Grayland, or somewhere else?
Also besides testing adjacent-channel selectivity, do you test for other
evidence of overloading on radios, like desensitization or blocking, besides
just harmonics and spurious/mixed images/intermodulation? On my own
PL-380, I live in a place where the RSSI on some stations exceeds 35-40dBu even
20-30kHz away from a strong station's frequency, and is generally at least
30dBu in blank channels over most of the band. Also I'm often in places
where the RSSI in the blank channels can touch 50dBu over a portion of the band
due to a very strong local. (By comparison, in rural areas, or if the
radio is in a shielded enclosure, the RSSI is 15dBu on the blank channels, and
I've often had readable stations indicating up to a 1 or 2 dB HIGHER SNR
than the RSSI indicated.) I'm wondering how well your Tecsuns and other DSP
and other radios perform in similar environments, for example about 0.5km
from a 50kW stick?
Also, I was just reading your PL-380 review, and you say KARR has no KSUH
slop, in spite of it being only 10kHz away. Also, if I remember correctly,
you are a mile or two away from KSUH's transmitter, and I think I saw you
mention their RSSI in another post as being somewhere in the upper 70s to
low 80s dBu... but my own PL-380 caps it at 63dBu. Also I notice some slop
+/-10kHz away from 63dBu stations, even in 1kHz mode.
It does seem that my PL-380 is a good 12-15dB more sensitive than my
previous radio... that is, when it's not overwhelmed by not-so-strong
semi-locals, like, for example, a 50kW 9 miles away, a 5kW IBOC 7 miles away, a 10kW
6 miles away, just to name a few. However, due to the elevated RSSI from
the strong stations, it seems to negate the effect somewhat.
Is it possible I got a dud PL-380 (not to mention the tuning knob has
broken TWICE), or do they all perform like that? When I originally was looking
into getting another portable AM radio to replace one I had (and still
have), and ordered the PL-380, one of my goals was to bring in some stations
that on my previous radio (a Panasonic RQ-SW20, ~15dB less sensitive than
PL-380, comparable selectivity to Sony SRF-M37W, and possibly worse due to the
splatter being just as wide, if not wider on the SW20, even though it's
less sensitive than the M37W) would just basically not exist. Occasionally
the SW20 just wasn't sensitive enough to pull in the stations I wanted to
hear, but usually even if it WAS sensitive enough, chances are a local pest
10kHz would completely wipe it off the face of the dial, and would ITSELF be
heard over a +/- 50-200kHz swath of the dial, while still being a strong,
low-noise signal (and strong enough to light the tuning indicator LED),
except for a little distortion and slightly higher audio fidelity while tuned
off frequency. (The Donald Duck effect is typically only noticeable at
+/-10kHz, then at +/- 20-30kHz (except on exceptionally strong signals, like in
the example below) it cleans up quite a bit on that Panasonic. Also, on
that radio, it's interesting to note that when you're tuned close to, but not
on, a very strong local station (typically one where the tuning indicator
is still lit at least 30kHz off), not only do you get the Donald Duck
distortion close in, the audio level drops considerably compared to when you're
tuned on the frequency. That effect can be heard in this audio clip recorded
a couple months ago -
_http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/1170%20KCBQ%20-%202010-04-16/KCBQ%201170%20-%20RQ-SW20%2
0-%201170%20to%201710%20-%20SAT%20@%20Power%20Pole.mp3_
(http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/1170%20KCBQ%20-%202010
-04-16/KCBQ%201170%20-%20RQ-SW20%20-%201170
%20to%201710%20-%20SAT%20@%20Power%20Pole.mp3) - that's my RQ-SW20 with the Select-A-Tenna at a power pole
tuning in 50kW 1170 from 9 miles away, then going up to 1710kHz in 10kHz
increments. My PL-380 in the same situation actually overloads (distorted
audio on channel):
_http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/1170%20KCBQ%20-%202010-04-16/KCBQ%201170%20-%20PL-380%20-%201
170%20to%201710%20-%20SAT%20@%20PowerPole.mp3_
(http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/1170%20KCBQ%20-%202010-04-16/KC
BQ%201170%20-%20PL-380%20-%201170%20to%201710%20-%20SAT%20@%20PowerPole.mp3)
)

