[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: [IRCA] AM BCB antenna system. Advice requested
- Subject: Re: [IRCA] AM BCB antenna system. Advice requested
- From: "Les Rayburn" <les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:46:15 -0600
Larry,
Welcome to the ranks of hams who are also AM DX'ers! Like many hams, I had
promised myself that "someday" I'd get serious about AM DXing...that day
finally came about four years ago. Since then, it's grown to dominate my
hobby time, and I really enjoy it.
I am the owner of an Icom 746-Pro, which I really love (many don't though)
and think it's a great receiver for BCB. Your Yaesu is going to rock too, so
no worries there. Sensitivity is something a lot of folks worry about on the
AM band, but it's rarely the limiting factor. Unlike the ham bands, the AM
band is filled with weak signals surrounded by much stronger signals.
Dynamic range is the most important performance measurement on an receiver.
You'll mostly use what we call ECSS mode (Exalted Carrier Single Sideband)
which really just means DXing in USB or LSB mode, instead of true AM. This
allow you to use much more narrow bandwidths, and hear a lot more stations.
After just a few weeks of solid effort, you'll have bagged most of the
"easy" targets and have stations on every channel, often multiple stations.
After that, you'll have to learn to start phasing the strong stations to
hear the weak ones underneath. Craig's suggestion about starting off with
two wires on the ground is a very good one. The Quantum Phaser is very nice,
surpassed only by the DX Engineering NCC-1 which has a much higher dynamic
range. But the Quantum will likely be all you'll need for at least a year or
more.
Many DX'ers use an inexpensive piece of software called "Total Recorder"
which sells for under $12 bucks. Using this software, you can schedule your
computer to record top of the hour ID's (TOH) and then review all the
recordings the next day on your way to work using a CD, MP3 player, etc.
Using this type of recording, you can add dozens of stations to the log
book.
You can also take advantage of other DXing weapons, such as subscribing to
the NRC DX Tip list. Some stations have problems with their automation, and
so stay on day power by accident. If a friendly DX'er alerts you, you often
bag a new one. There is also a popular web based chat room called #mwdx on
www.starchat.net. You can compare notes with other DX'ers across the country
in real time to help identify that weak one. Great tool.
Another web site to jot down is www.dxtests.info. The AM band often has
friendly stations who run special tests using Morse Code IDs, sweep tones,
and daytime power levels. These allow you to log stations that would
otherwise by almost impossible to hear.
Many DX'ers are super technical, and if like a lot of hams, you're into
that, you'll quickly learn a lot. Others have great ears and just spend a
lot of times at the dials. You'll be amazed at the stations these types have
logged using simple receivers and no antenna at all. Others use crude loops,
or simple wires, and still hear more DX than you and I could hope for with
our fancy receivers. It's both art and skill.
You may also want to spend doing Goggle searches for things like active whip
antennas (www.lfengineering.com), beverage on the ground (BOG) antennas,
Flags, EWE antennas, etc. You'll want a good "grayline" program like
Geoclock to help you take advantage of all the DX at sunrise and sunset.
This is when the really rare stuff can be heard. Some of us are now playing
with Software Defined Radios such as the RF Space SDR-IQ. This radio allows
you to record a full 190khz of IF (not audio, IF) which can later be played
back and explored. Perfect time waster at the office!
Welcome to the group and feel free to ask questions. It's likely you'll have
something new to teach us too.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
Les Rayburn, director
High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216
205.824.8930
205.824.8960 fax
205.253.4867 cell
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Larry Hagood" <larry_hagood@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 11:49 AM
To: <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [IRCA] AM BCB antenna system. Advice requested
> Hello,
> My name is Larry Hagood (AD5VM) I've been a ham for about seven years but
> am just now getting into MW dxing. I just placed an order for some antenna
> gear and wanted to get an opinion on my setup.
> My only receiver is my ham rig which is an FT-2000 with DMU. I know it's
> not the most sensitive receiver on AM and I'm not even sure I like it as
> much as the IC-746 Pro I sold in order to help pay for this monster.
> Anyway...
