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Re: High Altitude DX site Selection - Opinions wanted
Hi John,
<<< So what I want opinions on is what is most likely to be best for MW DX (southerly DX and maybe even a chance at TP ideally)? Higher elevation with views of Denver metro area (and probably associated RFI) or lower elevation but being blocked on three sides from RFI with opening to the south? Which of these would be better for DX? Both of these location are roughly the same distance from home but Guanella Pass would be easier access. >>>
If your ideal scenario is to chase TP's during this high-altitude DXpedition I can offer you a few tips, although most of my own experience has been to chase South Pacific DX on sheer Oregon coast cliffs-- with the cliff face directed toward the desired DX direction. Over the summer this bizarre method was successful to the point of repeatedly testing the "crunch resistance" of my PL-380 (and motivating several of the Perseus-SDR DXers to secure their own FSL antennas, and plan the same type of DXing).
As you consider the selection between your two possible DXpedition locations, if at all possible, you visit Jones Pass and ensure that there is no RFI from the high tension power line crossing the mountains. RFI of any type can be a real deal-breaker during DXpeditions, and ruin the entire experience. If possible, take your barefoot PL-380 up to the site, tune to a clear frequency, max out the volume, and rotate the radio several times to see if any noise source is peaking at a certain bearing. This can save you from some serious grief, if the site has RFI issues.
As for the site selection itself, I would personally avoid any site like Guanella Pass which has high ridges on 3 sides-- unless the open side (facing south) is your direction of choice for weak-signal DX reception during this trip. Reception of Asiatic TP's would be very unlikely at that site, although you might have a chance at 738-Tahiti if aurora conditions are in effect. If your dream DXing direction is toward the northwest (for Asiatic TP's), I would recommend that you set up around Jones Pass on a site with a mountain between your DXing spot and the southeast direction-- after ensuring that there is no RFI hash to ruin weak signals. Good luck!
73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
Oregon Cliff Fanatic
-----Original Message----- From: kugellagers <kugellager@...> To: ultralightdx Sent: Sat, Sep 22, 2012 10:28 am Subject: [ultralightdx] High Altitude DX site Selection - Opinions wanted Since last year at about this time I have been milling about doing an overnight DXpedition to one of our high mountain passes here in Colorado before the snow closes them in a couple of weeks. I intend to bring my PL-280 with 7.5" loopstick and pair of inductively coupled verticals I plan to phase with my quantum phaser.
My original Dx location was a remote site called Jones Pass I hvae been to a couple of times in my Jeep. Location: Jones Pass, CO - (39.773885°N, -105.889362°W) Elevation: roughly 12,500ft/3790m Description: Rough forest road to location with potential for 4-wheel drive needed (not an issue) On a ridge that runs roughly north-south with view of Denver metro area to the east and mountains in all other directions. Nearest potential RFI sources:High tension powerline crossing mountains that gets as close as 1/2 mile. Large Molybdenum mine just under two miles away. I don't think Denver area will be shielded as it is visible from location. Nearby surrounding mountains are up to 13,000ft/3940m +. Weather issues: It has potential to be very windy and get snow. Positives: Remote location and very high eleveation to experiment with and get above the terrain. Better remoteness from people to be a radio geek without being bothered. Low potential for RFI. Negatives: More remote and more potential for bad weather as well as being more difficult to get to than Guanella Pass. The second location which I recently re-discovered is Guanella pass. Location: Guanella Pass, CO - (39.597158°N, -105.712482°W) Elevation: 11,670ft/3540m Description: Newly paved two-lane road and parking area at the pass. Location is a wide flatish valley with mountains to the west (1 mile), north (1.5 miles)and East that opens toward the south. Denver metro area is blocked by 14,000ft/4240m + ridge 2.5-3 miles due east. Kind of a rounded "V" shaped area that opens toward the south. Nearest potential RFI sources. No electrical lines nearer than about 3.5 miles. Hydroelectric power plant located about 3.8 miles to the north. Weather issues: Potential to be very windy and get snow but less so than Jones Pass location. Positives. Remote location but not as remote (people access-wise) as Jones Pass. Theoretically better RFI situation than Jones Pass. Denver and most front range radio stations will be blocked by mountains to the east. Less potential for bad weather. US National Forest styled pit-toilet adjacent to parking area ;'D Negatives: More likely to be bothered by people. Surrounded on three sides by high ridges - But is this actually a positive? Potential for bad weather. So what I want opinions on is what is most likely to be best for MW DX (southerly DX and maybe even a chance at TP ideally)? Higher elevation with views of Denver metro area (and probably associated RFI) or lower elevation but being blocked on three sides from RFI with opening to the south? Which of these would be better for DX? Both of these location are roughly the same distance from home but Guanella Pass would be easier access. Take a look athe locations in Google earth to see what I mean. You can pull the "street view icon" to the coordinates I gave for each to see what it looks like from the ground mountain-wise. Then I just have to make the time to do it. John ];') Lakewood, Colorado Tecsun PL-380 w/7.5" Loopstick
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Re: BOG questions- FARMERIK
Rik
It looks like I am using the same ferrite cores K1FZ uses, but I have no idea how to estimate the impedance of my short BOG accurately. Soil is rocky and pretty well drained except for one dip, and I live where there is regular rain/snow fall.
