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Tecsun PL380
sarmento2k
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
Pollock,Raphael E <rpollock@...>
Hi Sarmento!
Is the “ultralight ferrite loop” a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
Raphael
From:
ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf
Of Sarmento
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order
to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically
coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter
capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give
good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered
as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520
kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get
better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the
ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
pianoplayer88key
I would be interested to know too. Also, Sarmento, you say it doesn't overload the front end of your 7600GR, which is an issue for me with my PL-380. How close are you geographically to your local blowtorches?
I've had my PL-380 for probably several months now. I've noticed that in rural areas (or places where there is no strong signal nearby), the RSSI will be 15dBu when tuned to a frequency on which no station is received. I've even had the RSSI stay at 15dBu, or maybe climb a little to 17dBu, even when a station was strong enough to indicate a SNR of around 17 to 22dB.
Where I live, I have a 5kW IBOC local on 600 kHz about 8 miles west, a 77kW (50kW night) on 690 that's 32 miles south/southwest, a 5kW (50kW night) on 760 that's 7 miles north/northwest, a 5kW on 910 that's 9 miles north, a 10kW on 1130 that's 6 miles north, a 50kW (2.9kW) on 1170 that diplexes with 910, and a 5kW (1kW night) on 1360 that's 8 miles west, along with numerous other weaker signals. The typical RSSI on my PL-380 averages about 30dBu on "blank" channels throughout most of the band, although in the 1100s it will rise to around 41 or 45dBu on, say, 1150 for example. At night, I get 41dBu readings on 747 and 774kHz (on either side of 50kW blowtorch 760), the frequencies of two Japanese TPs, although I've never heard those stations.
Also, my grandparents in San Gabriel, CA, are about 1/3 mile from a 23kW on 1300 and a 50kW on 1430, and 5 miles from a 50kW IBOC on 1110. Last time I was there, the RSSI in the blank channels was 50dBu across almost the entire upper half of the band, and many local stations that should have had a good signal, like 1230, 1260, 1280, 1330, 1390, 1460, etc, were almost unreadable.
I also have another radio which is ultralight-sized and priced, although is not recognized as an ultralight due to the fact that it had already been discontinued several years before the ultralightdx definitions came into existence, and that is the Panasonic RQ-SW20. Before I got my PL-380, I also briefly bought the Sony SRF-M37W, then promptly returned it due to its horrid selectivity. I noted that my Panasonic's selectivity was comparable to that of the Sony I just mentioned.
Several weeks ago, I took my two radios (RQ-SW20 and PL-380) near the transmitter site of a semi-local station, 1kW 1450 KFSD. From about 20 meters from their tower, I compared the reception of several stations on the two radios, and what I learned surprised me. In spite of its worse overall selectivity, it appears that the Panasonic has much better front-end selectivity than the PL-380. There were several moderately readable stations on the RQ-SW20 that were completely unreadable on the PL-380. Examples can be heard at: http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/PL-380%20vs%20RQ-SW20%20comparisons/near%20KFSD%201450%20transmitter
This was in spite of the fact that the PL-380 is normally at least several dB more sensitive than the PL-380, for example locally there's a station on 980 that, while it is weak and kind-of hiding under a 30dBu noise floor on the PL-380, is just about completely unreadable on the RQ-SW20.
Also, I have a Select-A-Tenna, and while it has done fairly well with some things, including enabling me to hear 700 KALL North Salt Lake City in the daytime from about 625 miles away, I still would like something more selective and sensitive. So what's the performance of your ultralight ferrite loop like when used with your PL-380, compared to just the stock barefoot PL-380?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I've had my PL-380 for probably several months now. I've noticed that in rural areas (or places where there is no strong signal nearby), the RSSI will be 15dBu when tuned to a frequency on which no station is received. I've even had the RSSI stay at 15dBu, or maybe climb a little to 17dBu, even when a station was strong enough to indicate a SNR of around 17 to 22dB.
Where I live, I have a 5kW IBOC local on 600 kHz about 8 miles west, a 77kW (50kW night) on 690 that's 32 miles south/southwest, a 5kW (50kW night) on 760 that's 7 miles north/northwest, a 5kW on 910 that's 9 miles north, a 10kW on 1130 that's 6 miles north, a 50kW (2.9kW) on 1170 that diplexes with 910, and a 5kW (1kW night) on 1360 that's 8 miles west, along with numerous other weaker signals. The typical RSSI on my PL-380 averages about 30dBu on "blank" channels throughout most of the band, although in the 1100s it will rise to around 41 or 45dBu on, say, 1150 for example. At night, I get 41dBu readings on 747 and 774kHz (on either side of 50kW blowtorch 760), the frequencies of two Japanese TPs, although I've never heard those stations.
Also, my grandparents in San Gabriel, CA, are about 1/3 mile from a 23kW on 1300 and a 50kW on 1430, and 5 miles from a 50kW IBOC on 1110. Last time I was there, the RSSI in the blank channels was 50dBu across almost the entire upper half of the band, and many local stations that should have had a good signal, like 1230, 1260, 1280, 1330, 1390, 1460, etc, were almost unreadable.
I also have another radio which is ultralight-sized and priced, although is not recognized as an ultralight due to the fact that it had already been discontinued several years before the ultralightdx definitions came into existence, and that is the Panasonic RQ-SW20. Before I got my PL-380, I also briefly bought the Sony SRF-M37W, then promptly returned it due to its horrid selectivity. I noted that my Panasonic's selectivity was comparable to that of the Sony I just mentioned.
Several weeks ago, I took my two radios (RQ-SW20 and PL-380) near the transmitter site of a semi-local station, 1kW 1450 KFSD. From about 20 meters from their tower, I compared the reception of several stations on the two radios, and what I learned surprised me. In spite of its worse overall selectivity, it appears that the Panasonic has much better front-end selectivity than the PL-380. There were several moderately readable stations on the RQ-SW20 that were completely unreadable on the PL-380. Examples can be heard at: http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/PL-380%20vs%20RQ-SW20%20comparisons/near%20KFSD%201450%20transmitter
This was in spite of the fact that the PL-380 is normally at least several dB more sensitive than the PL-380, for example locally there's a station on 980 that, while it is weak and kind-of hiding under a 30dBu noise floor on the PL-380, is just about completely unreadable on the RQ-SW20.
Also, I have a Select-A-Tenna, and while it has done fairly well with some things, including enabling me to hear 700 KALL North Salt Lake City in the daytime from about 625 miles away, I still would like something more selective and sensitive. So what's the performance of your ultralight ferrite loop like when used with your PL-380, compared to just the stock barefoot PL-380?
--- In ultralightdx@..., "Pollock,Raphael E" <rpollock@...> wrote:
Hi Sarmento!
Is the "ultralight ferrite loop" a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
Raphael
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of Sarmento
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
huelbe_garcia@fastimap.com <huelbe_garcia@...>
Hey Sarmento,
one of the cool things those new DSP-based receive have is Signal
Strength and Signal-to-Noise Ratio measurements. So, you can use this
receiver almost as a "measurement instrument" so have a idea on how well
a setup is performing.
--hg
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
one of the cool things those new DSP-based receive have is Signal
Strength and Signal-to-Noise Ratio measurements. So, you can use this
receiver almost as a "measurement instrument" so have a idea on how well
a setup is performing.
--hg
On Thu, 2010-07-22 at 20:18 +0000, Sarmento wrote:
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
sarmento2k
Hi Raphael
It's a tuned loop very light in weight and its sized is fited to mechanicaly couple to the Sony 7600 and Sangean 909. As soon as I receive the 380 I'll get it shorter.
I made a video of the antenna and I'll upload to Youtube Ok?
