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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Russ Edmunds
Better fortune for us as more stations running IBOC have transmitter failure or cash flow problems and drop it altogether ! Russ Edmunds 15 mi NW Phila Grid FN20id <wb2bjh@...> AM: Modified Sony ICF2010's (2) barefoot w/whip FM: Yamaha T-80 & T-85, each w/ Conrad RDS Decoder; Onkyo T-450RDS; Tecsun PL-310 ( 2); modified Sony ICF2010 w/APS9B @ 15'; Grundig G8 w/whip; modified Sony ICF2010 w/whip On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 6:19 PM, Michael michael.setaazul@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Michael <michael.setaazul@...>
On 26.02.16 22:08, Russ Edmunds wb2bjh@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
. . . So, in short, no demand, no receivers.---------------------------------- In short : good fortune for US listeners to AM ! In the UK we are being coerced into procurement of DAB radios. Expensive. Temperamental reception due to 225MHz propagation. Many need tethering to an external antenna. High battery consumption, so additionally tethered to a mains-outlet. Due to low data rates, audio quality is often inferior to FM. The main "advantage" seems to be the increased number of sound-alike music stations. Hmm... Of course, we have some digital radio on the television receiver. And, of course, we have thousands of stations on webradio, but that requires an expensive wi-fi radio or computer+hifi and is fiddly to set up and tune in - compared to an instant two-knob battery-drain AM radio. Sigh... Ain't progress GREAT :-) Michael |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Russ Edmunds
Whatever digital receivers there were didn't sell - and only partly on account of cost. Consumers simply didn't understand the concept. Here it was sold as "High Definition" which really means nothing to the average person. I suspect that most Americans have never heard an AM IBOC digital transmission. And many of those who have can't discern any significant improvement over analog. That's not surprising when one considers that a majority of US AM's are formatted as news, talk, sports, or preaching - after all, how much fidelity improvement can you get with speech ? IBOC Digital transmission also simply isn't well suited to North American AM at all. It's hard to implement with highly directional antenna systems, it's expensive to operate, and it doesn't really improve on the main reception quality complaint for analog, which is interference. When there's interference, the digital signal just disappears. Russ Edmunds 15 mi NW Phila Grid FN20id <wb2bjh@...> AM: Modified Sony ICF2010's (2) barefoot w/whip FM: Yamaha T-80 & T-85, each w/ Conrad RDS Decoder; Onkyo T-450RDS; Tecsun PL-310 ( 2); modified Sony ICF2010 w/APS9B @ 15'; Grundig G8 w/whip; modified Sony ICF2010 w/whip On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 4:44 PM, Michael michael.setaazul@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Michael <michael.setaazul@...>
Thanks for the clarification! Strange that there should
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be no receivers for AM digital:-) In the Old World few radios are available - and none affordable - which receive DRM, although DRM test transmissions continue. The propagation properties of MW and LW (and even SW) signals would make DRM or similar very attractive - one transmitter would cover a wide geographical area. In a major emergency, this would enable communication to the majority from few transmitters. As it is, we have glorious DAB and DAB+. At 225MHz they are restricted to local coverage and require many relay transmitters and emergency generators to cover the area previously covered by a few AM medium and longwave transmitters. Ideal for North Korea to confound listening to non-Great-Leader broadcasts - and in our latitudes advantageous for Mad Men advertising philosphers... 'nough said, Michael On 26.02.16 16:08, 'G Vance URL' gvance11@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
Confused I am. In the US, are there digital transmissions in the AM |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Bruce Conti
I'm not an expert on the topic, but here's a summary of the current terrestrial digital system in the U.S. HD digital (not the same as DRM or DAB) is what's offered on AM and FM in the U.S. (and a few other nations). The current system is "hybrid" analog and digital sharing the same carrier frequency. HD digital is primarily available in car receivers. Very few HD receivers are available for tabletop or portable use. Insignia, the Best Buy store brand, was an early adopter. Here's an example of an Insignia HD digital receiver currently available... http://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-hd-radio-tabletop-radio-black/4635744.p?id=1218505477073 The HD digital hardware and software design is proprietary, initially introduced by iBiquity, but another company recently purchased iBiquity (I forget what company). Anyway, the proprietary design has harmed its introduction because both manufacturers and broadcasters must pay a fee to obtain rights to use HD digital. |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Gary Vance
Confused I am. In the US, are there digital transmissions in the AM Unfortunately, there are digital transmissions in the North American Medium Wave band , AKA, AM band.
iBiquity's in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations.
