WGCR 720 NC to Test New Transmitter Tonight

Late breaking news via the IRCA Mailing List:

I have been asked to pass this info along to some DX lists by Bill Hale, who in turn got it from Frank Welch.

WGCR 720 Pisgah Forest NC has a CP for D1 25000 CH 15000. According to Frank: "They announced this afternoon Jan. 30th that they would be bringing up their new 25000/15000 transmitter tonight at 2400 EST. Expected to transmit tones only from what the announcer said. I have been trying to hear them while listening to their web site. Also the transmitter is able to go to 50kw...." The "new" transmitter is actually a used unit. Needless to say, the test will be non-directional and should get out over a wide area.

As the messenger, I must stress that I know nothing about whether the station will QSL this test, nor do I know who to contact.

73,
Bill Dvorak
Madison WI

CFFX DX Test Final Report

Wow! What a good test this turned out to be. In spite of marginal conditions, the last few hours of CFFX on 960 kHz made it to both the east and west coast and even to Scotland. Only the southwest and the deep south appear to have been left out. A look at the CFFX daytime pattern explains why - a pretty significant null toward the south.

As with the KKMO test, the CFFX test was heard in Europe. Special congratulations this time go to Paul Crankshaw in Troon Scotland, who caught a couple Morse code IDs. The test also made it to the North American west coast.

Without further ado, here is the lengthy list of those who logged the swan song of CFFX-AM:

Konnie Rychalsky - Southwestern CT
Dave Lang - Waterford CT
Curtis Sadowski - Paxton IL
Tom Jasinski - Shorewood IL
Frank Zane - Downers Grove (Chicago) IL
Mark Connelly - Billerica MA
Joe Miller - Southeastern MI
George Sherman - MN
Paul LaFreniere - Grand Marais MN
Joe Wozniak - St. Louis MO
Dave Hockfelder - Albany NY
Stephen Howe - Albany NY
Ken Chatterton - Mannville NY
Jerry Bond - Rochester NY
Scott Fybush - Suffern NY
Joe Perge - Newark OH
Patrick Martin - Seaside OR
Brett Saylor - State College PA
Steve Francis - Alcoa, TN
Jim Pogue, Memphis TN
Kevin Satya - Bainbridge Island WA
Bill Dvorak - Madison WI
Tim Noonan - Oak Creek WI
Nigel Pimblett - Dunmore AB
Nick Hall-Patch, Victoria BC
Walter Salmaniw - Victoria BC
Saul Chernos - Burnt River ON
Jeff Falconer - Clinton ON
Robert Ross - London ON
Mark Gerwlivch - Markham ON
Mike Brooker - Toronto ON
Niel Wolfish - Toronto ON
Barry McLarnon - Ottawa ON
Paul Crankshaw - Troon, Scotland
Steve Whitt - Scotland

Sometimes the Internet is a key ally. Frank Schuettig in Bali, Indonesia tuned in this test remotely via a DX Tuner in Illinois. The international aspect our tests are taking on is great, and we encourage more of our European compatriots to give future tests a try.

Even if you weren't able to hear the test, we send a big thank-you to those who tried and continue to support our efforts, including: Bill Block-AZ, Frank Aden-ID, Bob Foxworth-FL, Tim Hall-CA, Steve Ratzlaff-OR, Martin Foltz-CA, Fred Nordquist-SC, Patrick Griffith-CO, J.D. Stephens-AL, Bruce Winkelman-OK, Bruce Portzer-WA, Barry Davies in the UK and Bjarne Mjelde in Berlevag (Arctic Norway) who heard CFAC and KMA but not CFFX.

After a very brief dry spell, we've added a couple of more tests to the calendar, plus several more are still very much in the works. Remember to keep checking the DXTESTS.INFO Web site frequently and listen to the BTC Podcasts for news and late-breaking developments.

Finally, if you can reach out to one or more stations in your area and encourage them to consider doing a DX test, please do so. Many hands.. and all that.

Saul Chernos and Jim Pogue

For the IRCA/NRC Joint Broadcast Test Committee

WBIX 1060 kHz Natick (Boston) Massachusetts DX Test

Date: Sunday morning (late Saturday night), Feb. 24, 2008.
Time: Midnight - 2:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, 0500 - 0700 UTC.
Mode of Operation: The station will conduct the test at 40,000 watts power using their two-tower daytime antenna pattern.
Programming: Programming will include a one-hour CD of Todd Rundgren Music with Morse code, sweep tones and announcements every 10 minutes or so.