Another thing... any chance that you could give the radios in the shootout
a bit more of a challenge in the selectivity and overload sections of the
shootout? Here's a picture of one idea, although I would have liked to have
been about 86 meters or so closer to the source of the QRM to increase the
difficulty of the test.
_http://picasaweb.google.com/PianoPlayer88Key/TecsunPL380#548399833073740168
2_
(http://picasaweb.google.com/PianoPlayer88Key/TecsunPL380#5483998330737401682)
In that picture, the PL-380 is tuned to the 18th harmonic of 1170 KCBQ,
one of the stations broadcasting from the towers in the background (the other
is 910 KECR), and showing a signal strength of 62dBu!
I did record a bandscan at that location, but unfortunately I didn't keep
very good track of what was what in the recording (partially due to the
PL-380's beep function being turned off)... but I did note the readings on
some frequencies.... I should note that that location in the photo is in the
main lobes of the directional patterns of both stations (50kW 1170 KCBQ and
5kW 910 KECR).

1170 KCBQ vs. Tecsun PL-380 - near-field experiment.

PL-380 held up to power pole outside transmitter property

MW
1170 = 63dBu RSSI, 25dB SNR
1171 = 63dBu RSSI, 0dB SNR
1180 = 63dBu
1190 = 50-63dBu
1210 = 50dBu
1300 = 56-57dBu
1400 = 50dBu
1710 = 56dBu

SW, whip antenna stored
3510 = 63dBu (KCBQ's 3rd harmonic)
2300 = 50dBu (lowest SW tune)
2340 = 63dBu (KCBQ's 2nd harmonic)
2300 = 52dBu (repeat?)
4680 = 63dBu (KCBQ's 4th harmonic)
11700 = 63dBu (KCBQ's 10th harmonic)
18720 = 60dBu (KCBQ's 16th harmonic)
15210 = 63dBu (KCBQ's 13th harmonic)
17550 = 61dBu (KCBQ's 15th harmonic)
21060 = 59dBu (KCBQ's 18th harmonic)

LW
153 = 63dBu
200 = 57dBu
300 = 50dBu
400 = 54-58dBu
513 = 50-57dBu

MW
520 = 63dBu
600 = 53-56dBu - some kogo audible
760 = 53-57dBu - some kfmb audible
910 = 63dBu RSSI,20dB SNR - KECR (with whom KCBQ diplexes)

SW: 21060 = 59-63dBu - whip antenna extended

FM
64.0 = 10dBu - whip antenna stored
80.0 = 4dBu
108.0 = 0dBu
89.5 = 8dBu RSSI, 1dB SNR - KPBS

As for how much amplification I'm getting from the power pole.... I have
previously posted examples recorded at my house, 9 miles away, of tuning the
same station using the Select-A-Tenna and a ground wire on a power pole
outside my house. This is a picture of where I would be to approximately
match that signal level on the barefoot PL-380 (approximate location
32°53'35.4"N, 116°55'39.7"W):
_http://picasaweb.google.com/PianoPlayer88Key/TecsunPL380#5483998340770303378_
(http://picasaweb.google.com/PianoPlayer88Key/TecsunPL380#5483998340770303378)
In a nutshell, it overloads on the frequency, which can be heard starting
at about 0:22 in this recording:
_http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/1170%20KCBQ%20-%202010-04-16/KCBQ%201170%20-%
20PL-380%20-%20overload%20demo%20-%202nd%20half%20SAT%20@%20PowerPole.mp3_
(http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/self.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/117
0%20KCBQ%20-%202010-04-16/KCBQ%201170%20-%20PL-380%20-%20overload%20demo%20-
%202nd%20half%20SAT%20@%20PowerPole.mp3)
RSSI was 45dBu at 153kHz, 50dBu across most of the AM band, 63dBu at
2340kHz (2nd harmonic), ~50dBu at 3510kHz (3rd harmonic), just to summarize a
few points.

Any chance that you could conduct a portion of the 2010 shootout in a
similar strong-signal environment? ;)

--- In _ultralightdx@... (mailto:ultralightdx@...)
, D1028Gary@ wrote:

Hello,

One of these Kchibo KK-D6110 radios (the official name) has been ordered
for the upcoming 2010 Shootout, which will also feature the PL-310,

PL-380

and PL-360 models. I'm kind of curious myself whether Kchibo has

corrected

the digital "chuffing noise" of the D96L model.

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA)


In a message dated 6/16/2010 5:42:37 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
schuster@ writes:




There's a thread from 2009 on the Chinese "leowood.net" BBS on this

radio.

Google Translate says it's the "battery version of ordinary D-96L". They
also say it's very ugly.

I parted company with my D-96L over the DSP/display noise problem.

