OT: Wierd radio signals

Friday night I was picking up some weird radio signals here in Illinois.
Usually I need a good radio and a good antenna but I had my TEN
AM/FM/Cassette and my Toyota replacement antenna. (The original was broken
off in one of the 'neighborhoods' in Chicago years ago.) I heard 740 and
860 in Toronto and 650 in Nashville TN among other things. I was picking up
signals on just about every low end AM frequency pretty clearly. I was
driving from Vernon Hills IL to Kankakee from 9 PM to 10:30 PM CST.

Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
anymore? I thought it had something to do with the cold front we never
quite got here.

Charles of Kankakee

In article <FJGdnQxnS4DSubbfRVn-gw@comcast.com>,
"Charles Fregeau" <n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Friday night I was picking up some weird radio signals here in Illinois.
> Usually I need a good radio and a good antenna but I had my TEN
> AM/FM/Cassette and my Toyota replacement antenna. (The original was broken
> off in one of the 'neighborhoods' in Chicago years ago.) I heard 740 and
> 860 in Toronto and 650 in Nashville TN among other things. I was picking up
> signals on just about every low end AM frequency pretty clearly. I was
> driving from Vernon Hills IL to Kankakee from 9 PM to 10:30 PM CST.
>
> Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
> anymore? I thought it had something to do with the cold front we never
> quite got here.
>
> Charles of Kankakee[/color]

Most likely a solar flare. Go here to see what's happening with our
closest star: [url]http://spaceweather.com/[/url]

Weather has little effect on the broadcast band propagation except for
lightning static which makes for awful hearing at night.
--

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 09:40:17 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
<n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
>anymore?[/color]

No, you're not the only one. I've got XM in my Tundra, but still
intentionally try DX'ing once in a while.

Traditionally, winter months are good for lower frequencies, while
summer favors higher bands. CB radio signals would always "skip"
better in the summer.


------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 15:41:49 GMT, dbu <deil@spam.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Most likely a solar flare. Go here to see what's happening with our
>closest star: [url]http://spaceweather.com/[/url]
>
>Weather has little effect on the broadcast band propagation except for
>lightning static which makes for awful hearing at night.[/color]

While solar cycles certainly affect propagation, if what you say about
weather is true, then do you know why winter favors lower frequencies?

Possibly because we're closer to the sun during the northern
hemisphere's winter?


------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

"Eric Dreher" <ericd@cox.nét> wrote in message
news:lr9m21hkl6pmttv8pi3up2mqdqqprprqha@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 09:40:17 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
> <n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
>>anymore?[/color]
>
> No, you're not the only one. I've got XM in my Tundra, but still
> intentionally try DX'ing once in a while.
>
> Traditionally, winter months are good for lower frequencies, while
> summer favors higher bands. CB radio signals would always "skip"
> better in the summer.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.[/color]

But 'skip' seemed to be extra strong Friday night. I get tired of listening
to the usual FM drivel. In the South they have both kinds of music, Country
and Western. Up here they have both kinds of music: Hip and Hop along with
(C)rap music.

Charles of Kankakee

In article <tv9m21halsqipl4f9lq89nm9thi6cdt2mk@4ax.com>,
Eric Dreher <ericd@cox.n?t> wrote:
[color=blue]
> On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 15:41:49 GMT, dbu <deil@spam.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> >Most likely a solar flare. Go here to see what's happening with our
> >closest star: [url]http://spaceweather.com/[/url]
> >
> >Weather has little effect on the broadcast band propagation except for
> >lightning static which makes for awful hearing at night.[/color]
>
> While solar cycles certainly affect propagation, if what you say about
> weather is true, then do you know why winter favors lower frequencies?
>
> Possibly because we're closer to the sun during the northern
> hemisphere's winter?
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.[/color]

Actually I don't notice winter being more or less favorable than summer
other than in the summer months there is thunderstorm activity and that
will tend to blank out coverage at night where winter the low
frequencies tend to be very quiet, noise wise. The low frequency bands
such as BC band tend to propagate long distance at night with numerous
hops (skip) and during the day the signals are mostly ground wave, no
hops or skip. I hope we are talking about Toyota radios now.
--

Where there any strange lights in the sky at the time?



