MW DX'ing
 

On Sep 6, 5:24*am, "Michael" wrote:
Havent seen conditions for MW this good in a long time. *WBT 1110 in
Charlotte NC & WTAM in Cleveland are usually good here, but tonight they
sound like locals. * 760 WJR in Detroit is amazingly clear and regular just
so long as you use SSB. *For the first time, I'm hearing 870 WWL in New
Orleans. *I can copy it with LSB only. Very sloppy but I got the station ID
above the clutter. *That is a first for me.

Michael

North NJ
R75
Inverted L

Nice work Michael.
MW DXing is great fun when conditions are running = goog luck!
Conditions here at 0200z were poor and I could only get the usual
France Info Nice on 1557 kHz and Saudi Arabia on 1521. The French
Island of Mayotte was coming in nicely on 1458 and R Free Africa from
Tanzania on 1377.

All my MW DXing is done in ECSS/SSB mode, usually with a 3 kHz filter
for best fidelity and recognition of ID's.

John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
Icom IC-7700, Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods
ERGO software
Drake SW8. Sangean 803A
Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Redsun RP2100
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop.
http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx

MW DX'ing
 

wrote in message
...
On Sep 6, 5:24 am, "Michael" wrote:
Havent seen conditions for MW this good in a long time. WBT 1110 in
Charlotte NC & WTAM in Cleveland are usually good here, but tonight they
sound like locals. 760 WJR in Detroit is amazingly clear and regular just
so long as you use SSB. For the first time, I'm hearing 870 WWL in New
Orleans. I can copy it with LSB only. Very sloppy but I got the station ID
above the clutter. That is a first for me.

Michael

North NJ
R75
Inverted L

Nice work Michael.
MW DXing is great fun when conditions are running = goog luck!
Conditions here at 0200z were poor and I could only get the usual
France Info Nice on 1557 kHz and Saudi Arabia on 1521. The French
Island of Mayotte was coming in nicely on 1458 and R Free Africa from
Tanzania on 1377.

All my MW DXing is done in ECSS/SSB mode, usually with a 3 kHz filter
for best fidelity and recognition of ID's.

I always use ECSS to sift for any DX. I like my R75 for that very much,
but, the R75 is not a good MW rig. I'd like to try a Drake R7 for that.

Michael

MW DX'ing
 

Michael wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Sep 6, 5:24 am, "Michael" wrote:
Havent seen conditions for MW this good in a long time. WBT 1110 in
Charlotte NC & WTAM in Cleveland are usually good here, but tonight they
sound like locals. 760 WJR in Detroit is amazingly clear and regular just
so long as you use SSB. For the first time, I'm hearing 870 WWL in New
Orleans. I can copy it with LSB only. Very sloppy but I got the station ID
above the clutter. That is a first for me.

Michael

North NJ
R75
Inverted L

Nice work Michael.
MW DXing is great fun when conditions are running = goog luck!
Conditions here at 0200z were poor and I could only get the usual
France Info Nice on 1557 kHz and Saudi Arabia on 1521. The French
Island of Mayotte was coming in nicely on 1458 and R Free Africa from
Tanzania on 1377.

All my MW DXing is done in ECSS/SSB mode, usually with a 3 kHz filter
for best fidelity and recognition of ID's.

I always use ECSS to sift for any DX. I like my R75 for that very much,
but, the R75 is not a good MW rig. I'd like to try a Drake R7 for that.

Michael


My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.

MW DX'ing
 

On Sep 6, 4:56*pm, "Michael" wrote:

I always use ECSS to sift for any DX. * I like my R75 for that very much,
but, the R75 is not a good MW rig. *I'd like to try a Drake R7 for that..

Michael-

Actually some of the world's top MW DXer's use R75's, but they have
removed the factory attenuation on MW.

Why don't you send your R75 to Craig at Kiwa to supe it up?

JP

MW DX'ing
 

wrote in message
...
On Sep 6, 4:56 pm, "Michael" wrote:

I always use ECSS to sift for any DX. I like my R75 for that very much,
but, the R75 is not a good MW rig. I'd like to try a Drake R7 for that.

Michael-

Actually some of the world's top MW DXer's use R75's, but they have
removed the factory attenuation on MW.

Why don't you send your R75 to Craig at Kiwa to supe it up?

