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Capnbigboobies posted:Ya really sorry about the poor quality. What was mostly said over and over was stuff like ALPHA, BRAVO blah blah. There was bad interference from some Asian station so it made it really hard to make out. Probably aeronautical transmissions. Sometimes hams will use phonetics when giving call signs, but this sounds like it was probably aeronautical transmissions. Military or civilian, no way of knowing which.
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Nov 28, 2007 21:50
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| # ? May 10, 2024 18:57 |
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I've been reading this thread since it started, but haven't bothered to post in it yet. I recently moved, and fell out of shortwave as a result. Being in a small apartment is not very suitable for the hobby. My trusty old Kenwood R-1000 and my Universal M-8000 demodulator stayed packed in my closet for a long time. A couple months ago, I got the itch to do some SWL'ing. I sneakily set up my PAR EF-SWL so that it runs through my bedroom window, and up 2 floors along a gutter. I wasn't expecting good results; so I was surprised when the reception turned out slightly better than my sloping setup at the old location. The only problem was bad electrical buzz. After a couple months, I decided that if I were going to get serious into this hobby, I might as well buy a "serious" radio...a radio so great that it would be a very long time before I desire anything better. After doing research and asking around on forums, I narrowed it down to an Icom 756 Pro II; or a Yaesu FT-1000D. While I loved the analyzer display of the Pro II; I ended up getting an FT-1000D just because of its reputation and my fondness for older electronics. The 1000D is built like a brick shithouse (~80 lbs) and very well engineered, with 200 watts of power. It should definitely last me a while. The one thing that the 1000D lacks compared to new rigs is a good DSP. After doing more research, I settled on the Timewave DSP-599zx (what a name) to modernize the radio. The 1000D has a decent noise blanker and a great notch filter; but adding the DSP made a HUGE difference. I can really cut through the static now, and the AC line noise eliminator works wonders in my noisy environment. It also has 2 inputs, so I can use it with my scanner as well. I'm very, very happy. So, here's my current setup. I haven't hooked up the M-8000 demodulator yet, since I'm still learning to "drive" all of this stuff:  ...and I still don't have my license, but I'm working on that small detail  I'm not transmitting yet either, since I don't have a proper antenna. This should all change soon. In the meantime I'm happy doing SWL at night when I get off work. I love this thread, and I hope we can get it active again.
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Nov 28, 2007 23:51
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Jose Pointero posted:I'm sorry, what did you just say? I was too busy vigorously masturbating to that image to listen.
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Nov 29, 2007 01:14
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AstroZamboni posted:I'm sorry, what did you just say? I was too busy vigorously masturbating to that image to listen. Speaking of Alex, what is everyone's favorite "crazy people" show? This stuff is more entertaining than anything on TV and I'd like to find more.
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Nov 29, 2007 02:37
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jose you'd better be extra before jan 01 or i'm going to come to your house and steal that ft-1000 god, what a fuckin' classic rig. You picked well. I've been listening to and working a lot of PSK31 and other digital modes. See, there are a handful of digital modes out there that approach and even exceed CW in 'punch' or the ability to communiciate with low signal; there are even some very slow digital modes that can be decoded below the noise floor. yeah. So, if you guys have decently stable radios and good antennas, go download Digipan or MixW (all free), hook a speaker cable to the line in of your PC and visit: 3.580 (I have bad noise here so I can't play but this is the 75m freq) 7.035 (PSK31 DX/secondary freq) 7.070 (main US PSK31 freq) 10.140 (some very nice guys here on 30m) 14.070 (only during the day mainly but VERY active then) All frequencies are USB. 7.070 is blowing up just about 24 hours a day, depending on prop. I worked Cuba and Ontario this afternoon, VNC'd from my work computer. Hell yeah.
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Nov 29, 2007 02:42
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Thanks, it wasn't an easy choice. The Pro II is absolutely awesome; but I'm a sucker for good 80's tech. I'd definitely be up for some PSK31 when I get an antenna to do it with. I heard you can work it with low power, but just how low are we talking about? I hope I can do it without pissing off everyone who lives in this apartment complex... As for getting an Extra, well, I'll probably be sending you some PM's regarding that after I get done with school this semester.
