[IRCA] DXing Possibilities Around San Francisco

["Guy Atkins" <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Don,

That's quite an RF-challenged location, but it's great that you're so near
the ocean. I can easily picture the neighborhoods you describe, as my sister
lives in Noe Valley and I've made some trips to your city over the years to
visit.

I think your best bet would be mini-DXpeditions to a park or other area near
the coast that might be a few blocks from power lines and homes. This will
cut the RFI somewhat. Why not power your R8A from a 12vdc outlet in your
car, and set the radio and the Kiwa Loop on a folding chair or table next to
it? There are all sorts of possibilities for a basic setup that you can use
to get going in minutes. Doing this for an hour before dawn could net you
some great catches just a short distance from home. You might also use a
small 12vdc gell cell (like used in alarm system backups) to power the R8A
and Kiwa Loop for a short time; this would allow you to get a distance away
from the car. The biggest problem would be explaining to passersby just what
the &*$#&!* you are doing with that gear outdoors before sunrise! 

If you don't have to reposition the loop often, you could get away with
placing it on the car hood or roof, and just tune the loop's resonance with
the control box inside your vehicle. The passenger seat or dash can hold the
Drake, depending on your preference and space available.

My main point is, don't give up! Here's a photo of the setup I use in a
minivan when I go 12vdc DXpeditioning. Some of the radio gear is different
now, but my basic setup is the same year-to-year:
www.guyatkins.com/files/sdr/mobile_monitoring_post.jpg

73,

Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA
www.sdr-1000.blogspot.com




From: The Casey Family <kaskeyfamily@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [IRCA] A very good morning for TPs
To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <450B5145.E3677293@xxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hi Guy,
I'm located in San Francisco's NW corner, about 15 blocks from The Pacific.
So, if the HNL was missing I should hear a lot of TPs when conditions are
good to excellent. The years 1976-1977 proved that (altho I was 9 blocks
further inland at the time). Houses in this district are smack up against
the neighboring house (on both sides). The house north of me is actually a
small apartment complex, it's entryway sports three large flourescent light
fixtures that are on 24/7. So when I beam NW I catch the full effect. My
best bet is SW/NE but not everything I want to hear is in that direction
:-)....+ there are seemingly a zillion other sources of noise to bug me, a
dozen or more locals for onething + electric streetcar tracks a half/block
away. On the plus side I have a Drake R8A & a Kiwa aircore loop so I can
negate a few of the bad effects, but it is wearing on me of late & my
interest is flagging. Thanks for checking in & keep snagging those goodies.
Don K.


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