CBA-1070 kHz Moncton, NB DX Test

A couple things to note: The test may be very very brief, and at 01:00 ATLANTIC time Monday morning the 7th, therefore 12 midnight Eastern local time. That is Sunday going into Monday. (0400 UTC Monday, April 7 2008)

Second, CBA News is interviewing me for a 5-minute item that will likely air between 4-4:30 Atlantic time (3-3:30 eastern time). I sent them a copy of the morse code, thinking they might like it as a sound effect, and they might include that. I know it's well before sunset, but it would be cool if the code punches through 1070 at that hour, and how far the "newscast test" gets out... that is this afternoon, in a few hours.

I am also not divulging what content the DX test will include. Let's just say, if you hear it, you'll know. And if you're not sure -- that's happened to me before -- recordings can be listened to.

I expect to have QSL information very soon after the test. It's possible that CBA will handle this, though I have not yet heard back on that.

Enjoy...

Saul Chernos

UPDATE: CBA 1070 in Moncton has confirmed they will air a DX test Monday morning, April 7 at 01:00 am ***Atlantic*** time (0400 UTC).

I'm now trying to determine the duration of the test - I'd expect just a couple of minutes, for a very tight window of opportunity - and how QSLs and eQSLs will be handled.

Please feel free to spread this far and wide. I'd like our friends overseas to know and I'm not on any of those lists!

BTW, I know it's taken a long time for the CFFX QSLs. And I really appreciate the patience we've encounterted from fellow DXers. We're getting these finalized; they will be issued shortly. We have NOT forgotten!

Saul

Attention DXers: Get out your DX calendars and mark down early Monday morning, April 7. Saul Chernos - our "Canadian Connection" - has been working the phones again, and we are hoping to have a real treat to finish out the 2007-2008 DX Test Season.

CBA 1070 in Moncton, New Brunswick, plans to sign off for good as it completes its switch to FM (106.1) at 0700 Atlantic time on April 7. The Broadcast Test Committee is currently working with CBA personnel to include DX test content in some form during the overnight hours leading up to the official shut-down.

Because of the late timing, we thought it prudent to get the word out as soon as possible even though we are still in the process of finalizing details and verifying if and when the test material will air.

CBA runs 50,000 watts U1 day and night. If this test runs, expect much of the same content you've heard in other DX tests. We will post updates as soon as we have new information.

If you are in touch with other DXers who do not have computer or Internet access, please fill them in on this. We'd hate for anyone to miss out on this opportunity.

Jim Pogue and Saul Chernos
IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee

WHBC DX Test update

Fellow DXers,

My apologies for taking so long to update everyone on this DX Test, but I wasn't able to talk with WHBC Chief Engineer Dale Lamm until today (Monday, March 24), plus I have been traveling all day and just now have made it to where I can work on e-mails.

After a lengthy and informative conversation with Dale, he feels it is best that we proceed with the DX Test on the 29th as scheduled, although he will be using WHBC's standard night pattern and power. He does intend to include special test features like Morse code and sweep tones, probably inserted during some standard breaks. This should still significantly improve the chances of hearing WHBC's signal at greater distances.

Thanks to Dale for conducting the test, and I know we are all grateful for him taking the time and trouble to air the special program inserted into their standard Fox Sports Channel fare.

73s,

Jim Pogue
IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator
Memphis, TN

WBIX DX Test Final Report

Let me think of some appropriate superlatives: spectacular, amazing, overwhelmingly successful … nope, they still don’t capture how great this late-February DX test from Natick, Massachusetts came out. In addition to being heard in at least 18 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces, the test was also logged in Finland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Here’s the LONG list of DXers who have reported hearing the test:

