21/4-2010

U S A
Big Daytime MWDX Opening.
The afternoon of April 20 I witnessed an extremely unusual daytime MW DX opening, which brought in numerous stations from Colorado and Wyoming, mainly from Denver and the Front Range, Pueblo to Fort Collins and Greeley but also as far as Grand Junxion and Casper, Wyoming, over a megameter away. And it turned out, also from Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota!

After lunch at a restaurant in west Enid, I got in the car and checked the MW band at 1954 UT. Before I went in earlier in the hour, I had noticed a lot of line noise on the top end of the band, but not at the low end, so I started tuning up, and quickly found a big signal on 600 kHz, which is normally vacant here in the daytime.

I soon moved to another parking lot I knew to be low-noise, and spent most of the next two hours DXing this phenomenon on the caradio, with of course non-direxional whip on the hood. I wished I could have tipped off the lists about this opening, but I don`t have any mobile internet access. I wonder if anyone else got in on it?

This opening brought in many Denver and vicinity stations with very strong signals, better than ever accomplished at `low noon` around winter solstice when there is some residual skywave.

This must have been some form of skywave, unless there is a means for groundwave to be greatly and suddenly enhanced. But surely not groundwave under any circumstances, all the way from Grand Junxion on the far side of the Rockies, or from Casper in the middle of Wyoming.

670 Denver is however a regular daytime groundwave catch here across the plains, and I recently also reported 650 Cheyenne one morning. Surface weather surely could not have such an extreme effect, but I note that a cold front was approaching us from Colorado.

What could have caused this? A few hours earlier, Space Shuttle STS 131 crossed the area as it was approaching Cape Cañaveral for landing. NASA says the track entered North America around Vancouver BC, then across the ``Midwest``, Arkansas, Mississippi. Could it have caused some long-lingering ionization as it went thru the E-layer? Sporadic space-shuttle skip? SSSS, a new propagation mode? No chance of that after the upcoming finale of STS.

I see from DX Sherlock and TV-FM Skip Log that there were also sporadic E openings into VHF around mid-day between FL and Mexico and later between FL and Dominican Republic, somewhat unusual this time of year.

This was a selective opening. Nothing unusual from closer western Kansas, and I still suspect KGNO 1370 Dodge City is off the air. No sign of anything from New Mexico; Utah might have made it on 1160 if it were not for IBOC from KFAQ 1170 Tulsa. Many additional frequencies thruout the band had increased levels of interference to the normally audible weak groundwave signals.

Here are all the logs rearranged into frequency order. All times UT; if you must, subtract 7 hours for MST, 6 for MDT/CST, 5 for CDT/EST, 4 for EDT, a.k.a. ``ELT``; in any event, I starting logging only 82 minutes after local mean noon at 1832 UT, more than 5 hours before sunset, and no telling how much earlier before that the opening started.

560, since I was getting so many other Denver-area stations, sought KLZ at 2050, but something just barely audible, and just as easily could be marginal KWTO MO. Reason: KLZ is tightly direxional N-S.

590, at 1955, normally dominant groundwave KXSP Omaha had some CCI, just after I heard 600 from CO, so assumed KCSJ Pueblo; by 2051, just Omaha sports dominant, so never got a definite ID on this one. I must say that I have been noting something under Omaha several daytimes lately, figured KLBJ Austin most likely.

600, at 1954 ad for Champion Windows on west I-25 frontage road, political ad for Elite Hassan (sounds like), candidate for Colorado State Treasurer, used car dealer in Fort Collins/Greeley. It`s KCOL Wellington, loud and clear, never heard here in the daytime before. My first log in this opening, on a frequency normally vacant daytime, and many more to come. I`ll quote the City of License, especially appropriate for KCOL! Still in at 2051.

630, at 1955, I can tell there is some station here, underneath all the double whammy from IBOC 620 KMKI TX and 640 WWLS OK. Has to be KHOW Denver, and would surely have been clear without the IBOC. Normally nothing has a chance on 630 here in the daytime vs IBOC x 2.

650, at 1955, I can also tell there is a station here under the WWLS 640 IBOC, no doubt KGAB Cheyenne WY.

670, at 1956 and thruout, KLTT Commerce City CO, the one Colorado station which is a daytime groundwave regular. Stronger than usual, and presumably getting a skywave boost.

710, looking for KNUS Denver, but no sign of it versus the usual KGNC/KCMO mix. Reason: KNUS is tightly direxional NE/SW and we are in a deep null here.

760, at 1956, Kansas City has CCI (co-channel interference). Returned to it at 2015, in Thom Hartmann Program, ``AM 760, Colorado`s Progressive Talk, am760.net``. L&C signal of KKZN Thornton; now way over Kansas City, normally dominant daytimes. Wish it did not take an extraordinary DX opening to audiblize Thom`s weekday show anywhere on my Okie dial. But no time to stop and listen now!

810, normally occupied only by WHB Kansas City, but avoided here because of splash from OKC 800: at 2038, CCI between sports and some other talk station. KLVZ Brighton CO, in Denver area? except it`s supposed to be Spanish religion and direxional to the SW, null toward OK. At 2052, ``Sports Radio 8-10`` slightly under other talker, and the former then mentioned Overland Park, so that`s WHB. The CCI was discussing Haiti in English. At 2104, ABC news cutaway, local ad for something in Northern Hills. Then Derry Brownfield Show (which is also on WWCR), 1-800-973-3739, and disclaimer by ``KBHB, Five-State Radio``, i.e. Sturgis SD in the SW corner full of bikers. Make that Six! 627 miles.

830, at 1957, Family News in Focus, Today`s Lighthouse Report. Religious format. At first not sure of identity and I don`t have references with me; all researched after the fact. At 2016, plug Route66life.com and National Day of Prayer, May 6 (o yeah?). Mentions Intentional Living, i.e. same as 1200 KFNW, and Dr. Randy show, over CCI which must be WCCO. At 2054, the two stations are almost equal level, financial/religious talk atop WCCO ID in passing. 2147, ad for a candy shop in downtown Casper! So it`s KUYO WY, which is also on the affiliate list for Intentional Living at this hour. Also plug again for route66life.com now inbooming without WCCO. 632 miles to Casper.

