SDR# Can't Get Broadcast AM Radio with RTL-SDR V3

[LFRfreak]

I'm a longtime portable scanner enthusiast, but a new SDR owner. I just picked up the RTL-SDR V3 from Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HVUEME/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

I want to listen to Short Wave and Medium Wave, but I'm not getting good reception in these areas. I came across this promising video by Tom the Dilettante:

This inspired me to pick up a 100' roll of 14 gauge stranded THHN and an alligator clip to make a long wire antenna. My office faces the street, so most of my cable is running right against the side of the house before it can get to the backyard. Unfortunately, I didn't have the dramatic success that Tom had.

My long wire antenna helps a bit with Short Wave, but Broadcast AM is still out of reach. I'm using SDR# and have selected Direct sampling (Q branch) along with RTL AGC. Could I be missing any settings in the software? Do I need to seal off the other end of the wire with a ring wire connector? Hoping to successfully troubleshoot and fix the root cause.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Dirk_SDR]

Your picture is too small to see the settings. Sample rate should be 2.048 MSPS.
Long wire antenna is ok, but should be connected via a 9:1 unun or much better via an antenna tuner (FRT 7700 is/was the only one working down to LW).

 

[LFRfreak]

I just changed the Sample Rate to 2.048 MSPS and that seemed to help a bit. Do you have a link to the recommended 9:1 unun, or FRT 7700?

See additional picture attached. Any other settings to look at?

Thanks!!

 

[Dirk_SDR]

The Unun or Balun 1:9 for SDR-RX only are quite cheap, e.g. from Nooelec on Amazon:

Nooelec - Balun One Nine - Tiny Low-Cost 1:9 HF Antenna Balun

<p>Meet 'Balun One Nine', a small, cost-effective balun. An excellent way to attach a long wire antenna to the Ham It Up, this 1:9 balun has an SMA output port and high-quality spring-type terminal block input for your coax. <p>Balun One Nine includ

www.nooelec.com

https://www.amazon.de/NooElec-Balun-One-Nine-Applications/dp/B00R09WHT6

The Yaesu FRT 7000 isn't sold any more. But they still appear on eBay.

 

[Dirk_SDR]

Settings:
I can only see AM and bandwith 10.000. Bandwith is too high and should be <= 4.500 Hz.
The other settings are cut off in your picture
I don't know how MW is used in Lebanon.
Here in Europe 9 kHz spaced channels are used:
Starting with 531 kHz the MW band reaches up to 1602 kHz in 9 kHz steps.
So you can check for MW broadcast transmitters by setting the steps in SDR# to 9 kHz and start scanning at 531 kHz.
All signals away from these steps are no broadcast stations.
In America there is a 10 kHz stepping in the MW band.

 

[PDXh0b0]

you are going to need so adapters to experiment with antennas

examples
F type to sma adapters

plug/barrel connectors

balun/unun
nooelec 9 1 v2

your in TN, so you got an Ace Hardware,
matching transformer/ 4:1 balun

your dipole kit & longwire, with an ohm meter figure which element is going to the center pin and mark it with a marker or small piece of tape.
Connect your long wire to it. the other element , connect a length of wire (25ft or so) to it. this one you can try making a loop around your office, toss it out the window, experiment with the placement. you could also play around with equal lengths (elements) like cutting that 100ft into two 50ft lengths , connecting one to each of your rtl antenna kit dipole , spread them horizontally in opposite directions . you could toss the ends onto the roof in a V pattern (I put rice in ziploc baggies, put them in old socks, tie a knot in the socks, tie the wire end to the sock, tape it a few turns) you play around with the space you are limited too.

at some point you are going to want to filter FM or AM ,

RTL blog
AM Reject High Pass Filter
Broadcast FM Block Filter

nooelec
Flamingo AM - Broadcast AM Bandstop Filter
Flamingo+ FM - Broadcast FM Bandstop Filter v2

 

[PDXh0b0]

some examples

nooelece 9:1 , 100ft wire out to tree, 25ft counterpoise ran just off the ground under the 100ft wire

nooelec 9:1 two 90ft wires horizontally north/south

 

[PDXh0b0]

Ace Hardware matching transformer/4:1 , , 100ft wire out to tree, 25ft counterpoise ran just off the ground under the 100ft wire

 

[LFRfreak]

I just found that my AM Broadcast reception improved substantially when I clipped the long wire to the other element of the dipole. I'd say my AM Broadcast reception is "good enough" at this point.

My next challenge will be to see if I can catch an EAM on 8992 kHz... Would a Balun/Unun 1:9 be the way to go for this application as well?

Thanks!!

 

[gratefuldan61]

I just found that my AM Broadcast reception improved substantially when I clipped the long wire to the other element of the dipole. I'd say my AM Broadcast reception is "good enough" at this point.

My next challenge will be to see if I can catch an EAM on 8992 kHz... Would a Balun/Unun 1:9 be the way to go for this application as well?

Thanks!!

Don't forget 11175,4724, and 15016 kHz for EAMs. Take care...

DLB