Mark DeLorenzo – South Dennis, MA
Dave Hochfelder – Albany, NY
Steve Howe – Saint Albans, VT
Curtis Sadowski – Paxton, IL
Joe Miller – Troy, MI
Mike Brooker – Toronto, ON
Craig Healy – Providence, RI
George Sherman – Minnesota
Perry Crabill – Winchester, VA
Mark Gerwlivch – Markham, ON
Mark Connelly - Billerica, MA
Rob Ross – London, ON (DXing on an Ultralite radio of course)
Bruce Portzer – Seattle, WA
Tom Jasinski – Shorewood, IL
Bjarne Mjelde – Berlevag, Norway
Jan Edh – Freddiksfors, Sweden
OJ Sagdahl – Tronheim, Norway
Andrew Blade – York, UK
Sig Andersson – Norrköping, Sweden
Torolf Johnsson – Stockholm, Sweden
Dave Pyatt – Burlington, ON
Bob Galerstein – Monroe, NY
Dave Braun – Wyoming, DE
Joe Wozniak – St. Louis, MO
Rich Line – Sterling Heights, MI
David Faulkner – Albany, OH
Torgeir Woxen – Sørumsand, Norway
Barry Davies – Carlisle, UK
Shawn Axelrod – Winnipeg, MB
Neil Kazaross – Barrington, IL
Jim Wallace – Charleston, WV
Tim Noonan – Oak Creek, WI
Steve Francis – DXing from Newport News, VA
Dave Larrabee – Columbia, MD
Jim Solatie – Lemmenjoki, Finland
Eric Söderman – Norrköping, Sweden
Håkan Sundman – Lemmenjoki, Finland
Ken Baird – Sorn, Scotland
Kermit Geary – Walnutport, PA
Jim Paige – Sterling Heights, MI
Steve Kennedy – Coal Township, PA
Charles Helms – Nutley, NJ
Philip Chiello, Jr. – Elm Grove, WI
Kraig Krist – Manassas, VA
Leslie Wood – East Meadow, NY
John Fisher – North Chelmsford, MA
Mary Karren-Landry – Poland Spring, ME
John Malicky – Pittsburgh, PA
Andrew Brade – East Yorkshire, UK
Paul Crankshaw – Ayrshire Scotland

It seems that the only DXers east of the Mississippi River who had a problem hearing the test were those like me here in Memphis who live in WBIX’s protective null. Likewise, J.D. Stephens and Les Rayburn in Alabama reported no success in hearing this most desirable test.

A trend that appears to be developing is a greater international interest in trying for DX tests. This is indeed exciting, and a potentially strong selling point to station engineers and management for future tests. Evidence supporting some unrealized potential for future successes in this area is provided by comments from DXer Mark Connelly in Massachusetts:

“At 0016 EST / 0516 UTC on 24 FEB I had no problem hearing the WBIX-1060 Natick, MA test on the DXTuner receiver located in Ilfracombe, England,” he wrote. “Code ID's, sweep tones, and voice announcements came through fine. Clearly dominating the channel. (Other DXTuners) that had some signal: Edinburgh, Scotland (poor, much weaker than at Ilfracombe, bits of voice and tones) Italy and Germany (carrier evident but nil / nearly nil audio) Caracas, Venezuela (bits of Morse code ID in huge “furball” jumble).”

Thanks for sharing this fascinating info Mark. Perhaps we need to try and reach out to DXers in Latin America and encourage them to begin listening for tests. I have not received any reports from DXers in those regions on any tests this season.

As the prime BCB listening time begins to transition into nights with higher QRN levels and more hours of daylight, I am still trying to nail down just a couple more DX tests. More to follow on these as details become available.

Once again, our sincere thanks to WBIX Chief Engineer Grady Moates for agreeing to conduct this test, and to BTC member Paul B. Walker Jr. for his persistent efforts to arrange it. Now to the task of processing the many requests for QSLs.

Remember to keep checking the DXTESTS.INFO Web site frequently and listen to the BTC Podcasts for news and late-breaking developments.

Jim Pogue
IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator
Memphis, TN

WHBC 1480 kHz Canton, OH DX Test

Date: Saturday morning (late Friday night), March 29, 2008.
Time: 3 - 4 a.m. Eastern Time, 0700 - 0800 UTC.
Mode of Operation: The station will test with daytime power and pattern, carrying their regular Fox Sports Radio talk programming and interspersing Morse code and sweep tones.

QSL Information: Reception reports may be sent to Director of Engineering Dale Lamm/NX8J by several means:

You may submit a report via the station's Web site by clicking on this link.

You may submit a report directly to Mr. Lamm by sending an E-mail to "DLamm [at] WHBC.com" Recordings in mp3 or wav format as proof of reception will be accepted.

You may send postal reports to:

Mr. Dale Lamm, Director of Engineering,
WHBC-AM Radio,
550 Market Avenue South,
Canton, OH 44702-2112.

Audio files in mp3 or wav format will be accepted. If you only have cassette recording capabilities, please contact Jim Pogue (KH2AR [at] comcast.net) for special
instructions.

NOTE: All requests for postal verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply.

Many thanks to Mr. Lamm for agreeing to conduct this test.

