Re: Anybody get a new radio recently?
Ron Layton <micron327@...>
You can use the hidden features and disconnect the internal antenna and whip. Then plug the shortwave antenna into the jack for the ferrite that plugs into the top of the radio. I've done very well with a 30 foot long wire on SW.
73's
Ron
73's
Ron
Re: Anybody get a new radio recently?
Paul Blundell
Hi James,
Those are all very good points and each of us can approach the hobby in our own way.
The $100 / 20 cubic inch guidelines are only for the awards program, everybody's free to use whatever radios they want for DXing, we don't enforce any limits around the discussion due to size.
I do a mix of both DXing with and without my 3"FSL, I get enjoyment from both methods.
I do a mix of both DXing with and without my 3"FSL, I get enjoyment from both methods.
Paul
On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 3:05 AM James Rohrer <Jim.rohrer1955@...> wrote:
Choosing my next radio has been embarrassingly difficult for me. As I understand the UL guidelines, the radio should be less than $100 and less than 20 cubic inches. My radio now is a Tecsun dr-920c. I have no complaints but want the next one to have buttons for tuning in addition to the knob. Many people supplement the AM antenna with one that clips on or plugs in. Opening up the case is not an option because I would wreck it for sure. Honestly, I am a little uncomfortable with external antennas because they seem to violate the guidelines for size and affordability. Does anybody stick with the stock internal antenna?
A rechargeable battery might be nice but since my regular AAs are lasting a long time, maybe that is not necessary.
--
Paul
Re: Ultralight Radio DXing Go Bag - March 2022
Paul Blundell
I often just throw a radio in my pocket, normally when I take the kids out to the park or a playground.
Paul
On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 12:19 AM FenDrifter via groups.io <essexmarshman=icloud.com@groups.io> wrote:
My own lightweight kit
--
Paul
Re: MASSIVE Power - A little FM DX'ing
Paul Blundell
Those are some crazy power levels.....
Our main TV / FM radio site here TX's like 193KW across the various services.
Paul
Hi all,
Interesting (at least to me!) while FM DX'ing last night...
I live in Michigan (USA) in a very southern area of the state.
So I was surprised last night when I heard an FM Radio station is in a town a little over a hundred miles from me.
Turns out that FM WBCT has the unique distinction of having THE HIGHEST power output of an North American radio station!!!
From Wikipedia:
"WBCT is a Class B "Superpower Grandfathered" station, meaning its power was granted before the Federal Communications Commission set maximum standards for FM radio stations."
It turns out that this town, Grand Rapids, has two other "Superpower Grandfathered" stations in it as well! One at 265,000 watts and one at 96,000 watts. Crazy!
No wonder I could hear it! ;)
Johnny
--
Paul
Re: Ultralight Radio DXing Go Bag - March 2022
Paul Blundell
Some of Gary's FSL's would also fail the "light weight" scale ;)
On Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 12:10 AM FenDrifter via groups.io <essexmarshman=icloud.com@groups.io> wrote:
Paul, I think you misunderstood the term lightweight 😊.
--
Paul
Re: 864 kHz
Mark <metagenetics@...>
Drifter,
Looks like you're part of the ever growing list of v115 haters!
I can also include myself in this list, I'm really not a big fan and only included it in my previous post because it's an ultralight, after all and was successful in picking up 864!
I hope you have better luck with the an 200 in future, I really can't fault mine and to be honest, wouldn't be without it now.
Good luck
Looks like you're part of the ever growing list of v115 haters!
I can also include myself in this list, I'm really not a big fan and only included it in my previous post because it's an ultralight, after all and was successful in picking up 864!
I hope you have better luck with the an 200 in future, I really can't fault mine and to be honest, wouldn't be without it now.
Good luck
Re: Anybody get a new radio recently?
James Rohrer
Choosing my next radio has been embarrassingly difficult for me. As I understand the UL guidelines, the radio should be less than $100 and less than 20 cubic inches. My radio now is a Tecsun dr-920c. I have no complaints but want the next one to have buttons for tuning in addition to the knob. Many people supplement the AM antenna with one that clips on or plugs in. Opening up the case is not an option because I would wreck it for sure. Honestly, I am a little uncomfortable with external antennas because they seem to violate the guidelines for size and affordability. Does anybody stick with the stock internal antenna?
A rechargeable battery might be nice but since my regular AAs are lasting a long time, maybe that is not necessary.
A rechargeable battery might be nice but since my regular AAs are lasting a long time, maybe that is not necessary.
Re: MASSIVE Power - A little FM DX'ing
Peter Laws
On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 9:49 AM Peter Laws via groups.io
<plaws0@...> wrote:
best you can do and most stations are 10 or more dB down from that.
Like AM, just because that's the max legal power doesn't mean any old
station can run that if they have the money.
--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
<plaws0@...> wrote:
Off to dig up the maximum for FM in the US ...100 kW apparently (*files that for future reference*). That's the
best you can do and most stations are 10 or more dB down from that.
