Radio Totse

2

Comments

  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited March 2012
    That looks sexy as hell.
  • MarineBoatMarineBoat Regular
    edited March 2012
    This sounds great, man. Genius, in fact! :thumbsup:

    I'm gonna have to start typing up that review of my 909X soon.....
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited March 2012
    MarineBoat wrote: »

    I'm gonna have to start typing up that review of my 909X soon.....


    Yes, please do. I was being heard across Europe and South America last night.
  • spazzokspazzok Semo-Regulars
    edited March 2012
    Thanks dakt totes deffinetly needs sw tx and I won't be txing at all in USA. But I do still have my slightly fucked rx at mamas house
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited April 2012
    Fuck its been a while since I have updated you guys on the progress of our radio station. Work has been taking up most of my time so far, however my hours are back to normal so I have the time to finish what I started. I have run some broadcasts however one problem arises, that is the audio levels between my PC and radio don't match too well resulting in shitty audio or low power output on SSB. I think that once I get a audio coupling transformer and install it on the audio cable things should match better and I shouldn't get as much RF feedback on my audio cabling (another cause of poor quality audio). Once that is done I hope to be transmitting most days and now that I have moved the transmitter off of my computer desk, my DSL connection doesn't drop out when transmitting plus I have more room :D.

    I also have a generator now so I can transmit from anywhere I want to, Which is handy since the local radio vigilante brigade (ham radio faggots) have heard the broadcasts and have unsuccessfully tried to find me which has had me being cautious about operating to a fixed schedule or frequency. Time to invest in some CCTV cameras and a shotgun as it is not so uncommon as for them to turn up at while you are out and put pins through the coax running to the antennas (shorts out the transmitter causing costly damage to it), Happens to quite a few pirates from what I have been led to believe by fellow pirate broadcasters. If it happens to me, I hope they will enjoy a blast of buckshot to the face when they rock up to my place with the intent on damaging my property.

    I will try to be on teamspeak as often as possible so if anyone wants to submit show material or has any ideas for show material then let me know.

    Dak.
  • SpinsterSpinster Regular
    edited April 2012
    You could also run some fake coax cords and have the real ones buried haha Then up the anti by charging them with mains voltage!!

    Fuck I love booby traps.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited April 2012
    Spinster wrote: »
    Then up the anti by charging them with mains voltage!!

    Fuck the mains voltage, Wire it to a microwave oven transformer. its guaranteed to kill them them, 2000 volts vs 230 volts :D. mmm crispy critter.
  • SpinsterSpinster Regular
    edited April 2012
  • white88enochianwhite88enochian Regular
    edited April 2012
    what kind of radio is this
  • Darth BeaverDarth Beaver Meine Ehre heißt Treue
    edited April 2012
    Where does this stand Dak?
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited April 2012
    Where does this stand Dak?

    Should be a regular broadcast within the next week or so.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited December 2012
    Bumping this old topic :D.

    Well after fucking ages we are back on the air with a new power supply which was cheap ($119 NZD) and doesn't completely suck cocks like the last one did. I'm not operating as planned yet due to audio interface issues with the transmitter which has no effect on our low power AM broadcast aimed towards Australia but for our high power SSB broadcast it looks as we may be unable to begin broadcasts aimed at the US and Europe at present. These I hope to sort in the next few weeks. Supposedly there is a company that makes an interface which is well isolated and perfect for PC to radio connection which I will purchase after the holidays.

    Until then those with an AM shortwave radio should tune into 6.925 MHz and enjoy Radio Totse.
    piratetotse3.jpg

    On a final note, my antenna which has been a work in process for months is complete. Basically it is a heavily modified design of a full size tower which I have miniaturised to suit the needs of the pirate broadcaster. After weeks of low power testing and design modifications I think I am happy with the outcome. It is constructed from 32 mm PVC pipe joined together to form a 7.5 meter tall mast holding a vertical mounted wire antenna perfect for omnidirectional broadcasting plus its portable so I can set up anywhere and broadcast a show. I have a 2.8 kW gasoline generator to power the transmission gear to go with it so things are looking good. I just have to be aware of the fact that the guy down the road is one of those ham radio faggots that have to problem in calling the authorities to deal with people such as myself.
    IMG_0929.JPG

    Above is the antenna which will become our main broadcasting antenna. Cost to build .... $0 :D. Gotta love finding waste materials and re purposing them.
    IMG_1002.JPG

