Friday 30 November 2018

Dxing in the jungle: Medi 1 Nador Morocco 171 kHz copied in Rio Capim, B...

Hi there, I wasn't expecting to copy anything of particular interest on LW whilst I'm here in Brazil and then Medi 1 pops up on my spectrum. Most unexpected but very pleasing indeed! Transatlantic signal on LW is a PF for me!

Recorded in Rio Capim on 28/11/18 at
04:09 hours UTC using an SDRPlay RSPDUO and Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

THE WORST wildlife camera man in the world! (that'll be me)

It's so impressive to come out here and watch the monkeys jump over the fence and cross the road. What's not so impressive are my camera skills lol.

The Coati's make another appearance, this time in large numbers

I love these cute little crittersm but they are a little wary of humans, probably for good reason lol. I've seen them in groups of 20 or 30 so a really social animal. Thanks for watching.

Thursday 29 November 2018

Recorded before my XHDATA D-808 failed: Radio Brazil Central 11815 kHz, ...

Hi there, I last copied this station from the UK in August 2017, so a pretty rare catch for me. I did hear them the last time I was in Rio Capim.

Recorded in Rio Capim on 15/11/18 at
03:38 hrs UTC, using a Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Recorded before my XHDATA D-808 failed: Rádio 9 de Julho 9818.5 kHz, São...

Hi there, last copied in the UK in January, so this was a welcome catch out here. Most of the time I don't even see a carrier on my Elad spectrum at home.


Recorded in Rio Capim on 15/11/18 at
03:32 hrs UTC, using a Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Wednesday 28 November 2018

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO: Emisoras Pio XII 5952.46 kHz, Bolivia

Hi there, I last copied this station in the UK with a 105 foot G5RV antenna, approximately 10 metres above the ground. Great to hear them again, with with superb, but modestly proportioned MegaLoop FX antenna!

Recorded in Rio Capim on 18/11/18 at
00:31 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO: Radio 9 de Julho 9818.65 kHz, Sao ...

Hi there, I last copied this signal from the UK in January, so almost a year. If it wasn't for Thomas Nilsson and the excellent SWB publication, I wouldn't have known if this station as still operating. That's the beauty of coming out here - you pick up DX and local knowledge. Once again, a great combo and after what happened to my XHDATA D-808 portable, I'm even more pleased I brought my SDRPlay RSP DUO!

Tuesday 27 November 2018

Recorded before my XHDATA D-808 failed: Dakar OAC 6535 kHz, Senegal copi...

Hi there, it was really great to copy Dakar Radio whilst out here in Northern Brazil. Not sure whether it's possible to hear this signal in the UK, probably, but I've never copied it. Great job by my busted radio lol.

Recorded in Rio Capim on 15/11/18 at
03:01 hrs UTC, using a Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Recorded before my XHDATA D-808 failed: Shannon VOLMET 5505 kHz copied i...

I'm still fuming about the failure of my D-808, but at least I still have a number of recordings to post. Here's a very nice signal from Shannon VOLMET on 5505 kHz, which I don't hear as often as 3413 kHz, back in the UK.

Recorded on 14/11/18 at
02:19 hrs UTC using a Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Sunday 25 November 2018

Loudspeaker audio fault with my XHDATA D-808 portable: part 3 (XHDATA I ...

Hi there, so finally the D-808 is back together and rather counter-intuitively, audio to the speaker requires a plug in the headphone socket. So annoying. XHDATA if you ever see this, I think you owe me a new radio!! Eveyone who bought one because of my videos, please say so here lol.

XHDATA: if you ever see this, please leave an email address and we can arrange for you to send me a replacement!!! At least then all my 2000+ subscribers will know you supply great products - and great service!

Thanks for watching.

Loudspeaker audio fault with my XHDATA D-808 portable: part 2

Hi there, after half an hour or so of poking around inside the D-808 I discovered that a fly-lead from the positive side of the loudspeaker circuit and inserting a jack plug into the socket completed the circuit for driving the headphone socket audio to the loudspeaker, albeit with lower volume of course because of the impedance difference. Still a total pain, although the radio is working again - of sorts. Thanks for watching.

Saturday 24 November 2018

Loudspeaker audio fault with my XHDATA D-808 portable

Hi there, how annoying that my D-808 waits until I'm out in the middle of nowhere before developing a fault. As of last night there is no audio to the loudspeaker, although the headphone jack is still working. I think the fault lies there as in parallel with no loudspeaker audio, now, when you insert the headphone plug into the socket, if you push all the way in, you only get audio in one ear piece. You have to pull it out a way to get audio in both. This is beyond annoying as I've spent so much time telling the world how great this radio is, only for my unit to fail! If anyone has any ideas beyond hard-wiring the speaker directly to the headphone socket, please let me know.

