Antenna and static

[KEVPRO95]

Hello.

As most of you know. I just got a realistic DX-300.

My family member gave me a old homemade antenna. It connectors to the dx300 and it's just 2 pieces of wire. I ran one wire across the ceiling in my house. When I scan threw freqs I hear ONLY static. No one talking at all. Is this antenna broken? Any tips welcomed.

Goto the link to see the antenna I'm using:
http://members.aol.com/kitkaat71/antenna.jpg

 

[KEVPRO95]

I tuned my mobile scanner to 27.1850Mhz which is CH19 on the CB band. I'm picking up some truckers. So I tuned the DX300 to 27.185 and I'm not hearing anything at all.

Anyone care to give me some feedback?

 

[KEVPRO95]

I attached my scanner antenna to the shortwave radio now. I mean it was picking up CBers on my scanner, so it should work in that same range on the DX300, right?

 

[Bucko]

It has been a long time since I had the DX 300 but if I remember correct it has a band select and varable antenna tune for each band, setting the band select and adjusting the antenna tune should help however I figure the mobile scanner will be more sensitive in the 11meter band than the 300 would be. A long wire run outside would be your best and cheap bet for some better results. For a test try parking your 300 on 8.918 USB for a few minutes and see if you hear New york Center ( this is a very busy freq ) or just dial in 10.000mz AM to see if you can pickup Ft Collin's time signal.

 

[KEVPRO95]

It has been a long time since I had the DX 300 but if I remember correct it has a band select and varable antenna tune for each band, setting the band select and adjusting the antenna tune should help however I figure the mobile scanner will be more sensitive in the 11meter band than the 300 would be. A long wire run outside would be your best and cheap bet for some better results. For a test try parking your 300 on 8.918 USB for a few minutes and see if you hear New york Center ( this is a very busy freq ) or just dial in 10.000mz AM to see if you can pickup Ft Collin's time signal.

I tried the NY freq, and got nothing. I put it on Ft Collin's and all I hear it static.

 

[xerb1962]

You need to get your ant. outside ,what kind of structure are you in? A lot of metal in the building where you reside can really hamper your monitoring at any freq.

 

[LarrySC]

You need 30 to 66 feet of antenna. You can build a 66' Windom using a TV antenna balun for just a few dollars. Post if you need details.

 

[ka3jjz]

and propagation right now is quite poor - last night I could barely hear 5596, which is one of the MWARA NAT freqs, and WWV was not all that strong either.

Patience - it will get better - sooner rather than later, hopefully. 73s Mike

 

[KEVPRO95]

I'm in MA if that helps at all.

I moved my shortwave radio away from my computer. Maybe it was causing problems.

whats freqs are the best to hear something on in my area? How do I know what band the freqs are?

 

[mkh]

The DX-300 uses a Wadley Loop and they can be hard to tune. Check the first review at this site as the user explains how he tunes the DX-300.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3454

 

[KEVPRO95]

The DX-300 uses a Wadley Loop and they can be hard to tune. Check the first review at this site as the user explains how he tunes the DX-300.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3454

Ok. I believe I got that wadley loop figured out. I used my CB to test it, and it works great the way I tuned it. I just don't know what to tune to, and when.

 

[K2GOG]

Ok. I believe I got that wadley loop figured out. I used my CB to test it, and it works great the way I tuned it. I just don't know what to tune to, and when.

maybe give atry on 7.335 for CHU (Canadian version of WWV) before it goes offf the air. Also maybe try tuning around 49m 5.6Mhz-6.2Mhz during the evening or around 9.7Mhz. You should have some of the larger more powerful SW broadcasters there.



if you still cant hear them even with a hunk of wire, the radio may be not working correctly.

 

[KEVPRO95]

Ok I will try these. Are all these in AM mode? USB? LSB?

I have AM mode, and AM / ANL. Whats the difference?

 

[K2GOG]

Ok I will try these. Are all these in AM mode? USB? LSB?

I have AM mode, and AM / ANL. Whats the difference?

yes, all are in AM

AM/ANL is probably AM with Automatic Noise Limiter. You should probably receive less "popping" or noise in this mode.

 

[rwl48]

Static

You can take a portable AM radio turn the volume up tune in between two stations so you cant hear nothing and walk around the house near anything electrical and find your bigest offenders of static. You can buy all kinds of filters. I had the same problem and instead of buying filters I put up an out side antenna (long wire) to a balun and a coaxial cable to the receiver now it's nice and quiet. And works much better. If you can put one up outside it's worth the effort.

 

[gcgrotz]

I'm in MA if that helps at all.

I moved my shortwave radio away from my computer. Maybe it was causing problems.

whats freqs are the best to hear something on in my area? How do I know what band the freqs are?

If you are using a wire connected to the screw terminal on the back then the computer is more than likely spewing out noise. Turning it off may not even help, depends on the power supply. Unplug in and see. Also try the AM radio trick someone mentioned. The best solution is an outdoor antenna fed with coax. Check Grove Enterprises web site (google it) for details on that 66ft off center fed antenna using coax, even tv type will work. That should be all you need.

I'm listening to 8918 New York radio right now, 10:22 E.S.T. and it is fairly busy with aeronautical traffic in USB.

 

[rwl48]

Long Wire

Be for you waist money on a SW antenna. Just get long peace of wire put it up as "high" and as "long" as you can outside. hook it to a balun to a coax and in to the house. With out getting realy technical it will work good.


http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/app-lmz-50.html

 

[gcgrotz]

Be for you waist money on a SW antenna. Just get long peace of wire put it up as "high" and as "long" as you can outside. hook it to a balun to a coax and in to the house. With out getting realy technical it will work good.


http://www.geocities.com/qrp_baluns/app-lmz-50.html

Thats kinda like what I'm using, only the PAR Electronics version. It seems to work very well. I have the grounded end away from the house. The only trouble is hooking up that LMZ balun. He's going to be asking lots of questions. The Grove antenna can be built cheap using a TV balun and coax and works pretty well. Don't need to order it from them, just build it. Some don't even use the balun - just a center insulator. Main thing is getting the antenna away from the PC noise and using shielded cable.

 

[N4UYV_Al]

Okay, I zoomed into his dipole picture...Did anyone here other than me notice (in the picture of course) that neither end is connected to the SO-239?? I mean, I cant see the other side of the plate it's mounted to but it looked to me like (by the shadow) that it's already flat against the table?? I need to see the other side ta make sure, Kevpro, flip the connecting plate over & post another picture please.....Could be just the way my old-ass eyes are seein' it...If it's hooked up correctly then I apologize for my blindness....

 

[gcgrotz]

I see what you mean, I hadn't looked at it before. I can't see a connection either. But I too am old...

What kind of wire is that? It looks like aluminum or maybe electric fence wire. Kinda hard to make a connection to it in either case.