Wonder

if this is any better. Not willing to invest to find out - Kchibo's

quality

control seems to be worse than Tecsun.

--- In __ultralightdx@...

(mailto:_ultralightdx@...) _ (mailto:_ultralightdx@...
(mailto:ultralightdx@...) )

, "DiamJ" <jm392c@> wrote:

The Kchibo KK-6110 is available on e-bay from hygt369 for about 51.99

US$. If it won't come up directly on e-bay then google the name and

follow

the link to e-bay. Unlike the DL-96 this one uses AA batteries.

I don't know if there is an English manual.

Jim Z

Hi all,

UL logs for today June 20th. Nice opening to Finland in the morning and Sardinia in the afternoon. I'm constantly amazed at how many stations the barefoot PL310 can hear.

Distances in KM.

87.5 1343 20/06/2010 Sardinia Radio Maria Sant’Antioco/Monte Cresia ci 2069
87.6 1607 20/06/2010 Italy RAI Radio1 Lazio Rocca di Papa-Monte Cavo vetta (RAI) rm 2031
87.7 1032 20/06/2010 Germany MDR Figaro Chemnitz/Geyer sac 1429
88.5 1148 20/06/2010 Finland YLE Radio Yksi Anjalankoski/Sippola ky 2154
90.7 1056 20/06/2010 Finland YLE Radio Yksi Tampere - Tammerfors/Teisko pi 1998
92 1343 20/06/2010 Sardinia RTL 102.5 Sant’Antioco/Monte Cresia ci 2069
92.2 1430 20/06/2010 France Radio Fréquence Nîmes Nîmes/la Clapeyrole 30 1438
92.4 1352 20/06/2010 Corsica France Inter Coti-Chiavari/Bocca di Chialone 20A 1830
92.4 1437 20/06/2010 Sardinia RTL 102.5 Sinnai/Monte Serpeddi ca 2078
93 1435 20/06/2010 Sardinia Radio 105 Network Sinnai/Monte Serpeddi ca 2078
93.6 1440 20/06/2010 France Radio Maritima Martigues/les Rayettes 13 1507
94.1 1446 20/06/2010 Sardinia Radio Golfo degli Angeli - Radio Sinnai/Monte Serpeddi ca 2078
94.2 1120 20/06/2010 Finland YLE Radio Suomi Pohjanmaan Radio Kristiinankaupunki - Kristinestad/Pyhävuori po 1899
94.2 1442 20/06/2010 Sardinia RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono Porto Torres/Monte Alvaro ss 1900
95.3 1448 20/06/2010 France Chérie FM Toulon Toulon/Cap Sicié 83 1577
97.6 1515 20/06/2010 Corsica France Culture Coti-Chiavari/Bocca di Chialone 20A 1830
99.5 1456 20/06/2010 Sardinia RDS - Radio Dimensione Suono Alghero/Monte Ladu ss 1923
99.8 1457 20/06/2010 Sardinia RTL 102.5 Porto Torres/Monte Alvaro ss 1900
101.9 1227 20/06/2010 Italy Dimensione Suono Roma Rocca di Papa-Monte Cavo rm 2031
105.3 1412 20/06/2010 Sardinia RMC - Radio Monte Carlo Nuoro/Monte Ortobene nu 1992
107.1 1200 20/06/2010 Italy Antenna Uno Rocca di Papa-Monte Cavo rm 2031

regards to all and good DX!


Paul Logan,
Lisnaskea, N. Ireland

Listening Homepage: http://band2dx.webs.com/

wa8lcz wrote:

 

HI ROB,

I've just started playing with FM on the sony srf-m40w. it hears many stations on other freqs (similar to harmonics) so its not a good radio to be dx'ing with. 90.3 on real station 96.3, 100.7 on real station 95.1

i've found i can use the MW loop for fm, just by holding the radio near the loop.

When the Skip is in....you can use a Wet Noodle...But the Bigger and Higher your Antenna the Better. Not necessary for E-skip as much as Tropo and Ground Wave.

your FM totals are staggering. you must spend your whole life listening to the radio, any hearing loss ??