mike hunt



Charles Fregeau wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Friday night I was picking up some weird radio signals here in Illinois.
> Usually I need a good radio and a good antenna but I had my TEN
> AM/FM/Cassette and my Toyota replacement antenna. (The original was broken
> off in one of the 'neighborhoods' in Chicago years ago.) I heard 740 and
> 860 in Toronto and 650 in Nashville TN among other things. I was picking up
> signals on just about every low end AM frequency pretty clearly. I was
> driving from Vernon Hills IL to Kankakee from 9 PM to 10:30 PM CST.
>
> Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
> anymore? I thought it had something to do with the cold front we never
> quite got here.
>
> Charles of Kankakee[/color]

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:08:44 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
<n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Eric Dreher" <ericd@cox.nét> wrote in message
>news:lr9m21hkl6pmttv8pi3up2mqdqqprprqha@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 09:40:17 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
>> <n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
>>>anymore?[/color]
>>
>> No, you're not the only one. I've got XM in my Tundra, but still
>> intentionally try DX'ing once in a while.
>>
>> Traditionally, winter months are good for lower frequencies, while
>> summer favors higher bands. CB radio signals would always "skip"
>> better in the summer.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------
>> The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.[/color]
>
>But 'skip' seemed to be extra strong Friday night.[/color]

Which goes along with lower freq's during winter.
[color=blue]
>I get tired of listening to the usual FM drivel.[/color]

During summer months, there's a condition which allows FM DX'ing
called "tropospheric bending". Not skip in the usual sense of
the word, but FM and television can be picked up at unheard of
distances. About thirty-five years ago, I caught a Texas television
station in California. Freakish but interesting.
[color=blue]
>Up here they have both kinds of music: Hip and Hop along with
>(C)rap music.[/color]

I've always said that it's no small coincidence that "rap" and "crap"
have a 75 percent overlap.



------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 18:33:57 GMT, dbu <deil@spam.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Actually I don't notice winter being more or less favorable than summer
>other than in the summer months there is thunderstorm activity and that
>will tend to blank out coverage at night where winter the low
>frequencies tend to be very quiet, noise wise. The low frequency bands
>such as BC band tend to propagate long distance at night with numerous
>hops (skip) and during the day the signals are mostly ground wave, no
>hops or skip. I hope we are talking about Toyota radios now.[/color]

Yup. We used to call radios with horrible AM sensitivity "rocks". To
get DX reception in your car, it's GOT to be strong.


------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 09:40:17 -0600, Charles Fregeau wrote:
[color=blue]
> Friday night I was picking up some weird radio signals here in Illinois.
> Usually I need a good radio and a good antenna but I had my TEN
> AM/FM/Cassette and my Toyota replacement antenna. (The original was broken
> off in one of the 'neighborhoods' in Chicago years ago.) I heard 740 and
> 860 in Toronto and 650 in Nashville TN among other things. I was picking up
> signals on just about every low end AM frequency pretty clearly. I was
> driving from Vernon Hills IL to Kankakee from 9 PM to 10:30 PM CST.
>
> Did anyone else pick up strong DX or am I the only guy that listens to AM
> anymore? I thought it had something to do with the cold front we never
> quite got here.
>
> Charles of Kankakee[/color]

What was it? I pick up a Candaian staion down there after 'lights out' and
a Chinese station!

You do know about Power Reduction, right? Way back in the day, they
discovered that AM 'hits the skip', so they went through the records. The
first radio station regitered for a certain frequency gets to 'dim down'
(cut back on power) while others have to sign off. So, our local station
cuts back at sunset, and a station from Alberta (still being daylight
there) come booming in. The Chinese station? Who says they have to comply
with ANYTHING!?!

Either than, or yuou were picking up some joker with a powerful SSB CB
running a 500 Watt 'booster' (highly illegal...call the FCC) On an AM
radio this will sound like some kind of Alien talking to you through your
radio, and if he's got one of those stupid Echo thingys it really sounds
weird!

