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Re: [IRCA] Ultralight DXpeditions...Freedom and Fun
I will bring some German beer for the traditional beer tasting, but I'm not
terribly keen on beer. I'm more a wine, cider, hard liquor (brandy, rum)
person when I do drink, and I don't drink all that much or often.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Ross" <va3sw@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America"
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, March 15, 2008 4:02 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Ultralight DXpeditions...Freedom and Fun
At 11:45 AM 3/15/2008 -0400, Saul Chernos wrote:
I'm in on the same DXpedition Rob is attending.
Oh no......we're gonna need EXTRA BEER!!!! Glad to hear you're going too
Saul...if you can just get our other Buddy, Niel Wolfish to go as
well.........we'll have the entire Southern Ontario Ultralight Olympic team
there!! HAHHAHHA
I am really curious to test the ULR next to, say, a Drake or AOR and
longwire,
If I get enough gumption Saul....I'll bring along the DRAKE R8B....so we
can put it too shame!!! If I was really energetic...I would take the
Collins HF-2050 out of the racks and bring it......but that's a lot of
work. The HF-2050 is an amazing radio for capturing Audio....that "almost
isn't there". it can really dig stuff outta the mud. You know....I really
should fire it up some time....instead of just sitting here looking at it!!
I'm just having way too much fun with the little Sony's!! Even if I can get
a better signal with the Drake or the Collins....or the
NRD535....whatever....It's still more of a Blast to hear it on a handful of
Plastic!!....even at a reduced signal level.
but I can tell you the very very thin slice of Angola on 945 that Jim
Renfrew and I had (logged as presumed because we didn't get an actual ID)
in Cappahayden Nfld. this past fall would not have made it to a ULR.
No doubt the ULRs are wonderful things, and that's what I'll be taking when
I go to Vancouver for a week's holidays this June (no room or time for a
bigger set-up), and I'd take one or two wherever and whenever I DX, but if
you're looking for that elusive weak station, you need some pretty powerful
gear.
You're right Saul...but you know........unless we test the ULR's to their
limits...and actually use them........who knows just what "Is Possible"
with them. Alan Willie out in St. John's has pretty much opened up all of
Europe and the Middle East on his Ultralight. Like I said....sure he may
have been able to get some of the stations a few Db stronger on his
Longwire and Drake......but who cares.......we "Expect to hear them on the
BIG RIGS.......we don't necessarily expect to hear them on the Pocket
Weasels. So...when we do....it's pretty cool. Some of my most memorable
receptions of Radio Stations...are the ones I had to DIG outta the noise
and fight to even ID. The ones that were blasting in were fun too....but
you know what I mean.
ULRs can (1) be used for quick and easy random checks, when one might
otherwise not be able to or want to check a higher-end rig, thus
potentially getting you to that big rig when cx are hot; (2) be used when
you ae mobile; (3) while on a DXpedition, going to places like right to the
shoreline; (4) getting an easy null on a station when your wires can't null
what you want to null - this makes a ULR particularly valuable as a DX
tool; (5) the sheer kick of getting Benin on a $30 ($15USD) handheld radio;
(6) can't beat the price....
Yes....stick them in your pocket and away you go. I think laying in a deck
chair on the Cruise Ship.......late at night 50 Miles off the coast of
Venezuela, with a Cool Corona and the SRF-T615 is gonna be a cool DX
Experience......Til the wife beats me on the head....and makes me go
Dancing or something equally as fun!! HAHAHHHA........
But I can tell you that my three ULRs, modified and not modified, will not
work a weak station that is riding solo on an otherwise vacant channel an
better than a longwire set-up. Take 1710 KHz. I have heard both MA and NY
pirates there VERY weak at best, mosl no sign whatsoever. But on a rig with
the right wire, have had them simultaneously quite strong.
Well....I'll let you know about that Saul......after the cruise. I think
being out on the open water.....with no Interference may prove you wrong on
that. Have you tried an SRF-T615 yet???? Believe me Saul....with the
Digital readout.....so you know where you are...and the Extra sensitivity
that radio has...you may be surprised. I know these things aren't the be
all and end all of BCB DX'ing....but heck.....they sure are a lot of
Fun......and you sure won't hear anything good on them....unless you have
one...and actually put some hours on it....and give it a chance!! We'll
have to see what we can do up at the ODXA DX Camp Saul........There'll be a
lot of Big Rigs there to compare the ULR's to.
I think of my gear collectively as a toolbox. I use a wrench when a wrench
is called for. Sometimes a screwdriver works, othertimes a hammer is
needed.
Actually all 6 of my ULR's will fit into a Lunchbox!!! And.....my wife was
gonna make me some Padded cases for them....but I went to the Dollar Store
and found some nice Padded SUNGLASS CASES....with zippers that close the
case....and the SRF59's and my SRF-T615 fit into them Perfectly.....they
even come in different Colours!! I also found some nice Car SEATBELT Pads
with Velcro ..that fir over the Prison Radios just fine. (They are a little
thicker....and won't fit into the Sunglass Cases). They even have a little
pouch on them to carry spare batteries. I don't think my wife could have
made the cases for a Dollar each...so the trip to the Dollar store paid
off...and saved her some work!!
I don't dispute the fun. But if anyone who goes to a lace like Greyland and
culd have but doesn't take a longwire-based rig, during a decent point in
the DX season well, you're missing an aspect of the hobby. If you're happy
getting the easiest 95 percent of stations, fine. if you want the absolute
toughest stuff, I recommend taking a 'big rig' (as well as the ULR ... it
will enhance your ability to get what you want).
Right On Saul...I agree..if I was going there...I'd take my Drake too!! As
far as Gary's trips to Grayland go........I think he's "Already Heard" that
Cool stuff on the Big Radios...now he wants to stretch the limit of his new
found hobby....ULR DX'ing...and I'm right there with him!! I don't plan on
selling any of the Dream Machines here......but they just ain't getting the
airtime the Sony's are lately. The whole idea of all this DX'ing Business
is "Having Fun".......and right now...Myself, Gary, John, Gil, Yourself and
a pile of others are having just that!!! FUN!!! And...that's something that
IBOC.......can't take away from us.....'cause with the ULR's...we can NULL
out the IBOC!!!
Other people's mileage may vary..........
73.ROB.
Robert S. Ross VA3SW
Box 1003, Stn. B.
London, Ontario
CANADA N6A5K1
Antique/Vintage Radio Enthusiast
Amateur Radio Stations VA3SW/VE3JFC
Defy Physics.....Play Table Tennis!! (Ping Pong with an Attitude)
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