Posted on 05/10/2021 6:55:46 PM PDT by tbw2
There are so many idiots out on the HF bands these days that don't have licenses it's sickening.
All I can say is this Laz: if you want to do it RIGHT, study and get your license.
If you don't care, then don't get your license and see how many people will talk to you on the amateur radio bands that ARE licensed. It won't be many. Those that aren't licensed won't care and will be happy to talk to you on 80m.
Stop arguing with customers who know more then you evidently do.
With a parabolic dish antenna, you can have separate feed horns and be able to receive that range.
Software defined radio? I’ve never owned one. The issue I see with them is selectivity.
Computers and sensitive receivers are not friends. I learned this back in the early 1980’s. My analog RF receivers near poorly shielded Z80 computers were snowed with white noise. Even the best receivers had issues.
Later I bought a Robot 800 CW and TTY (computer) keyboard. It was the first such machine that generated low white noise.
This brings back some great memories.
Thanks
The best antenna for general use with an SDR, like the little 20$ dongles, is a discone. The discone has little gain but it has an enormously wide bandwidth.
If you place the discone up high and use low-loss feedline the results are very good.
Parallel line, like ladder-line or twinlead, with matching transformers is good if the discone is quite a distance from the SDR. This type of feedline has very little loss even at microwave frequencies.
Another good option is LMR400 coax, but it is a little pricey.
This online SDR uses a cheap dongle to receive medium wave through 10 meters... this sort of setup can be constructed at home for relatively little $.
I lived out West in Silver City, NM. Lived in NM from 1972-1986.
Was in the wholesale hardware distribution business. Traveled from Alamogordo to Sierra Vista AZ. and as far North as Truth or Consequences.
I absolutely loved the Amateur Radio Community there. Best engineers and techs I have ever known.
Those were good memories.
lol...
Turn all knobs max right to be heard. And in certain conditions, shouting into the microphone helps.
bookmark
I had to laugh. That was me at first, thinking that shouting into the mic would help. I still have to watch that when working a dx. Now I want the best sounding signal and learned to dial back the mic gain and compression
That’s what she said...
970 WFLA from Tampa but I’m in Sarasota. Works clear mostly but more static that it used to have driving in the same area from 10 years ago. Also I have a newer car than I did then as well and the reception is worse. No idea about an additional hook up. I can listen to IHEARTRADIO and stream the radio station via my car’s bluetooth, but then I run up my data use which I’d prefer not to do.
☺
re: “J-poles are often dual band. If you are looking for a simple dual band antenna it works pretty well for line of sight radio”
SO DOES a wire sticking out the back of the RADIO.
You nutjobs just won’t let it go, will you?
You’re either green and new to radio, or so old you forgot ALL you learned.
EITHER WAY, J-poles still SUCK.
People like spread myth and disinfo without the slightest understanding what the hell you’re doing to NEWBIES.
Yes it can happen. In august a couple of years ago, I was listening to WRR from dallas on 101.1fm. It was very clear and very surprising, because I was in Pinedale, Wyoming at the time. About a thousand miles.
That must have been on one of the few remaining VHF TV channels. Not much of that spectrum left.
“You’re either green and new to radio, or so old you forgot ALL you learned.”
I’m 73. Hold an Amateur Extra and a GROL Commercial Radio License.
Have taught electronics at an Airforce base.
We are through. Your insults are not appropriate here.
Agree. Totally correct.
I admire simple solutions. It is the part of design today that is missing.
Yes, RF is still somewhat black magic. But it has been in use a long time.
UHF and upward, you are no longer an electrician you are a plumber.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.