Long Distance Contacts

[HopperD]

Two long distance contacts today:

CE4JZO - Ranagua, Chili - 1:45 PM UTC on 70.667 Mhz
J68SS - Babonneau, St Lucia -3:40 AM UTC on 14.192 Mhz

Using a Mahalit-DSP SDR, outdoor rooftop HF antenna about 30 feet high.

I'm located in Southern California and this is very long distance for me.

 

[K4EET]

Two long distance contacts today:

CE4JZO - Ranagua, Chili - 1:45 PM UTC on 70.667 Mhz
J68SS - Babonneau, St Lucia -3:40 AM UTC on 14.192 Mhz <snip>

Congratulations! Just one question though. For CE4JZO in Chili, is 70.667 MHz correct? That is an odd frequency for ham radio…

 

[HopperD]

Congratulations! Just one question though. For CE4JZO in Chili, is 70.667 MHz correct? That is an odd frequency for ham radio…

You're right, sorry about that.

The correct frequency for Chili is 21.280 Mhz.

 

[popnokick]

Two long distance contacts today:

CE4JZO - Ranagua, Chili - 1:45 PM UTC on 70.667 Mhz
J68SS - Babonneau, St Lucia -3:40 AM UTC on 14.192 Mhz

Using a Mahalit-DSP SDR, outdoor rooftop HF antenna about 30 feet high.

I'm located in Southern California and this is very long distance for me.

Some additional info would be helpful for my understanding. As far as I know all of the Malachite SDR radios are receive-only, no transmit. What transmitter were you using and what output power? Or did I miss something and there is now a Mahalit-SDR transceiver? Also, what type of "outdoor rooftop HF antenna" do you have? End-Fed Halfwave, vertical, dipole, random wire, or something more exotic?

 

[HopperD]

Some additional info would be helpful for my understanding. As far as I know all of the Malachite SDR radios are receive-only, no transmit. What transmitter were you using and what output power? Or did I miss something and there is now a Mahalit-SDR transceiver? Also, what type of "outdoor rooftop HF antenna" do you have? End-Fed Halfwave, vertical, dipole, random wire, or something more exotic?

I think I may have posted in the wrong section by accident. I was only using a receiver and not transmitter and I don't have an amateur license, I'm more of a listener but never-the-less I will answer your questions.

Antenna - picture attached: I got this more than 5 years ago and don't remember the specs. I just recently increased the height a few weeks ago from about 20 feet to about 30 feet and the reception is much better.

Sorry again if I posted in the wrong area and if I need to repost it then I will.

 

[popnokick]

I think I may have posted in the wrong section by accident. I was only using a receiver and not transmitter and I don't have an amateur license, I'm more of a listener but never-the-less I will answer your questions.

Antenna - picture attached: I got this more than 5 years ago and don't remember the specs. I just recently increased the height a few weeks ago from about 20 feet to about 30 feet and the reception is much better.

Sorry again if I posted in the wrong area and if I need to repost it then I will.

NICE CATCH on your SDR receiver in the HF / SW bands! Especially since your antenna appears to be a DPD Productions OmniX antenna, which is not even spec'd for coverage in that freq range. Thanks for clarifying!

 

[John_S]

You'll find 15m,12m, and 10m busy during the day and early evening lately. Try using a basic CB antenna or wire dipole for better signal.

 

[MikeinDestin]

You'll find 15m,12m, and 10m busy during the day and early evening lately. Try using a basic CB antenna or wire dipole for better signal.

Don't forget 17M. I absolutely loved that band, especially right before it faded in the evening. Used to work UA9,0 (Eastern Russia) near Kamchatka Island. Plenty of JA's too. The great thing with 17M is it's usually always open longer than 15M, being lower in frequency.