Trying to copy Radio Afghanistan on 6100 kHz

I've been trying to record Radio Afghanistan on 6100 kHz this afternoon with the Eton Satellit and Bonito Boni whip, but with no success. They've been copied by several DXing fellows on YouTube recently, so try to listen out for them. Severe adjacent channel QRM from China makes the English programme difficult to receive with any discernible audio.

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Moving on to ABC Northern Territories 2325 kHz...

Hi there, wonderful to copy a signal from Tennant Creek on ABC's lowest shortwave band frequency - and one for which the use of SYNC and SSB was appropriate, as a test of those functions and to maximise discernibility. The audio quality on SYNC doesn't seem as clear on the Eton as it does on the Sony ICF-2001D, but it does work, as does SSB. Having said that, a data set of one reception video using SYNC isn't statistically significant, so definitely more to come before my mind is made up. 

It's worth remembering that simply hearing ABC Northern Territories on 120 metres with this little Eton is amazing, given it's (unfair) reputation, thus I certainly wasn't expecting such great things from it! 

Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:56 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Rádio Nacional de Angola 4950 kHz...wonderfully clear signal

Hi there, my clearest reception of Angola to date, using a 50 metre longwire and another vindication of this excellent portable receiver. Rádio Nacional de Angola can be a very challenging DX target, particularly at home, where more often than not, modulation is very low and thus discernible audio difficult to capture. Here on a DXpedition, the Eton really pulls in a strong signal with very clear audio and again, I wasn't anticipating such strong performance. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 19:17 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Let's start with ABC Northern Territories on 120 metres...

Hi there, the Eton Satellit has had mixed reviews since it's launch, with particular focus on poor SYNC audio and inferior raw sensitivity - at least when compared to it's older, bigger 'Satellit' siblings. As a result, some hobbyists and commentators have questioned whether it's even worthy of the 'Satellit' branding.

As most of you know, I own some very capable portable receivers and on the basis of what I recorded with the Eton over the weekend, in terms of raw sensitivity, this little radio might be up there with the very best portable radios ever made. Here is wonderful reception of ABC Northern Territories from Katherine on 120 metres, which tops all of my previous receptions. If the Eton can do this, then clearly it isn't suffering from intrinsic poor sensitivity and I would need convincing that a vintage Satellit would be much more capable. 

More videos to come to further demonstrate the sensitivity and various other aspects of the Eton's performance. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:52 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching. PS Goodbye to ABC on shortwave, you'll be missed.

MW DX with 200 m Beverage: WTAM 1100 kHz, Cleveland, Ohio (presumed)

Hi there, although no ID is heard from this US news broadcast, WTAM is the most likely candidate with a 24/7 TX power of 50 kW on 1100 kHz. This would have been a PF if identified, so a pleasing catch nevertheless. Thanks to Matthias for his input. Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/10/16 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Rádio Clube do Pará 4885 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, another station that can often be quite difficult to hear well in Europe, particularly indoors, but one which the Sonys manage to copy ok. Although clearly struggling again with this weak signal, the Tecsun PL-310ET actually produces some audio, so job well done. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 22:05 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

 

Miniature shortwave marvel: Sony ICF-SW100, Radio Mali 9635 kHz, Bamako

Hi there, another slightly exotic catch using the diminutive (but very capable) Sony ICF-SW100 and the barbed wire fence lol. Radio Mali is extremely difficult to hear well, in fact it's difficult to catch them with any discernible audio. Here the vintage Sony manages it, with a very long rusty piece of barbed wire! Recorded in Oxford UK on 31/12/16 at 16:44 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

My latest post on SWLing Post....

DXpedition antenna testing: the Bonito Boni whip and a 240 metre barbed wire fence

240 metre barbed wire fence vs Boni whip: Voice of Africa 9505 kHz, Sudan..the whip wins yet again!

Hi there, the Boni whip does it again, delivering a stronger signal than the barbed wire fence with this signal from Sudan. My £100 investment is starting to look like a good deal now! Recorded in Oxford UK using a Sony ICF-SW55 receiver on 14/01/17 at 16:44 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #4: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip on MW

Hi there, here is a comparison of the longwire and Boni whip on medium wave. Watch how the signal from CFRB Newstalk 1010 Toronto 1010 kHz is buried under noise with both, until it miraculously appears at the end of the video when the Wellbrook is connected. What can you say? In a QRM-laden environment, neither a longwire or Boni whip is going to deliver serious DX. The H field Wellbrook, however, does the business. One more video in this series to come, with an example on LW, where the situation is a little different, then on to a comparison in the field between the whip and barbed wire fence...also interesting results! Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Aparecida 11855 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, my best reception of Radio Aparecida to-date on the ICF-SW77, although I didn't realise at the time! The ICF-SW55 also performs very well, particularly on the narrow audio bandwidth filter, however, the Tecsun (understandably) struggles with this weak signal, but I think brief audio is heard once the narrowest filter has been selected. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:29 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Medium wave DX: 1310 kHz - is this CIWW 1310 News, Ottawa, Ontario?