    So far we have the transmitter which is second from top. Below that is the antenna tuner. At the bottom is a shortwave receiver which I use to listen to the live broadcast to monitor audio quality among other things.
    IMG_1006.JPG

    At the moment I am using this simple circuit to couple the audio cabling to the transmitter. I am using my old iPod as my PC interferes with the transmitter audio circuitry for some weird reason. Could be a ground loop and I'm betting that is exactly what it is. It can be fixed with an audio transformer.
    IMG_0932.JPG

    IMG_0922.JPG

    The generator and radio as I was using them while testing my portable "pirate station". Everything works perfectly.
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited December 2012
    Even if I am the most richest dude in the world, I cannot come close to the awesomeness of Dak. Bravo Sir, reading that post was just emotional. I wish I wasn't a retard when it comes to Math and manly electronics :(.
  • Darth BeaverDarth Beaver Meine Ehre heißt Treue
    edited December 2012
    OK so how can we hear this?
  • GoingNowhereGoingNowhere Global Moderator
    edited December 2012
    Quality stuff good sir, quality stuff :) Need any contributions?
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited December 2012
    Quality stuff good sir, quality stuff :) Need any contributions?

    Any contributions are welcome. In fact if any member here wants to contribute let me know :)
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited July 2013
    After a year of problems with the station, we have a fully operational pirate radio station. Approximately one hour ago our first broadcast aired on 6.925 MHz USB which is shortwave. Now as I know most of you don't have access to a shortwave radio let alone one capable of receiving sideband signals, I have found an answer. If you go to Global Tuners and register, you have access to receivers all around the world and I have successfully used it to test range and audio quality. I'll check across the receivers there for the best reception and let everyone know before the broadcast starts so nobody has problems tuning in.

    I aim for one broadcast per day approximately 24 hours apart minimum. The first was one hour long but with member generated content we can stretch that out to as long as we want. Hell I'd like to go for four or five hours and make it very totse like. Even if you just record yourself doing some interesting shit or want the world to hear some music you have made, send it my way I'll edit it into the show. Plus if you want to request a song to be played, let me know and I'll do my best to get it on the air for you. Later we can try live broadcasts with members able to enter the Radio Totse studio via teamspeak once everything is perfected.

    Normally I use 6.925 MHz as our primary broadcast frequency as most pirates use frequencies in this band and most people interested in listening to pirate radio look in that band for activity, so it makes it easy for people to find us or stumble upon Radio Totse.

    Output power is 100 watts into a 7 meter tall tower constructed from wire, rope and PVC plumbing pipe. Transmitter is an Icom IC-718 connected to the audio source via a 8/500 ohm audio impedance matching transformer. This provides excellent audio quality for our broadcasts. Audio is edited and levels set equal across the recording in Adobe Audition before being saved in MP3 format for later broadcasting. I'll make these available on dropbox later. The broadcast is normally recorded the day before transmission.

    IMG_1075.JPG

    IMG_1077.JPG

    IMG_1078.JPG

    IMG_1081.JPG
  • SlartibartfastSlartibartfast Global Moderator -__-
    edited July 2013
    That's pretty cool dude. I'm trying to think of things i can record.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited July 2013
    That's pretty cool dude. I'm trying to think of things i can record.

    Anything will be much appreciated. I want to make shortwave radio less shit and a little more totse like. ATM it's all music and a small bit of voice over identifying the station name and e-mail address. Plus the hidden image (SSTV) which can be changed with each broadcast.

    You can decode SSTV images with many different software packages. Just google "sstv decoder". SSTV mode is AVT-96.

    There is a text message at the beginning of each broadcast which is encoded with RTTY (Radio Teletype) which can be easily decoded with software. Google "rtty decoder". Most pirates do something similar so most listeners will know what it is and be able to see and read messages and pictures in the broadcast. If you listen to pirate stations on shortwave, the weird modem like tones within most broadcasts are either text or images.


