Hi all,

What would one expect if they switched to 9 khz AM band channel spacing in the US on the Ultralight radio?

I have never even thought to do it...


Johnny

Hi Paul,

Michigan, USA

No external antenna planned.

Thx!


J

On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 12:48 PM Johnny via groups.io
<jlochey=yahoo.com@groups.io> wrote:

What would one expect if they switched to 9 khz AM band channel spacing in the US on the Ultralight radio?

Every 10th channel would be clear? :-)

If you are in a location that can receive "TA" or "TP" stations, it's
probably worth a listen to see if you can hear any DX on the 9-kHz
channels. Every 10th channel -- i.e., every 90 kHz -- the two channel
schemes meet and you are unlikely to hear anything but a domestic
station on those channels

Seems like one of my non-ultralight receivers (he said, noting which
list he's replying to) erased all the memories I had set up on the
band when I switched to 9-kHz steps - be forewarned. I don't think my
Tecsun PL-606 does that but don't remember. If it hits 60 F here
today, and it's headed that way, I may take the PL-606 out on the deck
while I work and will test.


--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!

On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:25 PM Peter Laws via groups.io
<plaws0=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:

If you are in a location that can receive "TA" or "TP" stations, it's
probably worth a listen to see if you can hear any DX on the 9-kHz
channels. Every 10th channel -- i.e., every 90 kHz -- the two channel
schemes meet and you are unlikely to hear anything but a domestic
station on those channels

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q6On6hYRBcy14v-1LVW5oXGJhmU7L08o0jbNOElEN7g/edit?usp=sharing

I forgot I'd made this. Good I found it before making another! Shows
how both channel schemes mesh.



--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the great explanation!

We're at a balmy 37 here, but no complaints, the other morning it was 3 little degrees!

I'll give the 9 khz spacing a try!


J

Yeah, I'm not getting my hopes up!  ;)


J

On Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:25 PM Peter Laws <plaws0@gmail.com> wrote:

Seems like one of my non-ultralight receivers (he said, noting which
list he's replying to) erased all the memories I had set up on the
band when I switched to 9-kHz steps - be forewarned. I don't think my
Tecsun PL-606 does that but don't remember. If it hits 60 F here
today, and it's headed that way, I may take the PL-606 out on the deck
while I work and will test.

Made it to 60 F (just) and fiddled with the PL-606 a bit on the back
deck. Switching steps from 10 to 9 didn't erase the memory presets but
did also change the lower end of FM broadcast to 64 MHz and the
thermometer to degrees C!

I can't recall if it's the default, but the PL-606 tunes in 1-kHz
steps *anyway* unless you start thumbing the wheel quickly and then it
moves by 10 kHz or 9 kHz per step.



--
Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train!

Although if the radio has a fine tuning mode (1 KHz steps) you could still tune everything. It's just in fast mode where 9 KHz steps vs 10 K makes a difference.

Jay

Great point Jay!