RadioBanter - View Single Post - DXing, Radios, Antennas, Etc. Let's Get Back on Topic.

Telamon · June 20th 08, 10:40 AM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

In article
,
wrote:

Bob, (count floyd) wrote
C'mon guys, lets use this forum to discuss radio listening and dxing
of either BCB or SW, and keep the spam talk out or by direct email.
Follow the example of John Plimmer, his posts are always radio
related
and very interesting, they are about the only ones I read on this
group anymore. The petty bickering needs to stop and get back on
topic.

Well said Bob, I too become perturbed by the increasing number of off
topic trash that now overwhelms this news group. When I first
subscribed many years ago it was full of on topic interesting radio
stuff.

As for radio, I have been DXing for 42 years and never a dull moment.
When propagation is bad and you are thinking of chucking it in,
something always comes up and reinvigorates your interest with a great
DX catch. It's true that HF SW propagation has been very bad in recent
years with the current very low sunspot number, but as sure as God
made little apples, it will come back again in full force in coming
years. So if HF is bad now, then try the MW AM band or the many
interesting things to do on LF, Although I am aware that many of you
do not have LF band on your radio's.

SNIP

The day time SW bands are weaker and poor much of the time but sunset to
sunrise the lower SW bands are very good consistently up to 41 meters.

31 meters is hit or miss from crummy to very good but is very good most
of the time. This has been the best surprise band for years now and it
pays to check this band most anytime day or night.

25, 22, and 19 meters have been generally weaker and the best times for
them are late afternoon to a couple of hours after sunset. Same thing
mornings where these bands generally pickup again a couple hours before
sunrise into early morning. These middle bands have been poor for me
most of the time middle mornings to the middle of the afternoon.

During the daytime 16 meters has been the best band where 19 meters is
hit or miss but poor a lot of the time. 19 meters is generally better
late afternoon and early mornings.

15 meters is almost always weak and this band generally does not have
much broadcast on it anyway.

13 meters has been really poor all the time and I rarely even look at
it. Only two pages of broadcasters on it to begin with in Passport.
There could be openings but with so few broadcasters on this band who
would know.

I can't think of the last time I even looked at 11 meters with zero
broadcasters listed on it in Passport.

The upshot is there is plenty going on in SW much of the time.

AMBCB has been very good but in the northern hemisphere the current
season has shorter nigh time listening hours this being summer.

The main problem with AMBCB has been the damned IBOC crapola and of
course the damned DRM crap on the lower SW bands nights is now crapping
up the currently best listening of the SW reception bands.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California