    Untitled-2.jpg

    Above is a map showing the "grey line". Basically its the sun rise/set line which radio signals travel very well along. It allows broadcasting into North America and Europe in the mornings and evenings. It also allows broadcasting to Antarctica but lets face it, unless penguins have radios its a waste of time lol.
  • ArkansanArkansan Regular
    edited July 2013
    Fuck this is cool. I will have to come up with something. I have been wondering for awhile whatever happened to this idea. Who knows may bring some new blood to the site. We need some informational content to, that would be cool.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited July 2013
    I was getting into north western Canada last night so I know its working well. It works out to be about 12,000 KM from here.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited August 2013
    Update:

    Signal into North America was booming in tonight. I'd say I would have been giving the west coast pirates a run for their money for sure. I have determined the hills to the west and north of my house block signal into Australia and Asia mainly due to the low signal radiation angle the antenna produces. It pretty much beams signal out to the horizon and not up toward the sky at a shallow angle which would allow me to clear the hilltops. EDIT: Managed to get into Australia :D

    Thursday 1st August: I built a air core inductor to act as a loading coil for the antenna as it isn't tall enough to work at 6.925 MHz. It will work fine at 7.200 MHz so it isn't off by much. Coil does a perfect job of matching the antenna to the coax cable. I also began looking into a total redesign of the main transmitting antenna which I'll start on building soon. Had to work so I rebroadcasted Wednesdays broadcast rather than put together something when I got home.

    Friday 2nd August: Came home, put together a broadcast and put it on the air. Didn't do anything to the antenna or transmitter today.

    Saturday 3rd August: Worked all day and finished late so didn't broadcast today.

    Sunday 4th August: Tuned up antenna for a broadcast and found the SWR of the antenna danced all over the place when I cranked the power all the way up. Fried the choke coil in the antenna switch box and burned the coax plug out. Still haven't figured out what the fuck went wrong. Maybe moisture got in and caused some corrosion or a wire join worked loose, who knows. Spent all day trying to fix it so ran out of time to throw together a show. Rebuilt fried choke coil with heavier gauge wire so it won't overheat again and replaced plug. Basically a temp fix which I'll complete tomorrow sometime. Rebroadcasted Fridays show. Fix has altered the resonant freq of the antenna so I removed loading coil to get things working again. There is also a nasty RF feedback problem now which can be somewhat fixed by shutting the shed door while transmitting. Steel door and walls must shield the transmitting gear from the RF coming in from outside. May check to see if it is a grounding issue. Doesn't affect the broadcast but still is a pain in the arse.

    EDIT: Finally extended antenna and ran the antenna wire up the inside of the pipe to make things a bit safer for passers by. RF burns suck and bare exposed wire near ground level plus animals aren't a good combination. If only I had the money for a big kick arse linear amplifier to boost things up to say 1.5 kW.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited August 2013
    We have our first reception report everyone :D
    Hi Dak,

    You did get into Australia; I received your show here in Melbourne.

    You are the first SW pirate I have directly received in Australia, despite many-many years of trying.

    I received you on 6925 USB 0747-0836z August 4th 2013 (I missed the start), SINO of 3433

    I have a SDR hooked into a longwire draped over a tree in my backyard.

    I could ID some songs, others, not so good:

    Falling Stars - Serj Tankian
    Mr Jack - System of a Down
    Ghost - Slash & Ian Astbury
    Ghost Along the Mississippi - Down
    Self Bias Resistor - Fear Factory
    Straight Jacket Fashion - Chevelle
    SSTV

    I also caught the end of your broadcast tonight ending just before 0800z - I came home from work just as you were sending SSTV. BTW it would be to your advantage to use a large font for your station name in the SSTV, so it can be easily read, especially for people who can just hear you.

    SSTV Image:

    Radio%20Totse%20SSTV%202013_08_04_0835z.jpg

    Audio clip:

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35447607/Radio%20Totse/QSL%2Brx_reports/Radio_Totse_excerpt_20130804_6925kHz_USB.mp3


    EDIT: Check out this thread on HF Underground
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    Well as much as I hate social media, Radio Totse now has a Facebook page and Twitter account.

    facebook.com/radiototse

    twitter.com/RadioTotse
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited October 2013
    Followed, and shared/liked
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    I have finally documented the design of our transmit antenna. Sounds like a few listeners are very surprised to hear us across the US even though I broadcast from NZ. Must be a good designed antenna for a project based simply on trial and error :D.

    Here are the specs for those of you who are interested.

    Resonant Frequency: 6.060 MHz
    Total Height: 8.28 Meters
    Radial Length: 6.8 Meters x4
    Total Wire Length: 12.36 Meters
    Pipe Lengths: Upper: 0.95 Meters. Lower: 7.33 Meters
    Pipe Sizes: Upper: 20mm. Lower: 40mm
    Capacitive top loading via 4x 70cm long elements

    Diagram:

    Daktenna.jpg


    Pic:

    IMG_1095a.jpg
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited October 2013
    Is there anyway I can hear it from Pakistan?
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    I'm not too sure as to how well the signal will propagate to that part of the world. Maybe if I broadcasted early morning before local sunrise then perhaps there is a chance. You will need a single sideband shortwave radio that can tune to 6.925 MHz. It must be capable of single sideband reception, AM won't work.