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Nov 29, 2007 02:53
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Jose Pointero posted:Speaking of Alex, what is everyone's favorite "crazy people" show? This stuff is more entertaining than anything on TV and I'd like to find more. Alex is the only crazy person I've found who isn't a preacher. I was hoping to find so much more. Also, I still can't get Alex in with any regularity. They seem to switch frequencies - sometimes even announcing it seconds before hand, sometimes just disappearing - and times a lot and I have no idea if any of it is ever live or what. Fun when I can catch him though!
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Nov 29, 2007 03:56
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Jose: Put it this way, those Cuba and ON contacts were with 25 watts peak power. all these digital modes are pretty hard on radios, with the 200w FT-1000 you would be expecting to peak at about 120-150 watts MAYBE, and most of the time you'll be fine with 25 to 50 my ic-735 will spit out 135 watts SSB on 40 meters before my ALC kicks in, and it'll top out about 75-80 watts PSK31, though i rarely take it above 25. I had a nice contact with VE3NOO the other day and for shits I was backing my power down; we were still at 100% copy when I realized that I was shoving a grand total of 2 watts PEP down the line into a dipole five feet off the ground, haha. Pretty miraculous poo poo. Let me know if you (or anybody else) has any questions about taking ham exams or about digital stuff - i'll be more than happy to help anybody along. As for the SWL stuff, well, I haven't been able to tune around too too much as I've been busy with holiday stuff; hopefully I can get a few nice nights with good prop to tune some cool poo poo in.
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Nov 29, 2007 04:05
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AnimalChin posted:Alex is the only crazy person I've found who isn't a preacher. I was hoping to find so much more. Jonny 290 posted:lots of interesting stuff Anyway, yeah I will probably be in touch with you soon about getting licensed. I found a few places to take the tests locally, and stumbled upon a few local clubs in the progress. Most of em are a bunch of old guys though. I would prefer talking to goons on HF. Jose Pointero fucked around with this message at 04:17 on Nov 29, 2007 |
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Nov 29, 2007 04:10
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Listening to Alex right now on 7465, and HOLY loving poo poo they're playing Christian rock from a guy my parents knew in San Francisco when I was a little kid! Edit: HOLY JESUS gently caress, it was from a recording MY DAD ENGINEERED in the early 80s. SPOOKY! AstroZamboni fucked around with this message at 04:29 on Nov 29, 2007 |
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Nov 29, 2007 04:25
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Jose Pointero posted:That is one dead sexy radio. I'm such a Yaesu whore it's not even funny, all my ham gear is Yaesu (FT-470 HT, FT-4700 dual band mobile, FT-757GX). How does it fare on closely packed signals, like around 6 MHz at night? The AM wide filter is pretty broad (14 kHz @ -60dB!), and the AM narrow undoubtedly makes the sound much more muffled. Does the passband shift work at all? Jose Pointero posted:I'm not transmitting yet either, since I don't have a proper antenna.  I sure hope not, with the main VFO on channel 19 and all.
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Nov 30, 2007 02:16
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quote:Most of em are a bunch of old guys though. I would prefer talking to goons on HF. I really don't enjoy our local clubs - I went to one meeting for my General/Extra upgrade last Jan and everybody there was about 70 years old and all they cared about was impressing the Red Cross with their whacker lights and "EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS" banners so the city would give them money. I'm all for promoting the emergency aspect of it, but we're a hobby service, not a volunteer dispatcher service. Don't let a meh local club turn you off, definitely. There are other ways of meeting up with hams; of course most notably radio.
