Antenna Test #2: Wellbrook ALA1530 vs Bonito MegActive MA305; XEPPM Radi...

Hi there, here is the second in this series of tests, this time using the 10 kW signal from RXEPPM Radio Educación 6185 kHz, Mexico City. Again the Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop, is followed by the USB-powered Bonito MegActive MA305, 45s into the recording. For those of you outside the UK you will see the antenna identified using the subtitle facility (YouTube decided to drop annotations because they're out of date apparently and not 'mobile friendly'). Whatever! Once again, for me there's little or no difference in the strength or clarity of the signal when the antennas are switched over. As always, let me know your views.



Recorded in Oxford UK on 30/07/17 at 01:23 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Antenna Test #1: Wellbrook ALA1530 vs Bonito MegActive MA305; Radio Tarm...

Hi there, here is a comparison of the signal from Radio Tarma Internacional on 4774.9 kHz using the Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop, followed by the USB-powered Bonito MegActive MA305. For me there's little or no difference in the strength or clarity of this signal when the antennas are switched over at 45s into the recording. As always, let me know your views. Those of you outside of the UK should see the antennas identified as text at the bottom of the screen. YouTube deleted the annotation function recently because it's out of date apparently and not 'mobile friendly'. For those of you in the UK, you will be able to hear the antenna switch as it clicks over anyway at 45 seconds.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 30/07/17 at 01:33 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Antenna test: Wellbrook ALA1530 vs Bonito MegActive MA305

Hi there, here's an explanatory video for my latest experiment: testing the performance of the Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop against the USB-powered Bonito MegActive MA305 E-field antenna. I have used a number of weak signals on the Tropical Bands, LW and higher up the HF band. Some interesting results to come shortly - and those expecting the Wellbrook to trounce the Bonito are in for a surprise!

Radio Inconfidencia 15190 kHz, Brazil, copied at 16:44 UTC with Sony ICF...

Hi there, this is by far my earliest reception of Radio Inconfidencia - before 18:00 hrs BST is simply unheard; I'm usually hearing them around 20:00 hrs UTC. No doubt a larger antenna and more time would have resulted in a better signal, but you have to make DXing fit in with life too!

Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/07/17. Thanks for watching.

Radio Verdad 4055 kHz LSB Guatemala, untypically clear signal recorded a...

Hi there, here's the 'SDR version' of the signal I also recorded with the Elad in standalone mode a few days before. Relatively speaking, a very clear signal from this understandably weak transmission. Most of the time only a carrier can be seen, so a pleasing result. The adjacent noise doesn't ever go away lol, so LSB or ECSS LSB is nearly always the RX mode of choice for this one.


Recorded in Oxford UK on 30/07/17 at 02:50 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna outdoors. Thanks for watching.

Medium wave DX: Radio Rebelde 1620 kHz, Cuba heard in Oxford, UK

Hi there, great to finally hear Radio Rebelde in the shack without having to use the Elad SDR. Once again the Yaesu FRG-8800 proves itself to be quite a capable reciever. Certainly not one of the very best deaktop radios in it's time, but possesing more than adequate performance for most DXing activities.



Recorded in Oxford UK on 26/07/17 at 02:18 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna outdoors. Thanks for watching.

Elad FDM DUO: Radio Mali 5995 kHz, Bamako, with improved modulation

Hi there, an even better signal from Bamako than that recorded earlier in the evening with the Eton E1. If you wait until the music cuts in at 01:04 on the recording, it's quite obvious that the modulation of this station has improved signficantly.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 01/08/17 T 00:01 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna outside. Thanks for watching.