[HCDX]: IRCA's AM DX NewsFlash - 10/15/98
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[HCDX]: IRCA's AM DX NewsFlash - 10/15/98
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WELCOME TO IRCA's AM-DX NEWSFLASH - October 15 1998
Vol 4 No 28
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IRCA's web site... check it out!!
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5792/
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Deadline for next issue = Thursday, October 22 1998 @ 1930 UTC
Send all contributions to me @ philip_bytheway@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The AM DX NewsFlash is sent weekly from Raytheon in Mukilteo WA
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John Callarman (KA9SPA) will be hosting a Midwest DX Get-Together (all
bands) on October 23, 24 and 25, 1998 in Mount Vernon, IL. The hotel
site is unknown as of yet, but it will be in the I-57/I-64 and State
Road 15 area. Mount Vernon is one hour from downtown St. Louis. For
more information, please contact John Callarman at (618) 244-2067. Hams
can talk in on the closest on-air repeater, the 147.27 MHz (positive
offset) repeater in Centralia, IL.
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CPC DX tests
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CPC Chairman (NRC)
Bill Hale - phantom2@xxxxxxxx
PLEASE NOTE: Even if you don't hear a test, be sure and drop a card,
letter, or e-mail to the station personnel, thanking them for going to
the trouble to run a test!
Monday, October 19 1998 - WSGI-1100, Springfield, TN 1:00-6:00 am ELT.
(NRC)
Monday, October 19, 1998 - KEYZ-660, Williston, ND in intervals from
1:05-6:00 am ELT. (NRC)
Monday, October 26, 1998 - KTGG-1540, Spring Arbor, MI 12:30-1:30 AM
ELT (NRC). E-mail: lmunn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday, November 2, 1998 - KLER-1300, Orofino, ID 0300 - 0315 ELT.
(NRC)
Monday, November 16, 1998 - WODI-1230, Brookneal, VA 2:00-???? am ELT.
(NRC)
Monday, November 23, 1998 - KQTY-1490, Borger TX 0159-0600 ELT (NRC)
Monday, November 30, 1998 - KQTY-1490, Borger TX 0159-0600 ELT (NRC)
(ELT = Eastern Listening Time, i.e. the local time in the Eastern time
zone). Please remember, what's listed as being on, say, Monday *may*
be what you think of as Sunday night!
DETAILS:
Monday, October 19, 1998 - WSGI-1100, Springfield, TN will conduct
tests between 0100 and 0600 ELT. The test will be comprised of C&W
music along with Morse Code IDs. This daytime-only station will be
operating with 1000 watts non-directional. Reception reports may be
sent to:
Mr. Bill Gray
General Manager
WSGI-AM
P.O. Box 909
Springfield, TN 37172-0909
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
Monday, October 19, 1998 - KEYZ-660, Williston, ND will conduct tests
at various intervals from 0105 to 0130 and prior to the news at :00
from 0200 and 0600 ELT. The test will consist of 1000 Hz tones of about
30 seconds duration along with Morse Code IDs during the 0105 to 0130
period, commencing after ABC Network News and local news, and the code
ID at the top of the hour preceding ABC News from 0200 to 0600 ELT.
Their format is C&W music. KEYZ will be on their nighttime directional
pattern sending 26,895 watts ERP toward 018 degrees True. Reception
reports may be sent to:
Mr. Earl R. Gross, WD0APE
Chief Engineer
KEYZ-AM
410 6th Street East
Williston, ND 58801-5552
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
KTGG-1540 will conduct a CPC test Monday, October 26, 1998 between
12:30 and 1:30 AM Eastern Time. The test will be comprised of music, in
the forms of marches, classical, and Christian contemporary, plus Morse
code IDs. KTGG will be using 470 watts non-directional. During the
test, phone calls will be accepted at 800-750-9723 . . . BUT, QSLs will
only be issued following a written report. E-Mail reports may be sent
to lmunn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Reception reports may be sent to:
Mr. Lewis Munn
KTGG-AM
Spring Arbor College
106 East Main
Spring Arbor, MI 49283
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
Monday, November 2, 1998 - KLER-1300, Orofino, ID will conduct DX tests
between 0300 and 0315 ELT. The test will be comprised of tones and
Morse Code IDs. They will be using 5 kW non-directional. Reception
reports (tapes preferred) may be sent to:
Mr. Jeff Jones
Owner
KLER-AM
P.O. Box 32
Orofino, ID 83544-0032
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
Monday, November 16, 1998 - WODI-1230, Brookneal, Virginia will test at
0200 Eastern Time for an unspecified period with 1000 Hz tones, Morse
code IDs, and . . . Cajun fiddle music.