Hi there, this is presumed because no clear ID can be heard. Intially I thought this signal might be WLOB, but then I thought probably not and this was confirmed by Matthias as there is no mention of Fox News or their usual fanfare. With a TX power of 50 kW, CIWW is another likely candidate. If anyone can shed further light on this catch, I'd be very grateful. Recorded in Oxford UK, on 07/01/17 at 07:59 hrs using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook loop (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Zanzibar BC ‎11735 kHz

Hi there, the next video in thsi series targets the signal from Zanzibar BC in the Indian Ocean. Once again, all three radios deal with this relatively strong signal well, with the Sonys sounding quite similar. The PL-310ET isn't far behind, but clearly the SNR is below that of it's more expensive counterparts. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:25 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Tecsun PL-310ET: a quick demo of the excellent audio bandwidth filters

Hi there, here is a quick demonstration of the really excellent audio bandwidth filter options on the modestly priced, but brilliant Tecsun PL-310ET. Whilst out on a DXpedition a couple of weeks ago and using the barbed wire fence as my antenna, I tuned to 590 kHz to check the signal from Voice of Tigray Revolution, Addis Ababa. However, all I could hear was splatter from RRI's huge signal on 5955 kHz. Here is a video with commentary explaining how I was able to copy Voice of Tigray Revolution on this budget portable, despite the horrendous adjacent channel QRM. Quite a remarkable little radio. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530 test #7 winner: Wellbrook (7 wins out of 7)

Hi there, this is the final test comparing these two antennas in my noise-laden shack, using the Afia Darfur signal on 9510 kHz, from Santa Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy. Once again, reasonable reception on the Wellbrook with an audio bandwidth filter of 6.6 kHz and a signal pushing over S9. However, once the whip is connected, the noise floor increases by more than 10 Decibels and the signal almost dissapears under the blanket of amplified noise. So it's 7 wins out of 7 for the Wellbrook, but I'm not giving up. For the next test, I'm interested to see how the whip performs against a 30 metre piece of wire slung around the garden - a less than ideal arrangement I used for some time before I purchased the Wellbrook. Then finally I'm going to take them both out to the woods and run another comparison. I must reiterate that I really want the Boni whip to prove itself an excellent performer in a quiet environment, because that would give me an excellent, very portable antenna to use on DXpeditions. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #6 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, I've taken a different approach this time - by using what is probably the strongest signal on shortwave at my QTH - CRI on 6020 kHz. With an 18 kHz audio bandwidth filter, audio fideltiy on shortwave doesn't really get much better than this. As might reasonably be expected wiht a huge signal, the difference in the performance of the two antennas based on audio fidelity at least, is much less obvious, despite the signficant drop in SNR with the Boni whip. One more reception video to come, to conclude this first series of tests. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #5 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, here is test number 5 and the first with a signal on shortwave  - Radio Habana, Cuba on 6060 kHz. I would describe the signal strength and audio fideltiy as about average with the Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop. However, switching over to the Bonito Boni whip results once again in a significant increase in the noise floor - just over 10 decibels this time, but that's still very significant and the resulting loss of signal modulation is clear to see and hear. I'm still hoping that a trip to the QRM free woods in Oxfordshire will result in a much reduced SNR performance delta between these two antennas. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #4 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, here is the next MW band comparison test for these two antennas - a signal from WMEX Boston Talk Radio on 1510 kHz. Sometimes this station can almost boom in over the Atlantic to my QTH in Oxford, UK. However, two nights ago, their signal could, at best, be described as quite weak, but with some discernible audio using the Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530. However, when switching over to the Boni whip, the signal was completely buried under amplified local noise, thus another disapointing result.

I still believe the delta in performance of these two antennas will be significantly less in a quiet location and to this end, I will be conducting another test at the woods in Oxfordshire. I want the Boni whip to succeed because a) I've spent over £100 on it and b) it would be great to have a very compact antenna that peformed as well as, or even nearly as well as the Wellbrook to use on DXpeditions. Three more test videos to come, all of which target shortwave signals. 

Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: RÚV Iceland, LW Test #2 winner: Wellbrook

Another disaster for the Bonito Boni whip. Here RÚV Iceland can be clearly heard with very decent signals on 189 kHz and 207 kHz using the Wellbrook ALA1530. Switching over to the Boni whip results in no discernible audio with the disappearance of both Icelandic signals under a blanket of noise. I've never seen anything like it and I actually reverted back to the Wellbrook to confirm this was as a result of the Boni whip antenna. Terrible peformance, even worse than the previous example with Medi 1. Hopefully, the situation will improve on MW and SW. Thanks for watching.

Setting up to test the Bonito Boni-Whip against the Wellbrook ALA1530

Hi there, some of you will remember that I recently purchased a Bonito Boni-whip to use as a second antenna at home. I've read reviews that support this antenna and of course the views of just as many detractors. One user mentioned that it was performing as well as, or almost as well as his Wellbrook loop. That would be great as it cost less than half of what I paid for my ALA1530 14 months ago. I plan to test them head-to-head using the Elad SDR spectrum and record signals on LW, MW and SW. It should be an interesting test! Reception videos to come in the next couple of days. Thanks for watching.