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It points in the opposite direction of most stations due to my property shape,so I need to use it unterminated or 'off the back'. I don't have test equipment other than DVM's and an LC meter. I guess if 4:1 works much better than 10:1 it will tell me something after I have a ground connection out there. THANKS AGAIN! - FARMERIK
--- In ultralightdx@..., "farmerik" <farmerik@...> wrote:
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Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-22
Hello All,
Like others have reported, it was very slim pickings for Asiatic TP signals this morning as only the big guns managed any audio. In comparison to yesterday signals seemed very anemic, and you needed to be on the right frequency at the right time to hear any TP much above the noise level. Results here were very similar to Dennis' report-- 10 big gun TP's managed poor to fair audio, the best of which was 639-CNR1 (only because it rules the roost here on a clear frequency, after KFI fades out around 1335). 594 JOAK Tokyo, Japan Poor-fair Japanese male conversation at
1318; best NHK signal of the morning
603 UnID Weak Chinese-sounding music around 1342; presumed
to be the "new" big gun Hulun Buir
639 CNR1 China Synchros Poor-Fair Chinese YL speech at 1345
after KFI fade; clearest TP signal of the morning
738 BEL2 Penghu, Taiwan Poor strength wisps of Chinese male
speech at 1348
747 JOIB Sapporo, Japan Poor-fair Japanese OM speech in
Portland splatter 1309
936 Anhui, China Poor strength Chinese music and speech at 1328
972 HLCA Dangjin, S. Korea Korean YL conversation poor at 1330
1053 Korean Jammer Not as vibrant as usual this morning at 1333
1566 HLAZ Jeju, S. Korea Poor Japanese program speech at 1303
1575 VOA Ban Rassom, Thailand Poor Asiaitic YL speech at 1301
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
7.5" MW loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight +
8" Medium Wave FSL
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Re: BOG questions- FARMERIK
Rik
THANKS!
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I will try the 4:1 balun first, since I have extra, and Google K1FZ. Also order what I need for a ground out at the antenna balun. I don't really understand what is important with a BOG. I went on line and read everything I could from anyone USING a short BOG who also had a good log book of stations, and tried to copy them. Some say 50 feet or more of buried co-ax is a better ground than rods, but others do not agree. I had to bury the co-ax to get across my lawn anyway, so I gave the idea a try. -FARMERIK
--- In ultralightdx@..., neilkaz <neilkaz@...> wrote:
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Re: High Altitude DX site Selection - Opinions wanted
neilkaz <neilkaz@...>
I would brush up on my Spanish since most of your DX will be from the south and go to Guanella pass for the blockage of Denver area. 73 KAZ
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-----Original Message-----
From: kugellagers <kugellager@...>
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High Altitude DX site Selection - Opinions wanted
kugellagers
Since last year at about this time I have been milling about doing an overnight DXpedition to one of our high mountain passes here in Colorado before the snow closes them in a couple of weeks. I intend to bring my PL-280 with 7.5" loopstick and pair of inductively coupled verticals I plan to phase with my quantum phaser.
