WWV - Best portable radio to listen?

[rjdj2000]

Howdy,

Years ago my dad had a portable SW radio that would pickup the WWV time signal in Ft. Collins, CO. I believe we used to get it around 10 MHz here in NY. Now that I have gotten back into clocks and clock repair, the 'beat' that is on there is a good thing to use to set clocks in beat. Used to use it a couple times when I was a kid to do it. So what would you all recommend to try to get the signa; in central NY without a) breaking the bank and b) having to use an outside antenna. I do have a RTL stick that is on an outdoor antenna but haven't tried to see if I could get the signal with it as right now it is used for the NOAA radio I provide online.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[jaspence]

Years ago interference was much lower. I live in Michigan near a big city, and even with a decent end fed dipole I am lucky to get a listenable signal 50% of the time.

 

[belvdr]

Howdy,

Years ago my dad had a portable SW radio that would pickup the WWV time signal in Ft. Collins, CO. I believe we used to get it around 10 MHz here in NY. Now that I have gotten back into clocks and clock repair, the 'beat' that is on there is a good thing to use to set clocks in beat. Used to use it a couple times when I was a kid to do it. So what would you all recommend to try to get the signa; in central NY without a) breaking the bank and b) having to use an outside antenna. I do have a RTL stick that is on an outdoor antenna but haven't tried to see if I could get the signal with it as right now it is used for the NOAA radio I provide online.

Thanks
Jeff

I would test all the WWV frequencies with your SDR to see if you can hear them first.

 

[rjdj2000]

I would test all the WWV frequencies with your SDR to see if you can hear them first.

I may do that tonight. Not sure how much signal would get through with the snowstorm going through at the moment. Also I didn't think SDR's would go that low. Will try the 20 MHz one and see where it gets me. LOL

 

[belvdr]

I may do that tonight. Not sure how much signal would get through with the snowstorm going through at the moment. Also I didn't think SDR's would go that low. Will try the 20 MHz one and see where it gets me. LOL

Some go that low, but it's worth a shot.

 

[W8WCA]

I may do that tonight. Not sure how much signal would get through with the snowstorm going through at the moment. Also I didn't think SDR's would go that low. Will try the 20 MHz one and see where it gets me. LOL

Try 25Mhz also; lately I have heard it here in Central Ohio
See list below ( I have them in Khz Divide by 1000 for Mhz)

3330 Khz CHU (Canada Time)
5000 Khz
7850 Khz CHU
10000 Khz
15000 Khz
20000 Khz
25000 Khz

 

[mmckenna]

Or, just use your telephone:
‭1 (303) 499-7111‬

 

[W8WCA]

By the way back to the topic!

Tecsun PL330 is nice and even has SSB - if you get into Shortwave More. Amazon has them for $80 and Anon has them for $65 but $12
shipping PL-330.

That said there are some very inexpensive ($25 to $40) radios out there to - but I am not sure how well they work.

I am sure that someone will post some of them

 

[rjdj2000]

Yeah, I don't remember what the model of the radio my dad had at the time, I used to have it but it gave up awhile back. I do have an old Realistic Patrolman I believe that has SW in it. If it does I may have to see if it can get it. As I know sometimes the older stuff doesn't fair too good but if it was built good they seem to last forever.

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, I don't remember what the model of the radio my dad had at the time, I used to have it but it gave up awhile back. I do have an old Realistic Patrolman I believe that has SW in it. If it does I may have to see if it can get it. As I know sometimes the older stuff doesn't fair too good but if it was built good they seem to last forever.

I'd give that a try.
The antenna plays a lot into how well you'll receive, so don't assume a fancy new radio is going to work better unless you address antenna deficiencies.
Band conditions/local noise will be a deciding factor, but WWV is a pretty strong station and if you try all the frequencies, you'll usually find one you can receive.

 

[Boombox]

Just remember that propagation is still dicey on 10 Mhz, 5 Mhz, etc. compared to back in the day.

I've been monitoring the Shortwaves since the very tail end of the 1970s and never had an evening or morning where WWV was MIA until about 4-5 years ago -- and that's on better equipment than I had years back.

So it's best to be patient, tune the higher as well as lower WWV frequencies. As for radios, any Tecsun should get you there. DSP chips make these newer radios really good performers even off the whip.

And if you don't hear WWV very well (or at all) one night, morning, or evening, try the next one. As the solar cycle increases, the propagation is changing. Some days it's great, other days not so great. Sometimes WWV on 15 Mhz slame my radio. Other afternoons, not so much.... don't instantly blame your radio if you have trouble hearing it.

PS, the Patrolman SW-60 (and another Patrolman model, I think) had a decent SW section. And there's a Motorola jack in the back for an external antenna.

 

[jwt873]

You could try an 'atomic' watch. They have built in receivers and they sync with the 60 kHz WWVB signal every night. The watch will be almost always within a few milliseconds of WWV time. Here's one for sale on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Casio-WV58A-1AVCR-Waveceptor-Atomic-Digital/dp/B001A5LKAS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=KCQFYTFVH17K&keywords=waveceptor+watch&qid=1671281281&sprefix=waveceptor+wath%2Caps%2C141&sr=8-2

I have one I that used to wear all the time but I picked up an Apple watch a few years ago and I use that instead. I still pull out the 'atomic' watch occasionally whenever I want to set local clocks precisely.

 

[EricRF]

I remember a zillion years ago (probably in the '70s) hearing WWV on shortwave. I had no idea it was based in Colorado. I thought it had repeaters (or something) around the country so everyone could hear it, since I was in Massachusetts. Ah, the olden days...

 

[mmckenna]

I remember a zillion years ago (probably in the '70s) hearing WWV on shortwave. I had no idea it was based in Colorado. I thought it had repeaters (or something) around the country so everyone could hear it, since I was in Massachusetts. Ah, the olden days...

No repeaters, but there is WWVH in Hawaii that transmits on the same frequencies. Out here on the West Coast, I can often hear both. WWVH uses a female voice.

 

[rjdj2000]

Well I had to put some items I had in a storage closet and in that closet was the radio my dad had. Dug it out and it wasn't the Patrolman one like I had thought. He had a couple different ones and one was a Patrolman but this one is the Realistic DX-60 CB/SW Monitor. Missing the battery cover but it does work. Volume is scratchy, tone knob don't quite work until you get all the way counter clockwise with it and when selecting the band, it is a little out, as in you have to go to the band above or below and back to make sure you are in the right spot. I'd mess with trying to clean things with some tuner cleaner but I'd really hate to mess it up even more as it works. Tried to get the signal this morning, I thought I got a faint glimpse of it as it has that distinct sound to it but never heard the audio for the time and the tone that followed.

So will have to try again here at some point as I know it is touch and go to get it, it was fun when I was a kid to try to get it, kind of still is. LOL

 

[Boombox]

^^^^^^ Cool radio. I have the SW-60 Patrolman with one SW band, AM, FM, VHF-Low, VHF-High and UHF. Probably the same basic guts, except mine has VHF and a simple UHF tuner. Same case, same basic setup.

Gently pull or pry the tone and volume knobs off and shoot some tuner cleaner or DeOxit down the side of the shaft. Exercise the controls. If needed, try it again. The shaft should have just enough clearance to allow some cleaner / DeOxit into the control and quiet it down. I've also done this trick on a guitar overdrive box without taking it apart. Pull the knob, shoot some cleaner / lube down the side of the shaft. I slao do ti with my GE Superadio III.

It's a handy trick to quiet down controls.

I just noticed your radio has got dual knobs (which the SW-60 Patrolman doesn't have, just a volume and a squelch).

You may still be able to get some cleaner down the sides of the shafts (a couple quick shots, exercise the controls, maybe try it again -- and wipe up the excess with a paper towel).

As for the bandswitch -- exercise it. Not drastically, but cycle it up and down a few times, normally. You don't need to spray clean it if you don't want. Exercising it should remove the oxidation on the points, from the points' friction against each other. I had to do that to my Patrolman SW-60 when it was in the closet for about 5-6 years.

Good luck. Love the looks of the radio. THREE SW BANDS. Wow.

Also, a short bit of wire clipped to the SW whip might help SW a bit. 10-15-20 ft or so? I did that once, it did help. Too much and it might overload the SW bands.

 

[rjdj2000]

Yeah it is. The other radio was a bit more sensitive than this one and don't remember what happened to it or what the brand was. My dad had another one that was a patrolman with the VHF bands in it and I think UHF. Might have to see if it is around somewhere. Not sure if it would still be at my parents house or not. LOL

I did mess with it some and things have quieted down (scratchy controls) from using it. I need to find a good tuner cleaner again. The local electronic shop went out of business years back and that is where I got a lot of my component parts and tuner cleaner. Stuff worked great and didn't eat plastic like another one I've used in the past.

I may try to see if I can get it to come in, but clouds have moved in somewhat with the lake effect around right now.

 

[W1KNE]

I have a Realistic DX-440 receiver, that was my go to in high school for shortwave and AM reception. Recently I found one at a Ham Flea Market in relatively new shape. Even after my cat knocked it on the floor. It still has a solid SW section to it, as well as LW. Plus the external antenna connector is nice to have. If you can find one on flea bay, they're worth it.

 

[mmckenna]

I have a Realistic DX-440 receiver, that was my go to in high school for shortwave and AM reception. Recently I found one at a Ham Flea Market in relatively new shape. Even after my cat knocked it on the floor. It still has a solid SW section to it, as well as LW. Plus the external antenna connector is nice to have. If you can find one on flea bay, they're worth it.

I had one of those when they first came out, and for some reason I sold it. Had a coworker give me a Sangean model and it's in my garage. I have it wired up to a home brew end fed in the backyard, and ti works really well. Great radio for AM DX, and pulls in WWV just fine.
Used to chase LW NDB's with it, also.