DXpedition AKA family getaway

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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Wed Jul 18, 2012 5:39 pm

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?
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:17 pm

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."
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby jon » Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:19 pm

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.
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Toomas Losin » Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:56 pm

Dan Sys wrote: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!
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Toomas Losin » Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:58 pm

Tape Splicer wrote: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.
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Wed Jul 18, 2012 8:20 pm

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
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:29 pm

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
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:41 am

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>
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:58 pm

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.
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Toomas Losin » Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:11 pm

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.
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Re: DXpedition AKA Christmas family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:08 pm

This Christmas getaway proved fruitful in the DX department.... a great way to relax after a days activities with family....
Using my Grundig G8 and Nexxtech AM/FM radios I was able to catch a few stations as I scrolled across the AM dial... If I heard something on the Nexxtech, I was very confident I'd hear something on the G8....
Sitting in my mountain perch east of Chilliwack I picked out the following 16 stations from the static created by the WiFi and other electric noise in the house....
I made notes at the time of listening and did a database check once I got home)...

1590 KLFE Seattle WA, 1580 KGAL Lebanon OR, 1560 KZAZ Pacific WA - There was a Spanish language station on this frequency, at times they were both of equal strength. This station came in very clearly when off tuning 1550. KRPI...With KRPI in the BG .. I tuned up to 1553 and down to 1548 .... (I heart two call signs for the station during a commercial & promo break. KPAN Herefort TX - (that one caught my attention), 1480 KBNS Vancouver WA, 1420 KITI Centralia WA, 1360 Spanish language - no call sign, 1290 kUMA Pendleton OR, 1260 KSFB San Fransisco CA,
KGTK, Olimpia WA, 910 CKDQ Drumheller AB, 900 CKBI Prince Albert Sask, 890 CJDC Dawson Creek BC , 860 KPAM Troutdale OR, 800 CkOR Penticton BC, 780 KKOH Reno NV, 660 CFFR Calgary AB,
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby jon » Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:36 pm

Your Spanish on 1560 would have been KVAN in the Washington town with the unlikely name of Burbank; studios are actually in Pasco.

Not sure if you caught them on Day or Night pattern. They are 10,000 watts day and 700 watts night, but used to be dominant here in Edmonton at night, about 5 years back when they were Smooth Jazz.

1360 Spanish would be KKMO in Tacoma with 5000 watts, non-directional days and nights.

Not sure about your KPAN. There is the aforementioned KVAN and you also mentioned KPAM, both of which are easy to mistake. It depends what frequency you were tuned to.
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Re: DXpedition AKA family getaway

Postby Tape Splicer » Thu Dec 26, 2013 10:57 pm

Thanks for the information Jon, I could not believe the distance my self so I will bow to the KVAN call as being what my ears actually heard but did not recognize through the QRM. I thought the Texas DX was too good to be true. At any rate it was a good way to decompress from family obligations.
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