Jonny 290 fucked around with this message at 02:23 on Nov 30, 2007 |
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Nov 30, 2007 02:20
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nmfree posted:That is one dead sexy radio. I'm such a Yaesu whore it's not even funny, all my ham gear is Yaesu (FT-470 HT, FT-4700 dual band mobile, FT-757GX). How does it fare on closely packed signals, like around 6 MHz at night? The AM wide filter is pretty broad (14 kHz @ -60dB!), and the AM narrow undoubtedly makes the sound much more muffled. Does the passband shift work at all? I'm not too worried about the filters because I can adjust the high pass and low pass on the 599zx to narrow or widen to my heart's content. The shift seems to do, uh, something. I'm too noobish to understand or care to much about that adjustment yet. And yeah, I monitor channel 19 a lot because I live within a stone's throw of IH-35, and hear lots of crazy trucker poo poo on there. When that pic was taken there was a huge backup due to construction and a wreck...man those truckers were riled up let me tell ya. Jonny 290 posted:I really don't enjoy our local clubs - I went to one meeting for my General/Extra upgrade last Jan and everybody there was about 70 years old and all they cared about was impressing the Red Cross with their whacker lights and "EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS" banners so the city would give them money. I'm all for promoting the emergency aspect of it, but we're a hobby service, not a volunteer dispatcher service. 
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Nov 30, 2007 06:40
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Jose Pointero posted:And yeah, I monitor channel 19 a lot because I live within a stone's throw of IH-35, and hear lots of crazy trucker poo poo on there. When that pic was taken there was a huge backup due to construction and a wreck...man those truckers were riled up let me tell ya. Where in Texas abouts are you? I'm a stones throw away from I-35 as well. Farmers Branch/Addison, on this end.
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Nov 30, 2007 06:44
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blugu64 posted:Where in Texas abouts are you? I'm a stones throw away from I-35 as well. Farmers Branch/Addison, on this end.
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Nov 30, 2007 07:00
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So I just picked up an Eton E5 for my early x-mas present. Now I'm trying to find something besides static! I managed to get some kind of weird church chanting poo poo about the lord and destruction and slaying beasts earlier but I don't remember where.
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Dec 1, 2007 00:59
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jjack posted:I managed to get some kind of weird church chanting poo poo about the lord and destruction and slaying beasts earlier but I don't remember where. About 85% of strong signals heard in the US constitute this level of crazy. Sometimes it can get really entertaining. FAR better than those namsy-pansy preachers on late night broadcast TV. These ones are great to listen to during drug-addled parties.
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Dec 1, 2007 06:55
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Needs more pictures. Left to right it's my $3 Grundig YB-400, Radioshack Pro-97, Yaesu VX-1R with Diamond SRH77CA antenna, Radioshack Pro-82 and Uniden BC370CRS.
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Dec 3, 2007 01:04
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Dog Case posted:Needs more pictures. Can you give a description of what function each of those serves that the others don't? How's that $3 Grundig working out for you?
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Dec 3, 2007 01:13
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AstroZamboni posted:Can you give a description of what function each of those serves that the others don't? How's that $3 Grundig working out for you? The Pro-97 I just picked up on Black Friday for $129. It covers from 25-1300MHz in FM and AM with the usual gaps. It has the Signal Stalker feature which is kind of neat, but not entirely useful. It scans through its' entire range in 1MHz steps, and when it detects a signal it scans in smaller steps within that 1MHz range until it locks on to the signal. In use, though, it takes a really strong, nearby signal for it to lock on to anything. The Pro-82 is a super-basic handheld scanner. It misses out on anything above 512MHz, and is redundant now that I have the Pro-97. It does have ridiculous battery life, though. The Yaesu VX-1R is a 2Meter/440MHz HAM transceiver that also receives the AM broadcast band and 76-999MHz in FM and AM. In its' standard memory setup, it has about 50 memory banks which can store a transmit and receive frequency for duplex and repeater operation. It also has a second mode where it can have about 200 memory banks with one frequency, which allows it to be used like a scanner. BUT, it's limited to only scanning within its' pre-defined bands; for example "AIR" is from 108-137MHz and "Action 2" is from 222-420MHz. It's really amazing just how much is crammed into such a tiny, tiny radio. The Uniden is a basic non-trunking scanner that covers 25-956MHz. It's my always-on scanner for at home. Apparently it's also good for scaring my girlfriend when she's at home alone and the weather alert alarm goes off. Edit: Sorry this is mainly VHF/UHF. I've been scanning alot more than listening to Shortwave recently. Also, there's a big storm blowing in, and I'm getting lots of interference that sounds like power lines flopping around. If the power goes out I'll definitely do some SW listening. Dog Case fucked around with this message at 02:12 on Dec 3, 2007 |
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Dec 3, 2007 02:01
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I got a Christmas card from Radio Havana today  I love that anything from them comes in an envelope that you can tell was hand-typed on an old manual typewriter.Another entry on my CIA watch list...
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Dec 3, 2007 08:18
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Jose Pointero posted:If that's radio_small.jpg, what about linking radio_big.jpg?
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Dec 3, 2007 09:55
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Canuck-Errant posted:If that's radio_small.jpg, what about linking radio_big.jpg? Here's a link to the big version of that picture.Since that picture was taken, the setup has changed. I finally dug my M-8000 out of the closet and added it to the mix. Here's a current picture of the setup:  It's not a "glamor shot" like the other one though, since I don't have a tripod at the moment. And please excuse my messy bedroom. Big version here if anyone wants it With the help of Jonny 290, I've been researching PSK31 and plan on getting into that soon. Did anyone listen to coast to coast AM last night? With the guy talking in depth about sex robots? I listened to it with the volume loud for like 3 hours, then I remembered my windows were open. Hahah my neighbors probably think I'm loving insane now. But they probably suspected that already.
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Dec 3, 2007 10:35
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ham and monitoring updates for me this week: -SATELLITE SUCCESS. I completed a contact with NK0Z on the SO-50 SaudiSat on Saturday evening. The final stumbling block was - haha - my lovely 70cm preamp was giving me over 3 dB of loss in bypass mode, and wasn't amplifying properly when on. I ripped it out and threw it violently on the floor (cost me $12). 45 minutes later I had good copy on the bird with virtually no noise and we exchanged our pleasantries, after which I had a celebratory drink and giggled like a little girl. loving SPACE. -More HF fun. I'm operating PSK all the time now, even at work via Remote Desktop. having great fun with that. I am in the process of putting up an 80 meter dipole so I can try the "next to the top band" once again. I hate trying to get a QSO on that band - it's so hard. -Starting to listen to fax transmissions again. weatherfax is so cool, even the HF black-and-white ones. I am building an eggbeater antenna for 137 MHz so I can receive the awesome color satellite ones, too. Haha, I always forget that those FT-1000s and other 'flagship radios are so goddamned huge. I thought my IC-271 was a monster. And Jose, don't feel bad about freaking out the neighbors - I sometimes operate psk with the window open in nice WX and I always monitor the audio so they hear DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDEEEEEEEEEEELELELELEEDEEEEEEEEEEE all night long.
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Dec 4, 2007 02:38
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I got hold of a free log periodic antenna that is pretty good for some shortwave stuff, but how would I find the designed frequency range for it with the measurements? Its 31cm from the longest to the shortest element, their lengths being 9cm and 4cm. A total of 16 elements (8 dipole if you consider it like that).
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Dec 4, 2007 04:38
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Those are some pretty god-damned short waves. :P Log periodics are just dipole arrays fed alternately out of phase. I'm assuming you were giving the lengths of 'one side', correct? If so, your top end is going to be about 1900 MHz, and your low end somewhere around 800 MHz. Sounds to me like you have a 900/1800 MHZ GSM phone base antenna, which would absolutely rule balls if you were trying to hit a remote cell site, but is basically the same as plugging 5 feet of speaker wire into the back of your radio at HF frequencies.
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Dec 4, 2007 04:44
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See, I found it alongside of a CoJot Rayguard which is a GSM disruptor so that makes sense. It has a funky connector anyways, way different to the device. Need to adapt it somehow.quote:To counter the problems caused by digital mobile phones in hospitals and aircraft as a result of signals interfering with sensitive equipment - as well as the irritation they cause in churches, theatres, and concert halls - Cojot has developed the Cojot RayGuard. When the Cojot RayGuard detects an activated mobile phone, it automatically broadcasts a spoken warning message in the preferred language. A message can also be heard and/or seen through central audio/video information systems. As to shortwave, furthest signal I've received is some japanese station (about 7000km) on my Sony ICF-7600, which has lovely steps and hardly covers the spectrum well. Bensa fucked around with this message at 14:19 on Dec 4, 2007 |
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Dec 4, 2007 14:05
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Put me down for $150 for a Grundig G5!
