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120 meter band - is there a trick to it?
I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the
shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
Tony Meloche wrote in
: I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony It's been a long time since I can remember there being very much on this band, and it was never as widely used as the other tropical bands. There's little advantage to using it. Propagation is almost exactly the same as the BCB, so why not just broadcast there? Another factor was that table radios with shortwave almost never tuned this band. The bands were usually BCB and SW from 5 or 6 to 18 Mhz. |
"Tony Meloche" wrote in message ... I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony What kind of antenna are you using? It will require an outstanding 120 meter antenna to get much. The wavelength is so long that is will be uncommon to get distant stations like N. Korea. Dee D. Flint, N8UZE |
Tony Meloche wrote: I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony I've had pretty good results here just using a 70' wire. Sometimes the 200' wire. Over the years heard quite a few stations 'down there'. This morning at 1310 WWVH from Hawaii is coming in good on the 70' wire. Mostly it's propagation. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
N8KDV wrote: Tony Meloche wrote: I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony I've had pretty good results here just using a 70' wire. Sometimes the 200' wire. Over the years heard quite a few stations 'down there'. This morning at 1310 WWVH from Hawaii is coming in good on the 70' wire. Also, as an example, hearing the Australian Northern Territories Service on 2310 and 2485 still in at a good level at 1325 on the 70' wire. Mostly it's propagation. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Also, as an example, hearing the Australian Northern Territories Service on
2310 and 2485 still in at a good level at 1325 on the 70' wire. That's all I've ever heard besides the WWV/WWVH combo (R71a and EWE). I suspect that that band acts similar to the AMBCB band in that generally it's lousy with the occasional opening. Keep trying. Also look for BCB harmonics ! jw wb9uai |
J999w wrote: Also, as an example, hearing the Australian Northern Territories Service on 2310 and 2485 still in at a good level at 1325 on the 70' wire. That's all I've ever heard besides the WWV/WWVH combo (R71a and EWE). I suspect that that band acts similar to the AMBCB band in that generally it's lousy with the occasional opening. Keep trying. Also look for BCB harmonics ! jw wb9uai All the responses are appreciated - I'll continue to scan it during good listening times - one of these days, who knows . . . Tony ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
I never hear much on this band either.
donutbandit wrote in message ... Tony Meloche wrote in : I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. On nights when I know prop is good, I'll run that band several times between dusk and 0700 UTC - nada. I have yet to make a single catch there. I know most international broadcasters have abandoned it, and only a few little countries still use it a lot (N. Korea for example), but save a weak and scratchy WWV at 2500, not a thing. Anyone have better luck with it, or suggestions? Tony It's been a long time since I can remember there being very much on this band, and it was never as widely used as the other tropical bands. There's little advantage to using it. Propagation is almost exactly the same as the BCB, so why not just broadcast there? Another factor was that table radios with shortwave almost never tuned this band. The bands were usually BCB and SW from 5 or 6 to 18 Mhz. |
There is still a lot of activity in this area, at least from a Latin American perspective.
Be it harmonics or legitimate activity. See the following page for a sample of what is available in 'the basement': http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Tony Meloche wrote in
: All the responses are appreciated - I'll continue to scan it during good listening times - one of these days, who knows . . . This is an excellent area to use a loop antenna. You will get better results than a longwire, with directional, nulling, and noise reduction properties as well. It's a noisy environment, but with most of the RTTY and other services that used to operate here gone to satellite, there's little of that kind of QRM any more. Best time would be a cold winter night. |
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 09:43:44 -0500, Tony Meloche
wrote: J999w wrote: Also, as an example, hearing the Australian Northern Territories Service on 2310 and 2485 still in at a good level at 1325 on the 70' wire. That's all I've ever heard besides the WWV/WWVH combo (R71a and EWE). I suspect that that band acts similar to the AMBCB band in that generally it's lousy with the occasional opening. Keep trying. Also look for BCB harmonics ! jw wb9uai All the responses are appreciated - I'll continue to scan it during good listening times - one of these days, who knows . . . Tony ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- Just this evening 0000 UTC I heard Radio Japan(via Sackville?), CBC and of course WWCR further up the band. Mike |
Mike wrote: Just this evening 0000 UTC I heard Radio Japan(via Sackville?), CBC and of course WWCR further up the band. Mike I'm curious as to what frequencies you are hearing Radio Japan, CBC and WWCR on in the 120 meter band. I know WWCR is up in the 90 meter band on 3210. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 22:34:12 -0500, N8KDV
wrote: Mike wrote: Just this evening 0000 UTC I heard Radio Japan(via Sackville?), CBC and of course WWCR further up the band. Mike I'm curious as to what frequencies you are hearing Radio Japan, CBC and WWCR on in the 120 meter band. I know WWCR is up in the 90 meter band on 3210. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm Here is the embarrassing (or interesting) part...I restored a 1954 Philco table top radio with the "Special Services" band. It covers 1700-3400 Khz. I was pleasantly surprised at the sensitivity of the radio on that band using just the built in loop antenna. The band is poorly marked making the frequency hard to read. I can tell you that it is above 2500 and below WWCR. It does not sound like a harmonic. I cannot find this frequency on their web site, however. There are other broadcasts in that frequency area also. Mike |
Mike wrote: On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 22:34:12 -0500, N8KDV wrote: Mike wrote: Just this evening 0000 UTC I heard Radio Japan(via Sackville?), CBC and of course WWCR further up the band. Mike I'm curious as to what frequencies you are hearing Radio Japan, CBC and WWCR on in the 120 meter band. I know WWCR is up in the 90 meter band on 3210. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm Here is the embarrassing (or interesting) part...I restored a 1954 Philco table top radio with the "Special Services" band. It covers 1700-3400 Khz. I was pleasantly surprised at the sensitivity of the radio on that band using just the built in loop antenna. The band is poorly marked making the frequency hard to read. I can tell you that it is above 2500 and below WWCR. It does not sound like a harmonic. I cannot find this frequency on their web site, however. There are other broadcasts in that frequency area also. Mike Sounds to me as though there are images being generated by/in the receiver itself. Now that I know it's an old Philco, I'm not surprised! Still a nice old set to listen on, providing one knows its quirks and limitations. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm |
Mike wrote: On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 22:34:12 -0500, N8KDV wrote: Mike wrote: Just this evening 0000 UTC I heard Radio Japan(via Sackville?), CBC and of course WWCR further up the band. Mike I'm curious as to what frequencies you are hearing Radio Japan, CBC and WWCR on in the 120 meter band. I know WWCR is up in the 90 meter band on 3210. Steve Holland, MI Drake R7, R8 and R8B http://www.iserv.net/~n8kdv/dxpage.htm Here is the embarrassing (or interesting) part...I restored a 1954 Philco table top radio with the "Special Services" band. It covers 1700-3400 Khz. I was pleasantly surprised at the sensitivity of the radio on that band using just the built in loop antenna. The band is poorly marked making the frequency hard to read. I can tell you that it is above 2500 and below WWCR. WWCR, if my memory serves without checking, is at 32310 KhZ - the ground floor of the 90 meter band - so if it was above 2500 and below that, it was technically not in one of the international broadcast bands, (which a boatload of international broadcasters aren't these days!) but it was closer to the 90 meter band. Tony It does not sound like a harmonic. I cannot find this frequency on their web site, however. There are other broadcasts in that frequency area also. Mike ----== Posted via Newsfeed.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==---- http://www.newsfeed.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups ---= 19 East/West-Coast Specialized Servers - Total Privacy via Encryption =--- |
My best reception in this range (actually the maritime mobile band) was during
heavy solar activity. Check when there is lots of aurora activity. Be aware that it may be unidirectional, though -- eastbound. Bill, K5BY |
"donutbandit" wrote in
... Tony Meloche wrote in : I have what I consider to be very gratifying luck in DX all over the shortwave dial save the 120 meter band. .... Tony It's been a long time since I can remember there being very much on this band, and it was never as widely used as the other tropical bands..... Not a very crowded meter band, but I like to try every now and then. Last night at about 2000 UTC there were some Africans: Trans World Radio from Swaziland and Family Radio from South Africa, 3200 and 3215 kHz if I can remember correctly. Propagation was quite good here in Europe, on 60 meters I heard several African stations and some Brazilians and even Papua New Guinea on 4890 kHz. I used an old Sony 2001D with 20 metres of random wire. Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, (South West of ) Finland |
What kind of antenna are you using? It will require an outstanding 120
meter antenna to get much. The wavelength is so long that is will be uncommon to get distant stations like N. Korea. I've heard N.Korea on the DX394 on 600ft. of wire. :-P |
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