A far as I’m concerned, it just makes a MW DXers life more difficult.
I can’t find a radio that receives HD AM. I don’t know if they’re even made.
I think the HD format was introduced for Automobile Radios. HD radio hasn’t gained wide spread acceptance.
As far as I know, there are no DRM broadcasts emanating on this side of the Pond. I can’t even find a DRM Receiver, except for SDR types.
I bet someone more knowledgeable on the subject can answer your inquiry better.
73 Gary Vance, Grand Ledge, Michigan U.S.A.
From Wikipedia HD Radio is a trademarked term for iBiquity's in-band on-channel (IBOC) digital radio technology used by AM and FM radio stations to transmit audio and data by using a digital signal embedded “on-frequency” immediately above and below a station's standard analog signal, providing the means to listen to the same program in either HD (digital radio with less noise) or as a standard broadcast (analog radio with standard sound quality). The HD format also provides the means for a single radio station to simultaneously broadcast one or more different programs in addition to the program being transmitted on the radio station's analog channel.
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Michael <michael.setaazul@...>
Confused I am.
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In the US, are there digital transmissions in the AM (medium wave) band? If so, as this posting suggests, where is more information to be found? Is DRM or another format in use? Michael UK On 26.02.16 01:26, Bruce Conti contiba@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
. . . You'll see the carrier center frequency of 1030 kHz, the |
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1330 Spanish Soccer
n2_ss
0400Z to 0500Z Feb 24 here on SW SL Gulf coast heard Spanish language soccer broadcast in and out on 1330. Was never able to ID it. Any thoughts? |
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
Gary Vance
They never ID. Right now they are playing "MacNamara's Band".
Thanks guys. I never suspected my Mystery Station could be WKTA Evanston, IL. I’ve heard them before, but it’s when they are broadcasting Polish or Russian.
Paul Juarez, thanks. "MacNamara's Band" is a tune I have heard at least three times in my quest to ID the Mystery Station. I have heard Louis Armstrong “The Dummy” Doris Day “By the Light of the Silv'ry Moon” and Perry Como songs.
Jim Rittenhouse, I too, suspected it might be 1330 WANG. When I go to Tune In, they report “No streams available” for 1330 WANG.
I can’t find any active online streams for WKTA or WANG.
Plenty of sites will take you to WANG and WKTA but they all report errors when I attempt to listen.
John, thanks for in information about the station.
And to my friend Rob Ross, thank you for goading me into joining this group. You guys, may have saved my sanity.
73 Gary Vance Grand Ledge, MI.
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
jtcasejr@...
The station is WKTA in Evanston, IL. I heard the exact music you describe on 1330 AM, up until 5:59 AM CST when they finally broadcast the station ID and changed over to Russian Programming. John |
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
On 2016-02-26, at 6:24 AM, qa1433@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
If that's who this turns out to be ….it is WKTA Evanston, ILLINOIS 5 kW/110 Watts Nights. I have heard them many times with ETHNIC Programming, but have never caught the Standards Music Format…….I'll keep an ear for that now you've pointed it out Paul!! There you go Gary…The ULR List has saved the day again!! Good Work Paul……. 73….ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA |
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
Paul Juarez
Hi Vince, I think the station is here in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Not sure which suburban city. During the day they broadcast in Russian or Polish. But in the morning when I get up they are broadcasting music from the 40's and 50's. I have listened to this station for approximately one hour in the morning. They never id. Right now they are playing "Mc nmaras band". But I think this is your mystery station. There very strong during the day. But right now they are 4915 rrsi on my Tecsun pl 390.
Thank you and best regards, Paul Juarez Sent from my HP Slate 7 Extreme Tablet |
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
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On Feb 25, 2016, at 10:29 PM, 'jim@...' jim@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
Try checking WANG AM 1330 kHz in North Carolina, kicking out 1kw day or night. Jim Rittenhouse Lisle, IL USA 60532 On Feb 25, 2016, at 6:05 PM, 'G Vance URL' gvance11@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Re: 1330 kHz station, playing Jazz, Show Tunes, and music from the 1940s & 1950s.