JP

Hiya... Kiwa already made quick work of my R75 five years ago. I have the
synch mod and audio mod. I didn't want to do any of the filter swaps or the
attenuation mod. I'm happy with it as is. I don't know why people would
like the R75 for MW DX. I think it is great for sw DX'ing. I actually
prefer it over the R8 series for that. I can also get it to sound as good as
just about any other radio in AM mode to listen to broadcast. When I want
quality audio I use a line in to my PC. I have a full software
mixer/processor along with a premium sound card and speakers. Between the PC
set up and features on the R75, I can make just about any signal sound
great. Still.. I think the R75 is too noisy down low for MW. It helped a
lot when I set up my new inverted L antenna with ideal grounding, but it is
a comparatively noisy rig down low. A friend of mine that also enjoys the
hobby has had a number of radios over the years, many of which I have tried.
He has a Drake R7 and we both agree it is ideal for MW. Not related to this
thread, but he also has a NRD-545. I'm glad he got one before I did. Three
years ago I was considering a545 as an upgrade to my R75. He picked up a
brand new NRD-545 while I was considering it too. I got to try it for a few
days. I swapped him for my R75 as he never had one. I think the NRD-545
sounds like hell. Looks amazing, but it was so tinny and non robust, even
software processing through my PC couldn't make it tolerable for me. He
never sold the radio, but hardly ever turns it on. He says he has no reason
to use any radio other then his R8b. He thinks my R75 was "a fun toy". One
of those Drake guys :-)

Michael

MW DX'ing
 

On 6 Sep, 18:00, "Michael" wrote:
wrote in message

...
On Sep 6, 4:56 pm, "Michael" wrote:



I always use ECSS to sift for any DX. I like my R75 for that very much,
but, the R75 is not a good MW rig. I'd like to try a Drake R7 for that.

Michael-
Actually some of the world's top MW DXer's use R75's, but they have
removed the factory attenuation on MW.
Why don't you send your R75 to Craig at Kiwa to supe it up?
JP

Hiya... Kiwa already made quick work of my R75 five years ago. *I have the
synch mod and audio mod. I didn't want to do any of the filter swaps or the
attenuation mod. *I'm happy with it as is. *I don't know why people would
like the R75 for MW DX. *I think it is great for sw DX'ing. *I actually
prefer it over the R8 series for that. I can also get it to sound as good as
just about any other radio in AM mode to listen to broadcast. *When I want
quality audio I use a line in to my PC. *I have a full software
mixer/processor along with a premium sound card and speakers. Between the PC
set up and features on the R75, *I can make just about any signal sound
great. *Still.. I think the R75 is too noisy down low for MW. *It helped a
lot when I set up my new inverted L antenna with ideal grounding, but it is
a comparatively noisy rig down low. A friend of mine that also enjoys the
hobby has had a number of radios over the years, many of which I have tried.
He has a Drake R7 and we both agree it is ideal for MW. *Not related to this
thread, but he also has a NRD-545. *I'm glad he got one before I did. *Three
years ago I was considering a545 as an upgrade to my R75. *He picked up a
brand new NRD-545 while I was considering it too. *I got to try it for a few
days. *I swapped him for my R75 as he never had one. *I think the NRD-545
sounds like hell. *Looks amazing, but it was so tinny and non robust, even
software processing through my PC couldn't make it tolerable for me. *He
never sold the radio, but hardly ever turns it on. He says he has no reason
to use any radio other then his R8b. *He thinks my R75 was "a fun toy". One
of those Drake guys :-)

Michael

The R75 is a very capable MW receiver, and sensitive even without the
attenuation pad removal (it only improves sensitivity with 3 dB
anyway). I had one myself but decided to replace it with Icom
transceivers (746Pro and 703, all modded). Size and price were/are two
good points about the R75; audio quality could be better. But there is
always personal taste which makes the final judgement.

As for the NRD-545 I agree. I had one and while it might surely be an
excellent UTE rig, you will not want to use the 545 for broadcast DX-
ing and even less for casual broadcast listening. The AGC setting in
AM mode was stuck on "Fast", producing listening fatigue within
minutes. A pretty radio though.

BM

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:

My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.

Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.

Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.


I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.

Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

In other words you can't get any TP´s.

Hey, 'Eduardo', you can turn him on to your other little enterprise, Pretend to
Hear*.


*Pretend to Hear is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pretend to Own.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

In other words you can't get any TP´s.


WTF is a TP?

MW DX'ing
 

Dave wrote:

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

In other words you can't get any TP´s.


WTF is a TP?

Trans-Pacific reception.

MW DX'ing
 

dxAce wrote:

Dave wrote:

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.
In other words you can't get any TP´s.


WTF is a TP?

Trans-Pacific reception.


Like San Diego?

I've never tried to get any stations from East Asia nor South America on
the MW. It seems that would be more a function of filters than MDS.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with
it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

In other words you can't get any TP´s.
WTF is a TP?

The MW term for Trans Pacific DX from the Western Hemisphere.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
dxAce wrote:

Dave wrote:

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW.
I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with
it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.
In other words you can't get any TP´s.


WTF is a TP?

Trans-Pacific reception.


Like San Diego?

I've never tried to get any stations from East Asia nor South America on
the MW. It seems that would be more a function of filters than MDS.

TPs are often heard from California, including NZ, Australia, Japan,
Siberia, etc., etc. You need selectivity to pry them out between the
domestic channels and sensitivity as the path is long. The ICOM does not do
it well without the mods.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with
it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.

In other words you can't get any TP´s.
WTF is a TP?

The MW term for Trans Pacific DX from the Western Hemisphere.

The reciprocal would be true as well. Same for TA (Trans Atlantic).

MW DX'ing
 

On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:52:44 -0700, David Eduardo wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
dxAce wrote:

Dave wrote:

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on
MW. I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs
with it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.
In other words you can't get any TPs.


WTF is a TP?

Trans-Pacific reception.


Like San Diego?

I've never tried to get any stations from East Asia nor South America
on the MW. It seems that would be more a function of filters than MDS.

TPs are often heard from California, including NZ, Australia, Japan,
Siberia, etc., etc. You need selectivity to pry them out between the
domestic channels and sensitivity as the path is long. The ICOM does not
do it well without the mods.

But I'll bet you any tube radio from the '50s would have no problem. I
quit seriously DXing AM stations when I started working at them. I was
14 at the time.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
dxAce wrote:

Dave wrote:

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Michael wrote:
My totally unmodified R75 gets stations on every MW channel.
Without the attenuation removed, it is a pretty dull performer on MW.
I
would imagine you have not been able to detect even the easy TPs with
it.
I can get the TIS stations at LAX and Barstow.
In other words you can't get any TP´s.


WTF is a TP?

Trans-Pacific reception.


Like San Diego?

I've never tried to get any stations from East Asia nor South America on
the MW. It seems that would be more a function of filters than MDS.

Trans Pacifi DX site #1 http://www.qsl.net/n7ecj/

Site #2 http://www.qsl.net/n7ecj/grayland.html

One station mentioned, "1475 MALAYSIA (Borneo) RTVM, Kota Kinabalu SEP 23
1145 - Noted only as a strong het on their normal off-frequency channel.
(Bryant-WA) " was, when I lived in Arizona, the indicator of deep pacific
DX potential. At 600 kw on a non-conventional channel, it came in well quite
frequently and when it was very readable, it meant there might be
opportunities for other TP stuff.

South America is fairly easy from SoCal on MW. The big Colombians below 1100
(Colombia breaks the band into high power (10 kw to 250 kw), medium and low
powers, with the low part of the band all composed of high power stations.
WRTVH has a fairly accurate list of HJs on MW, and I believe (although it is
in Spanish) the regulatory body (Ministerio de Comunicaciones) has a list
online.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...

But I'll bet you any tube radio from the '50s would have no problem. I
quit seriously DXing AM stations when I started working at them. I was
14 at the time.


Not enough selectivity to separate the 9 kHz channels from the Western
Hemisphere 10 kHz channels. And definitely not sensitive enough.

MW DX'ing
 

On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:56:34 -0700, David Eduardo wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...

But I'll bet you any tube radio from the '50s would have no problem. I
quit seriously DXing AM stations when I started working at them. I was
14 at the time.


Not enough selectivity to separate the 9 kHz channels from the Western
Hemisphere 10 kHz channels. And definitely not sensitive enough.

I could get XEROK at noon in Phoenix in my '56 Cadillac. I got WBZ on a
Zenith All-American 5 tube radio in my filthy bedroom in Scottsdale when
I was 12 or 13.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
m...
On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:56:34 -0700, David Eduardo wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...

But I'll bet you any tube radio from the '50s would have no problem. I
quit seriously DXing AM stations when I started working at them. I was
14 at the time.


Not enough selectivity to separate the 9 kHz channels from the Western
Hemisphere 10 kHz channels. And definitely not sensitive enough.

I could get XEROK at noon in Phoenix in my '56 Cadillac. I got WBZ on a
Zenith All-American 5 tube radio in my filthy bedroom in Scottsdale when
I was 12 or 13.


XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts of
the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

I've got an issue of Broadcasting from the later 40's with a WBZ ad showing
mail pull from all the states. Noise levels were so low then, and the band
was amazingly less congested that this sort of reception was normal. And
nothing like the conditions and gear required today to get a TP or a TA.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:


XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts of
the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

At Noon? BTW, they've been X-Rock since the early '70s.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:


XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts
of the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

At Noon? BTW, they've been X-Rock since the early '70s.

Yep, at noon. At an alternate site I used, near Chandler, XEROK was
comparable to stations like KRDS.

XELO became XEROK as you say around 1972 when Bruce Earle rebuilt the
home-grown 150 kw floor furnace that had run for years under the McVeigh
administration of XELO. When McVeigh's partnership in Mexico was broken, he
bought 1060 in El Paso and 800 became a CHR. After the first year or so,
XEROK decided to run 50 kw days and 150 kw nights, since there was really
nothing gained by running high power in the daytime.

MW DX'ing
 

David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:

XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts
of the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

At Noon? BTW, they've been X-Rock since the early '70s.

Yep, at noon. At an alternate site I used, near Chandler, XEROK was
comparable to stations like KRDS.

XELO became XEROK as you say around 1972 when Bruce Earle rebuilt the
home-grown 150 kw floor furnace that had run for years under the McVeigh
administration of XELO. When McVeigh's partnership in Mexico was broken, he
bought 1060 in El Paso and 800 became a CHR. After the first year or so,
XEROK decided to run 50 kw days and 150 kw nights, since there was really
nothing gained by running high power in the daytime.


Except Phoenix and Tucson and all points in between.

MW DX'ing
 

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:

XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts
of the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

At Noon? BTW, they've been X-Rock since the early '70s.

Yep, at noon. At an alternate site I used, near Chandler, XEROK was
comparable to stations like KRDS.

XELO became XEROK as you say around 1972 when Bruce Earle rebuilt the
home-grown 150 kw floor furnace that had run for years under the McVeigh
administration of XELO. When McVeigh's partnership in Mexico was broken,
he bought 1060 in El Paso and 800 became a CHR. After the first year or
so, XEROK decided to run 50 kw days and 150 kw nights, since there was
really nothing gained by running high power in the daytime.
Except Phoenix and Tucson and all points in between.

Too far for usable coverage, and not salable. Of course, they discovered
during the 70's that night coverage was not salable anywhere.

MW DX'ing
 

In article ,
"David Eduardo" wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
David Eduardo wrote:

XELO (XEROK) was a 150 kw station; it had a better signal in some parts
of the Phoenix metro than a couple of the local stations.

At Noon? BTW, they've been X-Rock since the early '70s.

Yep, at noon. At an alternate site I used, near Chandler, XEROK was
comparable to stations like KRDS.

XELO became XEROK as you say around 1972 when Bruce Earle rebuilt the
home-grown 150 kw floor furnace that had run for years under the McVeigh
administration of XELO. When McVeigh's partnership in Mexico was broken,
he bought 1060 in El Paso and 800 became a CHR. After the first year or
so, XEROK decided to run 50 kw days and 150 kw nights, since there was
really nothing gained by running high power in the daytime.
Except Phoenix and Tucson and all points in between.

Too far for usable coverage, and not salable. Of course, they discovered
during the 70's that night coverage was not salable anywhere.

Sure thing Eduardo. That's why I can get KOH and KGO every night among
others.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

MW DX'ing
 

Too far for usable coverage, and not salable. Of course, they discovered
during the 70's that night coverage was not salable anywhere.

That's why I can get KOH and KGO every night among
others.

Every night? Reliably? I thought HD was impeding your KKOH DX listening?
At least thats what you lead us to believe.

Telamon
Ventura, California

Even if it was reliable....there are no sales generated for KOH and KGO in
Ventura.

MW DX'ing
 

Too far for usable coverage, and not salable. Of course, they discovered
during the 70's that night coverage was not salable anywhere.

That's why I can get KOH and KGO every night among
others.

Every night? Reliably? I thought HD was impeding your KKOH DX listening?
At least thats what you lead us to believe.

Telamon
Ventura, California

Even if it was reliable....there are no sales generated for KOH and KGO in
Ventura.

If there were no other stations on the air....you might be able to pick up
New York stations too. How much protection do we allow? Answer? KKOH is
not protected in Ventura, nor have they ever been.