MW DX

[Farty]

I recently moved and rediscovered an old technics hi-fi tuner. It's not exactly DX type kit but its simple to use with good sensitivity, so I'm going to give it a whirl for a bit of mW broadcast listening like when I were a kid.

any tips on the type of antenna to run?

[MrWeetabix]

I'm no expert mate, but as much wire as you can string out there is normally a safe bet, especially at those freqs....GOOD LUCK MATIE!

[skunkybob]

Get yourself a directional loop antenna

http://www.mindspring.com/~loop_antenna/

read the blurb,
I made one back in the 80s when I was into MW dxing stuff, amazing how the little blighters work....

[hal8000]

A little late with this link, but you can also build a 6 foot aperiodic (wideband loop).
This one tunes 50kHz to 5MHz

http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/Circuits/rf/6x6loop.htm

So thats includes Rugby MSF 60kHz, DLF 73KHz to Tropical Bands.

Direction of loop is important at LF to MW and also some directional properties still
show up to about 5 or 6MHz. Some Radio Hams, also use loops on 40m (7MHz) although I think turning the loop here possibly cancels interfering sources.

[northern35s]

Me and a mate of mine used to take my Yaesu FT757 in the car, drive to a car park on Blackpool sea front, and attach a cable to a massive wire fence with a crocodile clip and then into the back of the radio, it worked great, listening to East Coast USA MW was great. The one thing that used to concern me was that this car park was used by courting couples, if the police ever decided to check out the car park I doubt they'd ever believe we were there just listening to the radio

[simon26OD004]

never mind the police, I don't believe you were there to just listen to the radio, lmfao

[northern35s]

never mind the police, I don't believe you were there to just listen to the radio, lmfao

True, but not what you're thinking whilst we were there we gave it a blast on Echo Charlie too

[Farty]

Had some good listening the last few nights. Managed Radio Romania in Bucharest, 1345miles great circle distance. Also 531 Radio Algiers transmitter, and Manx Radio in Isle of Man. I emailed Max Radio and their station engineer responded - he's an Amateur himself and was chuffed with the report, so he's sending me a QSL and some station shizzle. Sweet.

Also picked up a German based US forces station who are QSL'ing, and Voice of England from Holland, who want to convert me to God but will QSL if I see the light!

[crusty]

and Voice of England from Holland, who want to convert me to God but will QSL if I see the light!

Which?.. The red ones in Amsterdam?

[g0slq]

Had some good listening the last few nights. Managed Radio Romania in Bucharest, 1345miles great circle distance. Also 531 Radio Algiers transmitter, and Manx Radio in Isle of Man. I emailed Max Radio and their station engineer responded - he's an Amateur himself and was chuffed with the report, so he's sending me a QSL and some station shizzle. Sweet.

Also picked up a German based US forces station who are QSL'ing, and Voice of England from Holland, who want to convert me to God but will QSL if I see the light!

Not sure of your location, but there are many to look for - a couple of tips (apologies if I'm telling granny how to suck eggs etc.) Listening at different times gives different results. For example, from here In Co. Durham on 873khz during the day was BBC Radio Norfolk - the same frequency at night was AFRTS - (American Forces Radio & Television Services) maybe what you heard. Most of the high power euro stations dominate at night, so daylight and early morning can be more interesting - unless of course you're happy to log the euro statons.

Again not sure if you knew or have tried, our stations are all 9khz apart such as 1053, 1062, 1071, 1080 and 1089 - all Talk Sport frequencies, but US stations are all 10khz apart - so remember to check "in between" our european ones - especially when winter comes for some good DX - often with basic antennae. Loops will work really well to listen to same frequency stations.

Try and get a copy of World Radio & Television Handbook or Passport to World Radio - it contains every station you could possibly hear and enhances your listening no end.

Steve

[g0slq]

Oops! just noticed your other post about 10khz spacing! ignore most of what I said. The WRTH will have told you what stations are on what frequency and from what country though Not the cheapest book but money spent on radio is essential as far as I'm concerned

[Farty]

Oops! just noticed your other post about 10khz spacing! ignore most of what I said. The WRTH will have told you what stations are on what frequency and from what country though Not the cheapest book but money spent on radio is essential as far as I'm concerned

Yup, got the WRTH. Once you've got the hang of using it it's far better than surfing the web trying to find info on specific stations.

Wouldn't mind a better receiver, cos although mine's very sensitive the selectivity isn't brilliant. Have to wait til I'm a bit better off though.