D1028Gary@... wrote:

 

 

Hello All,

 

After Rob Ross recently became the first ULR DXer to break the amazing 800 station heard level, west coast pocket radio DXers were probably left wondering why geography has somehow left them out in the cold in the race for stations heard. The west coast gang seems to have a tougher time logging new stations, new countries, new continents... you name it. It seems the only way we can be halfway competitive is to modify the heck out of our innocent ULR's, until they resemble something out of a monster movie (or else keep them in stock form, inductively coupled to a monster loop).

 

After Rob's success in logging 800 stations (started off by a humble SRF-59 gift), I posted a list of 27 countries heard here, just to show that DX occasionally shows up even here on the west coast, too. Rob must have felt sorry for me, since he saw my post and decided I should get an award for this (even though I never submitted a formal application).

 

So in honor of Rob Ross, here is a list of the 28 countries heard here, complete with MP3's (of most of them). The list below of the modified ULR's used for these receptions certainly reads like Monster Movie credit list, but for those who haven't followed our weird ULR modification pursuits the last two years, an "SWP Slider" is a C.Crane SWP portable with a transplanted 7.5" sliding-coil loopstick and Murata CFJ455K5 IF filter, and an "E100 Slider" is an Eton E100 portable with the same 7.5" sliding-coil loopstick and Murata CFJ455K5 IF filter. The "Stealth PL-380" is a PL-380 with improved (40/44) Litz wire, wound on the stock ferrite bar.     

 

So, Rob, great job on logging 803 stations-- good luck on logging 28 countries!  :-) 

 

73, Gary DeBock

(in Puyallup, WA, USA)

Gary........BRAVO on the 28 Countries from the LEFT COAST!!! If you can log Texas from there....you`ll have 29 Countries....as I have heard that TEXAS is Separate Entity of it`s own!! HAHHAHAHA...Isn`t that right KIRK ?????  HAHAHAHHAHA!!

As for me Logging 28 Countries???? Well....it's possible but I have to hope for some amazing Conditions into Europe!! Right now I have 17 Countries Logged....so I'm not doing too bad for a a Guy with FROZEN MUKLUKS!!! Nice to see another BIG SNOWSTORM blowing away JUST SOUTH of the GREAT LAKES......looks like I have dodged another Snow Bullet!!

Congratulations on the 28 Countries Heard on ULR Gary.......You deserve the Award!!!

73...ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA

Hi Jim,

 

Thanks for your comments.

 

While in the Navy as a sonar technician (1971-1982) I had the chance to DX from two Florida locations-- Key West (1972) and Mayport (near Jacksonville, 1973-1974). The Florida ocean beach propagation in both locations was amazing, and it certainly gives a DXing boost to those fortunate enough to enjoy it.

 

Good luck in receiving more ULR countries.

 

73, Gary 

 

In a message dated 2/6/2010 6:05:26 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, jkearman@... writes:

Gary,

As the second ULR DXer to make 20 Countries Unlimited, I welcome you to the 20+ crowd! Judging from the antennas required, you do have a severe DX handicap out there. Here in South Florida I've logged 21 with either a Terk loop or a PL-380 with modified internal antenna, in two months, all from inside my condo. Saudi Arabia is about as far from here as Japan (7800 miles), and I lack only the motivation to get up early to try for a TP.

Chris Knight and I logged 20 countries and 5 continents in a few hours, with his barefoot PL-380, from a restaurant parking lot in Melbourne, Florida a few weeks ago. http://kr1s.kearman.com/html/MULDxER.html I'd prepared a list of possibles logged on my then-barefoot PL-380 and homemade regen in advance, so it was pretty easy. We spent more time yakking about DX than doing it! Good luck, and I hope you can repeat the accomplishment with your PL-380 with the internal Litz-wire mod and no external antenna or spotting radio. Take it from me, that's real ULR DXing!

