WBCQ is a domestic shortwave station. As such, by FCC regulation, they can
not target the US with their signal. Their antenna have to be directional
and aimed to another part of the planet than the US. Since their intended
target is in the US, they keep there pattern as close to their target as
possible and still abide by regulation. This means that they will never have
an optimal signal. What you are picking up is incidental radiation.

"Diverd4777" wrote in message
...
for reasons that I don't really understand, WBCQ on 7.415
is skipping over large parts of the Northeast U.S...
BUT
VOA broadcastiong from Botwana, Africa
on 7.415;
often comes in at these " BCQ Blackout" Times.
- Again, don't know why the " Skip Zone " changed,
It'll probably change back in a day, week or whatever

I have recently picked up Air Port Taffic from The Azores...
- Wierd !

Dan


In article ,

(Sidchase3) writes:


I've been using a Sony 7600G since 1998. Although I've used the SSB
setting
to
listen to ham radio operators, I listened to an AFRTS station (Key West)
for
the first time the other night. According to Passport this SSB station is
transmitting at only 8Kw. It came in passably well.

Why is it that WBCQ with its 50Kw transmitter is so often lost in static?
I
know that SSB greatly reduces the power needed to propagate effectively,
but
I
don't understand why a domestic station has such abysmal propagation. In
the
winter BCQ often disappears for weeks or even months in the late
evening. I
also know that the station is cobbled together, but what is it exactly
that
they are doing wrong? Is it the quality of parts, the location of the
station
in Maine, etc.? Could someone with expertise venture a technical opinion?
I
understand that some people dislike WBCQ for its programming content, but
I'm
really only interested in the technical aspects.

Thanks, Bill