Regards
Sarmento
Ps: the article posted at the DXCA about changing the stock ferrite coil is very interisting
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
It's a tuned loop very light in weight and its sized is fited to mechanicaly couple to the Sony 7600 and Sangean 909. As soon as I receive the 380 I'll get it shorter.
I made a video of the antenna and I'll upload to Youtube Ok?
Regards
Sarmento
Ps: the article posted at the DXCA about changing the stock ferrite coil is very interisting
--- In ultralightdx@..., "Pollock,Raphael E" <rpollock@...> wrote:
Hi Sarmento!
Is the "ultralight ferrite loop" a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
Raphael
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of Sarmento
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
sarmento2k
Hi Stephen
I live in Rio de Janeiro near lots of super power tx. In a range of mere 10 miles there are 5 transmitters with 100-150-200 kWatts output. Including 4 clear channels that some Qrg are received regular in Europe and also US like 1220 and 1280 kHz and 860 and 940 kHz.
And with 50 kWatts several others.
MW dxing here is a dare and best results only with loop antennas or mini-beverages terminated over ground at the beach during gray line.
I hope within 3 weeks my Tecsun Pl380 arrives to start the tests.
Regards
Sarmento
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
I live in Rio de Janeiro near lots of super power tx. In a range of mere 10 miles there are 5 transmitters with 100-150-200 kWatts output. Including 4 clear channels that some Qrg are received regular in Europe and also US like 1220 and 1280 kHz and 860 and 940 kHz.
And with 50 kWatts several others.
MW dxing here is a dare and best results only with loop antennas or mini-beverages terminated over ground at the beach during gray line.
I hope within 3 weeks my Tecsun Pl380 arrives to start the tests.
Regards
Sarmento
--- In ultralightdx@..., "Stephen" <pianoplayer88key@...> wrote:
I would be interested to know too. Also, Sarmento, you say it doesn't overload the front end of your 7600GR, which is an issue for me with my PL-380. How close are you geographically to your local blowtorches?
I've had my PL-380 for probably several months now. I've noticed that in rural areas (or places where there is no strong signal nearby), the RSSI will be 15dBu when tuned to a frequency on which no station is received. I've even had the RSSI stay at 15dBu, or maybe climb a little to 17dBu, even when a station was strong enough to indicate a SNR of around 17 to 22dB.
Where I live, I have a 5kW IBOC local on 600 kHz about 8 miles west, a 77kW (50kW night) on 690 that's 32 miles south/southwest, a 5kW (50kW night) on 760 that's 7 miles north/northwest, a 5kW on 910 that's 9 miles north, a 10kW on 1130 that's 6 miles north, a 50kW (2.9kW) on 1170 that diplexes with 910, and a 5kW (1kW night) on 1360 that's 8 miles west, along with numerous other weaker signals. The typical RSSI on my PL-380 averages about 30dBu on "blank" channels throughout most of the band, although in the 1100s it will rise to around 41 or 45dBu on, say, 1150 for example. At night, I get 41dBu readings on 747 and 774kHz (on either side of 50kW blowtorch 760), the frequencies of two Japanese TPs, although I've never heard those stations.
Also, my grandparents in San Gabriel, CA, are about 1/3 mile from a 23kW on 1300 and a 50kW on 1430, and 5 miles from a 50kW IBOC on 1110. Last time I was there, the RSSI in the blank channels was 50dBu across almost the entire upper half of the band, and many local stations that should have had a good signal, like 1230, 1260, 1280, 1330, 1390, 1460, etc, were almost unreadable.
I also have another radio which is ultralight-sized and priced, although is not recognized as an ultralight due to the fact that it had already been discontinued several years before the ultralightdx definitions came into existence, and that is the Panasonic RQ-SW20. Before I got my PL-380, I also briefly bought the Sony SRF-M37W, then promptly returned it due to its horrid selectivity. I noted that my Panasonic's selectivity was comparable to that of the Sony I just mentioned.