73,

Jim, KR1S
http://qrp.kearman.com/ 
 

 

Hello All,

 

After Rob Ross recently became the first ULR DXer to break the amazing 800 station heard level, west coast pocket radio DXers were probably left wondering why geography has somehow left them out in the cold in the race for stations heard. The west coast gang seems to have a tougher time logging new stations, new countries, new continents... you name it. It seems the only way we can be halfway competitive is to modify the heck out of our innocent ULR's, until they resemble something out of a monster movie (or else keep them in stock form, inductively coupled to a monster loop).

 

After Rob's success in logging 800 stations (started off by a humble SRF-59 gift), I posted a list of 27 countries heard here, just to show that DX occasionally shows up even here on the west coast, too. Rob must have felt sorry for me, since he saw my post and decided I should get an award for this (even though I never submitted a formal application).

 

So in honor of Rob Ross, here is a list of the 28 countries heard here, complete with MP3's (of most of them). The list below of the modified ULR's used for these receptions certainly reads like Monster Movie credit list, but for those who haven't followed our weird ULR modification pursuits the last two years, an "SWP Slider" is a C.Crane SWP portable with a transplanted 7.5" sliding-coil loopstick and Murata CFJ455K5 IF filter, and an "E100 Slider" is an Eton E100 portable with the same 7.5" sliding-coil loopstick and Murata CFJ455K5 IF filter. The "Stealth PL-380" is a PL-380 with improved (40/44) Litz wire, wound on the stock ferrite bar.     

 

So, Rob, great job on logging 803 stations-- good luck on logging 28 countries!  :-)  

  

 

EUROPE:

 

1. Croatia-1134   http://www.mediafire.com/?o25zzewmedz  PL-310 + 6' PVC Loop, 10-15-09 Puyallup

2. England-693   http://www.mediafire.com/?qyunz2hxmmz  SWP Slider + 9' PVC Loop, 10-21-09 Puyallup 

3. Holland-675    http://www.mediafire.com/?to2jhghjowx  SWP Slider + 9' PVC Loop, 10-21-09 Puyallup

4. Germany-756  http://www.mediafire.com/?nj41dayzjme  SWP Slider + 9' PVC Loop, 11-12-09 Puyallup 

5. France-1377          (too weak for decent MP3)               SWP Slider + 6' PVC Loop, 11-06-09 

 

ASIA:

 

6. U.A.E.-1575  http://www.mediafire.com/?jji22kjj0q1      SWP Slider + 7.5' PVC Loop, 12-12-09 Puyallup 

7. Russia-648    http://www.mediafire.com/?mmjytwojal4  SWP Slider + 9' PVC Loop, 11-9-09 Puyallup    

8. China-639      http://www.mediafire.com/?cjjgg2y5edd  SWP Slider + 6' PVC Loop, 12-1-09 Puyallup 

9. Japan-594       http://www.mediafire.com/?52jqtr2jmzj  "Stealth" PL-380, 1-23-10 Puyallup    

10. N. Korea-657 http://www.mediafire.com/?4jdewmoz5of  SWP Slider + 3' PVC Loop, 9-29-09 Puyallup

11. S. Korea-972 http://www.mediafire.com/?zylnm2m2jzn  7.5" Loopstick PL-380, 1-3-10 Puyallup 

12. Taiwan-738    http://www.mediafire.com/?njno91gntme  SWP Slider + 3' PVC Loop, 9-24-09 Puyallup 

13. Vietnam-675  http://www.mediafire.com/?kmtm5znznzz  SWP Slider + 3' PVC Loop, 9-16-09 Puyallup

14. Thailand-1575 http://www.mediafire.com/?yjoxenovyxi  Stock DT-400W, 8-29-08 Grayland

15. E. Malaysia-1475   (too weak for decent MP3)             SWP Slider + 3' PVC Loop, 8-30-09 Grayland

 

OCEANIA:

 

