K3 for SWL?

[Bill Frantz]

When I started, I thought that I could avoid making mistakes in
front of too many people by running QRP. Then I found I could be
heard around the world. It never fails to surprise that dummy
loads get out at times, and that what worked yesterday but
doesn't today. Propagation never fails to be fascinating.

I do have my SWL QSL from KSM on 426 KC. The K3 makes a good low
band receiver.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 2/2/17 at 2:30 PM, [hidden email] (Wes Stewart) wrote:

>On a slightly related note, at our last Southern Arizona DX
>Association club meeting we had an unexpected visitor.  He was
>from the local public radio station and had received a letter
>QSL request from a listener in Norway.  He had no idea what a
>QSL was but after some Googling came up with us and decided to
>see what we could tell him.  He interviewed me and a couple of
>other guys and I sent him some literature.  This may or may not
>make it onto the air.
>
>What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, it is daytime only.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        |"Web security is like medicine - trying to
do good for
408-356-8506       |an evolved body of kludges" - Mark Miller
www.pwpconsult.com |

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[Jim Brown-10]

On Thu,2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
> What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz,
> it is daytime only.

Well, we all know what happens on 160M around sunrise and sunset. :)

73, Jim K9YC

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[k6dgw]

Not all 50 KW AM stations in the US are "clear channel" stations. Many
run 50 KW daytime and 5 KW and possibly directional at night. A few just
QRT.  With the introduction of the new synthesizer for the K3 which I
believe is stock in the K3S, one can SWL the highway and traffic safety
stations.  They occupy locally unused AM channels, often at either end
of the AM band.  They're scattered out on the Interstates, and are also
found at airports giving parking directions among other places.  Audio
quality is variable. [:-)

When I first got the synthesizer [and was still living in CA], I did
some poking around below the AM band.  Lots of interesting stuff, I was
really surprised that the DGPS corrections are broadcast there.

73,

Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
>
> What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz,
> it is daytime only.
>
> Wes  N7WS

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[Wes Stewart-2]

I don't know about the we part but at my QTH there is often a nice propagation peak to the west at, and after, my sunrise. At my sunset I see no such thing.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 2, 2017, at 3:47 PM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> On Thu,2/2/2017 2:30 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:
>> What is interesting is that while the station runs 50KW on 1550 KHz, it is daytime only.
>
> Well, we all know what happens on 160M around sunrise and sunset. :)
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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[N4OI - Ken]

I suggest you consider finding a good, used Drake R8 receiver on eBay.  The sound of AM HF broadcasts (yes, they are still there -- e.g., Radio Romania) is second to none.  And listening to SSB has it all over my K3 and other ham transceivers from a fidelity viewpoint.  

73 ES GOD BLESS U ES URS DE KEN N4OI  

[Edward A. Dauer]

Thanks, Ken.  A number of other replies also suggested a Drake, though most mentioned the R4 series.

At this point I am thinking of something still in production, since I have never gotten into doing restorations and buying used from afar can be an expedition to the unknown.  I plan to look at what’s available at hamfests . . . where I can touch the goods.

Following the advice I received from others I am trying out two possibilities.  One is the KX3.  I tried that last weekend.  It has what seems like very good sensitivity, and operational ease, though to use it for arm-chair type casual listening will require an external audio amp and a decent speaker.  The other possibility – at less than $200, near the low cost end of the scale – is a Sangean ATS 909X.  TI bought one and it just arrived.  I’ve not yet had a chance to hook it to a real antenna.  I plan to do a side-by-side with the KX3 and will happily share my impressions off list with anyone who asks.

My thanks to the many people who replied to my inquiry post, both on-list and off.

Ted, KN1CBR
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2017 05:41:28 -0700 (MST)
    From: N4OI - Ken <[hidden email]>
    To: [hidden email]
    Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 for SWL?
    Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
   
    I suggest you consider finding a good, used Drake R8 receiver on eBay.  The
    sound of AM HF broadcasts (yes, they are still there -- e.g., Radio Romania)
    is second to none.  And listening to SSB has it all over my K3 and other ham
    transceivers from a fidelity viewpoint.  
   
    73 ES GOD BLESS U ES URS DE KEN N4OI  
   
   
   
    --
 

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[Bill-3]

SDRplay comes immediately to mind - see at sdrplay.com - because it
covers from DC to light. I am going to get one, run it from a laptop,
and use it for SWL, scanning, and local BDCST. All modern and very small.

Bill W2BLC K-Line


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[Bill-3]

After my first post I thought of this link. It will give you a taste of
SWLing using an SDR receiver. And - it will cost you nothing.

http://websdr.org/

Bill W2BLC - K-line
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