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Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

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CK-722
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Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by CK-722 » Sat Apr 25, 2020 2:34 am

Anyone else ever hear WA1HLR from Maine on 3870 or 3885 kHz using Amplitude Modulation? Just heard it with a Grundig S350 with the telescoping whip antenna. Apparently, he's a Cracker Jack at converting AM BC transmitters to 160 and 80 meters. He's associated with the operator of WBCQ named Allan Weiner, who once operated the pirate RNI, which operated on a ship in International Waters back in the 1980s.


Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

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innate-in-you
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by innate-in-you » Sat Apr 25, 2020 9:27 pm

I remember hearing him many years ago. He had a booming signal.

I don't listen to 75m much, since we got a PDP display in 2008, wiping out reception anytime the wife is home.



CK-722
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by CK-722 » Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:07 pm

Given that he converts AM BC transmitters to 80 meters, do you think he's only running 1000 watts AM?


Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

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k8jd
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by k8jd » Sun Apr 26, 2020 10:15 pm

I had a lot of fun on AM on 6, 2, and 10 M way back in the 60s, to the 80's on Amateur Radio . ! So it looks like I have not done any AM in 40 years !
Worked at AM/FM broadcast stations in the 60's and 70's.



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WOHO
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by WOHO » Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:24 pm

I'm used to scanning 160m band for AM signals, but it sure is nice to hear AM on 80/75m too. Just something cool about Amplitude Modulation that runs in the bloodline of us radio geeks; AM is "real radio" in my book, including on the Amateur Radio bands. Glad some of those AM transmitters get a new life on the ham bands. Curious what he has for power in his ham shack- if he actually has a 208V 3 phase feed for his transmitter, or how he powers-up that badboy? If the neighbors had old school landlines, I bet they can hear them on their coiled telephone handset cord!



CK-722
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by CK-722 » Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:38 pm

WOHO wrote:
Sun Apr 26, 2020 11:24 pm
I'm used to scanning 160m band for AM signals, but it sure is nice to hear AM on 80/75m too. Just something cool about Amplitude Modulation that runs in the bloodline of us radio geeks; AM is "real radio" in my book, including on the Amateur Radio bands. Glad some of those AM transmitters get a new life on the ham bands. Curious what he has for power in his ham shack- if he actually has a 208V 3 phase feed for his transmitter, or how he powers-up that badboy? If the neighbors had old school landlines, I bet they can hear them on their coiled telephone handset cord!
Well, he has a LOT of pictures on his web postings. He's up on a hill with some commercial TV and FM transmitters. If you put in his address from UALR then plug it into a program like homemetry, you'll see that the TV station is down the street. He has a LOT of gear in converted buses and mobile homes. Apparently, he lost his house in a fire some years ago. It doesn't look like there are any other neighbors nearby.


Is THAT where they got the idea for the 486-SX?

Same (x, y, z), different (t)

Your bullet missed my trial balloon.

RTN Price. Not guaranteed. As of 12:30, 157.71 Down 0.22.

Artificial Intelligence is a Child that needs a Parent to guide it through.

innate-in-you
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by innate-in-you » Tue Apr 28, 2020 8:37 pm

CK-722 wrote:
Sat Apr 25, 2020 11:07 pm
Given that he converts AM BC transmitters to 80 meters, do you think he's only running 1000 watts AM?
Since the FCC redefined the maximum amateur power in the 1980s, discarding the old limit of 1kW into the final tube, replacing it with 1500W peak output, AM operation is basically limited to 375W carrier (One could theoretically design a transmitter that reduces power at the carrier when modulation is applied, but that would not serve much purpose.



k8jd
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by k8jd » Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:11 pm

Back when I was young man , I had a couple of transmitters that ran "Controlled carrier" modulation on AM. the output power would bounce up and down a lot when you modulated with voice. . Regular plate modulated A M would just wiggle the output meter , a bit, on modulation.



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SolarMax
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by SolarMax » Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:20 pm

k8jd wrote:
Wed Apr 29, 2020 3:11 pm
Back when I was young man , I had a couple of transmitters that ran "Controlled carrier" modulation on AM. the output power would bounce up and down a lot when you modulated with voice. . Regular plate modulated A M would just wiggle the output meter , a bit, on modulation.
One could immediately tell a Heath DX 60 from it's sound and watching the s-meter.
I believe GatesAir uses a modern variant of this (Dynamic Carrier Control) in its AM transmitters.
Some operators claim it saves them substantial $ on the energy bill.



k8jd
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Re: Speaking Of Strongest Signals-Just Logged WA1HLR

Post by k8jd » Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:43 am

Yes it could be an energy saver since the carrier power is reduced when the modulation level is low and incresed when it's high. A lot of limiting and compression can can cancel out trhe original intent. Music too, the effect is more intended for voice.



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