/HAM/ Amateur Radio General

[Anonymous No.1749938]

Towers o' Yagis Edition.
>NEWBIE FAQ - NEW TO /HAM? READ THIS FIRST IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
ftp://50.31.112.231/pub/radio_FAQ_Preview9.htm
>Getting Licensed / Exam Information
>Online Practice Tests:
http://aa9pw.com/
https://hamstudy.org/
https://hamexam.org/
> Exams are FREE through Laurel VEC
https://www.laurelvec.com/
> Real-Time Propagation Data
http://prop.kc2g.com/
> Useful SWR/ Power chart for antenna tuning (Want to know what is good SWR? Have a look)
http://www.packetradio.com/pdfzips/SWRvsPowerNwatts.pdf
> Previous Thread
>>1742360
>>1742360
>>1742360

[Anonymous No.1749955]

Breaker 19 this here's "pigpen" you got your ears on rubber duck?

[Anonymous No.1749984]

>>1749955
>My balls seap in the water like a tea bag when I take a shit.
Time to construct a suicide helmet. This is the end.

[Anonymous No.1749992]

>>1749938
>>1749955

[Anonymous No.1749999]

>>1749938
>I'll never DXCC Edition

[Anonymous No.1750027]

>>1749938
Full speed ahead, captains!
69s!!

[Anonymous No.1750036]

>>1750027
>Mommy only lets him play with duplo blocks

[Anonymous No.1750037]

>>1749955
You think the giant growthsticles might be related to the truckload of signals going around that room?

Surely society will discover that the waves we're sending around are uranium levels of dangerous, yes?

[Anonymous No.1750074]

>>1749938
Any idea how omelette bro is doing? Busy recommending dry cleaners and doctors?

[Anonymous No.1750229]

>>1750074
He's qrv on 40m, you can ask him.

[Anonymous No.1750496]

>>1749955
I am trying to imagine hop the officers in Signal Service had reacted had I said something out of Convoy. Fuses would have been blown.

[Anonymous No.1750621]

It's official. My FT-101 is now scheduled for the Reserves (aka isolated to the storage in the unfinished room).
>WAS
>Nearly fully endorsed on 20, 40, 80M
>26 confirmed Countries
Ordered an IC-7300.

[Anonymous No.1750670]

>>1750621
rest in peace but unironically. thats quite an upgrade my dude

[Anonymous No.1750672]

>>1750670
I know, 50 years of technological advancements for +/- a $600 upgrade.
Now I have an actual frequency counter, no tubes to warm up, no radio plate to tune, a waterfall display ... and that's just scratching the surface of what was available circa 2000.
I'm glad I went this route. It taught me a lot - if nothing else than patience and how lucky we have it.

[Anonymous No.1750738]

(1/3)
I would like some help in understanding low pass filters just before the antenna connection. Pic related is the Pixie-S, which is known to emit far too many harmonics to be legal as is. Adding more inductors in a longer chain (according to the FAQ) brings it in within specifications. That adds cost.

[Anonymous No.1750740]

>>1750738
(2/3)
However this design (pic ) has also only two inductors but is legal. Can someone explain how this is possible? Also, can this LPF be used on the Pixie-S to make it proper legal?

[Anonymous No.1750741]

>>1750740
(3/3)
Finally here is yet another two inductor LPF that is within specs, though the structure is more complex than the above.

I am trying to understand the *practical* designs for such filters, all inputs are welcome.

[Anonymous No.1750747]

>>1750738
>according to the FAQ
Which FAQ?

[Anonymous No.1750748]

>>1750747
This one (from the OP)
>ftp://50.31.112.231/pub/radio_FAQ_Preview9.htm
Unfortunately that FTP is down.

[Anonymous No.1750848]

>>1750748
OP here. I don't have an archive of the FAQ, that's a shame if it's DOA. I could easily re-host, if an archive is available.
>>1750738
What you're looking at are second and third order low pass filter designs. I recommend the ARRL Handbook's electronics section, and the filter chapter from art of electronics to start. It's math heavy, and unless you have a solid grasp of complex algebra may be a struggle.
Here's another reference from an old QST:
> https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9902044.pdf
>>1750740
> only two inductors but is legal. Can someone explain how this is possible?
The design likely makes less harmonic noise than the pixie and needed a less complex filter to attenuate spurious emissions to acceptable levels
> Practical design guidelines
What I do at work is put what I want to happen into an analog filter designer (Usually MATLAB, but there are other online tools available, or you can do it be hand if you really love lots o' maths), then take the resulting suggested circuit and simulate it in a SPICE sim of some kind (PSpice, LTSpice, Micro-Cap, etc.), tweak if necessary; and eventually it ends up in a prototype where it may or may not work as intended (simulation != real world). It gets tweaked again, and eventually you have a filter.
Depending on application needs and design requirements you have many different base designs to chose from (Chebyshev, Butterworth, Elliptic, etc.), deciding on which depends on experience and what kinds of characteristics you need- Do you need a sharp cutoff frequency, enhanced attenuation? etc. There isn't really a basic rule of thumb when it comes to making them, at least to my knowledge.
Example of a filter designer:
> https://rf-tools.com/lc-filter/

[Anonymous No.1750966]

>>1750741
>>1750848
Start with practical electronics for inventors for filters, then go to art of electronics.

[Anonymous No.1750996]

>>1750748
A new FTP server is available and the FAQ will be uploaded later today together with most of the ham related files from the old server.

[Anonymous No.1751144]

>>1750229

[Anonymous No.1751148]

>finally get around to grounding my equipment
>s9 noise on 40m
cool

[Anonymous No.1751158]

Are Chinesium ok for HF and is filling the sides common practice?

[Anonymous No.1751159]

>>1751158
No, cheap connectors are fucking awful for HF.

[Anonymous No.1751315]

a 20m half wave dipole is resonant on q
10m, yes?

[Anonymous No.1751393]

>>1751315
The length of a half-wave dipole might be thought to be the same as a half-wavelength of the signal in free space, but this is not quite the case. A number of effects, including the velocity factor of the wire, the length / diameter of the wire used for the radiating element and capacitive end effects, mean that the actual length required is a little shorter.

Without the end effect the length of a dipole could be calculated from the formula length (metres) equals 150 / f, where f is the frequency in MHz. With the foreshortening effects the length can be approximated from the formula: Length (metres) = 143 / f (MHz)

The lengths calculated from this should only be considered as an approximate value – it is best to cut the wire slightly longer than this and then twist the end of the wire back on itself to give the best match.

https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/antennas/your-first-antenna-the-half-wave-dipole/

[Anonymous No.1751428]

>>1749938
This thread should be called the HAMateur radio thread

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Anonymous No.1751433]

>>1750848
>OP here. I don't have an archive of the FAQ, that's a shame if it's DOA. I could easily re-host, if an archive is available.
The FAQ is now located at the new FTP site, piggybacking off the files used by /cyb/:
ftp://ftp.cybsec.io/pub/Cyberpunk/Tech/Radio/radio_FAQ_Preview10.htm

The only change is to make the FTP link point to the new home of the FAQ. The two previous FTP servers have been down for quite a while now.

[Anonymous No.1751456]

Is a KL203P (RM Italy) the best budget CB amp?
eBay gonna be the best price?

