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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Antonios Kekalos <akekalos@...>
I recently purchased the KA33 from Universal Radio. Still playing with it, but I have found that it does offer an improvement on SW using it with my KA1103. I have not tried the antenna in the MW switch position yet. When I first connected everything as described on the back of the box I misread the diagram and thought I had a dead unit as I detected nothing at all, no increase in signal strength, noise, anything. Reconfiguring it correctly made a world of difference.
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On Tue, Apr 27, 2010 at 9:01 AM, farmerik <farmerik@...> wrote:
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Tony, N4RNI Traverse City, MI SWLR-RN072 EN74es |
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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Rik
Very interesting Tao Qu. My antenna is labeled as a TG33 and Mediumwave active loop, but the Universal Radio catalog describes the KA33 as tuning AM and SW 3.9 to 22 MHz. It only seems to have a single tuning control, and no band switch to select AM or SW, and with a gap from AM up to 3.9 MHz. it should have one or the other.
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I really don't know what is going on here. - FARMERIK --- In ultralightdx@..., "Tao Qu" <tquchina@...> wrote:
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Re: PL-360 3" Plug-in Loopstick Comparison MP3
pianoplayer88key
That plugin loopstick capability on the PL-360 does sound interesting... but I'm still holding out for the as-yet-unannounced-and-unnamed PL-400, which has soft mute completely disabled, selectable bandwidths, plug-in loopsticks, a vertical form factor (but maybe a little wider and not as tall which would be fine with me - basically something like the PL-380 but a bit smaller and vertical), continuous 150kHz-30MHz LW/MW/SW coverage instead of the few gaps that the Si4734 has, and the ability to get a clean signal from a 0.1mV/m station 10kHz away from a 5,000mV/m IBOC pest... clean meaning free of interference from the pest, not necessarily meaning sensitive enough with the stock loopstick to be free from static though, although I would expect you would be able to identify that there was a station there, even if it was "carrier only" or "mumbling audio". (The blue "fringe" line on the radio-locator AM maps is the 0.15mV/m contour.) Also, a C-Quam and HD decoder would be nice, too.
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--- In ultralightdx@..., D1028Gary@... wrote:
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PL-360 3" Plug-in Loopstick Comparison MP3
Hello All,
For those interested in the PL-360 plug-in loopstick experimentation, a 3"
x 3/8" upgrade loopstick (a type 61 ferrite bar wound with 40/44 Litz wire at
350 uh) was recently mounted on a new plastic frame, allowing MP3
recordings while DXing. Since the headphone jack is adjacent to the plug-in
loopstick jack on the top panel, a new plug-in frame was required that would not
obstruct the headphone jack (see photo below, which is also posted at http://www.mediafire.com/?gb2twoxjkee ).
A comparison MP3 with the stock PL-360 was then recorded on the local
1650-TIS frequency, in which the Tacoma I-5 TIS station usually has a fair
signal. For the first 10 seconds the stock PL-360's midget antenna struggles to
receive this station, while in the last 31 seconds the 3" upgrade loopstick
receives it solidly, plus a fair signal from the 1650-"Voice of Vashon" TIS on
Vashon Island (both of these stations are in Washington state): http://www.mediafire.com/?vayeymmyygn
The plastic frames are cut from a 48" carpenter's level, and the Radio
Shack 1/8" mono plug's plastic housing is held securely by a 10 mm perpendicular
hole drilled in the plastic frame. Both 3" and 7.5" plug-in loopsticks have been
built and tested here, and both seriously outperform not only the stock PL-360
in sensitivity, but other stock ULR's as well. Because these plug-in loopsticks
are so much fun to play with, the PL-360 may yet prove to be one of the more
popular DSP models.
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Tao Qu
de31: sw only
tg33 / ka33: mw only
tg34 / de31ms: mw + sw From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of farmerik Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 11:54 AM To: ultralightdx@... Subject: [ultralightdx] Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK Universal still sells them as the Kaito 33. - FARMERIK |
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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Rik
Universal still sells them as the Kaito 33. - FARMERIK
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--- In ultralightdx@..., "farmerik" <farmerik@...> wrote:
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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Rik
I thought Universal checked radios before shipping them out? The antenna came in a bubble pak, which you could tell if it had been opened though. I wonder if any of the ones shipped from China would have been checked. Enough must work, or no one would still sell them. - Rik
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--- In ultralightdx@..., "dhsatyadhana" <satya@...> wrote:
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Re: DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
dhsatyadhana <satya@...>
I bought one of the MW/SW models about a year or so ago from Universal Radio, and it didn't work at all. It may have been defective, since others have had luck with them. However, I just returned it and got my money back (less shipping, natch...), so I don't know how well they work from personal experience. It's a neat idea at a great price point, though.
