Tropical Band DXing at home with Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop

2-jungleRecently I have spent a little more time listening out for Tropical Band stations from my shack in Oxford UK, attempting to emulate some of the very nice signals I have previously recorded out on DX’peditions. The obvious problems with this (and they are numerous) include the relatively weak signal strength of many tropical band stations, the ubiquitous blanket of QRM, resulting in generally poor SNR, lack of space for a large antenna……need I go on?! Fortunately, the Elad FDM DUO has proven to be a very senstive and selective receiver, capable of, at times, incredible SNR, coupled with almost limitless signal conditioning options and SSB, SYNC, ECSS etc. Throw the Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop into the mix (not literally!) and you have a very powerful Tropical Band receive set-up. The Wellbrook is able to null most (although not all) QRM in my shack and that really can make the difference between simply observing a carrier and actually hearing audio. Clearly one cannot expect to hear DX at home under heavy QRM as well as you might outdoors, however, the following stations were logged in the past month or so, with respectable signals, with the ALA1530 indoors:

Video links also follow below, thanks for reading/ watching.

Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log video; Radio Logos 4810 kHz, Peru

Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log video; Radio Cultura Ondas Manaus 4845 kHz, Brazil

Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log video; AIR Bhopal 4810 kHz, India

Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log video; Rádio Educação Rural 4925.2 kHz, Tefé, Brazil

Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log video; Radio Mosoj Chaski 3310 kHz, Bolivia

 

Clint Gouveia is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Clint actively publishes videos of his shortwave radio excursions on his YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log. Clint is based in Oxfordshire, England.

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5 thoughts on “Tropical Band DXing at home with Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop

  1. Gene Quigley

    After sifting through some of the articles here on this site,, I think that the Sangean ANT-60 sounds really good.

    Gene

    Reply
  2. Gene Quigley

    Hi. I have a Tecsun PL-660 and I was wondering about an antenna, possibly one for inside. What are some of the antenna possibilities for this radio??

    Thank-you

    Gene

    Reply
  3. Ivan Cholakov - NO2CW

    Great job. You’d think that being located in Florida I can do tropical band DX but no…not many signals coming up here. I get better tropical band DX when I try from locations up North than here in Florida.

    Reply
  4. Thomas

    That’s impressive, Clint. It’s so difficult to fight that combo of weak signals, QRM and limited antenna space. The great thing is, by getting out in the field so often, you’ll be there when those amazing openings happen and the stars align!

    Thanks for sharing!
    Thomas

    Reply

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