QSL Information: The Broadcast Test Committee will be handling all reception reports and verifications for this test. Both eQSL service and traditional paper QSLs will be offered. Recordings on disk in .mp3 or .wav format, audio files via e-mail or cassette recordings will be accepted as proof of reception. Send reception reports and recordings to:

IRCA/NRC Joint BTC,
Attn: WBIX DX Test,
P.O. Box 3777,
Memphis, TN 38173-0777 USA.

E-mail reports and audio files may be sent to: KH2AR [at] comcast.net. The station is particularly interested in knowing the receiving equipment and antennas listeners use to hear the test.

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

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.

WKDK 1240 kHz Newberry, SC DX Test

Date: Monday morning (late Sunday night), February 11, 2008.
Time: Midnight - 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time (0500-0530 UTC).
Mode of Operation: 1,000 watts non-directional pattern.
Notes: The test, hosted by our own Powell E. Way III - W4OPW, will consist of phonetic voice IDs, Morse code, sweep tones and unique music. Powell will also take pre-paid telephone calls at (803) 276-2957.

QSL Information: Reception reports may be sent to:

Powell E. Way III,
WKDK Radio,
P.O. Box 753,
Newberry, SC 29108.

The station will accept audio recordings on disk (.mp3 or .wav files), or cued up cassettes. E-mail reports to W4OPW [at] yahoo.com are OK but NO AUDIO FILES via e-mail due to bandwidth restrictions.

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

Our sincere thanks to Powell and the management at WKDK for agreeing to conduct this test.

KKMO DX Test Final Report

Perhaps Barry McLarnon in Ottawa summed it up best in an e-mail: "I think we easterners got done in by mediocre conditions, not to mention the zillions of other stations on 1360." Still, quite a few folks on the west coast and as far east as the Rockies heard the test quite well. Here's the roll call of lucky listeners who put KKMO in their logs:

Frank Aden - Boise, ID
Bruce Bacon - Boise County, ID
Martin Foltz - Mission Viejo, CA
Mike Hawkins - Campbell, CA
Wayne Heinen - Aurora, CO
Patrick Martin - Seaside, OR
Nick Hall-Patch - Victoria, BC, Canada
Art Peterson - Richmond, CA
Nigel Pimblett - Lamont, AB, Canada
Bruce Portzer - Seattle, WA
Steve Ratzlaff - NE Oregon
Dan Riordan - Sherwood, OR
Walt Salmaniw - Victoria, BC, Canada
Dennis Vroom - Salmon Creek, WA (on a trusty SRF-59)

Special congratulations to Bjarne Mjelde in Berlevag, Norway, on hearing the test. Although a relog for him, I was delighted to see this international participation from outside North America in our test efforts. Thanks Bjarne.

Thanks also to all the "east of the Rockies" bunch who tried their best to hear the test, including Willis Monk-TN, Steve Francis-TN, Curtis Sadowski-IL, Doug Smith-TN, Paul LaFreniere-MN, Bill Dvorak-WI, Saul Chernos-ON, Bruce Winkelman-OK, Marc DeLorenzo-MA, J.D. Stephens in AL and yours truly also in TN.

And although Barry McLarnon didn't manage to log KKMO, he says he did catch another "KK" station - namely KKBJ in Bemidji, MN - a new one for him.

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

BTC 2007-2008 Mid-Season Report - Jan. 13, 2008

We are currently at approximately the mid-point of the 2007-2008 medium wave DX season, and it seems like a good time to give you an interim report on the work of your Broadcast Test Committee.

As you can probably guess, many hours of work goes into contacting stations, scheduling and arranging tests, and making sure all the loose ends get tied up after the test actually runs.

So far this season, the committee has contacted roughly 188 different stations in the United States and Canada with requests for DX tests. The majority of these stations were approached by sending a request package to a specific individual there, and included a detailed letter, a
brochure about our hobby, a couple of maps showing the coverage success of some previous tests, copies of the two stories that ran in the local press about the WLPO test and an SASE. The list of stations, compiled by committee member J.D. Stephens, was taken primarily from club bulletins reporting individuals who were good verifiers or who had otherwise demonstrated a friendly attitude toward DXers.