My original Dx location was a remote site called Jones Pass I hvae been to a couple of times in my Jeep. Location: Jones Pass, CO - (39.773885°N, -105.889362°W) Elevation: roughly 12,500ft/3790m Description: Rough forest road to location with potential for 4-wheel drive needed (not an issue) On a ridge that runs roughly north-south with view of Denver metro area to the east and mountains in all other directions. Nearest potential RFI sources:High tension powerline crossing mountains that gets as close as 1/2 mile. Large Molybdenum mine just under two miles away. I don't think Denver area will be shielded as it is visible from location. Nearby surrounding mountains are up to 13,000ft/3940m +. Weather issues: It has potential to be very windy and get snow. Positives: Remote location and very high eleveation to experiment with and get above the terrain. Better remoteness from people to be a radio geek without being bothered. Low potential for RFI. Negatives: More remote and more potential for bad weather as well as being more difficult to get to than Guanella Pass. The second location which I recently re-discovered is Guanella pass. Location: Guanella Pass, CO - (39.597158°N, -105.712482°W) Elevation: 11,670ft/3540m Description: Newly paved two-lane road and parking area at the pass. Location is a wide flatish valley with mountains to the west (1 mile), north (1.5 miles)and East that opens toward the south. Denver metro area is blocked by 14,000ft/4240m + ridge 2.5-3 miles due east. Kind of a rounded "V" shaped area that opens toward the south. Nearest potential RFI sources. No electrical lines nearer than about 3.5 miles. Hydroelectric power plant located about 3.8 miles to the north. Weather issues: Potential to be very windy and get snow but less so than Jones Pass location. Positives. Remote location but not as remote (people access-wise) as Jones Pass. Theoretically better RFI situation than Jones Pass. Denver and most front range radio stations will be blocked by mountains to the east. Less potential for bad weather. US National Forest styled pit-toilet adjacent to parking area ;'D Negatives: More likely to be bothered by people. Surrounded on three sides by high ridges - But is this actually a positive? Potential for bad weather. So what I want opinions on is what is most likely to be best for MW DX (southerly DX and maybe even a chance at TP ideally)? Higher elevation with views of Denver metro area (and probably associated RFI) or lower elevation but being blocked on three sides from RFI with opening to the south? Which of these would be better for DX? Both of these location are roughly the same distance from home but Guanella Pass would be easier access. Take a look athe locations in Google earth to see what I mean. You can pull the "street view icon" to the coordinates I gave for each to see what it looks like from the ground mountain-wise. Then I just have to make the time to do it. John ];') Lakewood, Colorado Tecsun PL-380 w/7.5" Loopstick
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Re: BOG questions- FARMERIK
neilkaz <neilkaz@...>
It sounds to me like the problems are that you don't have a separate ground connection for your 10:1 balun. 10:1 is too high for a BOG but that shouldn't cause the huge loss in signal strength you're experiencing. I'd suggest either rolling your own balun in the 4 or 5:1 range or buying one from a vendor like K1FZ. I have four of his flag/pennant xfmrs and they work great and are well made.
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Hmm...it sounds like you already have a 4:1 balun. If that can take a ground connection, I'd suggest trying to replace the 10:1 balun with that 4:1 and pounding in a ground rod for that balun and then connecting the coax directly to a 50 ohm input on one of your rx's. As always when using a balun and running coax back into your shack, debug things one step at a time. 73 KAZ
-----Original Message-----
From: farmerik <farmerik@...>
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BOG questions- FARMERIK
Rik
My new 500 foot BOG, connected with a 10:1 balun to about 75 feet of buried co-ax, and then about 50 feet more co-ax near ground level and up through a second floor window has a great S/N ratio, but does not have nearly the signal strength of my temporary 500 foot BOG antennas which did not use co-ax.
At the moment I have it working quite well for modest DXing connected to tube radios with a 4:1 balun at the back of each set. Not a massive signal like before though. Direct connection to my ICOM R-75 [50 Ohm input] and ALINCO DX-R8 or my SONY '7600GR to the co-ax has much weaker signal strength, but great S/N ratio. Much WORSE than the internal ferrite bar in the SONY during the afternoon, no DX signals at all. I suppose the 10:1 balun between the BOG wire and co-ax could be too high a ratio. It is a commercial model, without a separate ground connection, and using more than 50 feet of buried co-ax feed line as a ground is controversial, how ever, the shield IS is a very quiet ground for my radios when a different antenna is used. Anyone using BOG antennas have any suggestions for me? -FARMERIK
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India on my pocket radio
patrice.privat
Hi
short video of Air India Radio (A.I.R), Rajkot,
State of Gujerat
on 1071 khz AM, heard on my ultralight Tecsun (no
antenna)
Amazing reception 6,584 km distance !!
Signal defeats Talksport Newcastle (on the same
frequency).