"Eric Dreher" <ericd@cox.nét> wrote in message
news:b02n2115aoj603uf0dp5ei6vcj04ttr6ou@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:08:44 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
>
> During summer months, there's a condition which allows FM DX'ing
> called "tropospheric bending". Not skip in the usual sense of
> the word, but FM and television can be picked up at unheard of
> distances. About thirty-five years ago, I caught a Texas television
> station in California. Freakish but interesting.[/color]

I've seen tropo ducting on 2 meters (144-148 MHz) also.
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>>Up here they have both kinds of music: Hip and Hop along with
>>(C)rap music.[/color]
>
> I've always said that it's no small coincidence that "rap" and "crap"
> have a 75 percent overlap.
>[/color]

But tonight coming back along the same route I heard very few long distance
signals, mostly Chicago-Wisconsin-Indiana stations. Although I heard a
couple stations I could have mistaken for XER, I know those are local, too.
I often wonder whatever became of Dr. Brinkley and his goat gland cures?

Charles of Kankakee

"Eric Dreher" <ericd@cox.nét> wrote in message
news:v62n21t14teim4t9s930mdbd762qgb9vhm@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 18:33:57 GMT, dbu <deil@spam.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Actually I don't notice winter being more or less favorable than summer
>>other than in the summer months there is thunderstorm activity and that
>>will tend to blank out coverage at night where winter the low
>>frequencies tend to be very quiet, noise wise. The low frequency bands
>>such as BC band tend to propagate long distance at night with numerous
>>hops (skip) and during the day the signals are mostly ground wave, no
>>hops or skip. I hope we are talking about Toyota radios now.[/color]
>
> Yup. We used to call radios with horrible AM sensitivity "rocks". To
> get DX reception in your car, it's GOT to be strong.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------
> The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.[/color]

Well the radio I've got in the Previa is a ROCK. Matter of fact, I could
probably build a more sensitive AM receiver with one of those galena crystal
rocks and a pair of headphones. The Corolla on the other hand, seems to
'hear' AM a lot quieter. But tonight, I could only hear reasonably local
stations again coming back the same route I went down Friday night.

Charles of Kankakee

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 21:26:33 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
<n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I've seen tropo ducting on 2 meters (144-148 MHz) also.[/color]

Not personally, but a friend of mine experienced that.
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>>Up here they have both kinds of music: Hip and Hop along with
>>>(C)rap music.[/color]
>>
>> I've always said that it's no small coincidence that "rap" and "crap"
>> have a 75 percent overlap.
>>[/color]
>
>But tonight coming back along the same route I heard very few long distance
>signals, mostly Chicago-Wisconsin-Indiana stations. Although I heard a
>couple stations I could have mistaken for XER, I know those are local, too.
>I often wonder whatever became of Dr. Brinkley and his goat gland cures?[/color]

That last one was lost on me, Charles. Maybe a farm version of Dr.
Demento?


------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 21:28:54 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
<n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Well the radio I've got in the Previa is a ROCK. Matter of fact, I could
>probably build a more sensitive AM receiver with one of those galena crystal
>rocks and a pair of headphones. The Corolla on the other hand, seems to
>'hear' AM a lot quieter. But tonight, I could only hear reasonably local
>stations again coming back the same route I went down Friday night.[/color]

My first DX radio was a Heathkit GR-64 vacuum tube SW receiver. I was
about thirteen when I put that kit together. I loved that radio
even though it was a rock.

I did a quick web search and found a couple here:
[url]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5752044444#ebayphotohosting[/url]
[url]http://oldradios.co.nz/gallery/anchors/HEATHKIT%20GR-64.html[/url]

Talk about memories.


------------------------------------------------
The DNC - Building a bridge to the 20th Century.

On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 21:26:33 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
<n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote:
~
~"Eric Dreher" <ericd@cox.nét> wrote in message
~news:b02n2115aoj603uf0dp5ei6vcj04ttr6ou@4ax.com...
~> On Sun, 6 Mar 2005 11:08:44 -0600, "Charles Fregeau"
~>
~> During summer months, there's a condition which allows FM DX'ing
~> called "tropospheric bending". Not skip in the usual sense of
~> the word, but FM and television can be picked up at unheard of
~> distances. About thirty-five years ago, I caught a Texas
~> television station in California. Freakish but interesting.

Funny, about 40 years ago, I remember that in the summer we used to
get Wheeling, WV television in Toronto, Ontario after the local
station shut down.

Cool.