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