Pat
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Hello from Cupids / Bristol's Hope, Newfoundland
Allen Willie
Hello to the Group
Nice catch on hearing India on 1071 Patrice , we here in Bristol's Hope have also heard that one via the ultralights as well. Since last Saturday we have been involved in a housesitting/puppy delivery adventure in Cupids, Newfoundland which is a small community away from Bristol's Hope. We may be there for the next two months depending on circumstances as they unfold. When there's a chance we will send in logs from that location when we can or when I return occasionally to check on the property here from time to time. Hope everyone has a great fall DX season upcoming Allen Willie / Dianne Froude Bristol's Hope / Cupids Newfoundland
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Re: Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-21-12
bbwrwy
Gary:
No signals from across the Pacific were heard at my QTH this morning. But there were signs of improvement from yesterday morning. Good DX. Richard. Richard Allen, near Perry OK USA.
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Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-21
Hello All,
Fairly normal Asiatic conditions returned here this morning, and as a result, 738-Tahiti audio was long gone. The Japanese big guns were still down a little in strength, but the Korean big guns (on 972, 1053 and 1566 kHz) were vibrant indeed, and had the best TP signals of the morning. There was fair reception of the Chinese big guns on 603, 639, 936 and 1044 kHz (although below their typical signal levels) and also 738-BEL2 in Taiwan. At 1313 UTC I apparently heard the same 1566-HLAZ fade-in that Dennis noticed at 1314, and was able to make a recording of the Korean FEBC station's Japanese Christian drama program. 558 HLQH Daegu, S. Korea Weak Korean speech in KPQ splatter
around 1302; unable to check 603 //
594 JOAK Tokyo, Japan Fair male-female Japanese speech 1312
603 Hulun Buir, China Poor-fair Chinese YL speech and music 1339
639 CNR1 China Synchros Fair male-female Chinese speech in KFI
splatter at 1325
657 Pyongyang, N. Korea Muffled Korean OM tirades in the noise
at 1342, and throughout most of sunrise enhancement
738 BEL2 Penghu, Taiwan Poor-fair Chinese OM speech at 1345
747 JOIB Sapporo, Japan Good strength Chinese language
lessons in 750-Portland splatter at 1338
774 JOUB Akita, Japan Fair-good signals buried in KTTH splatter
828 JOBB Osaka, Japan Poor Chinese language lessons at 1332
936 Anhui, China Chinese YL speech and music fair at 1336
972 HLCA Dangjin, S. Korea Strong Korean YL speech at 1328 in
1044 CRI Jiangsu, China Poor-fair Japanese external program 1311
1053 Korean Jammer Pounding in with a serious buzz at 1334
1134 KBS Hwaseong, S. Korea (presumed) fair music in domestic
splatter around 1340
1566 HLAZ Jeju, S. Korea Fair-good strength Japanese Christian
male-female drama program around 1313
1575 VOA Ban Rassom, Thailand Poor-fair Asiatic language YL
speech around 1305
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
7.5" MW loopstick Tecsun PL-380 Ultralight +
8" Medium Wave FSL antenna
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Re: Shortwave daddy SI4735
Tudor Vedeanu
The SI4734 chip is used in several Tecsun radios like PL-310, PL-380, PL-398. SI4735 has an additional feature: RDS decoding capability on FM.
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I have a Tecsun PL-398MP radio. While it does work pretty well, especially on FM, it's not so great for DX-ing because it mutes weak signals. I don't know if the Shortwave Daddy kit is any better, but I see it's much more expensive than a Tecsun radio (which does not need a computer to function, BTW). -- Tudor Vedeanu (Gura Humorului, Romania)
On Friday, September 21, 2012 at 6:10 AM, Ron S wrote:
article in October 2012 issue of Monitoring Times magazine pg. 70 describes an experimenters kit($234.99) or assembled ($289.99),using the Silicon labs SI4735 DSP chip. no case appears to be available & kit does not do SSB. it may be of interest to some of you if cost is no problem. www.shortwavedaddy.com (http://www.shortwavedaddy.com)
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Re: Radio Shack – 12-586 pocket radio
Vimal
Refer to my earlier post on radio shack pocket radio 12-586 as
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above.My observation proves that it's a silicon chip Si4831-B30 based mechanical tuning AM/FM Radio receiver,similar to Kaito KA321(Degen DE321). So we have a DSP radio in disguise from RADIO SHACK. http://www.silabs.com/Support%20Documents/TechnicalDocs/Si4831-35-B30.pdf To see internal picture of 12-586,see attachments
On 9/19/12, Vimal <sumanmed@...> wrote:
Steve,KA321 internal pictures posted by Berry today, are strikingly
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Shortwave daddy SI4735
ronshire2000
article in October 2012 issue of Monitoring Times magazine pg. 70 describes an experimenters kit($234.99) or assembled ($289.99),using the Silicon labs SI4735 DSP chip. no case appears to be available & kit does not do SSB. it may be of interest to some of you if cost is no problem. www.shortwavedaddy.com
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AIR-1071
patrice.privat
Hi
Rajkot , Gujarat (1000 kw) loud and clear
tonight 1930 UTC on my ultralight (Tecsun PL380).