16. Marshall Is.-1098  http://www.mediafire.com/?eyz4gxwmwww  E100 Slider, 11-2-08 Grayland

17. Tonga-1017         (too weak for decent MP3)          E100 Slider, 7-31-08 Grayland

18. Fiji-639  http://www.mediafire.com/?ydqzlwd0ntw   E100 Slider, 7-31-08 Grayland

19. New Zealand-675  http://www.mediafire.com/?ns2dlziynzw  SWP Slider + 3' PVC Loop, 8-9-09 Grayland 

20. Australia-1116  http://www.mediafire.com/?tinjn2wmmy4  SWP Slider + 6' PVC Loop, 7-12-09 Grayland

21. Tahiti-738   http://www.mediafire.com/?otdztimjktn  D96L + 3' PVC Loop, 8-9-09 Grayland

22. Hawaii-670  http://www.mediafire.com/?mzctmkjywkm  SWP Slider + 6' PVC Loop, 7-12-09 Grayland

 

NORTH AMERICA:

 

23. Alaska-890      (not recorded)                  E100 Slider, 11-2-08 Grayland

24. Canada-1130   (not recorded)                  SRF-59, 11-27-07 Puyallup

25. USA-570         (not recorded)                  SRF-59, 11-27-07 Puyallup

26. Mexico-1700   (not recorded)                  SRF-59, 11-27-09 Puyallup

27. Cuba-530        (not recorded)                  SRF-T615, 5-3-08 Grayland

28- Anguilla-1610  http://www.mediafire.com/?mznwzzmdgqn  SWP Slider, 2-25-08 Puyallup

 

 

73, Gary DeBock

(in Puyallup, WA, USA) 

Hi all... I took my PL-380 (which hasn't gotten any loopstick mods yet) and Select-A-Tenna outside (to get away from the QRM in the house) at around 1:30pm local time to do a quick bandscan (did one barefoot, didn't have time to do one with SAT, although I did check a few frequencies with it) to see what the local dialscape is here. Approximate listening location is 32°46'N 116°57'W. All listening was done in the 1 kHz bandwidth position.

Among a few notable stations I heard:

700 KALL Salt Lake City, UT - required tuning to 701 and using antenna to null local XEWW on 690, was barely detectable with SAT. Didn't get readings unfortunately. Distance: 625 miles.

840 KXNT North Las Vegas, NV - weak barefoot, readings: 27,00. Distance: 276 miles.

1150 KTLK Los Angeles, CA - barely detectable barefoot, didn't try to use SAT. Readings: 39,00. This one is notable due to being sandwiched

1530 KFBK Sacramento, CA - weak signal barefoot, cleared up some with SAT. barefoot readings: 29,13. Distance: 491 miles.

1580 KMIK Tempe, AZ - fairly weak signal barefoot, battling with KBLA Santa Monica, CA. Readings were 20,17 and 20,07 respectively. Distances to KMIK is 300 miles.


I haven't yet done the loopstick mod. My PL-380 is one manufactured 11/2009, btw. (I'm thinking I'll probably want to put an 0.5" OD loopstick in the place where the 2 in-line batteries are, then find some way to put a mini 2.4V battery pack in the place where the original loopstick was, even if I have to cut away a little plastic to make it fit. Or, is there a better option? An externally-mounted stick is really not an option - if I want an external antenna I'll use an inductively coupled loop.
Or is there any reason I should maybe see if I could swap my 11/2009 PL-380 for a newer one? (I do need to repair a broken tuning knob - I have the part, just haven't done it yet.)

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

Hi Steve,

This is Gary, the author of the article. Thank you for your kind

comments,

and I'm happy that you found the article fascinating.

Although four modified PL-380's have been built according to the
specifications in the article (and all of them do have a great AM &

LW sensitivity

boost over the stock unit on all frequencies), there has been recent
discussion that coils wound in the center of the ferrite bar

(possibly using other

types of Litz wire) may provide an even greater AM sensitivity boost

over

the stock PL-380 model. There have also been suggestions that a

different

coil inductance value may provide a more even balance between the
sensitivity boost provided on the high and low AM band, relative to

the stock PL-380.