DXing in the jungle with the XHDATA D-808: Military 1 Information VOLMET...

Hi there, here's a super signal from the UK, copied in Rio Capim with the brilliant XHDATA D-808 portable and Bonito MegaLoop FX combo. I wasn't expecting to hear this signal or any of the other VOLMET transmissions I've copied so far.

Recorded on 14/11/18 at
02:15 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO: Radio Cultural Amauta 4955 kHz Hua...

Hi there, I haven't copied this station from the UK for nearly a year now. I thought it possible they had shut down. Clearly not, but even from the relative close proximity of RIo Capim, their signal is weak. Previously I have been able to hear them well from the UK with a portable and a longwire. Nevertheless, nice to know they're still on air!

Recorded in Rio Capim using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna on 18/11/18 at
01:13 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO: Radio Tarma 4774.9 kHz, Peru

Hi there, here in Rio Capim I've been able to catch both stations operating around 4775 kHz; Radio Tarma and the much more elusive Radio Sora de Congonhas. With the latter, the key is to be listening around dusk and thus before the grey line is anywhere near Peru. That video to come. In the meantime, I'm enjoying listening to stations that are often either non-existent or very faint on my spectrum at home. By the way, just a word about the MegaLoop FX antenna. Brilliant device that's so portable you can literally take it anywhere. In terms of sensitiivity, it's up there with the ALA1530 in my experience.


Recorded on 17/11 /18 at
23:40 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO: BBC World Service 3915 kHz, Kranj...

Hi there, I don't spend a lot of time listening to the BBC on shortwave, but nevertheless it was interesting to catch their signal on the 75 metre broadcast band, here in Rio Capim.


Recorded on 17/11/18 at
22:55 using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Thursday 22 November 2018

DXing in the jungle with the SDRPlay RSP DUO: Radio Voz MIssionaria 5939...

Hi there, a strong signal from Camboriu in Rio Capim, as might be expected, along with some noise however. It doesn't matter have far you travel, how remote the place is, if there's people living/working there, then there's gonna be electrical noise!

Recorded on 17/11/18 at
22:24 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the XHDATA D-808: Rádio Educação Rural 4925.2 k...

Hi there, here's a station that can be copied quite well in the UK, on a DXpedition and every now and then quite well with a magnetic loop at home and an SDR. Part of being in Brazil is to simply check what stations are broadcasting. There are numerous stations I've copied previously that haven't been hear in a long time and so it's nice to copy them again over here, just to know they're still going!


Recorded in Rio Capim, Northern Brazil on 14/11/18 at
02:10 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the XHDATA D-808: AIR Srinagar 4950 kHz, rarely...

Hi there, AIR Srinagar is a very difficult catch from back in the UK. Looking back over my log, I note that I've only heard this station twice from my QTH. In Rio Capim, it's much easier to copy their signal which at times is stronger than the closely adjacent Radio Nacional Angola on 4949.7 kHz. Thanks for watching.


Recorded in Rio Capim, Northern Brazil on 14/11/18 at
02:23 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

In the jungle it appears to be compulsory to acquire 'pets'...

Hi there, when I realised I was sharing a room with a lizard, it freaked me out. But then I'm thinking, ok so hopefully he/she is eating all the bugs in my room. Since recording this video, I discovered another room mate who seems to be living behind the mirror in the bathroom. Lol, jungle life. One of the guys who works for me - he just left actually to home - found a scorpion in his room...so I'm not doing too badly then!

Wednesday 21 November 2018

DXing in the jungle with the XHDATA D-808 : Radio Tarma Peru 4774.9 kHz

Hi there, here's a very decent signal from Radio Tarma, Peru...only possible at home on a DXpedition with a very good/ very large antenna. It's nice to be able to just 'throw up' a magnetic loop and hear 'stuff'!

Recorded in Rio Capim, Northern Brazil on 14/11/18 at
01:57 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Venomous snake found in our work place...apparently this species kills c...

Hi there, this little fella slithered out from underneath a large piece of scientific equipment we are working on here, out in Rio Capim. When the local boys saw it they ran...until one of then braved up, put on some thick gloves and caught it in a plastic bag. Now, I'm not sure whether this is a wind-up, but the nickname for this little snake is 'cow killer'...according to the locals!! Some local knowledge on this one would be very much appreciated!

Dusk in the jungle, at an electricity substation!

Just in case you were wondering, electrical noise is a problem everywhere lol. Even out here in Rio Capim, I'm still looking for somewhere quiet to DX where I won't get bitten to death by the bugs, or eaten by something larger!

Tuesday 20 November 2018

DXing in the jungle with the XHDATA D-808: Radio Mosoj Chaski 3310 kHz, ...

Hi there, this must be one of my best-ever signals from Radio Mosoj Chaski, who TX out of Cochabamba. Amazing signal, even though I am obviously in much closer proximity to the TX site than usual lol. The D-808 coupled to the ultra-compact and portable Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna makes for a powerful combination.

Recorded in Rio Capim on 14/11/18 at
01:45 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Radio Aparecida 11855.77 kHz copied in the jungles of Rio Capim, Brazil

Hi there, Radio Aparecida is notoriously difficult to catch in the UK with any modulation - and here's why - a poor to average signal from Rio Capim. More than anything else, this recording confirms how well DXers in Europe have done, to hear this station at all.

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
02:45 hrs UTC using an SDRPlay RSO DUO and MegaLoop FX antenna, outdoors! Thanks for watching.

FT8 decodes in the jungle of Rio Capim using an SDRPlay RSP DUO and Mega...

Hi there, as some of you might have seen, I was slightly underwhelmed at the decodes from my hotel in Belém. That all changed when I got out here to the jungle and went off on a DXpedition, which was spent in the jungle, but from the safety of my truck, with the windows and doors closed lol (once I had set up the MegaLoop FX ourside though! Here the decodes were coming through thick and fast, from the USA, Colombia, Portugal, Kazakhstan, Uruguay, Asian Russia, Oman etc. Great to demonstrate the effectiveness of FT8 as a potentially low-power narrow band transmission in a completely different part of the world to my QTH!

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
02:31 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Monday 19 November 2018

A quick tour of my jungle listening post in Rio Capim, Northern Brazil

Hi there, here's a quick tour of my lodgings and temporary shack whilst I'm out here working in the jungle. It's actually not bad at all considering the nearest supermarket is 70 km down a dirt track and the nearest hospital is about 1000 kms away! Must keep safe lol.

Thanks for watching.

The Coati: South American Raccoon that seems to be everywhere in Rio Capim!

This is what I said last year in Rio Capim...They're a bit weird looking, but quite cute at the same time. If they spot you they don't hang about and this trip there seem to be many more around. This fella was on his own, but a gang of them star in two up-coming videos!

DXing in the jungle with the SDRPlay RSP DUO and MegaLoop FX: Radio Pili...

Hi there. Being fortunate enough to travel with your job as I am means that you get the opportunity to hear stuff that you either can't hear at home at all, or only very poorly. Radio Pilipinas used to be a regular catch, but this year I haven't heard them since March. The last time I heard them before that was here, in Rio Capim a year ago. So, it's great to finally copy them again.


Recorded in Rio Capim on 12/11/18 at
02:39 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Saturday 17 November 2018

Radio Sonder Grense 3320 kHz, Meyerton, very strong signal in the jungle...

Hi there, this is probably the most consistently heard signal on 90 metres at my QTH, but here in Rio Capim their signal is almost booming in. Great to hear them so well, even if only temporarily!

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
03:25 hrs UTC using an XHDADA D-808, coupled to a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Radio New Zealand International 15720 kHz, copied in the Jungles of Rio ...

Hi there, RNZI is another very rare catch these days, back in Oxford. I did actually manage to hear them again quite recently - the first time in many months, using the rather brilliant NRD-525. A radio I'm missing right now lol. Any way, great to hear these guys again from South America - a much easier location. This time around not a brilliant signal, but I'm still happy to have copied them at all.

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
02:26 hrs UTC using an SDRPlay RSP DUO and Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Radio Brazil Central 11815 kHz Goiania, copied in the jungles of Rio Capim

Hi there, this is a station that I basically never hear at home any more. It's been more than 18 months since I copied their signal out on a DXpedition in Oxford and so it's always nice to make a recording when I'm in Brazil.


Recorded on 12/11/18 at
02:19 hrs UTC using an SDRPlay RSP DUO and a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Friday 16 November 2018

Radio Inconfidencia 6010 kHz, Belo Horizonte, copied in the jungles of R...

Hi there, so the last time I copied this signal on this frequency was 12th of October 2017...from Rio Capim! Prior to that I had copied them twice at home in Oxford. This past year their signal has been too weak and/or suffered from adjacent QRM making it impossible to hear them. Great to finally catch them again.

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
02:01 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle: Rádio Nacional de Angola 4949.7 kHz copied with XHD...

Hi there, this is a station that is notoriously difficult to hear well from Europe. Often with very low modulation and therefore little recovered audio. It usually requires a DXpedition to improve signal-to-noise and good propagation to record anything worthwhile. Out here in Rio Capim, I am in much closer proximity to the TX site and it shows in this recording.


Recorded on 12/11/18 at
03:29 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.

Wednesday 14 November 2018

In the jungles of Rio Capim, Rádio Clube do Pará almost swamps Radio Di...

Hi there, here in Rio Capim the signal on 4885 kHz from Belém is huge and almost swamps the adjacent signal from Boa Vista. This is the first time I've actually seen this - made possible of course with the SDRPlay RSP DUO, coupled to the Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna.

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
01:48 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle: Gander VOLMET 3485 kHz copied in Rio Capim, Brazil

Hi there, here in Rio Capim the signal on 4885 kHz from Belém is huge and almost swamps the adjacent signal from Boa Vista. This is the first time I've actually seen this - made possible of course with the SDRPlay RSP DUO, coupled to the Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna.

Recorded on 12/11/18 at
01:48 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

My 499th and 500th FT8 QSO on 5/10 Watts TX power using the SE-X80 wide-...

Hi there, I thought I would celebrate my 499th - 500th QSO on FT8 by recording the event. Much more exciting for me to watch than you - I know lol. FT8 continues to have it's detractors, but it keeps an M6 going until he gets a 'proper' license lol.

Thanks for watching

Shannon VOLMET 3413 kHZ USB strong signal into the jungles of Rio Capim,...

Hi there, I was quite surprised to copy any signal from Shannon VOLMET all the way down here in South America! Such a clear signal - I wonder what their TX power is. No doubt someone will know. Copied with the Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna...and very nice set-up with the superb XHDATA D-808 portable.

Recorded on 11/11/18 at
02:57 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Howler Monkeys at my DXing QTH in Rio Capim, Pará, Brazil

Hi there, the primatologists amongst us might be able to confirm whether I got this ID right lol. I think I'm right because the Howler Monkeys make such a racket here in Rio Capim every morning and most evenings. Here you can clearly see a mother with child on it's back. How cute. Last time I posted a video of these guys, I made the statement that you never see them - only hear them! So I was wrong about that! Thanks for watching.

DXing in the jungle with the SDR DUO and MegaLoop FX: Radio Verdad 4055 ...

Hi there, this is the type of signal that is rarely heard well, if at all in the UK. Great to copy them again from Rio Capim and for the first time, actually view their signal via the brilliant SDRPlay RSP DUO. You will hear a clear ID on this recording which was also very nice to catch, before the signal faded away.




Recorded on 12/11/18 at
01:40 hrs UTC using a Bonito MegaLoop FX antenna. Thanks for watching.




Tuesday 13 November 2018

DXing in the jungle with the RSP DUO & MegaLoop FX: Radio Tarma 4774.77 ...

Hi there, here's a better than average signal from Radio Tarma, Peru, as heard from Rio Capim in Brazil. This is the first time I've used a full-blown SDR in the jungle - and the first time I've used a magnetic loop on my travels. The Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX is perfect for vacations - or work trips such as this. More with this set-up to come.

Recorded this morning (12/11/18) at
01:16 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching!

FT8 decode from hotel in Belém, Brazil, using SDRPlay RSP DUO

Hi there, it's the first morning in Brazil, having left the SDRPlay RSP DUO and Megaloop FX antenna running all night. Decodes from Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela..and DX decodes from Europe, but volume of traffic much reduced...either because of the local hotel environment (and) or geographical location. I'll find out when I try this again in, out in the jungle. Thanks for watching.

Sunday 11 November 2018

FT8 decodes from my hotel in Belém, Northern Brazil using SDRPlay RSP D...

Hi there, after finally getting to the hotel, getting on line to check emails - I couldn't help myself and set up the SDRPlay RSP DUO/ Bonito NTi MegaLoop FX antenna and had a go at some FT8 decodes. Not much happened until I switched the air conditioning off!

Thanks for watching.

Coming in to land at Belém, Pará, Northern Brazil, this time at night


Hi there, rather unusually, we landed at Belém, Pará at night on this trip, around 23:00 hrs local time. Over 8 hours in the air, so I was glad to get off that TAP plane lol.

Flying out of Humberto Delgado Airport, LIsbon Portugal, on another expe...

