{"id":39365,"date":"2019-08-30T07:10:50","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T11:10:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=39365"},"modified":"2019-08-30T13:20:50","modified_gmt":"2019-08-30T17:20:50","slug":"jacks-tailgate-dxpedition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/jacks-tailgate-dxpedition\/","title":{"rendered":"Jack’s Tailgate DXpedition"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Jack Blanke (WB5LVP), who shares the following:<\/p>\n

Really enjoyed your article yesterday<\/a>, and felt compelled to respond with a similar DX’ing jaunt of mine two days ago.<\/p>\n

I found myself in the same mindset and ventured out to a nearby peaceful fishing and yacht harbor to try out my new Tecsun PL-380<\/a>. I have had it about 10 days and I have figured out that I have about all the urban power line and electrical noise I can stand at my home location, so I was headed out to give the 380 a chance to exercise its ears.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I found the most deserted corner of the parking lot at the harbor, positioned my pick-up for maximum shade, dropped the tail gate to provide a work surface, strung out about 75 feet of stranded #14 insulated copper wire and positioned my portable chair for DX action.<\/p>\n

I did not have a copy of the WRTH, but I do use an iPhone app called Shortwave Broadcast Schedules by Black Cat<\/a> that has really worked well for me and I highly recommend. With great anticipation, I flipped the power switch and enjoyed the most beautiful silence from man made electrical noise that I have ever experienced!! I could not believe how much quieter the receiver was in a more more pristine environment.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jack’s ultralight Tailgate DXpedition kit<\/p><\/div>\n

I opened the app to search for some DX\u2019ing frequency possibilities, began tuning the bands and I was amazed at the number of short wave broadcast stations, the strength of their signals and the pure listening quality coming out of my 380, which is little larger than a pack of cigarettes!! I have been a licensed ham since 1970 and at one point back in the early 1970\u2019s, I had a complete R. L. Drake HF station which might be called \u201cBoat Anchors\u201d by today\u2019s standards. I was now listening to stations from around the globe on a receiver that comfortably fit in my pocket and a long wire strung out to a nearby \u201cNO PARKING\u201d sign post.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Tecsun PL-380<\/p><\/div>\n

Within a matter of a couple of relaxing hours, I had logged and enjoyed listening to Radio Habana, Voice of Vietnam, China Radio Int., Voice of Nigeria, Radio Romania Int., KBS World Radio and several other stateside shortwave broadcasts from Miami, Nashville & Lebanon Tennessee. I was totally thrilled at the performance of the radio\/antenna combo and I anxiously await the opportunity to visit the area again for another Tailgate DXpedition!! I am particularly looking forward to fall days and cooler temps to go lose myself in the reverie of the shortwave bands, this time with a few brewskies in the ice chest, along with lunch.<\/p>\n

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and I could not help but relate to your article<\/a> when I read it!! Next time, I plan to photograph my Tailgate DXpedition, simple though it may be to share with others. I have been away from radio for some time, but have maintained my amateur license for nearly 50 years. Now that I am retired and have more time, I plan to enjoy my long lost love of radio once again.<\/p>\n

Thanks for your web sight. I look forward to the newsletters and enjoy its resources.<\/p>\n

Take care.<\/p>\n

\u201973\u2019s<\/div>\n
Jack Blanke<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Jack!<\/p>\n

Isn’t it amazing how the shortwave bands simply open up when you remove all of the urban noise that plagues our receivers? That’s the brilliance behind impromptu DXpeditions. Plus, I’ve always believed that radio is best enjoyed outdoors.<\/p>\n

We look forward to seeing some photos and a report of your next Tailgate DXpedition, Jack!<\/p>\n

