Hi there, here's a video of beautiful North Wales with the sounds of BBC Radio Wales in the background. I passed through this area in the late 1980s as a young engineer on my way to Galway, via Holyhead. It was great to finally see the place again after nearly 30 years.
Hi there, very pleased to copy the Voice of Indonesia's 10 kW relay from Palangkaraya in Oxford using the G5RV antenna and the brilliant Eton Satellit...a radio that doesn't get as much press as it used to, since the XHDATA D-808 came along!
Recorded in Oxford UK on 15/08/18 at 19:18 hrs UTC.
Hi there, always nice to copy Zanzibar who were off air for a while at the end of last year I think. Here's a decent signal for a hotel room-type environment. Certainly not optimal for DXing, but up on HF the Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna works superbly well, supported by an almost perfectly sized vertically-opening window.
Recorded on 22/08/18 at 18:37 hrs UTC using an XHDATA D-808 portable. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, this VOLMET transmission is new to me and TBH it took quite a lot of searching online to find any mention of it. A fairly weak signal from my hote room, but nevertheless, an interesting find whilst I was in Ireland.
Recorded on 22/08/18 at 01:01 hrs UTC using an SDRPlay RSPduo and Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's the same signal from Lou in Barcelona, copied from my Dublin hotel room on the brilliant XHDATA D-808 portable radio, just using the telescopic antenna, indoors! That guy is booming all over Europe lol....and probably the world!
Recorded on 21/08/18 at 22:28 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there a strong signal from New York given the time of year - and again the first time I've copied them since March, using the induction loop I constructed. The bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna with the 10 m cable seems to be working very well indeed, pulling transatlantic MW DX out of the ether lol and out of season!
Recorded on 26/08/18 at 02:27 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's a decent summertime signal from VOCM, as copied at the shack a couple of nights ago. I've not copied these guys since March, with the induction loop I built, so happy to hear them again, this time on the MegaLoop antenna using a 10m cable.
Recorded on 26/08/18 at 02:20 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, the noise floor on longwave at my hotel in Dublin was as bad as -70dBs - absolutely terrible and as a result I could only hear audio on RTÉ Radio 1 at 252 kHz. Everything else was swamped. Similar story on MW...terrible noise again -although mostly around -90 dBs, so some stations could be heard, but forget DXing, even with the magnetic loop. I thought I'd share these awful conditions...I hope you never see/hear anything quite as bad lol.
Recorded on 21/08/18 at 22:55 hrs UTC using an SDRPlay RSPduo and Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, checking back over the more than 2,000 reception videos on this channel confirmed that I hadn't copied this signal since I was in Crete in April 2017. A very nice signal into Dublin with the MegaLoop FX antenna hanging from an open window frame.
Recorded on 22/08/18 at 00:21 hrs UTC.Thanks for watching.
Hi there, this guy in Moscow was calling CQ North and South America and booming into my QTH. Once again, the Icom IC-756 and radio-free vertical HF antenna pulling in the DX lol.
Recorded on 13/08/18 at 23:11 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, this ham in California was just about booming into Oxford UK on 14.160 MHz. The Icom IC-756 is proving to be a great addition to the OSL radio collection - and is finally making my HF ham career possible lol.
Recorded on 13/08/18 at 23:11 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, most of you probably know longwave is my favourite band and the music from Antena Satelor and Polskie Radio etc. sounds even better on a vintage receiver with a decent speaker. Here's a tune around on the recently restored, 1970's Yaesu FRG-7700.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 13/08/18 at 02:27 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, it's a shame Maplin had to close down. I must have been one of the Oxford store's biggest customers lol as I was ALWAYS in there buying stuff - connectors, cables project boxes, even radios actually. Most weeks I would find myself in there. Their problem was their prices - everything could be found cheaper online, but it just so happens that I'm the sort of person that is too impatient to wait for stuff to arrive through the post. It seems I'm in the minority and Maplin ended up closing.
On their last day of trading I happened to be nearby so I dropped in and left with a lot of free stuff, including a free Moonraker antenna. Watch the video for the low down!
Hi there, I've only copied CFRX once previously this year in the UK - and although I look for their signal on the Elad FDM DUO regularly, these days I'm not even seeing a carrier. Here with the G5RV set up outdoors, their signal was actually quite reasonable. It seems 30 metres of wire outdoors beats a magnetic loop indoors - I guess I kinda expected that lol.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 00:47 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's a really booming signal from the Voice of Korea copied at my shack in Oxford. I always find their programming so compelling - one of my favourite stations - probably because I'm always looking to learn more about what makes them tick!
