Hello Guys,
 
     There are very few experiences in the AM-DX hobby more thrilling than logging your first TA or TP on an Ultralight radio.  As the fall DX season approaches, propagation will slowly improve to make transoceanic stations stronger and stronger.  Already there is much anticipation and discussion in our Ultralightdx group about how to make these thrilling catches.
 
    Obviously, those lucky DXers living near ocean beaches will have the best chances of logging TA's or TP's on Ultralights, but there are certain general guidelines that will increase your odds, no matter where you live.
 
1)  Familiarize yourself with the strongest-signal TA (or TP) stations and their frequencies.  Mark Connelly posted an excellent list of the 18 strongest TA possibilities in a message to Richard Allen on August 27th, complete with extra information on other TA possibilities.   To Mark's outstanding advice, I would submit the following list of great TP possibilities, all of which have been received on a stock ULR here on the west coast:
 
594   JOAK   Tokyo, Japan                 (300 KW)
693   JOAB   Tokyo, Japan                 (500 KW)
747   JOIB     Sapporo, Japan             (500 KW)
774   JOUB    Akita, Japan                 (500 KW)
828   JOBB    Osaka, Japan               (300 KW)
972   HLCA    Dangjin, S. Korea        (1500 KW)
1566 HLAZ     Jeju, S. Korea              (250 KW)
1575 VOA      Ban Rasom, Thailand  (1000 KW)
 
     Of these, the strongest bets are usually JOAK-594, JOIB-747 and JOUB-774.  Choose a few possibilities from this list, according to your local QRM situation.  The stations in S. Korea and Thailand are more challenging than the Japanese stations, but are very possible on stock Ultralights.
 
2)   If you are chasing TA's, you will need to listen around sunset, and if chasing TP's, you will need to lose some sleep like the rest of us by listening around sunrise.  (Note: If you actually end up logging TP's, the loss of sleep is easier to tolerate).
 
3)   Use an SSB-equipped "spotting receiver" to check the signal level of the transoceanic stations you are attempting to log.  Place the SSB receiver (E1, ICF-2010, ICF-SW7600GR etc.) in either USB or LSB mode, and dial in the transoceanic station's frequency. Then offset the dial about 500 Hz, and check the strength of the heterodyne (whistling sound) to see if the station is strong, weak or non-existent.  If you can hear audio on the station's actual frequency (on the SSB receiver in LSB or USB mode), then your Ultralight has a fighting chance to log the TA or TP.
 
4)   Ultralights are always stuck in the AM mode.  For this reason, they have trouble hearing TA's or TP's only 1 or 2 kHz away from strong domestic stations.  If the TA or TP's frequency ends in a 3, 4 or 5, your chances are better than if the transoceanic frequency ends in a 1 or 2.
 
5)   If you live in an east coast or west coast state and can drive to the ocean coast for a DXing session, you will increase your chances of success immeasurably (as long as it is reasonably isolated, without many local stations).  Salt water can make almost any Ultralight perform like a champion.
 
6)   Hot-rodded Ultralights need hot-rodded SSB spotting receivers. These Ultralights (with 7.5" or larger loopsticks) can easily exceed stock SSB receivers in sensitivity. The new E100 Slider Loopstick-equipped models will outperform any stock SSB receiver, making it necessary to use something more sensitive (table receiver with external antennas, or SSB portable with huge loopstick) for best results.
 
7)   Experienced DXers will go out of their way to help you-- feel free to ask questions about languages, programming, ID's, etc.
 
8)  Have fun!  Receiving 3 TP's on a stock SRF-59 is what hooked me on the Ultralight concept.  Be psychologically prepared for a similar transformation in AM-DXing excitement!  :>)
 
73,  Gary DeBock   
  

---

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.

-----Original Message-----
From: John H. Bryant <bjohnorcas@...>
To: ultralightdx@...
Cc: markwa1ion-aol.com <markwa1ion@...>
Sent: Thu, 4 Sep 2008 11:33 pm
Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] Logging Your First Ultralight TA or TP


Gary and Mark C,

Gary, That was an excellent discussion of logging your first TP....
Mark's was excellent, as well, addressing the TAs. 

Would you two mind if I copied your messages, made them into a
reference PDF and put it on dxer.ca under the title "Logging Your First
Trans-Atlantic or Trans-Pacific Station on an Ultralight???

I might add at the bottom that another way is to do the mod to attach
an external antenna directly to the Ultralight... that can really help,
too.