Like AM, just because that's the max legal power doesn't mean any old
station can run that if they have the money.
--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
Re: MASSIVE Power - A little FM DX'ing
Peter Laws
On Wed, Mar 9, 2022 at 9:39 AM Johnny via groups.io
<jlochey@...> wrote:
WLW had an STA (or whatever they called it before WW2) for 500 kW and,
IIRC, there were a few others that experimented with Super Power but
those were gone by the 1950s.
If there is an actual FCC cap for FM, I don't know what it is. Pretty
sure there are plenty of 100 kW FMers. But 100 kW on VHF and 100 kW
on MF are two different things.
Also note that I specifically mentioned FCC because *none* of this
applies to other countries. There are *megawatt* stations on the
"standard broadcast" bands in other parts of the world. There used to
be the same on the LW band as well, but I am not certain if those
exist any more - LW stations are going dark quickly.
Off to dig up the maximum for FM in the US ...
--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
<jlochey@...> wrote:
The FCC has capped AM station power at 50 kW for decades and decades.
Hi Martin,
I guess it's just my first exposure to a station with this much power! :)
WLW had an STA (or whatever they called it before WW2) for 500 kW and,
IIRC, there were a few others that experimented with Super Power but
those were gone by the 1950s.
If there is an actual FCC cap for FM, I don't know what it is. Pretty
sure there are plenty of 100 kW FMers. But 100 kW on VHF and 100 kW
on MF are two different things.
Also note that I specifically mentioned FCC because *none* of this
applies to other countries. There are *megawatt* stations on the
"standard broadcast" bands in other parts of the world. There used to
be the same on the LW band as well, but I am not certain if those
exist any more - LW stations are going dark quickly.
Off to dig up the maximum for FM in the US ...
--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!
Re: 864 kHz
FenDrifter
Hi Mark
That’s very informative, thanks. It would appear you’re having more luck with your V-115 than I did, but on the up side, it was the radio that got me started! Mine wasn’t the Retekess, it was I believe the first version sold under another name (can’t remember 😟). It was in the kitchen for a year or two and before I threw it out I thought I’d play with it, and that as they say was that! It now sits in the glove compartment of my car, just in case my 368 isn’t in my pocket 🙂.
I had one of those AN 200 loops but sent it back, I’ll try another one. I have a feeling I might have thought I got Radio Riyadh once, but then discovered that there was another more powerful transmitting on a very close-by frequency. I’m NOT saying that’s what you got, it’s just a stirred memory. Perhaps the info source I used was out of date, because your comment about it being ‘the most powerful’ makes me doubt my recall. Anyway, I’ll definitely tune in that frequency for a while and see what I get. I’ll go and order another AN 200!
Drifter
MASSIVE Power - A little FM DX'ing
Johnny
Hi all,
Interesting (at least to me!) while FM DX'ing last night...
I live in Michigan (USA) in a very southern area of the state.
So I was surprised last night when I heard an FM Radio station is in a town a little over a hundred miles from me.
Turns out that FM WBCT has the unique distinction of having THE HIGHEST power output of an North American radio station!!!
From Wikipedia:
"WBCT is a Class B "Superpower Grandfathered" station, meaning its power was granted before the Federal Communications Commission set maximum standards for FM radio stations."
It turns out that this town, Grand Rapids, has two other "Superpower Grandfathered" stations in it as well! One at 265,000 watts and one at 96,000 watts. Crazy!
No wonder I could hear it! ;)
Johnny
Interesting (at least to me!) while FM DX'ing last night...
I live in Michigan (USA) in a very southern area of the state.
So I was surprised last night when I heard an FM Radio station is in a town a little over a hundred miles from me.
Turns out that FM WBCT has the unique distinction of having THE HIGHEST power output of an North American radio station!!!
From Wikipedia:
"WBCT is a Class B "Superpower Grandfathered" station, meaning its power was granted before the Federal Communications Commission set maximum standards for FM radio stations."
It turns out that this town, Grand Rapids, has two other "Superpower Grandfathered" stations in it as well! One at 265,000 watts and one at 96,000 watts. Crazy!
No wonder I could hear it! ;)
Johnny
Re: 864 kHz
Mark <metagenetics@...>
Hi Drifter,
I'm using a Tecsun AN 200 loop. I've only tried tuning into 864 with the Radiwow R-108 and Retekess V115 ultralights' so far, both with great results.
Radio Riyadh is also a great DX from Saudi on 1521, for me over 4000 miles, but with a remarkable clear signal. Its a powerful station (maybe even the most powerful?) - so another good one to try, if you haven't already.
Cheers,
Mark.
I'm using a Tecsun AN 200 loop. I've only tried tuning into 864 with the Radiwow R-108 and Retekess V115 ultralights' so far, both with great results.
Radio Riyadh is also a great DX from Saudi on 1521, for me over 4000 miles, but with a remarkable clear signal. Its a powerful station (maybe even the most powerful?) - so another good one to try, if you haven't already.
Cheers,
Mark.