Nick Hall-Patch and I plan to run various PL-380 RSSI and S/N tests

using

signal generators to test out some of these ideas, and do plan to

share our

results with those who are interested. We certainly wish to try out

every

possible suggestion, as we attempt to obtain the absolute maximum in

AM

sensitivity from the 7.5" loopstick-- and will keep an open mind about

all

possible improvements.

The 7.5" loopstick PL-380 models already constructed have proven

highly

effective in actual TP-DXing, however, and in a recent "shootout" with

the

well-respected Eton E100 7.5" Slider loopstick model (conducted by Guy

Atkins

and me), the modified PL-380 was able to match the E100 Slider in both

AM

sensitivity and selectivity-- without the need to slide any coil. This

is

already a major improvement in DXing convenience for ULR transoceanic

DXers--

but of course we certainly be happy to find even more AM sensitivity

if

we can :-)

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




In a message dated 2/4/2010 9:33:56 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
stevependeco@... writes:




Hi to all !

As a recent member and a Tecsun PL-380 owner, I found the

"Supercharging

the PL-380" article fascinating. Also, the recent post's on the topic

were

great but I'm looking to to build one that has the best sensitivity

around

the 1200-1710 khz range as most of the station's I listen to are

there.

My confusion is with the number of winding's and the placement of the
coil. The article state's 43 mm from the end of the ferrite rod and

81 turns,

but the recent posting's mention the middle of the rod and less

winding's. (

If I remember correctly)

As a Vancouver B.C. resident, I'm looking for a supplier of the 7.5"
ferrite rod and the Litz wire who will ship to Canada. I noticed CWS

Bytemark

sell's the rod's, but their Litz wire is 10/44 or 175/40 and not the

40/46 as

recommended. Anyone tried these other size's ?

Thanks in advance. Very happy I joined this group !
Steve

Hi Gary,

Thank you for your thoughtful response to my inquiry. I look forward to
your test's with the various parameter's (Litz
wire size, coil placement and # of winding's)
Since I don't have the expertise and electronic equipment to do proper
evaluation's, I'll be very interested in
your result's and apply them to my project.

Thanks again, Steve

Feb 3
0820 WBAP Fort Worth TX 0715 EST 50k 50k 1018 mi, ant aimed nsew

Feb 4
0810 WPIN Dublin VA 0736 EST 4200w day only, country, 393 mi
1210 WJNL Kingsley MI 0806 EST 50k day only, talk, ant n mi 194 mi
1680 WPRR Grand Rapids MI 1800 EST 10k 680w, sports, ant w mi 140 mi

Feb 5
0690 WOKV Jacksonville FL 0720 EST 50k 25k, ant aimed E 845 mi

Byron wa8lcz nr Detroit Mi Kenwood TS450S litz loop 34 in sq

2.4.10, 0056, am 820, WBAP, Fort Worth, TX, 1042mi/1678km, 50kw/50kw, Sony SRF-M37V
(ad for Weight Watchers, Something called MediFast, call 1-888-Y-Medifast)
2.4.10, 0734, am 1670, WTDY, Madison, WI, 223mi/359km/ 10kw/1kw, Sony SRF-M37V
2.5.10, 1110-1135, am 940, WIDG, St. Ignace, MI, 86mi/139km, 5kw/4w, //WTCK 90.7, Sony SRF-M37V
(Women of Grace w/Johnnette Benkovic)
2.5.10, 1200, am 1690, WVON, Berwyn, IL, 234mi/377km, 10kw/1kw, EX-WRLL, Sony SRF-M37V




--
Tony Kekalos
Traverse City, MI
SWLR-RN072
EN74es

Hi Larry,

I created a database using OpenOffice Base. While it is not perfect, it does pretty much everything I want. What it does not do is handle call changes. I use it for logging from three different locations (a different log for each location). If you or anyone else is interested in it, please contact me off list.

I have given some thought to creating a super duper logging program, but I have another project that will keep me busy for some time, and I am not sure how much interest there would be in the logging program.

