In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Tony Meloche wrote:

dxAce© wrote:

Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message

Can you give us some examples of the weak signal stations
you receive on the R-75 with ECSS? What kind of antenna do
you use for these DX stations?

Thanks


DX'ing weak signals have just as much to do with
"conditions"
as they do with the power and distance of the transmitted
signal. It may be very easy to get say...RNZI from my
location during times of the day and year when conditions
are
good for it, and impossible to pick it up during other
times.

I've used ECSS to identify weak carriers too but I was
wondering what you would consider a good DX catch. What have
you heard lately that you would classify as weak DX, given all
the "conditions"

Half of what I listen to is dx, including hams from around the
world. If you need a single example, I'll say .. How about
right
now.... 21:50 UTC on 7.190 .... I'm listening to what I think is
Tunisia. Currently Arabic music. The signal is barely s-3 and
it
is quite noisy. The same exact signal is also being broadcast
on
7225. Still a bit noisy with fade out, but it makes it all the
way up to s-7.

I'd call this DX, but not a VERY weak one. It is far away, and
it is messy. The drill here on this signal is to use all the
tools at my disposal to clean it up and see how good I can get
it
to sound... IE: ecss, filters, gain, nb, nr... etc.....

About S8 here on both frequencies.

Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B


To be fair, though, Steve - that probably has as much or more to do
with your antenna farm (I've seen the pics and read your description
- it's terrific) as it does your reciever.

Steve does have good antennas but the Drake R8B is very sensitive. One
thing about different manufactures is their attitude toward
specifications. Some rate their product more conservatively than
others. Just something to keep in mind perusing the specifications
between different manufactures of radio equipment.


I don't think the difference between him picking it up on 7225 as s-8
and me
picking it up as s-7 is enough of a difference to base it on his
receiver
being more sensitive. It is hardly any difference at all. If I
checked
the meter ten seconds later, mine might have been at s-6 or s-9 the way
it
was coming in and out.

The Drake R8B and Icom R-75 have about the same sensitivity so I don't
think that is the difference.

One real question here... And one that I'm interested in.... Why would
I
get it on 7190 at only s-3 while he gets it as s-8 ??? We're both
getting
it about the same strength on 7225, so why should we be getting such a
measurable difference on 7190 ??? I'd say it probably has more to do
with
the peculiarity of our locations in respect to the transmitter and what
ever
comes between them rather then our receivers.

The signal in question is from the other side of the world compared to
the difference in distance between the two of you is small so location
is not likely the answer.

Lots of other possibilities here.

The sensitivity numbers for the receivers are general numbers. The
actual sensitivity changes with frequency because the front end of the
radio is not completely flat. Could be your R-75 has a bigger reflection
at 7190 but this is not the likely reason either.

Most likely the antenna itself or whatever you have for matching it to
the coax is the reason. Your antenna system most likely has a poorer
response at 7190 compared to Steve's system.


I tried both my dipole and my 200 ft roof wire on both signals and both of
my antennas received the signal on 7190 substantially weaker then that on
7225. I bet if you set Steve's antenna and receiver up here at that time,
you'd get the same difference in the two signals. I don't think it is the
antenna or the receiver. Something else is going on. I know both Steve and
I are in North America, but, we are far enough away (NJ vs. MI) to have our
locations effect how we receive the signal. For all I know, the 7190 signal
comes out of a different antenna set up that just happens to be favorable to
Steve's direction. I think that is where the real study is here. To find
out what difference if any that there is between the two signals. Are they
coming from two different antennas ???

Michael, you and Steve are not far enough apart for another hop through
the ionosphere so you are about the same reception distance from the
source.

It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in your
antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in
message

...
In article ,
Tony Meloche wrote:

dxAce© wrote:

Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message

Can you give us some examples of the weak signal
stations
you receive on the R-75 with ECSS? What kind of
antenna do
you use for these DX stations?

Thanks


DX'ing weak signals have just as much to do with
"conditions"
as they do with the power and distance of the
transmitted
signal. It may be very easy to get say...RNZI from my
location during times of the day and year when
conditions
are
good for it, and impossible to pick it up during other
times.

