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Mini DXpedition 2020
Mini DXpedition 2020
Every fall I pick a day and head out into the country for a few hours to do some DXing on the short wave bands. I take along a radio or two and some wire for erecting an antenna I go to the same location every year. It's a conservation area, about 35 miles from the city, about ten miles inland from Lake Huron. The area is perfect. There are no power lines or any other source of man made noise around. There are trees around so I can get an antenna up off the ground.
It's becoming a little more of a challenge every year, because, one by one, the big international broadcasters are shutting down. The challenge will be greater this year because we're still deep in the trough between solar cycles
I'd like to try some MW DXing. I used to do a lot of that. But these days it hard to get an ID from them and they all sound the same.
I always pick a day in early November, after we have reverted to standard time. This allows me to take advantage of the earlier darkness. I arrive there around 4:00 PM. This gives me enough time to get set up before it gets dark. I stay there for 4 or 5 hours
One important element could be missing this year. At the end of the evening, I always head for the nearby Tim Horton’s up there and warm up with a hot bowl of chili before driving home. This year, due to the virus, Many of the Tim Horton's are open for drive thru business only. Might have to forego that part of it
The day I've picked for this year is Monday, Nov 9. The weather can be unreliable at that time of year, but in the twelve years I've been doing it, I've never had bad weather. Indeed, on one or two occasions, it's been balmy, Indian summer weather.
I'm looking forward to it.
It's becoming a little more of a challenge every year, because, one by one, the big international broadcasters are shutting down. The challenge will be greater this year because we're still deep in the trough between solar cycles
I'd like to try some MW DXing. I used to do a lot of that. But these days it hard to get an ID from them and they all sound the same.
I always pick a day in early November, after we have reverted to standard time. This allows me to take advantage of the earlier darkness. I arrive there around 4:00 PM. This gives me enough time to get set up before it gets dark. I stay there for 4 or 5 hours
One important element could be missing this year. At the end of the evening, I always head for the nearby Tim Horton’s up there and warm up with a hot bowl of chili before driving home. This year, due to the virus, Many of the Tim Horton's are open for drive thru business only. Might have to forego that part of it
The day I've picked for this year is Monday, Nov 9. The weather can be unreliable at that time of year, but in the twelve years I've been doing it, I've never had bad weather. Indeed, on one or two occasions, it's been balmy, Indian summer weather.
I'm looking forward to it.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
Have fun at your DX spot. I usually take my Tecsun portable for the SW and the big old GE superradio for AM DX.. We go to MI State Parks run campgrounds and the noise levels are getting pretty bad with terrible radiating power converters in the big campers.
Some times I have to get away from the campers and maybe to the shore of a lake or into the woods to get away from all that noise.
It sure is a shame that the international broadcasting is winding down .
My being a BCB DXer then a SWL got me interested in radio and electronics and international knowledge at a very young age, eventually led me to a lifelong career , first in Broadcast engineering and then mobile radio service work that lasted 45 years.
Some times I have to get away from the campers and maybe to the shore of a lake or into the woods to get away from all that noise.
It sure is a shame that the international broadcasting is winding down .
My being a BCB DXer then a SWL got me interested in radio and electronics and international knowledge at a very young age, eventually led me to a lifelong career , first in Broadcast engineering and then mobile radio service work that lasted 45 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
MW DXing was more fun in the old days. They did regular IDs and if you were still uncertain you could get clues from their local ads or local weather. Now it's just hours of syndicated talk shows that could be coming from anywhere.
I have lots of QSLs from AMs from both the east and west coasts and from everywhere in between.
I have lots of QSLs from AMs from both the east and west coasts and from everywhere in between.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
When I was a teenager I got a 3 tube Granco tuner that I used with a xtal headset I rescued from the trash in school language lab. Made a dipole from
TV twinlead and pinned it to my wall.
Back in the early 60s , there was lots of open space on the FMBC band and the Wx front DX rolled in from Ohio, Ontario and Indiana.
I sent repors to several stations and got cards and letters back from some chief engineers
TV twinlead and pinned it to my wall.
Back in the early 60s , there was lots of open space on the FMBC band and the Wx front DX rolled in from Ohio, Ontario and Indiana.
I sent repors to several stations and got cards and letters back from some chief engineers
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
So, I'm all set for Nov 9, one week from today. The weather is looking to be perfect. Sunny +20 deg C. That's about 70 deg F.
I've been doing this every year for a lot of years and I've always lucked out with the weather. But never that worm.
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/14 ... o/parkhill
I've been doing this every year for a lot of years and I've always lucked out with the weather. But never that worm.
https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/14 ... o/parkhill
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
Well, it was Monday. The perfect weather compensated for the not so perfect reception. There aren't a lot of SW Broadcasters around any more, so some of my loggings were just Utility Stations
Anyway it was a good day.