\n

Do you enjoy the SWLing Post?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Please consider supporting us via\u00a0Patreon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Coffee<\/span>\u00a0Fund<\/span><\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Blanke (WB5LVP), who shares the following: Really enjoyed your article yesterday, and felt compelled to respond with a similar DX’ing jaunt of mine two days ago. I found myself in the same mindset and ventured out to a nearby peaceful fishing and yacht harbor to try out my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[399,3194,3,43,5,3727],"tags":[4098,7975,7974,7976,478],"class_list":["post-39365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dxpeditions","category-guest-posts","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-swlers","category-ultralight-dx","tag-dxpeditions","tag-jack-blanke-wb5lvp","tag-radio-therapy","tag-tailgate-dxing","tag-tecsun-pl-380"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aeV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":40394,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/jacks-mediumwave-lazy-susan-mag-loop-system\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":0},"title":"Jack’s Mediumwave Lazy Susan Mag Loop System","author":"Thomas","date":"October 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Blanke (WB5LVP), who writes: I stole this idea from another SWLing Post contributor and I hope he won\u2019t mind. However, placing the Ferrite Antenna near the center of the loop does enhance its performance and the Lazy Susan was something I had been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tecsun-Lazy-Susan-AN200-Loop-Antenna-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tecsun-Lazy-Susan-AN200-Loop-Antenna-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tecsun-Lazy-Susan-AN200-Loop-Antenna-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11220,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/tecsun-pl-380-displaying-temperature-in-fahrenheit\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":1},"title":"Tecsun PL-380: Displaying temperature in Fahrenheit","author":"Thomas","date":"October 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I have owned the Tecsun PL-380 for years now. When my buddy Mike (K8RAT) recently asked if the temperature display could be switched from Celsius to Fahrenheit, I gave him a firm \"no\" as a response. A few hours later, Mike wrote back: \"Just found out that the PL -380\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How To"","block_context":{"text":"How To","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-PL380-Temperature","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Tecsun-PL380-Temperature.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10496,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/field-recording-with-the-tecsun-pl-380-and-transcend-mp330\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":2},"title":"Field Recording with the Tecsun PL-380 and Transcend MP330","author":"Thomas","date":"August 11, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, London Shortwave, shared photos of his portable recording kit on Twitter yesterday.\u00a0It consists of a Tecsun PL-380, Transcend MP330, in ear headphones, and a simple clip-on antenna (supplied with the PL-380). He recorded\u00a0Radio New Zealand International with this gear. listen to \u2018Radio New Zealand Int. received in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"PL-380","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/PL-380.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/PL-380.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/PL-380.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3639,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/05\/the-tecsun-pl-380-a-great-travel-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":3},"title":"The Tecsun PL-380: a great travel radio","author":"Thomas","date":"May 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Alan, commented on our \"most durable radios for travel\" post: You should include the Tecsun PL-380 [on] the list. It is an excellent tuner with good selectivity. The ETM feature was made for a traveler. The radio is cheap enough that it won't bother you if you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/1-TecsunPL-380travel-296x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13006,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/04\/tecsun-pl-380-murrays-new-travel-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":4},"title":"Tecsun PL-380: Murray’s new travel radio","author":"Thomas","date":"April 18, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Murray, recently took the Tecsun PL-380 with him on a trip to view the solar eclipse and then to\u00a0Morocco for an extended excursion. He writes: We flew out of Billund Denmark for the [solar] eclipse flight. A couple of days after the eclipse we flew to Cassablanca\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun PL-380 in the Morocco desert. ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/P1050461_001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/P1050461_001-1024x768.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/P1050461_001-1024x768.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11482,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/11\/shoot-out-results-top-ultra-portable-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":39365,"position":5},"title":"Shoot-out results: Top ultra-portable shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"November 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Thanks to all who participated in our ultra-portable shoot-out! A little over a week ago, I posted recordings of shortwave broadcasts, weak and strong, in an attempt to evaluate which recording\u2013thus which radio\u2013our listeners prefer. I conducted this test on the three radios pictured above: the Tecsun PL-310ET, the CountyComm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tecsun-ShootOut","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Tecsun-ShootOut.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Tecsun-ShootOut.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Tecsun-ShootOut.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Tecsun-ShootOut.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Tecsun-ShootOut.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39365","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39365"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39365\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}