I've used ECSS to identify weak carriers too but I was
wondering what you would consider a good DX catch. What
have
you heard lately that you would classify as weak DX, given
all
the "conditions"

Half of what I listen to is dx, including hams from around
the
world. If you need a single example, I'll say .. How about
right
now.... 21:50 UTC on 7.190 .... I'm listening to what I
think is
Tunisia. Currently Arabic music. The signal is barely s-3
and
it
is quite noisy. The same exact signal is also being
broadcast
on
7225. Still a bit noisy with fade out, but it makes it all
the
way up to s-7.

I'd call this DX, but not a VERY weak one. It is far away,
and
it is messy. The drill here on this signal is to use all the
tools at my disposal to clean it up and see how good I can
get
it
to sound... IE: ecss, filters, gain, nb, nr... etc.....

About S8 here on both frequencies.

Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B


To be fair, though, Steve - that probably has as much or more to
do
with your antenna farm (I've seen the pics and read your
description
- it's terrific) as it does your reciever.

Steve does have good antennas but the Drake R8B is very sensitive.
One
thing about different manufactures is their attitude toward
specifications. Some rate their product more conservatively than
others. Just something to keep in mind perusing the specifications
between different manufactures of radio equipment.


I don't think the difference between him picking it up on 7225 as
s-8
and me
picking it up as s-7 is enough of a difference to base it on his
receiver
being more sensitive. It is hardly any difference at all. If I
checked
the meter ten seconds later, mine might have been at s-6 or s-9 the
way
it
was coming in and out.

The Drake R8B and Icom R-75 have about the same sensitivity so I don't
think that is the difference.

One real question here... And one that I'm interested in.... Why
would
I
get it on 7190 at only s-3 while he gets it as s-8 ??? We're both
getting
it about the same strength on 7225, so why should we be getting such
a
measurable difference on 7190 ??? I'd say it probably has more to
do
with
the peculiarity of our locations in respect to the transmitter and
what
ever
comes between them rather then our receivers.

The signal in question is from the other side of the world compared to
the difference in distance between the two of you is small so location
is not likely the answer.

Lots of other possibilities here.

The sensitivity numbers for the receivers are general numbers. The
actual sensitivity changes with frequency because the front end of the
radio is not completely flat. Could be your R-75 has a bigger
reflection
at 7190 but this is not the likely reason either.

Most likely the antenna itself or whatever you have for matching it to
the coax is the reason. Your antenna system most likely has a poorer
response at 7190 compared to Steve's system.


I tried both my dipole and my 200 ft roof wire on both signals and both
of
my antennas received the signal on 7190 substantially weaker then that
on
7225. I bet if you set Steve's antenna and receiver up here at that
time,
you'd get the same difference in the two signals. I don't think it is
the
antenna or the receiver. Something else is going on. I know both Steve
and
I are in North America, but, we are far enough away (NJ vs. MI) to have
our
locations effect how we receive the signal. For all I know, the 7190
signal
comes out of a different antenna set up that just happens to be
favorable to
Steve's direction. I think that is where the real study is here. To
find
out what difference if any that there is between the two signals. Are
they
coming from two different antennas ???

Michael, you and Steve are not far enough apart for another hop through
the ionosphere so you are about the same reception distance from the
source.

It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in your
antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

The same reactance with two totally different antennas each with its own
matching unit and coax ???

I'll try my portables on it tomorrow. That will rule out the antennas. An
example of how less then a thousand miles can make a big difference....
When WBCQ on 7415 went "long" on occasion, I could barely hear it in NJ,
while it was being heard well in the southern states (further from the
transmitter). It is not just a matter of a "hop" in a lot of cases.

Michael

Michael wrote:

[SNIP]


It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in your
antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

The same reactance with two totally different antennas each with its own
matching unit and coax ???

What kind of matching unit are you using on your dipole? What frequency is your
dipole cut for?

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm

In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in
message
...
In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in
message

t...
In article ,
"Michael" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote
in
message

...
In article ,
Tony Meloche wrote:

dxAce© wrote:

Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:

"starman" wrote in message

Can you give us some examples of the weak
signal stations you receive on the R-75 with
ECSS? What kind of antenna do you use for these
DX stations?

Thanks


DX'ing weak signals have just as much to do with
"conditions" as they do with the power and
distance of the transmitted signal. It may be
very easy to get say...RNZI from my location
during times of the day and year when conditions
are good for it, and impossible to pick it up
during other times.

I've used ECSS to identify weak carriers too but I
was wondering what you would consider a good DX
catch. What have you heard lately that you would
classify as weak DX, given all the "conditions"

Half of what I listen to is dx, including hams from
around the world. If you need a single example, I'll
say .. How about right now.... 21:50 UTC on 7.190
.... I'm listening to what I think is Tunisia.
Currently Arabic music. The signal is barely s-3 and
it is quite noisy. The same exact signal is also
being broadcast on 7225. Still a bit noisy with fade
out, but it makes it all the way up to s-7.

I'd call this DX, but not a VERY weak one. It is far
away, and it is messy. The drill here on this signal
is to use all the tools at my disposal to clean it up
and see how good I can get it to sound... IE: ecss,
filters, gain, nb, nr... etc.....

About S8 here on both frequencies.

Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B


To be fair, though, Steve - that probably has as much or
more to do with your antenna farm (I've seen the pics and
read your description - it's terrific) as it does your
reciever.

Steve does have good antennas but the Drake R8B is very
sensitive.

One thing about different manufactures is their attitude
toward specifications. Some rate their product more
conservatively than others. Just something to keep in mind
perusing the specifications between different manufactures
of radio equipment.


I don't think the difference between him picking it up on
7225 as s-8 and me picking it up as s-7 is enough of a
difference to base it on his receiver being more sensitive.
It is hardly any difference at all. If I checked the meter
ten seconds later, mine might have been at s-6 or s-9 the way
it was coming in and out.

The Drake R8B and Icom R-75 have about the same sensitivity so
I don't think that is the difference.

One real question here... And one that I'm interested in....
Why would I get it on 7190 at only s-3 while he gets it as
s-8 ??? We're both getting it about the same strength on
7225, so why should we be getting such a measurable
difference on 7190 ??? I'd say it probably has more to do
with the peculiarity of our locations in respect to the
transmitter and whatever comes between them rather then our
receivers.

The signal in question is from the other side of the world
compared to the difference in distance between the two of you
is small so location is not likely the answer.

Lots of other possibilities here.

The sensitivity numbers for the receivers are general numbers.
The actual sensitivity changes with frequency because the front
end of the radio is not completely flat. Could be your R-75 has
a bigger reflection at 7190 but this is not the likely reason
either.

Most likely the antenna itself or whatever you have for
matching it to the coax is the reason. Your antenna system most
likely has a poorer response at 7190 compared to Steve's
system.


I tried both my dipole and my 200 ft roof wire on both signals
and both of my antennas received the signal on 7190 substantially
weaker then that on 7225. I bet if you set Steve's antenna and
receiver up here at that time, you'd get the same difference in
the two signals. I don't think it is the antenna or the receiver.
Something else is going on. I know both Steve and I are in North
America, but, we are far enough away (NJ vs. MI) to have our
locations effect how we receive the signal. For all I know, the
7190 signal comes out of a different antenna set up that just
happens to be favorable to Steve's direction. I think that is
where the real study is here. To find out what difference if any
that there is between the two signals. Are they coming from two
different antennas ???

Michael, you and Steve are not far enough apart for another hop
through the ionosphere so you are about the same reception distance
from the source.

It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in
your antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

The same reactance with two totally different antennas each with its
own matching unit and coax ???

If they are similar yes.

I'll try my portables on it tomorrow. That will rule out the
antennas. An example of how less then a thousand miles can make a
big difference.... When WBCQ on 7415 went "long" on occasion, I could
barely hear it in NJ, while it was being heard well in the southern
states (further from the transmitter). It is not just a matter of a
"hop" in a lot of cases.

WBCQ is a different situation. You are not far from WBCQ (less than one
hop) as opposed to several from the other side of the planet where beam
heading is less important.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

On 2 Jun 2004 18:28:36 -0700, (RHF) wrote:


But the Question was:
"What would you say was the 'Best Value for the Money' ?"

[ ] Drake R8B

[ ] Icom IC-R75 (R-75) with Kiwa Mods.

One or the 'other' Only Please ~ RHF


RX-320 g

= = = Telamon wrote in message
= = = ...
In article ,
(RHF) wrote:

dxAce wrote in message
...
RHF wrote:

= = = dxAce wrote in message
= = = ...
Margaret von Busenhalter-Butt wrote:

Icom R75 with all the Kiwa mods, including the complete attenuation
removal
is roughly equal to Drake R8B in both SW AND MW performance.

