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MW/LW reception at sea
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cap_cstorey <cap_cstorey@...>
Not sure if anyone has tried this before but I am taking a 3 day Mexico cruise later this year from Los Angeles (California) to Mazatlan and back. I think I will take my PL380 with me and try my luck at maritime mobile MW DX'ing. Has anyone had any success at this from aboard a cruise ship? What kind of electrical interference did you encounter? Are the Mexican MW stations also on 9khz channel spacing? I'd be interested in LW too, but I don't know if I will have time to add an external 7.5" ferrite antenna to the radio. I am still trying to figure out how/if a swappable MW/LW ferrite can be done and the LW on my 380 is horrible as we all know.
Chris
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kevin asato <kc6pob@...>
Haven't worked BCB DX on board a ship so I can't help there. However; Mexican BCB stations, like the rest of North America, uses a 10KHz channel spacing in the MW band. You may also want to identify yourself and your intentions to the Radio Officer before bringing external antennas or coils up on deck. That way you will not be regarded as a suspicious character should someone report your activities. Don't want details like that ruining a weekend! 73, kevin kc6pob
From: cap_cstorey To: ultralightdx@... Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 10:11 AM Subject: [ultralightdx] MW/LW reception at sea Not sure if anyone has tried this before but I am taking a 3 day Mexico cruise later this year from Los Angeles (California) to Mazatlan and back. I think I will take my PL380 with me and try my luck at maritime mobile MW DX'ing. Has anyone had any success at this from aboard a cruise ship? What kind of electrical interference did you encounter? Are the Mexican MW stations also on 9khz channel spacing? I'd be interested in LW too, but I don't know if I will have time to add an external 7.5" ferrite antenna to the radio. I am still trying to figure out how/if a swappable MW/LW ferrite can be done and the LW on my 380 is horrible as we all know.
Chris
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keith beesley
Chris, All the Americas us 10 kHz spacing, but if you can bring yourself to wake up before dawn while on vacation ;-), you may have a shot at hearing some TPs or DUs, which use 9 kHz, if conditions are favorable. Regards, Keith B.
From: kevin asato <kc6pob@...> To: "ultralightdx@..." Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 12:43 PM Subject: Re: [ultralightdx] MW/LW reception at sea Haven't worked BCB DX on board a ship so I can't help there. However; Mexican BCB stations, like the rest of North America, uses a 10KHz channel spacing in the MW band. You may also want to identify yourself and your intentions to the Radio Officer before bringing external antennas or coils up on deck. That way you will not be regarded as a suspicious character should someone report your activities. Don't want details like that ruining a weekend! 73, kevin kc6pob From: cap_cstorey To: ultralightdx@... Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 10:11 AM Subject: [ultralightdx] MW/LW reception at sea Not sure if anyone has tried this before but I am taking a 3 day Mexico cruise later this year from Los Angeles (California) to Mazatlan and back. I think I will take my PL380 with me and try my luck at maritime mobile MW DX'ing. Has anyone had any success at this from aboard a cruise ship? What kind of electrical interference did you encounter? Are the Mexican MW stations also on 9khz channel spacing? I'd be interested in LW too, but I don't know if I will have time to add an external 7.5" ferrite antenna to the radio. I am still trying to figure out how/if a swappable MW/LW ferrite can be done and the LW on my 380 is horrible as we all know.
Chris
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cap_cstorey <cap_cstorey@...>
While the thought of a 4 foot PVC loop or a long wire are tempting, I think I'd be more afraid of what my fiancé would do to me than the captain! I am hoping that the remote location and being over the water will help compensate for the so-so stock antenna on the Pl380. I am not sure how much DX'ing time I will have but I hope to squeeze in some just to see what it is like on MW at sea.
Thanks for the info about the channel spacing in the Americas.
--- In ultralightdx@..., kevin asato wrote:
> > Haven't worked BCB DX on board a ship so I can't help there. However; Mexican BCB stations, like the rest of North America, uses a 10KHz channel spacing in the MW band. You may also want to identify yourself and your intentions to the Radio Officer before bringing external antennas or coils up on deck. That way you will not be regarded as a suspicious character should someone report your activities. Don't want details like that ruining  a weekend! > > 73, > kevin > kc6pob > > ________________________________ > From: cap_cstorey cap_cstorey@... > To: ultralightdx@... > Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 10:11 AM > Subject: [ultralightdx] MW/LW reception at sea > > >  > Not sure if anyone has tried this before but I am taking a 3 day Mexico cruise later this year from Los Angeles (California) to Mazatlan and back. I think I will take my PL380 with me and try my luck at maritime mobile MW DX'ing. Has anyone had any success at this from aboard a cruise ship? What kind of electrical interference did you encounter? Are the Mexican MW stations also on 9khz channel spacing? I'd be interested in LW too, but I don't know if I will have time to add an external 7.5" ferrite antenna to the radio. I am still trying to figure out how/if a swappable MW/LW ferrite can be done and the LW on my 380 is horrible as we all know. > > Chris >
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On 2011-09-20, at 12:20 PM, cap_cstorey wrote:
Hi ........ I have been on 3 Cruises...and took ULRs along on each one!!! The ship is pretty Noisy electrically....but when you are in Port...you will find it somewhat less noisy. I have found that FM suffers much less than does AM BCB which can be quite noisy. The secret is to get OUTSIDE and as far away as possible from the inner workings of the ship. Usually the TOP DECK at the far ends of the ship are best. I did quite a bit of DXing from our Balcony attached to our room...and that was a LOT better than inside the room. On one Caribbean Cruise I used a Tecsun PL-310 for FM and found that when I leaned the Whip Antenna against the Metal Railing on the balcony..it enhanced the Signal Strength of the FM Stations. The hardest part of DXing on the Cruise Ships....was trying to STAY AWAKE after the Long Fun Filled Days on the ship!! Staying out of the casino onboard will also help your DXing!!! AHHAHHHA.... I always get onboard with Great Hopes of hearing amazing DX while on the cruise...then find myself hardly turning on the Radio!! But that is OK too.....since our Primary Reason for being on the ship is not to DX!!! Have FUN on your cruise...and good DX....... Regards......ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA
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On 2011-09-20, at 12:43 PM, david3752001 wrote:
Aruba is a Real Nice Island too........if you're stopping there!! First time we've ever been on a cruise longer than a week...and it was superb!!! Enjoy your cruise!! 73...ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA
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Michael <michael.setaazul@...>
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Ross" . . . On one Caribbean Cruise I used a Tecsun PL-310 for FM and found that when I leaned the Whip Antenna against the Metal Railing on the balcony..it enhanced the Signal Strength of the FM Stations. . . . Have FUN on your cruise...and good DX....... Regards......ROB VA3SW Robert S. Ross London, Ontario CANADA ------------------------------- I would venture to suggest caution before letting the telescopic antenna touch any metal - just in case there is a jolt to the frontend of the radio, especially if without adequate diode protection... An odd length of wire and crocodile clip or a loose capacitive wrap over the telescopic aerial would be safer. Michael UK
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cap_cstorey <cap_cstorey@...>
I was thinking the same thing,.... on an upper deck, as far to the bow or stern as I can get to try and avoid some of the RF noise… Thanks for the tips!!
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--- In ultralightdx@..., Robert Ross <va3sw@...> wrote:
Hi ........I have been on 3 Cruises...and took ULRs along on each one!!! The ship is pretty Noisy electrically....but when you are in Port...you will find it somewhat less noisy. I have found that FM suffers much less than does AM BCB which can be quite noisy. The secret is to get OUTSIDE and as far away as possible from the inner workings of the ship. Usually the TOP DECK at the far ends of the ship are best. I did quite a bit of DXing from our Balcony attached to our room...and that was a LOT better than inside the room. On one Caribbean Cruise I used a Tecsun PL-310 for FM and found that when I leaned the Whip Antenna against the Metal Railing on the balcony..it enhanced the Signal Strength of the FM Stations.
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