> I live in a very RF quiet area (underground utilities) My lot is 75 x 300
> ft but there is a vacant 300 ft lot directly behind me that I could use.
> My location is about 6000ft above sea level. I am in the desert and have
> no trees in the yard. However there is one exception to the "rf quietness"
> here, 770 KKOB's 50KW transmitter is about 10 miles from my house...
>
> I just placed an order for the following items:
> -Palstar MW550p
> -I.C.E. 182A isolation beverage matching unit
> -500ft 14 ga copperweld
> -Quantum Phaser
> -MFJ-1020C
> -WinRadio longwire 9:1 balun
>
> I plan to run about 300 ft of the wire suspended about 6ft above the
> ground and connect it to the ICE matching unit. I'll drive a 4ft ground
> rod at the matching unit which will be under an eve of my house. I'll
> connect that to the MW550p in the shack via 75' of RG-58 coax. The MW550p
> will connect to one side of the Quantum phaser. I'll run a smaller wire
> antenna (say 50') off the other side of my house and connect it to a 20'
> piece of RG-58 via the 9:1 balun. This will be connected to the input of
> the MFJ-1020C and then into the second connector of the quantum phaser.
>
> As a newcommer to AM BCB DX'ing I'm asking for any advice on setting up
> this system.
> Thank you,
> -Larry
>
>
>
>> From: irca-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: IRCA Digest, Vol 43, Issue
>> 68> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 16:53:22 +0000> >
>> Send IRCA mailing list submissions to> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To
>> subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit>
>> http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca> or, via email, send
>> a message with subject or body 'help' to> irca-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > You can reach the person managing the list at>
>> irca-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > When replying, please edit your Subject
>> line so it is more specific> than "Re: Contents of IRCA digest..."> > >
>> Today's Topics:> > 1. TP? 9 Nov (Nick Hall-Patch)> 2. Re: TPs for 9 Nov
>> 07 (Walter Salmaniw)> 3. TPs for 11/9 (Bill Block)> 4. 1050 CKSB
>> Winnipeg-St. Boniface MB (saulamdx)> 5. Confirmation/clarification of
>> WFAW Test info for this weekend> (kh2ar@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 6. JOHR 1287
>> (vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 7. TP's for 11-08-09 (vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx)> 8.
>> TPs for 11-09-07 (vroomski@xxxxxxxxx!
> et)> 9. DX Tips for WDXR (Patrick Martin)> 10. Re: TAs Tonight
> (cafe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx)> 11. Re: JOHR 1287 (Patrick Martin)> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------->
> > Message: 1> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:13:14 +0000> From: Nick Hall-Patch
> <nhp@xxxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA] TP? 9 Nov> To: Mailing list for the
> International Radio Club of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:
> <7.0.1.0.2.20071109150436.0291cf70@xxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed> > sluggish just after 1400UT,
> deteriorating to mildly revolting by > 1500UT when I finished a 1430-1500
> band scan....except that 774, 747, > and 828 were delivering reasonable
> audio at that time, as well as 612 > (which was Aussie).> > Odd morning
> for sure. K of zero up to 1200UT, mostly zero for the > last several days,
> with a "2" in there somewhere.> > Details, such as they are, later.> >
> Nick> > > > > > > *******************************************************!
> *********************> Nick Hall-Patch> Victoria, B.C.> Canada> > ****
> ************************************************************************ >
> > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 2> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007
> 07:16:03 -0800> From: Walter Salmaniw <salmaniw@xxxxxxx>> Subject: Re:
> [IRCA] TPs for 9 Nov 07> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club
> of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:
> <0JR800037VQV6K10@l-daemon>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii> >
> At 07:02 AM 11/9/2007, you wrote:> >Started out as a promising morning,
> with lots of carriers at 1300, > >developing into audio on some of the
> more common frequencies by 1330, > >but that proved to be the peak, as
> things gradually faded down after > >that. Nothing dramatic, just a
> gradual fade, and by 1420 sunrise I'd > >rate things as poor. Hope things
> turn out better on the coast.> >> >Well, it's off to Don's place in Lamont
> for the next few days, so with > >luck I'll leave Nick's cloud.down here.>
> >> >73,> >> >Nigel Pimblett> >Dunmore, Alberta> > > Only listen!
