Satisfaction In Utility Monitoring?

[rkillins]

In my younger years, I used to get great satisfaction tuning into SW/HF stations with my Radio Shack DX-390 (look that one up!!). I can only imagine what I would have got from it with investment beyond just it's stock antenna. (I was only in my early teens and Burger King wages didn't cut it). I replaced SW listening with local VHF scanning with a Pro2006, and found greater satisfaction of being able to program and scan known frequencies vs manually tuning a dial for hours hoping to capture a SW signal.

40 years later, and the loss of satisfaction with local scanningt now, I'm wondering if there is still any satisfaction in scouring the SW/HF radio waves again for interesting finds. From what I can recall from SW/HF/MF monitoring is capturing signals was a skill knowing when and where to look with highly refined equipment, frequencies were rarely static, and you couldn't "scan" known frequencies.

How much am I off in my understanding of monitoring these bands (looking specifically for utility stations)? Is it worth getting into, or would I find myself highly disappointed, frustrated and potentially broke pensioner?

Any advice, resources on how to get get (back) into this hobby?

 

[MiCon]

I'm going to take a stab at getting flamed here.

I, also, found a lot of enjoyment tuning the SW bands as a teenager/ young adult in the sixties and seventies. There was a lot to listen to, and tuning around was fun because I was always finding something new.

Now, however, it's pretty boring. Technology has ruined the fun of SW exploring. Most international broadcast stations have gone off the air completely, or switched to some kind of streaming, satellite, or Internet service. Maritime activity and aircraft, both military and civilian, are using data transmissions instead of voice, and satellite communications.

You can still tune around and find something, including what I just mentioned, but there's less of it now, and the tedium of tuning and finding very little gets old fast.

Just my two cents worth.

 

[tuihill]

Get into SDR so you can easily see across large parts of the spectrum, just where the activity is at the time.
Put enough antenna wire (50-100') out the window if you can.

 

[ka3jjz]

Utility HF encompasses many different interests; digital, voice, Aero, numbers stations, etc. Specifically what are you interested in?

As always the better the antenna, the better the results will be. A SDR is a great way to go. You can't really 'scan' because noise levels are higher on the lower HF frequencies, and most scanning will get tripped by any random noise burst. It can be done but it's a bit iffy.

You want to be part of the Utility DXers Forum (UDXF) which can be found on the groups.io server. This is THE place to be for this kind of monitoring. Many years ago it was known as the Worldwide Utility News (WUN) reflector. It morphed into this and moved to the groups.io platform. They recently release 2 lists of frequencies - one an assimilation of freqs from 2024, the other from December - but you need to be a member to get them. The website which has a link to the groups.io server (note that you have to join groups.io - it's painless and for the most part, spam isn't an issue) is

UDXF - Utility DXers Forum

UDXF or the Utility DXers Forum is an on-line community of radio enthusiasts who are interested in utility HF radio stations

www.udxf.nl

Mike

 

[rkillins]

Get into SDR so you can easily see across large parts of the spectrum, just where the activity is at the time.
Put enough antenna wire (50-100') out the window if you can.

Hi tuihill, thanks for that suggestion. I have been getting into SDR as a substitute for my poorly performing scanner radio locally. I wasn't sure what was needed to get into the lower bands. Can you recommend, in addition to the longwire, and software apps specific to HF monitoring?

 

[rkillins]

Utility HF encompasses many different interests; digital, voice, Aero, numbers stations, etc. Specifically what are you interested in?

As always the better the antenna, the better the results will be. A SDR is a great way to go. You can't really 'scan' because noise levels are higher on the lower HF frequencies, and most scanning will get tripped by any random noise burst. It can be done but it's a bit iffy.

You want to be part of the Utility DXers Forum (UDXF) which can be found on the groups.io server. This is THE place to be for this kind of monitoring. Many years ago it was known as the Worldwide Utility News (WUN) reflector. It morphed into this and moved to the groups.io platform. They recently release 2 lists of frequencies - one an assimilation of freqs from 2024, the other from December - but you need to be a member to get them. The website which has a link to the groups.io server (note that you have to join groups.io - it's painless and for the most part, spam isn't an issue) is

UDXF - Utility DXers Forum

UDXF or the Utility DXers Forum is an on-line community of radio enthusiasts who are interested in utility HF radio stations

www.udxf.nl

Mike

Thanks Mike, I have just recently subscribed to UDXF after a bit more reading these forums. It looks to have lots of reading which I suspect will answer a lot of questions. SDR could be a option to experiment without investing in thousands of dollars in specialized equipment, especially if it nets similar results. As far as my interests? I don't know as I've rarely had exposure to any of that to discover what each has to offer.