830, at 2054, WCCO ID in passing under KUYO Wyoming. Just hearing WCCO itself in the daytime would be remarkable enough this time of year. At 2100 the CBS News timebong was at least 20 seconds late!

850, at 1957, Rush loud & clear over Spanish from TX. No need to wait for an ID from KOA! And its IBOC severely QRMs KKOW-860 KS, normally a big clear daytime groundwave signal here. KOA still inbooming at 2107.

910, at 1958, trying to get something recognizable out of KPOF Denver, but not successful now or later vs the OK and TX stations. Even tho KPOF is non-direxional, an heritage station. It originally meant Pillar Of Fire, some Biblical myth, but now it means Point Of Faith, trying to be more oecumenical?

990, at 1959, weak CCI, a frequency to be checked later. At 2019 a mix with SAH, but can make out some South Asian music. Is that now the format of KRKS Denver instead of religion in English? More South Asian music, but at 2058 ID in Amerenglish for Farmersville-DFW, i.e. KFCD, one of the frequencies hijacked from Wichita Falls to The Metroplex; but KFCD is supposed to be Spanish religion, and I`m not sure which one the ID goes with. I don`t see anything Ethnic, other than Spanish on this frequency anywhere in the US per the NRC AM Log 2009-2010, so a mystery. Any help? I have already spent more time compiling this report than axually logging the DX, and don`t have the time to look for all the updates to the Log.

1030, at 1959-2000, despite ACI splash from KOKP-1020 OK, ID as ``KTWO, Casper, the only way to stay informed, with Fox News,`` etc.
(I beg to differ. That is the only way to stay MISinformed.) Big signal from another station normally impossible daytime. Obliterates whatever bit makes it on groundwave from Garden City KS. 2022, Hannity L&C via KTWO. Still in at 2154 as I have to stop monitoring, 3 hours and 16 minutes before local sunset in Enid. 632 miles.

1040, at 2023, talk show seems about nutrition. Probably KCBR Monument CO, axually religious. 2040, religious talk show. Colorado Springs market.

1060, at 2001, loud & clear news, must be KRCN Longmont CO again. I find that the noise level at the first parking lot is getting too severe above 1000 kHz so I quickly drive to the quiet one in the next couple minutes.

1090, at 2003, Spanish music. 2024 ad for McDonald`s in Spanish, i.e. KMXA Aurora CO. Has IBOC noise on 1090, and there is also IBOC noise on 1080 vs KRLD, as these two stations degrade each other. 2024 ad for somethings sounding like Puma and Eclipse, mentioned Denver, and ``María 10-90 AM, Siempre Romántica``. Which Mary is it named for? Surely not the BVM with a format like that.

1100, at 2002, Fox News loud & clear, ad for AlliedBank.com mentioning ``the Western Slope`` which is the local geographical referent for Grand Junxion CO and vicinity. At 2006, ID as ``Talk Radio AM 1100, The Splash`` -- not sure of last word. It`s 50 kW KNZZ. Into Sean Hannity crap. Most of the signals are quite steady. This one starts to fade down gradually. But still L&C at 2111. 610 miles.

1170, while local KFAQ Tulsa trashes 1160 and 1180 with IBOC, squashing any chance of KSL during this opening, at 2112 while KFAQ is in local relatively calm talk, I can make out weak CCI on 1170 itself, KJJD Windsor CO most likely.

1190 at 2114, gab about electronic music between DJ and guest, really laid back; in fact, we were to ``sit back and space out`` as the music started. Rather eclectic show, at 2122 ``Good Vibrations`` by Beach Boys, outro by same DJ, 2125 KVCU ID in passing. CCI on 1190 from the KS and TX stations at least, but KVCU more or less dominant for a while. This is the failing commercial AM station which was acquired for the students at UC Boulder.

1200, at 2008 talk show, apparently financial, 888-888-1717. That Googles to Intentional Living out of Tucson and website http://www.theintentionallife.com/stationtime.asp shows the only 1200 station is KFNW West Fargo ND, time chex too at 3:06 pm CDT. 726 miles. Best distance in the opening.

1210, at 2026, CCI with talk show vs. KGYN Guymon OK`s C&W, which is normally the one heard on daytime groundwave. Most likely KHAT Laramie WY, ESPN affiliate. Yes, net fits, at 2043 ID as ESPN Radio, now over KGYN, and SAH of slightly over 2 Hz.

1300, at 2027, KAKC Tulsa has CCI, one of which with very distorted modulation. Might be selective skywave/groundwave self-QRM from one station. At 2028, ESPN is atop, i.e. KAKC. Suspect the other is KCSF Colorado Springs, supposed to be C&W, but did not catch such music in further tunebies.

1310, at 2009, Dr Laura. Frequency is normally vacant or nearly so daytime, the TX and KS stations not making it groundwavely. So KFKA Greeley CO. At 2030 break in Laura for Fox News Radio, then ``News-talk 13-10, KFKA`` ID.

1320, at 2009, KCLI OK which is // KNSS 1330 KS, has CCI and SAH. At 2032, KCLI with News9 (KWTV OKC) plug, and lo het over CCI. At 2046 this frequency has Sean Hannity x 2, a reverb apart. Only other station fitting in the DX area is KOLT Scottsbluff NE, per listings on the Hannity website.

1350, at 2032, ad for Pueblo, and slogan ``Homer 13-50``, i.e. KDZA CO, and slogan chex with NRC AM Log. Still in at 2107. Assume refers to baseball, not Simpson.

1530, at 2012, singing ID as I tune in for ``15-30, KCMN``, soul music. I.e. Colorado Springs, NRC-AM Log listed with nostalgia. Also IBOC noise on 1540, and that fits for KCMN in this listing: http://topazdesigns.com/iboc/station-list.html

1600, at 2013, SAH of almost 1 Hz, one side presumably semilocal KUSH Cushing OK and by now naturally I suspect the other is CO, KEPN Lakewood. No audible het from KMDO Fort Scott KS, nor any sign now of Vietnamese from KRVA The Metroplex TX.