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Kevin S Bainbridge Island, WA --- In ultralightdx@..., "farmerik" <farmerik@...> wrote:
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DEGEN 'window' loop? - FARMERIK
Rik
Several years ago I bought an AM only DEGEN folding loop travel antenna. It seemed to do absolutely nothing other than light the LED indicator when I turned it on, so I figured it was defective. A SW only version was also offered. I just noticed DEGEN is still selling this sort of antenna, but now one model covers AM and SW. Does anyone here have one, and if so how does it work? Radio Intel did a review of the SW version, comparing it to the similar SONY 'window' amplified loop antenna.
It might be interesting on the PL-360, not for DXing per se, but very portable for use on mountain top picnics. - FARMERIK |
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Re: FYI -- New Sangean DSP Radio
jim_kr1s <jkearman@...>
This radio would be useful here, where we occasionally have tornadoes. Universal says they'll have it in a few months. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/wx/5100.html To be useful it has to run off ac, with the emergency radio running on topped-off internal batteries. "Set and forget." Hope they got it right.
73, Jim, KR1S http://kr1s.kearman.com/ http://qrp.kearman.com/ |
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FYI -- New Sangean DSP Radio
Tom Welch
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Re: MI LOG
jim_kr1s <jkearman@...>
Blasted Yahoo, that was supposed to go to Byron. Sorry, all.
73, Jim |
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Pasadena, TX Loggings
Kirk <kirk74601@...>
Several new stations have been hrd here lately using my SRF-59 w/ SAT. Ever so slowly crawling up in the totals.
1460, WXOK, Baton Rouge, LA, 0355 UTC, 4/22/10, exclusively black gospel mx being played. IDs as "Heaven 1460, WXOK." Also ancd their website as heaven1460.com where I found their online stream which was // w/ a 30 sec. delay. G sig peaks. 1600, KOGT, Orange, TX, 0210 UTC, 4/26/10, Weak C&W mx in the noise. Caught a clear "1600, KOGT" ID 0211 UTC. Lcl ads. 1520, XEJCC, Ciu. Juarez, CH, 0333-0359* UTC, 4/26/10, KOKC much weaker than usual making this possible to copy. QRM from KRHW (Sikeston, MO). M & W ancrs w/ alt tlk. Several call ltr IDs and TCs, "..la hora de Chihuahua." Ancd the end of a pgm as "Programa especial de Chihuahua, buenos noches." Into XE NA and either faded out or went off the air 0359 UTC. All in all a F copy. ULR LAm #189. ULR Sta #430. 73 everyone! Kirk Allen Pasadena, TX |
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Re: MI LOG
jim_kr1s <jkearman@...>
--- In ultralightdx@..., "wa8lcz" wrote: > > Kenwood TS450S, JPS DSP, litz loop 38 in sq Byron, I have a TS-450S that's been in the closet. Never tried it on MW. Seems deaf! Did you ever do the mod at the bottom of this page: http://www.kb2ljj.com/data/kenwood/ts-450.htm ? Thinking I'll give it a try. 73, Jim, KR1S |
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Re: Need some help
Hi Neil,
From the beginning of the Ultralight DXing boom (December 2007) until now,
one of the reasons for our fanstastic growth rate has been the chance to enjoy
the latest in innovative pocket radios, all offered at quite reasonable
prices.
Like Rob I also have a couple of Sony SRF-T615's, and certainly consider it
an amazing little radio (primarily because of its unique combination of high AM
sensitivity in an extremely small cabinet, but also because of its uncanny
nulling ability). For a country dweller without multiple strong local pests,
that model would be nearly ideal, especially if transoceanic reception was not a
high priority.
An urban DXer with many splattering locals would not be thrilled with
the SRF-T615's selectivity, however, and would do well to investigate one of the
newer Tecsun models offering 1 kHz DSP selectivity (either the PL-310 or
PL-380). The choice of these two models involves a tradeoff-- the PL-310 has
slightly better AM sensitivity, but has the "soft mute" threshold set at a more
irritating level than the PL-380 (i.e. the signal strength of weak stations
drops down suddenly, when the signal level falls below a threshold
determined by the Si4734 chip programming). For this reason transoceanic DXers
generally prefer the PL-380, because of its ability to tune 1 kHz farther away
from domestic splatter without a severe drop in the DX station's
signal.
The Kchibo company also offers a D96L model with 1 kHz DSP
selectivity, but it not only has the same "soft mute" level as the PL-310,
but also has digital "chuffing noise," and the mandatory use of small,
rechargeable batteries that do not seem to be holding up very well as time
passes.
There are still many other interesting ULR models available for purchase,
and some of the links below may prove useful in your search, Neil. These
are detailed "Shootout" reviews from the very first days of the ULR movement,
with extensive comparisons of the models listed. Good luck!