 

[merlin]

Thanks Mike, I have just recently subscribed to UDXF after a bit more reading these forums. It looks to have lots of reading which I suspect will answer a lot of questions. SDR could be a option to experiment without investing in thousands of dollars in specialized equipment, especially if it nets similar results. As far as my interests? I don't know as I've rarely had exposure to any of that to discover what each has to offer.

There is a lot more digital stuff out there, Packrat some of the free decoders there are. My SDR is the Airspy HF discovery+, antenna is a line of wire running across the roof.
Got general coverage HF receive in my Kenwood, and resurecting an AOR-8600mkII

 

[tuihill]

Hi tuihill, thanks for that suggestion. I have been getting into SDR as a substitute for my poorly performing scanner radio locally. I wasn't sure what was needed to get into the lower bands. Can you recommend, in addition to the longwire, and software apps specific to HF monitoring?

There are lots of cheap SDR dongles out there but I've only used as Airspy HF+ Discovery running SDR++ on an old Macbook. That Airspy model is dedicated to HF frequencies only. Works great for me. Compliments my 25 year old Drake R8B on the desk.
I'm using SDR++ because it is the only app I can find that runs on MacOS. Otherwise I would like to try SDR Sharp (SDR#) which is developed by Airspy and seems to be in wide use. One day, when I get a new Macbook, I will get Parallels on it to check out the other Windows only SDR apps.
Anyway, that's all you need. For HF, it's really all about the antenna but you do need room to string it. Otherwise, an active (amplified) antenna would get you somewhere in a restricted situation, but nothing beats a long wire.

 

[rkillins]

I will have to research a long wire. Although most suited for the antenna forum ... I certainly cannot run a single 100' length across the top of my attic (does having it in the attic affect quality of reception?), but can it be doubled up? 50' on way and back? I have close to a 100' span of coax running across my backyard (thanks to the local telecommunications provider). Not caring what they thing, could I attach it to that span? Or would I face interference?

 

[tuihill]

I will have to research a long wire. Although most suited for the antenna forum ... I certainly cannot run a single 100' length across the top of my attic (does having it in the attic affect quality of reception?), but can it be doubled up? 50' on way and back? I have close to a 100' span of coax running across my backyard (thanks to the local telecommunications provider). Not caring what they thing, could I attach it to that span? Or would I face interference?

The attic is probably fine unless you have a steel roof like me. Making a U shape up there to get as much length as possible would probably be better than short and straight.
If you are game, try hanging the wire from the coax along the span and listen for interference. Won't do any harm if its insulated. Don't directly contact any metal fittings on the cable as the exterior braid will be grounded.
Remember that reception conditions will be constantly variable as to time of day and frequencies. You will need to spend some time testing it properly.

 

[devicelab]

How much am I off in my understanding of monitoring these bands (looking specifically for utility stations)? Is it worth getting into, or would I find myself highly disappointed, frustrated and potentially broke pensioner?

Not worth it any longer. Need a lot of $$ and rural real estate to make it worthwhile.

FWIW, you can listen over the internet to SDRs around the world for free.

 

[dlwtrunked]

For under $200 with an Airspy HF+ Discovery and 50 ft or so antenna or a You Loop antenna, you can do very well. Whether you find things interesting is subjective.

 

[EAFrizzle]

My first SDR setup was a NooElec rtl-sdr dongle, their little balun to transition from wire to the coax, and a 100' roll of speaker wire fashioned into a close to 200' loop strung through the rafters. If your roof construction will pass RF, this is a great stealth antenna for nosy HOA types.

The only modification I did was to clip the ground in the balun to make the loop 'floating',, and there was a noticeable improvement. The rtl-sdr blog V4 already has an upconverter for HF, and can be had for well under $50 is an even better starter sdr than the NooElec for HF. I have a friend that uses the V4 for SWL and Ham listening with a Wilson 1000 mag mount on a cast iron skillet in his bedroom with fairly good results. The cheap dongles are a great way to experiment while you figure out exactly what you want.

The most important thing to remember about SDR experiments is to have fun!

Fair winds and following seas. Low noise floor and good propagation!

 

[KB2GOM]

I will have to research a long wire. Although most suited for the antenna forum ... I certainly cannot run a single 100' length across the top of my attic (does having it in the attic affect quality of reception?), but can it be doubled up? 50' on way and back? I have close to a 100' span of coax running across my backyard (thanks to the local telecommunications provider). Not caring what they thing, could I attach it to that span? Or would I face interference?

I've had some decent success with this: Horizontal Room Loop – The SWLing Post

Perhaps a loop around the perimeter of your attic?