1690, at 2014, typical Disney music loud & clear, // 1560 KOCY OKC, i.e. KDDZ Arvada CO. A bit weaker at 2049. Nothing else on X-band, but might have had 1630 WY and 1650 CO were it not for splash from my local KFXY-1640 gospel music. Note that this opening affected the entire MW band. KDDZ still in at 2107.

That`s it. My method of reporting may not fit the format of logs in DXN and DXM, but I hope some editors feel this info is worthy of publication, perhaps as a special feature, and further discussion.
Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, dxld yg (21/4-2010)

25/3-2010

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY
In today's increasingly connected world, it's hard to imagine a time when worldwide communication required serious effort. Some visionaries could imagine a future where near-instantaneous communication was possible, but for most of the world it was only a pipe dream.
One of those visionaries was Guglielmo Marconi.
Marconi was born to a life of privilege: his father was a wealthy Italian land owner and his mother was an heiress to the Jameson Whiskey fortune.
As a child, Marconi was interested in physics and math, and had an early start in communications science; at 21 at his father's estate in Italy, he managed to send wireless telegraphy signals over two kilometres.
His work was inspired by Heinrich Hertz, who discovered wireless waves, James Clerk Maxwell, who first described electromagnetic waves, Oliver Lodge, a professor at Oxford University, and Augustus Righi, a physics professor at Bologna University and close family friend.
In 1896, Marconi and his mother moved from Italy to London where Marconi set up shop. Within a few months, he submitted his first patent on wireless transmission using Hertzian waves.
Almost instantly, Marconi became a celebrity and had the support of the public, the British and Italian Navies, the British General Post Office, and Queen Victoria. The public was enchanted by the idea of coded messages travelling through the air (what we call radio waves today) rather than through wires like traditional telegrams.
Read the full story at: http://thevarsity.ca/articles/29188
Southgate http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2010/discovery_of_wt.htm
Mike Terry via dxld yg (24/3-2010)

19/12-2009

U S A
Daytime DX in Oklahoma
All times are UT = CST +6. This apparently makes my logs ineligible to appear in weekly bulletins, so here you are:

Another quick MW bandscan on the caradio at a hotspot in western Enid the afternoon of Dec 14, times UT!

1200, at 2137, skywave in, something in Spanish atop WOAI, various ads for juguetes, etc., causing slow SAH with WOAI; later mentioned ``Chicago informa … 1,200 AM``. So it`s WRTO, 10 kW, ``La Tremenda`` per NRC AM Log 2009-2010. Strangely enough, per NRC pattern book, its daytime design has a null to the SE, but plenty of signal to the SW.
WOAI soon faded up overtaking it, but 1200 is hardly a ``clear channel`` any more!

540, at 2144, KWMT Ft Dodge IA, groundwave, with two or three IDs in passing during info about local events. Usually it`s a mix with KDFT, but no sign of Spanish this time; the latter off the air? If it stays off I may finally have a chance of inpulling KNMX by daytime groundwave, which ought to be possible here [no, next day Dec 15 around 1930, KDFT is back on and dominating].

570, at 2147, usual mix of KLIF with groundwave from WNAX SD, way under but audible with SAH of about 3.5 Hz. Someone was wondering whether WNAX was running usual spex; seems so to me.
Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST (19/12-2009)

Afternoon DXing from caradio, nondirexional whip:

1660, no sign of KXTR Kansas City, but a weak 3-way SAH could be detected at 2015 Dec 18, presumably traces of the TX, ND and MI stations. KXTR website has referred to being off the air periodically for antenna work. It currently shows this, now outdated, so they are still not finished:

"KXTR WILL NOT BE BROADCASTING ON 1660AM FROM 8AM TO 6PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY UNTIL DECEMBER 14 SO THE FINAL PHASE OF WORK ON OUR TOWER CAN BE COMPLETED. KXTR WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM AT WWW.KXTR.COM AND BROADCAST IN HD AT 98.1 FM HD2. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE!"

1250 Spanish and 1090 EWTN from the KC area were in well, so skywave was obviously in play, and KXTR should have been easily audible if on. I hope the `work` does not include diminishing the skywave component.

Talk on 1670 also in, no doubt WTDY Madison WI (I had also heard it Dec 17 around 1800, close to low noon at 1832 UT = 1200 LMT); and no sign of CJEU Gatineau QC.

1210, KGYN Guymon OK still ailing with very weak groundwave signal, but barely audible ``US Country`` slogan at 2020 Dec 18, SAH between two other very weak signals.

1560, at 2015 UT, our nearest groundwave station on that frequency, KOCY, 1 kW Del City (why license to this SE suburb of OKC? It was originally much further off to the SW in Chickasha as KWCO), Radio Disney, was already getting heavy QRM from a skywave pileup, mainly something with a talk show. And one of them far enough off-frequency to cause a rumbling audible het (such as 30-40 Hz, maybe).

Next check at 2035 it was even worse; besides the rumbling AH, there were also a SAH of 6 Hz, and another faster SAH. So that`s at least three or four stations. At 2100, Houston-orientated sportstalk on top, obviously 50 kW KGOW ``Bellaire`` TX, but no legal ID to be heard. 2101 played PSA for http://texasflu.com and then at 2102 ID only as ``1560 The Game, happily filling the holes in your life``, which I must say is a distinctive slogan altho it leaves me cold; what holes? Is that any way to talk to a proud listener? Probably played then, since a golf ad was to follow, ha2.
Rather tight major daytime lobe is at 14 degrees, and one of the nulls at 330 degrees; we are roughly halfway between them, meaning considerably off the boresight.
http://www.fcc.gov/ftp/Bureaus/MB/Databases/AM_DA_patterns/1222668-101220.pdf
This is the same station that got out widely a few months ago during a hurricane/flood emergency when running day facilities at night, and relaying news from a local TV station, KPRC `2`, as I recall. Low sun now means it gets plenty of daytime skywave propagation.

1370, rechecked again in the afternoons of Dec 17, and 18, still no groundwave signal from KGNO Dodge City KS, which used to be a daytime fringe regular here. It`s still on the books as non-direxional, day power 5 kW, an heritage station, but does it exist any more? It`s now part of a 20-station group all over Kansas, so just another cog. I should phone and inquire, 620-225-8080.