> ed between 14:48 and 15:10 this morning. Instead I was more focused on
> Alaskans, specifically 630. By 15:00, though, KCIS in WA took over the
> frequency, even on my Alaskan loop, although earlier, I'm sure it was
> Juneau (and I was also hoping for Nenana, AK). I'll have to review my mp3
> file on that one. Only had 11 audios this am, with the strongest being the
> NHK2 stations, especially 774 which was briefly a 9. Otherwise, only
> heard:> > 747 (7)> 774 (9)> 837 > 873> 1017> 1053> 1134> 1143> 1242> 1566>
> 1575> > That was it! Have a great DX session at Don's, Nigel!
> ...........Walt.> > > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 3>
> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 15:17:01 +0000> From: Bill Block
> <billwblock@xxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA] TPs for 11/9> To: IRCA Hard-Core
> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:
> <BLU102-W26848776047614FD137E9BD0840@xxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="iso-8859-1"> > > Good Morning> > Listened from 1245-1355 UT and
> conditions were way down from yesterday.!
> Only one station with audio and that was JOUB-774 with man and woman
> with JJ talk at 1339 UT. Carriers were 558, 648, 693, 747, 774, 828, 963,
> 972 and 1566. The carrier on 963 was strong but never did get any audio
> from it.> > > Bill Block> Prescott Valley, AZ> Drake R8>
> _________________________________________________________________>
> Boo!?Scare away worms, viruses and so much more! Try Windows Live
> OneCare!>
> http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews>
> > ------------------------------> > Message: 4> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007
> 07:17:06 -0800 (PST)> From: saulamdx <saulamdx@xxxxxxxxx>> Subject: [IRCA]
> 1050 CKSB Winnipeg-St. Boniface MB> To: "am@xxxxxxxxxxx" <am@xxxxxxxxxxx>,
> "amdx@xxxxxxxxxx"> <amdx@xxxxxxxxxx>, "irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:
> <727438.95633.qm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset=iso-8859-1> > Heard this at Burnt River this morning (Friday) at>
> 0704 EST. French CBC news //860 (national feed). Weak> but steady under
> CHUM Toronto with no sig!
> n of NYC.> > I was on the lookout for this one after hearing in a> few
> weeks ago at Cappahayden during the Newfoundland> DXpedition, also around
> sunrise.> > Not much else loggeed by cx seemed good overnight. I> got here
> at 2 am and stayed up. 960 had Fox Sports> radio and later had religion,
> then had ESPN. Heard an> anthem at 0559 EST and then Rogers City MI was>
> dominant. CFFX Kingston ON was not heard overnight,> leading me to wonder
> if it had gone off. But it came> back gradually and was dominant around
> 0530...> > 1450 is indeed off. Heard Fort Wayne IN while still> downtown
> last night, and Holland MI aroudn 0730 here> this morning.> > 1420 CKPT is
> still on, but WHK Cleveland OH and WOC> Davenport A were dominant
> overnight. Now of course> it's all CKPT.> > Heard Cuba on 530 with
> Rebelde, //5025 as others have> heard it. I gather this is the same
> station in Havana> that was heard here last year with a different name,>
> which I have written down somewhere...> > All this on !
> the radio Shack loop. I'll get the wires> connected today. Now, to get
> some sleep...> > Saul Chernos > > > >
> __________________________________________________> Do You Yahoo!?> Tired
> of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >
> http://mail.yahoo.com > > > ------------------------------> > Message: 5>
> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 15:19:37 +0000> From: kh2ar@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject:
> [IRCA] Confirmation/clarification of WFAW Test info for this> weekend> To:
> am@xxxxxxxxxxx, am@xxxxxxxxxxx, irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: "Paul B.