From these nearly 200 stations contacted, we received positive responses from 11 stations. Admittedly, not a particularly great return rate, but as most of us know, we are up against a lot of challenges in trying to get stations to test in the current broadcasting environment. In any case, we are very thankful to those stations who have agreed to test for us.

One of the goals I set when I took over the position as BTC Coordinator was to use current technology as much as possible to improve the delivery of information to DXers. Committee member Brandon Jordan already had the highly successful and useful DXTests.info Web site up and running, and we have continued to use it to deliver timely and accurate information on tests.

Another of our committee members and a decorated veteran of the CPC/BTC arena, J.D. Stephens, has broken new ground with the BTC Podcast. J.D. has done seven of these very informative presentations so far, all in an extremely professional and entertaining manner.

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, I am preparing request packages for about another 40 stations. Additionally, a couple of our committee members are working on direct contacts with stations in hopes of scheduling tests by them in the near future. And we are still trying to nail down dates and times with a few other stations who have agreed in principle to test. We'll announce details on all these just as soon as we are able to firm them up.

This brings me to a couple of requests I'd like to make of you in the DX community. First, "cold call" requests for DX tests is just one part of this process. Although we have "official" members of our committee, I like to think of everyone who listens for the tests as potential ex officio members.

So, if you work at a station, if you have a friend or acquaintance who works at a station in your area, or would just like an excuse to meet your local chief engineer or station manager, why not approach them about the possibility of a test? Since station engineering personnel are often hams, if you are also a ham, this may be an area of common interest where your paths cross.

If you make an initial contact with a station and they seem interested, please pass the info along to me. I'll be happy to make an official contact with the station and send them a request package. Second, as you can probably imagine, mailing out requests to stations is a somewhat costly enterprise. Each package requires about $1 in postage plus the cost of the stamp for the SASE. In addition to this is the cost of the envelopes used, and paper for printing letters and other items. Contributions of stamps or cash to aid in this work would be very helpful. I'll be happy to send a receipt to anyone who needs one, and will make a full accounting of all contributions and expenditures in my end of the season report. Thanks in advance for any such financial assistance you can provide.

The DX test season is now roughly half over. Although we currently only have one additional test on the calendar, please rest assured that your committee is still hard at work. But with numbers comes strength. If you can help get the ball rolling on a test from a station in your area, we gratefully welcome your help.

In conclusion, I send my sincere thanks to fellow committee members: J.D. Stephens, Brandon Jordan, Joe Miller, Paul Walker and our newest member Saul Chernos. They each bring special talents and capabilities to our efforts, and I am very honored to work with all of them.

Please consider doing your part to open the doors for a test from a station in your area. Working together, I believe we can get many more tests on the calendar, stations in our logbooks and QSLs in our collections.

Thanks and 73s,

Jim Pogue/KH2AR
IRCA/NRC Joint BTC Coordinator

WIMA DX Test Final Report

After a weekend of tests from a trio of "West of the Rockies" stations, we returned to the Midwest for a test from the ever-popular WIMA in Lima, Ohio. Their fine rig got out quite well and but them in logbooks from Oregon to Vermont. Here's the list of those who have thus far reported or tentatively reported hearing the test:

Roy Barstow - Old Cape Cod, MA
Saul Chernos - Toronto, ON
Steve Francis - Alcoa, TN
Scott Fybush - Rochester, NY
Dave Hochfelder - Albany, NY
Steve Howe - Saint Albans, VT
Tom Jasinski - Shorewood, IL
Joe Miller - Troy, MI
Willis Monk - Old Fort, TN
Nigel Pimblett - Dunmore, AB
Steve Ratzlaff - NE Oregon
Curtis Sadowski - Paxton, IL
Brett Saylor - State College, PA
George Sherman - Minnesota
J.D. Stephens - Hampton Cove, AL
Joe Wozniak - St. Louis, MO
Mark ? - Markham, ON
Herb ? - Hudson Valley, NY
Shawn ? - Winnipeg, MB

In keeping with the latest craze to take over our hobby, quite a few veteran DXers heard the test on their new "Ultra-Light Radios," thus presenting a new challenge and achievement for them.

Thanks to everyone who tried for the test, and congratulations to those who logged it.

And a very special thank you to Fred Vobbe and the engineering crew at WIMA for their special efforts on behalf of DXers and radio hobbyists. You've gone the extra mile and we are indeed grateful.

Be sure to try for the upcoming CFFX test - a special event since the test will take place during the last few hours this station will be on the AM band. When they're gone . they're gone!

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

Additional info regarding CFFX DX Test

The BTC’s Canadian Connection – Saul Chernos – and I have been working out some of the details on programming and QSLs for this test with chief engineer Roger Cole. To begin with, here are the basics:

CFFX 960 kHz Kingston, ON DX Test

DATE: Early morning of Tuesday January 15 (Monday night).
MODE OF OPERATION: CFFX will test using its 10,000-watt daytime directional pattern.
PROGRAMMING: Regular adult contemporary programming. Special test material will consists of three hourly voice announcements followed by special test material lasting several minutes. These will air roughly at the top of the hour, at approximately 0000, 0100 and 0200 EST, give or take a few minutes depending on the program log.

Here is what we’ve worked out on QSLs –

For those DXers who seek a traditional “paper” QSL card, please send your reception report, recording (mp3/wav on disk or cassette OK) directly to Saul at the following address:

Saul Chernos
57 Berkeley St.
Toronto, ON
M5A 2W5 CANADA

Regarding return postage, be sure to go with one of these options:

1. You may send Canadian stamps in an amount sufficient to cover postage from there to your location. For Canada to the U.S., I believe it is 93¢ Canadian.

2. Send $1 U.S. to cover return postage costs.

3. DXers hearing the test outside of Canada and the U.S. may send 1 Euro. And DXers anywhere can send 1 IRC to cover return postage costs. If none of these options will work for you, please contact me via e-mail and we’ll work something out.

Saul will work with Mr. Cole to review reports, issue and mail QSL cards, etc.

For those DXers who are happy with an eQSL, please send your reception report and/or recording in either mp3 or wav format to both Saul and Mr. Cole. Their e-mail addresses are respectively:

schernos[at]sympatico.ca

roger.cole[at]corusent.com

I hope this covers everything, but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Good luck to everyone on hearing this very special test.

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

Western Weekend DX Test Final Report

The long-delayed final report on the three DX Tests aired Dec. 15-17 is finally ready. My sincere apologies for taking so long to put this together, but work, family, travel, the holidays and life in general have all conspired to keep me away from much hobby activity. Hopefully things have now returned to something close to normal – whatever THAT is.

In any case, on to the results.

Not surprisingly, very few DXers on the eastern side of the Rockies heard much from these tests. As a matter of fact, it was just plain tough for some listeners right on the coast to hear them.

The first test of the weekend was Saturday morning the 15th from KLAA-830 kHz in Anaheim, Calif. Those definitely hearing the test include Martin Foltz in Mission Viejo, Calif,; Walt Salmaniw in Victoria, British Colombia; and Art Peterson in Richmond, Calif., who reports hearing only the Morse code IDs. Wayne Heinen in Aurora. Colo., reports hearing some tentative Morse code, Mike Stonebridge in St. Isidore, Alberta, says he had some “iffy” sweep tones and possible Morse code. Dave Hascall in Indianapolis reports a very tentative ID on KLAA Morse code, but a definite ID on new logging WEEU in Reading, Penn.

The list of those who tried without success to hear the test include Frank Aden in Boise, Idaho; Paul LaFreniere in Grand Marais, Minn.; Phil Bytheway in Seattle; Pete Taylor in Tacoma, Wash., with QRM from KIRO and CKKY; Patrick Martin in Seaside, Ore.; J.D. Stephens in Hampton Cove, Ala.; Saul Chernos in Burnt River, Ontario; Jim Gill in Bradenton, Fla., with QRM from Radio Capital in México City; Marc DeLorenzo in South Dennis, Mass., with QRM from WCRN in Worcester; Steve Francis in Alcoa, Tenn.; Les Rayburn in Birmingham, Ala.; Bill Dvorak in Madison, Wis.; and Nigel Pimblett in Dunmore, Alberta.

Sunday morning presented DXers with a real challenge when graveyarder KQMS-1400 kHz in Redding, Calif., conducted a test. This “heard” list is pretty short, but I think most of us agree that any graveyard test heard by anyone is a good one.