Did not even have to unfold the telescopic, 100%
barefoot, good signal, and taped on video.
My ulr station # 324
I'd bet it's audible from Newfoundland and
beyond.
Pat
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Re: Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-20
maurits <mauritsvandriessche@...>
Many thanks for the tip Gary CU
also on Facebook
Good DX Maurits
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Re: Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-20
Hello Maurits,
<<< do you using for antenna litze the type 600/44 ? >>>
Yes, the 8" DXpedition FSL antenna that I use for Medium Wave DXing this season (and that I used for two summer Oregon Cliff DXpeditions this year) has 14 turns of 660/44 Litz wire. Unfortunately, this extremely large (and sensitive) Litz wire is not sold on eBay any longer. The eBay supplier that sold the 660/44 Litz wire to me last winter (Scott Lowe) is no longer selling Litz wire on eBay. The slightly smaller 660/46 Litz wire is still available on eBay, and provides DXing sensitivity almost as good as the 660/44 Litz wire when it is used in the FSL antennas.
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
-----Original Message----- From: maurits To: ultralightdx Sent: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 8:46 am Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-20 Hi Gary ,do you using for antenna
litze the type 600/44 ? I see you can only buy it on Ebay in
the US ,so nothing in Europe or here in Belgium .
Nice logs ,noisy band the last two weeks here Take care 73, Maurits Belgium
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Re: Puyallup, WA Ultralight TP's for 9-20
maurits <mauritsvandriessche@...>
Hi Gary ,do you using for antenna
litze the type 600/44 ? I see you can only buy it on Ebay in
the US ,so nothing in Europe or here in Belgium .
Nice logs ,noisy band the last two weeks here Take care 73, Maurits Belgium
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Re: Oklahoma TP DX 9/20/12
Hello KAZ,
The auroral conditions seem to be just getting started here, but if they continue to pick up, 738-Tahiti and the other DU's may be pretty solid for you and Tim tomorrow morning (and maybe even for Richard, with luck). Unlike other west coast locations, this "DU dead spot" never receives Tahiti audio on 738 unless something very unusual is going on.
73, Gary
-----Original Message----- From: neilkaz To: ultralightdx Sent: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 7:42 am Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] Oklahoma TP DX 9/20/12 KAZ didn't DX this morning as last night there was bad storm QRN on his west antenna as well as high winds so I slept in, expecting too much QRN. Anyhow, and noting that my equipment certainly superior to even the best ULR/FSL combo, I can drag up at least trace audio on 738 about half the mornings I've tried this season. On the best mornings, there's been a decent het on the car rx when Tahiti peaks around sunrise.
73 KAZ Barrington IL -----Original Message----- >From: D1028Gary@... >Sent: Sep 20, 2012 9:01 AM >To: ultralightdx@... >Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] Oklahoma TP DX 9/20/12 > > >Hi Richard, > ><<< Propagation conditions this morning were quite different from the past few days. >>> > >Yes, things were quite a bit different here on the coast, as well. 738-Tahiti was in with rare audio here, a sure sign of auroral conditions taking over. Maybe Tim Tromp in Michigan and Kaz in Illinois had a chance at it? Only the "big gun" Asiatic TP's managed any audio here this morning. > >73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA) > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: RichardA <richarda@...> >To: ultralightdx <ultralightdx@...> >Sent: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 6:50 am >Subject: [ultralightdx] Oklahoma TP DX 9/20/12 > > > > > >Propagation conditions this morning were quite different from the past few days. The normally heard Canadian stations (CBK, CBW & CKRM) were noticeably silent. And there was no trace of signals from Asia. Only hets from the west southwest on 558 (4JK?) and 702 (2BL?) were audible. The latter had adjacent channel QRM from 700 XEDKR, Tonala, Jalisco, "Radio Red". > >Receiver: PL-310 with 7.5" (19 cm) ferrite loop antenna. > >Good DX. > >Richard. > >Richard Allen, >near Perry OK USA. > > > > > > >
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