No CADA but did get 2SER with RDS on second look.
3 Likes
Funny you should mention that- I just came across your recording of KNX on Soundcloud. What a signal; it never comes in that clearly now even with a loop. Iâm guessing you recorded that sometime in the 80s?
Vanuatu FM should be possible from Brisbane- itâs well within single hop range. 90.0 (Laef) and 102.0 (CRI) can be covered up by NCL but I think thereâs 107.0 as well (Paradise FM?) I have only had 90.0 and 102.0 here but itâs double hop for me.
3 Likes
KNX was from 70s; several other stations noted around that time from SoCal. Last time I got Vanuatu included 90 Laef, 96 Buzz 100 and 105 RFI, 102 China and 103 ABC.
2 Likes
Wow, so that may have been when Australia was still using 10 kHz splits? I suppose 4SB signed off at night back then?
1 Like
I think the reason you are not getting any dx signals is you are probably getting quite significant overload of the fmâs from Gore Hill and Artarmon. Also Cada is 90â to the right of your antenna main gain path.
On my car radio any dx signals, CADA, Illawarra and the Central Coast are very poor to non existent between the two towers.
This maybe your issue.
3 Likes
Yes. Most regional commercial stations plus ABC signed off around midnight. The radio used was the most basic cheap Sharp mono radio cassette player you could imagine as well with a small analogue dial. So certainly different times. IIRC the furthest station that night was KFBK from Sacramento but not totally sure.
3 Likes
OMG, a tough ask for any FM receiver to receive anything other than the strong locals in that hot RF soup environment if youâre that close. What rx r u using? You would need at least a rx with very high dynamic range to hear weaker FM signals.
1 Like
Iâve stayed in apartments at Chatswood just 700 m from the Artarmon tower and received Wollongong there, though with some overload artefacts present⌠I would say @Petarkco 's antenna is pointed east and thus is not getting anything else much because the signals would be coming in the side / back of the antenna (and that itâs a Band III / UHF ? antenna as well).
3 Likes
In 2010, stayed at whatâs now the Royal Pacific Hotel at 472 Pacific Highway as a family member was having ophthalmic treatment in Chatswood.
Good reception of Central Coast, Knights Hill and Lithgowâs FM.
The signal overload may have been going over the top as so close to Hampden Rd.
TV reception by the accommodation provider was good.
I was more interested in the then new DAB+, novelty hadnât worn off.
1 Like
This is with a RTLSDR blog V3 dongle. I do have the FM band stop filter for it but obviously that will wipe out FM completely in favour of stuff on other frequencies.
1 Like
That makes sense now, your antenna is a UHF antenna pointing towards the North Head translator., and at 90â to Artarmon / Gore Hill.
UHF antennas are completely out of band for fm reception. Yo are only receiving the high powered Sydney fmâs with RDS due to their close proximity, and massive signal strength at your location.
If you want to dabble in fm dxing at your location get a Matchmaster omni fm antenna. It has a built in diplexer for the main coaxial cable to connect into, you will then run a very short coaxial cable from the tv antenna into the input port of the fm antenna to combine both signals.
If your North Head signal is marginal it will weaken the signal when you split and add the second signal.
I am in Northwest Sydney and use this f antenna, rather than combing the tv signal and fm radio through the one antenna, I connect all my antennas through a masthead amp to boost the signals. I donât have the strong fm overload issues that you have at your location.
5 Likes
Thanks for that. All the above & proximity to Gore Hill explains the woeful FM reception.
The limited 8 bit depth of these SDRâs result in a very small dynamic gain & IIRC no RF filtering in the presence of blow-torch 150kW FM transmitters & you have a SDR that could be outperformed by just about any commercially available FM receiver radio in terms of trying to hear weaker signals. A home brew tunable FM bandpass filter might help slightly, but a better radio or SDR will help a lot.
As for an antenna. I dare say an indoor FM T dipole made from 300 ohm ribbon cable blu-tacked or taped on a window will likely outperform the UHF yagi.
The radiation pattern of that UHF yagi will be all over the place across the FM band & relatively deaf on FM.
Try one of these low cost FM outdoor antennas directed 90 degrees away from the Artarmon/Gore Hill towers with a better radio. I can recommend a better SDR.
https://au.element14.com/stellar-labs/30-2460/four-element-directional-outdoor/dp/280232901
or
This cheap antenna is near omni-directional, but still better than the UHF yagi.
NB the plastic wonât last on this antenna, but cheap & better than your TV antenna.
https://au.element14.com/stellar-labs/30-2435/fm-antenna-87-5-108mhz-4db-75/dp/3651864
3 Likes
I would think the Stellar Labs / Matchmaster omni fm antenna would probably be the best fm antenna. The others would probably still get massive overload / mutipath at 90â to Artarmon Gore Hill.
Probably the fm Omni may still provide too much signal and Overload and a wire up the wall is all that is required for improved fm at the location.
At my friends old address at Killara a wire up the wall was fine for Wollongong / Central Coast / CADA. They were a bit higher in altitude, and further away from Artarmon/ Gore Hill , so less overload.
3 Likes
Iâd also add that if there is any distribution amp in the location, it would probably only cover UHF. It would be worth checking that out before adding an external FM antenna⌠I also think the omnidirectional one would be a good idea; it comes with ia built in diplexer.
3 Likes
I donât think so. Looking at a compass and cross referencing with myswitch itâs pointing directly towards Artarmon at 119° SE.
2 Likes
2 Likes
Sorry, most likely pointing towards Kings Cross translator rather than North Head.
3 Likes
Trying again with an indoor antenna (https://www.bunnings.com.au/antsig-14-x-26cm-black-indoor-digital-antenna_p4360108). Local FM still very strong.
The signal on 96.1 is a mix of a few stations and Nova this is with 0dB RF gain.
3 Likes
A variable RF attenuator might help a tad. Some places sell fixed attenuators of various values, could be expensive trialling different values unless you can return for refund if not suitable.
3 Likes