Bad Shortwave Reception

[Cbandguy]

I have been receiving horrible reception on my shortwave radio. It is an Icom base radio receiver and has the capability of receiving a wide range of shortwave frequencies. I have a great dipole antenna in my yard but the signals seem to be filled with static. Could it be the band conditions that are causing this? What are some of the things I can check to see if the antenna is performing properly? I'm trying to determine if it's the antenna or just bad band conditions. Please offer suggestons and opinions. Thanks.

 

[n4yek]

Well it could be many things or combination of them.
The band conditions might be real bad, or storms within
a few hundred miles of you, or both.
Your antenna might also be getting a static charge on it,
wind blowing across the wire can make this condition possible.
Your radio might be a bit flakey in that area of reception,
wide band receivers do not offer much filtering.
You could also have a bad insulator on an electric pole near
your house causing havic on the airwaves.
Maybe your in an area were BPL (Broadband over Power Lines)
is being tested, this will just kill reception.
Solar storms can kill reception for periods of time also.

This is just a few things that could cause you problem, I am
sure there are many more that I can't think of at this moment.

Try putting a ground on your receiver, some times this helps
get rid of static charges.
See if the noise is the same at all hours of the day, if not then it
would be band conditions.

May be some others can shine some light here.
I just thought I would give my 2 cents...

Take care
Danny
N4YEK

 

[Cbandguy]

Thanks a bunch for your response. Yes, I am getting the same noise at all hours of the day, even into the night. Seems like it never stops. Although I do pick up very strong shortwave signals clearly but just can't receive those distant shortwave signals.

 

[opus]

I was thinking the same with my Sangean and 60 odd ft of wire strung up. But last night and tonight (5/11/05 10:00 UTC) I am getting some good reception. Radio NZ, WWVH, and others. So it is all what the conditions is and time. So don't give up. Just do the local stuff till it gets good. Also see if you can get yourself on an amateur list where they give solar propagation forecasts. I am on such a list. Over the last few weeks it has been a bit despressed, but I think they did predict something a bit better for the last few days.

Opus (Sydney, Australia)

 

[n4yek]

See if the noise is the same at all hours of the day, if not then it
would be band conditions.


Take care
Danny
N4YEK

I messed that up a little, I meant if the noise is there at all hours
of the day, it would probably be band conditions...

Sorry I didn't proof read very well the first post...

Danny
N4YEK

 

[Cbandguy]

It could be more than band conditions. I can't even pick up any decent signals on the AM band such as 77 WABC or 71 WOR and I'm in Connecticut.

 

[gatorhater]

With Standard Time

Shortwave reception should be much improved. I've noticed this over the last 5 years. Also, reception on regular AM the skip is really good. In the winter I'm able to hear WCCO from Minneapolis, MN. And occassionally I can hear KOA from Denver.

Some nights the reception may be horrible, just keep trying tuning in.

 

[OutPost]

My Dipole Antenna

I have a vintage DX-160 SW Receiver and made my own dipole, which seems to work well. I live in Tennessee and listen to propaganda in China and good to strong signals around the world.

I have a lot of static too, but I live with it. My dipole starts with a 300 ohm connector from the radio (radio is grounded) connected to an RG8x under-ground to a dedicated pole where my Directv dish is mounted, up the pole with the coax to another 300 ohm connector, rigged inside a 5 inch PVC section of pipe ) (Balen) and connected to 90 feet of 14 guage copperwire 45/45, tied-off with a 10 inch PVC section(s) at both ends, tied to nylon rope and strung-up in trees at both ends.

My neighbors thought I was nuts (still do) and new visitors think it's some type of detection field, and walking under it may set-off a signal, or something, inside my home. It's good for security... :roll:

It works quite well, and I want to buy one of those new "slinky" dipoles antennas I've seen on eBay. Is anyone using one at the present time?

Thanks,
Dave
West Tennessee

 

[OpSec]

Dave,

Check you feedline connection points and the balun to see if moisture got in there. If so, clean 'em up and see if it helps.

 

[OutPost]

Tightly Wrapped Balun

Hi StateBoy......

I don't think I've got the type of static Cbandguy has. Mine sounds like typical propagation. My Balun :roll: is tightly wrapped with electrical tape and aluminum tape. The connector at the end of the coax is ??? a video connector that screws into the 300 ohm pigtail connector.

No intelligence behind the hook-up, just used the pigtail as a means to connect the coax with the copper wire. During the day, the 12 mhz through 30 mhz is dead quiet of static, but receive New York ARINC and aircraft well, over the atlantic, plus Radio China International and others.

My noisy band most of the time are frequencies between 1.6 mhz and about 5 mhz.

My DX-160 is at the shop because it started oscillating on all frequencies. What's your take on that? All stations fade and increase at the same rate and same SWR readings. Not the typical HF fade..... I hope the guy can find the problem....He doesn't have a schematic.

Dave
West Tennessee

 

[mciupa]

I have been receiving horrible reception on my shortwave radio. I'm trying to determine if it's bad band conditions. Please offer suggestons and opinions. Thanks.

It maybe just a co-incidence that the Aurora Borealis was playing
havoc with your reception during that time period.
Awesome display outside, horrible monitoring inside.

Have things improved, I hope ?

 

[Cbandguy]

What does "Aurora Borealis" mean?

 

[N_Jay]

What does "Aurora Borealis" mean?

It means you were sleeping in Jr. High Science class! :twisted:

And maybe you missed the lesson on Dictionaries and Encyclopidias in fith grade too. :twisted: :twisted:

Sorry, just haveing fun.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Aurora+Borealis&btnG=Google+Search

 

[gatorhater]

Solar Weather

You can get a forecast for the Solar prediction by doing to:

http://n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

 

[KR4BD]

:roll: :idea: :roll:


Since last weekend, earth has experienced some of the worst solar storms in history. This has affected radio propagation on MW (Medium Wave), HF and VHF. At night I normally listen to distant AM stations. For most of this week, however, those strong stations in Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, etc., that I normal hear have been totally absent. Most of the HF bands for hams (160-10 meter bands) have been next to useless, as well.

The ARRL (American Radio Relay League), a ham radio organization has a nice, easy to read, short article on this situation at this link:

http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/11/10/7/?nc=1

 

[PJH]

I took a trip up to the Berkshire Mountains the other night, and it was growing nicely. 6M was opening up last night which was cool. Tis just that time of the year as well...