[Anonymous No.1751497]

400K Satoshi free shipping

[Anonymous No.1751620]

>>1751159
What about VHF/UHF and what is a good recommendation for PL-239s?

[Anonymous No.1751630]

>>1751620
why cant you just google retard

[Anonymous No.1751713]

>>1751315
No, 1/2 wave dipoles are additionally resonant on their odd harmonics. 10M is an even harmonic of 20M, so it will have a very high impedance, and thus a very high SWR, on 10M.

[Anonymous No.1751719]

>>1751630
Why don't you take the dick out of your ass faggot?

[Anonymous No.1751726]

>>1751620
Negative effects of poor connectors and coax are amplified to even worse as you go higher in frequency. I recommend using well-made crimp-on connectors, and make sure you use the ones sized to the type of coax used and use the correct crimp tool to install them.

[Anonymous No.1751761]

>>1751433
Thank you for uploading the updated FAQ.

[Anonymous No.1751764]

I regularly get on local nets and fart hard as I can into my radio. No license.

[Anonymous No.1751767]

freedom of speech

[Anonymous No.1751773]

>>1751393
>The lengths calculated from this should only be considered as an approximate value – it is best to cut the wire slightly longer than this and then twist the end of the wire back on itself to give the best match.
Something worth adding to the FAQ? I must admit I have never heard of this before.

>>1751761
You are welcome.
I forgot to mention that the rest of that directory is full of ham resources, and more is coming.
ftp://ftp.cybsec.io/pub/Cyberpunk/Tech/Radio/

[Anonymous No.1751826]

There have been times last night and this morning I thought about going back to the FT-101 kek.
I've gotten JTDX to control the radio, audio in is great, and when I click to TX, the tuner shows the appropriate power outage, the waterfall shows the signal, but PSKReporter has yet to confirm my signal.
To make matters more interesting, I switched from Windows 8 (roadside find) to Linux this weekend.
Installed Putty this morning then ran out of time. Off to appease my menopausal rulers for 8 hours. Hopefully I'll iron things out tonight.

[Anonymous No.1751830]

>>1751826
JTDX is pretty buggy, why aren't you using regular WSJT-X?

[Anonymous No.1751834]

I'm about to give up on building a SW antenna reciever. A couple questions before I quit:
1) is it bad when a mag loop is made with floppy 22AWG wire? I tested it with an RF generator and it picks up its center frequency+others decently well.
2) Are the 7MHz and 10MHz amateur bands significantly louder? I did the math annd my nearest SW stations should have <1uW of power reaching me, plus I'm surrounded by high rise buildings
Is there a more foolproof band I could listen to?

[Anonymous No.1751844]

>>1751830
That's what I had on Windows, WSJT and JTAlert and it was perfect.
Linux has been a nasty learning curve. I thought I couldn't install JTAlert so JTDX would be a good compromise. It wasn't, but I found GridTracker which is nice.
Good to know JTDX is buggy, I'll start there.
When I switch the audio output to PC speakers, I do hear my tx signal so I tried all the IC-7300 settings I could find but without luck.

[Anonymous No.1751846]

>>1751826
>>1751844
Wait, I see a mic cable, why are you not using audio over USB like a sane person?

[Anonymous No.1751850]

>>1751713
which band is it resonant on then? honest question.

[Anonymous No.1751851]

>>1751846
I have the USB plugged into the back and USB setting on.
Do I really have to unplug the mic?

[Anonymous No.1751853]

>>1751851
You don't need the mic cable, everything on the 7300 is done over USB for digimodes. It will appear as a regular sound device in Windows. God knows about your Linux setup though.

[Anonymous No.1751854]

>>1751851
https://linuxer.eu/icom-ic-7300-and-ubuntu-18-04/

[Anonymous No.1751858]

>>1751853
Gotcha, I started off trying to get a SSB contact, but couldn't hear much after a couple scans.
>>1751854
>$ sudo gpasswd -a linuxer audio
That may be what I'm needing. I had a hell of a time getting my PC audio to play nice with the IC-7300 just powered up. Chokes, a new USB cable, cursing, and a dmesg command finally fixed that.
I'll switch to WSJT and follow that tutorial tonight. I appreciate it, gentlemen.

[Anonymous No.1751861]

>>1751844
what distro are you using

[Anonymous No.1751863]

>>1751858
>That may be what I'm needing.
Make sure you're in the dialout group too.
>gentlemen.
I'm the samefag that pretty much coached you through getting the 101 running a couple threads back. Hilarious considering I'm not even licenced yet.

[Anonymous No.1751865]

>>1751861
Mint 19.3 if I recall correctly.
I'm wrapping my head now around what exactly the dialout group is and why it's needed. I added myself, but suspect there could be more. Devil is in the details! Hundreds of invisible doors - that's when I miss the FT101. Audio in, audio out.

[Anonymous No.1751866]

>>1751863
Kek. I owe you a beer and licensing fee.

[Anonymous No.1751867]

>>1751863
>what exactly the dialout group is and why it's needed
Modems used to be controlled by serial, hence the name. It allows your user proper access to the serial ports.

[Anonymous No.1751869]

>>1751865
>what exactly the dialout group is and why it's needed
Modems used to be controlled by serial, hence the name. It allows your user proper access to the serial ports.

[Anonymous No.1751885]

>>1751834
You understand loops are highly directional, right? You will have to rotate the loop, physically, to pick up different signals.

[Anonymous No.1751906]

>>1749938
Where can I find Lamb Radio?
Lamb Radio is Halal
Ham Radio is haram

[Anonymous No.1751907]

>>1751826
>IC-7300
I am thinking about getting a rig, are you satisfied with your IC-7300? it seems to be a popular radio.
>menopausal rulers
I am intrigued by the plural form here.

[Anonymous No.1751915]

>>1751907
not him, but i love my 7300. been having a great time with it

[Anonymous No.1751920]

>>1751907
Judgement is still out, but I've only played with it for about 6 hours and there has been a miserable learning curve.
>Year down my old setup and plug it all up only to discover the PC audio dies despite radio not being on yet, just the USB is connected.
>Included Windows CD isn't worth a damn
>Suspect all sorts of RFI and bad USB cable (which isn't provided)
>Find new cable, add chokes harvested from old cables, finally put a command in the terminal and audio returns.
>Spend another hour getting JTDX to recognize the IC-7300
>Spend the remaining couple hours wondering why nobody can hear me on PSKReporter.
There were a few times where I wanted to ship it back and deal with only 2 audio cords with the FT-101 instead of drivers and a hundred invisible doors as I blindly stumble without an accurate tutorial or troubleshooting guide.
My hat is off to the Elmer's who aren't software savey yet can still set this up.
Not waiting 10 minutes for tubes to warm is nice. Not tuning plates is nice. Not having the receiving audio pierce my ears and resonate through the house, keeping them awake is nice. Simply having visual confirmation of the frequency is nice. Having filters and waterfall display is nice. Having the computer scroll through the radio's frequency is really cool. But if I can't transmit, it's all for not.
Most of my headaches probably lie in learning Linux at the same time, but I didn't have much choice since my Windows license was somehow no longer valid and the whole PC would freeze when refreshing PSKReporter, causing WSJT to TX until Windows 8 recovered.

