[HCDX] AM DX Newsflash - 4/19/01
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[HCDX] AM DX Newsflash - 4/19/01
***********************************************************
WELCOME TO THE AM-DX NEWSFLASH - April 19 2001
Vol 7 No 3
***********************************************************
Deadline for next issue - Thursday, April 26 2001 @ 1400 UTC
Send all contributions to me @ phil@xxxxxxxxxxx
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
X XX XX XX X XXXXXXX
X X X X X X X X X X
XXXXX X XX X X X X XXXX
X X X X X X X X
X X X X X XX X
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
HOT ITEMS
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
2001 M STREET RADIO DIRECTORY (10th Edition)
The IRCA Bookstore is proud to announce that the 'M Street
Corporation' has agreed to offer a discount on their 2001 'M Street
Radio Directory' to DXers ordering through the IRCA Bookstore. The
Directory contains a complete listing of over 15,000 radio stations
(AM/FM, US/Canada) including the following information: facilities,
ownership, formats, LMAs, station personnel, phone numbers (and FAX),
addresses, ratings, as well as information on almost 400 radio markets
in the US and Canada. Stations are listed by location (complete info),
frequency (frequency, call, location, power and pattern) and call (call,
frequency, location) and market (frequency, call, location, rating,
format). It also includes a former call reference (old call, location
and current call). Major network information (addresses/phone
numbers/etc) and several interesting radio articles are included as
well.
The price to DXers ordering through the IRCA Bookstore is $69.00 +
Shipping/Handling ($8.00 to US, $18 to Canada or $26 to Europe). Retail
will be $79.00 + S/H.
Checks and Money orders to be made out to: Phil Bytheway.
IRCA Bookstore, 9705 Mary NW, Seattle WA 98117-2334.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The IRCA e-Group is now open to ALL folks interested in AM DX. Go to
the IRCA web site http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5792/ and sign up.
Currently, the group is discussing receivers used for AM DX.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Charles A Taylor - calltaylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
930 WDLX NC, Washington: A Sunday 4/8 drive by the Chocowinity [NC]
WDLX transmitter/studio site on US-17 showed that the two downed
towers have not been reerected. What remains is one tower and
also a tower for the STL connect to WERO-93.3 transmitter in
Grifton [NC]. Maybe the two towers were intentionally removed:
witness the recent CP to "move" the transmitter a very short
distance. Also, the area around the the downed/removed towers has
been reforested since my last drive-by [CAT/NC].
+[studio/transmitter Chocowininty, NC] Bill Cope [see
www.billcope.org/wdlx.html] AF4RP in another look-see has
determined that WDLX is using two towers vice the old three.
Probably the subject of the CP. Doubtless the third tower did not
fall. The STL tower was converted into a folded monopole.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Mike Westfall - Tucson AZ - mike@xxxxxxxxxx
A few weeks ago, I happened to be listening to 540 kHz and there was a
mexican station there calling itself "La Ranchera de (mumble)"
announcing "new frequency" and "increased power" (in spanish, of
course).
They announced their call sign a few times, but I couldn't discern
whether it was XECF, XEDX, or XETX. The jumble from XEJAZZ, XEWA and
another station in Utah didn't help matters.
Well I finally got a clear ID on it: It's XETX, Nuevo Casas Grandes,
Chihuahua, (ex-1010) which surprised me, because I can hear it (weakly)
during the daytime here in Tucson. They announced their power as 1000
watts (that's "increased power", eh?) and they sign off at midnight
(hmm... I'll have to check that again, given the recent daylight savings
switchover...)
The ID sounds something like "La Ranchera de <pah-kee-NAY>". Anybody
know how to spell that?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
****Bernd Trutenau - btrutenau@xxxxxxxx
Radio Tsentr in Moscow is going to move from 1485 to 1503 kHz on 16
April 2001. The station was permitted to use (and has been using) 20kW
on 1485 kHz since many years, but since 1485 kHz is only a low power
channel acc. to the Geneva waveplan, it was given a new frequency now.
(Konstantin Gusev in MIDXB #211, 15 Apr 2001 via Bernd Trutenau-LTU,
15 Apr)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Steve Francis - Alcoa TN - Amdxmail@xxxxxxx
WGKA-1190 Atlanta, Georgia, with satellite Southern Gospel, has been
all-night the past two mornings. They may be using the full 10 kw.
WLBA-1130 in Gainesville, Georgia also noted this morning around 1:00
with Spanish music. They're a nominal daytimer, too.
WOAI-1200 San Antonio was on during their former silent period (4-6
ELT Sundays) with back-to-back Roy Masters broadcasts, so the last known
surviving SP east of the Pacific time zone is gone. Westerners, does
KDWN-720 still go off every Monday morning? Ditto KCBS-740 on Sunday
morning? They may be the only ones left.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**David Gleason - david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In a few weeks, the NotiUno network in Puerto Rico will take over the
operation of the Super Kadena Noticiosa. This is because Super Kadena
has been purchased by the NotiUno owner, Uno Radio Group.
Noti Uno in San Juan, Ponce and Mayaguez will move to 630, 910 and 760
respectively. NotiUno will probably still be relayed on 1550 in Yauco
and 1080 in Cayey and 1430 in Caguas at least during the morning and
afternoon news blocks. 1280 in Arecibo and 840 in Yauco will apparently
still be part of the Noti Uno net, as they fill areas where the main
market signals do not reach well (Puerto Rico has horrible ground
conductivity).
1320 in San Juan and 1490 in Ponce and, probably, 1040 in Moca
(Mayagüez market) will be the new Super Kadena, with mostly brokered and
interview programs. A nostalgia music format will probably be used in
the evening and overnight time periods when talk shows are not being
run.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Bob Pietsch - marbob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Radio Cadillac
I too saw a billboard the other day advising to tune in to Radio
Cadillac. This was while I was driving on 101 in Palo Alto. Twas very
strong about a mile on either side on the sign, but faded out rapidly
thereafter on the car radio. So this solves the mystery on 1700, guess
there must be a whole string of them going up!
*Karl J. Zuk - karlzuk@xxxxxxxxxxx
Now you can hear it on the Internet! (a new low!)
http://www.cadillac.com/escalade/radio_index.htm. Still want to know how
this qualifies as Part 15. The 1700 kHz off the New Jersey Turnpike
sure gets out.
*David Braun - dcbraun@xxxxxxxxxxx
Found one yesterday in the DC area - apparently near the intersection
of I-95 and US 50 on the Beltway. It was on 1620. No signs noted.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Jim Wiskow - jcwiskow@xxxxxxxxxxx
For the past few years, KMFx 1190 in Wabasha Minnesota has been silent
except for that period right before the year's grace period so they can
say they were on the air this year.
The carrier is strong here, but the modulation stinks.
Clear channel took the place over when they gobbled up Cumulous in
this area.
It would make a nice catch if you didn't have to turn your ears up on
weld to get an Id.
My question is, how long will they be on the air? At present, they are
simulcasting KMFX FM 102.5 in Lake City MN.
The AM transmitter's in a flood plane and the bridge between Western
Wisconsin and Wabasha MN is closed due to flooding.
I just talked to an old friend of mine who works for Clear channel
stations KMfx Am Wabasha, Minnesota and KMFx fm Lake City.
He says they put the AM back on the air recently, but the ground
system is shot and they are going to have to invest money in that AM as
well as KNfX in Austin MN which they also got in the acquisition from
cumulous.
In a side note, The power company called them this morning and told
them they were going to have to cut power to KMfx due to flooding.
As I write this, it is snowing! somebody else go fig. I is confused.
Isn't it supposed to be warm and sunny?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***bjorn fransson - Gotland SWEDEN - bjornfransson@xxxxxxxxxxx
Today I heard on 1503 kHz at 17.28-18.00 the Radio St Centr, Moscow.
It seems like a move from 1485 kHz. Do you know anyhting about this?
Many ID's were heard and the programming was Christian. QRM from Radio
202, Beograd.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Doug Smith W9WI - w9wi@xxxxxxxx
Not that this is likely to yield anyone large chunks of DX, but WGNS-
1450 (Murfreesboro, TN) is off. High straight-line winds right around
sunrise Easter morning collapsed their 300-foot self-supporting tower
just south of downtown. They're working on a temporary antenna and
expect to be back on the air within a few days.
(my employer maintained a collection of remote weather stations around
Middle Tennessee for several years; many of them were located at AM
transmitter sites, including one at WGNS. This tower was unusual, both
for being self-supporting and for being shunt-fed. Most AM towers are
insulated from ground, and the cable carrying power from the transmitter
is attached to the bottom of the tower. The base of WGNS's tower was
grounded, and the cable from the transmitter was attached partway up the
tower - I forget how far. (though it was surprisingly low) The
arrangement did seem to improve coverage somewhat - but it also led to
intense amounts of RF at the base.
Our equipment was about 40' from the WGNS tower, and we had more
trouble keeping modems operating at the WGNS site than at any other.
(even the McMinnville site at WAKI-1230, where our equipment was inside
the safety gate at the tower base, within 3' of the tower!))
(The WGNS site was also interesting being a small island of forested
swampland in the middle of one of Tennessee's busiest cities. You could
watch exotic birds like great blue herons, but the sounds always
reminded you of exactly where you were<g>.)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Deane D McIntyre - dmcintyr@xxxxxxxxxxx
4/18. Today the CRTC announced that the following applications had
been received and would be considered at a public hearing:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/Hearings/2001/N2001-5.htm
Of interest are the following:
Application for a new French language station at Montreal, Quebec, 1
kW on 1610 kHz. I believe that this would be the first Canadian X-bander
if approved, excluding the low power portable CHEV-1610 licensed to
Toronto some time ago. Did CHEV ever get on the air as I have never seen
them reported?
CKEK-570 Cranbrook BC has applied to move to FM (102.9, 1.6kW) Here in
Calgary they can be heard during the day mixing with CKSW-570 Swift
Current Sask, with CKSW dominating
CICF-1050 Vernon BC has also applied to move to FM (105.5, 46 kW).
Here in Calgary they dominate 1050 at night
CFOB-640 Fort Francis ON to move to FM (93.1, 21 kW). I logged this
station once from Calgary, several years ago, using a Superadio (I)
barefoot:)
**Mike Brooker - aum108@xxxxxxxxxxx
CHEV-1610 (calls have nothing to do with the Impala, Caprice, BelAir,
Malibu, etc.) was an itinerant broadcaster, traveling to various amateur
or minor-league sports events in the Toronto area, such as junior hockey
games, where they would broadcast the play-by-play. They didn't seem to
have a fixed schedule, and no promotional items to speak of. I think
CHEV can be presumed defunct. I haven't heard them since 1998.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Eric Bueneman - n0uiheric@xxxxxxx
All Access Radio (http://www.allaccessradio.com/) reports that the
tower for WGNS-1450 Murfreesboro, TN was toppled by high winds. I'm sure
Tom Bryant may have more on this.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Charles A Taylor - calltaylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
930 WHUM NC, Warshington: www.billcope.org has renamed this thusly.
Last night they were on day pattern (ND) with 5 kW until 0000*
EDT. [CAT/NC]
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
BROADCAST INFO 17... PREPARED ON 4/15/01 0915
FORMAT CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS
A FEW ABBREV.
JRN - JONES RADIO NETWORK (SATELLITE SERVICE)
ABC - ABC RADIO NETWORK (SATELLITE SERVICE
// - SIMULCAST
CRN - CATHOLIC RADIO NETWORK
EWTN - CATHOLIC TALK NETWORK
SRN - SALEM RADIO NETWORK IS THE NEW NAME FOR "REACH" S. GSPL NET
NORTENO - FOLKLORIC ACCORDIAN MUSIC FROM THE NORTHERN REGION OF MEXICO
FREQ. CALL SIGN OLD INFO NEW INFO
550 WICE-PAWTUCKET, RI TALK R. DISNEY // WHRC
570 WWRC-BETHESDA, MD BUS. TALK WTNT- TALK
620 KSTR-GRAND JUNCTION, CO CHR // KSTR FM 80'S HITS // FM
760 KTLK-THORNTON, CO BUS. TALK/SPTS ALL SPORTS - 5-01
830 KPLS-ORANGE, CA RELIGION TALK
840 KABN-LONG ISLAND, AK SILENT TO BE TLK
850 WKVL-KNOXVILLE, TN TLK-SPTS // FM DROPS SIMO WITH FM
( STILL // WITH FM DURING MORNING DRIVE)
880 KJOJ-CONROE,TX NEWS-TALK RHY. OLDIES // FM
920 KLOC-CERES, CA SILENT SMOOTH JAZZ // KRVR
930 WFXJ-JACKSONVILLE, FL WNZS - SPTS ADDS FOX SPORTS
960 CFAC-CALGAR7Y, AB C&W TO BE SPORTS
KKJX-KLAMATH FALLS, OR ESPN-SPORTS SPANISH
1000 WDBE-JUPITER, FL STNDS // WPBI NEWS-TALK // WPBI
1010 KIQN-TOOLE, UT NEWS NEWS-TALK
1130 WSDX-BRAZIL, IN SPORTS ADDS ESPN - SPORTS
1140 KSFN-LAS VEGAS, NV OLDIES TALK
1170 WMLB-CUMMING, GA AMERICANA STNDS // WKGE
1230 KQUE-HOUSTON,TX CL. ROCK RHY. OLDIES // KJOJ
1260 WGAY-WASHINGTON, DC ADLT STNDS BUS. TALK // WWRC
1270 WWCA-EAST CHICAGO, IN SS STNDS SILENT
1300 WSJX-TERRE HAUTE, IN SPORTS // WSDX ADDS ESPN SPORTS
1330 WMLT-DUBLIN, GA STNDS - TALK BLK GOSPEL-SHERIDAN
1340 KCFR-DENVER, CO KKYD - // KCFR NEWS-TALK
1400 WBTB-BEAUFORT, NC BEACH MUSIC // WNBR SILENT
1420 WPBI-DERAY BEACH, FL WDBF-STNDS NEWS-TALK
1430 KWST-EL CENTRO, CA KAMP - AC C&W- ABC
1440 KAZG-SCCOTTSDALE, AZ KSLX- CL. ROCK OLDIES
1450 WTAL-TALLAHASSEE, FL SILENT TO BE TALK
1480 WFXW-GENEVA,IL CL. HITS SILENT
(the tower site was sold for development)
1490 WDWZ-WEST POINT, GA BLK GSPL/URBAN SILENT
WUSS-PLEASANTVILLE, NJ WGYM- SPORTS BLK GSPL - ABC
1510 KJQI-SAN RAFAEL, CA KMZT - CLASSICAL CONT. CHRIST.
1570 WGSR-FERNANDINA BEACH, FL ADLT STNDS SILENT
1580 WJVA-SOUTH BEND,IN CL. C&W STNDS-ABC-// WHLY
WGYM-HAMMONTON, NJ WONZ - SPORTS ESPN SPORTS
1590 WKHZ-OCEAN CITY, MD CHR ADD THE GREASEMAN
WSMN-NASHUA,NH NEWS-TALK ADDS ESPN SPORTS
ACTIVITY
760 WCHP CHAMPLAIN,NY INCREASES TO 35,000 WATTS
850 KICY NOME, AK INCREASES TO 50KW DAYS & NIGHTS
DA-N ..REDESCRIBES XMTR SITE AS
64-29-15 165-18-53
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
INDIVIDUAL LOGGINGS
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***Karel Honzik - Czech Republic - karel.honzik@xxxxxx
Radio Free Europe in Serbian is relayed via Sombor (YUG) on 666 kHz.
Heard 12 APR at around 2330 UTC // 1188, 1197 kHz
Two strange carriers observed by me on 1115 and 1153 kHz on 12 APR at
around 2330. Both were quite strong (S7 resp. S5) but no modulation
detected. Have not noticed them before, no internal products of my
receiver (AR-7030).
***Mark Connelly - MarkWA1ION@xxxxxxxxxx
Probably a 19 kHz audio tone modulating the 1134 Croatia transmitter
due to some technical problem.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**JohnCallarman - Krum TX - JohnCallarman@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Odd conditions on 900 khz tonight. XEW and relay, presemably XEWB,
Veracruz, are not in synch, and dramatic, soft-voice reading on one
station is a second or two behind the same audio on the other. Change in
loop orientation changes which station is strong. But strongest is
another Spanish-Speaker, broadcasting what appears to be a soccer game
between Bolivia and (possibly) Ecuador. There was a studio break at
0340, and I may have an XE something call on tape. Suspect XEOK,
Monterrey, which is the location of apparently a major soccer tournament
that was under way at least as early as Wednesday night. Some Texas
stations were broadcasting Mexico vs. Brazil.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*kevin redding - Mesa AZ - amfmtvdx@xxxxxxxxx
Heard on a Sangean CCRadio barefoot during the recent Au CX:
1220 XEB MEXICO, Mexico City, DF 4/14 0722 with ID and romantic
ballads. Slogan "La B Grande".
1300 KTWK [t] CO, Colorado Springs 4/14 0258 "...with classic memories
for Colorado Springs." then into the mud.
1350 XETB MEXICO, Torrejon, Coahuila 4/14 0647 with full ID and slogan
Radio Laguna. Plays romantic and pop music. [ new ]
1370 XEHF MEXICO, Nogales, Sonora 4/14 0642 with a Mexican talk
program. [new]
1470 XERCN MEXICO, Tijuana, BCN 4/14 0624 playing tropical sounding
music and using the slogan "La Caliente".
1530 XEVR [t] MEXICO, Mexico City, DF 4/14 0619 u/o KFBK playing
Mexican pop music and using "Tu Musica".
1540 XEHOS MEXICO, Hermosillo, Sonora 4/14 0602 with ID and something
about being part of Radio Grupo Uni. IDs as La Poderosa.
1550 KXEX CA, Fresno 4/14 0136 playing SS Rel choral music and
preaching.
1560 XEJPV MEXICO, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua 4/14 0519 with choral rel
music and SS preaching.
1580 XEDM MEXICO, Hermosillo, Sonora 4/14 0514 playing Ranchera and
Mexican pop music. ID as "La Grande" [ new ]
1590 KUNX CA, Ventura 4/14 0112 with R. Unica ID with SS talk. [new]
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Mark Connelly - MarkWA1ION@xxxxxxxxxx
From 0345 to 0430 UTC on 16 April I noted very strong signals from
southern Europe especially above 1000 kHz. France-1467 was local-like
with German programming, Italy and Spain were trading places on 1575:
both with enormous signals, Italy was also good on 1332 (+ a bit of them
on seldom-heard 1449 too), Vatican-1530 good (despite power cut ?), and
so forth. TA's heard on the lower end of the dial were mostly the
France Bleu outlets and Spain all over the place, including complete
dominance of 567 with barely a trace of Ireland. These conditions are
all the more interesting because, less than a week ago, it was extremely
auroral with nothing north of Algeria getting through.
**Benjamin Dangerfield - Wallingford PA-ben-dangerfield@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There was indeed a good TA opening here last night, between 0330 and
0445 GMT which was from 2330 to 0045 EST. But here, in southeastern PA,
it was almost entirely above 1200 kc. Mark said his reception was best
above 1000 kc, and while he got some good signals below there, I got
only a few very weak ones. France Bleues were coming in on 1206, 1242,
1377, 1404, 1494, and 1557, the latter being the best. Italians were
quite good on several frequencies from their sign-on at midnight here
until the sun rose over there, about 30 minutes later. Best were 1332,
1575 and Vatican 1611. Spain was all over the place, the best being
1296, 1359, 1521, 1575, and 1602. An exciting night, but don't expect a
repeat tonight though it's worth a try.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Randy Stewart - Springfield MO - jrs555t@xxxxxxxx
760 KTKR TX San Antonio - 4/15 2359 - concluding Texas Rangers
baseball network coverage with several spots mentioning "The
Ticket-760", San Antonio weather forecast from The Weather
Channel, legal ID at 0000. Atop frequency, WJR weak to
nonexistent underneath. New log for me. (RS-MO)
910 KBIM NM Roswell, 4/16 2333 - Spot for "Agri-talk" program on
"Roswell's best talk, News-Talk 910 KBIM" as well as other
promos. Surfaced briefly atop frequency. Heard on the bedside
Sony ICF-7600G (barefoot, both the radio and me, hi). New log.
Yaesu FRG-100, 15" Sanserino box loop
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
****óÁÎÑ íÁË - tyhryk@xxxxxxx
1584 Ukrainian R-1 8 apr 1809-1811 QRK=1..2 Ukr,sport nx,QRM:1584 R
Popular+???,here always mix of low-power stations,but heard only
sometimes UR1 and always R Popular from Romania (earlier like
after 1730 UR-1 on 1584 was off air).
1584 Ivano-Frankivske Oblasne R 9 apr 1707-1730 22332 Ukr,tk,mx,local
nx,some info,end of program at 1730 (seldom heard at this
time),QRM:R Popular.After 1730 - UR-1.
