24V VHF superregen RX using an ECC85 valve pe7b 2024-05-05 | 24V VHF superregen RX using an ECC85 valve
PNI Escort HP 6500 pe7b 2022-11-26 | Receiving USA CB signals in SW Netherlands Locator JO21CL60Radio PNI Escort HP 6500
TEAM TS 9M revisited pe7b 2022-11-20 | This radio is a relic from when I used to help local 4x4 folks to tune their CB antennas. The radio has not been used for about 9 years. I fired it up to see if it was still working, and was surprised to hear activity on 12 different CEPT channels during about 45 minutes of listening.
Tweeks 22 09 22 pe7b 2022-09-23 | Music of the ionosphere 22 09 22.A downpour of sferics, interspersed with salvos of tweeks.
Lightning 6 September 2022 pe7b 2022-09-06 | This evening's ELF natural radio monitoring session was very abruptly and promptly terminated when visible lightning appeared!Although the visible lightning was not far away, no thunder was heard. This video is a short montage of the observed discharges.
Whistlers at sunrise 24 07 2022 pe7b 2022-07-24 | A short montage of some of the whistlers heard/recorded this morning here in SE Netherlands during the first hour after sunrise.Received using a self-designed and home-built vacuum tube active antenna in combination with a Blackstar Fly-3 battery-powered guitar amp.
Receiving whistlers and insects with the PE7B vacuum tube active antenna pe7b 2022-07-20 | The mercury hit almost 40 degrees here in the town yesterday.So an hour or so of late evening ULF/VLF listening with my thermionic active antenna at a local hilltop location offered some welcome respite from the thermal ferocity of the urban heat island. A fair number of whistlers were heard, some stronger than the ones which this recording captured. It is fascinating to consider that each of those whistlers started life as a lightning impulse on the other side of the planet before going up into space, and then whizzing back down to Earth under the guiding hand of the magnetosphere. As sunset approached, propagation paths started to lengthen, with a noticeable increase in the incidence of tweeks as a result. As can be heard in the recording, my Hi-Z E-probe did not escape the curiosity of several hovering insects during yesterday's listening session.
Receiving tweeks with the PE7B double triode active antenna pe7b 2022-07-16 | The pinging, birdlike sound of tweeks is caused by the impulses of (more than 2000km) distant lightning strikes being 'dispersed' as they travel through the 'duct' between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere. The crackling, rainlike sounds are sferics - caused by the impulses of less-distant lightning strikes. The double-triode active antenna works really well for receiving these types of ULF/VLF natural radio phenomena.
More WHISTLERS, TWEEKS and SFERICS with the PE7B vacuum tube active antenna pe7b 2022-06-19 | Receiving WHISTLERS, TWEEKS and SFERICS with the PE7B double triode active antenna.
Receiving TWEEKS and WHISTLERS with the PE7B double triode active antenna pe7b 2022-06-14 | During the evening of 13 June 2022, Blitzortung dot org’s online map of Europe was indicating lightning activity in areas which are more than 2000km distant from my location. Morocco, Turkey, Georgia, Russia…The prospect of possible tweeks prompted a ‘natural radio expedition’, with my vacuum tube active antenna, to an electrically quiet local hilltop.The subsequent listening session revealed not only sferics (as expected) and tweeks (as hoped), but also a fair number of whistlers.The active antenna is plugged directly into the guitar input of a battery-powered Blackstar Fly 3 electric guitar amplifier.
Receiving SFERICS with the PE7B double-triode active antenna pe7b 2022-06-13 | This video, recorded on 12 June 2022, shows how the PE7B vacuum tube active antenna can be used in combination with an audio amplifier for the reception of natural radio phenomena. In this example SFERICS - the electromagnetic impulses which result from atmospheric lightning discharges - are heard. Note that the locations with nearby trees are not optimal for this type of reception. However, in my locality, many of the 'treeless' receiving locations suffer from an even greater problem - they are in the proximity of high-voltage electricity transmission lines.