Reports may be sent to:
Mr. Dave Marthouse, President/GM
WODI
1230 Radio Road
Brookneal, VA 24528-3141
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
KQTY - 1490, Borger, Texas will test on Monday, November 23, 1998 AND
Monday, November 30, 1998. Code IDs will accompany their normal
top-of-the-hour station ID at their allocated network ID breaks at
59:46 past the hour from 0159:46 to 0559:46 Eastern Time on both dates.
KQTY is an SMN/Real Country affiliate. They will be using their normal
1000 watt non-directional signal.
Borger is located 61 miles northeast of Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle.
Reception reports should be sent to:
KQTY DX Reception
Mr. George Grover, Station Manager
PO Box 165
Borger, TX 79008-0165
(Arranged by Bill Hale for the NRC CPC.)
Also, if you hear a test, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know, via e-mail or the
the newsgroup! And, if you send a reception report to a station, please
remember to include return postage with your report...
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HOT STUFF
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Paul Ormandy - paulorm@xxxxxxxx
Here's a DX-opportunity for you Patrick! KUJ may be off for a while!
MARKN7EIJ@xxxxxxx
Had to work in Walla Walla 10-8 and 10-9 and on arraiving in town saw a
firetruck at the xmitter and the building was Smoking!!!! Went to 1420
and DEAD and did not hear it our departure this am. FYI 73 Mark
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THE "X" BAND
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Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
1660 WQSN MI, KALAMAZOO hrd mixing with KXOL with "One on One"
Sports, ID at 0559.50 EDT on 10/12 was covered up by KXOL,
but by 0605, WQSN was mostly on top, with a local spot for
a Car Dealer, giving address & phone number in Kalamazoo.
Then at 0605, I heard "You are listening to WQSN" More
spots, National ones, then back into One On One Sports. I
am now up to date, having logged all 15 current X Banders
on the air. (PM-OR)
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DX-midAMerica@xxxxxxxxx
1560 KCJJ will sign off for good sometime after 2PM Central on OCT
13. It will sign on on 1630 Wednesday the 14th, probably
before 6am Central, per Station Manager "Captain" Steve
Bridges.
***
Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
In a phone call today to KCJJ, they have been testing and have been
reported all over the US. Strong reports from Arizona. They are going
to sign on with 1630 khz at 0100 EDT 10/14 with the new TX (2200 PDT
10/13).
Just after LSS I have been picking up a fair signal from some playing
the same rock song over and over. So far I haven't caught an anmt, but
I presume it is KCJJ testing. The are supposed to pop on at Mifnight
CDT (0500 UTC).
1630 KHZ-KCJJ-IA, IOWA CITY, weak to fair signals with same song
playing over and over w/no anmts at 2200 EDT 10/13. Then at
2300, just an OC for a while. But by 0000 EDT 10/14, then was
running Hot AC sormat, and many "The New 16-30, KCJJ" Ids, local
spots, News on Iowa at 0055 EDT, Sports, weather. ex 1560.
(PM-OR)
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Bill Harms - wharms@xxxxxxxxx
I am hearing something on 1630 with rock music. ID as 1630AM 13
October 1998 1108 PM Eastern time
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William C. Demmery - wdemmery@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Just a note to tell you that KCJJ-1630, Iowa City, is on the air with a
big, big signal.