Doing a quick format check of 1330 kHz in your wider area, Iowa-Boston-Virginia-Kentucky-Minneapolis and not coming up with anything outside some odd stuff on WRCA Boston. Checking Canada.... Jim Rittenhouse Lisle, IL USA 60532 On Feb 25, 2016, at 6:05 PM, 'G Vance URL' gvance11@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Re: Digital AM/FM/SW radio/recorders
dave_m1ctk
I am quite impressed with my Degen DE1129, small compact DSP radio with built in 4GB of memory for recording plus a micro SD card slot for external card up to 32GB I believe... but there are few quirky issues with this radio, but for FM and SW reception was good :- On 26 February 2016 at 02:30, keith1226@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
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Digital AM/FM/SW radio/recorders
keith beesley
Hello, group, I'm wondering if anyone here uses or has used any of the small DSP radios with digital recording/mp3 playback capabilities, and has one to recommend. I had a DE1126 until last summer, but unfortunately lost it. It was somewhat clumsy to operate (many buttons had multiple functions), and pretty deaf on SW due to internally-generated noise, but I enjoyed the convenience of having an AM/FM radio (FM reception was excellent) and mp3 player in one unit. Thanks! Keith Beesley |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Gary Vance
Wow! That Splains it! Bruce, thanks for the information. The WBZ HD spectrum picture certainly tells the tale. I didn’t know HD signals hogged so much spectrum.
I wondered why IBOC hash, messed up so much of the band.
I discovered the leaning into the offending station trick by accident. My intuition suggested that further away would be better. My ears told me something different.
Thanks again.
73 Gary Vance
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...]
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 8:27 PM To: ultralightdx@... Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] CC Skywave for Christmas
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 12:32 AM, 'G Vance URL' gvance11@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
Yes. The most significant digital signals are +/- 10 to 15 kHz from the center frequency. Take a look at the RF spectrum FFT of WBZ HD here... http://www.bamlog.com/wbz.htm The image is annotated to make it easier to understand. You'll see the carrier center frequency of 1030 kHz, the analog content covering +/- 5 kHz from the center frequency, and then the strongest digital content covering +/- 10 to 15 kHz from the center frequency. There is additional low-level digital content covering the 'empty' space between the analog and digital, but it's insignificant and only a nuisance if close to the transmitter site. The biggest problem is when two radio stations 20 kHz apart are transmitting HD digital. My worst frequency is 1070 kHz because it gets digital interference from 1060 KYW HD on the upper side and 1080 WTIC HD on the lower side. On an ultralight, some combination of off-frequency tuning and using the directional antenna to null interference is required in this case.
Bruce Conti |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Bruce Conti
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 12:32 AM, 'G Vance URL' gvance11@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> wrote:
Yes. The most significant digital signals are +/- 10 to 15 kHz from the center frequency. Take a look at the RF spectrum FFT of WBZ HD here... http://www.bamlog.com/wbz.htm The image is annotated to make it easier to understand. You'll see the carrier center frequency of 1030 kHz, the analog content covering +/- 5 kHz from the center frequency, and then the strongest digital content covering +/- 10 to 15 kHz from the center frequency. There is additional low-level digital content covering the 'empty' space between the analog and digital, but it's insignificant and only a nuisance if close to the transmitter site. The biggest problem is when two radio stations 20 kHz apart are transmitting HD digital. My worst frequency is 1070 kHz because it gets digital interference from 1060 KYW HD on the upper side and 1080 WTIC HD on the lower side. On an ultralight, some combination of off-frequency tuning and using the directional antenna to null interference is required in this case. |
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Re: CC Skywave for Christmas
Gary Vance
Bruce Conti Tuning slightly off-frequency with a narrow filter (2.3 kHz typ.) in AM mode is a trick I will often use to reduce adjacent signal interference including bothersome HD digital noise.
I have better luck defeating IBOC hash when I lean into the offending station. When I tune further away from the IBOC station, I hear only more hash.
There are other HD Stations that are closer to my QTH. But they don’t muck things up as much as Chicago’s 670 kHz WSCR does. I wonder what the deal is with WSCR. BTW, I like your logs. Well done.
73 Gary Vance Grand Ledge, MI
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...]
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2016 5:44 PM To: ultralightdx@... Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] CC Skywave for Christmas
The CC Skywave got an excellent 4-star review in the 2016 World Radio TV Handbook. Tuning slightly off-frequency with a narrow filter (2.3 kHz typ.) in AM mode is a trick I will often use to reduce adjacent signal interference including bothersome HD digital noise. I've found that even in high-end receivers the audio recovery is better using this technique instead of SSB mode.
Bruce Conti |
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