73, Jim VA3HJ

Larry Fravel wrote:

 

I have started keeping a separate UL log on paper because I can't find a good logging program on the web.  I have used SWLog for years  but it only allows you to have a single entry system and I want to keep my UL loggings separate from my others which are on my IC-756, Sony 2010, Panasonic RF-2200 and Radio Shack DX 400 and 402.   Hopefully one day I will find a good program for the UL logs.  Until then its Excel Spread Sheet time.     Larry N4SEA Shinnston, WV

Hi Guys,   We are in a blizzard here in the North Atlantic this morning, the snow and winds shutting most things down.   CKHJ in Fredericton New Brunswick  which Robert Ross logged last night is in here most nights as a regular  but has an unusual characteristic in that it will disappear from us for a few weeks at a time every so often and then return again. When it is gone we  hear WMKI in Boston,  a Disney station   Still trying the vacated 690 and 940 lately with no definites heard yet   Logs last night as follows with 1 unidentified on 1070 ??? any ideas on it would be Appreciated   870 khz - WWL - New Orleans, LA  4:00 UTC 2/5/10  w/ Superbowl talk, Big 870 WWL ID , mentioned WWL.com  into CBS News   1070 khz - UNIDENTIFIED   4:05 UTC  2/5/10 w/ man reading news, call sounded like WB?? or WE?? mentioned W???.com (.....not much to go on )   1160 khz - KSL - Salt Lake City,Utah  3:08 UTC 2/5/10 w/ "1160 AM ,  92.7FM  KSL Where You Get Utah's News"   1290 khz - CFRW - Winnipeg, Manitoba  3:45 UTC  2/5/10  w/ Rolling Stones song and other Oldies ,mention of CFRW       Radio : SRF-39FP Barefoot     Good DX to All   Allen Willie St. John's, Newfoundland Radio : SRF-39FP Barefoot 47:37N    52:45 W

---

Reclaim your name @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com. Get your new email address now!

Hi all,
John here Australia. Have just noticed a new Model Tecsun DSP AM-FM Stereo Pocket Radio -- Model DR-777. Being sold via ebay Australia. Only drawback for US and Canada is that its 9kHz only channel spacing--NO 10kHz. Size 9cm x 5.5cm x 1.5cm 200 channel pre sets , ATS, Sleep Function, Alarm Clock, Built in Speaker, Built in Li-ion battery .

Regards John from downunder

Here are some photos I took tonight that will fill out a brief on the Sony M37V Ultra-light filter modification.

http://tinyurl.com/Sony-M37V-Filter-Series-Mod

Will add some of these to the Yahoo group photo file area when I am done.

Enjoy.

Thanks to the guys on the group who have helped me out in the last few days.

Camera: EOS 30D dSLR
Lights: Camry 300 w/s head + 3 X 4' Softbox

Hello Larry,

I have started keeping a separate UL log on paper because I can't
find a good logging program on the web. I have used SWLog for
years but it only allows you to have a single entry system and I want
to keep my UL loggings separate from my others which are on my
IC-756, Sony 2010, Panasonic RF-2200
and Radio Shack DX 400 and 402.

Hopefully one day I will find a good program for the UL logs. Until then
its Excel Spread Sheet time.

Larry N4SEA
Shinnston, WV

perhaps you could try the relatively new MyAM logbook feature in MWLIST: http://www.mwlist.org/

73 & good DX

I just reread my post; of course, I meant CAN'T

I was camped on 940 last night with my bare foot unmodded PL-380  between 2200 and 2300 EST.  It was the first time since I've had it that I decided to do some DXing.  Received the following:     2215 - 2300  WMAC Macon, Ga  with clear ID's and talk format.  SINPO was not that good 22222 but it was there.  IRCA Log says 10KW nights.   2230 out of the blue come WGRP Greenville, PA with station info including the statement that it was // 1470, the beginning of a country song  and then back into the mud.  The interesting thing about this catch is the IRCA log lists them as 2 watts at night.   I have started keeping a separate UL log on paper because I can't find a good logging program on the web.  I have used SWLog for years  but it only allows you to have a single entry system and I want to keep my UL loggings separate from my others which are on my IC-756, Sony 2010, Panasonic RF-2200 and Radio Shack DX 400 and 402.   Hopefully one day I will find a good program for the UL logs.  Until then its Excel Spread Sheet time.     Larry N4SEA Shinnston, WV