Very difficult to hear UKR on 1584.Tx-1 kW (or lower) and always QRM
from ROU and sometimes UNID Arabic. As for R Lyuks FM:I dont know,maybe
sometimes their programs relay via IFOR.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Rick Kenneally - Wilton, CT - woodlandview@xxxxxxxxx
What a great night! Best TA experience I've had, and the first since
moving east. Can't spend much time now - detailed logs will follow when
I sort out the tapes.
Based on the tips from the previous night from Connelly, Dangerfield
etc., I tuned across 1206 before going to bed. France was blasting in.
The following was heard in the ensuing feeding frenzy:
1035 Het - left tape running so we'll see
1206 France - monster signal
1215 UK Virgin Radio over an assumed Spain
1224 Assumed Spain with fast Spanish
1296 Spain, often in the clear. Does this network actually ID as
"Cope"? I had one good program announcement with what sounded
like "Esta es la Informacion... de Cope" then into woman with
what sounded like news. Definitely Spanish, though I see a big
Azores station on this freq.
1314 Het
1548 Het - bits of audio that sounded Spanish
1575 Huge signal from Spain
1584 Ditto, massive signal with Spanish, though audio kind of fuzzy -
is this normal or is it one of my many QRMs?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Pat Martin - Seaside OR - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
1200 XEWT MEXICO, Culiacan, fair u/o WOAI with SS music and IDs "La
Tremento" and "W-T" IDs, plus a network ID "Sensacion.....", at
0755 UTC 4/18. Good AU cx. Quite a surprise. Listed at 1 KW or
250w. New. (PM-OR)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***Dmitri Mezin - Kazan RUSSIA - estrella@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
4/18. At the moment (1903 UTC and further on) I hear Azerbaijan 2nd
program (Araz) on 1476 kHz with fair strength. Slightly QRMed by UAE
Radio. I presume Pirsagat tx has returned to its nominal QRG after some
tests (or faults) on 1460.
Parallel frequency 1359 kHz, reported by Mauno Ritola in Signal
bulletin a couple of weeks ago, is also heard, but this one is wery
weak. Could it be a move from 549 kHz channel? The latter is widely
occupied by Mayak synchro network in nearby Russia, so Araz might feel
itself QRMed on it.
***Vasily Gulyaev - Astrakhan RUSSIA - vasily@xxxxxxxxxxx
This morning: (2.00 utc and further on) Radio Araz from Azerbaijan
again on old frequency 1476 kHz. S here = 3-4. Probably, 1460 kHz is
defective Tx in Pirsagat?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Morris Sorensen - Winnipeg MB - SMosor@xxxxxxx
1240 KODY NE North Platte 4/12 2305 poor with ID as "KODY Newstalk-
1240" ad for a staff opening at KODY send resumes to P.O. Box
1085 North Platte, NE...{MS-MB}
Drake R8 with Quantum QX Pro loop
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Frederick R. Vobbe - Lima OH - fredv@xxxxxxxxxxx
Some interesting things on this morning when I drove into work. As is
always the case with mobile DXing, when the ID is given, that is when
you drive under the noisy power line.
940 OH Lima WLJM 04/19/01 05:45. Noted pretty wide. Was on their 6
watt PRSA power, but I could still hear their splash on 910 and
970.
1310 Unknown 04/19/01 05:57. Sports station noted here with an unusual
tone. There was a 700 hertz tone that would pop up, and at first
I thought it was covering profanity on the sports broadcast.
However, it didn't seem to cover anything that should have been
bleeped out. As I listened to it, I realized that it was sending
"TN" in code ( - -. ) over 7 second period. I had it throughout
a 1.4 mile stretch, so I don't think it was local businesses
along the way.
1600 Unknown 04/19/01 05:55. Spanish noted here, strong at times.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
HELP WITH...
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Robert Foxworth - rfoxwor1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tuesday night I was chasing a station on 1580 carrying the Devil Rays
game against the Jays, carrying the raw feed from WFLA, after the game,
announcer was doing one-minuters for the morning sports crews with
multiple tag-outs, could hear the "in 3 - 2 - 1" before each piece, then
just unmodulated carrier after the final feed and lasted for at least 10
minutes before I gave up. I hrd the game on 1490 Bradenton as well but
think they handle it correctly. Who's this 1580? Sounded like they just
went home when the game started (7 pm). And it was strong enough to make
me think "...day power ?? " Bob F
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Mark Connelly - MarkWA1ION@xxxxxxxxxx
Thanks guys for the feedback about the Lawrence, MA pirates. I tuned
these last night en route from work (near Routes 114/125 N. Andover) to
a C++ night class at UMass Lowell via Routes 114 / 495 / 133 / 38.
The 1670 pirate peaked up quite loud at the Route 28 / Route 495
intersection on the N. Andover - Lawrence line, so I suspect it's within
2 or 3 miles of there. 1620 was loud in the same general area buts its
signal held a more constant level (less of a peaking effect) so it might
be a little farther from 495.
This time around, 1620 had religion and 1670 had Spanish pop music:
the reverse of what I'd heard a few days earlier.
When I was out in Rowley on Wednesday, I measured the 1670 station as
being on 1669.95: it created a 50 Hz growl against the 1670.0 stations.
1620, on the other hand, is within 10-20 Hz of true frequency.
1620 has better audio quality than 1670. The 1670 station is only
slightly less distorted than the average CB rig.
At UMass in Lowell, 1670 was weak but 1620 was still at fair strength;
of course neither of these was anywhere near as loud as they were in
metro-Lawrence along the stretch of 495 between Routes 114 and 93.
Nothing was noted on 1640 except a few weak traces of the Haitian
French Creole pirate from the Dorchester section of Boston.
In Lowell, 1660 had a WCAP-980 + WRKO-680 intermod, presumably created
by the car radio's wimpy broadband front end. Another intermod noted
was WLLH-1400 - WRKO-680 = 720 kHz.
**Ronald Gitschier - wgsr1570@xxxxxxxxxx
And while you're at it on the pirate thread, is the 1570 Pirate still
on in Lowell, MA? It's a Portugese-Language station dubbing itself WKMN
(WKNM?). It's at the (lime green?) house that's on the northwesterly
corner of Central and Elm Streets in Lowell, MA. You can see the TIS
type antenna whip on the chimney mount, if memory serves correctly.
Lowell is my hometown, and in 1998 I got a half hour aircheck of it,
parked there at Wamesit Square. That's where Elm, Central, Wamesit, Mill
and Richmond Streets come together with a small circle island in the
junction.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Rick Shaftan - shaftan@xxxxxxx
Heard at 0238 EDT over Spanish station probably Cuba. ID as "AM 550
Radio Disney." No listing for this. Ideas?
**Lee Freshwater - LFreshwate@xxxxxxx
WICE-550 Pawtucket has switched to Disney. 4/4/01 M street Journal....
**Russ Edmunds - wb2bjh@xxxxxxxxxxx
With reference to some recent discussion here, the following is from
NERTV online:
"WICE (550 The Buzz) flips from Talk to Radio Disney. ABC/Disney has
LMA'd the station and plans to buy the 550 signal and speculation has it
that they will sell the 1450 signal where Radio Disney currently
broadcasts on. Currently Radio Disney will broadcast on two Providence
signals. The entire staff as well as New York Yankees baseball are out."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Saul Chernos - schernos@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Is there a Cuban Radio Reloj on 830. I swear I heard the station's
drone-like male announcer reading the news and a time clock (or whatever
that sound is) in the background on 830 two nights ago. The WRTH doesn't
seem to list a Cuban on 830...
AM finally picked up the past two nights at Burnt River Ontario ... a
few new stations from PA and possibly GA (1470 unID), and woke up after
sunrise Saturday to hear Texas coming in well on 1610. I even had the
possibility of Waco on 1660 ... I had a phone-in talk show on 1660
beneath oldies/nostalgia (ND presumed but not logged) mixing with the NJ
station, and also the Michigan station doing sports. Waco would fit this
taalk format, but obviously I'm not counting that. But cx were clearly
recovered.
Had nice Latins Thursday night, and finally IDed 780 in CoroVenezuela.
**Scott D Fybush - fybush@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Guessing your 1330 Indians is 1330 WFNN Erie PA -- the website at
sportsradio1330.com is unhelpful, but I recall they're an affiliate. I
know the other 1330s near Cleveland -- Willoughby OH and Campbell OH --
are not on the Indians net.
The Coro 780 was a local for me five years ago when I honeymooned in
Aruba and Curacao -- so close to Coro we could hear some of the FMs from
there as well.
**Saul Chernos - schernos@xxxxxxxxxxxx
A station calling itself "Power 1580" has again been heard here in
Burnt River Ontario...this time each of the past three nights, and with
black-oriented (southern-style) gospel music. Calls sounded like WTBO,
which is already used by 560 in Maryland. I called the most obvious
candidate, WVKO in Columbus OH, but they say they use "WVKO Columbus The
Light" and not the Power slogan. I reported this unID earlier this
winter. A web search comes up empty. I'm POSITIVE about the slogan, and
the calls sure sound like WTBO, but the signal is weak enough that I may
be slightly miss-hearing the calls.
**Bruce Conti - Nashua NH - BACONTI@xxxxxxx
Radio Reloj, Holguin is on 830. A list of Radio Reloj stations was
published in the NRC's DX News magazine, December 6, 1999. The 2001
WRTH lists all of Cuba's MW stations by frequency with call letters,
primary network affiliation, and frequency.
**Ronald Gitschier - wgsr1570@xxxxxxxxxx
WTCL (testing my alzheimers here) 1580 Chattahoochie, FL does call
itself the Power House, and could be using Power 1580. They do have a
record of not signing off as the station is unattended after hours. I
will listen for it tonight and report back. They boom in here at night
for obvious reasons, here in Jacksonville.
**Barry McLarnon VE3JF - bm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'd put my money on WTCL. Apparently, Chattahoochee FL is now in the
Land of the Midnight Sun. :-)
**Frederick R. Vobbe - fredv@xxxxxxxxxxx
I've heard this too, but have not been able to get an ID. On two
occasions they blew through the 6:00AM and 6:30AM block with no ID.
*Richard Toebe - richtoebe@xxxxxxx
The station in Benicia on 1580 that was playing the loop of being "on
hold" has revealed itself! It's Radio Cadillac.
Radio Cadillac on 1700 was noted strongly in Santa Clara on Friday
afternoon, and it was audible in Fremont on 880 by the Mowry Avenue exit
as well. Crossing the Benicia bridge northbound about 4:30pm , I saw a
Cadillac billboard inviting you to tune to AM 1580 to listen to Radio
Cadillac.
They gave a website: www.radio.cadillac.com which I checked out, but
no listings of where these talking billboards are. In neither case was
I listening on or near the hour so have no idea if they give calls. You
can listen to examples of their programming (commercials) from the site.
Yesterday's (Saturday 4/14) Sac Bee has an article about how KSMH-
1620's transmissions are interfering with telephone calls in midtown
Sacramento. They hired a contractor to help people fix the problem,
mainly by installing inline filters on their phone lines. The older
installations are especially vulnerable.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
****Guido Schotmans - gs@xxxxxx
On the 10th and 11th, There was clearly Balkan mx noticeable
underneath of the RVi signal on 1512 kHz between 1815 and 1915 UTC. On
the 12th and 13th this was not the case, or at least not that much
noticeable. I am still puzzled which station this can be. I have put a
soundfile online. Of course you will hear RVi in front but try to
concentrate on the station in the background. Who can identify this
one. There is an announcement at second 50.
You can hear it at http://gallery.uunet.be/gs/real/RVi_Balkan_1512.rm
or download it at http://gallery.uunet.be/gs/real/RVi_Balkan_1512.zip
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***Jeff - jdarche@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am looking for a scematic diagram for the K9AY configuration similar
to Westbrook's. I have contacted Westbrook about purchasing one but It
appears that they are no longer making them (at least untill the fall).
I have looked over all the articles at the HCDX site but there isn't a
schematic for the two matching/switching/amp and control boxes.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Terry Palmersheim - Helena MT - kc7ldp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
530 R. Christian Voice f/d card, letter and program sched. in 46
days. v/s: David Gonzalez M., Prog. Mgr.
690 KRCO Prineville, OR f/d ppc in 46 days. v/s: Keith Shipman, Pres
750 KOAL Price, UT f/d ppc in 6 months. v/s: Tom Anderson, Owner
770 CHQR f/d letter, ppc and keychain in 42 days. v/s: Mel Hoyme, VP
Eng.
800 CHAB Moose Jaw, Sask. f/d ppc in 1 mon. v/s: Barrie Vice, PD
930 CJCA Edmonton, AB f/d ppc in 2 months. v/s: Corri Allan, PD
940 CJGX Yorkton, Sask. f/d 'map' card in 1 mon. v/s: Bryan Mierau,
Eng. & Lyle J. Walsh, GM
1170 KPUG Bellingham, WA f/d ppc in 73 days. No v/s.
1210 KRSV Afton, WY f/d ppc in 19 days. v/s:Jerry W. Hansen, GM
1300 CJME Regina, Sask. f/d ppc in 17 days. v/s: David M. Senft, VP
Eng.
1300 KPTL Carson City, NV p/d letter, ppc and stickers in 6 days.
v/s: Dennis L. Butler, Ops. Mgr.
1390 KLGN Logan, UT f/d ppc in 2 wks. v/s: Daniel Baker, CE
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
QSLs
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Edward Kusalik - ekusalik@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1630 WRDW Augusta Georgia full data Prepared QSL & verie letter in 97
days. This after a telephone call to the station inquiring about
replies. Transmitter is Harris 10 kw unit, 1000 watts at night.
Address: WRDW New Talk Sports Beasly Broadcast Group Station P.O.
Box 211045 Augusta Georgia 30917 USA (706) 855-9494 (706) 860-
9343 FAX (Kusalik-ALB)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
*Pat Martin - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
594 JOAK JAPAN, Tokyo, finally after several tries, I received a full
detailed card from NHK in Tokyo, now for both NHK stations. Rec.
in 45d V/S: T. Yaguchi.Address: NHK, 150-8001 Tokyo Japan.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
RADIO TOPICS
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
**Pat Martin - mwdxer@xxxxxxxxx
Does anyone know of a source on the internet giving info on the
Kenwood R-1000 mods? Thanks.
***Bruce Portzer - bportzer@xxxxxxxx
There are several sites with mods to ham gear. The only one I found
with R-1000 mods was at:
http://pacnet.ne.mediaone.net/wb4hfn/equipmods/KenwoodEquipment.htm
This one lists a couple of minor mods to the R1000.
***Pete Dernbach - walace2fan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just looked at the mods for that radio today. http://www.mods.dk/
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
MISC ITEMS
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***Aurel Chiochiu - chiochiu@xxxxxxxxx
Here is a list of venezuelan medium-wave stations that has been logged
in the Montreal area by Sheldon Harvey, an active DX-er wich I am in
touch since 3 weeks or so and wich have logged a large amount of
venezuelan stations. Many of them are regular stations here, in automn
and winter, and can boom even on my AM/FM radio with tape recorder and
CD player. A few however, are more rare and hard-to-hear and are rarely
reported even on the East Coast by DX-ers like Mark Connelly and Jean
Burnell who have a large water-front path to Latin America:
550 YVKE R. Mundial, Caracas
570 YVLX R. Rumbos, Villa de Cura
640 YVQO Ondas Portenas, Puerto La Cruz
670 YVLL R. Rumbos, Caracas
710 YVKY R. Capital, Caracas
740 YVNC R. Maracaibo, Maracaibo
740 YVNQ R. Caroni, Puerto Ordaz
750 YVKS R. Caracas, Caracas
760 YVQQ R. Puerto la Cruz, Puerto la Cruz
780 YVOD Ecos del Torbes, San Cristobal
780 YVMN R. Coro, Coro
830 YVLT R. Sensasion, San Antonio de los Altos
910 YVRQ R. Aeropuerto, Maiquetia
950 YVKG R. Informativa 950, Caracas
1000 YVNM R. Mundial Mil, Moron
1020 YVRS R. Mundial Margarita, La Asuncion
1020 YVMX R. Calendario, Maracaibo
1040 YVLB La Voz de Carabobo, Valencia
1080 YVNR R. Mundial 1080, Maracay
1080 YVQJ R. Barcelona, Barcelona
1110 YVQT R. Carupano, Carupano
1130 YVRL R. Ideal, Caraballeda
1150 YVMM R. Mundial Caribe, Punto Fijo
1170 YVKW R. Mil Sesenta, La Guaira
1200 YVOZ Radiotiempo, Caracas
1210 YVZT R. Anzoategui, Barcelona
1360 YVTI Catatumbo Internacional, Maracaibo
1500 YVRZ R. Dos Mil, Cumana
There many others venezuelan that can be heard in North America, but
most of them from the East Coast (ex.: YVSY Radio Vibracíon, Carupano
1470; Radio Fe y Alegria, Caracas, 1390; etc...) and as far as I know
noone of them have been heard inland. Radio Vibracíon seems easily heard
in Europe, than in North America. Christoph Mayer in Germany heard
Vibracíon on a regular basis, but here in North America, a pile of 1470
domestics block out the signal. However, except for Radio Vibracíon and
paerphaps a few other venezuelans, most venezuelan stations are easier
to heard from North America tham from Europe, as North America is much
closer geographically. But even if you are in Europe, with persistance,
I think that you could make a reasonable log of venezuelan MW stations.
Before I left, I want to inform you that Ecos del Torbes is currently
inactive on 4980. A lot of DX-ers say the same. Did they are off for
maintenance or antenna revision or they would gone inactive like a lot
of other venezuelan tropical band outlets in the past ?
Happy Eastern to all of you.
The bad conditions on MW continues, even high-band domestics such as
Boston-1260, WPTR-1540 and WQEW-1560 are quite hard-to-hear. The last
night, after back from the church at 1AM, I have checked the MW band for
Latin American all-nighters, but except from a het on 760 (presumably
from Colombia), nothing was heard. WABC had the only intelligible low-
band signal.
However, durign the day-time, there are several interesting stns,
especially from the border of the United States of America wich is about
60 kilometers from my home QTH, wich are interesting targets. Friday,
around mid-day, I have finally identified the oldies station on 1490.
They have an usual fair signal durign the day and have been noted
several times since October in all the day-timce checks, but I did never
stayed around for an ID. At night, the problem is that a lot of stns
reduce power, but that doesn`t make sense at this time of the year with
such bad sky-wave propagation. So day-time groundwave DX-ing will still
my hobby until mid-May, when the sporadic-E season will bgun and when I
will check for some E skip on TV and FM. So, on my MW logbook, you will
hear a few new groundwave DX logs as well as some corrections and
comments on old logs and some old logs that I have heard since long
time, but that I have`n`t put up on my logbook, due to the lack of time
for listen tot he tapes to catche the ID.
This morning, I managed to QSL TILX Radio Columbia (760 kHz in San
Jose, Costa Rica) wich I have heard once over the strong RCN outlet back
in November. I am actualy listen to them via the Internet (at
http://www.columbia.co.cr) and they play a soccer game, perphaps a
soccer "furboll" game from La Copa de Todorte. I have enclosed 2 real-
audio files about my reception, one of them was a full aircheck and the
other was an ID extracted from that aircheck. It was from the first tape
of DX recordings of all of what I have heard in October/November/early
December. Did TILX Radio Columbia is a good reception reports verifier ?
Did the Costa Ricans, in general, are good reception reports verifiers ?
They are not verry reported on MW, in North America and I think that I
was verry lucky to log them on 760, especially with my simple equipment
of only an AM/FM radio with tape recorders and CD player, with it`s own
internal antenna, maybe if the antenna is longer than other cheap
domestic radios, is still a good catche !! I will send soon to some of
you, that speak, spnish the reception report, to tell me what they think
about it and if I have to resend it and to rewrite it better. I speak
quite a bit of spanish,a s I have learned 2 years in Romania, but it`s
far from perfect and I should have a lot of grammary mistakes.
Costa Rica is still missed by most North-Americans DX-ers on MW. Why ?
It is the most prosperous country in Latin America and have a large
number of powerfull transmitters that should boom in eastern North
America, especially during aurorals. Did any of you have logged Costa
Rica on AM ?
At the end if you want to encourage the technical manager to QSL me,
you can visit their web-site at http://www.columbia.co.cr/ and e-mail
them at columbia@xxxxx I will enclose to some of you real-audio from my
TILX catche wich dates back from November.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
***Karel Honzik - karel.honzik@xxxxxx
Plenty of photos from the 12th annual meeting of Czechoslovak DX Club
(CSDXC) is displayed on: www.csdxc.cz/akce.html
The meeting was held last weekend (APR 6-8) in Hluboka nad Vltavou
near Ceske Budejovice (south-western part of the Czech Republic).
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Mark Connelly - MarkWA1ION@xxxxxxxxxx
The HTML version of this article is available at
"http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/slopers.htm"; . It includes a diagram
of the antenna system.
