Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. - Page 14 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

michamoo · 29th Nov 2017, 1:29 pm

Great reception day and night here near Cambridge.

Alf · 29th Nov 2017, 1:44 pm

Radio Caroline being received Holland.

http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/

type 648

russell_w_b · 29th Nov 2017, 2:27 pm

I could hear Radio Caroline on 648kHz in mid-Cumbria last night, after dark, with the kitchen lights off and away from the router. But it was very scratchy and there was the slow beat evident that G6tanuki mentioned too.

Manx Radio came in better, but neither were what I would class as entertainment quality reception.

Boom · 29th Nov 2017, 5:01 pm

Looks like another good night. Just twilight and Caroline is already starting to come in on 648 kHz

Hybrid tellies · 1st Dec 2017, 10:28 am

This morning near Bath I was receiving R Caroline on 648Khz very clearly on the car radio. Were the previous tests done on reduced power and they are now at full power?

Alf · 1st Dec 2017, 6:14 pm

Caroline reception reports round up.

Boom · 1st Dec 2017, 7:34 pm

Quote:

Caroline reception reports round up.

Anyone else notice the mistake on the page?

Jon_G4MDC · 2nd Dec 2017, 12:31 pm

kHz nowhere to be found?

Andrew2 · 2nd Dec 2017, 12:59 pm

The Bush 'DAC90' may actually be a DAC90A?

Boom · 2nd Dec 2017, 8:42 pm

Andy wins. The DAC90 is actually a DAC90A

Bazz4CQJ · 2nd Dec 2017, 10:42 pm

I listened at about 2100hrs tonight (north Oxfordshire) but had a hard time. My Sony ICF-7600 just about finds it on its ferrite rod, but not listenable. I then tried my magloop (currently inside the house) on my DX-160 but that did no better. The Sony has an input jack for an external aerial; might try the magloop on that.

B

Biggles · 3rd Dec 2017, 12:17 am

Just tried it on a 30 year old Sharp car radio in the shack (fed from an open ended VHF dipole as the aerial) and receiving a listenable signal on 648KHz AM about ten minutes ago here. That receiver is particularly sensitive on AM for a car radio, pretty good going really. Nothing but mush during daylight hours though.
Alan.

Andrew2 · 3rd Dec 2017, 10:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom

Andy wins. The DAC90 is actually a DAC90A

Oh joy! Crack the trumpets etc! It's the first time I've won anything - is their a gleaming prize?

'LIVEWIRE?' · 3rd Dec 2017, 12:25 pm

Earlier this morning I tried to tune in to Caroline on 648, using a Roberts Classic 928 (aka R9928) portable without success. All I heard was noise around that frequency despite the fact that some other local stations fom miles away were being received at reasonable strength.

G6Tanuki · 3rd Dec 2017, 4:38 pm

I'm currently hearing them on my Eddystone 840A/longwire - though the football-commentary-station down in Extremadura is doing the usual 5Hz beat-fade thing.

One thing I've noticed is that as evening progresses and the signals [both wanted and unwanted] become stronger - turning the RF-gain down so the AGC isn't active tends to improve things. I guess this is because the co-channel beat-fading tends to 'pump' the AGC into a state of confusion.

Different receivers, with different AGC time-constants, may behave differently of course.

Biggles · 4th Dec 2017, 6:00 pm

Again, good reception on my car radio in the shack later on in the evening yesterday on 648. Certainly listenable. Must try it with a long wire and a "proper" receiver.
Alan.

Boom · 4th Dec 2017, 6:16 pm

Couldn't sleep last night so lay awake listening to a cracking signal from Caroline all night. Lift seems to have stayed as it's still belting in as I type (17:00) and picking it up well on the A22 and a few feet of longwire.

Boom · 4th Dec 2017, 7:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boom

Andy wins. The DAC90 is actually a DAC90A

Oh joy! Crack the trumpets etc! It's the first time I've won anything - is their a gleaming prize?

I'm sure I have an old Tufty badge around here somewhere.

G6Tanuki · 4th Dec 2017, 8:52 pm

Listening right now [19:40GMT] they're clearly not on 648KHz: on the 840A I'm getting a slow-fading beat (2Hz or so) between two stations of unidentifiable origin with rough rasping buzz reminiscent of the old TV-line-timebase interference filling in the quiet-periods between the fades.

Boom · 4th Dec 2017, 9:23 pm

Their reception reports say that Carolines frequency is running some 3Hz low but that is within limits. I shouldn't think it's that hard to twiddle a crystal trimmer up a bit (assuming the tx is run on a crystal) but I'm finding the slightly low frequency is helping stop the Spanish station sidebands crushing Caroline.

The stations either side of Caroline are Spanish. They give a good tuning indication if you are trying to set the dial and the signal is too low to detect a carrier.

