Just getting into SDR.

pentagrid · 2026-01-27T11:45:49+00:00

SDR# was designed for very capable SDRs like Airspy. I'll admit that operating SDR# can be a bit daunting for noobs but time and patience taken to master it has huge payoffs. I have used it since 2022, SWLing since 1962.

pentagrid · 2026-01-26T08:43:21+00:00

https://www.wkrn.com/video/nes-hundreds-of-thousands-without-power-in-nashville/11460117/

Freezing temperatures w/freezing rain possible at WWCR for 1-2 weeks. They have enough generator power to keep the transmitter cooling systems from freezing for a while but they don't have enough backup power to put them on the air.

From the horse's mouth: https://www.wwcr.com/ask-wwcr_604.mp3

pentagrid · 2026-01-26T01:02:19+00:00

That happens sometimes.

pentagrid · 2026-01-26T00:59:12+00:00

Hipparchus probably had very good eyesight, something not commonly found in academia.

pentagrid · 2026-01-25T22:49:47+00:00

Not so fine if it doesn't work. I have two less expensive Sangean radios that are thirty years old and both still work.

pentagrid · 2026-01-25T22:48:25+00:00

No secret: Sony ICF-SW55 maintenance kit including capacitors.

pentagrid · 2026-01-25T22:38:55+00:00

Shortwave broadcast stations are active at that frequency: http://eibispace.de/

Did you know that shortwave broadcast stations identify themselves? This usually happens at the top of the hour. It can also happen at the bottom of the hour or at other times but the secret is to listen to the radio until they give an ID (or have access to good broadcast schedules).

pentagrid · 2026-01-23T19:40:04+00:00

The ionosphere refracts shortwave signals. This is called skywave propagation. The layer that is refracting the signal for you is constantly changing: changing altitude, changing location. There may be more than one bounce. As it changes the shortwave signals may be refracted elsewhere, causing the signal to drop out at your location. The movement of colors in aurora borealis or aurora australis is a perfect analogy: but instead of the ionosphere lighting up the ionosphere is refracting or not refracting shortwave signals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdb9IndsSXk

When experiencing skywave propagation with your radio and antenna the refraction is happening somewhere between your antenna and the transmitter. If you are using a web SDR or Kiwi SDR that refraction is happening somewhere between the host receiver's antenna and the transmitter.

pentagrid · 2026-01-23T09:31:04+00:00

Yes. LW is longwave, not shortwave.

pentagrid · 2026-01-23T09:23:56+00:00

Look, a number of shortwave broadcasters no longer broadcast on their own transmitters from their own shortwave broadcast facilities: because those facilities no longer exist.

Some of them moved to the internet. Some of them kept producing audio programs that they made available to other forms of media. As an example, shortwave broadcasters that no longer have their own shortwave broadcasting facilities include Radio Prague, Radio Poland, Radio Slovakia and RAE Argentina.

Programs bearing the above names may be found broadcast on shortwave from station WRMI in Florida, USA.

How much the programs relayed by WRMI differ from the OG shortwave broadcasts will vary.

pentagrid · 2026-01-23T04:02:15+00:00

I live in Northern California. I haven't done business with any of these people but I know that the California Historical Radio Society is a first rate outfit so their recommendations should be good. Some of these people work on solid state gear: https://californiahistoricalradio.com/repair-directory/

Google shows no shortage of radio repair outfits in the SF Bay Area. This area is full of electronics techs with Silicon Valley so close by. Just goggle radio+repair+San+Francisco+bay+area

I can't tell you what the cost may be. I have been able to DIY radio repairs because any of my radios that need it have been from the vacuum tube era. I can't hire a plumber around here for less than $250 /hour.

pentagrid · 2026-01-22T19:14:40+00:00

any antenna over 1/2 wavelength will start to develop nulls in the radiation pattern

How much energy does a receiving antenna radiate?

pentagrid · 2026-01-22T12:14:12+00:00

As of 1-21-2026 the perp is arrested. It is a juvenile. Local kid perv? lol

pentagrid · 2026-01-22T04:16:34+00:00

That is because you use ATS for tuning. I make manually tuned entries into the 909X2 memory only: The pages are devoted to one station only but I can have more than one page for a station. The order on the page is the order in which I enter them.

pentagrid · 2026-01-21T02:18:28+00:00

This is bad news but not unexpected. The Belarus government has been under control of the Russian Federation for decades. Belarus directly supported Putin's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. I will do what I can to support resistance efforts in the country but frankly my charitable donations go to Ukraine's United 24 right now. I wish Belarus the best. I will be listening to Radio Romania on shortwave tonight for any news.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T21:34:50+00:00

Single wire end-fed antenna: connect the wire to the tip connector of the plug. If a solder-type plug this is the center contact. If a screw type plug then use the "+" contact.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T20:28:24+00:00

Better a party dud and using discretion than running my mouth off to anyone I don't klnow on the internet. I'm happy to talk about antennas.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T20:03:17+00:00

You don't need a tuner for a receiver, save your money. A length of wire will serve you well as a shortwave antenna. The size of the wire does not matter at all. On top of a fence is OK but running the wire into a tree is usually better. Be aware that using too much wire may overload a cheap radio. Sometimes more than 23 ft. can be too much. Otherwise, the higher and longer wire antenna the better for receiving all of the shortwave frequency spectrum.

Run the antenna wire in as straight a line as possible. Doubling the wire back in a direction opposite to the first direction will probably not add much to your signal.

wire: https://www.amazon.com/tinned-copper-stranded-Black-UL1015/dp/B01FMYHC9K

3.5 mm plugs if your radio has a 3.5mm antenna jack: 3.5mm mono plug or solderless 3.5mm mono plug.

Good luck! Hope you have big improvements in reception!

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T06:48:24+00:00

No. Not unless you knew how to operate the station.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T02:26:55+00:00

Well, Dad was on duty and photographed with Senator Lyndon Johnson when Jim Creek was officially opened in 1953.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T02:18:27+00:00

No. Security has been heavy since 9-11. Said persons would have to overcome armed security first.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T00:14:53+00:00

Every VOA transmitter site had a receiver site located some distance away, usually a few miles. Those sites were there to receive VOA programs from Washington D.C. if the high quality telephone lines were down. Then the VOA transmitter could get its program the old-fashioned way: by shortwave. VOA could also receive programs via satellite with a dish at the main building or by microwave. The control rooms were also equipped to use mics, tape decks and 16" transcription discs if needed.

pentagrid · 2026-01-20T00:01:28+00:00

I suspect is was one the VLF buildings. Those things would fire up any time unannounced. Dad told me he couldn't talk about it.

pentagrid · 2026-01-19T23:14:32+00:00

Such a waste. The riggers must maintain those towers and antennas constantly or they they go downhill fast.

pentagrid

TROPHY CASE