Coverage map at http://www.rockingmradio.com/kgno.htm shows the 0.5 mV/m contour extending into OK no further than Alva in Woods county, but it should be audible here over the Ogalalla aquifer with much less signal than that. Er, make that microvolts per meter; what difference does a little factor of three orders of magnitude make?
Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST (19/12-2009)

03/02-2009

New traditional MW DX radio
Icom is putting a new radio on the market to replace the 756 PRO series. It is the Icom IC-7600 which is expected to sell in the US$3000 range.
I have owned the IC-756PRO III for a number of years now which has given me
superb MW DX (after mods), but this new kid on the block is significantly
better and jam packed with useful features.

It is not attenuated on the MW band and the pre-amps can be engaged, unlike
the old 756.
It has two 32 bit processors instead of one.
It has USB ports for computer drive and firmware upgrades
It has 3, 6 and 15 kHz roofing filters (the 756 had only 15 kHz)
It has the well proven Icom DSP software in it's latest incarnation.
It has a significantly larger LCD screen that is just fabulous.
It has many of the features of the IC-7700 which is double the price.
It is superb for chasing NDB beacons on LW and the filter can go down to 50
Hz without ringing.

So if you are not into SDR radio's and like the traditional radio with
plenty of knobs and whistles, this is the one for you. Take a look at the
user manual just released. See:
http://www.icom.co.jp/manual/external/transceivers/IC-7600.pdf

Have fun and good DX,
John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s.
Icom IC-7700, Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods ERGO software, Drake SW8. Sangean 803A, Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Redsun RP2100.
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II, Datong AD-270, Kiwa MW Loop.
John Plimmer via MWDX yg (3/2-2009)

24/01-2009

CELEBRATING WIRELESS HERO
The Marconi Wireless Station in south west Cornwall is leading celebrations later to honour a man who helped save 1,600 lives 100 years ago.
On 23 January 1909, Jack Binns, from Peterborough, was a wireless operator on board the liner The Republic.
He stayed at his post for 36 hours after the ship collided with another boat, repeatedly sending out the first wireless distress signal in morse code.
The passengers and crew of both vessels were eventually rescued.
David Barlow, from the Lizard Wireless Station, said Mr Binns' cabin had been exposed to the elements by the collision: "He sent over 200 messages in that time, freezing cold.
"The captain had to send blankets down and hot soup to keep him going, but he was a real hero."
After the rescue Mr Binns was offered a position as wireless operator on the White Star Line's newest ship, the Titanic. He turned it down, becoming a newspaper reporter in New York instead.
The Lizard Wireless Station is the world's oldest surviving purpose-built radio station.
It received the first long-distance radio signal sent from the Isle of Wight to Cornwall on 23 January 1901.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7846590.stm via Mike Terry via dxld yg (23/1-2009)

29/05-2008

OKLAHOMA groundwave notes
The Atwoods parking lot on the west side of Enid is a hot spot for MW groundwave, low noise too, so I did a quick bandscan May 28 on the caradio. A few significant observations.
1340, KEBC, OKC normally alone on channel in daytime here in Enid, but could hear something underneath sportstalk at 2022 UT. Most likely is KJMU Sand Springs, near Tulsa. Maybe I could have pulled it thru a null if I had a directional antenna. KJMU was off the air from last Oct to Feb, per reports from Bruce Winkleman via DXLDs 7-136 and 8-020. I wonder if they did any upgrading in the meantime. They are of course limited to 1000 watts non-direxional, but the ground system, etc., could have been improved.
Indeed KJMU is the only possibility, assuming there is no skywave. Altho a heavily-populated `graveyard` channel nationwide, 1340 has a big unoccupied hole around here, as is obvious from the NRC AM Pattern Book --- in KS, only two stations along the extreme eastern border with MO. None in the TX panhandle, unless you include Lubbock. None in SE Colorado.
I should have tried harder in the daytime at quiet rural locations in western OK or KS, and/or with defacto fence beverages, to better my NRC distance record for KSSR Santa Rosa NM, which I think has been silent for a few years now, perhaps never to return.
Per FCC AM Query for facility number 29504, there was an involuntary transfer of ownership after the original owner J. MICHAEL ESQUIBEL, was DECEASED, to JOSEPH M. ESQUIBEL, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, presumably his son or heir, which went thru on Feb 13, 2006. KSSR is still LICENSED: as of 01/01/2008 and License Expires 10/01/2013. And as far as FCC are concerned, on the air, even if it isn`t.
If anyone is travelling along Route 66 (or rather I-40), or US 54/84 in the Santa Rosa area before I get out there again, please note whether 1340 is on the air (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST).
1170, KFAQ, Tulsa at 2026 UT was accompanied by IBOC buzz on each side. It is not listed as an HD station by iBiquity, at
http://ibiquity.com/hd_radio/hdradio_find_a_station?state=OK&sortBy=undefined#stationlist
Has anyone else noticed IBOC from KFAQ at night, or day?
1000, KTOK, OKC, an IBOC station, but seems to be more and more sporadic. Not on at this time, 2027 UT, allowing Spanish gospel from Texas on 990 to be audible, KFCD Farmersville in The Metroplex, and also C&W music on 1010, KIND Independence KS. When KTOK IBOC is on, these are totally blown away by the buzz.
930, WKY, OKC, still IBOC-free, despite reports it would be next.
640, WWLS, OKC/Moore/Norman, strong IBOC on as usual totally blocking 630 and 650, and as always, also bothering KSKY 660.
620, KMKI, Plano TX, Disney for The Metroplex, has IBOC on, as can be heard bothering 610 Kansas City, tho not distinguishable from much stronger WWLS IBOC on 630.
Glenn Hauser, Enid, MWDX yg (29/5-2008)

09/03-2008

CUBA
Got a recent report of Radio Guamá, the Pinar del Rio provincial network heard in Texas on
990 kiloHertz; their main station located near the city that has the same name of the province, Pinar del Rio. Radio Guamá is also on the air on FM, so I expect to see reports of their FM broadcasts when the spring-summer sporadic E season starts.

Also about Cuban AM broadcast stations between 900 and 1000 kHz, right in the middle of the classic AM analog radio´s dials. On 900 kiloHertz Radio Progreso´s 50 kiloWatts located in Holguín province can be usually heard in the Caribbean, Central America ,the USA and Canada by nulling the Mexican station on the same channel XEW, that according to some sources runs a very high power transmitter on that frequency.

Many years ago, the Chief Engineer of Radio Progreso Cuban National Network, Carlos Estrada, visited Mexico City to attend an International Radio Broadcasting Conference, and he came back very impressed by the XEW 250 kiloWatt transmitter that used a Doherty type linear amplifier. Doherty and Terman-Woodyard linear amplifiers are now part of broadcast history, because practically all if not all of today´s new transmitters are built using solid state devices that operate with rather low voltages. The solid state power output stages are modular, so in case one of them fails the transmitter still stays on the air at reduced power output, something broadcasters appreciate very much.

Now, more about Cuban AM stations in the 900 to 1000 kiloHertz segment of the AM broadcast band: on 910 kiloHertz here in Havana, we have Radio Metropolitana, a local capital city station that is on the air 24 hours, and on that same frequency 910 kiloHertz we also have Radio Cadena Agramonte from Camagüey city, that can be heard very well all
over eastern Cuba due to its transmitter´s excellent location. And here in Havana, on 950 kiloHertz we have the 10 kiloWatt Radio Reloj, the easiest Cuban station to identify because it sends out the letters R R on CW many times every day. You will hear a one per second pulse and the RR on CW from all of Radio Reloj´s network stations.

Cuba is now using its national fiber optics cables backbone distribution network, as well as the several microwave radio relay systems, so many times you will notice that Radio Reloj´s signals on different frequencies have a slight time delay due to the coding and decoding process of the digital systems used by the fiber optic equipment. By the way, this last item answers a question sent by listener Jeff, from Toronto, who asked why he could hear on two radios slightly different audio from Radio Reloj on 950 and 1020 kiloHertz.
Arnie Coro, Radio amateur CO2KK, Radio Havana Cuba, Dxers Unlimited´s weekend edition for 8-9 March 2008 via DXLD 8-031 (9/3-2008)

10/02-2008

OKLAHOMA
Mid-day MW bandscan from Carrier, OK.
I meant to do a low-noon MW bandscan close to Solstice, when residual skywave is possible, but did not get around to it until Feb 4, and by then it was almost too late. But I also wanted to check out what makes it by groundwave on my new caradio, not confused by skywave. I expeditioned a few miles NW of Enid to a spot near the junxion of State Hwys 45 and 132 SE of Carrier, where there is a brief stretch with no adjacent powerlines. On caradio with whip on fender, no DFing possible.
Main reference is the 2007-2008 NRC AM Log. Here is some of what I noted, skipping most strong and regular signals, between 1815 and 1905 UT, local mean noon being at 1832:
1700: at 1819 ``La Indomable, mil setecientos, es La Grande``. Spanish dominating an English station, fading in and out. Unlike most of the logs below, this is probably skywave, from KBGG Des Moines, listed with ``La Grande`` but not ``La Indomable`` slogan.
1690: at 1820, sports talk. Does not fit for Colorado with All-Kids, or Illinois with news/talk, but surely one or the other. Format changed?
1670: at 1820, weak distorted audio. May be Enid talking house.
1660: checked this first at 1815, as KXTR Kansas City is easy to recognize with classical, and often audible later in the afternoon when skywave has kicked in, but not now: ESPN station was dominating with ads for a CPA `downtown`, phone 241-9187 and 281-1003, atop KXTR classical with a SAH; 1818 CNN News; 1825 ID as ``1660 ESPN``. Those phones check for a CPA in Fargo ND, so certainly noon skywave from KQWB at well over a megameter.
1650 & 1630 blocked by splatter from local KFXY 1640.
1620: at 1821, sports news, good signal. Presumably KOZN Bellevue NE.
1610: at 1822, NWS relay with noise, cut off amid weather info, back to usual loop of local area attraxions around Great Salt Plains, TIS. This makes it into parts of Enid itself if noise is low enough.
1600: at 1823, at least two stations under dominant KUSH Cushing OK.
1570: at 1825, two stations, C&W probably KNDY Marysville KS; EZL probably KZLI Pryor OK, or KTAT Frederick OK.
1540: at 1826, Rush, over another talker. There are two Kansans here, Parsons being the talker, tho KXEL IA might have been in the mix by skywave.
1500: at 1827, preacher. Must be KPGM Pawhuska OK
1440: at 1828, weak Spanish, presumably KTNO University Park TX (Metroplex), 15 kW, but CP for 50 in daytime; IBOC QRM, probably from Tulsa KTBZ 1430 ``The Buzz``, 25 kW.
1420: at 1828, local political ad for Lone Wolf, ``Country 1420, KTJS``, midday report, from Hobart OK; IBOC QRM here too on what used to be a clear station on its fringe. (Quite a number of other small-town stations in OK & KS were doing local noon news hours; good to hear these still exist.)
1370: at 1829, nothing heard; was expecting usual KGNO Dodge City KS.
1360: at 1830, Ave Maria Radio, devotional by a priest. Two possibilities are listed on this frequency with EWTN! KAHS El Dorado KS, and KDJW Amarillo TX. 1831 into talk show ``The Doctor Is In``, YL with Catholic-oriented advice, 877-573-7825. Continuous hum on audio.
1320: at 1832, Radio Oklahoma, weather, ``Newstalk 1320``, so KCLI Clinton; back to Rush; over lo rumble, somebody off-frequency.
1260: at 1834, soul-ish music, but must be KWSH Wewoka, C&W listed.
1250: at 1835, Spanish, so KKHK Kansas City KS; [WREN Topeka missed].
1240: at 1835, slow SAH of 1 Hz or less between KADS Elk City OK and KFH Wichita. For many years, KADS was off-frequency with an audible het.
1210: at 1836, Oklahoma news, from KGYN Guymon. Day pattern is non-direxional so reaches Enid without cheating.
1200: at 1836, trace of a SAH, I suppose between WOAI TX and KFNW ND altho WRTO
Chicago or KYOO Bolivar MO might be involved.
1190: at 1836, ``AM 1190 KVSV``, Beloit KS, farm news.
1180: at 1837, Spanish, therefore KYOZ Bellevue NE.
1110: at 1838, KFAB Omaha NE, VG signal with Rush, and IBOC sidebands blocking 1120 and 1100.
1070: at 1838, semi-local KFTI Wichita, Paul Harvey at Page 3, so must have started around 1830. (I`ve noticed he is no longer between 1800 and 1830 on KRMG 740 Tulsa, either.)
1060: at 1839, fast SAH. Closest are Springfield MO and Van Buren AR; none of the three Texans are very close. Would settle for Pierre SD. Needs further checking, but KFTI 1070 can be a problem.
1040: at 1841, Rush from WHO Des Moines IA.
1030: at 1842, no IBOC heard, missing from WHO? Two stations, news / talk over music, possibly Spanish. KBUF Holcomb KS surely the former, tho KFAY Farmington/Fayetteville AR possible. Is KWFA Tye TX (Abilene) on yet? Does 50 kW KCTA Corpus Christi have any Spanish? Went back and checked this at 1857: talking over hymn, 1858 tentative ID for KWFA.
1010 & 990: at 1843, blocked by IBOC from KTOK-1000.
970: at 1846, religion, KCFO Tulsa or KHVN Fort Worth; far enough from local KGWA 960 to pull something past it.
950: at 1846, religion, no doubt KJRG Newton KS, ditto.
940: at 1844, trace of something under WKY-930 splash, probably KIXZ Amarillo which I have heard before somewhat west of Enid; no Kansans.
880: at 1845, plug for KRVN.com Lexington NE, mixing with a weaker station, probably KJOJ Conroe TX, (which is Vietnamese, but not enough audio to tell).
850: at 1846, Paul Harvey, so KOA in usual pre-noon timeslot; slow SAH with talk station, no doubt KJON Carrollton TX, hijacked from Anadarko OK, but at least that benefits KOA here.
840: at 1846, something there, but an unexpected line noise peak here, surely KTIC West Point NE, previously heard daytimes when it was something else. Rechecked at 1905, ad for Nebraska lottery.
830-730: due to noise and running out of time, skipped over, but nothing unusual expected.
720: at 1847, ad for Grand Central Station episode on The American Experience, WTTW, so definitely WGN. Of all the Chicago `clears` this is the only one still with a clear daytime shot to OK at well over a megameter, certainly by groundwave tnx to our excellent conductivity. Fortunately KSAH Universal City (San Antonio) TX does not bother in the daytime like it does at night, constant SAH battling with WGN.
710: at 1847, Rush mixing with another talker. Per NRC AM Log, KGNC Amarillo TX is the one with Rush, not KCMO Kansas City.
700: at 1848, ads in English mixed with Asian language, 214 area code, so KHSE Wylie TX (Metroplex), blocking any hope of WLW daytime.
680: at 1849, rodeo talk about NFR, presumably KFEQ St. Joe MO.
670: at 1850, religion, from KLTT Commerce/Denver CO, another long-haul daytime groundwave which can also be heard within Enid given low-noise location; trace of something else, presumably WSCR Chicago, which as WMAQ used to make it clearly on cold winter days` groundwave.
660: at 1851, KSKY Dallas, talk, with IBOC from WWLS-640 bleeding over here 20 kHz up.
650 & 630: ruined by WWLS IBOC; WSM and KHOW might otherwise make it.
620: at 1852, KMKI Disney Radio, Plano TX, music.
610: at 1852, KCSP Kansas City, sports, marred by IBOC from KMKI.
600: at 1852, two weak stations with SAH, probably WMT Cedar Rapids IA and KTBB Tyler TX. This is a relatively clear frequency for daytime DX.
590: at 1853, KXSP Omaha NE with sports, over something else, probably KLBJ Austin TX.
570: at 1853, usual mix of KLIF Dallas over WNAX Yankton SD. Unfortunately almost co-linear and can`t null out one or the other.
560: at 1854, Rush, presumably KWTO Springfield MO, seems with IBOC QRM; is that KLIF 570 now? No IBOC heard on 580, with WIBW strong.
550: at 1854, KFRM Salina KS, very strong as usual, but with something else underneath; KCRS Midland TX heard previously, but KLLV Breen CO might be possible now.
540: at 1855, usual mix of KDFT Ferris (Metroplex) TX in Spanish over KWMT Fort Dodge IA in English.
Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST yg (9/2-2008)

15/05-2007

Stories from past midnight.
I kinda promised some news once it stayed reading bright past midnight.
Well, it's just about bright enough to read the Panasonic tranny's digital display without a torch. It's 0040Z and I'm just back in to warm my hands on a cuppa.

First, LW. Norway and the continent on 153. Absolutely nothing on 162, not even a sneeze. The Brits were strong on 198 as were the Irish on 252. 234 was OK.

Up to the MW band. The Brits (and Scots) were booming in on 693, 810, 909, 1053, 1089, 1215 and 1341. 720 was well audible, 882 decent. 1215's fillers on 1197, 1233 and 1242 made it to here tonight. The Germans were strong, too, on 1269 and 1422. Strange hash on 1440, 1575 and 1593. DRM QRM? And this is just what I remember from a quick run over the band.
Reynir H. Stefánsson, Eastern Iceland (15/5-2007)

