Posts Tagged shortwave
Camping and a little SWL
Posted by jeff in Antenna Stuff on May 25th, 2009
Laurie (KB3SIK) and I just got back from a holiday weekend of camping a Lackawanna State park. While there I was able to hit a few local repeaters in the Scranton area with the aid of my Diamond SG7500 mobile antenna. Of course no activity, although I was able to hit those same repeaters with the standard antenna that came with my Yaesu VX-5r from a boat in the middle of Lackawanna lake. In addition I was able to do a little Short wave listening (SWL) and heard 2 tech shows broadcasting yesterday. I can’t wait to get my portable HF rig. I’ve been eyeing up the MFJ-706 EmComm Box for when I eventually get my Icom 706 for such trips. Between this and a Buddipole, I should be set on the /camp mode.
40 meter band expansion
..and while I’m posting like a mad fool tonight…
According to the Amateur Radio Newsline (#1646), an expansion of the 40 meter band is merely 30 days away. This expansion comes in the form of forcing shortwave broadcast stations to move out of the 7100 to 7200khz band space and reclaiming it for the Amatuer band.
At my QTH, I’m getting slammed by China Public Radio and other broadcasters on the band making my general class permissions almost useless most times of the day. I have mixed feelings about the forced move. I’m happy that hopefully the band will clear up where I’ll actually be able to use it, but at the same time it’s important to preserve the shortwave space. There should be plenty of spectrum available now that the BBC has ceased their shortwave broadcasting operations a few years back.