Hi there, we flew out of Lisbon yesterday afternoon, heading for Rio Capim, Brazil. As usual, the views of the city and surroundings were great to see from the air.

Friday 9 November 2018

Testing SDR receiver equipment for impending trip to Rio Capim, Brazil

Hi there, I'm flying back to Brazil on 07/11/18 and will be taking one portable with me - the XHDATA D-808 (of course!). I will also be taking the SDRPlay RSP DUO and Bonito NTi MegaLoop antenna. So this will be my first DXpedition to South America with a magnetic loop. How exciting. I will look forward to DXing and sharing the results with you on the channel. Here is a video of my SDR set-up ...just testing everything works!

400 QSOs on 5/10W TX power and a decode by the South Korean Antarctic base!

Hi there, here's a video to celebrate my 400th FT8 QSO on 5/10 Watts and more importantly a decode by the King Sejong Antarctic Station on King George Island!! Now that was a very pleasant surprise! Keeps an M6 like me busy until there's an opportunity to take the Intermediate License. Thanks for watching!

Thursday 8 November 2018

Voice of Hope Africa 13680 kHz, Lusaka, Zambia copied above local QRM in...

Hi there, here's the signal from Lusaka, Zambia, copied at home, above pretty terrible local QRM, but still sounding ok. Amazing what the Wellbrook loop can pull out of the noise - and deliver it to a superb radio for a decent result in very challenging local conditions.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 20/10/18 at
16:21 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.

Voice of Korea (DPRK) 9425 kHz in the afternoon, copied in Oxford UK on ...

Hi there, I copied this transmission from my office, late on a Friday afternoon using the SDRPlay and Wellbrook ALA1530. Here's a better signal with the NRD-525. I will never tire of listening to North Korea on HF. Their transmissions are just as compelling today, as they were when I first copied them 3 years ago.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 20/10/18 at
15:44 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.

Radio New Zealand International 5980 kHz copied at home with JRC NRD-525...

Hi there, here's a not very nice signal from RNZI...but to hear them at all from home shouldn't really be possible, particularly as the ever-present noise is further reducing SNR. I checked the ID with their online stream for confirmation. The NRD-525 never fails to impress lol.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 20/10/18 at
14:22 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Reach Beyond Australia (HCJB) 9720 kHz copied in Oxford UK with JRC NRD-525

Hi there, another decent signal from Kununurra recorded on he same afternoon as the reception video of their transmission on 9610 kHz. I hadn't copied these guys since April, so very nice to hear them again.

Recorded on 20/10/18 at
14:22 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna, outdoors. Thanks for watching.

Comparing antennas FT8 receive: SE-X80 wideband vertical vs Wellbrook AL...

Hi there, here's a video comparing the sensitivity of my SE-X80 wideband vertical with the Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop. I had been wondering exactly how efficient the vertical in RX, knowing of course how superb the ALA1530 is across HF. As it turns out, the performance of these two antennas is similar, but the loop just about takes it. Thanks for watching.

The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World...26 quid off eBay

Hi there, I was thinking a few days ago, trying to figure out whether my interest in maps developed before radio. Eventually I realised that radio came first. I remember one evening, when I was probably 6 or 7 years old, being allowed to stay up late and tuning my Mums radio through MW. I clearly remember hearing lots of foreign voices and at the time thought that was pretty amazing! Maps came later on in my early teens - partly due to my studying Geography 'O' Level lol. Of course, any radio enthusiast is very likely to be into maps and atlases don't come much better than The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World. They cost £150 new, or at least they did. I picked up a 12th edition for £26 off eBay. The publication is now in it's 15th edition, but not much in the world has changed since my copy was published. My advice: get hold of one - the maps are simply superb.

Thanks for watching.

An S9 +10 signal from Radio Thailand 9920 kHz copied with RSPDUO and Wel...

Hi there, I recorded this nice signal from Thailand around 20:00 hrs UTC using this nice indoor set-up. The audio is significantly enhanced through the use of the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 speaker - my Lenovo ultrabook's audio is cr@p lol.

Recorded on 19/10/18 in Oxford UK. Thanks for watching.

North Korea 12015 kHz signing on with the SDRPlay RSP DUO and Wellbrook ...

Hi there, here's the Voice of Korea's distinctive signing-on signal, copied in the office with the SDRPlay RSP DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop - indoors, near a window. Super job!


Recorded in Oxford UK on 19/10/18 at
15:00 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna, indoors and a Bose SoundLink Mini 2 for audio output.