Hi All:

Thanks to all who responded; both factually and humorously. The humor was
especially appreciated in light of my very recent, unexpected stay in the
hospital (cardiac event). Let me elaborate.

I have been interested in SWL off and on for many years as a casual
listener. I would just twiddle the tuning knob from low end to high and
catch whatever was available, rather than actively seeking DX. Never made
the connection between radio and computer (for information about schedules,
technology, time of day, etc.).

About two years or so ago, I resurrected my SX-99 which is fed by a 30 foot
baseboard wire, and conveniently located between my computer, monitor, and
TV (ugh) as things were heating up in the middle east. Lots of information
became available after joining the group, and general searching on the Web.
The biggest drawbacks to actively listening were having an analog tuning
receiver and a relatively unstable pitch control/bfo.

Right before the war started, I purchased an RX-320, certainly not touted as
a DX machine, but a solid performer nevertheless. I also erected Cliff
Donley's 33 foot folded dipole inside of my roof. I was totally amazed when
tuning in my first sideband transmission--rock-solid, on frequency.

Well, so much for background. Back to my original question. I had been
tuning around and came across Radio Australia (verified) on 11.880 at 20:00
z on Sunday (prior to New Years). I had been trying unsuccessfully to 'log'
Australia for some time as I considered this to be a DX catch, perhaps on
the outer reaches of DX. According to a GC calculator, the distance from my
location (NJ suburbs of Philadelphia) was noted as over 10,000 miles (did
not use coordinates for Shepparton, but rather Melbourne).

As I will be recuperating, and spending more time at the radio, I want to
try my hand at actively seeking DX. A few questions come to mind:

At what point does a transmission become DX? Is it a matter of
distance only, or distance when station power is considered?

I plan to use the ILG database in RLDB to see what's on and try to log it.
I've also been trying to get a handle on understanding parameters
influencing propagation, such as the SF, A, and K. A few links from Google
were very technical and left my head spinning. Can some kind soul(s) offer
a simple explanation of what these are and how they will impact my SWLing
(e.g., more or less of this or that is good/bad, or how knowing the values
can better my chances of logging a specific target)?

Again, thanks to all.

HankG

HankG wrote:
Hi All:

Thanks to all who responded; both factually and humorously. The
humor was
especially appreciated in light of my very recent, unexpected stay in
the
hospital (cardiac event). Let me elaborate.
snip
At what point does a transmission become DX? Is it a matter of
distance only, or distance when station power is considered?
snip
HankG
For me, DX is a funciton of both power distance and power.
Low power stations that are closer can be much more difficult
then a higher power distance station.

My personal best QSO, I am a ham radio operator and QSO
reffers to a 2way communication, was from the parking lot
where I worked in Lexington KY, to Port Morseby in Papua
New Guinea. The ham in Port Moresby was runnng 100W and I
was running ~1.8Watts. That qualifies in both distance and
low power. I was using a modified J.C. Penny CB that I moved
up to 10Mtrs.

Some of the low power "tropical" stations are much harder to
receive then R. Australia. The first station I eveer IDed was
R.A. back in 1963! It was on a olde Zeneth SW. I was hooked.
Some of "best" catches are the low pwoer aero weather xmissions
from south east asia. Back in Hihg School a friend and I had a
year long contest back in 1968 to see who could receive the most
AM bCB stations. He called me at 2:30 one Saturday morning
to tell me that the Los Angeles (CA) clear channel station was
load and clear. We where both shocked to receive it so well.
A week later I called him at midnight to tell that the BBC
domestic AM BCB was booming in. I have only received AM BCB and
LW signals from Europe 4 times in 40+ years.

DX can mean many different things. I received a ND air beacon from
St. Loius (MO) for 3 days several years ago. I think thaey were
running 25watts into a very poor antenna. Lofers are license free
LW broadcasts, and they are limited to 1Watt. A friend picked on up
that was about 800 miles away. Sadly I have too much local QRM to
receive LOFERS very well.

So instead of getting hung up on exactly what DX is, concentrate
on what interests you. I am currently mainly into listening to
international broadcasters, with some aero utility. In years past
I was into RTTY and FAX. Sadly press RTTY has gone the way of the
dodo. But there are lots of odd and interesting radio signals out
there demanding attentin.
I don't know what type antenna you use, but you might be helped by
John Doty's articles on low noise antennas and his 9:1 matching
transformer. Just do a net search.
Have fun and good listening.
Terry

wrote in message
oups.com...

For me, DX is a funciton of both power distance and power.
Low power stations that are closer can be much more difficult
then a higher power distance station.


It also depends on the frequency. For example, FM and TV DXers exist. In
summer during a tropo here in the UK, FM DX catches include RDS identified
Italian and Spanish stations.

--
Simon Mason
Anlaby
East Yorkshire.
53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

"Simon Mason" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...

For me, DX is a funciton of both power distance and power.
Low power stations that are closer can be much more difficult
then a higher power distance station.


It also depends on the frequency. For example, FM and TV DXers exist. In
summer during a tropo here in the UK, FM DX catches include RDS identified
Italian and Spanish stations.

--
Good catch.

Yes, I remember back in the early fifties, as a teenager, I used to stay up
late (during the summer), sometimes well after midnight waiting for the
local (Philadelphia, PA) TV stations to sign off, looking for stations (DX
or otherwise) on adjacent channels as well as my home channels. Once, I
loged KRLD-TV in Texas (Dallas, I think). I also picked up a wrestling
match where the announcer was speaking Spanish. All of this done with a
simple VHF dipole antenna.