[Anonymous No.1751932]

>>1751907
And the menopausal rulers ...
I do web implementation for a F100 company.
Somehow I have 3 bosses, all cliquey, menopausal women whose only qualification is they're women and we're caught in a 'women in tech!!!' movement.
So they pull an idea out of their ass, more often something they want me to copy. A day in the life may be
>Anon! I got a Banana Republic email. Make this and a website and promo code. NOW!! WE NEED THIS!
I used to point out Banana Republic is a B2C retailer while we're a B2B services industry and that our customers aren't enticed by promotions, as proof by the long track record of our failed ones, further it actually serves to cheapen our image and cost us money. But then one boss is offended and bitches to another boss, so I have to listen to that boss complain that I need to do better and not make boss #1 angry. Now I just make their stupid shit and go home.
That's been my life for the better part of a decade despite hundreds of applications.

[Anonymous No.1751937]

any suggestions for trying to put a pl259 on cheap coax?

[Anonymous No.1751939]

>>1751937
>for trying to solder a

[Anonymous No.1751965]

>>1751937
Solder works well, so does mechanically crimping it. I'd try one of those.

[Anonymous No.1751983]

>>1751920
if you use pulseaudio theres a program i use that helps me unfuck sound issues. i cant remember the name right now but ill post a link when i get home

[Anonymous No.1752031]

>>1751920
Seems much of the problem lies with the radio - PC interfacing, hard- and software.
the new K4 is supposed to have a built in Linux machine that should solve this (I hope), so perhaps I should save up for that. I too am interested in digital modes and DSP work but it is not clear what access you will get to those aspects in K4.

[Anonymous No.1752047]

>>1752031
>Elecraft K4
>Minimum $4000 deposit
Wew lad

[Anonymous No.1752051]

>>1752047
I know. And I can afford it. I just don't want to buy hassle.

[Anonymous No.1752052]

>>1751983
pavucontrol

[Anonymous No.1752053]

>>1752052
no

[Anonymous No.1752104]

>>1752053
Oh, pulse effects.

[Anonymous No.1752105]

Built a pixie, all vishay resistors, kemet ceramics, and panasonic electrolytic caps. Yeah it's a waste but why not.

[Anonymous No.1752108]

>>1752051
I think if I'm dropping that kind of money on a rig, I'm buying Flex.

[Anonymous No.1752114]

Whelp, installed WSJT, tried a few commands, walked through a tutorial, was about to throw my hands up since I wasn't showing up on PSKReporter, then got a 2,000 mile reply on 40M.
I'll chalk that up so far to a better night than last!

[Anonymous No.1752116]

>>1752104
no lol

[Anonymous No.1752124]

>>1752114
Look up websdr's near you to check your signal strength, etc. Also remember your computer has to have an accurate clock. Check https://time.is/

[Anonymous No.1752130]

>>1752116
paprefs?

[Anonymous No.1752131]

>>1752130
No, pipewire.

[Anonymous No.1752140]

>>1752130
>>1752131
no and no

[Anonymous No.1752146]

>>1752051
if youre going to be spending that, you have a lot more options than us poors
>>1752105
nice job anon

[Anonymous No.1752170]

>>1751920
> Most of my headaches probably lie in learning Linux at the same time, but I didn't have much choice since my Windows license was somehow no longer valid
> Windows 8
You can get a 100% legit Windows 10 Professional CD key off a number of sites, including eBay. If you have issues with Windows 10, I'd suggest a dual boot setup and only using it for the software that needs it. Linux can be great, but software and hardware compatibility have always been a mixed bag in *nix land.
> RFI
Check for ground loops, and if necessary spend a few dollars on a shielded USB cable. Sometimes ferrites aren't enough.
>>1752114
It works! do it again! :D

[Anonymous No.1752172]

>>1751920
>>1751983
>>1752052
>>1752104
>>1752130
>>1752131
https://github.com/futpib/pagraphcontrol

[Anonymous No.1752196]

>>1749955
What the fuck is wrong with that guys leg?

[Anonymous No.1752199]

>>1751148
here.
i tracked down the noise to the tv in the living room. everything is better when its off :)

[Anonymous No.1752211]

>>1751726
Ah, I think I'm fine then. I used an RG58 PL-259 with an octaganal crimper.

[Anonymous No.1752424]

>>1752105
>Built a pixie,
maybe the beeper works

[Anonymous No.1752488]

I would like to express my utter shock and dismay that there are no ARRL events this Monday commemorating our great MLK, JR.

[Anonymous No.1752491]

>>1752488
Those digits. 1 off from 1488.

[Anonymous No.1752649]

>>1749999
>>I'll never DXCC Edition
You can do DXCC within few weeks if you go digital (FT8). Also you are very likely have to have antenna for 20m, 40m and 80m.

[Anonymous No.1752729]

How do I get my UV5r to go to low power mode when it turns on? Every time I turn it on it is on M and I have to manually change it to L
I would like to have it start on L

[Anonymous No.1752778]

I just recently got the RTL-SDR and installed SDRsharp. I looked up my local police frequency, tuned in and it was silent, I listened to CB but it was dead quiet as well. Am I doing something wrong or is no one on the radio around my area?

[Anonymous No.1752784]

>>1752729
>>1752778
This should help.

[Anonymous No.1752792]

>>1752778
CB is pretty much dead unless you live in a real rural setting and most emergency services moved to a digital setup long ago.

[Anonymous No.1752813]

>>1752778
What antenna wer you using?

[Anonymous No.1752814]

>>1752649
>>1749999
https://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html?preset&callsign=SP7QJF&txrx=rx&sigs=ctry&band=3000000-5000000&timerange=604800

[Anonymous No.1752828]

>>1752792
cb is a total shitcast fest out by me

its fun hopping on every once in a while

[Anonymous No.1752849]

>>1752778
CB hasn't been too hot recently, but unless your police station is some rural town, it should be active. I'd explore your antenna and SDR# settings.
Start off by trying to pick up established stations like NOAA or AM radio stations.

[Anonymous No.1752853]

Can one of you explain the antenna measurment using meters to me because I really don't get it. What is "10 meter" because it doesnt seem to be the length measurement ;_;

[Anonymous No.1752856]

>>1752853
10 meters is the length of the wavelength.
300 divided by the wavelength gives you the rough frequency.
300 / 10 meters = 30MHz

[Anonymous No.1752857]

>>1752856
How that translates to antennas - depending on the type, they're usually 5/8. 1/2, or 1/4 of the wavelength. So a 10M antenna is around 12 to 18.75 feet

[Anonymous No.1752862]

>>1752856
>>1752857
TY!

So 80m wave length would be around 3.7Mhz frequency and with a 1/4th it needs a 65ish foot antenna?

[Anonymous No.1752865]

>>1752862
It's as simple as that.
Different antenna types lend themselves to different lengths, and of course in this kind of hobby, people like to muddy the waters with obscure and overly complicated shit, but yup. You got it.

[Anonymous No.1752867]

just letting you guys know that the newbie link in your OP isnt working. cheers.

[Anonymous No.1752871]

>>1752867
Correct. The old FTP site is down and a new version is uploaded to a new site, see
>>1751433.

[Anonymous No.1752954]

>>1752108
>I think if I'm dropping that kind of money on a rig, I'm buying Flex.
I hear people are dissatisfied with the software for the Flex.

>>1752146
>if youre going to be spending that, you have a lot more options than us poors
What would you recommend?

[Anonymous No.1752965]

>>1752792
>>1752813
>>1752849
Pic related is the antenna I'm using. I can pic up several local radio stations, but that's it. I can't hear the police or EMS, nothing like that. I live in a small 20k pop town in the middle of nowhere if that makes any difference. But still I feel like I should still hear at least something?

[Anonymous No.1752970]

>>1752965
As was already mentioned, emergency services went digital long ago. Also you need to put that antenna outside, oriented vertically, at height to get anything. Putting it in a V on your desk does nothing.

[Anonymous No.1752971]

>>1752965
And for what its worth, I live in an area with 800,000 pop and the bands are usually completely dead apart from friday night/saturday 2M repeater chats and some 446 chatter.

[Anonymous No.1752973]

>>1752965
I started off with that kit about 8 months ago, then I got licensed and things skyrocketed from there.
The RTL-SDR is awesome. The antenna is shit. You'll get local FM stations, NOAA should come in strong, and higher frequencies like your digital police, but it's likely encrypted. NOAA is always my default to see if I'm in the ballpark.
I can't imagine you'd get CB on something that small.
Figure out how to tune the antenna (or at least the rough size for what you're shooting for) and more importantly, learn how to use the software.
For HF, you have to put it in a different setting which had me befuddled for awhile until I asked here.
Don't think you have to buy another antenna, all you need is some electrical wire and you can make you own. If you're interested in doing this long term, get on ebay and get some cheap sma to uhf adapters. then you can run 'normal' coax.

[Anonymous No.1752978]

>>1752965
>>1752973
Case and point - here's a CB antenna I'm working on. It's about 20' long. Just misc stuff from Home Depot and a SO-239 connector.
Also threw in my RTL with coax adaptor.

[Anonymous No.1752981]

>>1752978
I never understood buying fake V3s, they're not any cheaper than the real ones.

[Anonymous No.1752984]

>>1752981
I honestly didn't know a knockoff existed until after it arrived. I just jumped on ebay and filtered by lowest and that was that.

[Anonymous No.1752989]

Any tips for nabbing Asian countries? I woke up at 3 this morning and tried working all morning long on FT8. I only caught a glimpse of Japan and Guam for about half an hour around 6 or 8 am (getting fuzzy now), but no confirmations.

[Anonymous No.1753000]

>>1752989
What bands?

[Anonymous No.1753003]

>>1753000
checked.
Mostly 20, but I'm the guy with the new IC-7300, so that opens up 6, 17, 30, and 60

[Anonymous No.1753129]

>>1752978
Can you explain what's going on in that pic?

[Anonymous No.1753146]

>>1751158
HF ok VHF no ok. But really doesn't matter if you fill the sides or not.

[Anonymous No.1753186]

>>1753129
It's called a dipole antenna - very easy and cheap to make yourself.
You should be able to see in the pic that one wire goes to the copper inside the coax and the other goes to the shielding.
I'm sure there's a youtube video that can beat any explanation I can give. From this pic, I added insulators then hung it in the backyard and now have a $5 CB antenna.

[Anonymous No.1753192]

Guys what is this?
https://youtu.be/q5oMvLrhVEg

[Anonymous No.1753194]

>>1753192
fake and gay

[Anonymous No.1753244]

>>1753192
cover up the "captioning" or watch with your eyes closed and it's random noise and gibberish the captioning prompts your brain to hear what HE thinks it is saying.

[Anonymous No.1753267]

What's this mystery switch on the side of the CB radio?

[Anonymous No.1753369]

>>1753267
emergency nerve gas release switch

[Anonymous No.1753376]

>>1752989
>Any tips for nabbing Asian countries?
Japs tend to gravitate to their own frequencies for FT8. Also try monitoring 20m for like 1-2 hours before the sunset

[Anonymous No.1753377]

>>1753003
What antenna(s)

[Anonymous No.1753379]

How to into antenna? I want to be able to listen to russian radio or something like that I'm like right on their border.

[Anonymous No.1753384]

>>1753376
>try monitoring 20m for like 1-2 hours before the sunset
Before their sunset, right?
>>1753377
Just a couple verticals. I like to think I've been otherwise moderately successful - almost have all of South America, almost have a 3xWAS, I'm beginning to work Europe like Patton dreamed of, and if I could get into Asia, I'd make quick work of WAC.

[Anonymous No.1753395]

Is completely disconnected from your antenna the only way to protect your gear from a lightning strike?

[Anonymous No.1753397]

>>1753384
>Before their sunset, right?
I get more DX stations on 20m within like +-1...2 hours of my sunrise/sunset. What state are you in?

[Anonymous No.1753399]

>>1753267
It's either like the one on the pic I've attached or dpdt variety.

[Anonymous No.1753400]

>>1753379
>I want to be able to listen to russian radio
Russians terminated all of their broadcasting services on shortwave, MW & LW a while ago. You may try your luck with north korea stations though.

[Anonymous No.1753406]

>>1753397
State of Confusion ;)
Indiana/Ohio area. I've found +/-2 hours of my sunrise/sunset has been best for Europe and Asia. RIght now I'm trying Asia categorized Russia on 40M (6:40 am ET). Soon I should see NZ and Indo--China for about half an hour, then that'll be it for the day. I've gotten them to return a signal, but no confirmation yet.

[Anonymous No.1753412]

>>1753267
That is definitely an aftermarket mod. Probably an echo board or noise toy or some type if I had to hazard to guess. I bought a Galaxy DX-959 a while back that had an echo board poorly installed into it with a switch like that out the back.

Could you open the radio to give a better look? That switch is probably attached to an aftermarket board inside and it might be identifiable.

[Anonymous No.1753428]

>>1753399
>>1753412
It was a $12 yard sale find

[Anonymous No.1753430]

>>1753428
Wire seems to run into this area

[Anonymous No.1753431]

>>1753430
>>1753428
Where I believe the wire ends up

[Anonymous No.1753450]

>>1753431
Honestly anon, I am not quite sure. I was hoping to see a pic related or something similar, but I am still not experienced enough with modifying radios to give an exact answer as to what this is. But, I think that it might be a roger beep. Just a guess. The radio looks like a Cobra 29 LTD, and I do not believe that it has a roger beep stock, though I could be wrong. The fact that it is only a switch and not a dial (Which would be better for an echo) would support this.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[Anonymous No.1753522]

>>1753428
>>1753430
>>1753431
Good job taking photos, but leaving the actual component in question out of every picture. That red circle and arrow really helped with the obfuscation.

[Anonymous No.1753528]

>>1753522
There's not much that I could find that looks modded besides a black wire that leads to what's circled, which may be connected to the green on the other side which connects one of a billion unknown joints to another.
I think I'll just throw 2 cents at it creating an audio loop for an echo and call it a day lol

[Anonymous No.1753791]

>>1753528
Well then just power this thing up and check wht the heck the switch does.

[Anonymous No.1753854]

>>1752981
I never understood making fake shit. Like theres fake F-91W watches. What is that chink even making .001$?

