DXpedition AKA family getaway

[Tape Splicer]

While sorting through some papers that were left in my Grundig G8 case after getting home, I came across a note to myself - which prompts this question... What might a signal on 400 Khz Long Wave be? The signal is a series of Morse Code "Dots and Dashes" and a long Tone repeated non-stop. The signal was strong. Could it be a navigation beacon? Any ideas?

[Tape Splicer]

After posting the above question, i think I may have found my own answer at "DXing.com" http://www.dxing.com/lw.htm

From the site:
"200 to 430 kHz: This range is used mainly by navigation beacons, which continuously repeat their call signs in Morse code. Call signs do not follow the international allocations given elsewhere on this site. Instead, the call signs usually give an idea of the location of the beacon. For example, beacon "FT" on 365 kHz is located at Fort Worth, Texas."

[jon]

In the 1960s, you could see the Navigation Beacon towers near Vancouver International Airport. Don't remember the exact frequencies, but the main one was close to the 455 KHz IF frequency of most AM receivers, and did cause havoc on some poorly designed radios.

So, I think it very likely that you were hearing one of the old navigation beacons that is still being run at a not too distant airport.

[Toomas Losin]

The Mexican government does (did) have an AM/FM database that I have downloaded in the past, but I'll be damned if I can find it again.

I bookmarked the government site last year, was this it?
http://www.cofetel.gob.mx/es_mx/Cofetel ... estructura

No se necesita entender el español, but it sure helps to navigate that site!

[Toomas Losin]

What might a signal on 400 Khz Long Wave be? The signal is a series of Morse Code "Dots and Dashes" and a long Tone repeated non-stop. The signal was strong. Could it be a navigation beacon? Any ideas?

Navigation beacon. The one on 400 kHz was probably QQ in Comox. My logs show it as an easy catch. In fact, it's there right now.

I have a Grundig G8 too. I haven't used it for longwave; if I remember the reviews it isn't a stellar performer on longwave with the built in antenna. QQ was barely heard with my G8.

[Tape Splicer]

Toomas Losin Wrote
"....Navigation beacon. The one on 400 kHz was probably QQ in Comox....."

As I was in the Comox Valley that would be the one. The air port and RCAF base are close to where I was visiting.
I knew that the RW/CRN "brain trust would be able to help on this one... Thanks TS

[Tape Splicer]

I could not resist adding this "Youtube" link of a "slinky jr" being used as a Shortwave Antenna (Kind of cute).
(Here is the comment from the "Youtube" page...)
"Testing out a Slinky Jr as a shortwave antenna for my Grundig G8 Traveler II. Listening to China Radio International."

(and one response...)
"Really cool but is the slinky attached to the telescoping antenna or ran into a line in jack?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRICF-Dz0VA

[Tape Splicer]

As a conclusion to this saga I thought I would try the Grundig G8 on the patio outside the apartment building where I live - in the middle of metro Vancouver. (as I said above a great little radio).

Just like the list above I went down the dial and made notes on each station's frequency, location, and format as best I could the old fashion way. As with the above list I searched a database to fine tune my information about each stations. There are some repeats in the list below.

For what it is worth here is what I was able to hear from the middle of metro Vancouver.

Over a one and a half hour period from 2130 - 2300 I picked up 25 stations:
1680 KNTS Seattle WA. 1620 KYIZ Renton WA. 1560 KZIZ Sumner WA. 1540 KXpA Bellevue WA. 1510 KGA Spokane WA. 1460 KARR Kirkland WA. 1420 KITI Chalis WA. 1430 Mount Vernon WA. 1380 KRKO Everett WA. 1270 KXBX Lakeport CA. 1190 KEX Portland OR. 1180 KLAY Lakewood WA. 1170 KPUG Bellingham WA. 1060 KSL Salt Lake City UT. 1120 KPNW Eugene OR. 1110 KBND Bend OR. 1100 KFAX San Fransisco CA. 1090 KPTk Seattle WA. 1080 KFXX Portland OR. 1050 KTCT San Mateo CA. 1020 KTNG Los Ángeles CA. 940 KYNO Fresno CA. 930 KAGI Grants Pass CA. 770 KTTH Seattle WA. 620 KPOJ Oortland OR>

[Tape Splicer]

The final DXpedition of the summer took us to Chilliwack for a week. I do enjoy using the Grundig G8. The selectivity and sensitivity of the radio continues to amaze me.

The weather change over the weekend did not seam to affect what I was able to hear . I was able to hear these same stations over the course of the week.

I thought that with Chilliwack mountain between Vancouver and my location there would be a 'Nul" on the local frequencies, but all the Vancouver AM stations could be heard with equal strength to those from farther away. Vancouver stations were well heard in the daylight hours as well. Although I was not DXing for FM stations, Vancouver FM stations were also heard.

1550 was of equal strength to other stations from this area. 1600 was not as well heard. There was a very weak signal under CKNW 980Khz which I could not catch.

This list includes several Canadian stations - There are also some stations that have been noted above. I also heard a navigation beacon on 345 Khz (Morse Code: -... -... ______ )

For what it is worth, here as the list I compiled after checking the notes I took with a data base on line. I left out local stations from this Vancouver area and those stations that are not a challenge to catch.

540 CBC Radio 1 Unknown location, 560 Wanatchee WA, 580 Nappa ID, 590 KGLE Glendive MT, CJWW Saskatoon SK, 610 CHNL Kamloops BC, // KONA Kennewick WA, 620 KPOJ Portland OR, 630 CHED Edmonton AB, 660 CFFR Calgary AB, 670 KBOI Boise ID, 680 KNBR San fransisco CA, 700 KALL N. Salt Lake City UT, 740 CBX Edmonton AB, 750 KXTG Portland OR, 770 Unknown Talk format, KKOH Reno NE, 790 KGMI Bellingham WA, CKOR Penticton BC, 820 KGNW Burien WA, 880 KIXI Seattle WA, // KWIP Dallas OR, 890 CJDC Dawson Creek BC, 900 CKBI Prince Albert SK, 910 CKDQ Drumheller AB, 920 KXLW Spokane WA, // KSHO Lebanon OR, 930 KYAK Yakima WA, 940 KYNO Fresno CA, 960 KLAD Klamath Falls OR, // Unknown Spanish, 970 KTTO Spokane WA, 990 KTMS Santa Barbara CA, 1010 CBR Calgary AB, 1020 KTNQ Las Angeles CA, // KDUN Reedsport OR, 1030 KMAS Shelton WA, 1060 CKMX Calgary AB, 1080 KFXX Portland OR, 1090 KPTK Seattle WA, 1110 KBND Bend OR, 1120 KPNW Eugene OR, 1140 High River AB, 1150 Unknown Sports Format, 1290 Pendleton OR, 1300 KKOL Seattle WA, 1310 KWpT Newport OR, 1360 KKMO Tacoma WA, 1380 Unknown Spanish, 1420 Walla Walla WA, 1430 KYKN Keizer OR, 1520 KKXA Snohomish WA.

[Toomas Losin]

That CBC on 540 is CBK in Watrous, SK. Apparently a very good location because the signal gets out so well.

Try for 1570 CKMW Morden, MB before it moves to FM. It's been audible most nights lately. I just tried on my stock G8 and I was able to hear audio but it wasn't very intelligible thanks to the noise level. Excellent propagation, a quiet location, or an external antenna would help.