Later, as a young married man, I erected an 18 element Log Periodic V
antenna w/rotor in southern New Jersey. During good conditions, I would
routinely pick up New York and Connecticut and occasionally when the wind
was blowing the right way, swing the antenna southward and get Baltimore, MD
and Washington, DC.

HankG

wrote:

The first station I eveer IDed was R.A. back in 1963! It was on a olde Zeneth SW. I was hooked.

Do you recall the frequency and time of day?

It was a Wednesay Morning at 9:00 in the summer.
I should still have my "logs" from back then.
I will dig around and see if I can find it.
Terry

starman wrote:
wrote:

The first station I eveer IDed was R.A. back in 1963! It was on a
olde Zeneth SW. I was hooked.

Do you recall the frequency and time of day?

I dug out the "log" when I got home.
I haven't looked at it since I got married in
1977. Sadly the ink has faded and I can't make
it out. As our best guess, I asked my wifeto take
a stab at it, 13.655. I didn't know about SINPO for
another year. And this radio had no meter or tuning
eye. My father thinks I put the radio under the eves
when I received a Heathkit GR64 for my birthday in 196?,
the year the TV show "Manix" started.
I will have to look this weekend and see if the old radio
is still there.
Terry

It couldn't have been 13.655 if it was in the 1960's. The 22-m band
wasn't used for international broadcasting until the 1980's. I expect
you heard them on 31 or 25-meters if it was in the morning, US time.

wrote:

starman wrote:
wrote:

The first station I eveer IDed was R.A. back in 1963! It was on a
olde Zeneth SW. I was hooked.

Do you recall the frequency and time of day?

I dug out the "log" when I got home.
I haven't looked at it since I got married in
1977. Sadly the ink has faded and I can't make
it out. As our best guess, I asked my wifeto take
a stab at it, 13.655. I didn't know about SINPO for
another year. And this radio had no meter or tuning
eye. My father thinks I put the radio under the eves
when I received a Heathkit GR64 for my birthday in 196?,
the year the TV show "Manix" started.
I will have to look this weekend and see if the old radio
is still there.
Terry

Lie I said the ink is faded to the point where I guess
you can read anything into it. I guess I could send it to
the FBI, because I am sure they can recover it.
Terry

wrote in message
oups.com...

HankG wrote:
Hi All:

Thanks to all who responded; both factually and humorously. The
humor was
especially appreciated in light of my very recent, unexpected stay in
the
hospital (cardiac event). Let me elaborate.
snip
At what point does a transmission become DX? Is it a matter of
distance only, or distance when station power is considered?
snip
HankG
For me, DX is a funciton of both power distance and power.
Low power stations that are closer can be much more difficult
then a higher power distance station.

My personal best QSO, I am a ham radio operator and QSO
reffers to a 2way communication, was from the parking lot
where I worked in Lexington KY, to Port Morseby in Papua
New Guinea. The ham in Port Moresby was runnng 100W and I
was running ~1.8Watts. That qualifies in both distance and
low power. I was using a modified J.C. Penny CB that I moved
up to 10Mtrs.

Some of the low power "tropical" stations are much harder to
receive then R. Australia. The first station I eveer IDed was
R.A. back in 1963! It was on a olde Zeneth SW. I was hooked.
Some of "best" catches are the low pwoer aero weather xmissions
from south east asia. Back in Hihg School a friend and I had a
year long contest back in 1968 to see who could receive the most
AM bCB stations. He called me at 2:30 one Saturday morning
to tell me that the Los Angeles (CA) clear channel station was
load and clear. We where both shocked to receive it so well.
A week later I called him at midnight to tell that the BBC
domestic AM BCB was booming in. I have only received AM BCB and
LW signals from Europe 4 times in 40+ years.

DX can mean many different things. I received a ND air beacon from
St. Loius (MO) for 3 days several years ago. I think thaey were
running 25watts into a very poor antenna. Lofers are license free
LW broadcasts, and they are limited to 1Watt. A friend picked on up
that was about 800 miles away. Sadly I have too much local QRM to
receive LOFERS very well.

So instead of getting hung up on exactly what DX is, concentrate
on what interests you. I am currently mainly into listening to
international broadcasters, with some aero utility. In years past
I was into RTTY and FAX. Sadly press RTTY has gone the way of the
dodo. But there are lots of odd and interesting radio signals out
there demanding attentin.
I don't know what type antenna you use, but you might be helped by
John Doty's articles on low noise antennas and his 9:1 matching
transformer. Just do a net search.
Have fun and good listening.
Terry


Looks like you've made some good catches. Right now, my primary antenna is
a 33 foot folded dipole (inside of my roof). Gives me decent coverage. I
also use a longwire (about 200 feet) for MW and LW listening. It's directly
connected to my receiver and exits a second floor window, down to the
ground, around the boundry of the house, across the lawn, up onto and around
a six foot fence on two sides. The section which is inside the house is
shielded audio cable (directly connected). It tends to be noisy, especially
on the lower bands. I've read many of those articles on low-noise antennas
and matching transformers. Hope to be up and able come the Spring. I will
try incorporating a 9:1--maybe get rid of some of that noise.

HankG