Also overnight (Oct. 13/14), a strong, steady open carrier on 1680,
noted both here in Ottawa by me, and by Shawn Axelrod in Winnipeg.
Someone's testing.
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Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
1630 TIS MICHIGAN, Micigan Dept. of Transportation station(s) hrd
weakly at 0630 EDT 10/13 very weak at best with man ancr
stating "Michigan......Highway Advisory Radio......
1630......Highway Advisory Radio u/o unid rock music
station (not KCJJ, as I phoned them). (PM-OR)
1630 UNID Rock station weak u/o HAR station (not KCJJ) at 0632 10/13.
I wonder if this is the pirate being reported. Very poor.
(PM-OR)
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Kent Winrich - kwin@xxxxxxxxxx
Send your QSL report to my attention and I'll mail you a confirmation.
WQSN-AM1660
% Bill Wertz
4200 West Main Street
Kalamazoo MI 49006
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INDIVIDUAL LOGGINGS
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Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
810 WGY-NEW YORK, Schenectady, heard w/KGO off at 0306 with wxcast,
Clear skies, a couple mentions of "WGY", very weak, bad 820
splash. Haven't heard WGY since 1965! (PM-OR)
810t KXIO TX, Crane, possibly the run running the R&B program "Night
Train" hosted by a Black Female, at 0406 EDT, I believe I heard
her say "You're listening to Night Train on KXIO". In the NRC
log they are listed as SS Rel. Anyone know of a format change
here? This on 10/11. KGO off. (PM-OR)
810t WHB MO, KANSAS CITY, prob the one with female w/local talk show,
giving 1-800 number, sounded like temps given for area, and said
"W-H-B Talk", poor w/820 splat at 0420 EDT 10/11. KGO off.
(PM-OR)
810 UNID Does anyone know who would be running a WSB-750 talk show on
810 khz? They give the number as 1-800-WSB-TALK? This is at
0530 EDT, Sun Morning. KGO is off under 800 EDT. Any help wouls
be appreciated.
810 KBHB SD, STURGIS, fair to poor with mucho splash from 820 (KGNW)
at 0830 EDT with old C&W mx "You Are My Sunshine" by Bing Crosby
and "Cattle Call" by Eddy Arnold. Several sports, most
unreadable, but caught one at 0830 EDT for Health Care with a
"347" prefix and a "KBHB, 810" call ID. Then s/on or boost of
power from a XE with info on Sonora that wiped out KBHB mostly
This is on 10/11. KGO still off. (PM-OR)
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MISC ITEMS
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Glenn Hauser - wghauser@xxxxxxxxxxx
World of Radio Time Correxion
One of the new times on WWCR is half an hour earlier than publicized
previously: UT Monday 0500 on 3210. So the WWCR lineup is:
Thu 1600 and 2030 on 15685, Sat 2230 on 5070, Sun 0630 and 0930 on
5070, Mon 0500 on 5070, Tue 1230 on 15685. All these times shift one UT
hour later from Oct 25, on the same frequencies. Regards, Glenn
Hauser, WORLD OF RADIO.
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Paul Ormandy - paulorm@xxxxxxxx
Latest QSL:
1690 WMDM Lexington Park, MD. Pers VL in 10 days for report with 60c
m/s. V/s Stacy Reynolds, Prog Dir. QTH: P O Box 600, Lexington
Park, MD 20653.
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Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
NEW QSL
1674 EMU PLAINS PRISON CAMP. rec. QSL letter in 15d from taped report
from Peter M. Schultz-Eng.-24 Kurri Street-Loftus, NSW 2232,
Australia. 400 watts. Australian QSL #212. (PM-OR)
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Doug Smith W9WI - w9wi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
During a travel program on PBS last night, they made a brief visit to
ZJB Radio on Montserrat. (the station is broadcasting regular "volcano
reports" - much of the island has been left uninhabitable by eruptions)
The sign on the outside of the building mentioned 92.3 and 95.5 FM, but
made no mention of the AM frequency. I don't remember if anyone's
heard this station lately - if not, the AM transmitter is probably in
the "exclusion zone" and off the air...
I also noted on the AP wire at work that KXL-750 has been sold to Paul
Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. (y'know, if Microsoft's radio stations
are as reliable than their software, this could be one of the best
things that ever happened to AM DX<G>!)
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via Bill Harms - wharms@xxxxxxxxx
VOA 1710
Just wanted to pass this along in case you haven't received this yet.
from Ted Wendland
The only info I have on the VOA 1710 from Dan Sys is that it has been
there pretty much every morning this past week around 5:00AM PDT...and
ID's as Voice of America Spanish Service.
He usually does a bandscan before heading off to work each morning, and
has only noticed it there this past week. If I manage to get up that
early, I'll check it myself...
He taped it the first day he heard it and the signal was very loud and
clear.
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Kent Winrich - kwin@xxxxxxxxxx
Sunday I had the chance to drive out to the 1190-AM KLUV Dallas TWELVE
tower night site. I took a few pics (Hopefully they will turn out),
and well as 1080 KRLD two tower site.
KLUVs site was sooooo huge, I was kind of photographically unprepared,
but I did get a few shots at dusk from the broadside.
I will place KLUV, KRLD, and WLWs tower pics on my site as soon as I
can get the chance to scan them in.
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Wien, Robert - robert.wien@xxxxxxxx
1998 Mysterious last broadcast for top radio show PAHRUMP, Nev. (AP) --
Art Bell, host of America's most popular overnight radio show, gave his
``final broadcast'' early today, alluding to a mysterious event that
occurred to his family about a year ago and has since escalated. ``What
you are listening to, is my final broadcast,'' Bell told his vast
listening audience before signing off at about 3 a.m. PDT. ``I told you
that there was an event, a threatening terrible event occurred to my
family, which I could not tell you about. Because of that event, and a
succession of other events, what you're listening to right now, is my
final broadcast on the air,'' the 51-year-old Bell said. ``This is it
folks, I'm going off the air and will not return.'' Without
elaboration, Bell said he will explain later. ``It's not that I want to
hold anything back from my audience, however, for the protection of my
family, until it is otherwise revealed, I can't discuss it, I won't
discuss it. And if you were in my position, you would do exactly the
same thing.'' Bell's home telephone was disconnected today and he
couldn't be reached. It was a surprising announcement for the
insomniacs and late-shift workers, some 15 million strong, who listen
and call in to Bell's ``Coast-to-Coast'' talk show. Reaching more than
400 stations nationwide, it has become the country's most listened-to
overnight radio show. Stunned listeners left messages on Bell's website
(www.artbell.com). ``I can only ponder the MANY scenarios and
possibilities. I hope that it is revealed very soon. Doesn't this make
one think, 'how safe and free are we?''' wrote Johnda Webb. ``I am
sorry that he chose to dump us all into the abyss,'' wrote Sandy
Willson. Bell is notorious for wacky talk show fare: If you've suddenly
recovered a memory of being kidnapped by aliens or have a theory on
cattle mutilations or think the CIA is following you, no one wants to
hear your story more than Bell -- and his audience. ``I'll talk about
anything,'' he recently said from his modest desert home here, which
also serves as his studio. ``I allow those phones to ring and I go
straight to it. As a result, I get some very, very strange phone
calls.'' Show topics have included speculation on the origin of a
charred and pitted metal sphere found in a Texas field, a show about a
1957 Chevy that apparently fell from the sky into a Los Angeles
neighborhood, the disappearance of a communications satellite from its
orbit and a chat with abductee celebre Whitley Streiber. Bell's final
words to his audience today: ``So for now and the foreseeable future,
that's it! That is the end of this man's broadcast career. So, thank
you, and good-bye.'' Covington, Ky.-based Jacor Communications Inc.,
which distributes Bell's show to radio stations, referred telephone
inquiries to its Los Angeles syndication arm, Premiere Radio Network.