True or false?

False.

I have used both radios and have found the R8B to be superior in all
respects.

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B
"I swear by, not at, Drake receivers"©

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm

DX Ace [N8KDV],

Having 'said' your Say.

What would you say was the 'Best Value for the Money' the
Drake R8B or the Icom IC-R75 for a Shortwave Listener (SWL)
moving up from a 'portable' AM/FM/Shortwave Radio to a Desk
Top LW/MW/Shortwave Receiver.

[ ] Drake R8B

[ ] Icom IC-R75 (R-75) with Kiwa Mods.

One or the 'other' Only Please ~ RHF

Why the R8B of course. If one is going to move up, then by all means move
up in
style.

DX Ace,

Style is Good.
-&-
Technically Better is Good.

But the Question was:
"What would you say was the 'Best Value for the Money' ?"

[ ] Drake R8B

[ ] Icom IC-R75 (R-75) with Kiwa Mods.

One or the 'other' Only Please ~ RHF

That's easy. The Drake is the 'best value' for me because it
works out of the box. I like playing with antennas but I don't
want to work on my radio and I do not consider the performance
of the R-75 good enough out of the box.

Styling on the great audio from my R8B.


TELAMON,

Thank You for a your Answer and Thoughts as to 'why' you consider
the Drake R8B the "Best Value for the Money".

Inquiring Minds Want To Know ~ RHF
..
..

MWB,

"There is some kind of poetic satisfaction in watching that interchange!"

MWB - Somehow I thought that you would be Amused )

All I Asked was a 'simple' straight forward Question of DX Ace [N8KDV]:
"What would you say was the 'Best Value for the Money' ?"

Focused a matter of personal Judgement: 'Best Value for the Money'.

With two Mutually Exclusive Options as Answers:

[ ] The "Drake R8B" is the 'Best Value for the Money'.

[ ] The "Icom IC-R75" with Kiwa Mods is the 'Best Value for the Money'.


TBL: To "Summarize" and put it 'all' in One Sentence:
The _______________ is the 'Best Value for the Money'.


One Wonders... and Inquiring Minds Want To Know ~ RHF
..
..
= = = ocom (Michael Bryant) wrote in message
= = = ...
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?dxAce=A9?=

But the Question was:
"What would you say was the 'Best Value for the Money' ?"

[ ] Drake R8B

[ ] Icom IC-R75 (R-75) with Kiwa Mods.

How many times are you going to ask me the same question?

Do you think I'll answer any differently?


There is some kind of poetic satisfaction in watching that interchange!

LOL!

Michael Bryant, WA4009SWL
Louisville, KY
R75, S800, RX320, SW77, ICF2010K,
DX398, 7600G, 6800W, RF2200, 7600A
GE SRll, Pro-2006, Pro-2010, Pro-76
(remove "nojunk" to reply)
..

Signal on both 7190 and 7225 running about S6 at 2115.

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm

"dxAce©" wrote in message
...


Michael wrote:

[SNIP]


It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in your
antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

The same reactance with two totally different antennas each with its own
matching unit and coax ???

What kind of matching unit are you using on your dipole? What frequency is
your
dipole cut for?

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm


Check out the antennas section on my web page in my signature for antenna
info.

--
Respectfully,

Michael

Location: New Jersey
Primary Receiver: R-75 with full Kiwa mods
Antennas: G5RV, 200ft "Frankenstein" roof wire
Additional Radios: KA-1101,KA-1102,PL-550,
KA-989, Info-Mate 837, GE-SR III
Westinghouse H-104 (seven tube)
Web Site: http://md_dxing.tripod.com

Michael wrote:

"dxAce©" wrote in message
...


Michael wrote:

[SNIP]


It most likely has something to do with an adverse reactance in your
antenna / matching unit / coax to your radio.

The same reactance with two totally different antennas each with its own
matching unit and coax ???

What kind of matching unit are you using on your dipole? What frequency is
your
dipole cut for?

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm


Check out the antennas section on my web page in my signature for antenna
info.

I prefer a band specific dipole, or just a wire here.

Currently using 70' N-S, and 200' W-E wires into 9:1 matching transformers.

The feed points for the coax are at least 50' behind the shack.

Works for me.

Steve
Holland, MI
Drake R7, R8 and R8B

http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm