Am I Doing Something Wrong? (YB 400PE)

[bugs421]

Hello. I just bought a YB 400PE, I have been trying to pick up aircraft, I entered 11300 & about 100 other air frequiencies from this forum and, all I get is LOUD static.

I use the telescopic antenna with an alligater clip 25' copper wire attached to the antenna running to my carport, also, a 23' reel antenna.

I can pick up ham radio but, very loud static, I have to put my ear to the speaker to understand anything using shortwave.

Would appreciate your comments & suggestions

Thanks!

 

[mciupa]

How about moving the long-wire around and see if another direction
helps.
Are there any potential interference sources nearby?

Are you trying to monitor the high-altitude stuff?
Are you in an aviation traffic route that you see flights passing by?
Maybe the time of day your monitoring is slow.
Try in the evening and see if things improve.

 

[bugs421]

How about moving the long-wire around and see if another direction
helps.
Are there any potential interference sources nearby?

Are you trying to monitor the high-altitude stuff?
Are you in an aviation traffic route that you see flights passing by?
Maybe the time of day your monitoring is slow.
Try in the evening and see if things improve.

Hello mciupa. I have tried moving the wire and yes, there are aircraft flying above, I pick them up with my Pro 83 all the time.

The electrical & TV cable wires enter my house about 15'-20' from where my radio & wire is located, however, I also get the loud static in the front of my house using nothing but battery power & telescopic antenna.

I get loud static day & night, I can barely get the Cuban stations.

Thanks for the response!

 

[gatorhater]

SSB

To try to listen to military aircraft, you need to be in side band mode. You can set it on SSB mode on the side of the radio. 11175 and 8992 are known military frequencies. 12134 is Armed Forces Radio for daytime, 5447 night. You can hear Airport Weather report on 10051.

Also, you may want to check the space weather to see if there is a solar storm. You can check for that online at: http://n3kl.org.

Good luck and enjoy shortwave radio!!!

 

[bugs421]

Re: SSB

To try to listen to military aircraft, you need to be in side band mode. You can set it on SSB mode on the side of the radio. 11175 and 8992 are known military frequencies. 12134 is Armed Forces Radio for daytime, 5447 night. You can hear Airport Weather report on 10051.

Also, you may want to check the space weather to see if there is a solar storm. You can check for that online at: http://n3kl.org.

Good luck and enjoy shortwave radio!!!

Thanks gatorhater. I can hear the frequiencies you listed above. Does shortwave always have loud hissing noise when scanning?

I always leave my SSB in the "on" mode, is there a time when it should be turned off?

I plan to buy a slinky antenna, do you think this will help my reception?...Thanks!

 

[gatorhater]

As far as the hissing, yep that will happen until you tune into a blow torch station like the BBC. I kinda wish that shortwave radios had a squelch switch. On regular AM you may be able to hear 1200 WOAI in San Antonio; 770 KOB in Albuquerque, and maybe 1120 KMOX from St Louis.

You could try contacting publications like Monitoring Times or Popular Communications for better SW tips.

 

[KE5BCP]

To add to the two publications that gatorhater suggested, you might wanna pick up a copy of "Passport To Worldband Radio". It is a fantastic book with lots of tips and suggestions.

 

[K2KOH]

During the day, try 11282, 8843, 13288...at night try 5547 and 5574. Those frequencies are San Francisco Radio. You should be able to hear both ATC and the aircraft. If not, you're more than likely experiencing some kind of electrical noise nearby.

 

[bugs421]

During the day, try 11282, 8843, 13288...at night try 5547 and 5574. Those frequencies are San Francisco Radio. You should be able to hear both ATC and the aircraft. If not, you're more than likely experiencing some kind of electrical noise nearby.

Thanks AEMTKieran. I am receiving a signal from 5574, very weak but, I have heard my first aircraft since I bought the radio.

Hoping my new slinky antenna will help improve reception.

Jayford, I will purchase one of the books you suggested...Thanks!

 

[KC4ZEX]

A question, on the end of the antenna wire clipped to the carport do you have an insulator or are you attaching to metal awning or gutter direct if so try an insulator, so the carport is not part of the antenna. During daytime try 11330, 11396, 13306, and 13354 for NY radio commerical aircraft. Also try 5544 for Mexico City.

 

[bugs421]

A question, on the end of the antenna wire clipped to the carport do you have an insulator or are you attaching to metal awning or gutter direct if so try an insulator, so the carport is not part of the antenna. During daytime try 11330, 11396, 13306, and 13354 for NY radio commerical aircraft. Also try 5544 for Mexico City.

Thanks for the tip KC4ZEX. It is attached to a metal flashing, the metal flashing goes all the way around the carport.

I will try and move the wire & see what happens, also, just bought a slinky and getting ready to solder a wire to it, hopefully this will help.

Thanks!

 

[mrjon]

Re: SSB

I always leave my SSB in the "on" mode, is there a time when it should be turned off?

I didn't see anyone else answering this question yet...

You should turn the SSB switch off when listening to ordinary AM broadcasts, like shortwave broadcasters or normal commercial AM (mediumwave) stations. The YB400 will not sound nearly as good when trying to listen to those type of broadcasts with the SSB switch on. Most Ham, Aircraft, Maritime, Military, and other "Utility" SW or HF traffic operates on SSB (although there are a few exceptions, particularly a number of Hams who use AM).

Other shortwave/multiband receivers may have true synchronous detection - as opposed to the system that the YB400 uses for receiving SSB - so you might get a benefit from having the SSB or Sync Detect switch on on those radios when trying to hear distant AM signals. I can't recommend any of them personally because the only SSB-capable receiver I've owned so far is the YB400 PE. (I have considered the Sangean ATS-909 however).

 

[KC4ZEX]

Hopefully you can stop some of your local noise interference by experimentation with antenna position. Remember a lot of the new sensitive receivers are more prone to pick up noise from portable Tv's, Microwave ovens, Flouresant lights esp the new ones that replace bulbs, and some motors. A good source for frequency info for utility listening is www.activesignals.com.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi bugs and all,

Firest, go on a search and destroy mission, static is the enemy, repeat, static is the enemy.

Using battery power switch off the main breaker in the service entrance panel. If the static remains it's outside your house and will require a wider field of fire. If it disappears, switch off the branch circuits one by one leaving the others on until you locate which one the noise is coming from. That narrows down which rooms ned the fine tooth comb treatment, unplug, not switch off everything in turn, some devices are "always on" when they seem to be off. Once the offender is located you may decide what to do with it.

If the noise source is outside your house you may locate it by going portable but no trespassing now, stay within the law. If the problem seems to be in a neighbor's house discuss it poliely with him and if he cooperates go on another search and destroy mission. He might be getting interference to something and will be glad to get rid of it.

You may locate a broken insulator on a pole or a street light that won't start, I found one that way and when the power company replaced it the noise was gone. If all else fails contact the power company, I did and the engineer not only located defective HV electrical equiment, a wire arcing to a tree and touch control lamps in a neighbor's house.

If at first you don't succeed use a bigger hammer. If all else fails try explosives.