03/02-2007

CUBA
45 YEARS RADIO HAVANA CUBA
On the event of Radio Havana Cuba's 45 anniversary celebrated on May 1st, 2006, here is a report by Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK, host of the twice weekly programme "DXers Unlimited" of Radio Havana Cuba, on the early days of RHC:
According to my research, the history of Radio Havana Cuba goes back as early as 1959. A Cuban delegation designated by the Revolutionary Government was attending an International Telecommunications Union World Administrative Conference that was sessioning in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations' main building in that Swiss city. Senior Engineer Carlos Julián Estrada Castro, one of my mentors, was there and he told me that one day the members of the Cuban delegation received a call from the Cuban Embassy at the United Nations organizations in Geneva. A diplomatic cable from Havana instructed the members of the delegation to find out about the possibilities of starting a Cuban international short wave radio service.
Engineer Estrada, who was very experienced in matters related to the use of the short wave radio spectrum, realized that right there in Switzerland; there was a world famous radio transmitter factory, the Swiss firm Brown Boveri Corporation. Estrada and other members of the Cuban delegation to the ITU Conference contacted Brown Boveri, and soon found out a very interesting information. Brown Boveri had several short wave transmitters ready to be shipped to a country in Africa, I believe it was Ethiopia, that had suddenly refused to receive the two 100 kilowatt and two ten kilowatt transmitters.
Estrada wired Havana, and in a few days, by the end of 1959, the deal was completed, and that's how Radio Havana Cuba received its first four transmitters, brand new from Switzerland, and they came together with several antenna systems that were included in the sale. About one year later, by the end of 1960, the Bauta transmitting station, about some 30 kilometers to the West of Havana was under construction.
By early January of 1961, one of the Brown Boveri 10 kilowatt transmitters was installed at a small provisional shed, used by the construction workers that were building the transmitting station. There were no steel towers to put up an antenna for the transmitters, so Engineer Jose Antonio Valladares talked to the local power utility and obtained six wooden poles, and he asked for the tallest ones that they had available. Valladares, who is Cuba's most experienced antenna specialist, knew very well that he needed no less than 20 meters to
install a dipole antenna for the 25 meter band that will put out a good signal to the Americas, but the wooden poles were only about 13 meters high.
Then someone at [sic] brought up the idea of making a taller mast by putting two poles into the ground and inserting a third one about half way in between the two lower ones. Using typical power company equipment and hardware, the two first masts that the station used went up, and in less than a week they were ready to support a full wave dipole antenna. Power had to be brought to the provisional building so that the 10-kilowatt transmitter could start operations, and because there was no link with the Radio Progreso downtown Havana studios, someone suggested installing a tape recorder and player right next to the transmitter.
Tests began by the first and second weeks of February of 1961 and on the 24th of February of that year, Onda Corta Experimental Cubana, the Cuban Experimental Short Wave went on the air with a one hour long program in Spanish that was repeated several times during the evening. All of us involved in the setting up of the station were delighted when we began to receive reports from friends in Latin America, Canada and the United States. The provisional installation was working quite well indeed, as we proceeded to install the second 10 kilowatt
transmitter and the first 100 kilowatt transmitter as the main building of the Bauta station was almost completed.
Why Cuba wanted to have the station on the air as soon as possible and with the best equipment available was something quite logical, we all knew that an armed invasion against our nation was in the works, and that having a short wave station on the air meant that the world could be informed directly about what was really happening. The period between the 24th of February and the 15th of April of 1961 saw engineers, technicians, electricians and the antenna crews working at a hectic pace to try to have all the equipment on the air and with the new antennas that had to be installed.
Engineer José Valladares was in charge of the design of several antennas, and of supervising the installation of the ones that were bought to Brown Boveri, he had among his crew a very young at that time radio enthusiast, that had just completed his senior high school and a radio and television training course. Yes, I was one of Valladares` pupils, at age 18, and you cannot imagine how much he taught to all of us that were fortunate to work with him and the other
senior engineers in charge of the project. On the 15th of April of 1961 everyone in Cuba learned about the air raids to three Cuban Air Force Bases, a prelude of the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
It was one day later, at the burial of the martyrs of the Revolution that were killed during the air raids that Fidel told the world about the existence of what was going to be Radio Havana Cuba. A day later, April 17th the infamous 25O6 Brigade organized, trained and supplied by the US Central Intelligence Agency, began landing at the Bay of Pigs, and immediately was challenged by the Cuban Rebel Army and militia troops that brought them to a total defeat in less than 72 hours. During the whole time that the invasion lasted, our experimental short wave station was on the air 24 hours, telling the world what was happening and providing to the many friends of the Cuban Revolution up to the minute information of what was happening in the Zapata swamp, the isolated area of Cuba carefully selected by the CIA for the landing of the mercenary forces.
The battle reports went on the air from the very Stara [start?] of the military operations against the invaders, and the last one, telling the world about the outstanding victory of the Cuban people was repeated many times, so that everyone could pick up our broadcasts. Sí
amigos, a few days later, on May Day, the first day of May of 1961, Cuba celebrated its victory over the CIA forces sent to invade our nation, and it was precisely on that day that our station went on the air, for the first time, using the name of Radio Havana Cuba.
A very small group of people were involved in the start up of Radio Havana Cuba, we worked up to 18 hours a day to try to finish installing the complex equipment. Never before Cuban engineers had worked with such powerful transmitters, as the only two high power AM
band broadcast transmitters that existed here were a pair of 50 kilowatt Westinghouse model 5OHG2 transmitters owned by Radio Progreso and Circuito CMQ National Networks. The first 100 kilowatt Brown Boveri was ready to operate just a few days before the Bay of Pigs
invasion, and it did play a very important role in making known to the world what was actually taking place at the Zapata swamp battlefield.
A few months later, the Bauta transmitting station phase one was completed, and we started to broadcast regularly in both Spanish and English, adding shortly after Portuguese and French. Several years later two new Russian built SNIEG transmitters were added to Bauta, as
well as more antennas to make it possible to broadcast not only to Latin America, the Caribbean and North America, but also to Europe. Sí amigos, the history of Radio Havana Cuba is full of very interesting anecdotes. This program today is my humble tribute to all of those who are no longer with us, having passed away since the station first went on the air, and who make possible that Cuba's voice may be heard all around the world.
With Courtesy to Arnie Coro CO2KK, Dxers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba (Feb World DX Club Contact via DXLD 7-014 (2/2-2007)