PE7B double-triode active antenna pe7b 2022-06-12 | This video, recorded on 11 June 2022, shows the successful results of the first field test of my double-triode active antenna design. The video shows how the valve (vacuum tube) circuit can be used as a MiniWhip-style antenna for reception from VLF up to (at least) the 18MHz amateur band. The antenna can also be plugged directly into an audio amplifier (I used a Blackstar Fly 3) for BBB4/VLF3-style reception of natural ELF/VLF radio phenomena.
UR 1278kHz MW received in Belgium pe7b 2022-05-08 | Received in Belgium on 8 May 2022 - shortly before 9pm cest - using my S9012 version of the PA3FWM active antenna.
MW reception with the PE7B version of the PA3FWM active antenna pe7b 2022-05-07 | Medium wave reception with the PE7B version of the PA3FWM active antenna. I built the antenna, which is powered by a 12V 350mAh NiMH battery, into a plastic-bodied model car. My version of PA3FWM's active antenna circuit uses a J310 JFET and an S9012 PNP BJT.
LF MF reception with the PE7B version of the PA3FWM active antenna pe7b 2022-05-07 | The PA3FWM active antenna design performs well on LF and MF. I built the antenna, which is powered by a 12V 350mAh NiMH battery, into a plastic-bodied model car. My version of PA3FWM's active antenna circuit uses a J310 JFET and an S9012 PNP BJT.Transmissions received during this (May 2022) testing session:60kHz - MSF - Anthorn UK66⅔kHz - RBU - Taldom, Russia77.5kHz - DCF77 - Mainflingen, Germany139kHz - DCF39 - Magdeburg, Germany147.3kHz - DDH47 - Pinneberg, Germany162kHz - ALS162 - Allouis, France388.0kHz - LOU - Louvigny, France (57)386.5kHz - SLV - La Sauvenière, Belgium
PE7B's version of PA3FWM's 2017 active antenna design pe7b 2022-05-01 | Early in 2022, I built a variation of an active antenna circuit that was published by Pieter-Tjerk de Boer PA3FWM back in 2017.Active antenna circuits of this JFET-plus-PNP type have been around for over 40 years, and this design specifically concerns the active antenna circuit which was used for the WebSDR at the University of Twente.The main change which I made to PA3FWM’s circuit was that I used an inexpensive and readily available S9012 transistor in place of the more exotic devices that were recommended in the original design.Despite the S9012 having a considerably lower transition frequency than the originally recommended devices, the results of a computer simulation looked promising, and the real-world version of the active antenna seems to perform at least as well as the computer simulation had suggested that it would. The E-field probe took the form of a cage made from thick copper wire, and the novel way in which the project was housed means that the active antenna is a decorative object for the shelves of my shack when not in use out in the field.The second half of the video shows reception examples including W7VJ on 15m, EG5WRD in QSO with DJ6MM on 17m, OM0ET on 20m, C31US on 30m, DL5PIA in QSO with PA7ELF on 40m, a German station on 80m, an Italian station on 160m, BBC R4 LW, and VLF naval transmitters on 12821m, 13793m, 14354m and 16575m.
Українське Радіо 1278kHz MW received in NL on a Tecsun PL 310ET pe7b 2022-04-21 | With a bit of help from a home-brewed external ferrite antenna, I was able to receive Ukrainian Radio 1278kHz MW (Kurisove) in the Netherlands using a Tecsun PL-310ET ultraportable receiver.
Українське Радіо 1278kHz MW received in NL on a Grundig WR5401 pe7b 2022-04-21 | With a bit of help from a home-brewed external ferrite antenna, I was able to receive Ukrainian Radio 1278kHz MW (Kurisove) in the Netherlands using a Grundig WR5401 ultraportable receiver.