Those lucky enough to add KQMS to their logs include Martin Foltz in Mission Viejo, Calif.; Bob Coomler in Cloverdale, Calif., who reports hearing both Morse code and voice IDs; Walt Salmaniw in Victoria, British Colombia, who heard only the Morse code; Bruce Portzer in Seattle and Mike Sanburn in Bellflower, Calif., who also managed to add KENT in Utah to his log at the same time.

Quite a few other DXers tried without luck for the test, including Curtis Sadowski in Paxton, Ill.; Willis Monk in Old Fort, Tenn.; Mike Stonebridge in Alberta; Barry McLarnon in Ottawa, Ontario; J.D. Stephens in Alabama and Wayne Heinen in Colorado who reports IBOC QRM from KGNU. Tim Hall said he’d planned to try for the test but a changing work schedule messed him up and he forgot to try for it. Believe me Tim, you aren’t the first person this sort of thing has happened to!

Finally, Monday morning brought what looks to be the most widely heard of the three tests with KEVT-1210 in Sahuarita (Tucson), Arizona. Although no special tones or Morse code were used, the list of loggings is impressive. They include: Martin Foltz (3 for 3 for the weekend), Bill Block in Prescott Valley, Ariz,; Patrick Griffith in Westminster, Colo., who heard them under KGYN; John Wilkins in Denver; a very tentative from Barry McLarnon in Ottawa, Ontario; John Sampson in northwest Phoenix who had them mixing with KGY. Curtis Sadowski in Paxton, Ill., reports lively Mexican music for a tentative reception; George Sherman in Minnesota; Art Peterson in Richmond, Calif.; another tentative by Bill Dvorak in Wisconsin with IBOC QRM from presumed WOAI; Wayne Heinen in Colorado with QRM from KHAT and KGYN; a very tentative report from Konnie Rychalsky in southwest Connecticut; Bill Nittler in Belen, New Mexico; another tentative from Saul Chernos in Burnt River, Ontario; and Glenn Hauser in Enid, Okla.

I’ve also received postal reports from Curtis McMenamin in Vacaville, Calif.; Philip Chiello Jr. in Elm Grove, Wis.; and James Wallace in Charleston, W. Va.

Perhaps one of the most interesting reports received was from Frank Schuettig in Bali, Indonesia, who tuned in the test remotely via the DX Tuner in Tucson.

The list of those who tried for this one is about the same length as the other two, and includes largely the same cast of characters. Most of the QRM appears to have originated with KGYN, IBOC from presumed WOAI, CFYM, KTBK and WPHT.

Joe Miller has produced a beautiful QSL card for the test so as soon as I can get to it I’ll begin sending them out – including a special one for Frank in Indonesia. Please give me just a little breathing room as I have some other BTC tasks that need to take priority over the QSL duties – including ensuring that all is in order for the upcoming CFFX test.

Thanks for your patience everyone, and I hope DX continues to be good for you. And by the way, I was 0 for 3 all weekend! Rats.

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

CFFX 960 Kingston, ON DX Test

TIME: Early morning of Tuesday January 15 (Monday night).
MODE OF OPERATION: CFFX will test using its 10,000-watt daytime directional pattern.
PROGRAMMING: Regular adult contemporary programming. Special test material will consists of three hourly voice announcements followed by special test material lasting several minutes. These will air roughly at the top of the hour, at approximately 0000, 0100 and 0200 EST, give or take a few minutes depending on the program log.

CONTEXT: CFFX is completing its move to 104.3 on the FM band this morning, and 960 is scheduled to sign off for goood at 0600 EST. As part of the transition, the AM has simulcast the FM for the past three months. This test marks the final phase of the transition, and the test content will also air on 104.3. This is your last chance to log CFFX on 960, so if it takes two alarm clocks to wake you, well, you've been warned!

We will issue QSLs, but I am not yet 100 percent sure who will handle the reports. Either the station, or me, or both of us. Regardless, we will definitely want audio recordings if at all possible, and we want reports sent via e-mail if at all possible. Snail-mail reports only when accompanied by SASE will be acknowledged. The QSL will be the same, regardless. We'll update the QSL situation soon.

Saul Chernos