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
SRF-59 (December 2007) http://dxer.ca/latest/55-sony-srf-59-reviewed
"Round One" Shootout (Dec. 2007; Sangean DT-200VX, Sony SRF-59,
Sony SRF-M37V, Sony ICF-S10Mk2) http://dxer.ca/latest/56-ultralight-radio-am-dx-shootout-round-one
2008 Spring Shootout (January 2008) Sony SRF-T615,
Sangean DT-180V, Sangean DT-210V, Sony SRF-39FP, C.Crane SWP http://www.mediafire.com/?zijl1lqtznn
2008 Summertime Shootout (September 2008) Sony SRF-S84, Sony
SRF-M97, Eton E100, Sangean DT-400VX, Sony SRF-M37W http://www.mediafire.com/?2t5godzzyaw
2009 Shootout (September 2009) Tecsun R911, Tecsun R9012, Degen
DE1123, C.Crane SWP, Kchibo D92L, Kchibo D96L, Tecsun PL-300WT (a.k.a. G8)
http://www.mediafire.com/?nokcjzwtyzt
Tecsun PL-310 (October 2009) http://www.mediafire.com/?yennzd1iu0i
Tecsun PL-380 (December 2009) http://www.mediafire.com/?w4yuzhj2kyz
In a message dated 4/26/2010 7:27:59 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
neil.bell@... writes:
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Re: Need some help
jim_kr1s <jkearman@...>
Neil,
Gary recently remarked on the Sony SRF-T615, and gave links to two reviews that included it: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightdx/message/8738 Rob Ross recently commented on its excellent audio. Audio distortion can be fatiguing, and makes getting an ID on weak stations much harder. That said, doing a cost-benefit analysis based on the going price, IMO it looks like less of a deal. If you were committed to ULR-only DXing it would make a handy addition to the tool kit. The going price, though, puts it in the same class as the Sony ICF-7600GR, which I believe is a better radio. It isn't a ULR by any definition, though. Rob and others' phenomenal success with the SRF-T615 notwithstanding, many of us have gone with the Tecsun PL-380. Using headphones, I don't find the audio at all objectionable, and its choice of multiple DSP bandwidths is a plus. The PL-310 has a slightly longer ferrite rod and gives slightly greater signal strengths, but in your Bay Area location, that isn't necessarily an asset. Also, the PL-310 has one of the DSP chip's features, "soft mute," enabled at too high a level, and you have to tune off frequency to disable it. Soft mute is enabled at a lower level in the PL-380, to the extent that early reviewers thought it was completely turned off. I have a Grundig G8, also sold as the Tecsun PL-300/wt, with aggressive soft mute. I rarely notice soft mute on the PL-380. Rob has logged hundreds of stations on his SRF-T615, but then again, Rob has logged hundreds of stations on his SRF-T615. Experience can offset many technical shortcomings! Rob modestly credits his radio, but I think the credit belongs to Rob, and he would have had exceptional success with any radio he used. Knowing when and where to listen, how to twist and turn the radio to bring a station into the clear, and the love of the hunt, are skills and attributes you can't buy at any price. That said, dollar-for-dollar, I think the PL-380 is the best ULR value currently on the market. Tecsun's latest DSP offering, the PL-360, is a step down in performance. There's only so much you can do in a package that falls into the definition of a ULR. Tecsun could supply a more-efficient and slightly longer AM antenna, or completely disable soft mute, but I doubt they'll bother. PL-380s seem to be flying off the shelves, and what benefits DXers isn't useful to the general listener. If they made a larger radio with a long internal antenna (that would also resonate at LW!), and the ability to disable soft mute from the front panel, I think a lot of us would buy one, even though it wouldn't qualify as a ULR. Until then, IMO the PL-380 is the one to get. BTW, congrats on getting your ham license (KJ6FBA)! 73, Jim, KR1S http://kr1s.kearman.com/ http://qrp.kearman.com/ |
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Re: Need some help
neilbellgroups wrote:
Hi Niel......No Problem we all get a little on the edge at times. If I wasn't a ULR DXer....I wouldn't believe half of these Crazy Guys Loggings either!!! HAHAHHAHAHA.......Until you DX with an ULR for a while...it's hard to be a Believer!! I've been ULR Dxing since JAN/2008....and I AM a BELIEVER!! You will be too.... Well Niel....I'm a DXer.....and not a Real Techie Type person......but there are lots of Techies that will tell you the in/outs of the various ULRs available. I'm sure they will chime in with advice on what they consider the BEST ULR to use/purchase. However....I am SONY SRF-T615 Junkie....and probably their # 1 Fan!! It isn't the ULR for Everyone's needs....but it sure does the job for me!! Here's what I can tell you about the T615...... 1. Probably the Most Expensive of ALL the ULRs...no matter where you get it. The Only Store/Dealer I am aware of is AUDIO CUBES in JAPAN....and with Shipping it is getting close to $150.00 USA or more. As pointed out in another reply....they can be had thru various Chinese Ebay Middlemen. That is a little cheaper I believe. I am not aware of ANY NORTH AMERICAN Sources for the T615???? 2. Sensitivity is EXCELLENT. 3. Nulling is EXCELLENT. 4. Audio Capture is EXCELLENT. 5. AGC and Internal Noise Generation is EXCELLENT. 6. Selectivity is NOT SO GOOD if....you have BIG STRONG LOCALS. It will not like 50 KW Locals!! 7. Has Digital Readout and 7 Memories. 8. Has NO Signal Strength Meter. 9. Is one of the Tiniest ULRs available. 10. If you wanna Log Stations.....the TOP 3 DXers with ULRs as far as TOTAL STATIONS go ALL USE Sony SRF-T615's...and mostly BAREFOOT....no External Antenna at all. I currently have 831 Stations Logged.....Richard Allen of Oklahoma is awfully close to 800 heard......and Frank Welch of Massachusetts is over 700 Heard I believe. Frank is the ONLY ULR Dxer to have heard 80 GRAVEYARD Stations using a ULR Radio (On a T615!!). (I am Stuck at 79 heard!! HAHHAHA). I have 2 of the T615's...One for Upstairs and One for Downstairs!! Are they the Radio for EVERYONE....No. If you are in a BIG TOWN with BIG TIME Locals....you will get a lot of Slop. If you're in the Country not near anyone BIG Guns ...you should Clean Up with a T615!! My Local situation here is 3 Locals all 10 KW Days and 5 KW Nights. During the day they cause a lot of Slop.......at night they are not near as bad. I personally think the T615 is the KING of ULRs ....in my circumstance at least. I own about 25 ULRS.......which includes ALL of the ones that everyone else will recommend to you . Some of those are better in Selectivity....and have better Filters, Memories, Readouts and Bells and Whistles....but when it's time to add to my Totals.......I am holding a Barefoot Sony-T615!! Your Mileage may vary!! Good luck in picking out a ULR that will fit your needs!! 73...ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA |
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Re: Congratulations to Greg Hart-- Master Latin American DXer
jim_kr1s <jkearman@...>
Congrats, Greg! I sure wish you'd post what you hear. There are no mundane ULR loggings, and you're far enough north of me to hear things I can't. Let's put the Sunshine (not today!) State on the map.
Same goes for you other lurker-listeners -- we want to know what you're hearing! I home in on those posts, and I'll bet many others do, too. (Back me up here, folks.) Again: There are no mundane ULR loggings; they're all good. Even if you're not interested in applying for certificates (they're beautiful and worth having, though), we'd like to know what everyone else is hearing. 73, Jim, KR1S http://kr1s.kearman.com/ http://qrp.kearman.com/ |
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Re: Need some help
dhsatyadhana <satya@...>
Hi Neil:
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Thanks for checking into the Group, and no doubt being delightfully surprised that these little radios can pull in some serious DX, even on one channel :-). The T615 is a great little unit: though tiny, it is very sensitive, has super nulls & excellent audio, although the filtering is a bit generous depending on whether you have a lot of powerful sloppers in your area. Rob Ross has 800+ stations logged just on a barefoot T615! The ferrite runs parallel to the top of the unit, so normally it would be held as you see in pictures of it, unless you were doing some serious nulling of a local or semi-local. It doesn't have signal strength indication or a disconnected internal antenna. The Tecsun PL-310 and PL-380 and others have signal strength indication; however, no ULR has a disconnectable internal ferrite, and in fact generally don't have an AM jack at all (I'm trying to think of one that does...). The T615 doesn't allow tuning off-freq by 1 khz either. Using a simple homebrew coupler, a few turns of wire around a spare little ferrite or even an air-core loop, and placing it against the radio's internal antenna pretty much swamps the internal antenna, and makes a good antenna "jack". There is an "Antenna Couplers" article in the Files section, Folder #5, which discusses this in more detail. If you go for a T615, the cheapest way is to go through Obook or other Taobao (the Chinese Ebay) "agent" to get one.. Mine arrived in a couple weeks for around $100 delivered, whereas you will pay a whole lot more by going through AudioCubes or other overseas retailer. Hope this helps - Kevin S Bainbridge Island, WA --- In ultralightdx@..., "neilbellgroups" <neil.bell@...> wrote:
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Need some help
neilbellgroups <neil.bell@...>
I hope that some of you forgive my inappropriate post earlier and give me some advice. I am very interested in trying a GOOD ultralight radio and prefer one with digital display and some indication of signal strength.
It would be nice if the internal antenna was disconnected when an external antenna (like a loop) is plugged in. I was considering the SONY SRF-T615 and wonder what the general opinions of this radio are and whether or not the internal ferrite bar is oriented horizontally or vertically inside the radio? Any advice appreciated Neil Bell |
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