NooElec Dongle / NooElec 'Ham It Up' Upconverter

[Randy Berry]

Hey guys,

I just got my NooElec upconverter today, I can't get anything but birdies on it. Just to make sure I'm doing everything right, I've got a 10M dipole using twisted pair feedline, 9:1 balun. Ive got the LNB LO set to 125.000000MHz and nothing but noise and a few birdies on any band, any mode. I get a solid spike on 125.000MHz so I know the converter IF is working. I just can't get any HF signals. Even the AM B-Cast band is void. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,

Randy Berry

[Randy Berry]

I also tried a random length of wire with the same results. Nada 

[Randy Berry]

I'm using Gqrx 2.3.2 on Fedora 21 x64 UHF/VHF works flawlessly, so gqrx is working.

[David Montee]

Why are you using the LNB of 125 Mhz at all. That is for a satellite work. I have the EXACT setup as you do. I am a ham and my ham call sign is KO3O. Set the LNB to 0.000000000000000000 and everything should work out for you. I wish I could sent you a screen shot of what I have but can't. Just set the LNB to 0.0000000000000000 in the upper right corner and go for the freq you are looking for in the upper left box. My system works great.

Hope that helps.

David

On Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 10:10:20 PM UTC-5, Randy Berry wrote:

[Alexandru Csete]

Randy,

The LNB value has to be negative if you are using upconverter.
Consequently, if you are using a positive value you have probably
tuned to a frequency outside of the VHF receivers range.

Here is what I suggest:

Start with LNB = 0 and tune to a HF frequency of your choice + 125
MHz. Then decrease the LNB LO and whatch the frequency on the display
change. When you reach -125 MHz you should see the correct shortwave
frequency on the display.

Alex

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[Alexandru Csete]

On Fri, Jan 30, 2015 at 8:53 AM, David Montee <david....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Why are you using the LNB of 125 Mhz at all. That is for a satellite work.

The LNB LO can also be used when the main receiver is VHF/UHF but
there is a HF upconverter in front of it.

Alex

[Randy Berry]

Thanks David, Alex

Alex, your suggestion worked. The other problem is my rx conditions suck here. Stuck in an apartment with no outside antennas allowed. I was able to pull in WWV on 10 meg briefly so at least I know one thing is working. I've built an active antenna, just waiting on a few final parts, we'll see how that goes.

Thanks

Randy Berry