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C.Crane Skywave Ultralight Radio-- First Impressions on MW
Hello All,
As many of you are aware, C.Crane has introduced a new AM-FM-SW-Airband pocket radio, which easily falls within the Ultralight Radio size and capability classifications. This C.Crane "Skywave" pocket radio is obviously made by China's Redsun company (maker of the C.Crane SWP, and many other portables rebranded by C.Crane), but a brief Internet search didn't show any equivalent radio sold by Redsun at this time. At $89.95 plus shipping this model is not cheap, but based on a very favorable review by Jay Allen (posted at http://radiojayallen.com/c-crane-cc-skywave-radio/ ) I went ahead and ordered a couple of models for a full review. The first model arrived yesterday, and I gave it a quick "test drive" for Medium Wave DXing before a complete disassembly (and DSP chip investigation) scheduled for next week.
On the medium wave band, the new C.Crane "Skywave" portable has excellent DSP filtering, fully up to the standard of the Si4734 DSP chips in the Tecsun PL-380, PL-310, PL-606 and PL-505 Ultralight models. In addition, it provides this DSP filtering without the irritating heterodynes associated with the Tecsun Si4734 DSP chip models. The radio is exactly the same size as the C.Crane SWP portable, and its physical appearance closely matches that of this previous model. The MW band sensitivity is excellent, slightly exceeding that of the Tecsun PL-310, PL-606 and PL-380 models (BUT ONLY when the 1 kHz DSP setting is selected). Although I haven't disassembled the model yet, I suspect that C.Crane and Redsun have installed a higher quality MW loopstick than the cost-cutting midget antenna used by Tecsun in their DSP Ultralights. The DSP filtering of the Skywave model sounds very much like that of the Si4734 chip, but without the irritating heterodynes found in the Tecsun models. The DSP filtering selections (6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 kHz) also mimic the Si4734 DSP chip, making it seem likely that the new "Skywave" is powered by a Silicon Labs' chip that deletes Longwave coverage in favor of the Airband, and solves the heterodyne issue as well. As for the presence or absence of the dubious "soft mute" function in the Skywave model, my initial impression is that that bogus function has been ditched as well.
So what are the weak points of the new "Skywave" model? Well, besides the $89.95 price (before shipping), you will not find any dial light function on the radio. Changing certain controls will light up the display for about 15 seconds, but the volume control is not one of them. If you are DXing in the dark, you had better carry a flashlight. Also, some of the default settings are not deal-breakers, but rather puzzling. As shipped, the model is set with a 3 kHz DSP setting, which is practically useless for MW DXing (I wonder how many models will be shipped back to C.Crane for this reason?). It is essential to set the DSP setting on 1 kHz for the best MW sensitivity. Fortunately, this 1 kHz DSP setting provides superior audio compared to that available on the Tecsun DSP Utralights with their 1 kHz DSP setting, Another bizarre default setting is that the radio is shipped with a time display on the LCD, instead of a frequency display (this can be changed rather easily, though). Whereas the Tecsun DSP Ultralights seem to be designed to feature as many of the Si4734 chip functions as possible, the "Skywave" strips down these functions to the bare minimum. There is no display of RSSI, S/N, temperature or volume level. There is a very basic bar display of signal strength, but that is it. Be thankful for the rotary volume control, though-- although it doesn't light up the display or show you its level when changed, it is a major functional improvement over the clunky up/ down volume buttons on the C.Crane SWP.
More details, complete disassembly and a full review will be forthcoming.
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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Re: ULR SW DX (almost)
On 2014-12-14, at 8:33 PM, Dan Sheedy wpe6bvt@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
OK Dan…….we'll let you into the "He-Man ULR Dxing Society" after all. I figure anyone who wears UGGS should be able to join any club he wants!! AHHAHHAAH As for the beanie……us Canuckians call them Toques!!! 73…ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA |
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Re: New file uploaded to ultralightdx
microcode@...