3330 KHZ - CHU
6070 KHZ – CFRX Toronto
6170 KHZ – Radio Romania International
6195 KHZ – VOA (VOA used to be one of the dominant players on the SW bands. Today it’s a rare catch.)
6501 KHZ USB U.S. Coast Guard Command, Norfolk VA (Marine weather)
9995 KHZ - Radio Argentina
9980 KHZ – WRMI Miami
9690 KHZ – REE Spain
3485 KHZ – Gander Radio VOLMET
2749 KHZ – Canada Coast Guard, Newfoundland - Marine Weather
3413 KHZ – Shannon Air Radio VOLMET Shannon Ireland
5450 KHZ – RAF VOlMET, Britain
6030 KHZ – Radio Marti US anti Cuban Radio
5850 KHZ – Radio Slovakia
6180 KHZ – China Radio International
Anyway it was a good day.
3330 KHZ - CHU
6070 KHZ – CFRX Toronto
6170 KHZ – Radio Romania International
6195 KHZ – VOA (VOA used to be one of the dominant players on the SW bands. Today it’s a rare catch.)
6501 KHZ USB U.S. Coast Guard Command, Norfolk VA (Marine weather)
9995 KHZ - Radio Argentina
9980 KHZ – WRMI Miami
9690 KHZ – REE Spain
3485 KHZ – Gander Radio VOLMET
2749 KHZ – Canada Coast Guard, Newfoundland - Marine Weather
3413 KHZ – Shannon Air Radio VOLMET Shannon Ireland
5450 KHZ – RAF VOlMET, Britain
6030 KHZ – Radio Marti US anti Cuban Radio
5850 KHZ – Radio Slovakia
6180 KHZ – China Radio International
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
You picked the right freq range for low sunspot DX !
Now summer is over the lightning noise is much less troublesone and clear listening is easy.
I suggest buiding a large multiturn portable loop and tuning it for the long waves. I have been following the long wave Airport beacons . If you can copy SLOW Morse , there are 3 letters and sometimes a digit on the station ID. I have received them as far as Winnipeg, MB. I just use my 160 M dipole and it picks up a lot of power line noise and I still plan on trying to build a big loop for the MW/LW band.
Have fun !
Now summer is over the lightning noise is much less troublesone and clear listening is easy.
I suggest buiding a large multiturn portable loop and tuning it for the long waves. I have been following the long wave Airport beacons . If you can copy SLOW Morse , there are 3 letters and sometimes a digit on the station ID. I have received them as far as Winnipeg, MB. I just use my 160 M dipole and it picks up a lot of power line noise and I still plan on trying to build a big loop for the MW/LW band.
Have fun !
Last edited by k8jd on Wed Nov 11, 2020 11:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
CRI is broadcast from transmitters in Cuba !Turkeytop wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 10:42 pmWell, it was Monday. The perfect weather compensated for the not so perfect reception. There aren't a lot of SW Broadcasters around any more, so some of my loggings were just Utility Stations
Anyway it was a good day.
6030 KHZ – Radio Marti US anti Cuban Radio
6180 KHZ – China Radio International
I have driven by the R. Marti site in Marathon Key FL, they have 4 towers for the AM station aimed at Cuba and a lot of other SW antennas, there.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
I realize CRI is from a Cuban relay. It disappeared for a couple of years and I thought it was gone for good. I was surprised to hear it back again.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
- audiophile
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- Location: Between 88 and 108 MHz.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
CRI has a big signal.
I always wondered where it came from
I always wondered where it came from
Ask not what your country can do FOR you; ask what they are about to do TO YOU!!
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
Strangely, the signal from CRI is always superior to that of Radio Havana.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
R. Havana has had some audio problems for some time now.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
I wonder if CRI sends over their own engineer to maintain the equipment.
Arnie Coro, the engineer at Radio Havana is over 80 years old and has health problems.
Arnie Coro, the engineer at Radio Havana is over 80 years old and has health problems.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.
Re: Mini DXpedition 2020
Before packing up to go home, I tried my luck with LW Beacons.
276 KHZ – YEL Elliot Lake ON
278 KHZ – ADG Adrian MI
332 KHZ – PH Port Huron MI
346 KHZ – YXL Sioux Outlook ON
350 KHZ – D7 Kinkardine ON
351 KHZ – YKQ Port Rupert Quebec
362 KHZ – SB Sudbury ON
366 KHZ – YMW Maniwaki Quebec
Also, some photos from the day.
276 KHZ – YEL Elliot Lake ON
278 KHZ – ADG Adrian MI
332 KHZ – PH Port Huron MI
346 KHZ – YXL Sioux Outlook ON
350 KHZ – D7 Kinkardine ON
351 KHZ – YKQ Port Rupert Quebec
362 KHZ – SB Sudbury ON
366 KHZ – YMW Maniwaki Quebec
Also, some photos from the day.
I don't mean to brag, but I just put a puzzle together in 1 day and the box said 2-4 years.