[Anonymous No.1753930]

>>1753854
supply follows demand and complainers want to complain

[Anonymous No.1753965]

>>1753930
>Supply and demand
More like chinks playing chink games and first world countries not giving enough fucks to care or have much recourse about a $20 counterfeit product that works.

[Anonymous No.1753967]

https://youtu.be/c3t_8HYPCc8

I just bought a Baofeng 1701,
Im glad 4chan has a Ham community,
Im studying the ARRL tech license book,
I'll probably have my license around March

[Anonymous No.1753968]

I've been watching this for the better part of a year.
The only time I've seen 10-20 as 'Good' was a few days in summer.
1. Is that all we can expect 'these days'?
2. If summer opens up DX, shouldn't DX be open during winter and summer since it's summer somewhere?

[Anonymous No.1753982]

>>1753968
>Is that all we can expect 'these days'?
Pretty much, yeah, check in again in 5 years time.

[Anonymous No.1753992]

>>1753967
Collan is into docking. That's why he's infatuated with antennas

[Anonymous No.1754010]

>>1753992
Leave the crazies alone.

[Anonymous No.1754017]

>>1753982
>in 5 years time
May be, may be not. Look at the trend of the minima. But there's always a short opening to exploit.

[Anonymous No.1754303]

>>1754017
>May be, may be not. Look at the trend of the minima. But there's always a short opening to exploit.

The major thing is many people are upset that there are no sun spots and assume that propagation is totally dead and you can't do anything about that The truth is that you still can make lots of DX contacts but you have to spend more time waiting for the right moment when the band you are working on is good enough.

I hear lots and lots of radio stations from all parts of the world when some contest is active. Then the bands become kind of empty. It's not the propagation or the solar minima, it's just people refuse to turn on their transceivers.

[Anonymous No.1754445]

>>1754303
>people refuse to turn on their transceivers
That is part of the game. The _average_ state of the ionosphere is indeed related to solar activity but the _actual_ HF propagation paths are constantly changing. In the absence of contests distant BC stations can also be used as 'beacons'. The 9 MHz BC band e.g. is a good indicator for the 30 meter band.

[Anonymous No.1754452]

>>1754445
I live close to China and broadcasting bands are full of their shit. They occupied all of the bands

[Anonymous No.1754466]

>>1754452
What does 'distant' mean to you?

[Anonymous No.1754475]

>>1754466
CRI has lot of transmitters broadcasting multiple instances on every fucking band.


What does "bands are full of their shit" mean to you? For me it's chinks every 5-10 khz on every fucking band. You can't receive anything as they (chinks, north koreans, japs and such) are every fucking where.

[Anonymous No.1754495]

>>1754475
I have no such problems.
I look for location, distance and bearing.

[Anonymous No.1754505]

>>1754495
I'm basically between Korea - China - Japan (only north is free of chinks). These countries are very active on MW & HF bands, As far as I know (and see on watefall) China & N.Korea are jamming each other. Yep in 2020.

Example:
https://www.short-wave.info/index.php?station=North%20Korean%20Jamming

[Anonymous No.1754509]

>>1754505
>>1754475
Japs are the worst. Probably their culture is fertile for autists and you get insane amount japs on every ham band. They are nice and friendly though.

[Anonymous No.1754603]

Should I or should I not get one of these pajeet hf rigs?
https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx-v6/

[Anonymous No.1754606]

>>1754603
>https://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx-v6/
What's your level of experience? Do you run QRP? I probably wouldn't though, they were fine when the kit was $100 but over time the price has crept closer to Xiegu territory.

[Anonymous No.1754607]

>>1754603
>>1754606
Also do you have access to test equipment to align it? Most importantly some kind of RF sig gen.

[Anonymous No.1754851]

>>1754603
>Should I or should I not get one of these pajeet hf rigs?
Supbar audio quality (for rx and tx as main crystal filter is built using random unmatched crystals), no automatic gain control aka AGC (and no manual gain control either). IIRC 2nd IF crystal filter isn't properly matched but I may be wrong here (not sure I remember the exact schematic, if you can post one I can check that).

I'd stay away from that shit. Get something that was designed by a decent engineer and not a brain dead amateur.

[Anonymous No.1754924]

>>1754851
What would you recommend as a better alternative in the same category?

[Anonymous No.1755010]

>>1754924
What are you after? Are you looking for a cheap rig to work on HF? If so stay away from ubitx and better get something of ebay. Like old/used stuff.

Are you looking to kill some time, build something, learn something new? Then go with any kit.

[Anonymous No.1755034]

>>1754924
There isn't really one unless you do CW. If you want to work QRP then keep saving and get a Xiegu or a Chink McHF clone. If you just want 'a rig', keep saving and buy used. There isn't a $150 answer.

[Anonymous No.1755050]

>>1752146
>if youre going to be spending that, you have a lot more options than us poors
Still waiting to hear what you would suggest.

[Anonymous No.1755111]

>>1755050
https://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7851/default.aspx

[Anonymous No.1755143]

Do we have a list of /HAM/ approved youtubers?

[Anonymous No.1755152]

>>1755143
W6LG and Ham Radio TV. Everyone else are attention whoring 'tards.

[Anonymous No.1755156]

all pootubers are

[Anonymous No.1755224]

80m NA, 40m SA.

[Anonymous No.1755232]

>>1755143
>Do we have a list of /HAM/ approved youtubers?
ke0og is good if you can get past the arrl shilling

[Anonymous No.1755539]

>>1755111
Looks ... expensive!

[Anonymous No.1755548]

>>1753528
I'm suspecting switchable TX clarifier mod.

Some tips:

>Post clear well lit pictures
>Post the model of the set

[Anonymous No.1755556]

>>1755224
>fof2 iri
what does that mean

[Anonymous No.1755558]

>>1755143
w2aew

[Anonymous No.1755576]

>>1755556
http://prop.kc2g.com/about/ explains it: IRI stands for International Reference Ionosphere, the physical model used for the map, and foF2 is the critical (highest) frequency for NVIS (near vertical incidence skywave) short range progagation. The other map called MUF (pic) is for long path (3000km) propagation.

[Anonymous No.1755590]

>>1755576
>MUF
Is that min usable frequency? Or max usable freq? Whi didn't they use HUF and LUF? highest / lowest usable freq? Don't get it

[Anonymous No.1755592]

>>1755576
>for long path (3000km) propagation.
Shouldn't the long path be much longer than that? I guess 3000km is just about 1 ionosphere bounce

[Anonymous No.1755607]

>>1755590
>>1755592
"MUF is the highest frequency that is expected to bounce off of the ionosphere on a path 3000km long. So the MUF along a path between two points shows the possibility of long-hop DX between those points on a given band. If the MUF is 12MHz, then 30 meters and longer will work, but 20 meters and shorter won't. For long multi-hop paths, the worst MUF anywhere on the path is what matters. For single-hop paths shorter than 3000km, the usable frequency will be less than the MUF, because higher-angle signals 'punch through' the ionosphere more easily. As you get closer to vertical, the usable frequency drops to the Critical Frequency (foF2)."
Source: http://prop.kc2g.com/about/

[Anonymous No.1755635]

>>1755607
I've heart multiple times people are calling other countries and say something like "CQ bla-blahblah long path". I thought there were beaming 180deg of the shortest path.

