--- Begin Message ---
- Subject: Re: [IRCA] Recorded AM BCB Logs made with ELAD FDM-S2 Receiver???.
- From: Mark Connelly <markwa1ion@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2015 12:27:15 -0400
- Delivered-to: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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With the Perseus, which I've had 6 years now, I find that xx58 to xx03 (5 min.) works well for capturing the vast majority of ID's. I'll do xx58:30 to xx01:30 (= 3 min.) to reduce file size if the opening doesn't look too productive.
Many Puerto Ricans and South Americans go into their boisterous ID's, slogans, and local mentions around xx01 - xx02.
A few put some semblance of ID material out on the early side (xx58-ish) and then have a music selection straight across the "hourtop" to past xx02 - xx03.
On the "hourbottom" (e.g. xx28 - xx32) captures are useful for ID's from half-hour-offset time zones. Newfoundland, Venezuela, and India are notable examples.
It does take a long time to analyze the captures. Two "hourtop" captures and one "hourbottom" capture would be the typical haul from a sunset-period car-based beach DXpedition around here. Going through just three 150-1750 kHz captures can easily require two weeks, at least if your life is busy with other commitments and things to do.
Big DXpeditions, such as Newfoundland, generate so much after-the-fact listening material that definitive log reports are often long in coming out, as compared to the days of one-station-at-a-time DX and handwritten loggings. It's become "too much of a good thing" in some cases.
The PEI guys seemed to have found the balance between thoroughly covering the captured DX and getting the published report out soon enough that other DXers can act on the tips rather than the document being merely a history lesson.
There is no doubt that SDR's have revolutionized the hobby. There were many times in the "old days" that much DX went unnoticed during intense but short auroral (or other) openings. Now propagation "cows", such as we had a couple of weeks ago, can really be "milked." The trick is to get at least some of your DX reported on the user groups / e-lists before the tips are stale. The detailed report can always come later.
Mark Connelly, WA1ION
South Yarmouth, MA
<<
From: Les Rayburn
<les@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IRCA] Recorded
AM BCB Logs made with ELAD FDM-S2
Receiver???.
Message-ID:
<5524B32C.6050802@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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format=flowed
Welcome to the world of SDR DXing. Quite agree that the manuals
(of all
the SDR receivers) leave a lot to be desired. The rapid pace of
development and software enhancements leaves little time to write
detailed
manuals, I'm afraid. Developers now seem to rely more on User
Groups, forums,
etc. to allow users to help each other. That system
works well, but it takes
some getting used to.
Allow me to share some tips given to me by AM DX'er
James Niven when I
started with my Elad SDR. They've proven to be very
helpful. First of
all, make sure that you subscribe to the Elad Yahoo Group,
and update
your software frequently. Enhancements and improvements appear
quite
rapidly. Sometimes within hours of a feature being requested by a user
on the Yahoo Group! The latest software can be downloaded
at:
http://sdr.eladit.com/FDM-sw2%20Software/
I successfully have mine
setup for TOH recordings across the whole broadcast band.
I am still
experimenting with different settings, but I seem to be happy with the file size
set at 2048mb and set to 1 file.
For the recording schedule, I started with
this recording configuration:
I start recording 2 minutes before the
TOH 00:58, then finishing at 5 minutes past the hour, I found the file size very
large.
I then tried recording from 00:58 to 00:03, so 5 minutes, still a
large file but enough to look at every frequency in the AM band for
TOH.
Also, how I set mine up is change the CW to AM, then the LO frequency, I
set to 1120.000 kHz and the tuned frequency to 540.000 kHz. This will give you
the whole AM band
and when you begin reviewing your files, it will start at
540khz, this is my method and approach.
James Niven
Austin, Texas
Also
keep in mind that the Elad FDM-S2 will work with more than one
piece of
software. This is the beauty of an SDR, you're not limited to
using the
manufactures software exclusively. One of the easiest to use
and master
software packages for SDR is Simon Brown?s SDR-Console V2
software
(www.sdr-radio.com) It's free, and easier to use than most.
HDSDR is another
software application that works well with the Elad. You
may want to experiment
with them to see if you enjoy them more.
Recommend this detailed review of
the Elad as well. It's full of
suggestions on how to use the software, and do
some great things with
the receiver. Hope you enjoy the ride, it's changed my
DX life
forever.
http://swling.com/blog/2014/12/a-review-of-the-elad-fdm-s2-software-defined-receiver/
--
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
Maylene, AL
EM63
Member NRC, IRCA, & Medium
Wave DX Circle
Former CPC Chairman for NRC/IRCA
Elad FDM-S2 SDR,
SDR-IQ,Funcube Pro, Wellbrooke ALA-1530+ loop, LF
Engineering Active
Whips,
Quantum Phaser, Kiwa Loop, Palstar MW
Pre-Selector
>>
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