As for the music they play, it's not really my cup of tea, but there's no doubt it's rousing, whatever your political views.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 18:04 hours UTC using a MegaLoop FX magnetic loop antenna
Hi there, I've checked previous recordings and this reception is right up there with anything I've copied out on a DXpedition in the early hours, with a long wire. Emisoras Pio XII is always a difficult target for any DXer in Europe, so this felt like a nice catch on the G5RV.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 00:31 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's a nice signal from Radio Voz Missionaria on the G5RV. A signal of this strength and clarity would be impossible in the shack, even on a magnetic loop, so an interesting experiment to try DXing with an antenna put for for TXing.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 00:31 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, the signal from Radio Difusora Roraima on the 60 metre BC band has deteriorated in the past two or three months - I know this as I monitor the band every night almost. In fact, after checking, I found the last time at home I recorded their signal was March, on the Icom IC-R75. This is easily the best signal I've copied since then.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 00:34 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, as a bit of an experiment a fellow radio ham who works for me set up his 105 foot G5RV. Within about 15 minutes he was chatting away with an operator in Moscow! Watching that QSO I immediately thought I'll give that antenna a whirl with one of my portables! So here's strong signal from Rádio Clube do Pará, typical of a DXpedition actually.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 00:20 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's a ham in the USA booming into Oxford on the Icom IC-756 with my radial-free vertical antenna. There's a lot of high-power operators out there and other hams seem to gravitate to them which is understandable I suppose. This guy couldn't hear me on 10W but I'm still receiving 5-9 reports from all over Europe which is great.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 12/08/18 at 23:13 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching
Hi there, so I haven't copied Radio Bahrain since November 2015. I had assumed they were off-air, but checking the August 12th edition of Shortwave Bulletin, edited by the wonderful Thomas Nilsson, I see that they have also been reported by another DXer. For me, the S-8800 is a clear winner here. There's noise present on both receivers, but it's less obtrusive with the Tecsun. Your comments, as always, very much appreciated.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 00:32 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, Radio Voz Missionaria on 5940 kHz has been quite strong (relatively speaking) in the shack these past few weeks. Out in the woods, their signal is really quite excellent with just a little bit of adjacent channel QRM. Their exact frequency is slightly off 5940 kHz in any case.
So, here's another nice comparison of these two portables that once again confirms the price difference is not a reflection of performance. Comments appreciated.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 23:57 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for
Hi there my HF ham radio career was aborted when I discovered that using my Elad FDM Duo as a transeiver was more fiddly than writing a book wearing boxing gloves. Having finally got to grips with it, I found that no one could hear me using my MP1 Super Antenna mounted on a tripod up the garden lol. Saying that, with the induction coil tuning arrangement, the SWR was superb on any band. Basically it was a case of not enough power (less than 5 Watts) and not enough height. So, now I've decided to do things properly. I bought the Icom from a radio-friend of mine so-to-speak. I won't say who, but if he wishes to reveal himself, he can do so! The MFJ was bought at the same time as the Super Antenna, which I'm now eyeing up for a DXpedition.
Hi there, i was inspired by a recent upload from Matthias (senderjaeger). He managed to copy a very nice signal on a portable with a longwire out in the fields. Wonderful DX. I didn't have the chance for a DXpedition these past few days so I tuned in using the superb Elad FDM DUO coupled to the equally superb Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna. Here is a weak but discernible signal, with recovered audio. I was really pleased to copy this at home in the shack and of course, it really demonstrates just how good the MegaLoop FX antenna really is.
Recorded on 12/08/18 at 18:52 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's another signal from Brazil, this time on the 31 metre broadcast band. Interesting to hear this stationl - it's been more than two years since I copied them on this frequency at home in the shack and once again it takes a DXpedition to deliver recovered audio. I continue to be interested to learn how the performance of these two radios compares in the context of the huge difference in price. As always, your comments are welcome!
Recorded in Oxford UK on 30/05/18 at 00:28 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, Rádio Clube do Pará is the most consistently heard station in South America, at my QTH at least. It can nearly always be heard, albeit with varying degrees of modulation/recovered audio. Rarely, their signal copied at home in the shack will boom in. On a DXpedition the audio is nearly always superior, because the SNR is better. Here is a comparison of this signal with two excellent portables - with very different price tags. As usual, your comments are appreciated.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 23:34 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, Radio Aparecida is a tricky catch at home and on a DXpedition. Everything has to align for any recovered audio. I was therefore very pleased to copy them with the Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna.
Recorded on 08/08/18 at 00:41 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, Rádio Nacional de Angola can be a very tricky target at home in the shack. Modulation and therefore recovered audio is often very weak or imperceptible - I still remember being amazed the first time I heard them properly out on a DXpedition 2 or 3 years ago. Great to copy them at home - and above quite significant local QRM.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 02/06/18 at 23:31 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, so this is a station that can rarely be copied at home in the shack, much better heard out on a DXpedition, but even then it's usually weak. I know this is a comparison test between the Tescun and the XHDATA, but what a fantastic performance from the ultra-compact Bonito Boni Whip antenna. Anyway, let me know your thoughts - I think the Tecsun got this one, but it's really close.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 23:30 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, it's always a pleasure to capture this exotic in any case and what an excellent target signal for a test such as this. The audio is weak, for obvious reasons and it fades in and out. However, overall I think it's more discernible on the XHDATA - sounding slightly clearer on it's smaller, rather puny speaker. As always, please let me konw your views.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 23:23 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, the signal from Meyerton, South Africa was the first test of these two excellent portables. You'll immediately notice the fuller audio with the Tecsun via it's larger speaker. However, that aside, does the quality of the reception, as compared to the XHDATA justify the price difference? Let me know your thoughts.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/05/18 at 23:14 hrs UTC using a Bonito Boni Whip. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's a short introduction video to some testing I conducted a while back, to compare two very good portable receivers. The issue here of course is that the Tecsun costs much more than the XHDATA. At the time of testing the price delta was around a factor of 5. Right now, a couple of months later it's probably just under a factor of 4. Still signficant. Let me know your thoughts on the reception videos that follow.
Hi there, I can't quite believe it, but this is the first time I've copied Shannon Volmet on this frequency from the UK. I've only heard this signal once before, whilst on holiday in Crete. Checking last night, the SNR on the MegaLoop FX antenna is the equal of the Wellbrook ALA1530. A superb bit of kit.
Recorded on 08/08/18at 00:46 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, another signal from North Korea, but a weaker transmission, intended for an internal audience. Nevertheless, the operatic style of music that seems to be a mainstay of their programming can be heard with the Vintage ICF-2001 portable and a few metres of wire. It sort of comes across as a bit of a struggle all-round and no doubt a quieter environment would have helped the SNR. But, from my garden, with a simple set-up, this was very pleasing.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 04/08/18 at 20:04 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's the same signal from Nashville, this time on the Tecsun S-8800 receiver. Interesting to compare with the 909x. Let me know your thoughts.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 02/06/18 at 02:58 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, I've only recorded this signal four times in the past 3 years. Not because I generally can't hear them, quite the opposite, generally I can, if I'm up that late! This time around I thought it interesting to record them from my living room, with a portable, coupled to the ALA1530....exiting the house via a window jumper. A strong signal punching above quite a lot of noise.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 02/06/18 at 02:51 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, this is where it all started with PLL/direct frequency access/scanning portable shortwave radios. Back in 1980 it was revolutionary. Even John Lennon had one to keep in touch with BBC news etc. from New York. I remember seeing one in a shop window in Oxford when I was just a little kid. I was with my Dad and didn't even bother asking him if I could have one....it was the equivalent of about £825 in todays money! On the downside, selectivity is very average to poor and it eats batteries very quickly indeed. However, when one came up on eBay for 50 quid, I could say no - even just for the nostalga of finally owning one. Anyway, here's an ok signal from North Korea in my back garden with about 8 metres of wire attached.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 04/08/18 at 19:53 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, decent audio from Myanmar Radio is by no means a given from my very noisy shack, so it was nice to copy them with even a signal from my living room, via the Wellbrook magnetic loop and the very decent performing S-8800 receiver. Just a shame about the rather extortionate price!
Recorded in Oxford UK on 02/06/18 at 23:34 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, I pulled out the ICF-2001D the other night and plugged the Wellbrook into it. Interesting way to DX from the living room lol. I've not used this radio for a long time and thinking back, it was, for a long time, the mainstay of my DXing/DXpeditions. Here's some pretty good recovered audio from Radio Verdad in Guatemala.
Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/07/18 at 02:28 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, here's another copy of North Korea, this time on the 22 metre broadcast band. As I said in a previous video, you've got to love an underdog and this radio is just that if you listen to the reviews. However, what's not in question is the superb industrial design and audio. A keeper for sure.
Recorded on 14/07/18 at 13:25 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, VOA via their relay in Botswana on the whip of the 909x was a very pleasing copy from a noisy office. How I wish the 100s and 1000s of flame-thrower signals were still on SW lol.
Recorded on 14/07/18 at 13:30 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, it could feel like an achievement copying anything on the whip of the 909x lol! Here's Nashville from my office on a Saturday afternoon. Not at all bad, even if I say it myself ha ha.
Recorded on 14/07/18 at 13:33 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, the Sangean ATS-909x is a fine looking and sounding radio. However, some claim it's not too hot on the whip. I'm not sure if that's entirely true...here's North Korea on the 19 metre broadcast band, copied on a Saturday afternoon in my office, just on the telescopic. A very noisy environment at the best of times, this was a really pleasing catch...and you've got to love an underdog!
Recorded on 14/07/18 at 13:11 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, this is only the third time I've recorded the signal from Roumoules, probably because of timing - they don't broadcast 24/7. Anyway, really nice to hear them on a car radio.
Recorded in Oxford on 17/07/18 at 21:43 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
Hi there, copying Médi 1 at home on a portable without my LW induction loop is very difficult indeed, often impossible. I can hear them with an SDR and the Wellbrook of course - but this is probably my best reception outside of using that equipment.
Recorded on 17/07/18 at 22:05 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.