Several weeks ago, I took my two radios (RQ-SW20 and PL-380) near the transmitter site of a semi-local station, 1kW 1450 KFSD. From about 20 meters from their tower, I compared the reception of several stations on the two radios, and what I learned surprised me. In spite of its worse overall selectivity, it appears that the Panasonic has much better front-end selectivity than the PL-380. There were several moderately readable stations on the RQ-SW20 that were completely unreadable on the PL-380. Examples can be heard at: http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/PL-380%20vs%20RQ-SW20%20comparisons/near%20KFSD%201450%20transmitter
This was in spite of the fact that the PL-380 is normally at least several dB more sensitive than the PL-380, for example locally there's a station on 980 that, while it is weak and kind-of hiding under a 30dBu noise floor on the PL-380, is just about completely unreadable on the RQ-SW20.
Also, I have a Select-A-Tenna, and while it has done fairly well with some things, including enabling me to hear 700 KALL North Salt Lake City in the daytime from about 625 miles away, I still would like something more selective and sensitive. So what's the performance of your ultralight ferrite loop like when used with your PL-380, compared to just the stock barefoot PL-380?
--- In ultralightdx@..., "Pollock,Raphael E" <rpollock@> wrote:
Hi Sarmento!
Is the "ultralight ferrite loop" a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
Raphael
From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of Sarmento
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
To: ultralightdx@...
Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
sarmento2k
Hi Huelbe
Excellent idea.
I hope it will help me with the development and tests of inductive loop antennas.
Regards
Sarmento
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Excellent idea.
I hope it will help me with the development and tests of inductive loop antennas.
Regards
Sarmento
--- In ultralightdx@..., "huelbe_garcia@..." <huelbe_garcia@...> wrote:
Hey Sarmento,
one of the cool things those new DSP-based receive have is Signal
Strength and Signal-to-Noise Ratio measurements. So, you can use this
receiver almost as a "measurement instrument" so have a idea on how well
a setup is performing.
--hg
On Thu, 2010-07-22 at 20:18 +0000, Sarmento wrote:Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
Regards
Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
www.sarmento.net.br
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
sarmento2k
Hi Stephen
I received the PL380 and I'm studying about its RSSI/SNR feature.
I found an interesting review of the PL380 talking a little bit about its concept, and for sure, it will help to measure performance of magnetically coupled antennas.
http://radio-timetraveller.blogspot.com/2010/06/review-of-tecsun-pl-380-dsp-receiver.html
If I understand what you have observed is the supposed poor RF front end when it receives super strong MW signals all over the band, and so, it became less sensitive on some portions of the band.
I'll try to use it with a little external ferrite antenna and see the results.
Where I live, in Rio de Janeiro, there are lots of super stations, one Globo 1220 kHz (200 kWatts) and several other with 100 kWatts (Tupi 1280 kHz, LB 940 kHz, CBN 860 kHz etc) and several with 50 kWatt tx. Some of them are being heard in US and Europe for a long time.
My remote shack is about 40 miles away from downtown, and there is a lake with no more than 2 mile long between the house and the open ocean, there is a good site to MW Dxing (not only far from the pests) but also the very proximity to the ocean, helps a lot.
Now I think I can start using the ultralight concept!
Regards
Sarmento
--- In ultralightdx@..., "Stephen" wrote:
>
> I would be interested to know too. Also, Sarmento, you say it doesn't overload the front end of your 7600GR, which is an issue for me with my PL-380. How close are you geographically to your local blowtorches?
> I've had my PL-380 for probably several months now. I've noticed that in rural areas (or places where there is no strong signal nearby), the RSSI will be 15dBu when tuned to a frequency on which no station is received. I've even had the RSSI stay at 15dBu, or maybe climb a little to 17dBu, even when a station was strong enough to indicate a SNR of around 17 to 22dB.