Pardon??????????? HAHHAHAHA.......I do spend a lot of Time DXing. I have Sleep Apnea, and I average about 3-4 Hours of Sleep a day!! Been that way for about 15 years now. I was always a Night Hawk anyway....but now I just don't sleep much at all!! I sometimes wonder how I can keep on ticking??? I also have a Job where I work 10 Hour Shifts...so that gives me 3 days off a week instead of 2 where I am not working...and I have 8 Weeks of Holidays every year. In 99 Days (Working Days that is)......I will be RETIRING after 32 years with the London Police Service. That's when I will really be able to do some SERIOUS DXing!! HAHAHAHA......

what do you use for an FM antenna ?

i've seen the bow tie antenna being used for FM, have you tried one ?
i'm looking for a construction article for it now.

My FM Antenna is called an APS-14 made by Antenna Performance Specialists. It is a 14 Element Beam and I have it on a Tower at 50 Feet with a Rotor. I have had this Beam up for the past 10 years or so. The 14 Element Beam is not Produced any more....but it was replaced by the APS-13 which has one less element...and is supposed to be as good or better!! I have one of the APS-13's in my Rafters downstairs.....just waiting to be put up.....but I most likely won't put it up til something happens to the APS-14. Bought it as a Back-up in case they stop making them forever!!
The APS-14 Beam is a Monster...it is the LONGEST Consumer Available FM Beam made. I think it is almost 18 Feet Long!! It is an amazing Antenna!! I've heard some pretty neat stuff with it over the years.

how can you tell the difference between E and ground wave, whats the max distance for ground wave on FM ?

E-Skip Signals bounce off the Ionosphere and REFLECT back to earth. The Normal Range for E-skip is 900-1300 Miles or so. Shorter distances up to 500 Miles are rare..but DO Happen...sometimes even shorter for real intense E-Skip. Single Hop E's can stretch out to about 1500 Miles.....after that you pretty much need Multiple Hops to obtain longer distances. My Longest double Hop E-Skip reception is BELIZE at over 1800 Miles!! Some have logged much farther than that.....including PAUL LOGAN in IRELAND...who has received several TRANS-ATLANTIC Multiple Hop Stations!!
There's no set "Maximum Distance" for GROUNDWAVE....there are a lot of factors that come in to play. Your Antenna, It's Height above ground, Your Average Terrain, the Time of Year....and the Stations  Power, Antenna  Specs etc. My Usual GROUNDWAVE coverage is  up to 200 Miles. After that you need a Little Enhancement on the Band usually to get farther. Ground Wave Signals don't bounce off the Ionosphere...they are line of sight from Transmitter to Receiving Antenna.

and have you guys come up with any FM awards yet ? i'm mostly interested in total states.

Gary and I haven't discussed the particulars yet.......I've been very busy DXing FM with my spare time...and Gary has been MASS PRODUCING Antennas for the ULR Members to use on their Tecsuns!! Once things slow down a bit....we'll get it all figured out!! Just keep track of your Totals...and everything will qualify for the Awards once they are announced.

also, wheres a good place to find listings of canadian FM stations ?

Check out this Site maintained by W9WI...it is a Great Database for USA and CANADA FM and TV Stations!!

http://www.w9wi.com/

on AM, i'm trying to hear stations from 75 to 120 mi from my QTH but nothing seems to work, (except for listening during thunder storms) any ideas ? seems to be a dead zone, too long for ground wave, too short for skip.

My first advice is Don't listen during Thunder Storms!! HAHHAHAHHA especially with an external Antenna or Whip!! Or you will be in a Real Dead Zone!!!....sorry couldn't resist that!! Try listening for them at NOON HOUR when there is NO Longer Haul stuff coming in. The less Interference the better for hearing closer in stuff that just doesn't cut through the Sludge.


And finally another "Stranger than Fiction" story.....this morning we had 'ANOTHER" E-skip opening to OKLAHOMA and I heard the following 2 Stations!!!

91.7 KOSU Stillwater, OKLAHOMA (John Bryant's Hometown)

89.7 KJTH Ponca City, OKLAHOMA (Kirk Allen's Hometown)

Now...if I can just hear Gary DeBock's Hometown (Puyallup, WASHINGTON)......that would make my day...and give me a New State on FM!!

73......ROB VA3SW (Hoping for another Big Opening to help celebrate Father's Day!!)

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA

Hi Byron,

If I can jump in here, please? I've been following this conversation, and living in the Metrot Detroit area, our FM band is too crowded to effectively hear any e-skip stations. I'm not saying it's impossible, as I have few logged, mostly at the lower end of the band, but a few.

Since we are so close to the Great Lakes, we are far more likely to hear stations via Tropospheric Ducting, usually caused by temperature inversions, and is very common whereever there are large bodies of water.