> Walker, Jr." <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx>> Message-ID:>
> <110920071519.20225.47347A890002FA7D00004F0122165514069D0ECD0805@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain> > I just spoke with CE Ernie Swanson and the
> test will run as advertised on the DXTESTS.info website - i.e., midnight
> Sunday night until 3 a.m. Monday morning. He apologized for any confusion
> the notice on the WFAW web site may have caused.> > Also, Ernie said he
> will be at the transmitter site during the test and will be happy to
> accept any prepaid phone call!
> s from DXers at (920) 723-6033. He said he gets lots of calls to help him
> stay awake!> > Good luck to everyone.> > Jim Pogue> IRCA/NRC Joint
> Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator> Memphis, TN> > --------------
> Original message -------------- > From: "Paul B. Walker, Jr."
> <walkerbroadcasting@xxxxxxxxx> > > Yeah,. their site says Sunday morning..
> not Monday, like dxtests.info says.> > Id like to try for the test if
> someone can calrify.> > Paul> > > On Nov 9, 2007 3:54 AM, ronald musco
> <ronaldjmusco@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:> > Good morning Jim,> > I noticed on the
> WFAW web site that their test is Sunday morning. I thought it was Monday
> morning. Could you please clarify. Thank you.> > Ron Musco> > Jim Pogue
> <KH2AR@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:> Brandon Jordan - Blogmeister of the
> DXTESTS.INFO site - has posted two> interesting articles that ran in the
> local press about the WLPO DX Test. > Several DXers and their reports are
> mentioned in the articles. You can click> on this link to have a look.> !
> > http://www.dxtests.info/2007/11/newstribune-newspaper-articles-about
> .html > > Conditions have been quite good the last few evenings. Let's
> hope they> continue through the weekend for the WFAW test.> > 73s,> > Jim
> Pogue> IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator > Memphis, TN>
> > ------------------------------> > Message: 6> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007
> 15:32:24 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] JOHR 1287> To:
> irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:>
> <110920071532.18673.47347D88000DEBCA000048F1221654868607059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > Pat,> > JOHR 1287 in the 10:00 PM PST
> hour is really something. JOHR, when it heard here is usually after 5 am.
> I have heard a Japanese around 12:45 am, powerhouse JOUB 774. Being a mile
> from the ocean is sure a nice thing. When I'm are Grayland this coming
> week, will give it a try. > > Dennis,> Vancouver, WA>
> > ------------------------------> > Message: 7> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007
> 15:37:32 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] TP's for
> 11-08-09> To: irc!
> a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:>
> <110920071537.7925.47347EBC000CAC1400001EF5221654868607059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > --> Good Morning:> > Started Dxing this
> morning late around 1400 hours. Conditions down from yesterday, not even
> HLAZ 1566. JORF 1422 was a surprise with conditions being down. If
> conditions were good every morning, I guess Dxing would be less exciting.>
> > 153 Russia, 1400 pips on the hour, fair.> > 189 Russia, 1418 weak with
> Russian talk.> > 594 Japan, JOAK weak with man in Japanese.> > 774 Japan,
> JOUB 1443 fair with English lessons.> > 828 Japan, JOBB 1502 fair with
> woman in Japanese.> > 1422 Japan, JORF 1504 weak with man in Japanese.> >
> 1575 Thailand, VOA 1428 very weak with music.>
> > ------------------------------> > Message: 8> Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2007
> 15:40:54 +0000> From: vroomski@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [IRCA] TPs for
> 11-09-07> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Message-ID:>
> <110920071540.21315.47347F860003D19D000053432216548686!