Hi Gary,
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Your articles are magazine quality- beautifully written with great clear photos. It's a few seconds to convert them to PDFs with LibreOffice or OpenOffice. I would be delighted to help get your work out to the DX and radio hobbyist however I can. The great thing about the PDFs aside from the fact they render similarly everywhere (Windows, Linux, OSX etc.) is nobody can modify the content. So you are assured your work gets out there with no funny business. Thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge and experience! Best Regards! On Sun, Dec 14, 2014 at 07:32:39PM -0500, D1028Gary@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
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Re: ULR SW DX (almost)
Dan Sheedy <wpe6bvt@...>
Hi Rob.. well, my social skills may be negligible, i'm kinda dense @ 68-70 kg., & i AM made outta "particles" but that doesn't mean i'm a weakly interacting massive particle..nuh-uh, not me..in fact, i've been known to DX @ the beach when it's 10 degrees* wearing shorts, UGGs, a hoodie & a beanie--so there! (& what's this "blizza-whosis" of which you speak? some sort of Canadian weather artefact?) here are a couple more items from "beach" & "gym parking lot" sessions: 6975 XFM 0049-0055+ 13 Dec. DJ Red Hat doing fairly well this evening with ID/email addr. & props to HFU board denizens Kilokat7 & Jay Farley.. Red Hat checks the HFU/FRN boards for req./rpts & mentioned being on a "strange frequency--no man's land" to avoid interfering with any other free radio folks on. 15515 R. Warra Wangeelaa (IRRS "Milano"--akchully via Tiganesti, ROMANIA) *1458-1535+ 13 Dec. IRRS' trumpet "IS" theme, ID into RWW program in Oromo w/ ID, web addr., HOA tunes, long speech to :17, more music & www.uoece.org web addr. (Union of Oromo Evangelical Churches of Europe) + Facebook/p-mail info for RWW, more music & RWW gmail addr., IRRS close-down annct. (request for rpts, promising a numbered QSL), long trumpet theme & into uniD EG program from Wonder-Voice.com ("Wonderful World of Education & Teaching"), running past 1535 (IRRS has done this off-the-wall extra broadcasting before--kinda fun to see what they'll do next). **6095 The Mighty KBC (via Nauen) 1455-1506 13 Dec./1438-53 14 Dec. Very pleased to hear KBC's EU programming this weekend--Mike Marwick's show on Sat. & Ron O'Quinn's on Sun.--very tough w/ ACI from KCBS-6100 but ID'd some songs (Elvis, Eagles, Dave "Baby" Cortez), even though the DJ chat was pretty much not really there..(the window of availability for KBC is kinda narrow but should improve during Winter season) & nice confirmation of my 13 Dec. tentative rpt by Eric Van Willegen ("Uncle Eric" who hosts "The Giant Jukebox" on KBC-7375 Sun. @ 00-02 UT..funny guy & some "all killah, no fillah" music--give him a listen if you've not heard him before----& even if you have) next up? Burma-7200/5985.. cheers, folks! Dan WB6FJD *Celsius--this IS Southern California after all.. On Friday, December 12, 2014 11:14 AM, "Robert Ross va3sw@... [ultralightdx]" wrote: On 2014-12-12, at 1:41 PM, wpe6bvt@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
> > No PL606 barefoot beach DX today cuz it's raining & standing out in the wet w/ headphones + the '606 didn't seem to be such a great idea, watched the wind-driven waves go sideways instead, so i got my eco-cultural enhancement for the day. > > Good listening to all from 'way damp Encinitas. > > Dan > > WB6FJD > > Wow Dan……Don't let Gary hear you say you didn't want to DX out in the Rain and Wind!! He might be thinking' you're wimping out on us!!! HAHAHAHHA…. He wouldn't even turn the radio on during a DXpedition unless it's Pouring Rain and the Wind is at 60 Knots!! As for me…I've been known to DX out on the back deck in a Blizzard with 2 Feet of snow on the ground wearing my Snowmobile Suit and a Bolivian Ear Flapped Mountain Hat just to hear a New Dang AeroBeacon on Longwave with a ULR and FSL Antenna covered from the snow by a Plastic Tupperware Tub!!! So…..it looks like you won't be getting any sympathy here on the ULR Group Dan!!! AHAHHAHAHHAHA….. We will expect to see your next ULR Report from either a Forest during a Forest Fire….or from the 40 th Floor of a Highrise during an earthquake!! ULR DXers are tough, and maybe a little Crazy to boot….and we expect you to be just as tough as the rest of us Crazy Buggers!! HAHAHHAHA Have a good one and Good DX!! 73…ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Yahoo Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightdx/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ultralightdx/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: ultralightdx-digest@... ultralightdx-fullfeatured@... <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: ultralightdx-unsubscribe@... <*> Your use of Yahoo Groups is subject to: https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/ |
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Re: New file uploaded to ultralightdx
Hi Microcode,
Thanks very much for your PDF conversion of the articles, which is greatly appreciated!
For those members who have trouble opening up the .doc versions of the following articles, I have uploaded the PDF versions prepared by Microcode at the following links. Thanks again for your detailed assistance, and good DX to you this winter!
Supercharging the Tecsun PL-380 (Updated MW & LW version)
Supercharging the Sony ICF-2010 (original, May 2008)
2008 Summertime Shootout
Tecsun PL-310 Review
November 2014 Grayland Ultralight DXpedition Report
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
-----Original Message-----
From: microcode@... [ultralightdx] To: ultralightdx Sent: Sun, Dec 14, 2014 3:38 am Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] New file uploaded to ultralightdx Hi Gary,
I have just forwarded you a bunch of PDFs of your outstanding articles. I am only letting you know here on the list because I'm sure you remember we have had a lot of problems with AOL removing attachments and junking my emails to you, so if you don't get them for some reason please let me know and we'll figure out an alternate way to get them to you like last time. I have not had much time lately with my few radios but hope to get more time soon. One interesting catch recently was TWR from Yerevan, Armenia on 1350 KHz at 18:55 UTC. It is around 775 miles from here and I did not know there was a MW broadcast from that network, had only seen them on the SW skeds. They were delivering an excellent signal into the eastern mediterranean. My little 310ET copied it wall-to-wall with the internal ferrite. Best Regards! On Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 03:38:43PM -0500, D1028Gary@... [ultralightdx] wrote: > > Hi Microcode, > > Thanks very much for your work, and the offer. > > I could certainly use PDF versions of the articles, if you could forward them to d1028gary@... Thanks again, and I hope that you are finding some nice DX to enjoy this winter! > > 73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: microcode@... [ultralightdx] <ultralightdx@...> > To: ultralightdx <ultralightdx@...> > Sent: Sat, Dec 13, 2014 8:42 am > Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] New file uploaded to ultralightdx > > > > > > > Gary, > > I have PDFs of your Grayland, 2008 Ultralight Shootout, and Supercharging > the ICS 2010 ready to go if you want them. > > > > > > -- |
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Re: New file uploaded to ultralightdx
microcode@...
Hi Gary,
I have just forwarded you a bunch of PDFs of your outstanding articles. I am only letting you know here on the list because I'm sure you remember we have had a lot of problems with AOL removing attachments and junking my emails to you, so if you don't get them for some reason please let me know and we'll figure out an alternate way to get them to you like last time. I have not had much time lately with my few radios but hope to get more time soon. One interesting catch recently was TWR from Yerevan, Armenia on 1350 KHz at 18:55 UTC. It is around 775 miles from here and I did not know there was a MW broadcast from that network, had only seen them on the SW skeds. They were delivering an excellent signal into the eastern mediterranean. My little 310ET copied it wall-to-wall with the internal ferrite. Best Regards! On Sat, Dec 13, 2014 at 03:38:43PM -0500, D1028Gary@... [ultralightdx] wrote: -- |
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Re: New file uploaded to ultralightdx
Hi Microcode,
Thanks very much for your work, and the offer.
I could certainly use PDF versions of the articles, if you could forward them to d1028gary@... Thanks again, and I hope that you are finding some nice DX to enjoy this winter!
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
-----Original Message----- From: microcode@... [ultralightdx] To: ultralightdx Sent: Sat, Dec 13, 2014 8:42 am Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] New file uploaded to ultralightdx Gary,
I have PDFs of your Grayland, 2008 Ultralight Shootout, and Supercharging the ICS 2010 ready to go if you want them. |
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Re: Longwave + Medium Wave 7.5" Loopstick for the Tecsun PL-380
Phillip Fimiani
Gary, Thanks for digging up that article.... The diagram clearly shows wiring for series and parallel coil operation.... and more importantly contra winding the coils.! Next Project!!! Best Regards Phil WA2069SWL Lat: 40.8367633 Long: -74.1768412 From: "D1028Gary@... [ultralightdx]" To: ultralightdx@... Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2014 5:27 AM Subject: [ultralightdx] Longwave + Medium Wave 7.5" Loopstick for the Tecsun PL-380 Hello All,
A few years back Steve Ratzlaff designed an innovative 7.5" loopstick transplant for the PL-380 model which used a switching arrangement to provide excellent performance on both the Longwave and Medium Wave frequencies. This single-rod loopstick was designed to be mounted on the standard orange plastic loopstick frame, as described in the PL-380 "Supercharging" article.
Although both Steve and I scrambled to find the old article without success, Steve was generous enough to completely rewrite and update the article, and convert it to .pdf from. This updated loopstick transplant article has now been uploaded to the Ultralightdx file site, and is also posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/dnnluducuga9cyj/PL380_MW_LF_loopstick_mod.pdf for those who are interested.
If you would like to have the best possible PL-380 Longwave and Medium Wave performance from a single 7.5" loopstick, Steve's article will guide you to success. The orange plastic loopstick frames can be constructed according to Steps # 1-9 of the PL-380 "Supercharging" article, which is posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/du3sr5cd9thqvau/7.5inch-LS-PL380.doc For those DXers who would really like to try out Steve's loopstick modification but who feel uneasy about constructing the orange plastic frames, I may be able to assist in constructing them (at cost, as time allows). Thanks again to Steve for his generous contribution of time and effort in updating this innovative article.
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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Re: New file uploaded to ultralightdx
microcode@...
Gary,
I have PDFs of your Grayland, 2008 Ultralight Shootout, and Supercharging the ICS 2010 ready to go if you want them. |
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Longwave + Medium Wave 7.5" Loopstick for the Tecsun PL-380
Hello All,
A few years back Steve Ratzlaff designed an innovative 7.5" loopstick transplant for the PL-380 model which used a switching arrangement to provide excellent performance on both the Longwave and Medium Wave frequencies. This single-rod loopstick was designed to be mounted on the standard orange plastic loopstick frame, as described in the PL-380 "Supercharging" article.
Although both Steve and I scrambled to find the old article without success, Steve was generous enough to completely rewrite and update the article, and convert it to .pdf from. This updated loopstick transplant article has now been uploaded to the Ultralightdx file site, and is also posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/dnnluducuga9cyj/PL380_MW_LF_loopstick_mod.pdf for those who are interested.
If you would like to have the best possible PL-380 Longwave and Medium Wave performance from a single 7.5" loopstick, Steve's article will guide you to success. The orange plastic loopstick frames can be constructed according to Steps # 1-9 of the PL-380 "Supercharging" article, which is posted at http://www.mediafire.com/view/du3sr5cd9thqvau/7.5inch-LS-PL380.doc For those DXers who would really like to try out Steve's loopstick modification but who feel uneasy about constructing the orange plastic frames, I may be able to assist in constructing them (at cost, as time allows). Thanks again to Steve for his generous contribution of time and effort in updating this innovative article.
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
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New file uploaded to ultralightdx
ultralightdx@...
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the ultralightdx group. File : /6 Alignment & Modification/PL380_MW_LF_loopstick_mod.pdf Uploaded by : dxergary <D1028Gary@...> Description : Steve Ratzlaff's innovative 7.5" loopstick design article to have excellent Longwave and Medium Wave performance from the same 7.5" loopstick transplant in the Tecsun PL-380 model You can access this file at the URL: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ultralightdx/files/6%20Alignment%20%26%20Modification/PL380_MW_LF_loopstick_mod.pdf To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?page=content&y=PROD_GRPS&locale=en_US&id=SLN15398 Regards, dxergary <D1028Gary@...> |
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Late DX Mini-Log from Trip to NW Louisiana
Stephen Ponder <stephen_ponder@...>
I apologise for being late with this log. I found my scratch paper log just now in a notepad that I had taken with me on a trip to Shreveport, LA, to attend my aunt's funeral. That's another story ... Date: 25 Nov
2014 QTH: Marriott Courtyard Shreveport Airport Lat-Lon: 32:27:03 N, 93:51:31 W Radio: Sangean DT-400W Time: CST (UTC-6) Station: WODT, New Orleans, LA Freq: 1280 kHz
This is the third time I've heard this station. The first was on 15 Nov 1976, when it was WGSO. Three follow-ups and 560 days later, I finally received a verification on 01 Jun 1978 signed by Frank Maynard, the station's CE. The second time I heard the station was on 10 Oct 1991, when it was WQUE. I didn't try for a verification then. I won't this time, either. 73 & Good DX, Steve Ponder, N5WBI Houston TX "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost |
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Determining Lat-Lon from a Street Address - Revised - URL Hyperlinked
Stephen Ponder <stephen_ponder@...>
Oops! Sorry about that! I should have hyperlinked the URL. Here it is, clickable ... 73 & Good DX, Steve Ponder, N5WBI Houston TX "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost |
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URL for Determining Lat-Lon from a Street Address
Stephen Ponder <stephen_ponder@...>
I stumbled on a URL for determining Lat-Lon of a location based on the street address of that location. I cannot remember the circumstances of how I found this URL, so I'll chalk it up to serendipity.  Here's the URL: stevemorse.org/jcal/latlon.php I have tested it with several locations for which I have both street address and Lat-Lon data.
The Lat-Lon data used came from an app on my iPhone 4 called "Maidenhead." The Lat-Lon from the Maidenhead app had an accuracy of "within 5 metres." The Lat-Lon from the webpage was spot-on, matching the Maidenhead data. Works for me!! Of course, YMMV. 73 & Good DX, Steve Ponder, N5WBI Houston TX "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert Frost |
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Re: ULR SW DX (almost)
On 2014-12-12, at 1:41 PM, wpe6bvt@... [ultralightdx] wrote:
Wow Dan……Don't let Gary hear you say you didn't want to DX out in the Rain and Wind!! He might be thinking' you're wimping out on us!!! HAHAHAHHA…. He wouldn't even turn the radio on during a DXpedition unless it's Pouring Rain and the Wind is at 60 Knots!! As for me…I've been known to DX out on the back deck in a Blizzard with 2 Feet of snow on the ground wearing my Snowmobile Suit and a Bolivian Ear Flapped Mountain Hat just to hear a New Dang AeroBeacon on Longwave with a ULR and FSL Antenna covered from the snow by a Plastic Tupperware Tub!!! So…..it looks like you won't be getting any sympathy here on the ULR Group Dan!!! AHAHHAHAHHAHA….. We will expect to see your next ULR Report from either a Forest during a Forest Fire….or from the 40 th Floor of a Highrise during an earthquake!! ULR DXers are tough, and maybe a little Crazy to boot….and we expect you to be just as tough as the rest of us Crazy Buggers!! HAHAHHAHA Have a good one and Good DX!! 73…ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA |
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ULR SW DX (almost)
wpe6bvt@...
Hi folks..a bit more info on the 4900 Korean #s station, thanks to HF Underground's wiki about it--apparently the opening tune(s) are North Korean & the station is known as "Tamshin"/V24..Googling "4900 kHz Korean #s station" brings up some youtube videos, the afore-mentioned HFU/wiki & some other links as well..interesting stuff!
No PL606 barefoot beach DX today cuz it's raining & standing out in the wet w/ headphones + the '606 didn't seem to be such a great idea, watched the wind-driven waves go sideways instead, so i got my eco-cultural enhancement for the day.
Good listening to all from 'way damp Encinitas.
Dan WB6FJD |
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New file uploaded to ultralightdx
ultralightdx@...
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the ultralightdx group. File : /8. Members Loggings & DXpeditions/November 2014 Grayland Ultralight DXpedition.doc Uploaded by : dxergary <D1028Gary@...> Description : Description of a rare chance to take huge items like a new 17" FSL antenna, a 30" loopstick Sony ICF-2010 and other hot-rodded equipment to an ocean beach site. Salt water propagation instills some life into an otherwise dreary Fall Season. You can access this file at the URL: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ultralightdx/files/8.%20Members%20Loggings%20%26%20DXpeditions/November%202014%20Grayland%20Ultralight%20DXpedition.doc To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?page=content&y=PROD_GRPS&locale=en_US&id=SLN15398 Regards, dxergary <D1028Gary@...> |
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New file uploaded to ultralightdx
ultralightdx@...
Hello,
This email message is a notification to let you know that a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the ultralightdx group. File : /8. Members Loggings & DXpeditions/August 2014 Cape Perpetua Ocean Cliff DXpedition.pdf Uploaded by : dxergary <D1028Gary@...> Description : Description of three days of ocean cliff DXing (and wild weather) on Oregon's most exposed ocean side cliff. Includes 46 MP3 links for Asian and South Pacific DX recordings made during gale force wind conditions You can access this file at the URL: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ultralightdx/files/8.%20Members%20Loggings%20%26%20DXpeditions/August%202014%20Cape%20Perpetua%20Ocean%20Cliff%20DXpedition.pdf To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/index?page=content&y=PROD_GRPS&locale=en_US&id=SLN15398 Regards, dxergary <D1028Gary@...> |
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Re: New CCPocket Radio!
keith beesley
There's a new CC pocket radio that includes weather and air bands. Sounds like they've beefed up the medium wave performance, too! Jay Allen reviews it here:
73 and good DX, Keith Beesley Seattle WA USA On Thursday, December 11, 2014 7:34 PM, "Paul tanger32au@... [ultralightdx]" wrote: That is a really good result. From: Stephen Ponder stephen_ponder@... [ultralightdx] Sent: 12/12/2014 8:59 AM To: ABDX; UltralightDX Yahoo Group Subject: [ultralightdx] New CCPocket Radio! I mentioned a couple of months ago that the display on my CCPocket radio had gone bad. The right side of the display was not working, which made it very hard to determine which frequency I was on, whether or not the sleep function was on or off, etc. Basically, the radio had become
sub-par. I
really enjoyed using the CCPocket radio. It was the only digital-tuning
ultralight in its size that, IMHO, could out-perform my DT-400W on MWDX. Don't get me wrong. The DT-400W is a great DX grabber! It's just that the CCPocket has some bells and whistles that the DT-400W does not have. The CCPocket has a switchable bandwidth (2.5 or 4 kHz) and switchable tuning increments (1 or 10 kHz). It has 5 memory buttons on the front of the radio, plus you can set up a system of memory pages. But I digress. Not being able to use the CCPocket radio was a real bummer. A friend of mine (thanks, Kevin!!) on one of these lists encouraged me to contact CCrane and let them know about the faulty display. So, I did
... A very helpful lady at
CCrane named "Jessica" informed me that, even though my CCPocket radio was definitely out of
warranty, the display should not be acting as it was. She gave me two options. The first was to send my radio back to them and they would send me a new one. The second option was that I could keep my bad radio and buy a new one from them at half-price. So, I chose the second option. I'm now the happy owner of a brand-new CCPocket radio!! I ordered it via their website on 06 Dec and it came via USPS on 10 Dec. How's that for service!! The first one that I bought back in July 2013 came with those "Voz" earbuds which, to me, made things sound muddy. I had to order separately their CCBuds earbuds. They are designed for speech. My new one came bundled with the CCBuds. Cool!! Yes, I am happy! I have my old radio which still works, sort-of, and my new one, which works like a charm! And I don't have to shell out extra money for the CCBuds! As always, YMMV when dealing with companies. I'm pleased that my experience went well. 73 and Good DX, Steve Ponder, N5WBI "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." - Robert
Frost |
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Re: litz wire for FSL antenna
Steve Ratzlaff
The Chinese manufacturer of the Litz was still learning how to make Litz and various colors of silk insulation were used. Chinese Litz was compared to reference Litz from US-manufacturer Kerrigan-Lewis. Q tests using a Q meter like the HP 4342A were done. The earlier colored Chinese Litz was notably inferior. Eventually manufacture of the Litz improved as now, at least the largest sizes like 660/46 from China is somewhat superior to K-L Litz. The insulation color is now neutral. Ming Mak carries only the latest best Chinese Litz. So no matter who sells Litz, if it's Chinese Litz and it's colored, do yourself a favor and pass it by.
I own an HP 4342A Q meter, and have tested both earlier colored Litz and the later neutral color Litz in the big 660/46 size, and the colored Litz was significantly poorer in Q at MW frequencies where this big Litz is normally used.. Steve |
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