``We will be playing best-of shows until further notice until we find
out what's going on,'' Premiere Radio spokeswoman Mir Hendrickson said.
Last week, Cincinnati-based Clear Channel Communications Inc. announced
it was taking over Jacor in a $3.4 billion stock deal, creating a
450-station radio station powerhouse. If given regulatory approval next
year, the buyout will reduce to three the number of major players in
the rapidly changing -- and consolidating -- radio industry. The other
two are Chancellor Media Corp. and CBS Corp.
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Joe Fahrenholtz - joe.fahrenholtz@xxxxxxx
Drake R8A and R8B shortwave radio control
This software may be of interest to some of your club members.
GO R8A v1.4 is a DOS based program for controlling the Drake R8A
communications receiver. It runs on 386 and newer PCs. This program can
make using your radio a little easier if you don't mind typing
commands. There are enhanced functions, such as:
Backup- Copies channel memory from the radio to an ASCII data file.
Store mem- Copies channels from an ASCII data file to radio memory.
Go- String search, go to station stored in radio memory.
Scan A-B Special --\
Scan Freq Special ---Specialized scan functions that do not alter
Scan List Special --/ radio memory.
Channel Data- Single screen input of channel data to radio memory.
Set Time- Simplifies setting of PC/radio local and UTC time.
Schedule- For scheduling listening or unattended taping.
SPECTRUM- x-y plot of signal strength vs. frequency, with ability to
slew across the display, across all or any portion of radio coverage.
SPECTRUM is a new, powerful scanning tool for v1.4.
This shareware program is fully functional with complete documentation.
Special requirements: Requires Drake R8A or R8B communications receiver
properly connected at a serial (COM) port.
Joe Fahrenholtz, 3711 Mt. Carmel Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45244-1617 USA
E-mail: joe_fahrenholtz@xxxxxxxx
This version replaces gor8a13, which is widely available via ftp.
At this writing, gor8a14 is available at:
ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/ham/rigctrl
http://www.filelibrary.com [new files]
The first 10 people to try this new version and send me comments
will get free registration.
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Ragnar Danneskjold - Maricopa County, Arizona - lwdxer@xxxxxxxx
I have been playing with a Infinity car stereo and a Sony SRF-42 AM
Stereo / FM Stereo [p/n 12-127 at Radio Shack] checking out who is AM
Stereo and who is not I am amazed at how many AM stereo signals there
are out there and how few broadcasters are not in AM stereo.
The Infinity car radio out of an old Imperial is excellent and an all
around winner. The only drawback is that the unit only recelves up to
1610 kHz. This is not what I want to talk about. What I want to talk
about is the Walkman like Sony SRF-42. I want to let you all know what
you will get if you run across one.
The Sony SRF-42 is not a DX rig. Don't even think about it. The set is
about 3" wide by 4 1/2" tall by 1" thick. It is about 6 oz and feels
empty when you pick it up. There is a big power switch in the front and
on the top is the tuning dial. A belt clip is provided.
The position of the tuning dial makes it hard to use this unit with a
Select-A-Tenna. The tuning dial is sticky and does not respond well
when the knob is rotated. The dial is not easily turned. The volume
control is on the side of the set and is easily bumped with the volume
going up rapidly and giving the ears quite a shock.
Both tuning dial and volume control are buttons are totally exposed.
The vernier dial scale is very small and hard to read, but what do you
expect in a walkman sized set? A digital readout would have been much
preferred.
Headphones are provided. They are Sony's TRH-1 entry level units and I
would advise getting a better set. I am using a set of Sony MDR-005E
headphones which are not top of the line, but sound much better than
the provided TRH-1 set.
The unit has a three position switch on the side for FM St / AM mono /
AM St. The switch is a slider. There is no stereo indicator for AM
stereo or FM stereo. The SRF-42 will only receive Motorola's C-QUAM
stereo format and meets the AMAX standards for quality. The only other
rig that meets the AMAX standard I can think of is the mono General
Electric Superadio III. All others are heard as AM mono. The sound from
the unit is excellent in AM stereo and you will be amazed that the
quality rivals most FM stereo and AM stereo even sounds better than
some of the FM stations in the Phoenix area. The FM section of the is
your typical Walkman FM stereo. Nothing flashy about it.
The little rig does a good job with AM stereo on locals but on dx
signals, youch! The platform motion in stereo is disconcerting and will
make you change to mono quickly.
Sony says that you should get 48 hours listening to FM stereo and 40
hours listening to AM stereo out of the two AA batteries you have to
buy and install. There is no DC jack for a wall wart. The thing is
guaranteed for a year by Sony and the cost at Radio Shack was $29.99.
I connected my SRF-42 to the AUX inputs of my Bose Wave Radio and it
sounded EXCELLENT!
AM stereos can be made and made cheaply if this is the case. I for the
life of me can't figure out why manufacturers can not put the cheap 47"
chips in their rigs and sell them as a feature.
Overall for a Walkman type radio I would say that it gets a thumbs up.
I really enjoy mine and have been able to hear some incredibly nice AM
stereo out this receiver. This model has been discontinued in North
America but they still can be found at Radio Shack and Fry's
Electronics Stores.
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Ragnar Danneskjold - Maricopa County, Arizona - lwdxer@xxxxxxxx
I came into a little windfall from working as an election judge on the
last primary election here in Arizona and I sent half to the black hole
where the bills get paid and kept half. I decided to pick up a nice
radio on sale at Radio Shack. The regular price on this unit is $79.99
and is currently on sale for $39.97. This unit is being discontinued so
don't mess around if you decide you want one. Go get it before they are
gone.
The Optimus 12-604A is an AM/FM/VHF/UHF high performance receiver. The
tuning range is MW: 530 - 1710 kHz, VHF 59 - 108 mHz and 178 - 216.5
mHz, UHF 474 - 807 mHz. It is split up into 7 bands, AM, FM, TV1, TV2,
UHF 1, UHF 2, UHF 3.
It is a look-a-like for the Optimus 12-603 its AM/FM only counterpart
which also is on sale for $39.99. Both of these rigs look a LOT like
the GE SRIII and invites the inevitable comparison. Comparing the
12-604A is a lot like comparing apples and oranges in ways because they
do different things, but not really since one of the big selling points
is the TRF high performance AM capability on the Optimus 12-604A. It
even says in gold letters "HIGH PERFORMANCE" across the front.
Physical comparison between this set and the GE SRIII leaves a little
to be desired in the case of the 12-604A but not too much. The radios
are the same size and shape. The GE SRIII has a 6" main speaker and 2"
tweeter. The 12-604A has a 5" speaker and 1 1/2" tweeter. On both rigs
there are knobs for treble, bass and volume. The knobs have a little
locator bump on the knobs for use of the rig in the dark on the GE
SRIII, the Optimus 12-604A does not have this feature. The tuning knob
on the SR-III has a locator/ease of tuning finger recess, the Optimus
12-604A does not. The GE SRIII has a wide/narrow switch for AM and the
Optimus 12-604A does not. I don't know that this is a plus or minus
since the wide switch on the GE SRIII does nothing except keep you from
using the set as a DX rig.
The GE SRIII has a mono headset output that allows you to plug in a
"Walkman" type set of stereo headphones and get sound out of both sides
of the headset, the Optimus 12-604 is a strictly mono output also but
you must use a mono to stereo 1/8" adapter to get sound out of both
sides of the headset. Both radios run on 6 "D" cell batteries or AC
power. On the GE SRIII you do not have to move a switch to get AC
power. Just plug the set into a wall and the GE SRIII automatically
runs off the AC mains. With the Optimus 12-604A you must position a
switch on the back of the set just behind the earphone adaptor to AC or
DC. Both sets have external antenna terminals and telescopic whip
antennas for all reception other than AM. AM is received using a
ferrite rod antenna. The GE SRIII has a 200mm antenna and I believe the
Optimus 12-604A has a 150mm antenna. The telescopic whip on the GE
SRIII is about 2" longer than the whip on the Optimus 12-604A.
AM reception on the GE SRIII is noted for being the best for all
portables on MW BCB. The Optimus 12-604A gives it a good run for the
money. With the Optimus 12-604A being on sale, it may be better for the
money paid. The GE SRIII is somewhat more selective and ever so
slightly more sensitive but only very slightly so. I say it is more
selective because the GE SRIII outperforms the Optimus 12-604A in this
area in the X-band. There is some difference, but it is not that great
here. On FM the Optimus 12-604A is every bit the equal if not
considerably better than the GE SRIII. Again there is almost not a
dimes worth of difference between the two on AM but the FM on the
Optimus 12-604 really shines.
Here's where the comparison ends because the Optimus 12-604A does what
the GE SRIII does not. The TV bands are receivable and the GE SRIII was
not designed for that. This set is very nice in the fact that it
receives the sound for *ALL* the over air TV frequencies from 2 through
69. It does a fine job at it too. I received sound from stations in
Tucson 120 miles SW and Prescott, AZ 100 miles north with no problem. I
picked up some rarely heard LPTV stations around the area.
The set is well worth the money, especially since you can get this $80
radio for $40. That is $10 -15 less than the GE SRIII and you get the
full TV bands as well. It is a good deal.
If you want the ultimate AM/FM portable, stick with the GE SRIII, but
the Optimus 12-604A is a very good buy and a strong challenger to the
GE SRIII. I suspect that the company that builds the GE SRIII in China
is the same company that builds the Optimus 12-604A and that is the
reason why the sets are so close in performance.
My take on it is thumbs up. Get `em before they are gone.
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A DXers TECHNICAL GUIDE
The IRCA is proud to announce the release of the 3rd Edition of its
Technical Guide. This 156 page book answers questions on receiver and
antenna theory (how to improve their performance), how audio filters
and loop antennas can improve DX (and hints on their construction), how
to build a beverage and phasing unit, and much more. All updated to
1998.
Only $10.00 for IRCA/NRC/MWC members, $12.00 for non-members
(overseas airmail add $2.50).
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IRCA Mexican Log, 5th Edition
The IRCA is proud to announce the release of the 5th edition of its
MEXICAN LOG. The IRCA MEXICAN LOG log lists all AM stations in Mexico
by frequency, including call letters, state, city, day/night power,
slogans, schedule in UTC/GMT, formats, networks and notes. In
addition, stations that have changed frequency since 1996 are
cross-referenced on the old frequency. The call letter index gives
call, frequency, city and state. The city index (listed by state, then
city) includes frequency, call and day/night power. The log has been
completely updated from the 1996 edition and carefully cross-checked by
IRCA members in Mexico and the US. This is an indispensable reference
for anyone who hears Mexican radio stations. Size is 8 1/2" x 11" and
three hole punched for easy binding (optional).
Prices: IRCA/NRC members - $7.00 (US/Canada/Mexico/seamail), $8.00
(rest of the Americas airmail), $8.50 (Europe/Asia airmail), $9.00
(Australia/New Zealand airmail). Non-members: add $2.00 to the above
prices. Make checks out to: Phil Bytheway.
Order TODAY from: IRCA Bookstore, 9705 Mary NW, Seattle WA 98117-2334
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If you note any AM changes (call, format, slogan, etc), please send
them to the NRC Log coordinator (Wayne Heinen) @ nrclog@xxxxxxx
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END of 10/15/98 IRCA's "AM DX NewsFlash"
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