My FAVORITE SWL QSL!
11/14/2009
(Very difficult catch for me)

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY SWL QSL STATS

  My HF transceiver and a great SWL radio as well: Icom IC-746PRO

I use DXBase as my primary logging software.  I also use CommCat.  Both are excellent, solid performers.  For radio control, I use Ham Radio Deluxe, a free program that has a feature set not found in the most expensive software packages!




  My primary SWL radio: AOR-AR5000A+3.  I have had two Collins mechanical filters installed (3K and 6K) and the difference is astounding.  There is nothing I can hear on a Drake R8B or my IC-746PRO that I cannot hear on my AR5000A+3 (the "+3" designation indicates that the radio is a later model and has been equipped with  noise blanker, selectable synchronous AM and Automatic Frequency Control).  I also use the ARA5000+3 to monitor distant VHF/UHF and AM BCB frequencies as I find its' sensitivity to be outstanding.  I use DXTreme Reception Log as my only SWL logging program.  Don't let looks deceive you, this software has many, many features and, in my opinion, is the best available!  For control I use both ScanStar Spectrum Manager IX (VHF/UHF) and AR5 (BCB and SWL).

One of my favorite activities is decoding many of the various signals one might hear on HF, and one of my favorite signals to decode is that of NOAA weather satellites.  HERE is a screen capture of my AR5000+3 monitoring 137.5 mHz with an I.F. bandwidth of 30 kHz in FM mode decoding signals transmitted by NOAA 15 weather satellite.  The AR5000 is one of only a few radios capable of setting independant bandwidth/modes.  HERE is a screen shot of the final product.  A winter storm was predicted and, as you can see, Long Island is almost completely covered by the swirl of clouds!

Neither radio would be any good without a decent antenna.  I have two, the primary being an Alpha-Delta DX-LB+   This antenna is designed for transmitting on the 160, 80, 40 20 and 10 meter bands.  I find it works great as a general receive antenna for my SWL'ing.

I would be remiss if I didn't provide a link to NASWA, the North American Short Wave Association.  This club provides a myriad of information regarding shortwave schedules, equipment etc.
My second antenna is a  GAP Titan This is used for general DX and usually gets what the DX-LB+ can't.



I have 2 Uniden 996T's  .  One I use for general scanning and the other is used to provide the feed of the Long Island, Suffolk County Police and Neighboring departments radio feed on RadioReference.com, which can be found here.  For PC control of the 996T's, I use both Butel ARC996 and BCTool, a great, free software package.
One of my all-time favorite receiver is my Optoelectronics Optocom. 
It is no longer in production and rarely comes on the used market (must be 'cause most users feel as I do!).  The radio has no visual accomodationa so it must be connected to a PC.  When running Probe V.7 it is a combination that is VERY hard to beat, even with today's technology!