John B.
Orcas Island, WA, USA
Rcvrs: WiNRADiO 313e, Eton e1, Ultralights
Antennas: Two 70' x 100' Conti Super Loops, West and Northwest













At 10:02 PM 9/4/2008 -0400, you wrote:



Hello Guys,
 
     There are very few experiences in the AM-DX hobby more thrilling
than logging your first TA or TP on an Ultralight radio.  As the fall
DX season approaches, propagation will slowly improve to make
transoceanic stations stronger and stronger.  Already there is much
anticipation and discussion in our Ultralightdx group about how to make
these thrilling catches.
=0
A 
    Obviously, those lucky DXers living near ocean beaches will have
the best chances of logging TA's or TP's on Ultralights, but there are
certain general guidelines that will increase your odds, no matter
where you live.
 
1)  Familiarize yourself with the strongest-signal TA (or TP) stations
and their frequencies.  Mark Connelly posted an excellent list of the 18 strongest TA possibilities in a message to Richard Allen on August
27th, complete with extra information on other TA possibilities.   To
Mark's outstanding advice, I would submit the following list of great
TP possibilities, all of which have been received on a stock ULR here
on the west coast:
 
594   JOAK   Tokyo, Japan                 (300 KW)
693   JOAB   Tokyo, Japan                 (500 KW)
747   JOIB     Sapporo, Japan             (500 KW)
774   JOUB    Akita, Japan                 (500 KW)
828   JOBB    Osaka, Japan               (300 KW)
972   HLCA    Dangjin, S. Korea        (1500 KW)
1566 HLAZ     Jeju, S. Korea     0        (250 KW)
1575 VOA      Ban Rasom, Thailand  (1000 KW)
 
     Of these, the strongest bets are usually JOAK-594, JOIB-747 and
JOUB-774.  Choose a few possibilities from this list, according to your
local QRM situation.  The stations in S. Korea and Thailand are more
challenging than the Japanese stations, but are very possible on stock
Ultralights.
 
2)   If you are chasing TA's, you will need to listen around sunset,
and if chasing TP's, you will need to lose some sleep like the rest of
us by listening around sunrise.  (Note: If you actually end up logging
TP's, the loss of sleep is easier to tolerate).
 
3)   Use an SSB-equipped "spotting receiver" to check the signal level
of the transoceanic stations you are attempting to log.  Place the SSB receiver (E1, ICF-2010, ICF-SW7600GR etc.) in either USB or LSB mode,
and dial in the transoceanic station's frequency. Then offset the dial
about 500 Hz, and check the strength of the heterodyne (whistling
sound) to see if the station is strong, weak or non-existent.  If you
can hear audio on the station's actual frequency (on the SSB receiver
in LSB or USB mode), then your Ultralight has a fighting chance to log
the TA or TP.
 
4)   Ultralights are always stuck in the AM mode.  For this reason,
they have trouble hearing TA's or TP's=2
0only 1 or 2 kHz away from strong
domestic stations.  If the TA or TP's frequency ends in a 3, 4 or 5,
your chances are better than if the transoceanic frequency ends in a 1
or 2.
 
5)   If you live in an east coast or west coast state and can drive to
the ocean coast for a DXing session, you will increase your chances of
success immeasurably (as long as it is reasonably isolated, without
many local stations).  Salt water can make almost any Ultralight
perform like a champion.
 
6)   Hot-rodded Ultralights need hot-rodded SSB spotting receivers.
These Ultralights (with 7.5" or larger loopsticks) can easily exceed
stock SSB receivers in sensitivity. The new E100 Slider
Loopstick-equipped models will outperform any stock SSB receiver,
making it necessary to use something more sensitive (table receiver
with external antennas, or SSB portable with huge loopstick) for best
results.
 
7)   Experienced DXers will go out of their way to help you-- feel free
to ask questions about languages, programming, ID's, etc.
 
8)  Have fun!  Receiving 3 TP's on a stock SRF-59 is what hooked me on
the Ultralight concept.  Be psychologically prepared for a similar
transformation in AM-DXing excitement!  :>)
 
73,  Gary DeBock   
  



It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal
here.

An indicator I've used for possible trans-oceanic DX has been the powerful long wave stations in Europe and Siberia. If I can hear them with a strong signal there's a possibility the medium wave stations can be received. One consistent European station has always been Radio France on 162 kHz. However, it's often possible to hear the long wave stations when no medium wave signal here audible.

My biggest problem is I've been away from the hobby for over a decade and it's like learning everything all over again. I just wish the domestic AM band wasn't so crowded.

Good DX,
Richard Allen