DX Tests link

I've added a link on the right to Brandon Jordan's "DXtests.info" blog.

This blog lists all current NRC/IRCA DX tests.

His site also explains just what a DX test is.

Keep an eye on it!

New station: Bend, Oregon

Permit granted for:
900KHz.
50,000 watts daytime, 2 towers directional
2,000 watts nighttime, 3 towers directional
40-04-50N/121-16-51W

New Wyoming station

The FCC has approved a new AM station in Jackson, Wyoming.

The station will operate on 1450KHz with 1,000 watts fulltime, nondirectional. It'll have a single tower at 43-27-45N/110-47-37W.

Permittee is Bott Communications, a religious broadcasting chain.

New HD radios

Sangean has announced a
HD radio tuner and
HD standalone table radio. Radio Magazine reports that suggested retail on the HDT-1 tuner is $299. I would guess the price on the HDR-1 table radio might be slightly higher, probably around $349. How close to MSRP will Universal's price be? Good question.

The Radio Magazine report also mentions a car adaptor (which converts HD radio to analog for reception over the existing car radio) with a MSRP of $199, and another table radio for $249.

NH DX test

A DX test has been announced for the night of November 5th, 2006 over WWNH-1340 Madbury, New Hampshire. The test will run from 10pm until 2am, Eastern Time, and will include frequent IDs, some in Morse Code.

Audio reports (recordings on MP3 file, CD, or cassette) are preferred if possible, and email reports (to les@highnoonfilm.com, with "WWNH DX Test" in the subject) are preferred. USPS mail reports may go to:

High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive, Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216

A self-addressed, stamped envelope is required for a response.

Good luck! (a DX Test from a "graveyard" station in Wyoming was heard on the East Coast last year, so it's worth checking for this one anywhere in North America...)

Major change in Houston area (kinda)

The FCC has approved the application of KHCB-1400 Galveston, Texas to move to League City.

The transmitter is also moving, to 29°25'35.00"N, 95°08'0.00"W, *very* roughly 20 miles west-northwest of their existing site. The station goes from non-directional to "DA1" - directional with same pattern day & night, two towers. (the FCC site claims "DA2" - different day and night patterns - but the parameters of the two operations are identical...)

This is officially a "major change" (I think because of the change in city of license) but in fact it will have little effect on DX.

Old WOR 710 towers to come down (or not?)

Three old WOR-710 towers were to be destroyed late Wednesday night. They've been superceded by three new towers nearby; the land under the old towers is to be taken over by a golf resort. However...

WINS-1010 reports that local police asked that the demolition be halted, for security reasons. (one rumor on another site suggests they feared passing motorists on the NJ Turnpike would see the towers fall and fear
a terrorist attack was in progress.....)

Missouri station moves to Illinois

KPCR-1530 Bowling Green, Missouri has moved to Illinois.

The station, now WLIQ, Quincy, has filed for a license-to-cover.

1,400 watts daytime, 290 watts critical hours (2 hours prior to sunset), non-directional.
Single tower at 39-55-51N/91-25-46W.

Reportedly relaying KHMO-1070 Hannibal, Mo.

New AM station in Penna.

1590 in Kearsarge, Pa. granted by FCC.
500 watts day, 900 watts night, DA-2.
Three towers at 42-01-47N/80-07-06W.

More new AM stations

New stations applied for:

1340 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 1,000 watts full-time, non-directional, single tower at 29-47-30N/101-30-30W.

1400 in Langtry, Texas. 1,000 watts full-time, non-directional, single tower at 29-47-30N/101-30-30W.

CKDO-1580 DX test

CKDO-1580 Oshawa, Ontario has announced a special "DX Program"

Saul Chernos reports the program will run from 9pm Eastern time, Thursday, October 5th (0100 Oct. 6th UTC) to 2am Eastern time Friday, October 6th. (0600 UTC) This date is precisely coincident with the 60th anniversary of CKDO's 1946 debut.

The broadcast will be with the station's normal 10,000-watt directional signal. CKDO uses the same facilities day and night, there is no more powerful daytime pattern to use for the test. Their pattern favors the east and west - it should be easily heard in New England and the Midwest.

This program is in honor of CKDO's recent frequency change to 1580KHz. CKDO originally signed on on 1240KHz, and operated on 1350 for over 50 years. CBJ (Chicoutimi, Quebec) moved from 1580 to 93.7 FM in 1999, opening 1580 for use elsewhere in Canada; CKDO was the lucky winner(grin).

DXer Wayne Plunkett and CKDO owner Douglas Kirk have arranged this special program. Those hearing it are encouraged to call the station. (a toll-free phone number will be given out on the air) Written reception reports may be sent to:

CKDO
Attn. Special DX Program
1200 Airport Blvd.
Suite 207
Oshawa, Ontario L1J 8P5
CANADA

More tech changes

New station granted:
1100 in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
850/230 DA-2 from a five-tower array at 43-36-06N/93-22-32W.

Major change:
WKGC-1480 Panama City Beach, Florida.
Granted move to Southport, Florida, 30-17-45N/85-39-42W.
Daytime power to increase from 500 watts to 5,000.
Nighttime power to decrease from 78 watts to 34 watts.

New stations & frequency change

Frequency change:
KMER-950 Kemmerer, Wyoming has moved to 940. They've also decreased daytime power from 5,000 watts to 250 and increased nighttime power from 90 watts to 150.

New station granted:
1340 in Huntley, Montana. This is just east of Billings. 250 watts full-time, non-directional with a relatively short (17m/56') tower at 45-54-18N/108-16-17W. Permittee is IHR Educational Broadcasting, a Catholic broadcasting organization.

New station applied for:
1400 in Tonopah, Nevada. 1,000 watts full-time, non-directional with a single 58.8m/193' tower at 38-02-54N/117-14-27W.

DX Quiz (very retro)

I found a (partial) list of 1926 radio stations in a 1926 copy of QST magazine.

Can you match the station with its frequency (as it was in 1926, not today!) and its city?

The frequencies are pretty hard. Many of the cities are easy, many are hard, many are trick questions.

CFCA	630	Ames, Ia.
CFCN	680	Atlanta
KDKA	690	Atlantic City, N.J.
KFKX	700	Beloit, Wis.
KFWB	720	Boston
KOA	740	Buffalo
KSL	760	Calgary
WAHG	790	Chicago
WBCN	820	Chicago
WBOQ	830	Chicago
WBZ	840	Columbus, O.
WCAL	870	Denver
WCAU	890	East Pittsburgh
WCBD	900	Freeport, N.Y.
WCCO	920	Hartford
WEAO	930	Hastings, Nebr.
WEBH	940	Hollywood
WEBW	950	Jefferson City, Mo.
WFBH	970	Lansing, Mich.
WGBB	1000	Mason, O.
WGES	1000	Newark
WGR	1020	New York
WGY	1040	New York
WHN	1050	Northfield, Minn.
WLBL	1070	Philadelphia
WLIT	1080	Philadelphia
WNAC	1080	Richmond Hill, N.Y.
WOI	1100	Richmond Hill, N.Y.
WOR	1110	Salt Lake City
WOS	1120	Schenectady, N.Y.
WPG	1130	Springfield, Mass.
WREO	1190	St. Paul-Minneapolis
WSAI	1200	Stevens Point, Wis.
WSB	1230	Toronto
WTIC	1270	Zion, Ill.

More Canadian AMs going away...

The following Canadian AM stations have applied to mve to FM:

CJNB-1050 North Battleford, Sask.: to 102.9
CHVO-560  Carbonear, NL: to 103.9
CFWB-1490 Campbell River, B.C.: to 106.1
CHQB-1280 Powell River, B.C.: to 94.1
CBA-1070  Moncton, N.B.: to 106.1

This last one hurts, it's a 50kw non-directional and probably the easiest way to log the Maritimes from outside New England.