29th Nov 2017, 1:29 pm	#261
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Great reception day and night here near Cambridge. __________________ If smoking is so bad for you, how come it cures kippers?

29th Nov 2017, 1:44 pm	#262
Alf Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 479	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Radio Caroline being received Holland. http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ type 648

29th Nov 2017, 2:27 pm	#263
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. I could hear Radio Caroline on 648kHz in mid-Cumbria last night, after dark, with the kitchen lights off and away from the router. But it was very scratchy and there was the slow beat evident that G6tanuki mentioned too. Manx Radio came in better, but neither were what I would class as entertainment quality reception. __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

29th Nov 2017, 5:01 pm	#264
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Looks like another good night. Just twilight and Caroline is already starting to come in on 648 kHz

1st Dec 2017, 10:28 am	#265
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,967	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. This morning near Bath I was receiving R Caroline on 648Khz very clearly on the car radio. Were the previous tests done on reduced power and they are now at full power? __________________ Simon BVWS member

1st Dec 2017, 6:14 pm	#266
Alf Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 479	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Caroline reception reports round up.

2nd Dec 2017, 12:31 pm	#268
Jon_G4MDC Nonode Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 2,015	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. kHz nowhere to be found?

2nd Dec 2017, 12:59 pm	#269
Andrew2 Nonode Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 2,038	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. The Bush 'DAC90' may actually be a DAC90A? __________________ Andy G1HBE.

2nd Dec 2017, 8:42 pm	#270
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Andy wins. The DAC90 is actually a DAC90A

2nd Dec 2017, 10:42 pm	#271
Bazz4CQJ Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oxfordshire, UK. Posts: 4,935	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. I listened at about 2100hrs tonight (north Oxfordshire) but had a hard time. My Sony ICF-7600 just about finds it on its ferrite rod, but not listenable. I then tried my magloop (currently inside the house) on my DX-160 but that did no better. The Sony has an input jack for an external aerial; might try the magloop on that. B __________________ Saturn V had 6 million pounds of fuel. It would take thirty thousand strong men to lift it an inch.

3rd Dec 2017, 12:17 am	#272
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Just tried it on a 30 year old Sharp car radio in the shack (fed from an open ended VHF dipole as the aerial) and receiving a listenable signal on 648KHz AM about ten minutes ago here. That receiver is particularly sensitive on AM for a car radio, pretty good going really. Nothing but mush during daylight hours though. Alan.

3rd Dec 2017, 12:25 pm	#274
'LIVEWIRE?' Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.W. Oxfordshire(Chipping Norton) Posts: 7,306	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Earlier this morning I tried to tune in to Caroline on 648, using a Roberts Classic 928 (aka R9928) portable without success. All I heard was noise around that frequency despite the fact that some other local stations fom miles away were being received at reasonable strength.

3rd Dec 2017, 4:38 pm	#275
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,005	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. I'm currently hearing them on my Eddystone 840A/longwire - though the football-commentary-station down in Extremadura is doing the usual 5Hz beat-fade thing. One thing I've noticed is that as evening progresses and the signals [both wanted and unwanted] become stronger - turning the RF-gain down so the AGC isn't active tends to improve things. I guess this is because the co-channel beat-fading tends to 'pump' the AGC into a state of confusion. Different receivers, with different AGC time-constants, may behave differently of course.

4th Dec 2017, 6:00 pm	#276
Biggles Rest in Peace Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hexham, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 2,234	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Again, good reception on my car radio in the shack later on in the evening yesterday on 648. Certainly listenable. Must try it with a long wire and a "proper" receiver. Alan.

4th Dec 2017, 6:16 pm	#277
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Couldn't sleep last night so lay awake listening to a cracking signal from Caroline all night. Lift seems to have stayed as it's still belting in as I type (17:00) and picking it up well on the A22 and a few feet of longwire.

4th Dec 2017, 8:52 pm	#279
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,005	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Listening right now [19:40GMT] they're clearly not on 648KHz: on the 840A I'm getting a slow-fading beat (2Hz or so) between two stations of unidentifiable origin with rough rasping buzz reminiscent of the old TV-line-timebase interference filling in the quiet-periods between the fades.

4th Dec 2017, 9:23 pm	#280
Boom Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 2,451	Re: Radio Caroline to return on Medium Wave. Their reception reports say that Carolines frequency is running some 3Hz low but that is within limits. I shouldn't think it's that hard to twiddle a crystal trimmer up a bit (assuming the tx is run on a crystal) but I'm finding the slightly low frequency is helping stop the Spanish station sidebands crushing Caroline. The stations either side of Caroline are Spanish. They give a good tuning indication if you are trying to set the dial and the signal is too low to detect a carrier.