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Dec 8, 2007 20:46
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I miss my Radio Shack Pro-2005.  Current setup is an Icom 2-meter rig, an Alinco 2-meter HT (for emergencies), a RS DX-390 for SWLing, and a RS Pro-42 so I can listen to the local police. There's a Yaesu FRG-100 on the way to replace the DX-390.Had a really enjoyable experience building a Ten-Tec 1253 from a kit, but it's a regenerative receiver and analog tuning so I don't use it for much. It was really cool pulling in Radio Taiwan when I did the final testing - I was jumping around "I BUILT THIS! IT WORKS!" and my wife was looking at me like "so? It's a radio.." K5WCB no-code Technician here, with the General upgrade book sitting on my desk. I need to get off my rear and go take the test.
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Dec 9, 2007 17:19
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Phlegmbot posted:Put me down for $150 for a Grundig G5! Added, and you are the fiftieth radio purchased on account of this thread. I think on the 100th person who buys a radio because of this thread, I'll get them an upgrade of their choice.
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Dec 10, 2007 05:36
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AstroZamboni posted:Added, and you are the fiftieth radio purchased on account of this thread. I think on the 100th person who buys a radio because of this thread, I'll get them an upgrade of their choice.
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Dec 10, 2007 10:21
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nmfree posted:You know what, I'll kick in $10 for that to buy them a copy of Passport. I'm adding this contest to the OP. Edit: Done. Any lawyers want to look over the terms? AstroZamboni fucked around with this message at 17:00 on Dec 10, 2007 |
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Dec 10, 2007 16:42
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I haven't been able to listen to very much yet. But the first thing I did find was one of those crazy preachers. Entertaining stuff!
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Dec 11, 2007 04:29
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Well, tomorrow I'm heading out to Buttfuck nowhere Colorado and taking my E5. I'll post regular reports of what I pick up far away from interference.
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Dec 14, 2007 21:43
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quote:K5WCB no-code Technician here, with the General upgrade book sitting on my desk. I need to get off my rear and go take the test. Welcome to the thread. My suggestion is to a: take three to five QRZ practice tests a day until you can consistently nail 90% or better, and b: Study for, and take, your Extra at the same time.If you can get the material in the General book, Extra is only slightly more advanced and it's not that bad. You don't get charged any money for taking multiple tests in the same session, though you will have to wait till they grade your General to make sure you passed. I did about three QRZ.COM tests a day and got the general with 100% and the extra with 96 (missed two). Sorry i've been out of touch with a few of you privately, I've been really busy with the holiday season and I'm also neck-deep in designing what is most likely the world's pimpest radio mixer (for audio level signals). I'll try to get ahold of some of y'all ASAP. The sun is peeking over the horizon folks, the solar cycle minimum is almost certainly behind us now and it will start to come up a bit. Get your rigs now, I bet we'll see better prop by June.
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Dec 14, 2007 22:00
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This thread got me interested. I bought an Eton E10, and so far this little thing has been a lot of fun.
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Dec 14, 2007 22:15
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Unit1879b posted:This thread got me interested. I bought an Eton E10, and so far this little thing has been a lot of fun. What did you pay for it? I'll add it to the OP.
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Dec 14, 2007 22:22
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I got back from 4 months in London last week, and am now ready to get back into listening. I'm still kicking myself for forgetting to bring my little Kaito along with me. I could have probably picked up some great stuff, especially when I was in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in October.
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Dec 16, 2007 20:34
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Just got home with my brand new Grundig G5, please add to the total! edit: paid $157, also, i'm an Arizona goon, perhapse some sort of radio goon meet should be had. Jxforema fucked around with this message at 04:14 on Dec 18, 2007 |
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Dec 18, 2007 02:52
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| # ? May 10, 2024 18:57 |
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Seriously, I love my new radio, but 75% of every station I pick up is a preacher. Pretty neat, but I need variety! So far I'm getting broadcasts from Georgia and Florida. I got something in Spanish, but I have no idea if it was Cuban or American. I'm figuring out what I can do antenna-wise. Probably not much until I move sometime.
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Dec 18, 2007 03:03
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