[Anonymous No.1755645]

>>1755635
>>1755607
https://www.google.com/search?q=cq+longpath

[Anonymous No.1755647]

>>1754017

> Some years ago when I had the antenna for it, LP was quite useful. I contacted the fellow in Amman Jordan several mornings each week, early in the AM here pointing the antenna southwestward. One night, during a minima in the mid 80's we pointed out antennas to the South Pole and worked stations in northern Russia, on 10M, at a time when the band was observed to be otherwise dead.

[Anonymous No.1755689]

>>1753406
Bump - is this about all the DX I should expect in Ohio for the past month in the winter of a terrible sun cycle using ft8, or should I re-evaluate my ham shack from the ground up?

[Anonymous No.1755763]

It will give chills to many. Be not alarmed! It will pass and there will be a new reality to explore.

[Anonymous No.1755775]

>>1755763
rip

[Anonymous No.1755888]

>>1755763
What am I looking at here?

[Anonymous No.1755905]

>>1755888
Rare event, extremely low electron flux (weak solar wind) and 'all bands closed' prediction, which may not be realistic. I still heard VU around 1900UTC.

[Anonymous No.1755915]

>>1755763
A lot of the HF propagation conditions are just general guidelines, and are based off of solar index and sunspot numbers, and come up with a formula which 'sort of' works. It's far from an exact science. You're better off going on PSK reporter, and looking for band openings. If FT8 or PSK31 are open, other modes probably are too!

[Anonymous No.1755921]

>>1755763
From time to time I leave FT8 monitor running throught the night. Last night I got way more DX on 40m than usual. The conditions aren't that bad as many people try to paint it. Surely solar flares help a lot but you know what? You got digital modes that requires way less power to send and copy signal comparing to SSB. Use that.

[Anonymous No.1755934]

>>1755689
>in Ohio for the past month in the winter of a terrible sun cycle using ft8
Are you the guy with verical multiband antenna?
38 countries in one month is piss poor set up.

What's your main issue? People can't copy you? Or you can't copy anyone? Check with pskreporter who actually gets your signal. Try monitor 20m 40m 80m bands for 24hours each, check what's the best time for dx. I recently found that about 2 (or so) hours after the sunset all bands are closed (that's 20 30 40 80m). That last for like an hour or two, then I get lots of peers on 80 and 40. That being said you are likely to change your schedule to get better results

Or you know what? You may have some RFI issue. You may have few strong noise sources nearby

[Anonymous No.1755937]

Is there any software that runs on FreeDOS that I can use to program a Baofeng UV-5R? I want to be a maximum autist and use my Baofeng with my '97 Thinkpad running FreeDOS.

[Anonymous No.1755969]

>>1755934
>What's your main issue? People can't copy you? Or you can't copy anyone?
Great memory. Guilty and I don't know - that's the problem!
I can probably reach 50-70% of what I see. Here's who can see me on 80M at 9pm ET.
I do live in the city. I added a 1:1 current balan last week and did see an improvement, altough not much.

[Anonymous No.1755993]

>>1755969
Kek. Over a month for 40 countries? Is your antenna connected? I can do that in two nights.

[Anonymous No.1755999]

>>1755969
>I do live in the city
oof

[Anonymous No.1756014]

>>1755969
>. Here's who can see me on 80M at 9pm ET.
Check few neighbors or basically anyone within 200-400 miles. Do they reach EU?

Also share details on your set up. Like what transceiver, tuner / PA, details on antenna, what cables, their length, etc

[Anonymous No.1756123]

>>1755969
>I do live in the city.
Time to build a loop.

[Anonymous No.1756132]

>>1756123
A loop needs a tuning aid.

[Anonymous No.1756133]

>>1756132
A variable capacitor is hardly difficult to get.

[Anonymous No.1756134]

>>1756132
>>1756133
For good air-spaced ones, see http://lc-variable.eu

[Anonymous No.1756136]

>>1756123
>>1756132
>>1756133
>>1756134
Oh, it also needs a rotator. Regardless, worth it. 40m loop is a good project and it makes a great second antenna.

[Anonymous No.1756145]

>>1756134
The motorised version looks good, supports a self-tuning loop.

[Anonymous No.1756146]

>>1755969
Turn off the faint monitors, on your map, to get a more realistic display.

[Anonymous No.1756166]

>>1753267
My guess would be a freeband channel mod. Flip the switch and go to a frequency off the CB band.

[Anonymous No.1756184]

>>1756166
Doesn't this look amateurish enough?

[Anonymous No.1756186]

Nuke time

[Anonymous No.1756194]

>>1756186
Wut?

[Anonymous No.1756211]

>>1756194
The Japs have earned another fire bath for introducing the IC-705

[Anonymous No.1756215]

>>1754603
As a base for modding and experimentation, it's fine.
Like with most open-source endeavors, it's chiefly fun if you enjoy solving problems and fixing things.
Check your spurs.

[Anonymous No.1756217]

>>1756211
wrong

[Anonymous No.1756221]

>>1756217
Yea, I shouldn't pretend nuclear weapons exist. At least I know we didn't go to the moon

[Anonymous No.1756225]

>>1756217
Nuh-uh.

[Anonymous No.1756241]

>>1756217
Tounge my anus, nigger boy.

[Anonymous No.1756249]

>>1756211

[Anonymous No.1756250]

Behold

[Anonymous No.1756279]

>>1756184
Eh, I’ve seen worse.

[Anonymous No.1756286]

>>1756241
what a fucking faggot
imagine being you, attempting to troll diy, but instead everyone just realizes that youre a giant faggot

[Anonymous No.1756307]

>>1750074
Oh, hey. Omelette Bro reporter here. Heard him this weekend talking about buying interior house paint and driving to all 3 Big Box stores before driving back to the 1st one to save a dollar a gallon on Baer Paint.

[Anonymous No.1756370]

>>1756307
uh, god. thank god i got involved in my club.
they now have their own net, no more shitting up the airwaves with shit nobody cares about.

[Anonymous No.1756395]

>>1755934
Pic is 40M at 8pm ET - got Hungry to answer at -16
>>1756014
>details
IC-7000, 120-ish ft of DMR, dirty MFJ tuner, and 14 gauge Home Depot vertical wire with around 1,500 feet of a ground plane.
>>1756123
I wouldn't be opposed to a directional antenna, and I am in need of a weekend project ...>>1756146
>faint monitors
pic related. I can hit what I see with some effort, an hour, and luck on my side.
It's fun to see the band change and rotate to the west and south. I just don't know what's normal and where I can improve.

[Anonymous No.1756468]

>>1756395
>IC-7000, 120-ish ft of DMR, dirty MFJ tuner, and 14 gauge Home Depot vertical wire with around 1,500 feet of a ground plane.

Did you check your antenna SWR w/o a tuner? Also why the cable is so long?

If you want better results you should move the tuner as close to the antenna as possible.

[Anonymous No.1756528]

>>1756146
>faint monitors,
What is a "faint monitor"?

A station that didn't receive the "CQ" part but got the rest of the messages?

A station that gets SNR lower than -20 dB or whatever the number?