    Or you can get a cheap RTL based TV tuner stick and use it as a software defined radio. You will need to mod it and build an antenna for it though. Ultimately its just a case of trialling a broadcast schedule to optimise transmission towards Pakistan. Currently I broadcast early evening local time which makes it afternoon in Pakistan. Basically shortwave signals travel further during the night or when its still dark at both the transmit site and receive site. At the moment my schedule optimises transmission into Australia and North America.

    It can be done though :D
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited October 2013
    Interesting, also I need to remove the who visited this page thingy from the bottom because damn, it really makes the page load slow as fuck.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    Dfg wrote: »
    Interesting, also I need to remove the who visited this page thingy from the bottom because damn, it really makes the page load slow as fuck.

    Ain't that the truth. It takes up nearly half the page and its all bots.
  • Darth BeaverDarth Beaver Meine Ehre heißt Treue
    edited October 2013
    Hmmm?

    http://www.thefrn.net/vines/read.php?3,236,236#msg-236

    IS this you they are talking about Dak?
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    Hmmm?

    http://www.thefrn.net/vines/read.php?3,236,236#msg-236

    IS this you they are talking about Dak?

    Sure is. There is some on HF Underground that have been talking about it as well. Also this http://www.thefrn.net/vines/read.php?3,131,131#msg-131

  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited October 2013
    And it's on Reddit as well:

    http://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1pdinl/100w_new_zealand_shortwave_pirate_radio_totse/


    Well I posted it there. Hopefully you will get more exposure bro. Great work.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited October 2013
    Dfg wrote: »
    And it's on Reddit as well:

    http://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/1pdinl/100w_new_zealand_shortwave_pirate_radio_totse/


    Well I posted it there. Hopefully you will get more exposure bro. Great work.

    Awesome stuff. Cheers bro :D.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    Currently giving some serious thought into doing live broadcasts. This would have the advantage of being able to interact with our listeners live on the broadcast, have call in via Skype or teamspeak as well as take requests and other such things. Ultimately it would require me to buy a mixer and decent microphone, have a studio PC or CD player and possibly a turntable to play vinyl as well. It would be good to have a decent studio to broadcast from rather than having to pre record everything as I do currently.

    We could eventually branch out into FM and TV broadcasting in the future and expand the Totse broadcast empire :D.

    Things like...

    Radio Totse Shortwave
    Totseans FM
    Totseans Television (informative content and hardcore pornographic movies and entertainment haha)
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited November 2013
    Willing to help out with live broadcasts. Plus I am trying to tie in the Radio angle. It works quite well.
  • spazzyspazzy Regular
    edited November 2013
    Dakt its me spazz.....


    ====\=========

    I thank you for carrying on &t radio ESPECIALY on the SW band Sir.

    I recently got my old IC-745 back and I will be helping in any way posible to keep the EM spectrum in the control of the hands of RFA I had to Tale down my 11m antenna and am now on 6966.6 kcs. OK? Shoot me an email its available in my account info i think...... I dont use. The Internet much these days...... To much government involvment so it May take a while for me to respond......


    I mainly use radio nowdays . Its safer there......




    Sorry for dissapearing so long from &t......... My heart and soul still os where ir has always been but I have also changed alot for the better. How can i contact you on the air?




    Btw you stole most all My ideas for &t radio........ But thats a good thing Because I was MIA after I ........... Well just contact me mang. And go check" the vines"



    ===================

    Dr spazzzzzz signing off o
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    spazzy wrote: »
    Dakt its me spazz.....


    ====\=========

    I thank you for carrying on &t radio ESPECIALY on the SW band Sir.

    I recently got my old IC-745 back and I will be helping in any way posible to keep the EM spectrum in the control of the hands of RFA I had to Tale down my 11m antenna and am now on 6966.6 kcs. OK? Shoot me an email its available in my account info i think...... I dont use. The Internet much these days...... To much government involvment so it May take a while for me to respond......


    I mainly use radio nowdays . Its safer there......




    Sorry for dissapearing so long from &t......... My heart and soul still os where ir has always been but I have also changed alot for the better. How can i contact you on the air?




    Btw you stole most all My ideas for &t radio........ But thats a good thing Because I was MIA after I ........... Well just contact me mang. And go check" the vines"



    ===================

    Dr spazzzzzz signing off o

    Spazz my long lost brother, nice to hear from you again. Radio Totse is still going strong. We will have to organise a sked at some stage on HF for a chat :D. Keep an ear out on 6925 USB and you may hear Radio Totse.
  • bornkillerbornkiller Administrator In your girlfriends snatch
    edited November 2013
    spazzy wrote: »

    Sorry for dissapearing so long from &t......... My heart and soul still os where ir has always been but I have also changed alot for the better.


    ===================

    Dr spazzzzzz signing off o

    It's good to know you're still alive bro! :cool:
    In fact it's even better to know I am as well....:p
  • spazzyspazzy Regular
    edited November 2013
    Its nice to kow im loved still ;) .

    I plan on homebrewing a "windom" antenna that will let me TX on all bands. Doing that will allow me to contact more parts of the world ............

    ==================
    &t for life.
    Dr.spazz out.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    spazzy wrote: »
    Its nice to kow im loved still ;) .

    I plan on homebrewing a "windom" antenna that will let me TX on all bands. Doing that will allow me to contact more parts of the world ............

    ==================
    &t for life.
    Dr.spazz out.

    The vertical of mine works well on 40 meters but I don't have a good place to hang my dipoles. Might set one up as an inverted vee antenna. One is cut for 20 meters and the other is cut for 40 meters.
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited November 2013
    Holy shit SPAZZ!

    How are ya mate?
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    Mention of Radio Totse on another station :D

    https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/35447607/Radio%20Totse/Shows/wor1684.mp3

    Mention of Radio Totse begins at 14:40
  • spazzyspazzy Regular
    edited November 2013
    That vertical is really kickin some ass dakt. Idk what kinda power your pushin but nz to usa is some serious ass kickin. Especialy for 6925.

    Im off 11m now. I got another ic-745 and its txin on 6966.6 with all its dipole might. (not much...)
    Scratch the windom, too finicky for my taste.... Im back to doing a fan dipole for 75-40-20-11m but for now i stay around 7mhz. Keep up the good work man!!


    Skynrd-that smell.....
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    spazzy wrote: »
    That vertical is really kickin some ass dakt. Idk what kinda power your pushin but nz to usa is some serious ass kickin. Especialy for 6925.

    Im off 11m now. I got another ic-745 and its txin on 6966.6 with all its dipole might. (not much...)
    Scratch the windom, too finicky for my taste.... Im back to doing a fan dipole for 75-40-20-11m but for now i stay around 7mhz. Keep up the good work man!!


    Skynrd-that smell.....

    Running 100 watts into that vertical. Not bad for a weekend project that I just threw together without too much thought. All it is, is some PVC drainage pipe, copper wire and rope.
  • spazzyspazzy Regular
    edited November 2013
    Wow, well its workin really well for you man. Nice work

    Damn i need to get the data off my old laptop drive...... I have a few thousand mp3s and even my old broadcast shows

    Right now all i got is 1 or 2 dozen songs and no audio editing software, therefore no IDs. Im using a phone for audio input to avoid groundloop issues. Runnin about 50-70 watts into dipole at 30ft. Using a portable reciever my audio seems quite nice, better then i expected.

    If you want, you could upload mp3s of your shows and gimme a link and i will rebroadcast from here.
  • DfgDfg Admin
    edited November 2013
    Fixed the who read the thread issue.
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    spazzy wrote: »
    Wow, well its workin really well for you man. Nice work

    Damn i need to get the data off my old laptop drive...... I have a few thousand mp3s and even my old broadcast shows

    Right now all i got is 1 or 2 dozen songs and no audio editing software, therefore no IDs. Im using a phone for audio input to avoid groundloop issues. Runnin about 50-70 watts into dipole at 30ft. Using a portable reciever my audio seems quite nice, better then i expected.

    If you want, you could upload mp3s of your shows and gimme a link and i will rebroadcast from here.

    Yeah I can put the mp3s from my shows on dropbox and link them here. Plus those without radios can have a listen as well.
    Dfg wrote: »
    Fixed the who read the thread issue.

    That makes a huge difference in loading time. Thanks mang.
  • chippychippy <b style="color:pink;">Global Moderator</b>
    edited November 2013
    Awwwww man, what happened to Totse TV???
  • DaktologistDaktologist Global Moderator
    edited November 2013
    chippy wrote: »
    Awwwww man, what happened to Totse TV???

    Its coming. Just haven't got the RF modulator for the transmitter sorted yet or built the antenna.
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