Jim Pogue - KH2AR [at] comcast.net
www.dxtests.info
IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator

WNTP 990 kHz Philadelphia, PA DX Test

** RESCHEDULED **

Date: Saturday morning (late Friday night), Mar. 15, 2008.
Time: Midnight - 1 a.m. Eastern Time, 0400 – 0500 UTC.
Mode of Operation: From midnight until 12:30 a.m. the station will test with their new daytime pattern and 50 KW power. From 12:30 until 1 a.m. they will test with their non-directional pattern and 12.5 KW power. Previous non-directional tests have been conducted at 5 KW, and this higher power should give more listeners a chance to hear this station.
Notes: “We’ll especially be running a lot of sweep tones since they seem to get the best results. Morse IDs, steady 2 kHz tones, and some odd ball music – which I have yet to pick,” says Chief Engineer and DXer René Tetro.

QSL Information: Reception reports may be sent to René at WNTP, 117 Ridge Pike, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444. E-mail reception reports may also be submitted to rtetro [at] pobox.com. “If sending an audio recording, I prefer CD or mp3 (MP3s can be an attachment to an e-mail, provided the size doesn’t exceed 3-4 mb),” René adds. No eQSL service is being offered for this test.

This is the fourth year in a row that René will conduct a test over WNTP, but this higher transmitter power opens up lots of new possibilities.

NOTE: All requests for verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply.

Many thanks to René for his great support over the years to DXers and our hobby, and in particular for conducting this test.

Jim Pogue – KH2AR [at] comcast.net
IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator

WKDK DX Test Final Report

To paraphrase a well known member of our hobby community (apologies to GH), if anyone ever tells you that DX tests on graveyard frequencies don't get out, "don't you believe them!" Powell Way III's great test over his 1240 kHz station on the morning of Feb. 11 was heard well throughout the South, along the Eastern Seaboard and into the Midwest. Here's our list of the lucky folks who've check in to say they heard "WKDK ... Newberry County's VOICE for over 60 Years!"

Fred Nordquist - Moncks Corner, SC
Paul Walker Jr. - Abbeville, SC
Dave Hochfelder - Albany, NY
Joe Miller - Troy, MI
Jim Renfrew - Holley, NY
Willis Monk - Old Fort, TN
Les Rayburn - Central Alabama
J.D. Stephens - Hampton Cove, AL
Dave Pyatt - Burlington, ON, Canada
Steve Francis - Alcoa, TN
Tom Jasinski - Shorewood, IL
Chris Johnson - Taylors, SC
And an anonymous posting from Michigan on the DXTESTS.INFO site.

There were a number of "tentatives" as well, including:

Saul Chernos - Burnt River, ON, Canada
Mark Gerwlivch - Markham, ON, Canada
Dave Lang - Waterford, CT
Jim Pogue - Memphis, TN

We'll have to wait until Powell has a chance to work through the reports to see if we hit pay dirt or just plain dirt.

Several other DXers tried for the test but mostly just heard the old graveyard gumbo/ These DXers included Joe Wozniak in St. Louis, Steve Ratzlaff in Oregon, Frank Aden in Idaho, and Wayne Heinen in Colorado.

For a few others who didn't hear WKDK, the time spent at the dials was not a complete loss as it did yield some new ones for them. Dan Riordan in Sherwood, OR, heard two he need from California, namely KNRY and KSUE. And Craig Barnes in Wondervu, CO, added KCCR in Pierre, SD, to his logbook.

Again, our sincere thanks to Powell Way III for conducting this test. Hearing a graveyard station is always a treat in my book.

Remember to keep checking the DXTESTS.INFO Web site frequently and listen to the BTC Podcasts for news and late-breaking developments.

Jim Pogue
IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee Coordinator

CKEC 1320, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada - Final days on the air

This station is scheduled to permanently sign off its AM facilities and transition fully to 94.1 FM on March 11, 2008. Although the station is unable to conduct a special test with tones, Morse code or other special content, Chief Engineer Peter Lann (VE1LAN) invites reception reports from DXers during the last days of AM operation. He says this will be an extremely good time to hear the station, particularly the final week. The station ID is given at least four times per hour and there is a four-minute News Cast at the top of the hour. Mr. Lann says he will reply to all DX reports sent. "I have been a SWL/Ham since my early teens.....Good hunting!"

The format for CKEC is country music. Reception reports may be sent to Mr. Lann at: 84 Provost Street, Box 519, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2H 5E7. E-mail reception reports may also be submitted to plann [at] ckec.com. NOTE: All requests for written verifications must be accompanied by return postage in order to receive a reply.

Jim Pogue and Saul Chernos
IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee