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Gene Scott, satellites and MW
I'm new to the hobby, so please bear with me.
I picked up a Gene Scott broadcast last night on MW at 1615 KHz. Here's the info I found at his website: http://www.drgenescott.com/swave.htm THE CARIBBEAN BEACON Anguilla, British West Indies 24 hours a day - 7 days a week 690 KHz AM 1610 KHz AM I'm listening in Seattle, and I really don't think that I've DX'd the guy all the way from the Caribbean. The signal isn't constant; it faded out just like SW reception does. So my question is, just how did I hear this broadcast? Scott uses satellites, but I imagine they're geo-synchronous and so (I assume) the signal wouldn't fade. Is that true? Is retransmitting of MW or FM band signals ever even done in the first place? And why did I receive the signal at 1615 instead of 1610? Did I pick up a repeater of some sort? I have more questions, but I think that from the ones I've just posed that everyone can imagine what they are. Thanks in advance for your replies. FWIW I'm using a Grundig S350, grounded, with a 75' random wire antenna. |
Honus wrote:
I'm new to the hobby, so please bear with me. I picked up a Gene Scott broadcast last night on MW at 1615 KHz. Here's the ... I'm listening in Seattle, and I really don't think that I've DX'd the guy all the way from the Caribbean. I wouldn't rule it out. Especially as particularly good east-west conditions were reported that night. The signal isn't constant; it faded out just like SW reception does. Long-distance MW fades pretty much the same way. So my question is, just how did I hear this broadcast? Scott uses satellites, but I imagine they're geo-synchronous and so (I assume) the signal wouldn't fade. Is that true? Is retransmitting of MW or FM band signals ever even done in the first place? The satellite transmissions would be on microwave frequencies; MW transmissions from space wouldn't penetrate the atmosphere to be received on earth. And why did I receive the signal at 1615 instead of 1610? Did I pick up a repeater of some sort? I have more questions, but I think that from the ones I've just posed that everyone can imagine what they are. Thanks in advance for your replies. My bet is that you were getting a spurious response to a powerful shortwave broadcast. Your receiver will pick up signals on frequencies other than the one to which it's tuned, if they're strong enough. I'd bet you'd find Scott was broadcasting over a shortwave station somewhere in the U.S. at that time. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Honus wrote:
I'm new to the hobby, so please bear with me. I picked up a Gene Scott broadcast last night on MW at 1615 KHz. Here's the ... I'm listening in Seattle, and I really don't think that I've DX'd the guy all the way from the Caribbean. I wouldn't rule it out. Especially as particularly good east-west conditions were reported that night. The signal isn't constant; it faded out just like SW reception does. Long-distance MW fades pretty much the same way. So my question is, just how did I hear this broadcast? Scott uses satellites, but I imagine they're geo-synchronous and so (I assume) the signal wouldn't fade. Is that true? Is retransmitting of MW or FM band signals ever even done in the first place? The satellite transmissions would be on microwave frequencies; MW transmissions from space wouldn't penetrate the atmosphere to be received on earth. And why did I receive the signal at 1615 instead of 1610? Did I pick up a repeater of some sort? I have more questions, but I think that from the ones I've just posed that everyone can imagine what they are. Thanks in advance for your replies. My bet is that you were getting a spurious response to a powerful shortwave broadcast. Your receiver will pick up signals on frequencies other than the one to which it's tuned, if they're strong enough. I'd bet you'd find Scott was broadcasting over a shortwave station somewhere in the U.S. at that time. -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Honus wrote: I'm new to the hobby, so please bear with me. I picked up a Gene Scott broadcast last night on MW at 1615 KHz. Here's the ... I'm listening in Seattle, and I really don't think that I've DX'd the guy all the way from the Caribbean. I wouldn't rule it out. Especially as particularly good east-west conditions were reported that night. The signal isn't constant; it faded out just like SW reception does. Long-distance MW fades pretty much the same way. I know. That's why I figured that it couldn't be a satellite transmission, before I knew that MW doesn't come the atmosphere from space. So my question is, just how did I hear this broadcast? Scott uses satellites, but I imagine they're geo-synchronous and so (I assume) the signal wouldn't fade. Is that true? Is retransmitting of MW or FM band signals ever even done in the first place? The satellite transmissions would be on microwave frequencies; MW transmissions from space wouldn't penetrate the atmosphere to be received on earth. Thanks, by the way. That's just the sort of info that I was looking for. And why did I receive the signal at 1615 instead of 1610? Did I pick up a repeater of some sort? I have more questions, but I think that from the ones I've just posed that everyone can imagine what they are. Thanks in advance for your replies. My bet is that you were getting a spurious response to a powerful shortwave broadcast. Your receiver will pick up signals on frequencies other than the one to which it's tuned, if they're strong enough. I'd bet you'd find Scott was broadcasting over a shortwave station somewhere in the U.S. at that time. This is a response that I received when I posed the same questions over in re.radio.shortwave: quote Looks like a spurious response caused by your oscillator's third harmonic and the radio's poor RF selectivity. Assuming an IF frequency of 455 kHz, when the radio is tuned to 1615 the local oscillator is running at 2070 kHz (1615 + 455). The third harmonic of 2070 kHz is 6210 kHz. With an IF of 455 kHz and an oscillator frequency of 6210 kHz, there will be a response at both 6665 kHz (6210 + 455) and 5755 kHz (6210 - 455). KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. quote I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Honus wrote: I'm new to the hobby, so please bear with me. I picked up a Gene Scott broadcast last night on MW at 1615 KHz. Here's the ... I'm listening in Seattle, and I really don't think that I've DX'd the guy all the way from the Caribbean. I wouldn't rule it out. Especially as particularly good east-west conditions were reported that night. The signal isn't constant; it faded out just like SW reception does. Long-distance MW fades pretty much the same way. I know. That's why I figured that it couldn't be a satellite transmission, before I knew that MW doesn't come the atmosphere from space. So my question is, just how did I hear this broadcast? Scott uses satellites, but I imagine they're geo-synchronous and so (I assume) the signal wouldn't fade. Is that true? Is retransmitting of MW or FM band signals ever even done in the first place? The satellite transmissions would be on microwave frequencies; MW transmissions from space wouldn't penetrate the atmosphere to be received on earth. Thanks, by the way. That's just the sort of info that I was looking for. And why did I receive the signal at 1615 instead of 1610? Did I pick up a repeater of some sort? I have more questions, but I think that from the ones I've just posed that everyone can imagine what they are. Thanks in advance for your replies. My bet is that you were getting a spurious response to a powerful shortwave broadcast. Your receiver will pick up signals on frequencies other than the one to which it's tuned, if they're strong enough. I'd bet you'd find Scott was broadcasting over a shortwave station somewhere in the U.S. at that time. This is a response that I received when I posed the same questions over in re.radio.shortwave: quote Looks like a spurious response caused by your oscillator's third harmonic and the radio's poor RF selectivity. Assuming an IF frequency of 455 kHz, when the radio is tuned to 1615 the local oscillator is running at 2070 kHz (1615 + 455). The third harmonic of 2070 kHz is 6210 kHz. With an IF of 455 kHz and an oscillator frequency of 6210 kHz, there will be a response at both 6665 kHz (6210 + 455) and 5755 kHz (6210 - 455). KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. quote I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. |
Honus wrote:
KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. Yep, that makes sense... (IIRC KAIJ is in New Mexico) I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. I might suggest you'll have more luck lower in the AM band. There's more interference between stations but all the signals are stronger and chances are anything you hear will actually be broadcasting on the frequency you hear it on. The spurious receptions are, I'm afraid, generally a function of the quality of the receiver. An inexpensive receiver is going to have more of these. Scant comfort, I know... -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
Honus wrote:
KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. Yep, that makes sense... (IIRC KAIJ is in New Mexico) I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. I might suggest you'll have more luck lower in the AM band. There's more interference between stations but all the signals are stronger and chances are anything you hear will actually be broadcasting on the frequency you hear it on. The spurious receptions are, I'm afraid, generally a function of the quality of the receiver. An inexpensive receiver is going to have more of these. Scant comfort, I know... -- Doug Smith W9WI Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 http://www.w9wi.com |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Honus wrote: KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. Yep, that makes sense... (IIRC KAIJ is in New Mexico) I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. I might suggest you'll have more luck lower in the AM band. There's more interference between stations but all the signals are stronger and chances are anything you hear will actually be broadcasting on the frequency you hear it on. The spurious receptions are, I'm afraid, generally a function of the quality of the receiver. An inexpensive receiver is going to have more of these. Scant comfort, I know... gbg That's okay. I can face reality. It's funny, though. I did a lot of research into SW radios before I went with the S350, and I don't remember anyone ever complaining about images, etc. Now I almost wish I'd gone with the YB400 as I'd originally intended. Oh well....live and learn. ;) |
"Doug Smith W9WI" wrote in message ... Honus wrote: KAIJ carries Dr. Scott on 5755. Yep, that makes sense... (IIRC KAIJ is in New Mexico) I've also been picking up more than my share of images in the shortwave ranges, so this seems to make some sense to me despite the jargon. g. I'm ready to mail my Grundig back to China with a letter enclosed telling them where they can send it from there. ;) This whole shortwave/AM DX experience has been extremely frustrating. I might suggest you'll have more luck lower in the AM band. There's more interference between stations but all the signals are stronger and chances are anything you hear will actually be broadcasting on the frequency you hear it on. The spurious receptions are, I'm afraid, generally a function of the quality of the receiver. An inexpensive receiver is going to have more of these. Scant comfort, I know... gbg That's okay. I can face reality. It's funny, though. I did a lot of research into SW radios before I went with the S350, and I don't remember anyone ever complaining about images, etc. Now I almost wish I'd gone with the YB400 as I'd originally intended. Oh well....live and learn. ;) |
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