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Author Topic: Listen to A Variety of WebSDR Sites or Purchase and Own The Hardware/  (Read 358 times)

KTD1735

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Sitting here cruising the 'net for a WebSDR rig to hook up to a 70 ft long-wire and an Alpha-Delta Sloper.  Listening to the Enschede WebSDR site in the Netherlands near the German Border and grooving on what appears to be a Belgian music station on 1634.  Coming in strong and clean!  Usually, I use NA5B located just north of Washington., DC.

So, the key question:  why would I purchase the equipment when the eSDR environment is so rich in content and ease of use?  Same reason I still use an ICOM R-75, Drake RA-Am and a Kenwood 5000 to tune around on the antennas mentioned above? 

Thx!
Marc

 
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K1QQQ

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Re: Listen to A Variety of WebSDR Sites or Purchase and Own The Hardware/
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2021, 04:15:47 PM »

The SDR environment here is about zero.  (Connecticut USA)  Assume many use to listen to their own contacts in high noise location but here zilch. Same signals don't bounce to here that do 100 miles away.(high frequencies)
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KD7RDZI2

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Re: Listen to A Variety of WebSDR Sites or Purchase and Own The Hardware/
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2021, 07:04:56 AM »

WebSDR Sites are useful to a ham to check the modulation and is a way to check propagation too. However for a ham relying a websdr to actually make a QSO make no sense: suppose you live in Washington., DC and you use your transceiver for transmitting 1.5Kw from there and you use a websdr located in the Netherlands to copy a QRPp German station. The German might hear you as you have lots of power but you would never hear him unless via websdr.

In any case WebSDR rely on the $$$ internet infrastructure: receiving the same as good or even better using a 50$ portable and a longwire to me is far more satisfactory and would work even in case of a total black-out.

With a caveat: with a WEBSDR you can listen to a satellite out of the coverage area and learn lots of thing from QSOs. Just have a look to in case you haven't already tried:  https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/
« Last Edit: February 07, 2021, 07:08:26 AM by KD7RDZI2 »
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KTD1735

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Re: Listen to A Variety of WebSDR Sites or Purchase and Own The Hardware/
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2021, 09:09:00 AM »

Thx for the perspective....certainly agree that, on the transmit side, WebSDR holds little logic for any sort of DX work.   

The things I most like about my current non-web set-up are the findings by spinning the dial/scan key....I mostly turn off the DSP module in my R-75 b/c the crackles and hisses behind the signals(filtered where possible) are in direct contrast to SWL in a digital form. 

Still, above said, there something very cool about power-walking outside or on the t'mill while listening to European late-afternoon broadcasts in the Mid-Atlantic US East Coast.  Each by by hitting an antenna located in Friedrichshafen or Istanbul.  And, webSDR makes great sense for that.  Just ripped off a few miles on the t'mill while listening to the "Da' Wurm on Radio Danekker" - on 819 khz.

So, maybe ownership of the hardware is really not needed.......good, b/c looking at some nice tube equipment to add to the mix!

Again, thx for your input!

Marc
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K1QQQ

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Again..I wish there were more available SDR's.

If somebody just likes to tune around like in the old days to AM Broadcast Band it is interesting to listen from different locations. I am not sure all radio stations broadcast on the web. (where are the advertisers ?)

The few I have used seem to last not long and have a noise level objectionable. Who wants to pick strong stations out of noise ?
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KC6RWI

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I don't get it, I mean the fun (for me) is doing it yourself with your own equipment.
I barely get enough time to spin the dial on my own radio and even less time to try out a web sdr.
You can do it your way, thats fine, but I think most of us enjoy the hunt.


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GRUMPY2021

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to me it sounds like you already have the equipment.  Icom IC-R75 is a fine radio.   Anyway... it's all in what you want.   Pick you up a SDRplay SDR.  It's a good computer accessory.   You're asking a question that really only you can answer and to what you really want.    Why buy it?  Because youo can.  Nothing wrong with having a bit of it all.   Radios to spin the dial with, SDR and WebSDR...   
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