>
> Where I live, I have a 5kW IBOC local on 600 kHz about 8 miles west, a 77kW (50kW night) on 690 that's 32 miles south/southwest, a 5kW (50kW night) on 760 that's 7 miles north/northwest, a 5kW on 910 that's 9 miles north, a 10kW on 1130 that's 6 miles north, a 50kW (2.9kW) on 1170 that diplexes with 910, and a 5kW (1kW night) on 1360 that's 8 miles west, along with numerous other weaker signals. The typical RSSI on my PL-380 averages about 30dBu on "blank" channels throughout most of the band, although in the 1100s it will rise to around 41 or 45dBu on, say, 1150 for example. At night, I get 41dBu readings on 747 and 774kHz (on either side of 50kW blowtorch 760), the frequencies of two Japanese TPs, although I've never heard those stations.
> Also, my grandparents in San Gabriel, CA, are about 1/3 mile from a 23kW on 1300 and a 50kW on 1430, and 5 miles from a 50kW IBOC on 1110. Last time I was there, the RSSI in the blank channels was 50dBu across almost the entire upper half of the band, and many local stations that should have had a good signal, like 1230, 1260, 1280, 1330, 1390, 1460, etc, were almost unreadable.
>
> I also have another radio which is ultralight-sized and priced, although is not recognized as an ultralight due to the fact that it had already been discontinued several years before the ultralightdx definitions came into existence, and that is the Panasonic RQ-SW20. Before I got my PL-380, I also briefly bought the Sony SRF-M37W, then promptly returned it due to its horrid selectivity. I noted that my Panasonic's selectivity was comparable to that of the Sony I just mentioned.
>
> Several weeks ago, I took my two radios (RQ-SW20 and PL-380) near the transmitter site of a semi-local station, 1kW 1450 KFSD. From about 20 meters from their tower, I compared the reception of several stations on the two radios, and what I learned surprised me. In spite of its worse overall selectivity, it appears that the Panasonic has much better front-end selectivity than the PL-380. There were several moderately readable stations on the RQ-SW20 that were completely unreadable on the PL-380. Examples can be heard at: http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/PL-380%20vs%20RQ-SW20%20comparisons/near%20KFSD%201450%20transmitter
> This was in spite of the fact that the PL-380 is normally at least several dB more sensitive than the PL-380, for example locally there's a station on 980 that, while it is weak and kind-of hiding under a 30dBu noise floor on the PL-380, is just about completely unreadable on the RQ-SW20.
>
> Also, I have a Select-A-Tenna, and while it has done fairly well with some things, including enabling me to hear 700 KALL North Salt Lake City in the daytime from about 625 miles away, I still would like something more selective and sensitive. So what's the performance of your ultralight ferrite loop like when used with your PL-380, compared to just the stock barefoot PL-380?
>
> --- In ultralightdx@..., "Pollock,Raphael E" rpollock@ wrote:
> >
> > Hi Sarmento!
> >
> > Is the "ultralight ferrite loop" a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
> >
> > Raphael
> >
> > From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of Sarmento
> > Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
> > To: ultralightdx@...
> > Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
> >
> > I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
> >
> > I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
> >
> > Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
> > www.sarmento.net.br
> >
>
>
> I would be interested to know too. Also, Sarmento, you say it doesn't overload the front end of your 7600GR, which is an issue for me with my PL-380. How close are you geographically to your local blowtorches?
> I've had my PL-380 for probably several months now. I've noticed that in rural areas (or places where there is no strong signal nearby), the RSSI will be 15dBu when tuned to a frequency on which no station is received. I've even had the RSSI stay at 15dBu, or maybe climb a little to 17dBu, even when a station was strong enough to indicate a SNR of around 17 to 22dB.
>
> Where I live, I have a 5kW IBOC local on 600 kHz about 8 miles west, a 77kW (50kW night) on 690 that's 32 miles south/southwest, a 5kW (50kW night) on 760 that's 7 miles north/northwest, a 5kW on 910 that's 9 miles north, a 10kW on 1130 that's 6 miles north, a 50kW (2.9kW) on 1170 that diplexes with 910, and a 5kW (1kW night) on 1360 that's 8 miles west, along with numerous other weaker signals. The typical RSSI on my PL-380 averages about 30dBu on "blank" channels throughout most of the band, although in the 1100s it will rise to around 41 or 45dBu on, say, 1150 for example. At night, I get 41dBu readings on 747 and 774kHz (on either side of 50kW blowtorch 760), the frequencies of two Japanese TPs, although I've never heard those stations.
> Also, my grandparents in San Gabriel, CA, are about 1/3 mile from a 23kW on 1300 and a 50kW on 1430, and 5 miles from a 50kW IBOC on 1110. Last time I was there, the RSSI in the blank channels was 50dBu across almost the entire upper half of the band, and many local stations that should have had a good signal, like 1230, 1260, 1280, 1330, 1390, 1460, etc, were almost unreadable.
>
> I also have another radio which is ultralight-sized and priced, although is not recognized as an ultralight due to the fact that it had already been discontinued several years before the ultralightdx definitions came into existence, and that is the Panasonic RQ-SW20. Before I got my PL-380, I also briefly bought the Sony SRF-M37W, then promptly returned it due to its horrid selectivity. I noted that my Panasonic's selectivity was comparable to that of the Sony I just mentioned.
>
> Several weeks ago, I took my two radios (RQ-SW20 and PL-380) near the transmitter site of a semi-local station, 1kW 1450 KFSD. From about 20 meters from their tower, I compared the reception of several stations on the two radios, and what I learned surprised me. In spite of its worse overall selectivity, it appears that the Panasonic has much better front-end selectivity than the PL-380. There were several moderately readable stations on the RQ-SW20 that were completely unreadable on the PL-380. Examples can be heard at: http://cid-6bdd1917662288cb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/AM%20radio%20files/PL-380%20vs%20RQ-SW20%20comparisons/near%20KFSD%201450%20transmitter
> This was in spite of the fact that the PL-380 is normally at least several dB more sensitive than the PL-380, for example locally there's a station on 980 that, while it is weak and kind-of hiding under a 30dBu noise floor on the PL-380, is just about completely unreadable on the RQ-SW20.
>
> Also, I have a Select-A-Tenna, and while it has done fairly well with some things, including enabling me to hear 700 KALL North Salt Lake City in the daytime from about 625 miles away, I still would like something more selective and sensitive. So what's the performance of your ultralight ferrite loop like when used with your PL-380, compared to just the stock barefoot PL-380?
>
> --- In ultralightdx@..., "Pollock,Raphael E" rpollock@ wrote:
> >
> > Hi Sarmento!
> >
> > Is the "ultralight ferrite loop" a tuned or an unturned loop? Could you post some details of construction?
> >
> > Raphael
> >
> > From: ultralightdx@... [mailto:ultralightdx@...] On Behalf Of Sarmento
> > Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 3:18 PM
> > To: ultralightdx@...
> > Subject: [ultralightdx] Tecsun PL380
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi, I've just purchased a Tecsun PL380 in order to have it tested for MW Dxing. I mainly intend to use it with magnetically coupling loops, both ferrite and air coil.
> >
> > I have read something about it, and I wonder about using its narrow filter capability through DSP together with a high selective loop antenna could give good results.
> >
> > I made another experimental loop antenna which I think it could be considered as a "ultralight ferrite loop" using Litz wire and covering from 520 kHz to 1700 kHz. Using it with a Sony 7600GR has proven to be adequate to get better signal level and selectivity without front-end overload.
> >
> > Main consideration here is performance and portability for MW dxing using the ultralight concept.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Sarmento Campos - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
> > www.sarmento.net.br
> >
>