My best AM DXing came not from the best radio, but from a great antenna.
I had approximately 300 feet long-wire running North-south and another
300 feet going east-west. We lived on a bluff so the antennas had clear sky
view for almost 360 degrees. I had a tuning box set up so I could tune
the effective "direction" and length of the two antennas. In a period
of about 2 years, I QSL'ed each western state, all Canadian Provinces (except
the Maritimes) and a bunch of east-of-Mississippi ("w") stations.

Radios used: Hallicrafters S-38B and a 1959 Rambler permeability tuned
car radio.

I am getting back into the game with a Sony 7600GR and an old BC-314.

Have fun.

Steve
--
Steven D. Swift, , http://www.novatech-instr.com
NOVATECH INSTRUMENTS, INC. P.O. Box 55997
206.301.8986, fax 206.363.4367 Seattle, Washington 98155 USA

WShoots1 wrote:

There are differing opinions on whether mountains have any significant
effect on MW or HF (shortwave) reception. The ground (soil) conditions may have
more influence than the terrain.

I cannot disagree with anything you wrote. G It's one of things that make a
regular search more meaningful. For starters, he should seek out that 50kw
Dallas station, WBAP on 820 kHz, mentioned in another thread. If that blow
torch can't be heard in Malibu at night, then the Rockies, if not the closer
mountains, will be the boundary for easterly stations.

Bill, K5BY

The mountains might be the geographical boundary but we shouldn't assume
they are the actual cause of MW signal attenuation from the west coast
at night. Long distance MW propagation at night is mainly via skywave
refraction from the ionosphere, just like shortwave. A range of
mountains is not going to interfere with what is taking place 50-miles
or more above them. This is not the case in the day when MW propagation
is primarily via groundwave. Then the mountains may well have an effect.
We have to consider the nature of the geology (particularly the soil)
west of the mountains and how this may affect MW propagation towards the
east at night.


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"starman" wrote in message
...
The mountains might be the geographical boundary but we shouldn't assume
they are the actual cause of MW signal attenuation from the west coast
at night. Long distance MW propagation at night is mainly via skywave
refraction from the ionosphere, just like shortwave. A range of
mountains is not going to interfere with what is taking place 50-miles
or more above them. This is not the case in the day when MW propagation
is primarily via groundwave. Then the mountains may well have an effect.
We have to consider the nature of the geology (particularly the soil)
west of the mountains and how this may affect MW propagation towards the
east at night.


The greatest boundary to bi-coastal AM DX is not geographical at all.. but
purposeful. Stations that have high power at night have very directional
arrays that protect other stations on the same frequency. Most on the west
coast have N-S or similar patterns that keep them from being heard on the
east coast. For instance, KOMA (or whatever they are this week) in OKC and
KKSN in Portland, OR must protect each other's nighttime coverage. (both are
1520 KHz).

An interesting point... I have yet to see a directional array here in the
ROK.. and it shows.. at night there are so many stations fighting over any
given frequency that it numbs the mind. Most of the winners are Russian and
Chinese. I have only ever heard one Japanese MW station here..

Brenda Ann wrote:

The greatest boundary to bi-coastal AM DX is not geographical at all.. but
purposeful. Stations that have high power at night have very directional
arrays that protect other stations on the same frequency. Most on the west
coast have N-S or similar patterns that keep them from being heard on the
east coast. For instance, KOMA (or whatever they are this week) in OKC and
KKSN in Portland, OR must protect each other's nighttime coverage. (both are
1520 KHz).

An interesting point... I have yet to see a directional array here in the
ROK.. and it shows.. at night there are so many stations fighting over any
given frequency that it numbs the mind. Most of the winners are Russian and
Chinese. I have only ever heard one Japanese MW station here..

After viewing the following (below) FCC webpage, I do get the impression
there are fewer class-ND1, 50-KW unlimited, MW stations on the west
coast than in the east. Could that mean it's easier for the west coast
to hear the east, than vice versa?

http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?state...2=&EW=W&size=9


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BA,

Plus since the 1950s & 1960s the number of 'Regional'
non-clear-channel broadcasters have been increased and added to the
"Clear Channel" Frequencies. So the result is that here are really no
more Coast-to-Coast (Border-to-Border) AM/MW Radio Stations anymore.

Your example of the Directional Antennas "DA" used by the West Coast
'clear channel' radio Stations is True.

KGO 810 kHz @ 50KW using a "DA" in the SF Bay Area is very strong
North and South. But KGO is very 'weak' during the Day and can
'fade' at Night up here in the Sierras (Twain Harte, CA) due East of
the SF Bay Area. Some of the Monterey/Santa Cruz Bay Area
broadcasters that use 1/10 the power of KGO have better signal up hear
during the day.

KCBS 740 kHz @ 50KW does NOT use a "DA" in the SF Bay Area is strong
North, East and South. During the Day KCBS has a 'fair' signal and at
Night the signal is strong.


~ RHF
..
..
= = = "Brenda Ann"
= = = wrote in message ...
"starman" wrote in message
...


The greatest boundary to bi-coastal AM DX is not geographical at all.. but
purposeful. Stations that have high power at night have very directional
arrays that protect other stations on the same frequency. Most on the west
coast have N-S or similar patterns that keep them from being heard on the
east coast. For instance, KOMA (or whatever they are this week) in OKC and
KKSN in Portland, OR must protect each other's nighttime coverage. (both are
1520 KHz).

An interesting point... I have yet to see a directional array here in the
ROK.. and it shows.. at night there are so many stations fighting over any
given frequency that it numbs the mind. Most of the winners are Russian and
Chinese. I have only ever heard one Japanese MW station here..

"RHF" wrote in message
om...

KGO 810 kHz @ 50KW using a "DA" in the SF Bay Area is very strong
North and South. But KGO is very 'weak' during the Day and can
'fade' at Night up here in the Sierras (Twain Harte, CA) due East of
the SF Bay Area. Some of the Monterey/Santa Cruz Bay Area
broadcasters that use 1/10 the power of KGO have better signal up hear
during the day.


Twain Harte... that's up there near Angel's Camp, isn't it? Calaveras
County? I was up there on vacation about 5 or 6 years ago..

"RHF" wrote in message
om...
BA,

KCBS 740 kHz @ 50KW does NOT use a "DA" in the SF Bay Area is strong
North, East and South. During the Day KCBS has a 'fair' signal and at
Night the signal is strong.

KCBS simply has a different Directional Antenna system. They use 4 towers,
with different patters by day and night.

Simplified, they have a big null over the 0 to 80 degree arc, protecting the
Canadian border.