Single letter beacons 10872kHz pe7b 2022-04-17 | Shortwave propagation beacons from Caspian, Black Sea, and Arctic ports.A - Astrakhan, Volga Delta (3100km) D - Sevastopol, Crimean Peninsula (2200km)S - Severomorsk, Kola Peninsula (2500km)
Kall Krekel transmitter 6005kHz received via NVIS pe7b 2022-04-16 | The foF2 above Dourbes was 6.3MHz at midday local time today.That meant that I was able to receive Radio Slovakia International on 6005kHz from Kall Krekel via NVIS - near vertical incidence skywave. As the crow flies, the distance from the transmitter in the Eifel to the receiving location in the Netherlands is just under 77km.
Ukrainian Radio Kurisove, 1278kHz pe7b 2022-04-15 | Ukrainian Radio Odessa, Kurisove, 1278kHz, 100kWReceived in southeast Netherlands jo20
Yaesu FT2600M receiver sensitivity test pe7b 2022-04-09 | This FT-2600M must be around twenty years old.This was not a very scientific test - but I conclude from it that the receiver section of this transceiver is still in good order sensitivity-wise. The antenna used was a simple ¼-lambda mag-mounted on the car roof.
Ukrainian Radio Odessa, Kurisove, 1278kHz, 100kW pe7b 2022-04-07 | Ukrainian Radio - Odessa, Kurisove, 1278kHz, 100kWУкраїнське Радіо - Одеса, Курісове, 1278кГц, 100кВтUR-1 on 235 metres medium waveReceived in eastern Belgium on 6 April 2022Distance to transmitter is approx. 1860kmReceiver: Sony ICF-SW7600GR
Single Letter Beacons pe7b 2022-02-19 | Shortwave single letter beacons received in jo20 on 19 February 2022.10.872MHz, 13.528MHz, 16.332MHz, 20.048MHzC: Moscow D: Sevastopol P: Kaliningrad S: Severomorsk
DR Kalundborg 243kHz LW pe7b 2022-02-06 | Without the SV2CZF ferrite antenna, the Grundig WR5401 is not selective enough to pick out DR 243kHz from in between the adjacent channel signals on 234kHz and 252kHz. The external antenna enables DR 243kHz to be received, as the video shows. Received in eastern Belgium on 6 February 2022.
DR 243kHz Kalundborg Maritime Safety Information Broadcast pe7b 2022-02-05 | A brief excerpt from the Maritime Safety Information broadcast from DR Kalundborg, Denmark (JO55MQ82) on 243kHz longwave on 5 February 2022.Received in eastern Belgium (JO30AM) using an SV2CZF LW ferrite antenna (type RFL200) and a Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Distance to transmitter is 665km (413 miles).DR farvandsefterretninger langbølge
HB9F 11 January 2022 pe7b 2022-01-11 | HB9F 11 January 2022Distance from receiving location to beacon (JN36xn) is 287.5 miles or 463km
ČRo Radiožurnál 31 December 2021 pe7b 2022-01-01 | ČRo Radiožurnál 270kHz.A chapter of longwave history has ended.RKS Topolná was in operation since 1951.This reception was recorded in eastern Belgium on 31/12/21 - in the final hours before the transmitter ceased operation.
Český rozhlas 639kHz pe7b 2022-01-01 | 31 December 2021 - the end of a chapter in medium (and long) wave broadcasting history. High-power medium wave transmitters and large medium wave transmission towers have stood in Liblice (about 20 miles to the east of Prague) since 1931. The current two 355m high towers were built and commissioned in 1976, and are, according to Wikipedia, the tallest MW towers in the world. This 469 metre wavelength (639kc/s) was labelled as 'Prague' or 'Praha' on some radio dials (e.g. Grundig RF 4xx). This reception was recorded in eastern Belgium on 31 December 2021 - during the final hours before the Liblice MW transmitter (and other MW and LW transmitters in Czechia) ceased operation.
Český rozhlas 1332kHz pe7b 2021-12-31 | Recorded in eastern Belgium on 30 December 2021, this 225 metre wavelength MW signal from the Moravské Budějovice transmitter in southern Czechia will disappear from the medium wave band on 31 December 2021.