Signals received by tropo have a range of 100 to 500 miles (compared to e-skip which commonly can travel 800 to 1,400 miles). From my house using a vertical antenna (horizontal antennas do a much better job at this), I can frequently hear stations all accrossed northern Ohio and southern Ontario all the way up to Toronto. Also, tropo can affect different areas, so stations coming in from the west one day, may be followed by station in the east the next day.

Finally speaking from my experience, June and September seem to be the best months in this area although July and Augusr are quite good also.

P.S. Rob, when you get a chance, I'd love to hear aboiut the details of your antenna.


73 de Joe, KJ8O, Troy, MI

HI ROB,

I've just started playing with FM on the sony srf-m40w. it hears many stations on other freqs (similar to harmonics) so its not a good radio to be dx'ing with. 90.3 on real station 96.3, 100.7 on real station 95.1

i've found i can use the MW loop for fm, just by holding the radio near the loop.

your FM totals are staggering. you must spend your whole life listening to the radio, any hearing loss ??

what do you use for an FM antenna ?

i've seen the bow tie antenna being used for FM, have you tried one ?
i'm looking for a construction article for it now.

how can you tell the difference between E and ground wave, whats the max distance for ground wave on FM ?

and have you guys come up with any FM awards yet ? i'm mostly interested in total states.

also, wheres a good place to find listings of canadian FM stations ?

on AM, i'm trying to hear stations from 75 to 120 mi from my QTH but nothing seems to work, (except for listening during thunder storms) any ideas ? seems to be a dead zone, too long for ground wave, too short for skip.

byron

wa8lcz wrote:

 

hi Rob,

how many different states have you copied on FM ?

byron

Byron......Good question!! Here's my Stats for For FM.....


37 STATES
8 PROVINCES (Need Alberta & BC)

8 COUNTRIES....Canada, USA, Belize, Bermuda, Mexico, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic

As for Propagational Totals...they are roughly 50/50% for E-Skip and Tropo/Groundwave.

I have 7 Stations by Meteor Scatter. Something I have just started to work on more diligently the past 2 Years.

73.....ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA

hi Rob,

how many different states have you copied on FM ?

byron

Robert:

Congratulation on reaching 2000 FM stations logged. It's appropriate you reach the milestone by hearing "Today's New Country, The Twister". It was probably the first FM stations I heard way back when. Then it was KFNB with a transmitter atop the First National Bank building in downtown OKC.

Best wishes,

Richard.

Richard Allen
36°22'51"N / 97°26'35"W
(near Perry OK USA)

Hi Guys:

This is a Little Off topic.......but is one of those Truth is Stranger than Fiction things!!

At 2300 EDT tonight I logged my 2,000th FM Station ....(NOT on ULRS!!). It only took me 34 Years to accomplish this!! HAHAHAHA......

Our ULR Co-Founder and Good Friend, John Bryant and I had exchanged several Emails about my FM Dxing during the AM BCB Off Season, and he knew I was working my way to # 2,000 and would probably hit it sometime this Summer.

Well...tonight was the night, and where do you think # 2,000 was from????

Oklahoma City.....about 100 Miles South of where John used to Live!!!

The Station I logged was.......

101.9 KTST "The Twister" Oklahoma City, OKLA 100 KW. Logged by E-Skip Propagation.

John...if you had anything to do with this Logging for #2,000....Thanks Buddy!!

73.....ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA

Hi Rob,

 

Congratulations on FM station #2000 (KTST-101.9)... from Oklahoma! That certainly has a special meaning. 

 

I know how you feel about John-- he was just starting to show interest in FM-DXing, mostly because of your great E-skip success. Despite his decades of DXing knowledge and experience, John was always willing to try something new, and discover a new way to enjoy the hobby. One of my biggest thrills was developing the E100 Slider loopstick antenna together with him, and watching it become popular with various DXers. John took special pride in the growing popularity of the Ultralightdx group, and how it was bringing new enthusiasm into the AM-DXing hobby.

 

Before long I'll be heading to Grayland to chase DU's, the first summer in 3 years that Guy Atkins and I won't be able to coordinate DXpedition times with John at the Grayland Motel. I'm sure that both of us will still need a while to get used to the new situation.

 

73, Gary  

 

John:

The skip faded out here before 2200 EDT. I considered WJIS, but I also found WPIR, Hickory NC, was also "Joy FM".

Right now (1042 EDT), I'm receiving Canadian TV on channel on the Sony Watchman receiver. I guess that means the grass won't get cut today!

Good DX.

Richard.