[Anonymous No.1756576]

>>1756250
Hmm. We should return to the 4ch ham station project.

[Anonymous No.1756579]

Perhaps this is a suitable platform for multi channel SDR?
https://www.earthpeopletechnology.com/digital_storage_oscilloscope_dso_100m

[Anonymous No.1756589]

>>1756579
That's an old, low end FPGA. Better off starting from scratch.

[Anonymous No.1756624]

>>1756579
>earthpeopletechnology
Looks abandoned. Do not expect support.

[Anonymous No.1756758]

This is K7ZS, Kevin in Oregon, and this is the California Hawaii net on 14340.

[Anonymous No.1756765]

>>1756528
It's a checkbox option in PSKReporter.
>>1756468
The antenna does have a naturally low SWR. I've bypassed the tuner at times to see if there was any difference and I couldn't notice anything.
The cable is so long b/c I had to put the antenna at the back of my property.

[Anonymous No.1756784]

2 guys have been talking about 'Microsoft Tech Support' scammers for over an hour now and none of them have actually said anything. They're just repeating themselves.

[Anonymous No.1756821]

>>1756784
and you still listen to them?

[Anonymous No.1756822]

>>1756821
I have all 42 repeaters in range on scan. My Icom scans fast enough that I get most of their conversation while it goes through 41 silent repeaters.

[Anonymous No.1756876]

160m contest is looking good.

[Anonymous No.1756915]

SHIT!
I had WSJT still running and I flipped a switch to change antennas and it transmitted for about 5 seconds on 10-20 watts.
Now there is zero output power. I tried a factory reset and unplugging it.

[Anonymous No.1756923]

>>1756915
RIP your finals. What radio?

[Anonymous No.1756936]

>>1756923
IC-7300
I'm getting power on AM, but not SSB. Maybe not all hope is lost?

[Anonymous No.1756937]

>>1756936
Final transistors are fucked, hope it's in warranty.

[Anonymous No.1756939]

>>1756937
no, it should be protected from that

[Anonymous No.1756942]

>>1756936
>>1756937
>>1756939
I mean, crack the top off and check fuses if you want but I'd be surprised if nothings damaged.

[Anonymous No.1756945]

>>1756937
It's less than a month old
>>1756939
You mean Icom is protected from my stupidity?

No chance I'm missing a protection setting?

[Anonymous No.1756948]

>>1756945
Have you got a dummy load?

[Anonymous No.1756976]

>>1756948
I've been meaning to make one.
There's power out when I press tune or tx on AM.
I popped the top and the 5A fuse is fine. No evidence of smoke or fire.

[Anonymous No.1756980]

>>1756976
Another reset and I have LSB output power.
Now it seems I have to re-configure my FT8 and computer connection.
Fingers crossed - I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully it's not a train.

[Anonymous No.1756984]

>>1756980
What a roller coaster. I'm back in business!

[Anonymous No.1756999]

>>1756984
good for you anon. what happened?

[Anonymous No.1757000]

>>1756999
This : >>1756915
My TX coax from the tuner goes to a switch. One way goes to the radio, the other goes to a NanoVNA. I flip the switch before changing bands so I can dial in my SWR on the VNA.
Lo and behold, WSJT was still running and activated the radio which transmitted into the switch, aka essentially nothing.
I had no power out. Checked the fuse, reset it twice, and a miracle later, everything is back up and running.

[Anonymous No.1757095]

>>1756915
>I had WSJT still running and I flipped a switch to change antennas and it transmitted for about 5 seconds on 10-20 watts.
>>1756945
>You mean Icom is protected from my stupidity?
If frying the finals what that easy... Icom would go bankrupt in no time :D

[Anonymous No.1757097]

>>1756765
>The antenna does have a naturally low SWR. I've bypassed the tuner at times to see if there was any difference and I couldn't notice anything.

Low SWR at all bands and through each and every band? You sure?

You got 1/2" coax right? Did you try to connect the transceiver directly at the feedpoint of the vertical?

Please post pics of your antenna

[Anonymous No.1757179]

>>1756876
>Nice SNR
What hardware is this? Especially antenna?

[Anonymous No.1757186]

>>1757179
That lucky guy lives in a rural area.

The rest of the population has 160m band completely unusable and 80m is often sucks big time. Modern day SMPS are every fucking where and you can't do shit about that. Going portable isn't an option as I can't fathom portable 160m antenna

[Anonymous No.1757191]

>>1757179
Old RSP1 and an MLA-30. It's usually an FT8 monitor station.
>>1757186
>That lucky guy lives in a rural area.
Lol, no. I live near the center of a town with 250,000 population.

[Anonymous No.1757195]

>>1757179
>>1757186
>>1757191
I should clarify I took that screencap at midnight here. Usually any time after dark I get insanely good 160m reception on the MLA.

[Anonymous No.1757215]

>>1757191
>250,000 population.
It's nothing :D

>>1757195
>I should clarify I took that screencap at midnight here.

<<<< Here's what I got.

[Anonymous No.1757216]

>>1757215
Are you
>>1757186
?

For 80m TX in an urban area I use a tuned loop. 160m is too big to be practical in my home but you could probably build something portable with a coax loop if you can find an appropriate varicap and pipe arrangement.

[Anonymous No.1757226]

>>1757216
>Are you
Well yes that was me
>>1757216
>For 80m TX in an urban area I use a tuned loop.
Post pics plz

> 160m is too big to be practical in my home but you could probably build something portable with a coax loop if you can find an appropriate varicap and pipe arrangement.

I got a vacuum cap, got it of ebay few years ago for cheap, it's jennings 25-1000pf 2/3kv max or something along these lines.

I'm kind of hesitant to go magloop route. Are loops worth anything

[Anonymous No.1757234]

>>1757226
ive built many antennas(fan dipoles, dipoles, jpoles, slimjims)but never one with caps or anything like that.
how much more difficult does this make it?

[Anonymous No.1757337]

https://www.nonstopsystems.com/radio/frank_radio_antenna_magloop.htm

[Anonymous No.1757422]

>>1749955
I like the picture of two puppies nuzzling each other's noses like they're eskimo kissing, right above the computer monitor.

[Anonymous No.1757440]

DX Commander VapeLord

[Anonymous No.1757491]

Should I get the rtl-sdr?

[Anonymous No.1757494]

>>1757491
Yes, it's $20 and it works great for VHF and UHF.

[Anonymous No.1757500]

>>1757494
What kind of antenna would I need for it? I'm mainly just looking to recieve. And isn't there a subaudible transmission types made for sdr's?

[Anonymous No.1757503]

>>1757500
>What kind of antenna would I need for it?
What is it you want to receive?
>And isn't there a subaudible transmission types made for sdr's?
Wut? Try asking that question again and check your English cause I've no idea what you're trying to ask.

[Anonymous No.1757518]

>>1757500
>What kind of antenna would I need for it?
Get yourself some male and female pl-239 connectors, a pl-239 to sma adaptor, and about 150 feet of wire (any size), and make a simple dipole. That's what I use with my SDRPlay. I tuned to the ft8 frequencies on 20 meters yesterday, and pulled in CQ's from over 80 countries. Two from Japan, one from Kuwait, and one Indonesia, and I'm located in New England USA. I routinely pull in voice from Russia, too.