Český rozhlas 954kHz pe7b 2021-12-31 | Recorded in eastern Belgium on 30 December 2021, this 314 metre wavelength signal from the Dobrochov transmitter in eastern Czechia will disappear from the medium wave band on 31 December 2021.This wavelength may be labelled as 'Brno' on some historical radio dials. It is listed as such in my 1989-90 (20th) edition of Philip Darrington's 'Guide to Broadcasting Stations'.
ČRo Radiožurnál 270kHz pe7b 2021-12-31 | Recorded in eastern Belgium on 30 December 2021, this 1111 metre wavelength signal from the Topolná transmitter (near Zlín in SE Czechia) will disappear from the long wave band on 31 December 2021.
SAQ Christmas Eve transmission 2021 pe7b 2021-12-26 | A field recording of the 2021 SAQ Christmas Eve transmission on 17.2kHz made by PE7B in SE Netherlands.The experimental active antenna used here is in essence a tuned mini-whip. This gyrator-based circuit derives from a design (for an omnidirectional DDH47 antenna) which appeared in the October 2018 issue of the German magazine Funkamateur.
19 Dec 2021 F5ZBP (Jura) received in eastern Belgium pe7b 2021-12-20 | Repeater F5ZBP (Salins-les-Bains, jn26wx) received during the evening of 19 December 2021 in jo30am (eastern Belgium).The distance between transmitter and receiver is 394km (245 miles).The time displayed on the DCF77 clock is CEWT (i.e. UTC+1).Audible in the second half of the video are co-channel repeater output signals from PI3GOE (188km) and DB0UT (117km).
19 Dec 2021 F1ZTK received in eastern Belgium pe7b 2021-12-20 | Repeater F1ZTK (Lille, jo10mp) received during the evening of 19 December 2021 in jo30am (Belgium).Thanks to a mild tropo 'lift' this repeater was audible at good strength for a time, before later disappearing into the noise as the lift conditions subsided.The distance between F1ZTK and the receiving location is 212km (132 miles).The time displayed on the DCF77 clock is CEWT (i.e. UTC+1).
Reception of the 2021 Alexanderson Day SAQ transmissions pe7b 2021-07-11 | Reception of the 2021 Alexanderson Day SAQ VLF transmissions using two home-constructed, frequency-selective, active antennas.Firstly, a tunable H-field active antenna based on a design which PC0P published on his website in 2020. This antenna was connected to a Windows tablet running DL4YHF's Spectrum Lab software.Secondly, a tunable E-field active antenna based around a Gyrator circuit which appeared in the German amateur radio magazine Funkamateur, in an article written by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Oßmann of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. This antenna was connected to a WB9KZY-style upconverter which was in turn connected to a Yaesu FT-817.During the morning's SAQ transmission, I did a quick equipment test at an electrically quiet (but busy with people) location here in the Netherlands. For the afternoon's transmission I moved my receiving station to a rural location across the border in Germany.Although rural, the location in Germany is home to large numbers of wind turbines. The turbines are, I think, the reason why the received SAQ signals seemed a bit noisier at the German location than they had been at the Dutch location.The distance to Grimeton is roughly the same from both locations (just over 500 miles).Both of my prototype active antennas succeeded in receiving the SAQ signal.
70MHz UKAC 17 June 2021 pe7b 2021-06-17 | The evening of the 70MHz UKAC / NAC seemed like a good opportunity to try out my new UT5JCW 4-metre transverter. In addition, there were Sporadic-E conditions over Europe (as there have been during many recent days).During the evening I heard the OY6BEC beacon, and also a brief burst of a beacon on 70.020MHz which I'm reasonably sure was GB3ANG.Recorded in jo20 (Southern Netherlands).