"Sloper Antenna Tests"
Mark Connelly - WA1ION - 16 APR 2001
There has been a lot of anecdotal reportage over the years about the
value of "sloper" antennas, particularly with regards to directivity and
nulling of "pest" stations from given bearings opposite to the
horizontal direction one looks from the high end of the sloper to its
low end. This article seeks to look into the performance of these
antennas in more detail than afforded by previous accounts in the DX
press. A set-up I have used at several locations is illustrated at the
end of this article.
In the 1970's I set up a sloper at my parents' house in West Yarmouth,
MA with the specific idea of reducing New York City stations.
Broadcasters from that area form the biggest obstacle to foreign medium-
wave DXing from the southern side of Cape Cod. The antenna worked very
well. With WCBS-880 quite strong on a conventional ferrite or air-core
loop, Canary Islands and UK stations on 882 kHz were generally just a
moderate to strong heterodyne. Sometimes the old R390A could slice out
the 882 audio, sometimes it couldn't. When I switched over to the
sloper, WCBS dropped markedly in strength relative to the 882 Trans-
Atlantics. Around local sunset, clear Canary Islands audio was more
often the rule than the exception when using the sloper. Furthermore,
right on 880, WCBS had a "hollow" sound because of the groundwave /
skywave mix; frequently it was under attack by a co-channel Venezuelan
that was barely noticeable on the Space Magnet and Radio West ferrite
loops. Other New York stations up and down the dial were similarly
reduced, thereby assisting in Trans-Atlantic and Latin American DX
catches.
In the '90s, a sloper favoring the southeast was installed at a
location in East Harwich, MA. During auroral conditions, Brazilian and
deep African stations were often received in its "main beam" while
Boston groundwave stations coming from the northwest were noticeably
attenuated relative to how they sounded on random wires, ferrite loops,
and active whips used at the same location.
For the last 22 years at my home QTH in Billerica, MA I have generally
had at least one sloper in use. The one I use for general bandscanning
(the "Euro-sloper") slopes downward towards the east-northeast. It
puts a definite null towards Worcester, MA; Hartford, CT; New York, NY;
and some other major cities on the "I-95 corridor" heading down to DC
and VA. For European reception it ALWAYS beats any figure-of-8 pattern
loop including the exalted Kiwa. Sometimes I set up a second sloper
which gives best reception in the "pest station directions" of west and
southwest. Because this second wire slopes downward from east to west,
it picks up little in the way of Trans-Atlantics since it's nulling that
way. The purpose of the "west-pest" antenna is for phasing against the
"Euro-sloper". The level potentiometer on its phasing unit channel is
adjusted downwards until a westerly station to be nulled is equal
strength with its level on the "Euro-sloper". The phase adjustment for
a null can then be enacted with little or no effect on the desired DX
signals from the east and northeast.
Several other well-known East Coast DXers - including Bruce Conti, Al
Merriman, and Ben Dangerfield - have had similarly good results over the
years with the "phased opposing slopers" concept. The bountiful Trans-
Atlantic DX logs from all these guys demonstrate that the method works.
Over Easter weekend 2001, it was sunny and mild and the last little
patch of snow behind the house had melted away. Over the long winter
months, numerous antenna test plans had entered my head and had been
scribbled down in my notebook. As soon as weather permitted, I said to
myself, I'm going to get some of my higher priority tests off and
running. Quantifying the performance of two slopers oriented in
opposite directions was a test I'd long wanted to run. How much of
these antennas' stated benefits were "for real", how much was just
conjecture and "folklore"? It was about time to take some daytime
groundwave measurements to find out.
Each 30 m sloper ran to one side of the high-impedance winding of a
Mini-Circuits T4-6T-X65 (4:1) transformer. The other high-impedance
winding was connected to a 10 m wire which ran along the ground to a 1.5
to 2 m long copper pipe earth-ground rod. The low-impedance winding was
connected to the center conductor and to the shield of 50-ohm coaxial
cable (length less than 30 m) going to the Drake R8A receiver inside the
house.
The European (east) sloper showed a definite null on signals in the
swath of bearings between 205 and 280 degrees. A sampling of
receptions, with dB stated as the strength by which the west sloper
signal level exceeded that on the east sloper, follows. Degrees shown
are clockwise of true north, e.g. 270 = due west.
650: WJLT-MA: 21.0 dB null: 207.6 deg.
1200: WKOX-MA: 27.0 dB null: 212.7 deg.
1060: WBIX-MA: 30.0 dB null: 212.9 deg.
940: WGFP-MA: 21.0 dB null: 223.9 deg.
600: WICC-CT: 16.8 dB null: 226.0 deg.
660: WFAN-NY: 23.0 dB null: 229.8 deg.
880: WCBS-NY: 22.2 dB null: 229.8 deg.
820: WNYC-NY: 28.8 dB null: 231.5 deg.
710: WOR-NY: 21.0 dB null: 232.0 deg.
1050: WEVD-NY: 19.8 dB null: 232.0 deg.
1010: WINS-NY: 20.4 dB null: 232.3 deg.
770: WABC-NY: 21.0 dB null: 232.5 deg.
1440: WWTM-MA: 20.0 dB null: 234.4 deg.
1310: WORC-MA: 27.8 dB null: 235.3 deg.
1080: WTIC-CT: 19.8 dB null: 237.9 deg.
1120: WBNW-MA: 32.0 dB null: 241.9 deg.
830: WCRN-MA: 27.0 dB null: 241.9 deg.
1470: WSRO-MA: 27.6 dB null: 243.0 deg.
760: WVNE-MA: 23.2 dB null: 246.4 deg.
580: WTAG-MA: 21.0 dB null: 246.7 deg.
640: WNNZ-MA: 18.0 dB null: 253.3 deg.
960: WFGL-MA: 22.0 dB null: 266.4 deg.
1000: WCMX-MA: 21.6 dB null: 269.2 deg.
1280: WEIM-MA: 24.0 dB null: 278.3 deg.
810: WGY-NY: 20.0 dB null: 278.3 deg.
Several weak signal Canadian Maritimes stations were only audible on
the east sloper. These included CHTN-720 (PEI), CFDR-780 (NS), and CBA-
1070 (NB). Going from one antenna to the other produced different
dominants on several channels, for instance WJTO-ME-730 and WGAN-ME-560
on the east sloper, WACE-MA-730 and WHYN-MA-560 on the west sloper.
The western sloper had a somewhat narrower easterly null, most
effective between 60 and 120 degrees. The list of stations that it
reduced relative to the eastern sloper is fairly short because there
aren't many daytime-receivable stations to the east of here.
970: WZAN-ME: 1.2 dB null: 31.1 deg.
730: WJTO-ME: 6.0 dB null: 36.1 deg.
910: WABI-ME: 1.8 dB null: 37.7 deg.
1230: WESX-MA: 8.0 dB null: 92.4 deg.
1360: WLYN-MA: 15.2 dB null: 112.9 deg.
950: WROL-MA: 6.0 dB null: 119.1 deg.
1430: WXKS-MA: 7.0 dB null: 139.8 deg.
Stations "off the side" (e.g. north, south) of each sloper didn't vary
much from one antenna to the other. The western sloper had a slight
gain advantage a bit more often on these because its grounding was in a
somewhat wetter location.
Full bandscan data for these tests may be obtained via the links
below:
HTML file: "http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/bscan-billerica.htm";
Zipped Microsoft Excel file:
"http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/bscan-billerica.zip";
I leave it to others such as Neil Kazaross to run EZNEC simulations on
these slopers to see how closely the software predictions match the
measured results. The foregoing study does show that, for a simple
antenna, the sloper has a lot going for it. Two opposing-direction
slopers fed to a phasing unit is a time-tested interference-fighting
solution endorsed by a number of the hobby's better known practitioners.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Aurel Chiochiu - chiochiu@xxxxxxxxx
Yesturday, I have just read on http://www.hard-core-dx.com/ that
powerline data communication is now under testing in several countries
and DX-ers and even radio listeners can espect strong interferences.
More on the article on Hard-Core-DX or a more detailed version of the
article can be found at http://users.iol.it/pmo/plc.htm where some
technical information about this power-lines can be found.
I have write that the experiments has become in Germany and in several
other countries as well. Did Canada is among this several countries ?
>From time to time, but NOT always, around sunset there are a lot of
electrical noises on AM wich usually dissepear as the sun goes leaving
the MW band quiet with distant stations filling it, but occassionnally
can last several hours after sunset and on a few rare occasions even at
mid-night you can hear a lourd buzz on AM. Around Christmas, I had
expected some buzz wich maked the reception of the Latin Americans quite
interferences prone. Did it comes from power-lines, as the TV set and
computer was off at the time ?
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Mark Connelly - MarkWA1ION@xxxxxxxxxx
Greetings to all. I have web-posted John Bryant's excellent write-up
of the "Kaz antenna" which was developed by renowned medium wave DXer
Neil Kazaross. It is a "squashed delta" variant of the K6SE delta, a
broadband terminated loop somewhat akin to the Pennant, Flag, K9AY, and
Ewe receiving antenna designs used widely by many radio amateurs and by
a large number of elite medium wave (AM broadcast band) DXers who
specialize in hearing foreign stations.
The article is available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format at the following
URL: "http://members.aol.com/DXerCapeCod/kaztests.pdf"; .
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The WTFDA Convention will be held on July 27-29 2001 at the Super 8
Lodge, 2773 Elder St, Boise ID 83705. Host is Frank Aden (4096 Marcia
Pl, Boise ID 82704 - N7SOK@xxxxxxx). For reservations (208) 344-8871
(mention Frank Aden). Rates are $62.10 (for a double). Registration is
$20.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The IRCA/DecalcoMania convention will be held on August 24-26 2001 at
the Best Western Airport Inn, 10232 Natural Bridge Rd, St Louis MO
63134. DecalcoMania member Mike Sanburn (PO Box 1256, Bellflower CA) is
your host (mikesanburn@xxxxxxxxxxx). For reservations 1-800-872-0070 or
(314) 427-5955. Rates are $73/night (up to 4 people/room).
Registration is $35/person. Contact Mike for more information.
An IRCA/DECALcoMANIA Convention Web site is now up and running. Go to
the following link: http://www.geocities.com/n0uih/irca2001.html
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
2001 NRC Convention will be in Pittsburgh PA over Labor Day weekend.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
GEOMAGNETIC INDICES
Geomagnetic Summary March 19 2001 through April 2 2001
phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil@xxxxxxxxxxx
Tabulated from email status daily
4/ 3 223 7 2 high unsettled-mis - 6
4 205 18 1 moderate quiet-active - 2
5 210 17 2 mod-high quiet-unsettled - 5
6 192 15 4 mod-high unsettled-mis - 7
7 180 22 3 mod-high unsettled-mis - 7
8 169 33 2 mod-high unsettled-mas - 6
4/ 9 165 17 3 mod-high quiet-active - 7
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
"*" denotes that the tip/info/etc. came from the IRCA eGroup (used by
permission). Subscribe to the eGroup at http://www.egroups.com.
International Radio Club of America
"**" denotes that the following items were originally posted on the
AM@xxxxxxxxxxx list (used by permission). National Radio Club
"***" denotes that the following item was originally posted on the Hard
Core DX list.
"****" denotes that the following item was originally posted on the MWDX
list.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
IRCA's web site... take a peek!!
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5792/
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
IRCA Mexican Log, 6th Edition
The IRCA MEXICAN 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. 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 1998 edition and carefully cross-checked by
several IRCA members. 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.Prices: IRCA/NRC members - $8.00 (US/Canada/Mexico/sea
mail), $9.00 (rest of the Americas airmail), $9.50 (Europe/Asia
airmail),
$10.00 (Australia/New Zealand airmail). Non-members: add $2.00 to the
above prices.
IRCA TIS List
Completely revised by IRCA's Bill Harms to 9/00, the IRCA "TIS/HAR
LIST" includes AM/FM and TV lists from the US and Canada. This 28 page
"DX Aid" can be yours for only $5.00. Non-IRCA/NRC members... add $1.00.
Overseas... add $0.50.
IRCA Bookstore - 9705 Mary Ave NW - Seattle WA 98117-2334 (please make
checks payable to Phil Bytheway)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
The AM DX NewsFlash is sent weekly from Teknologic in Snohomish WA
All contributions will be used
Comments regarding content are appreciated
With your submission, please include as a minimum:
Your name, location and email address
Tell your email friends about "AM DX NewsFlash"
To receive this email newsletter, send your email ID, name and
location to: phil@xxxxxxxxxxx
Folks whose bulletins are returned twice in a row are dropped from the
list. If your email address changes, please let me know!
Information appearing the NewsFlash can be quoted provided the original
author and the "AM DX NewsFlash" are given proper credit.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
IRCA DUES STRUCTURE
DXM-printed DX MONITOR (21x/year), SDXM-"soft" DX MONITOR (35x/year)
WORLD - SDXM $10.00
USA - DXM $20.00, DXM/SDXM $25.00
Canada - DXM $22.00, DXM/SDXM $27.00
Overseas surface - DXM $23.50, DXM/SDXM $28.50
Airmail (Central America, Caribbean) - DXM $35.00, DXM/SDXM $40.00
Airmail (Europe, North Africa, Middle East) - $38.00,
DXM/SDXM - $43.00
Airmail (rest of the World) - $41.00, DXM/SDXM $46.00
To join the IRCA, send the appropriate dues to: IRCA HQ
PO Box 1831
Perris CA 92572-1831
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
If you note any AM changes (call, format, slogan, etc), please send them
to the NRC Log coordinator (Wayne Heinen) @ nrclog@xxxxxxx
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
END of 4/19/01 THE "AM DX NewsFlash"
_______________________________________________
Hard-Core-DX mailing list
Hard-Core-DX@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www2.hard-core-dx.com/mailman/listinfo/hard-core-dx
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/
_______________________________________________
Copyright (c) Hard-Core-DX.com
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Text. A copy of the license is available in http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.txt.
All the other copyright notices are VOID.