[IRCA] Try Something New This DX Season!

[Gary DeBock <d1028gary@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

.If you are looking for some new DXing excitement this season, why not try out one of the DIY antenna projects described in the links below? A great variety of projects are listed, all of which have proven to be popular and effective in the Ultralight Radio DXing community over the past ten years (with the exception of the new XHDATA D-808 "Supercharging" article, which was just written). Whether you would like to "homebrew" a low cost PVC air core loop, transform a modest portable into a dream travel DXing radio or become a "Frequent Flyer" DXer with a miniature FSL antenna that performs like gangbusters on exotic ocean beaches, an exciting DXing future is yours when you accept the challenge. So go ahead and take the plunge!

   
73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)
Ultralight Radio Group Co-Founder


1) Supercharging the Sony ICF-2010 (May 2008)
Using the loopstick transplant principles developed through extensive Ultralight radio experimentation, this article details how to replace the ICF-2010's stock 6.5" loopstick with a 19.5" composite transplant, thereby dramatically boosting MW band sensitivity (while providing a significant boost to Longwave reception as well).
http://www.mediafire.com/file/3msq1yx6hn7tm5g/SuperchargingtheICF2010LargeComplete.pdf

2) E100 Slider Loopstick (September 2008)
Co-authored with John Bryant, this article explains how to replace the E100 stock loopstick with a far more effective 7.5" Slider loopstick. Many of these highly sensitive models are still in DXing service today
http://www.mediafire.com/view/nqggfm2jymc/YOU_CAN_DO_THIS_Building_the_Slider_E100.pdf

3) PVC Loops-- The Low Cost Ticket to High DX Gain (August 2009)
Tired of expensive commercial antennas or pricey ferrite sleeve loops? This article will teach you how to build a dirt-cheap PVC air core loop with side sizes from 18 inches up to 9 feet... all of them (MW models) costing well under $100. The 9' monster size loop was used here to receive 7 Medium Wave TA's in 2009-2010.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/0bpbmda7lnhdy6p/PVCLoop-LCTtoHDXG-Article.doc/file

4) PL-360 Plug-in 7.5" Loopsticks (June 2010)
Do you have a PL-360 model (with its plug-in antenna jack for AM and LW loopsticks)? This article will teach you how to replace the deaf midget loopstick with extremely effective 7.5" Medium Wave and Longwave plug-in replacements-- with no modification required to the radio at all. 25 of the MW and 5 of the LW plug-in loopsticks were made here and sent out to PL-360 owners-- many of which are still in use.
http://www.mediafire.com/view/2cqwsqj0bvajf6k/7.5%20inch-LS.doc

5) 7.5" Longwave Loopsticks (June 2011)
Detailed technical article describing the challenge and success in developing 7.5" Longwave-optimized loopsticks for the Tecsun DSP Ultralights. Includes basic instructions for building your own 7.5" Longwave loopstick PL-380 model
http://www.mediafire.com/view/845snah2h4ek9z9/7.5inLWLS.doc

6) 7" FSL Antenna-- Detailed "Heathkit-like" Construction Article (October 2011)
Build your own 7" Ferrite Sleeve Loop antenna at a cost of under $200. This detailed article has multiple Photoshop-enhanced instructional photos to guide you in creating a highly effective 7" FSL antenna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/dshnqlbydf6qu25/7%20Inch%20Diameter.doc

7) 5" FSL Antenna-- Detailed "Heathkit-like" Construction Article (March 2012)
Build your own 5" Ferrite Sleeve Loop antenna at a cost of under $150. This detailed article has multiple Photoshop-enhanced instructional photos to guide you in creating a highly effective 5" FSL antenna
http://www.mediafire.com/view/9ze98h293s85p86/5%20inch%20FSL.doc

8) Supercharging the PL-380-- Detailed "Heathkit-like" Construction Article (October 2013)
Replace the midget stock loopstick in your Tecsun PL-380 with a far more effective 7.5" Medium Wave or Longwave loopstick transplant-- and enjoy a new level of DXing success. Multiple Photoshop-enhanced assembly photos to guide you in the process of creating your own highly sensitive DXing portable-- for under $100 in assembly parts.
http://www.mediafire.com/view/du3sr5cd9thqvau/7.5inch-LS-PL380.doc

9) 3 inch FSL Tecsun PL-380-- Detailed "Heathkit-like" Construction article (January 2016)
Replace the midget stock loopstick in your Tecsun PL-380 with a compact, lightweight 3" FSL antenna-- externally mounted and optimized for high-level Medium Wave DXing excitement . Multiple Photoshop-enhanced assembly photos guide you in the assembly process.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/w0gcek56f6aq7kr/3_Inch_FSL_Tecsun_PL.doc

10) 3.5 inch (89mm) "Frequent Flyer" FSL Antenna-- Detailed "Heathkit-like" Construction article (July 2017)
Specifically designed to routinely pass through airport security checkpoints and provide high-gain inductive coupling boosts for MW-DXing portables, the "Frequent Flyer" FSL's have already been used in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and Hawaii for some exceptional DXing fun. During a recent visit to the Cook Islands one of these models tracked down 657-AIR (India), 693-Bangladesh, 918-Cambodia, 1431-Mongolia and 1000-Radio Record (Brazil). The detailed article uses multiple Photoshop-enhanced assembly photos to guide you in the construction process- all for about $150 in commonly available parts.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/pnfm8909c77zjoy/3.5inch-FF-FSL.doc

11) Supercharging the XHDATA D-808 AM-LW-FM-SW-AIR SSB Portable (September 2018)
Although the XHDATA D-808 is not an Ultralight Radio, it is a very sensitive AM-DXing portable that can be transformed into a dream AM or Longwave DX-chasing travel radio. It can also be used as an SSB "spotting receiver" on ocean beaches, to track the carrier strength of exotic DX stations for Ultralight Radio reception. "Supercharge" your D-808 with this detailed, illustrated article-- containing 20 pages of clear instructions to guide you in the process! http://www.mediafire.com/file/t2989hg61vbkb5h/Supercharging_the_XHDATA_D_-808-FinalMWLW.doc/file



 

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