SR3FHB jo91cq 29 May 2021 1142utc pe7b 2021-05-29 | SR3FHB 50MHz beacon (jo91cq)Received via Sporadic-E in jo20 on 29 May 2021 at 1142utcDistance 874km (543 miles)
S55ZMS 40.67MHz beacon received in jo20 on 25 May 2021 at 1043utc pe7b 2021-05-25 | At around 1035utc (1235cest) the s55zms 40.67MHz VHF beacon (jn86cr) became audible via Sporadic-E here at my location in SE Netherlands (jo20). The signal quickly became stronger, and remained audible for at least an hour (after an hour I had to dismantle the antenna due to the onset of a severe local thunderstorm).This video shows a short montage of the CW and PI4 signals received. Distance from transmitter to receiver is 893km (555 miles).
EI1KNH 40MHz beacon received in SE Netherlands pe7b 2021-05-19 | EI1KNH 40MHz propagation beacon (io63ve) received in SE Netherlands (jo20) via Sporadic-E on 19 May 2021 at 16:20utc.My RTL-SDR dongle sometimes drifts marginally off frequency. This beacon is on 40013kc/s.
EI1CAH 8m beacon received in SE Netherlands pe7b 2021-05-19 | EI1CAH 8-metre propagation beacon (io53ck) received in SE Netherlands (jo20) via Sporadic-E on 19 May 2021 at 12:18utc.Sorry for the poor quality (smartphone) footage
IZ8RVA 10m beacon received in JO20VW pe7b 2021-05-14 | IZ8RVA 10m beacon received in SE Netherlands during a Sporadic-E opening on 13 May 2021.The time shown on the DCF77 clock is CEST.The low frequency sound which is audible on the recording is the sound of the diesel engine of the nearby 18-wheeler.
LA5TEN 10m beacon received in jo20vw pe7b 2021-05-14 | LA5TEN 10m beacon received in SE Netherlands during a Sporadic-E opening on 13 May 2021.The time shown on the DCF77 clock is CEST.
06 May 2021 shutdown BBC Radio Ulster 1341kHz pe7b 2021-05-06 | Today I, and I am sure also many other medium wave listeners here in the Benelux, say a heavy-hearted goodbye to a long-standing and familiar signal on the band: BBC Radio Ulster 1341kHz (Lisnagarvey).
1341kHz BBC Radio Ulster 30 04 21 pe7b 2021-05-01 | In advance of the shutdown of BBC Radio Ulster 1341kHz MW on 6 May 2021, here is a recording of reception in southeast Netherlands30 April 2021, 1954utcDistance from receiving location (JO20VU16) to the Lisnagarvey transmitting station (IO64XL27) is 894.5kmRadio #1: Sony ICF-SW7600GRRadio #2: Grundig WR5401
4398625 jo20xu DGPS pe7b 2021-04-22 | 439.8625MHz jo20xu I'm guessing that these are differential GPS telemetry signals. I understand in concept how GNSS positioning can be made more accurate by receiving correction signals from a fixed station with a known location, but I don't know what modulation scheme is in use here. This is in any event what the signals sound like on an NBFM receiver... It is hard to see in the video, but the received signal strength is close to FSD on the Kenwood's signal strength meter.
DB0MHS 70cm received in jo20xu pe7b 2021-04-18 | DB0MHS (Duisburg) received on 18 April 2021 whilst pedestrian mobile near Ubachsberg in the Netherlands (jo20xu). I was able to 'check in' with the net shortly after the broadcast ended.Distance to the repeater is 88.5km.
ESP32 VS1053 bare bones internet radio pe7b 2021-04-03 | Guided by the previous work of Ed Smallenburg, Nick Koumaris, Andreas Spiess and David J Watts, I was able to construct a bare bones internet radio using a CP2102 ESP32 board, a VS1053-based MP3 player board and about 50 lines of C++/C code (included library code not counted), compiled and uploaded using the Arduino IDE. So now I can listen to the BBCR4 Shipping Forecast in real time and with good audio quality. The audio noise on the recording is a characteristic of the camera, not the internet radio. Next steps in this project are to create an enclosure, and to integrate some simple controls for volume and channel selection.