26/12-2006

ANGOLA
Radio is the most powerful medium of communication in Angola with approximately 80 per cent of country listening (HRW, 2004). In 2000, Angola had 21 AM radio stations, six FM stations, seven shortwaves, and 815,000 radio sets (World Factbook, 2006). As part of the MPLA's
campaign strategy for the 1992 elections, the government allowed "trusted businessmen" to create four private radio stations in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda, and Lubango (Expresso, 20 December 2003).
Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) is a 24 hour state-run radio station with a monopoly of national radio broadcasts. It is the only broadcaster to offer programmes in indigenous African languages such as Bantu.
The equipment used by RNA is "fairly advanced" with new computers and internet connection in Luanda (IMS, MISA, and AMARC, 2003). In Luanda, the news department has 60-65 reporters. The director-general, Manuel Rabelais, is also the social communications minister. Journalists claim the government favours RNA in the allocation of new broadcast frequencies (HRW, 2004). RNA tends to pay close attention to official activities, but seldom reports on opposition initiatives and almost never with any depth (Lusa, 15 August 2000). The station
recently has become more open to debate and call-in programmes, but cuts off programmes when guests or callers comment on sensitive issues.
RNA has five stations. The two with the widest reach are Canal A and Radio Cinco.
RNA's home page calls Canal A the "standard-bearer" of the RNA group. The station broadcasts nationwide via several frequencies: 93.5 FM; 944, 1088, and 1367 AM; and 4950, 9720, and 11955 shortwave. Its"Manhã Informativa" [Morning News] programme from 0600 to 0900 daily includes a question-and-answer session with a public official every morning and an in-depth treatment of the news items that are likely to feature prominently during the day, but according to Angolense, the programme is "little more than a menu serving the government's daily agenda" (15-22 February 2003). News bulletins air at 1300 and 2000 local time daily. The popular "Tendências e Debates" - a call-in interview programme featuring a panel of experts from 0930 to 1200 on Saturdays - is a response to Radio Ecclésia's popular call-in debate programme, according to HRW.
RNA's Radio Cinco broadcasts only sports news on 94.5 FM. It can be heard in Benguela, Lobito, Huambo, Namibe, Cabinda, Uige, and Dundo (HRW, 2004).
RNA's three other stations broadcast only in Luanda.
Radio Luanda is a news and information station broadcasting on 99.9 FM and 1010 AM.
Radio FM Stereo plays only music on 96.5 FM.
Radio Ngola Yetu, a popular station focusing mainly on sports, targets Angolans who speak indigenous languages. The station also airs programmes in Portuguese, French, English, and Lingala. It broadcasts on 101.4 FM, 944 AM, and 3375 and 7245 [sic] shortwave.
RNA also broadcasts nationally via Emissora Provincial Cuando-Cubango- Menogue on 4780 shortwave; Emissora Provincial da Huila-Lubango on 4820 shortwave; Emissora Provincial do Namibe on 5015 shortwave; and Emissora Provincial de Benguela on 5043 shortwave.
Roman Catholic Radio Ecclésia is an FM station launched in 1954. RE initially had a licence to broadcast nationally but had to stop operating when the MPLA government confiscated its assets in 1978. In 1997, RE began broadcasting again in the Luanda area only. It has been seeking a licence to broadcast nationally but the government repeatedly has refused. Radio Ecclésia broadcasts 24 hours a day on 97.5 FM in Luanda and currently employs some 36 journalists, including 11 correspondents located in several provinces.
RE is known for giving "space to a wide range of opinions from politicians and civil society" and to reports on "controversial" government actions (HRW, 2004).
Lisbon-based weekly Expresso said that "daring and irreverent" RE has the advantage over state-controlled media because it allows citizens [to] criticize government on the air, particularly during its popular call-in programmes (20 December 2003).
Lisbon-based newsletter Africa Monitor said the government "fears" Radio Ecclésia and perceives it to be "the most bothersome" source because of its "critical independence" (8 August 2003).
Luanda Antena Comercial (LAC) was the country's first private radio station, founded just before the 1992 elections with alleged discreet financial support from the MPLA to assist the party during the election campaign. Privately owned Luanda weekly Agora reported that
despite LAC's recognized efforts to remain independent, the station has become more controlled by the government (15-22 July) and its reports are often nearly identical to state-run RNA's. The station is directed by Luisa Fancony and it broadcasts on 95.5 FM from 0600 to
0100 daily in Luanda only. Listeners also can access programming from its website, http://www.ebonet.net/lac/
Other private radio stations:
Radio Escola and Radio CEFOJOR (Journalists Training Centre) operate in Luanda and are designed to train new professionals and young radio journalists, respectively (HRW, 2004). Four other local private radio stations broadcast in the country: Radio Morena and Radio Benguela broadcast only in Benguela, Radio 2000 broadcasts only in Lubango, and Radio Commercial de Cabinda broadcasts only in Cabinda. HRW says these radio stations "seldom"
broadcast material critical of the government and the only critical voices come from people airing their views on the radio.
UNITA's radio station, Radio Despertar, has been waiting for government permission to start broadcasting since February 2004, but the party reportedly does not expect the government to allow the station to begin broadcasting before the upcoming elections (Agora, 11-18 September 2004). The station will be directed by Alexandre Neto Salombe, a journalist who has worked for RNA in Huila and Huambo and also for Radio Ecclésia and LAC (Angolense, 23-30 September). It will broadcast on 91.0 FM and its studios will be in Viana, on the outskirts of Luanda (4 September).
Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 14 Dec 06 via DXLD 6-187 (19/12-2006)

DX 183 - EUROPE'S LARGEST ANTENNA PARK.
The antenna park "DX 183", 12 kms from Jammerbugten/Skagerrak in Denmark, is open for everyone, who is interested in listening to distant radio stations on long wave, medium wave, in tropical bands, on short wave or even on FM.
A lot of beverage antennas are useable. They pick up signals in those directions they are constructed. 

Height of Beverage-Antennas are ca 1,5 m. They are mounted on sticks and poles. All are connected with coaxcable (RG 213 or RG 58) at a distance to the house between 50 m and 100 m.
FM: 8-element Antenna (horizontal in ca 7 m height) and 4-element Antenna (vertical in ca 5 m height). Both on one rotor.
TV: Band-I-Channel 2 (directed to SE 130°) and -Channel 4 (directed to SW 220°) Antennas, ca 6 m height, no rotor.
Reception by satellite (digital): More than 20 TV-satellites are available.
It is a kind of low noise system. Beside that, the area is free of heavy QRM. Only some electrical fences are a little audible, mostly during day time.
Take your own receiver to DX 183! And if possible bring along your own coaxial cable (with PL connection) and antenna switch.
For information about accomodation and how to reach the antenna park see http://www.wilhelm-herbst-verlag.de/DX183/DXer/index.htm (in German only) or contact the owner Wilhelm Herbst on phone/fax +45 98215191.
Ydun Ritz (29/8-2004)