Because of reception problems with this location the "Helen" receiver is undergoing single to dual conversion surgery and replacing the 2N3819 based front end to 3N200s for better AGC and intermod response. As much as I dislike digital receivers an SDR final IF/detector based on the Soft66Lite <http://zao.jp/radio/66lite/> will also be added. I've been building my own receivers and such for about 30 years and "Helen" is the 5th generation. Maybe I should make it 6th considering that not much will be left of the first iteration of this model when I'm done.....
I haven't logged much after moving recently because both KELO, 1320 and KSOO, 1140 (both 5KW night) are less than 5 miles away and have nighttime patterns that converge in my back yard. Add to that strong locals at 1000, 1230, 1270 and 1520 with 500W just up the road. The upper end of the MW band is a zoo of whistles. birdies and hum from the 33kV lines on the lot line. Most of it goes away in the 60M band but anything below that is hopeless at the moment. I hope to get that array working again soon. I have an S350DL and a modded DX-160 that usually does very well with the internal loopstick but both are overwhelmed even in my basement shack. The house was built on fill over an old creekbed so sinking a good RF ground should be a breeze once it thaws.
I just got it out of a box after a move and it still needs a bit of work before I put out schematics or details but here's basically how it works.
3 matched 12" ferrite loopsticks with matched MVAM109 varactors are set horizontally in a triangle about 2'on a side (1 foot from one end to center point) with each of them pointing or nulls directed at the center. Variable 10 to 180 Deg. Phase delays, pre-amps and boost/buck switching into a common torroid transformer. With all 3 set to the same phase delay and added the pattern is omnidirectional with no null but with careful tweaking it can be coaxed into a cardioid or lobed pattern. The tweaking part is a real PITA but if/when I get the kinks out I can use a PIC to do my thinking for me.
The stations I mentioned were more likely to be picked up in ON. KMSD and KIFG were frequent catches on 1510 at my old location. I haven't kept a formal log in years but plan to start again once I get the technical problems of this location sorted out. I've never seen a worse place for MWDX but my YL loves the house so it makes her happy and gives me a challenge.
Blessing in disguise maybe, necessity is a Mother after all...... Good Dxing T Hills, Sioux Falls, SD On 3/1/2011 17:24, neilkaz wrote:
Tim, I'm curious about your active antenna array. I could find nothing about it using google. I assume you commonly note KMSD on 1510 with oldies? They are common here with WLAC phased in the evenings. 73& Thx .. KAZ Barrington IL -----Original Message-----From: Tim Hills<thills@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Feb 28, 2011 3:32 PM To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Who's on 1510? Talk radio at my location, Sioux Falls, SD, on 1510 is usually KCTE from Independence, MO. 10 KW daytime only station. Directional antenna and ON would be on or near one of the lobes. KTTT in Columbus, NE is also sometimes heard here with 500W non directional. Also daytime only Hope that helps. Tim Hills //Receiver, "Helen" engineering prototype, Antenna, Centaur 3.2 active array On 3/1/2011 2:35, Saul DX wrote:
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