DX Tests

United States

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WNAM 1280 DX Test Excellent Quality.
Better conditions and less noise today, and a much weaker WWTC. Voice-id, sweepers, morse and ending with Steve’s email address around 06:05:13. Another voice ID 06:05:30, probably not part of the test.

Bjarne Mjelde to IRCA iog (2025-12-31)

United States

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1280 – WNAM – Neenah-Manasha, Wisconsin – DX Test Official Announcement.
The Courtesy Program Committee (CPC) of the National Radio Club (NRC) and the International Radio Club of America (IRCA) announces a special DX Test for distant listeners for radio station WNAM on 1280 kHz in Neenah-Menasha,WI. The test is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30th and Wednesday, December 31st starting at Midnight local Central Standard Time through 5:05 AM Central Standard Time (This equates to 0600 to 1105 UTC on 30 December and 31 December).  

This test is scheduled to run for 2 minutes after ABC News at the top-of-the-hour each hour from Midnight to 5am local Central time.  ABC News runs from :00-:03 after the hour.  The DX Test will run from :03-:05 after the hour, each hour of the window.

These test transmissions are being broadcast in conjunction with the final days of broadcast of WNAM.  WNAM is scheduled to cease broadcast operations at 11:59 PM Central Time on December 31st.  These test transmissions are a way to honor the history of WNAM in its service to the community as well as provide an opportunity for DXers to hear WNAM one last time – or possibly the first time!

The test will consist of an assortment of classic station jingles, sweep tones, voice IDs, morse code and other sounds. WNAM will be operating at their daytime power/pattern for the duration of the test events.

In addition, listeners/DXers are invited to tune in WNAM’s special 3-hour farewell broadcast on Wednesday, December 31, starting at 9:00 PM Central Standard Time.  This will include a “recreation” of the station’s glory years as “Blue 128” complete with airchecks from previous on-air staff.

RECEPTION REPORTS & QSL REQUESTS

All reception reports will be verified through the station directly with a special QSL that was developed for the occasion. Reception reports along with MP3 recordings or MP4 video recordings of your reception should be emailed to: steve.edwards@cumulus.com.  Please be sure to use the subject line: “WNAM 1280 DX TEST RECEPTION REPORT.”
The following recommendations are in effect in order to expedite processing and receive a QSL verifying your report:

  • Reports via email only – this is required.   An MP3 file attachment of your reception (best reception) or an MP4 video clip are preferred. While written descriptions will be considered along with the recording, they may not suffice alone for verification.
  • Reports must be submitted within 30 days of the test.
  • The report must include your name, location, and return email address, clearly grouped together at the top of the verification request.
  • Please also include a description of your receiver, antenna, and any interference noted. 
  • If you use a remote SDR to receive the test, you must clearly indicate that in your verification request. We will only accept one such report per DX’er. You cannot log the test on multiple remote SDRs and request multiple verifications.

The IRCA/NRC CPC would like to thank the owners and staff of WNAM}, Steve Edwards and CPC member Loyd Van Horn for helping to arrange the test.

Good luck to all DXers!

Loyd Van Horn to IRCA iog (2025-12-28)

United States

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DX Central / MW Frequncy Challenge – Season 5, Week 8 (1470 & 1480 kHz).
Using our data once again from our “All-Season Data Analysis” project, (now available for all DXers to use at https://dxchallenges.com/resources/mwfcdataanalysis/) we zero in on two frequencies for our next challenge: 1470 and 1480.
Heading into this challenge, 61% (1480) and 63% (1470) of US-based stations have been reported by DXers through our previous MW Frequency Challenge efforts since 2021. These are two of the least “covered” frequencies in our data set.

Let’s fix that this week!
This challenge will be open from 0200 UTC on Saturday, November 29, 2025 through 0200 on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Only loggings for stations heard on 1470 or 1480 kHz will be accepted during this week’s challenge.
Any station heard (including TIS, pirate, etc.) are eligible to be logged provided the station logged is broadcasting on the frequency of reception. No spurs, no images, no harmonics, etc.
Portable operations are encouraged, within 25 miles of your home location.
DXers must use their own equipment for this challenge. Online SDRs are only allowed if they belong to or are managed/maintained by the submitting DXer.
All entries must be made by using the Entry Form, found at dxchallenges.com. Users must be registered to our site to submit loggings (registration is free, it is only needed so you don’t have to type your name/location in with every log!)

Loyd van Horn to I Love AM Radio Facebook group (2025-11-29)

United States

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Thanks to an owner the DX Test committee has worked with before, we have graciously been given 3 stations to do a DX test with. It’ll be 3 to 6 hour tests with our “all black coffee, no sugar” tests… just morse code, sweep tones, phone off hook noises and similar that just slice through the noise.
We’re hoping to announce the stations soon as soon as the station owner gains control of the 3rd station (he’s buying it and doesn’t have legal control yet, sale is about to be filed)

Paul B. Walker to IRCA iog (2025-11-20)

United States

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Re.: https://mediumwave.info/2024/12/12/united-states-767/

The DX-test from WZON on 620 kHz this morning was heard by several listeners mostly not to far from the transmitter site.

KarlAmong them Peter Laws, who reported to irca iog
“Got the start at 0103  CW ID and something else, maybe “DE WZON”, then a rising tone, then a bunch of DTMF, more CW and then … into PacMan Fever!   A song I had not heard, perhaps on purpose, for nearly 45 years.
All this under WVMT still dominating.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say that WZON is not on Night Power.  And thank them for that!
Announcer just mentioned that they were on Day power.”

A recording made by Karl Zuk, Katonah, NY and shared in the irca iog

Ydun Ritz (2024-12-22)

United States

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WZON 620 DX TEST
WZON in Bangor, ME has graciously agreed to perform a DX Test before they leave the air for good at the end of the year.  Test will be on Sunday Dec 22 at 1am EST (0600 UTC). Still waiting on final determination of the duration.  Please spread the word wherever you think it would be appropriate.  Hopefully a bunch of you will be able to log Maine!
From the mwdx Slack group. Arranged by David Pete, Old Town Maine.

Russ Edmunds to irca iog (2024-12-12)


Stephen and Tabitha King closing 3 radio stations. WZON [620 kHz],WZIT and WZLO will be shut down at the end of December…announced today, December 2, 2024. (Arthur Pozner to WOR iog (2024-12-02))

Ydun Ritz (2024-12-12)

Netherlands

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Re.: https://mediumwave.info/2023/10/11/netherlands-131/
Radio North 846 seemed to remain on the air, but I still heard the Dutch station [Album AM / Ed] on 844kHz, causing a nasty 2kHz het on Radio North!!!
IDed at one point during the non stop music. Noted in Scotland around 2100 I think it was. (Logbook in shack and email being sent from another machine. )
A little unusual for a dx test to be off channel …LOL…

Ken Baird in Scotland (2023-10-14)

After looking at my perseus recording from thursday night……..

At for example 1947 I see and hear Albums on 843kHz, playing Pink Floyd, Another Brick In The Wall…. But at 2006 there is a freq change to 844kHz, and is still on 844kHz at 2225 for example. Pity they never used a clear MW channel, as there are a few channels nowadays a lot clearer…

Ken Baird in Scotland (2023-10-15)