Hello All,

 

After filling an order of 100' of 630/46 Litz wire (to be tested in the PL-380 7.5" loopstick design, at the suggestion of Roy), famous crystal radio set builder Dave Schmarder mentioned an article of his in the February 2010 issue of Monitoring Times, which may be of interest to many in our group. The link to the publication's web site (currently showing the cover of the February issue, with two of Dave's homebrew radio sets) is below.

 

73, Gary DeBock

 

   

Thank you, Gary.

I'll get it out in the morning. I'm now waiting for the post office

server to wake up.

Hang on the the reels after they are empty. I am planning on some

kind of return credit. That will reduce the landfill a little too.

 

I know some of you guys in the ultra light hobby probably read Monitoring

Times  Magazine. The February 2010 issue has an article that I wrote. You

can see the picture of the cover on their website.

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/next_issue.html

 

Might be interesting to some of the guys as it is DXing with very little.

 

Thanks again.

Dave

Hi Steve,

 

This is Gary, the author of the article. Thank you for your kind comments, and I'm happy that you found the article fascinating.

 

Although four modified PL-380's have been built according to the specifications in the article (and all of them do have a great AM & LW sensitivity boost over the stock unit on all frequencies), there has been recent discussion that coils wound in the center of the ferrite bar (possibly using other types of Litz wire) may provide an even greater AM sensitivity boost over the stock PL-380 model. There have also been suggestions that a different coil inductance value may provide a more even balance between the sensitivity boost provided on the high and low AM band, relative to the stock PL-380.

 

Nick Hall-Patch and I plan to run various PL-380 RSSI and S/N tests using signal generators to test out some of these ideas, and do plan to share our results with those who are interested. We certainly wish to try out every possible suggestion, as we attempt to obtain the absolute maximum in AM sensitivity from the 7.5" loopstick-- and will keep an open mind about all possible improvements.

 

The 7.5" loopstick PL-380 models already constructed have proven highly effective in actual TP-DXing, however, and in a recent "shootout" with the well-respected Eton E100 7.5" Slider loopstick model (conducted by Guy Atkins and me), the modified PL-380 was able to match the E100 Slider in both AM sensitivity and selectivity-- without the need to slide any coil. This is already a major improvement in DXing convenience for ULR transoceanic DXers-- but of course we certainly be happy to find even more AM sensitivity if we can :-) 

 

73 and Good DX,

Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

 

  

 

In a message dated 2/4/2010 9:33:56 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, stevependeco@... writes:

Hello all,

Has anyone been able to determine if the PL-360 has the facility to vary the AM bandwidth a la the 310 and 380? Also, the external AM antenna input looks like a step in the right direction, but can you imagine if they came out with a radio based on the same chip that could be computer controlled for those of us who are as not so technically gifted as Roy Dyball and can roll our own?

73's

Barry

nn4cw wrote:

 

Rob,
It's got to be nice to hear something in the subtropics from where you are in Freezeurbuttoffland.
73 Gil

Hey Gil...it's all relative!! I really don't mind the COLD weather and do quite well in it!! I'm sure I could run around in a my Scivvies in a Blizzard...a lot easier than I can deal with 90 Degrees and High Humidity!! When you grow up here it's just another day in Paradise!! Luckily though we have 4 Seasons....and they are all pretty nice.... each in their own ways!!

Once the HOT weather gets here in the summer...I become a CENTRAL AIR type dude...I really can't take the heat!!

But... yes....when we have snow up to the Ying Yang...and more heading this way...it is nice to think of being in the Bahamas....with my Flip Flops and Bermuda Shorts...errrr....Bahamas Shorts!!

73...ROB VA3SW

Robert S. Ross
London, Ontario CANADA