[Anonymous No.1757521]

>>1757518
There's zero point of him doing any of that with an RTL-SDR device. Direct sampling is dogshit and an upconverter is wasted money vs buying a better SDR in the first place. With an RTL dongle he'll be best sticking to VHF.

[Anonymous No.1757528]

>>1757521
As for antenna, get a 2m/70cm colinear if you're getting an RTL and don't know what to do with it.

[Anonymous No.1757530]

>>1757521
v3 is fine

[Anonymous No.1757537]

>>1757530
No, direct sampling is still dogshit. Try a 14-bit SDR with a proper frontend and compare.

[Anonymous No.1757538]

>>1757537
whats one that comparable to $20

[Anonymous No.1757543]

>>1757538
There isn't and that's the whole point, trying to do HF on $20 is stupid.

[Anonymous No.1757547]

>>1757521
>and an upconverter is wasted money vs buying a better SDR in the first place.
Actually, you're right. I wasn't even considering the fact he doesn't have an upconverter. I do, and I just started spouting what I had done. You are right, just buy a better SDR, forget the upconverter unless you've already purchased a bunch of rtl's for trunking or some shit, and want to try out HF.

[Anonymous No.1757549]

>>1757547
>>1757543
>>1757537
what product would you suggest?

[Anonymous No.1757550]

>>1757549
For listening to HF?

[Anonymous No.1757555]

>>1757550
SDRPlay RSP1A or an Airspy HF+.

[Anonymous No.1757558]

>>1757555
>200USD

ok bud

[Anonymous No.1757563]

>>1757558
Well what's your budget and what do you want to do with an SDR?

[Anonymous No.1757565]

>>1757558
It's worth it though.They're amazing once you get a decent antenna up. My antenna is in the worst possible place and it pulls in signals like crazy.

[Anonymous No.1757595]

>>1757558
You gotta pay to play. What's your budget? What are you after? Receiving China Radio International or Voice of Korea on HF?

[Anonymous No.1757601]

>>1757186
I’ve seen pictures of people tying a wire to a balloon and using it as a portable vertical antenna for 160 meters. It’s an interesting concept and with maybe some radials run along the ground I could see it working.

[Anonymous No.1757603]

>>1757543
It’s not the greatest but hey it works well enough for $20 just to get a glimpse at what’s out there.

[Anonymous No.1757605]

>>1757563
>>1757565
>>1757595
i have a 7300 and a few 2m/70cm radios...i can recieve noaa, the only reason i would spend more money on that if i could tx, so id just buy a hackrf

[Anonymous No.1757628]

>>1757605
>so id just buy a hackrf
Those are even more expensive, are less sensitive, and transmit at very low power. What are you going to transmit that would warrant buying one of these?

[Anonymous No.1757629]

>>1752196
It's just the slack fabric in his pants against the chair

[Anonymous No.1757630]

>>1757628
>and transmit

[Anonymous No.1757631]

>>1752970
>As was already mentioned, emergency services went digital long ago
Depends on your location. Around here, with the exception of a tactical police and a sheriff freq, everything's completely open. Pretty convenient since I found a Bearcat scanner from the '70s at Goodwill and can still use it

[Anonymous No.1757643]

>>1757630
>>1757630
>>and transmit

At 1...30 mW It's useless

You have to shed few hundreds (or even few grands if you decide to cover few bands) to get a suitable preamp / power amp / filters / cables / connectors / whatever.

[Anonymous No.1757673]

0717z 7198 cq feelday cq feelday w5obm feelday

[Anonymous No.1757746]

>>1757673
qrt

[Anonymous No.1757753]

>>1757422
>I like the picture of two puppies nuzzling each other's noses like they're eskimo kissing, right above the computer monitor.

qt

[Anonymous No.1757775]

>>1757097
It's just a slew of THHN all connected to the same bolt which is connected to a SO-239, along with 1,000-2,000 feet of a ground plane (although only in a 180 degree circumference ).
I don't know what happened, but in the past 2 days U got South Africa, Australia, and Japan.
I did drop the output power in WSJT and bumped the TX to 50 watts

[Anonymous No.1757789]

cool story

[Anonymous No.1757790]

Hola

[Anonymous No.1757809]

Dumb beginner questions:
1) I have a loop antenna I made out of 24AWG (0.08 ohm/m). If I remake it out of 14AWG (0.008 ohm/m), will my gain go up by ten?
2) if I make it slightly larger, so it covers 1.3x the area of my previous loop, will the gain increase 30%?

[Anonymous No.1757823]

>>1757809
1) No, gain is not effected by wire size. It will increase your power handling limit (unless there is a weak component elsewhere in the circuit) and should increase your usable bandwidth once tuned. Neither effect is linear, so the degree of each is hard to say.

2) Again, no effect towards gain really. Changing the size of the loop changes its resonant frequency and efficiency on specific frequencies.

[Anonymous No.1757832]

>>1757823
Does the resistance of the wire not affect the Q, and therefore the center frequency's amplitude of the loop? And wouldn't higher Q reduce my bandwidth?

[Anonymous No.1757857]

>>1757832
There's an article linked at >>1757337 that may interest you.

[Anonymous No.1757859]

>>1757629
please don't engage the retard that spams this picture every thread

[Anonymous No.1757871]

New thread:

>>1757869
>>1757869
>>1757869

[Anonymous No.1757873]

>>1757871
You fucking retard you used the old FTP address

[Anonymous No.1757884]

>>1757873
Settle down Satan. Someone already corrected it.

[Anonymous No.1758093]

>>1757809
>1) I have a loop antenna I made out of 24AWG (0.08 ohm/m). If I remake it out of 14AWG (0.008 ohm/m), will my gain go up by ten?
Wire diameter matters more than its cross section area as current flows on the outside of the wire on HF (google skin effect).

>>1757809
>2) if I make it slightly larger, so it covers 1.3x the area of my previous loop, will the gain increase 30%?
You got it right, not sure about the numbers though.

[Anonymous No.1758097]

>>1758093
>skin effect
Forgot about that, thanks. Redid the calculations. From 24AWG (0.5mm) to 14AWG (1.6mm) should give about 3.2x the surface area.
Guess I'll find out the real number soon enough.

[Anonymous No.1758294]

>>1758097
I think for RX antennas it shouldn't matter that much, you'll get weaker signal that's for sure but SNR shouldn't change much

[Anonymous No.1758371]

New thread:

>>1757869
>>1757869
>>1757869

[Anonymous No.1758372]

A parting gift

[Anonymous No.1758375]

>>1758372
reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[Anonymous No.1758378]

>>1758375
Don't worry Elecraft is the next theme. They're already reeee-ing about it.

[Anonymous No.1758379]

God forbid you talk about anything other than a baomeme or rtl-sdr, but I digress.

[Anonymous No.1758383]

>>1758378
>>1758379
yeah, i dont get why people get so angry. just.....dont fucking buy it, or maybe send the company an email about what you would want in a radio

[Anonymous No.1758685]

Recommendations for textbook for basic amateur license ?

[Anonymous No.1758689]

>>1758685

[Anonymous No.1760320]

>>1758379
sorry we're poorfags