> 07059C0301019D90@xxxxxxxxxxx>> > Content-Type: text/plain> > > > Good
> Morning:> > Started Dxing this morning late around 1400 hours. Conditions
> down from yesterday, not even HLAZ 1566. JORF 1422 was a surprise with
> conditions being down. If conditions were good every morning, I guess
> Dxing would be less exciting.> > 153 Russia, 1400 pips on the hour, fair.>
> > 189 Russia, 1418 weak with Russian talk.> > 594 Japan, JOAK weak with
> man in Japanese.> > 774 Japan, JOUB 1443 fair with English lessons.> > 828
> Japan, JOBB 1502 fair with woman in Japanese.> > 1422 Japan, JORF 1504
> weak with man in Japanese.> > 1575 Thailand, VOA 1428 very weak with
> music...> > Dennis,> Vancouver, WA> JRC 545 Ewe NW>
> > ------------------------------> > Message: 9> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007
> 08:43:29 -0800> From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick Martin)> Subject: [IRCA]
> DX Tips for WDXR> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, NancyJohnson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <13974-47348E31-2812@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII> > 890 CJDC/KBBI BC, Dawson
> Creek/AK, H!
> omer mix here with CJDC with> C&W and KBBI with Jazz with NPR ancr at 1110
> EST 11/9. (PM-OR)> > 1020 CIVH AB, High Prairie, good and dominant with a
> buy and sell> pgm, many slogans "The Fox", taking calls from people at
> 1112 11/9> (PM-OR)> > 1310 CHLW AB, St. Paul, good with spot cluster inc
> one for "The> Old Tyme General Store" in St. Paul "1310 CHLW Gold"
> mentioned at 1120> EST 11/9 (PM-OR)> > 1440 CKJR AB, Wetaskiwin, very
> strong with oldies and "The New> W-1440" IDs, into "Never My Love" at 1129
> EST 11/9. (PM-OR)> > Drake R8> WNW EWE> SW EWE> Quantum Phaser> > Patrick
> Martin> KAVT Reception Manager> > > > ------------------------------> >
> Message: 10> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 08:52:49 -0800> From:
> cafe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [IRCA] TAs Tonight> To: Mailing list for
> the International Radio Club of America> <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> Message-ID: <47349061-3d2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>> Content-Type:
> text/plain> > > > Mike, KFQD Achorage on 750 is booming in at 05:40. Full
> I!
> D at 05:30 totally over anyone else. Makes up a bit for the lack of TA
> s. Nice local ID for CFTK, 550 Prince Rupert at 06:00 too...........Walt.>
> > > > I was looking for some of this last night 0615ish UTC --> 750 was
> certainly taking a beating from someone...> 800 was predominantly
> Spanish -- no idea who that would be -- Bonaire?> 540 was Spanish on top
> of the normally dominating CBK Regina.> I must say that I am using the
> Phaser way more now to dig through> the regionals in light of the fact
> that there are no TA's for me to> listen to and few TP's in the morn --
> thanks to the Hall-Effect-Patch> circling overhead.> > Drake R8 - Eton
> E1 - Sony 2010> 3 X Wellbrook ALA100(M)> --> Colin Newell - Editor/Creator
> coffeecrew.com | dxer.ca> Web-Design / E-Commerce / Writing> Victoria,
> British Columbia, Canada> > > > ------------------------------> > Message:
> 11> Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2007 08:53:10 -0800> From: mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx (Patrick
> Martin)> Subject: Re: [IRCA] JOHR 1287> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Mailing
> list for the International Radio> Club of Americ!
> a)> Message-ID: <13974-47349076-2822@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII> > Yes, I was a bit surprised
> to hear JOHR that early. I have logged JOUB &> JOIB that early in the
> past, but not JOHR, but Sapporo is fairly far> North and it is getting
> close to Winter. Even here by 3 PM, lots of skip> is coming in now.> I was
> still getting JOHR at 1630, so it looks like the signal was in for> over
> 10 hours. I was not up all night, but it probably was there.> > 73,> >
> Patrick> > Patrick Martin> KAVT Reception Manager> > >
> > ------------------------------> >
> _______________________________________________> IRCA mailing list>
> IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca> > Opinions expressed
> in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors
> and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors,
> publishing staff, or officers> > For more information:
> http://www.ircaonline.org> > To Pos!
> t a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > End of IRCA Digest, Vol 43,
> Issue 68> ************************************
> _______________________________________________
> IRCA mailing list
> IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
>
> Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the
> original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
> IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
>
> For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org
>
> To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
_______________________________________________
IRCA mailing list
IRCA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org
To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx